Capital Grass and the No Men

Another successful night at Wally's Tavern for the Guelph Singer/Songwriter Competition. This week we saw quite an assortment of interesting styles. I can only imagine how hard it must be to put everyone in the same bucket and try to pick out a winner. How do you compare a banjo, mandolin and acoustic guitar? Lyrics about smoking pot, the state of the world and blankets?

I really enjoyed what Lonnie Glass was doing on stage, he brought a great sound. An honorable mention should also go to the banjo toting Matt Gower from Capital Grass and the No Men. Again, choosing a clear winner between even those two would be like choosing a winner in a pirate vs. ninja steel cage match.

After a short debate, my friend and I decided it would be absolutely insane to consider anyone but Sandra Bouza for the night's top pick. I guess the judges have the same idea. She moved on, joining week 1 winner, Christopher Charles, on the bill for the final night's performance.

See you next week! - Guelph Mercury

There were a few good options for an evening's entertainment last night, but when it came time to head out the door I went downtown to Club SAW to see a show put on by i(heart)music featuring a couple of bands I hadn't seen before: The Rural Alberta Advantage and Capital Grass and The No Men. Ottawa's own Sarah Hallman provided the icing on the cake.

Readers with sharp memories may recall me wondering in print whatever happened to the 50% of the Four Frames not in Boom Creek, the Coulis brothers. They're now two-thirds of Capital Grass and The No Men, at least for this engagement. Matt Gower is the chap on banjo and vocals. - National Capital Rock

They call their music punktry which is as good a way as any of describing the combo platter of folk, rock, country, blues, punk and bluegrass served up by these scrappy Guelph alt-rootsers. But based on the six strong cuts on their MySpace page, here's another way to describe it: Mick Jagger (or at least a semi-reasonable facsimile) rocking a banjo (and sometimes a mandolin) while fronting the Stones at their country-honkiest (but with a way twangier guitar slinger). Then again, maybe we should just call it punktry.

DARRYL'S VERDICT

"Half roots, half rock, all good."

Sun Rating: 3 out of 5 - sunmedia.ca