Cosmic ChrisC Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 Nero shatters jam band stereotypes Fateema Sayani The Ottawa Citizen Thursday, September 16, 2004 CREDIT: Jean Levac, The Ottawa Citizen Nero fans in Ottawa don't often get to hear them play in their home town. From left, Jay McConnery, Chris Buote and Dave Lauzon play Maverick's on Rideau Street Saturday. Nero thinks the jam band label can be taken the wrong way, but they've long ago accepted that their music isn't a foray into the uber-cool new sound. Playing for some seven years, often in Ottawa, but more often at festivals and small parties in southern Ontario and upstate New York where their fans seem to congregate, the guys in Nero -- guitarist Dave Lauzon, drummer Jay McConnery and bassist Chris Buote -- like to work on improvised sets that keep the audience guessing. While they may not have the hot, new hairdo or wear the slick outfits of rock stars, that sort of freshness that goes along with being trendy is built into their sound -- instrumental jams that can wail on for 10 minutes or so, but keep the crowd moving. It's the beauty of improvisation -- sets can move from rock to indie rock to folksy to bluesy to dance. Watching Nero play means listening to three talented musicians build layers of sound until it culminates in a dizzying twirl. "Music fans have a hard time getting that image out of their head, the one of their long-haired uncle and his band jamming out trying to catch a sunflower at some weekend bender," McConnery says of the jam band label. But the label has also helped them -- their fans are known to collect minute details of their sets for future comparison like fans of Phish or the Grateful Dead might do. They rarely have trouble getting shows: obscure festivals, club dates and outdoor shows seem to fill up their 100-plus gig calendar every year. Only a few of those end up being in Ottawa because of touring schedules -- usually around key holidays when the trio catches up with wives or girlfriends. Tomorrow's date follows the April release of their third album, Zedonk, where they add more rock to the jams. Nero with New Shady Groove at Maverick's (221 Rideau St.) Saturday, 10 p.m. $9. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Low Roller Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 Let's start a petition to get Dave to wear the slick outfits and the hot new harido. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 "While they may not have the hot, new hairdo or wear the slick outfits of rock stars, that sort of freshness that goes along with being trendy is built into their sound" LOVE IT! Good article. Can't wait till SATURDAY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubberdinghy Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 hahahahahaha....I liked that line too...Maybe buote should toss on a wig! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gentlemonkey Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 trying to catch a sunflower = china cat sunflower Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradm Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 From the picture, it also looks like we should start a collection to buy Dave some shoes... Aloha, Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AD Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 trying to catch a sunflower = china cat sunflower yeah, you gotta be really messed up if you can't even catch one of those fu©cker... ad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubberdinghy Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 Why does the citizen always take funny pics of you guys? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaggyBalls Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 someone'd better tease dave's hair - pick it out real big - for saturday. get some mad outfits rock tha house! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 Hey, my front porch is famous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 Hey, my front porch is famous! Hey, I thought that porch looked familiar... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guigsy Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 someone'd better tease dave's hair - pick it out real big - for saturday. get some mad outfits rock tha house! i'm sayin pork chops and tight plaid for lauzon. for the entire fall tour. please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 Lovin' this line poster boy: "Music fans have a hard time getting that image out of their head, the one of their long-haired uncle and his band jamming out trying to catch a sunflower at some weekend bender," McConnery says of the jam band label. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booche Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 NINE BUCKS?????? New Shady Groove better be good, or I am going to pull a Kung on someone's ass. Its getting to the point I am going to have to start sleeping with Velvet for comps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 I believe that's a typo. The show is ten bucks I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouche Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 Does admission come with a balloooooon??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booche Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 10 bucks? Velvet, you better be good........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoneMtn Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 I totally disagree with that article. In my experience all the boys in that band have "hot, new hairdos" ::, but that's just my humble opinion... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PassedOutGuy Posted September 17, 2004 Report Share Posted September 17, 2004 Booche, ur gonna love New Shady Groove... give em a chance and definately dont miss their set... I was hopin theyd get a chance to open for Nero... wish i was up there. have fun and i'll see some of ya'll in Toronto on the 25th... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Im going home Donny Posted September 17, 2004 Report Share Posted September 17, 2004 Honkity,Honk! nero rocks. Can't wait for Saterday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave-O Posted September 17, 2004 Report Share Posted September 17, 2004 Yeah people, make sure to leave 40 Main at a reasonable hour and check out New Shady Groove. Best new discovery at Evolve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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