About: Dave DiUbaldo

Last Friday, two of my favourite things about Canada came together in one venue, rock ‘n roll and hockey. Whether you’re a sports fan or not, there’s just something about hockey that bring all Canadians together. A collective sense of pride, if you will.

It’s a difficult task, getting a crowd out on a Monday night in Ottawa. Especially when it’s a freezing rain kind of night. As I arrived at Barrymore’s on an especially miserable winter evening, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Ottawa was pumped and ready to party on a school night.

Saturday night was very Deja Vu for me as we stepped back into House of Targ, having spent our Friday night in the same (mind you, rowdier) room. The crowd seemed Zen for a Saturday night which was a welcome reprieve from the aggressive night of debauchery I had subjected myself to on Friday. Don’t get the wrong idea though, the room was buzzing with musical anticipation as we settled in with a cold PBR to await the rock and roll. People played pinball and chatted as they made new friends and the room started to swell.

Doc Marten’s and mohawks were replaced by cowboy boots and plaid as the River Town Saints rolled into Mavericks on Friday night. Ottawa’s favourite metal venue was officially taken over by the boys from the Valley.

As I walked out of the pit at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, the sounds of “that tune” still ringing in my ears, I recalled the sound from my formative years that ignited my desire to become a musician.

Big Wreck, while not the flashiest band, is the embodiment of true rock and roll. Soulful melodies, intricate progressions, and of course the searing solo work from frontman Ian Thornley which defined a musical style born in my time.

Usually when a Facebook event page says 40 people are attending, it’s a Wednesday night, and it’s not a good show. That was not the case tonight at the Rainbow Bistro in Ottawa’s Byward Market.

This was my first year really getting serious about doing photography.  Admittedly the learning curve was huge, but the development and rewards were 100% worth the struggle.  From sneaking my camera into shows at the beginning of the year, to working the stage at the CTC by the end, it’s been a wild ride.

It was another night at Barrymore’s for another rockstar only this time the rockstar had a slightly larger profile in his past than many of the previous guests. The headliner this night was none other than former Skid Row front man, turned Gilmore Girls actor, Sebastian Bach

Over the past four years, The Headstones have graced our city with a night of debaucherous rock ‘n’ roll as a warm up to the Christmas season. “Our fans like to get drunk and rowdy” quips Hugh Dillon about their die-hard Ottawa following.

I imagine that someday I will stop being amazed by the amount of singer/songwriter talent hidden in this city. That day has not come yet for me, although maybe it has something to do with me doing most of my swimming in the hard rock pool.