Ottawa Buzz: The Acorn, Sarah Hallman And Evil Farm Children

Another year, another EP from the often glorious Ottawa band The Acorn. Although Tin Fist isn't the full-length statement we've been patiently waiting for, it's no mere tide-over either. No, this is a fully realized album, just one that's a little shorter than usual. It even has a theme.

"The album has a lot to do with acknowledging the weakness in things that are traditionally seen as strong," explains lead Acorn Rolf Klausener. "Like impotence in power."

These thoughts thread their way through songs like "Heirloom," a spacious, slow-to-build piece that expertly showcases the band's ear for nuance and atmosphere.

"It's about the whole world's impotence and weakness," Klausener says. "Feeling like all of humanity is going back to the end of the line, or the back of the bus."

Thinking in themes, both musical and lyrical, has preoccupied Klausener as he works on The Acorn's full-length, which will be recorded in January. The album will interpret the early experiences of Klausener's mother in her native Honduras.

"It's been a really hard transition to absorb these stories from my mom, but now it's coming out in a really natural way," says Klausener. "I don't have to force it anymore."

The new musical direction, which includes using more classical guitar, shows up in small hints on Tin Fist. "We wanted to move away from the really standard indie rock instrumentation," Klausener explains.

The Acorn have also added a fifth member, Montreal-based Keiko Deveaux. They're also taking steps toward letting the rest of Canada discover their charms. Klausener says the band are sussing out a few interested record labels, and they've also been picked up by Paquin Entertainment for bookings.

So catch them now, before they catch fire. The Acorn will officially release Tin Fist at Babylon on Saturday, with Ohbijou doing opening honours. They're also playing Lee's Palace in Toronto with Elliott Brood on Dec. 15.

Sarah Hallman is a city girl, but it's a photo of a "Big Sad House" in the country that has captured her imagination. The picture, taken by photographer and restaurant owner Stephen Flood, shows a run-down, solitary home. Hallman's music has a similar quality: world-weary, worn-in, a little sad, but lovely and comforting all the same. Though the house adorns the cover of Hallman's new self-titled CD, the music inside actually marks a move away from the solitary.

"All but one of the songs on my first release were recorded at home, by myself, on a four-track," Hallman says.

Now, she adds, having a full band and a studio experience "has brought in a social element that wasn't there before. I've had to learn to communicate my ideas and to stick with the vision I have for my songs."

Hallman's vision is slowly bringing her to the attention of the Ottawa music scene. She has friends deep within it (Hallman duets with Mike Dubue on the Hilotrons' recent album), but she prefers to do things her own way. That includes choosing the location of her Dec. 4 CD release party. It's the Black Tomato, the restaurant owned by the aforementioned Flood.

"It has a classy living room feel to it," Hallman says of the venue. "Music has a lot to do with their everyday operation and general vibe."

Indeed, Flood stocks his restaurant with CDs that diners can peruse and buy while they wait for their food. Make sure that Hallman's CD is in your stack when she plays on Monday with opener Lessons (a.k.a. Jeremy Gara).

Evil Farm Children are also releasing an album this weekend. They're a relatively new group whose rock 'n' roll comes with a rootsy edge. Drummer Jeb Bond explains the band dynamic.

"Dave Kerr, our guitarist and main vocalist, brings in the melody and lyrics along with his total hatred of all things to do with dance club DJs. Janice Fitzsimmons, besides being our rock-solid bass playing and sometime lead vocalist, is also a hairdresser. And I don't have to tell you how beneficial that is to a band. I play drums and do some back-up vocals as well. We all seem to have a desire to create visceral, high energy rock 'n' roll which is, at the very least, honest to ourselves. And I think that comes across live."

Witness the visceral energy when Evil Farm Children release Knuckle Duster on Saturday at Irene's Pub along with Four 'N' Giv'r and Mississippi Grover.

As The Poets Affirm have just released an excellent new album. Join in on the celebration when they play Barrymore's on Friday night with the Sunparlour Players and Roll Gypsy Roll. En Garde have new product to flog, too. They hit the stage at Zaphod Beeblebrox, with Daiquiri opening.

Male Nurse, Dear Judah and Steve Adamyk will cram themselves into the tiny Manx pub on Sunday.

Over in Gatineau, Marie-Josee Houle and Benoit Joanisse play Le Petit Chicago on Dec. 6. The Soiree, Flotilla and Acres are at Zaphod's the next night. Jim Bryson and Ottawa ex-pat Andrew Vincent will play the Black Sheep Inn on Dec. 8. Bryson will also return the next night with JD Bartlett.

Melissa Laveaux opens for Malajube at Zaphod's on Dec. 13. The annual PunkOttawa holiday party will take place two nights later at Babylon with Protest The Hero, I Hate Sally, Darkness Rites and Human Abstract. Be sure to bring a Food Bank donation. It's the season of giving, after all.