There were lots of laughs and music at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Tuesday, Aug. 21 as Carolyn Mark and the Ragtag Misfits competed against the Sheepdogs at Whoop up Days, but still managed to draw a respectable crowd for a Tuesday night.

I missed solo sets by “Misfits”—  Old Seed and Kris Demeanor, but was just in time for the last couple songs and the delightfully dirty and sexually charged humour of Victoria songwriter Shirley Gnome.

 She sang well crafted, hilarious songs about being better off without an ex, sex pillows and killing a yappy dog, punctuated by uncannily realistic yaps of her own.
 She was joined for the rest of the Misfits, who harmonized with the last song of her set.

The always delightful Carolyn Mark played an all too brief set of music, unsuccessfully trying to out filth Shirley Gnome, but coming close. Mark included the misfits for most of her set.

“ The Cereal’s the Prize,” was another highlight, which she introduced with a story abut her unsuccessful career as a motivational speaker.

Crowd favourite “You’re not a Whore, if no-one’s paying,” was a highlight.”

Mark vocalized a horn solo for another song, while Kris Demeanor added tasteful electric guitar solos and even a kazoo solo on You’re Not a Whore” while Shirley Gnome and Old Seed sang vocal harmonies.

They ended by covering Geoff Berner‘s “It’s all just a matter of ( Where You Draw the line,)” featuring everyone singing a verse.