Concert Shirt/Poster Of The Day Aug. 31st (NoMeansNo)

Today's t-shirt is from the time I saw Victoria, B.C. band NoMeansNo with local band Whitey Houston play at The Rev in Edmonton in 2002. This was my first time seeing No means No, and I was blown away by how good they were. They must be close to 50 and still rocking the fuck out, good stuff indeed.

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In concert news... NoMeansNo will be playing at The Starlite Room Friday October 22nd.

Concert Poster Of The Day Aug. 30th (Whitesnake)

Today's poster is from the double bill of English rockers Whitesnake with the LA glamsters Faster Pussycat opening. This show was in 1990 at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, in front of a small crowd of about 4,000 fans. Whitesnake were touring for their album "Slip Of The Tongue" which had guitarist extraordinaire Steve Vai. Faster Pussycat were touring for their album "Wake Me When It's Over". The main reason I went to this show was to finally see faster Pussycat, they didn't disappoint, I thought they were really good. I don't recall who I went to this show with.

Concert Shirts Of The Day Aug. 29th (Monsters Of Rock/Metallica)

Today's t-shirts are from the time my friend Nerraw and I went to Spokane,Washington for the Monsters Of Rock tour in 1988 at Joe Albi Stadium holding about 30,000 people. We went on a tour package (Dash Tours I think), the package included transportation to and from the show,tickets and accomodations. There were 3 buses that left Edmonton early in the morning, little did we know that we were allowed to bring alchol on the bus. Well, we didn't have any, but once we made a pit stop in Calgary, that was at 10am by the time we got there, Nerraw and I belined it to a hotel and found a place selling off sales> we bought ourselves 2 flats each, that will keep us going. We thought we can't buy beer in the states as we were only 18 at the time, so this should do us good. By the time we got to Spokane, guess what, out of beer, ya we were lushes on this trip. We managed to find someone in Spokane to buy beer for us at the local convenience store. So off tot the races we were, lots of beer, but no smoke, that wasn't easy to find, so we just drank ourselves silly.

The show it self was awesome, the line up was Kingdome Come, Metallica, which was the main reason we went to this. This was before ...and Justice For All was released, Dokken,Scorpions and finally closing out the show was Van Halen, this was the first tour for them with new lead singer Sammy Hagar. And of course Metallica kicked ass, I think most of the crowd was there mainly for Metallica. It was a sweltering hot day with the temperature around plus 40 all day, it was an outdoors stadium, so trying to find shade was next to impossible. Saw more then a few people go down from the heat, it was a long hot day to say the least.

What a great trip this was and one I won't long forget. Good times!!!

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Album Review - Gaslight Anthem

It's been a while since I have wrote any record reviews. So without further a do, it's about time I did a review of the latest Gaslight Anthem album "American Slang",seeing as they will be playing here in Edmonton at the EEC on Wednesday September 8th. This album came out a few months ago now.

The album opens with the title song "American Slang" which comes off as a bit like a Springsteen song with more edge, a good rocking opener.
Song 2 is another rocker called "Stay Lucky" my favorite line in this song is the opening verse,
"It took so long to get me back on my feet
It takes so long to find the words and the beat
And Charlie's waiting on the end of the phone
To hear you call on him to try to recapture
But them old records won't be saving your soul
And them feelings got the reasons you know
That you've forgotten somewhere"

Song 3 is a slower one called "Bring It On" a song about losing his queen of the Bronx. Good song,good lyrics.

Song 4 is a song that sounds soulful called "The Diamond Church Street Choir" favorite lines in this song are,
"They'll find me beat down out in the universe
Though I'll never forget where I'm from
I might have moved away from home
And slept out there on my own
A million miles away in the stone
But the beat never leaves
And the temple's a relief
To my aching bones, rambling all over
And if I'm gone for too long
I can always hum along
So don't never forget what I told you
So don't never forget what I told you
Everybody singing"

Song 5 is another slower song but again sang with a soulful feeling called "The Queen Of Lower Chelsea" favorite line in this song is the first two lines,
"Did you grow up lonesome and one of a kind?
Were your records all you had to pass the time?"

Song 6 is called "Orphans" and the pace picks up again with another rocker. Favorite lines in this song are,
"Now that I'm left alone here to drive
But it's so hard to stand on your own
Against mirror of glass, hard and cold
But the clothes I wore
Just don't fit my soul anymore"

Song 7 "Boxer" another great song with great lyrics, love the chorus in this song,
"He took it all gracefully on the chin
Knowing that the beatings had to someday end
He found the bandages inside the pen
And the stitches on the radio"

Song 8 is another song that kind of reminds me of Springsteen, the song is called "Old Haunts",
"So don't sing me your songs about the good times
Those days are gone and you should just let them go
And God help the man who says
If you'd have known me when
Old haunts are for forgotten ghosts
Old haunts are for forgotten ghosts"

Song 9 is called "The Spirit Of Jazz" a song about lost love,
"Was I good to you, the wife of my youth
No other soul could love you
Like my rotten bones do
So I will wait on the edges in between
These New York streets
Where you and I would meet"

Song 10 is a song called "We Did It When We Were Young" it's the last song on the album, it's a slower bluesy soulful song.
"And I cannot hold a candle for every pretty girl
We were strangers many hours
And I missed you for so long
When we were lions, lovers in combat
Faded like your name on those jeans that I burned"

An awesome album overall, it's a shorter album running just over 30 minutes, so you never get bored or lose interest in listening to it from start to finish.They kind of have a classic rock feel to them, yet not a retro feel. This is a band that my brother Citrus got me into a few years ago, and have been a fan since hearing their very first album "Sink Or Swim". They remind me of a mix between Bruce Springsteen and Social Distortion, great playing and song writing. I highly recommend buying this album and seeing them live in concert. I have seen them twice before and am really looking forward to seeing them in a week.
I give this album a 10 out 10.

Concert Poster Of The Day Aug. 27th (Let's Go Bowling)

Today's poster is from a show I saw in 1997 at The Rebar (Pawn Shop now) in Edmonton. This was a great evening of ska music with a whole lot of dancing happening. The floor at the Rebar, which is on the second floor of the building was a bouncing, it was pretty damn cool. the bands for the night were, local band Mad Bomber Society with Fresno, California band Let's Go Bowling. I like the poster done by local artist Spyder. Very cool.

Concert Shirt/Posters Of The Day Aug. 26th (Ween)

Today's t-shirt is from the time my buddy A-Bomb and I went to see Ween play back to back shows in Vancouver at the Commodore Ballroom in 2001. Ween were only touring the west coast at the time, so we had to make this trip and what a trip it was too.

The first show was almost like a best of show as the second show was a very brown show, and if your a fan of Ween, you will know what I mean by a brown show, very psychedelic with a great variety of odd songs I didn't expect to hear. Both shows Ween played close to 3 hours. Incredible shows these were. This was my second and third time seeing Ween in concert at the time.

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Concert Poster Of The Day Aug. 25th (Big Sugar)

Today's poster is from the time A-Bomb and I saw Gordie Johnson and Kelly Hoppe of Big Sugar do an acoustic show at the Myer Horowitz Theatre in 2000 on the University Of Alberta campus here in Edmonton. This was am amazing show to see, as I had never seen Gordie play acoustic guitar, he also pulled out the banjo for some songs as well with Kelly playing the harmonica on most of the tunes too. A small intimate show and really good time.





In concert news... Gordie Johnson and Kelly Hoppe again will be playing an all acoustic show billed as "Two Fools On Stools" at the Beaumont Blues Festival on Saturday September 4th in Beaumont,Alberta just outside of Edmonton.

Concert Shirt Of The Day Aug. 24th (Less Than Jake)

Today's t-shirt, well actually it's a long sleeve shirt, but anyways, it is from the first time I saw the pop/punk/ska band Less Than Jake in concert. This show was in Edmonton at the Old Scona Arts Barns just off of Whyte Avenue. The show was in 1999, the other bands on the bill were All, Good Riddance and Limp. A pretty good line up for 1999. This is the only show I have ever seen at the Arts Barns which is too bad, cause it was a good venue to see a show.

I like this shirt as all it is, is an Iron Maiden "Number Of The Beast" shirt with Less Than Jake on the front instead of Maiden. I also like the use of Maidens lettering and the saying on the back. How they got away with this is beyond me.

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Jimmie Vaughan at Edmonton Blues Fest 08/20/10

Friday night August 20th Buzzard,Hurl and I all made our first venture to the Edmonton Blues Fest held at the Heritage Amphitheatre in Hawrelak Park. This festival has been going on since 1999, can't believe it took me this long to finally get out to it. The venue it self is excellent and seems to be run very good too. You can actually walk around this fest with a beer in your hand instead of being herded up like cattle in a beer garden. Cans of beers for 5 dollars is also reasonable, with no line ups for beer and a really good atmosphere.





The first band was a band called Monkey Junk from Ottawa, Ontario, unfortunately we missed them as they were on at 5:30, which is a little early if you are a working stiff.

Next up was a lady from East Los Angeles, her name was Candye Kane and she put on an awesome show.I had never heard of her before, but am glad we got down there in time to check her out, well worth it. I was really impressed with her and would check her out again. She has am amazing voice and an impressive stage presence. She was very entertaining with some of her between song banter. A larger lady she is, that kind of dresses like a diva. The guitar player in her band Laura Chavez was something to hear too, all and all a very good live performance. I am kicking my ass now for not picking up her new album Superhero at the show. I will be keeping my eye open for it though, that's for sure.

Candye Kane.




The third band of the evening and the headliner was Jimmie Vaughan, the older brother of the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan. Jimmie put on a great show and his voice sounded good and his guitar playing was excellent too. He is no Stevie, but still a really good player. His back up band was stellar, with them playing close to two hours. A great night of the blues, with a good turn out as well. The show was sold out after all.

Jimmie Vaughan.












T-shirt bought at the show.
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Concert Poster Of The Day Aug. 23rd (Moe)

Today's poster is from the Moe concert I saw in 1997 at The Rev in Edmonton. Moe was and actually still is a jam band that play kind of a funky heavy on the bass sounding band. I didn't realize that they are still around and touring. This show as an evening with, so no opening act. I don't remember who I went to this show with. Moe were touring for their album called "No Doy".

Concert Shirt Of The Day Aug. 22nd (Kick Axe)

Today's t-shirt is from the very first concert I ever went to. The show was two great Canadian metal bands from the 80's, Kick Axe opening for Helix at the Golden Garter in Edmonton. This show was on Halloween night in 1984. Helix were touring for their Walking The Razors Edge album and Kick Axe were touring for thier debut album Vices which I still listen to once in a while to this day. I'll never forget this show, not only was it my first ever concert, but the stuff I saw go down at the show. People all dressed up of course, being Halloween and all, I saw Fred Flintstone dealing drugs to Dracula and some other crazy shit too. Little Red Riding Hood getting down with a guy dressed like a pimp,lol. Just a really fun night and have been hooked on seeing bands live in concert since that night.

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Concert Poster Of The Day Aug.21st (Ringo Starr)

Today's poster is from the time I saw Ringo Starr in concert at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton in 1989. The show was billed as Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band, this was the first time Ringo had put a band together like this and toured, he has done it off and on since. And what a band he had with him on this tour, the members included were Dr. John on piano,Joe Walsh (Eagles,James Gang) on guitar,Nils Lofgren (E Street Band) on guitar,Billy Preston (who has played with everyone from Beatles,Stones to Dylan) on keyboards,Rick Danko (The Band) on bass guitar,Levon Helm (The Band) on drums, Jim Keltner (who has played with Dylan,John Lennon,CSN&Y) on drums,Clarence Clemons (E Street Band) on sax and last but not least of course Ringo Starr he of the Beatles on drums. Just an amazing band full of legends. All members took turns doing vocals and songs from their own bands. I though out of all of them that Joe Walsh stole the show. How I wish I could see this again, being this much older now I think I would appreciate it even more so now. An amazing concert. Trying to remember who I went to this show with, I know Mook was there other then that, don't recall.

Concert Shirt Of The Day Aug. 19th (Dayglo Abortions)

Today's t-shirt is from the one and only time I saw the Dayglo Abortions in concert. This show was at the old Bronx in Edmonton in 1991. I went to this show with Eor,Nerraw,Ross,Hurl and maybe a few others. What I remember about this show was all the moshing at it. The next day I recall sitting on the back deck with all the buddy's comparing bruises and scrapes and such. It was a rowdy show to say the least. Good times!!!

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