Interstellar Rodeo Festival in Edmonton Day 1 July 26th 2013

On Friday night my fiancé Janis, her friend Erin and my buddy Hurl made our way to Hawrelak Park's Heritage Amphitheatre here in Edmonton for this years opening night of the Interstellar Rodeo Festival put on by Six Shooter Records. All three nights were sold out with a capacity crowd of 3500.

Schedule for night one.

Opening this years festivities was the reunited local cow punkers Jr. Gone Wild, which is was a wicked way to start things off. This was my second time seeing the guys live, while it wasn't as epic as the three hour reunion show they did at the end of May, it was an hour of in your face rock n' roll, or as they call it up here cow punk. Lead singer Mike McDonald promised a no slow song set, and he was bang on about that. Steve Loree on guitar was given'er all night as was bass player Dove Brown who always looks like he is having the time of his life and drummer Larry Shelast was sounding good too. The group had a great turn out for being the openers, and am sure they won some fans over with this killer set. We were off to a great start.

Jr. Gone Wild.

Next up was a band from Saskatoon called Deep Dark Woods. Their set reminded me of "The Band", as they played an older style of rootsy rock n' roll. Their music come off as kind of dark and moody. This was my first time seeing them perform, but am sure it won't be my last, all very talented musicians.

Deep Dark Woods.

I missed most of Del Barber's set as it was time for a smoke and refuel with a couple of cold ones before headliners Alabama Shakes.

Del Barber.

Well after a few smokes and beers it was time for Alabama Shakes. This band has been hyped over the past year, and for good reason, as they put on a hell of a show. I bought their album "Boys & Girls" when it first come out in the spring of last year. After a few listens I thought it was alright, but didn't think it was great. It wasn't til after I saw the band perform on David Letterman that I was won over. The voice of lead singer Brittany Howard is incredible, the lady can sing without a doubt and sings with a lot of soul, very impressive!!! Opening the show with the song "Goin' To The Party" was a great choice as well. The bad was tight as they have been touring constantly for over a year now and you could tell by the performance they put on. The crowd ate it up and were grooving and dancing and singing along through out the whole show.

A great start to the opening night of the Interstellar Rodeo, the weather even cooperated, yay. Good times!!!

Alabama Shakes setlist for the show.

1.Goin' To The Party
2.Rise To The Sun
3.Always Alright
4.Hold On
5.Hang Loose
6.Mama
7.Making Me Itch
8.I Ain't the Same
9.Worryin' Blues
10.I Found You
11.Heartbreaker
12.Boys & Girls
13.Gospel Song
14.Be Mine
15.You Ain't Alone

Encore:
16.On Your Way
17.Heavy Chevy
18.Heat Lightning

Alabama Shakes.

Weekend ticket, notice the wrong date on ticket, should have read July 26th -28th.

Friday night ticket.

Alabama Shakes t-shirt front.

Back.

16 Years Ago Today...July 31st

It was sixteen years ago today that I went to High River, Alberta for the Classic Rock Weekend festival. Some of the bands on the bill were George Thorogood, BTO, Pat Travers, Deep Purple, Nazareth and Blue Oyster Cult.

Also on this day nine years ago, I went to the Yesterday Was Everything Festival, this was a festival in memory of Jordan Wodehouse and Daniel Langlois, two members of the local hardcore band Compromise whom were killed in a vehicle accident in the States. Some of the bands on the bill for this show were Misery Signals, Bury Your Dead, Fordirelifesake and more.

Stats for the month of July...
I have been to shows 28 out of 31 days in the month of July.
And have seen 82 different shows out of them 28 days.

Rolling Stones Crystal Head Vodka

I picked this up at a local liquor store on the weekend. It is a Rolling Stones Crystal Head Vodka in a skull shaped bottle displayed in a sharp looking case. In celebration of The Rolling Stones Fiftieth Anniversary Canada's Crystal Head Vodka released this commemorative bottle, also included in the case is a double live album on CD, 50th Anniversary sticker and a crystal engraved decanter top.

15 Years Ago Today...July 29th

It was fifteen years ago today that I saw Big Sugar play at the Convention Centre here in Edmonton. This show was a make-up show for a fiasco of a show a month before. It was Labatt Blue contest show that had been held in a airplane hangar earlier, it was during that show that it all went to shit because of rain,power failures and a roomful of drunks. Cans of Labatt Blue for a dollar a piece, what did you think was going to happen. Good times!!!

Also on this day thirteen years ago, I saw Wide Mouth Mason play a free show at K-Days Exhibition here in Edmonton.

On this day eight years ago, I saw Twisted Sister play the K-Days Fair here, another free show.

It was a year ago today that I went to the closing night of the inaugural Interstellar Rodeo Festival here in Edmonton. The bands I caught on this evening were Whitehorse, Mike McDonald of Jr. Gone Wild doing a solo acoustic set and to close the night out Blue Rodeo.

In concert news...Whitehorse will be playing in Edmonton on Sunday October 13th as part of a new festival here called Up + Downtown Music and Arts Festival.

16 Years Ago Today...July 28th

It was sixteen years ago today that I saw Bloodhound Gang play at The Rev here in Edmonton.

Also on this day eight years ago, I went to the Sounds Of The Underground Festival at Rexall Place in Edmonton. Bands on this bill were Gwar, Strapping Young Lad, High On Fire, Lamb Of God, Madball, Throwdown among many others.

22 Years Ago Today...July 26th

It was twenty-two years ago today that I saw the Tragically Hip play at the Convention Centre here in Edmonton.

Also on this day twelve years ago, I saw Reverend Horton Heat with openers Bare Jr. play a place called Suburbs here in Edmonton.

And it was on this day five years ago that I was at day two of the Pemberton Music Festival in Pemberton, British Columbia. Some of the bands I saw on this day were the Flaming Lips, Tragically Hip, Sam Roberts, Black Mountain and headliners Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

8 Years Ago Today...July 25th

It was eight years ago today that I saw The Doors Of The 21st Century with Pat Travers Band and Vanilla Fudge play Rexall Place in Edmonton.

Also on this day, five years ago, I went to the Pemberton Music Festival in Pemberton, British Columbia. The main band I saw on the first night was Nine Inch Nails.

In concert news...Nine Inch Nails will be playing in Edmonton at Rexall Place on Sunday November 24th.

Rock N' Roll Stamps

Last week Canada Post released a new series of stamps honouring some of Canada's most popular bands. There were four different stamps unveiled. I got three of them as the fourth one is a French artist that I have never heard of before. The ones I did get were... The Tragically Hip, The Guess Who and my favorite Rush. The stamps look pretty sharp, and if your lucky, maybe this Xmas you may get a card from me with one of these stamps on it.