Danny Michel Live in Edmonton Nov.28th 2014

Friday night I made my way to the St. Basil's Cultural Centre to see the Full Moon Folk Club presentation of the Danny Michel concert. While it was damn near forty below here, there is no better way to warm up then going to see some live music.

This seemed like a weird venue for a concert, but it was alright, basically just a big banquet room set up cabaret style. The show was sold out well in advance, and for good reason, Danny Michel puts on one hell of a show. This nights show was Danny playing solo, so just him and his guitar and pedals and a loop machine. This was my second time seeing him in concert, as the first time was at the Interstellar Rodeo Festival in the summer of 2013 when he played with the Garifuna Collective. After seeing that amazing show, I was an instant fan of Danny Michel.

Danny did two sets on this night, playing such songs as "Sad And Beautiful World", "Tennessee Tobacco", "What Colour Are You?", "Feather,Fur & Fin","Wish Willy" among others. Danny Michel is a very engaging performer, telling funny and interesting stories before every song, his sense of humour is hilarious. His guitar playing is a very under rated, his voice sounded great even though it sounded like has was fighting the dryness of an Alberta winter. And the man can write a song. For his encore he did a couple of cover songs, one was the Dire Straits song "Walk Of Life" and an old Elvis song "The Shrimp Song". A great show and look forward to him coming through town again soon I hope. Good times!!!

Some live footage I took at the show.



A couple of pictures from the show.

Black Friday RSD Purchases

A few records I picked up on this Black Friday Record Store Day...

Barney Bentall and the Grand Cariboo Opry in Edmonton Nov.27th 2014

Last night I went to the Barney Bentall and the Grand Cariboo Opry show at the Myer Horowitz Theatre here in Edmonton. Even though there was a full on blizzard happening here, there were still some brave souls that made it out to the show, that includes all the musicians as well. Good on all those that did make it out to this concert.

This show that is billed as The Grand Cariboo Opry is a variety show that has been going for nine years now, raises money for charities. And to date has raised a quarter of a million dollars for a variety of charities. Tonight's show raised money for the Inner City Children's Program, and was presented by Schoena and Jason Strudwick, Jason was an Edmonton Oiler at one time in his hockey career (2009-2011).

The line-up for this years show included hosts Barney Bentall and Matt Masters, both of whom did a great job of MC'ing the evening. Also playing were Dustin Bentall, Kendel Carson, Ridley Bent, Leeroy Stagger and many others.

The show started with all of the musicians on stage and performing a song, and after that it was each member taking a turn cranking out a song, some were originals and some were cover songs. Had a good laugh when Jason Strudwick and his wife Schoena took the stage and sang "Wagon Wheel".

All the musicians on this stage were incredible, I really thought fiddle player Kendel Carson was good, cute too!!! And the main reason I was there was to see Leeroy Stagger perform. He only did a couple of songs himself, one of them being "Highway Is My Home" from his Easton Stagger Philips album, and he also did a song called "Something Beautiful" which was really good too.

The evening ended with everyone on stage doing the Corin Raymond song "3000 Miles" a great way to close out the night. All in all a fun night of music. And a big thank you to Leeroy Stagger for the free tickets. Good times!!!

Barney Bentall and Matt Masters.

Jason and Schoena Strudwick.

Ridley Bent.

Kendel Carson.

Leeroy Stagger.

Dustin Bentall.

Other pictures from the show.

Throwback Thursday... Black Crowes

A couple of posters from Black Crowes shows I have seen.

Mike McDonald at the Blue Chair Nov.21st 2014

On Friday evening I went to the Blue Chair Café here in Edmonton to see Mike McDonald, lead singer of Jr.Gone Wild play a solo show as he was celebrating the release of his first solo album. The album is called Live at the Blue Chair Café which was recorded in January of this year. A show in which I was at as well.

Opening the show was local artist Kimberley MacGregor. She too was doing a solo set as she usually has a back-up band, or so I have read. She seemed very excited and giddy about being asked to open this show. Kim mentioned having seen Mike McDonald years ago when Mike hosted the open mic event on Sundays at the old Rose Bowl pizza joint in downtown Edmonton.

She put on a great show in her half hour set. Kim has got an amazing voice, very strong and soulful. I look forward to seeing her perform with her band. Great opening set.

Kimberley MacGregor at the Blue Chair Café.

Next up was Mike McDonald who has had a busy year with shows with his band Jr.Gone Wild doing festival dates all summer and the odd club date here and there, and now with the release of his solo album. The venue was sold out, so a crowd of about a hundred people.

Having seen his show at the same venue earlier this year. Mike seemed a lot looser on this night, which is understandable. As the last time he was being recorded for his live solo album. Talking to Mike before the show he mentioned he was fighting a cold, but you couldn't tell as his performance was excellent on this night. Mike told some great stories before some of the songs, which included mostly solo stuff, but he even pulled out a JGW song and A Bunch Of Marys song "Living On The Northside" (another band of his). A couple titles of the songs were "The Longest Song In The Universe", "Relevant Moments" one of my faves, "Fifty Dollar Whore". A great show, and I look forward to more solo shows from Mike McDonald.

Mike McDonald at the Blue Chair Café.

If you are looking to pick up his album, it is available at his record store Permanent Records in Edmonton 8126 Gateway Blvd NW or get in touch with him at (780)988-2112.

Throwback Thursday... The Sadies

Some posters from The Sadies shows I have been too.

The Highway Kind Live Nov.15th 2014

On Saturday afternoon I made my way to the Wunderbar to catch a free show with two bands, both of whom I had never heard before. First band of the afternoon was an Edmonton band called The Deadly. They are a new band and currently have one song available on there bandcamp page which can be found here. Their half hour set on this afternoon was quite good. They play a punk rock style of music. Worth checking out.

The Deadly at Wunderbar.

Headliner for this show was a Vancouver band called The Highway Kind, who have been opening several shows for the smalls reunion tour. Looks like this afternoon show was a warm up show for there opening slot later Saturday night for the smalls.

There wasn't a huge crowd for this show, but decent enough. The band The Highway Kind are a three piece band made up of former members of such bands as The Black Halos and Black Mountain. Matthew Camirand on guitar, with Cristin Heck on bass and rounded out by drummer Mark Karpinski play a groove heavy type of music with a touch of psychedelic, a lot like Black Mountain actually. I really dug there groove and look forward to hearing more from this band.

Always cool to catch some live music on a Saturday afternoon at my favorite bar. Some beers, live music, and a free show makes for a great way to spend an afternoon. Good times!!!

The Highway Kind at the Wunderbar.

The smalls. in Edmonton Nov.14th 2014

On Friday night I went to the Starlite Room to catch the second of four sold out shows of local metal band The smalls. on there Slight Return reunion tour. This was my fourth time seeing the band and second time this year, having seen them play the Sonic Boom Festival in the summer.

This time around The smalls headlined of course and played an hour and half set. The band sounded much tighter this time around, not hard to tell they have been touring and rehearsing. The crowd was pumped for this show, with lots of drunks stumbling, drinking and carrying on. Lead singer Mike Caldwell sounded great and has one of the most unique and interesting vocal deliveries ever. Terry Johnson on drums sounded even better this time around compared to the summer show, as did Corb Lund on bass, they were really on on this night holding down the back end, and then there is guitarist Dug Bevans who is an absolute riff master, he sounded fucking awesome. The band played pretty much everything a fan would want to hear on Friday night. An absolute killer show. Good times!!!

The smalls. at Starlite Room.

Opening band Royal Tusk also from Edmonton was a terrible choice for opening this show. I didn't care for them at all, and found most of the audience felt the same way, as I went out for a smoke during their set, as did many others. Not a fan.

Royal Tusk at Starlite Room.

It was nice to finally see a piece of vinyl from The smalls. This is a double album they just released call Selected Works, which is basically a best of album, very cool.

Throwback Thursday...Wilco

Some Wilco posters from shows I have been to.

Throwback Thursday...KISS

A few posters from KISS shows I have seen over the years.

Gordon Lightfoot in Edmonton Nov.2nd 2014

On Sunday my Cuz and I went to the Canadian singer/songwriter folk legend Gordon Lightfoot concert here in Edmonton at the Jubilee Auditorium. I was looking forward to seeing Gord in concert as I had never seen him before and at seventy-five years old, you don't know how much longer he will be performing. I remember growing up on his music, having heard my parents play his music and then of course hearing it on the radio a lot.

Gordon Lightfoot played two sets on this evening, the first one being about 45 minutes, what surprised me about the first set was him performing his biggest hit "Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald", I figured he would leave that til the encore, but nope. And I have to say, it didn't sound all that good. Another song I was really looking forward to hearing "Sundown" in which he did do, that too did not sound good, actually it was a mess, right from the get go. I hate to say it, but there is no way to sugar coat it, Gord just doesn't have the voice anymore. He seemed to mumble the words at times and just doesn't have the delivery he once did. After all the man has had his health issues. He looked healthy and even joked about the rumours of his demise years ago.

After a twenty minute break, Gord and his band came back for the second set, and it was more of the same. I even saw a few people leave during the intermission. Probably because they had heard the one song they really wanted to. My Cuz and I toughed it out for about a half hour or so, before we looked at each other and just knew it was time to leave and go for a few beers. All and all it wasn't a very good show, not in my eyes anyways, sad but true. Sometimes, musicians just don't know when there time has come.

Gordon Lightfoot at the Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton.