September 30th

  

 On September 30th, 1992 I saw the very underrated Minneapolis band Boneclub play The Bronx in Edmonton.

September 29th

  

 It was on this date September 29th, 2017 that I saw Steve Earle & The Dukes play at River Cree Resort in Enoch, Alberta, just on the outskirts of Edmonton.

Social Distortion Live in Edmonton Sept.22nd 2024

 

 Last Sunday Cuz and I went to the Social Distortion show at the Midway Music Hall here in Edmonton. This would be my 6th time seeing them in concert. We have had the tickets for this show since May 2023. The show was originally scheduled for July 2023 but was postponed due to lead singer of Social D, Mike Ness being diagnosed with tonsil cancer. Thankfully Mike has made a full recovery and were able to make their way back up to Edmonton to play two sold out shows.

 Orange County, California's Social Distortion hit the stage opening with "So Far Away" from their self titled 1990 album. I was wondering how Mike Ness was going to sound after going through the health problems of last year, but happy to say Mike sounds like he always has, which is rough around the edges, just the way us Social D fans want. He also looked to be healthy and in good spirits. It seemed it took a few songs before the sound wasn't muddy, which is weird considering they had played the same venue the night before. But by the third song it was sounding good, or maybe it was just me getting used to the sound. Regardless, it was sounding better as the show went on. The band did a great job with their song selection doing at least one song from every album of theirs. They did two other songs from the self titled album including "Ball And Chain" and "Story Of My Life", the second last song of the night, which had the crowd singing along.

 It was awesome to hear "Mommy's Little Monster" and "Creeps" from their 1983 debut album. Like I say they did a great job of doing songs from almost all their albums. Have a look at the setlist and you will see. Ya, I'm getting lazy writing this review. As per usual, Mike and band closed out the show with a rocking version of Johnny Cash's "Ring Of Fire". A great night of old school punk rock.

Social D at Midway Music Hall.

 Opening the show was another California band The BellRays. I had never listened to the band until a few weeks before the show, and from what I listened to, I wasn't all that impressed. But I still wanted to see them live, so Cuz and I made sure to be there in time to see them. Well, I have to say they were much better live then on album. I didn't realize they had been around since 1990. A lot of the people in the crowd seemed to be into them. Lead singer Lisa Kekaula has got one hell of a voice and stage presence. Glad we caught them. Good times!!!

The BellRays.

T-shirt front.

Back.

September 28th

 

 I don't have a ticket stub for this show, but I do have the gig poster for the Compromise show I saw at Stars on September 28th, 2001 at Stars in Edmonton. Compromise was a Edmonton hardcore band making waves in the hardcore community. Sadly in June 2002 while on tour in Alabama the bands van was read ended by a drunk driver causing the van to crash killing two members (Daniel Langlois and Jordan Wodehouse) of the band. Jordan is the one on this poster. Lead singer Jesse Zaraska would go onto front Misery Signals.

September 27th

  

 My ticket stub from the time I saw Lowest Of The Low with openers Jr. Gone Wild play the Needle Vinyl Tavern here in Edmonton. A great double bill of two awesome Canadian bands.

September 26th

  

 On September 26th, 2009 I saw this stacked bill of Gaslight Anthem headlining with opening bands Murder By Death, The Loved Ones and Frank Turner play the Edmonton Event Centre. Such an amazing show from the first band to Gaslight.

September 25th

  

 On September 25th, 2012 I saw a great blues double bill. Buddy Guy headlining with opener Jonny Lang at the Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton.

September 24th

 

 It was on this day September 24th, 1990 that I saw Robert Plant on his Manic Nirvana Tour play Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton. Opening the show was The Black Crowes, which made this an incredible double bill.

September 23rd

 

 On September 23rd, 1995 I saw The Pursuit Of Happiness play the Power Plant in Edmonton. TPOH were touring for their album Where's The Bone?.

September 22nd

  

  It was on September 22nd, 2012 that I saw John Fogerty perform at Rexall Place in Edmonton.

September 21st

  

 September 21st, 2002 my buddy and I made the trip to Vernon, B.C. to visit our buddy Scotty (RIP) and to see The Tragically Hip with openers the Sam Roberts Band play the Vernon Multiplex. What an amazing weekend that was. Good times!!!

Marcus King Band Live in Edmonton September 7th 2024

 

  A couple of weeks ago my buddy Buzzard and I went to the Marcus King concert at the Midway music Hall here in Edmonton. This was my first time seeing a show at this venue, which is basically a long gutted warehouse, back in the day it used to be Barry T's for those that remember the 80's and 90's.

 Opening the show was singer/songwriter Leah Blevins from Kentucky now based in Nashville. She plays a country style of music with a touch of gospel. It was just her playing solo. Her music was alright but nothing I would rush out to buy. From where we were standing, there were too many people chatting more so then listening, so it was kind of hard to hear.

Leah Blevins.

 Headlining the evening was South Carolina blues-man Marcus King and his band. I had heard and read a lot of good things about Marcus, which got me to stream a few of his albums. After listening to his albums I wasn't all that impressed to be honest. The one album I did really like is his 2022 album Young Blood. Marcus is on the road touring for his latest album Mood Swings. Am album that I just can't get into. What got me into wanting to see Marcus in concert was catching him on an episode of Austin City Limits. The performance I watched was incredible, he was ripping it up on the guitar and his singing was awesome. After that episode, I knew I wasn't gonna miss him the next time he came through town. And now that time came.

 Marcus's style of music is a mix of blues, country, southern rock and contemporary blues. He opened his show with a rockin' tune but then the next couple songs were in the contemporary mood kind of blues, which to be honest, did nothing for me. I want to hear him rip it up with some rocking blues music. Marcus is a great guitar player and has an awesome voice, although I found the sound on this evening was muddy. The closer to the stage you got the better the sound. But when we were standing back, the sound wasn't great. He did play a few songs from his album Young Blood that I really wanted to hear such as "Lie,Lie,Lie" and "Good And Gone" and maybe another but I'm not real good with the song titles of his music, as I am new to his stuff for the most part. He also of course did some tunes from his latest album Mood Swings, like "Fuck My Life Up Again", that one I knew. There were a couple of cover songs thrown in to the set as well. All and all it was a good show and I'd go see him again. I'd love to see him play the blues festival here sometime, that would be a great addition. Good times!!!

Marcus King.