Well look at me doing a review in a timely fashion. Friday night my buddy Nazz and I went to see the all Canadian triple bill of The Tea Party, Headstones and Finger Eleven at Rogers Place here in Edmonton. When this show was first announced I was quite surprised that it was booked at the hockey arena Rogers Place. I didn't think these bands could fill the venue, but they had the venue as a concert bowl set up. So the stage was moved up and the upper bowl of the venue except at the very back cordoned off. The show actually drew a decent crowd, my guess would be 5-6,000 people. Also with this show when I saw the ad for it, to me it looked like Finger Eleven were the headliners the way the ad is with F11 with top billing, which I thought would be wrong if they were headlining. Would have been okay with me as I could have left early as I have never been a fan of the band.
First band of the evening was Burlington, Ontario's Finger Eleven (formerly known as Rainbow Butt Monkeys). I had never seen them before and for good reason, still not a fan. Boring middle of the road CanCon alt-rock. Hard to believe all the bands on this bill have been around for thirty plus years, with F11 forming in 1990. Led by lead singer Scott Anderson who I find doesn't have the best stage presence or voice. But hey, that's just my opinion, as lots of people there were sure digging them. They played a song that I now know is called "Paralyzer" and have heard many times and have always really disliked the song, not knowing it was an F11 song. That was our cue to go grab a beer and look at merch and walk around the concourse, we walked around the concourse so many times we were like two old men doing laps at Bonnie Doon Mall for exercise. One of their guitar players Rick Jackett is a freak on the guitar, it's more a hula hoop than a guitar to him, he was constantly spinning it around his body, throwing it in the air, I don't think he had the guitar strap on his shoulder for most of the show. After a while it was just ridiculous. So ya, still not a fan and their hour long set felt a shit load longer than that.
Next up was the Headstones from Kingston, Ontario. This was the main reason for wanting to go to the show. This would be my third time seeing them in concert and first time in thirty years. Back in 1994 the band played People's Pub here in Edmonton opening for I Mother Earth. I didn't know who they were at the time but I got asked by a buddy of mine that DJ'd at the bar if I cared to come down to the show and look after the merch booth. Hell ya, free show. I'll never forget that first time seeing the Headstones. They came out and absolutely rocked the fuck out of the place. They were more punk than a straight up rock band. Lead singer Hugh Dillon was full of attitude and a stage presence that kept you on your toes. They blew me away that night. I then saw the band again in 1995 opening for The Watchmen at the Edmonton Convention Centre, again another great show. But then I went thirty years without seeing them again.
Hugh Dillon and the band hit the stage in a cloud of smoke and red lightning opening with the Traveling Wilburys song "Tweeter And The Monkey Man" which was a huge hit for them. Hugh still looks in intimidating and still has a very powerful voice, and it didn't take him long before he was in among the crowd singing like a banshee, and working the audience. Wow, hell of a way to start a show.
I'll be honest and admit I haven't bought a Headstones album since their third album 1997's Smile & Wave. I've listened to some of the newer material and like them, just haven't purchased any. The second song of the night was a newer one called "Leave It All Behind" from their 2019 release Peopleskills. I was really hoping to hear some of the old stuff and I wasn't let down, with them playing a few songs from their 1993 debut album Pictures Of Health, the two songs from that one were "When Something Stands For Nothing" which still kicks ass, and the other song being "Three Angels".
Hugh Dillon ventured into the crowd more than a few times during the show, I bet he spent at thirty percent of the show among the crowd, even going up into the seated area all the way up to the concourse all the while singing like a madman. The band did a a few medleys in the setlist, one of the medleys included a snippet of the Tragically Hip song "New Orleans Is Sinking" seguing into "House Of The Rising Sun" and the Stones song "Sympathy For The Devil". I think it was during this medley that Hugh talked about growing up in Kingston, Ontario and being friends with Gord Downie of the Hip and being encouraged by the band to keep doing what the Headstones were doing, and even mentioning buying half ounce bags of weed from Gord way back in the day. Cool little story I thought. They played a song from their latest album Burn All The Ships, a song called "Navigate" which was a rocker too.
They did another song I wasn't familiar with that intertwined with another bit of a Tragically Hip song "Blow At High Dough", again very cool. The Headstones closed out their hour long set with the song "Smile & Wave". Hugh is still full of piss and vinegar and is a very entertaining lead man, his band rocked the shit out of the place. The hour long set flew by very quickly. My only complaint is all the smoke and red lighting made it hard to see the embers on stage, it was like watching silhouettes all night. More white lighting to see the band better would have been nice. Minor complaint, overall a great show by the Headstones. Now I'd like to see them in a bar setting or outdoor venue like a festival or something. Good times!!!
Headlining the night was The Tea Party from Windsor, Ontario, so an all Ontario bill. This would be my 4th time seeing them in concert. The first time was back in 1993 and the last time in 1998 as part of Edge Fest in Calgary. So again, another band I hadn't seen in ages.
Was nice to see The Tea Party are still just a trio with all original members still in the band, Jeff Martin on vocals and guitar, Stuart Chatwood on bass and keys and rounded out by drummer Jeff Burrows. And man, Jeff Martin still looks the same as when I saw them in 1993.
Their music is very Zeppelin-ish with Middle Eastern influences. Jeff sounded great on vocals, actually the whole band sounded tight. I didn't recognize the opening song but it certainly no doubting it was Tea Party sounding. Second song into the hour long set was "Bazaar" from their third album The Edges Of Twilight. During the song "The Messenger" from their 1997 album Triptych in the middle of the song the band broke into the Tragically Hip song "Bobcaygeon", very cool. There is no doubt what an influence Gord Downie and The Hip are on Canadian rock n' roll. It was nice to hear a couple songs from their 1993 album Splender Solis which is my favourite album of theirs, with them playing "Winter Solstice" and "Save Me". A great set by The Tea Party, I just wish it was like the old days where the place was a big cloud and smell of weed. This is great stoner music, where you can just lose yourself in the music while high, but that just doesn't happen anymore in today's venues with the no smoking rules. All and all a great set by The Tea Party, was nice to see them perform again. Good times!!!
A BIG shout out to the Headstones team for guest list, much appreciated!
