January 20th

  My ticket stub from the January 20th, 2018 Metz concert at the Starlite Roomm in Edmonton. Opening the show were two great local act, Slates and Dead Fibres. Wicked triple bill.

January 14th

 

 The concert ad for the time I saw the Canadian comedy duo MacLean & MacLean at Peoples Pub in Edmonton on January 14th, 1992. These brothers Gary and Blair were absolutely fuckin' hilarious.

Mike McDonald Live in Edmonton January 10th 2026

 

 On Saturday afternoon I got out to see Mike McDonald, the lead singer of Edmonton's Junior Gone Wild play a free solo/acoustic show at the Cask & Barrel. I didn't know about this show until Saturday morning while out for a walk down Whyte Avenue when I saw a poster for the show. So ya, promoters and venues, putting up posters for your show does work! 

 With the weather being bearable on Saturday I decided to make my way downtown to catch the show. I didn't get there until almost 4, so I'm thinking I'll have to stand for this show as every time I have seen Mike play this venue the place has been packed. Much to my surprise there was almost no one there, maybe a dozen people, very weird for a free show on a nice day and free to boot. The Cask & Barrel do a free afternoon show every Saturday.

 This would be my 12th time seeing Mike play a solo show. He did two sets with the first set comprising mostly of cover songs, many which I didn't recognize. After a short break Mike came back for his second set, this set he did a lot of his solo material, songs such as "Longest Song In The Universe", "Slept All Afternoon" and "Fifty Dollar Whore". He also played some Jr. Gone Wild songs including "Fool's Errand", "The Last One" and "Five Million Songs", those are the ones I remember anyways. Mike also told a funny story about his band Jr. Gone Wild opening for Meat Loaf back in the day. In the second set he also did a cool cover of the Warren Zevon song "Lawyers, Guns and Money". Even with a small audience, Mike still put on a great show. Always good to see Mike perform. Good times!!!

Mike McDonald.

January 8th

  My ticket stub from the January 8th, 2013 Blue Rodeo show I saw at the Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton.  This was their 25th anniversary tour.

40 Years Ago Yesterday (January 3rd 1986)

 Wow, it is truly hard to believe that it was 40 years ago already that my buddy Nerraw and I saw Dio live at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton on the Sacred Heart Tour. Opening the show was Swedish/American guitar wanker Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force.

 The day of the show Yngwie did an autograph session at A&A Records and Tapes in West Edmonton Mall. Of course my buddy and I and my brother made our way to the mall to meet him. Yngwie got called a guitar wanker in a lot of magazines at the time for his neoclassical guitar playing putting a spin on heavy metal. After meeting him in person, he is a wanker! It felt like he would rather be anywhere but there for the autograph session. He was ignorant and had no time for anyone, still got his autograph but certainly turned me off on being a fan of his.

 This show was a few months before my 16th birthday and only my sixth concert ever, and the first time having floor seats at a coliseum show (row 8). Other firsts for me at this show was experiencing a laser show, a fire and smoke breathing dragon and being close enough that I could look the musicians in the eye, see their facial expressions, the sweat running down their faces and the beat of the music running through my body. It really was life changing, from this show on, all I ever wanted was floor seats and of course the closer the better. And for a lot of years, that's just what I got. Ya, we had to line up overnight for concert tickets in order to get good seats, but that was part of the concert experience back then. And most times then line ups were a hell of a lot of fun. This was before bands had screens on the side of the stage to watch the show, you really did need good seats to see the band up and close.

 When Ronnie James Dio and his band hit the stage, I remember being blown away by the elaborate stage set up. Castles on each side of the stage, the drums on a big riser that looked like rocks, the biggest light show I had seen at the time and then of course the fire and smoke breathing dragon with bright red eyes. Dio were on the road promoting there third album Sacred Heart, which I thought was an amazing album. I also recall being surprised by how small Ronnie was, especially when he had the sword in his hand and battling the dragon. And being that close to the stage I also remember how hot it was when the dragon breather fire, this was so fucking cool to my teenage eyes, and to this day, still is.

 Ronnie and his band played a very mixed set, I believe they opened with "King Of Rock N' Roll" the opening track from the Sacred Heart album. Great way to start a show. They even played a couple of  Rainbow songs "Long Live Rock N' Roll" and "Man On The Silver Mountain", which of course is the band Ronnie fronted in the 70's before his stint in Black Sabbath and going solo. I think they only did one Sabbath song, that being "Heaven And Hell", I know they did that one for sure. And then of course lots of Dio songs from their two previous albums Holy Diver and The Last In Line. Of course during the show their were the obligatory solos, guitar, drums, keyboards, it was the 80's every show had these. I'll always remember how strong and unique Ronnie's vocals were and his band was stellar as well. Rounding out the band was Ronnie's former Sabbath mate Vinnie Appice on drums, Jimmy Bain on bass, Claude Schnell on keyboards and Vivian Campbell on guitar.

 Dio released a live album and video from this tour called Intermission which was recorded in Philadelphia on December 6th, 1985 and released in June 1986. I wish I still had my VHS copy of this but sadly I don't. I do however still have my vinyl copy. The cover is a little worse for wear but the vinyl still plays nice.

 My t-shirt from this show. Even though the show was in early 1986, the back of the t-shirt still has the Sacred Heart Tour 1985.

 I've also still got the tour program from that show.

 It was right after seeing this show that I joined the Dio Fan Club. I wish I still had the membership card and some of the newsletters I got in the mail, but sadly I don't. What I still do have are the autographed pictures I received. These I will always cherish!

 And this one. If this framed picture could tell stories, oh my, the stories it could tell. My friends will know what I'm talking about.

 I only ever got to see Ronnie James Dio one other time and that was on March 13th, 2007 when he came through town with Heaven And Hell which was Black Sabbath under a different name.

Rest In Peace Ronnie!

Favourite USED Albums of 2025

 

 First off, Happy New Years to all! Thank you so much for taking the time to checkout my music blog, whether you are new to the site or check on a regular basis, I thank you!

 Because I don't buy as many new releases as I once did, I thought I would do a top ten list of used records I picked up in 2025. I bought way more used records last year than new ones, as new albums are getting super expensive and I'm always checking out the used record sections in my local record shops, garage sales, thrift shops, record swaps, collector shows and friends. Digging through a crate of records regardless where, is always an adventure, the thrill of the chase or find. 

 Here are my top ten finds of 2025 in no order.

Metal Church - Metal Church (1984)

 An original pressing on Banzai Records. I actually got this album gifted to me from my buddy Nazz for Xmas in 2024, but I didn't get around to listening to it until last year, therefore it makes my top ten of 2025. A classic thrash metal album.

SNFU - ...And No One Else Wanted To Play (1985)

 Edmonton punk band SNFU's debut album on BYO Records. I'm no expert on this stuff but from what I understand this is a fourth cover variation. Thanks to my buddy Scott for this copy.

 Richard Thompson - Hand Of Kindness (1983)

 An original pressing of this release on Hannibal Records by this awesome English singer/songwriter. This is a musician that my buddy Buzzard turned me onto 30 years ago. Have always liked this album and was very happy to find it on vinyl.

 Johnny Winter - The Winter Of '88 (1988)

 Another great find, some classic Johnny Winter. This was the album he was touring for the first time I saw Johnny in concert.

 Bad Brains - I Against I (1986)

 The third release from this Washington, DC hardcore punk, reggae band. An album I have always enjoyed and was happy to find a used copy for a decent price. This is a 2008 reissue. 

  Rush - Grace Under Pressure (1984)

 Always thought I had this record on vinyl until I looked at my list, have it on CD and cassette but no vinyl, well I wasn't gonna miss out on this, a original pressing at a good price. Very happy to have this.

Girl - Wasted Youth (1982)

 I picked this one up at a garage sale for three dollars. When I got it, I was just thinking I know this band for some reason but nothing was clicking. As I'm listening to the album, I'm thinking I recognize this voice. After a few songs it all came to me, Phillip Lewis of L.A. Guns is  the lead singer before he joined them, and on guitar is Phil Collen who would later go onto join Def Leppard. A great British glam rock record.

 Faces - A Nod Is As Good As A Wink...To A Blind Horse (1971)

 Another band my buddy Buzzard turned me onto many years ago. I have this album on CD but had to have a vinyl copy. I was reading a Faces biography at the time, so i really wanted a copy of this on vinyl. Well, lo and behold I stop at the local record shop Blackbyrd Myoozik and have a look at the used records as I always do, and I found a copy. Such a great rock n' roll record!

Motorhead - Iron Fist (1982)

 Why I never had this album on any format is beyond me. I could've sworn I did, but nope. So, wasn't going to let this copy pass me by. An absolute classic album!

Joan Jett - The First Sessions (2015 RSD Release)

 I'm a big fan of Joan Jett so when I saw this in the used bins I had to do a double look. I don't recall this album from Record Store Day. Demos and such from 1979.