March 31st

  It was on this day March 31st, 2012 that I saw Murder By Death with opening acts Big John Bates and Fire Next Time play the new City Legion here in Edmonton. A great triple bill this was.

October 15th

 The gig poster for the time I saw Big John Bates play New City Legion in Edmonton on October 15th, 2011. Opening acts for this show were all local bands A Bunch Of Marys which was a band fronted by Mike McDonald of Jr. Gone Wild, Fire Next Time and Whiskey Rose.

5 Years Ago Today...October 15th

It was five years ago today that I saw Gogol Bordello in concert at the Edmonton Event Centre.

And it was two years ago today that I saw Big John Bates with local bands A Bunch Of Marys and Fire Next Time play New City Legion here in Edmonton.

26 Years Ago Today...Mar.31st

It was twenty-six years ago today that myself and a couple of buddies made the trip to Calgary and saw Alice Cooper play the Saddledome.





As well, it was twnety-three years ago today that I saw BTO play the Convention Centre here in Edmonton.





And...it was a year ago today that I saw Murder By Death with Big John Bates and Fire Next Time play New City Legion here in Edmonton.





Stats for the month of March...
I have been to shows 22 out of the 31 days in the month of March.
And have seen 47 different shows out of them 31 days.

Murder By Death in Edmonton 03/31/2012

Saturday night my buddy Hurl and I went to New City Legion to see Bloomington, Indiana band Murder By Death headline a show with openers Big John Bates from Vancouver and local band Fire Next Time.

We got there early as I really wanted to see Fire Next Time play. I had seen lead singer James Renton play solo a few times and was looking forward to seeing him play with the full band (Fire Next Time). They didn't disappoint, playing a rocking 40 minute set. The band consists of James on acoustic guitar and vocals (this guy can play and sing) the guitar takes a beating while he plays and the man can sing, lots of emotion and heart, very impressive. A mix between an angry Steve Earle and William Elliot Whitmore. Also in the band and sounding great are Ryan Mick on lead guitar, Laine Cherkewick on banjo, Mikey McCaffrey on bass and rounded out by the big guy on drums Randall Thurman who bangs the drums like a young John Bonham. For an opening band they had a great turn out with a lot of people there early to see this band. The only complaint I have, was I thought the banjo could have been a little higher in the mix.

Fire Next Time.



James Renton of Fire Next Time.





Next on the bill were Vancouver band Big John Bates, led by of course John Bates on guitar and vocals with Bill Dozer on drums and Brandy Bones on the stand up bass. This was my second time seeing them live within the past year. I don't have a whole lot to say about them. Just not really a fan of there mesh of psycho billy blues music. The crowd seemed to really enjoy them, but if it weren't for Brandy on the bass looking good and her antics. I'm not so sure they would be as popular as they are. Not a fan.

Brandy Bones of the Big John Bates Band.



The headliner of the evening were Murder By Death to a packed venue by this time. This was my second time seeing them as well, having seen them open for Gaslight Anthem a few years ago. I was impressed with them then, and to see them play an intimate venue like New City Legion was going to be a treat. With a name like Murder By Death, you might expect a heavy thrash/death metal band, but not here. This is an awesome band that plays a moody country, rockabilly, blues/rock style of music. It's actually kind of hard to describe what they sound like, other then to say they are a very interesting sounding band. Lead singer and guitar player Adam Turla has a unique voice which suits these songs wickedly, Sarah Balliet adds a unique sound as well on cello,(not that I could see her from where I was standing) one of the few rock bands I am sure that incorporates cello in to there music, Dagan Thogerson on drums was good as was Matt Armstrong on bass and Scott Brackett on keyboards and accordion. While I have liked there albums, they are a much better band live. Some of the songs I recognized were "Pizza Party" a short song, "You Don't Miss Twice (When You Shave With A Knife)", "Steal Away", "Ball And Chain" and a cover song of Golden Earing's song "Radar Love". I was blown away by Murder By Death this time and look forward to seeing them again.

While I like the venue, unless you are in the very front of the stage it is damn hard to see anything other then the top of the musicians heads, being in a basement this club, it's got a very low stage cause of the low ceiling. Also, why the venue would leave the big screen and the couple of TV's on showing skate boarding videos while the band is playing is beyond me. That's just plain stupid and lacks respect towards the bands you have booked at your venue. No one was there to watch videos. All and all though, a great night of music. Good times!!!

Murder By Death.







T-shirt.

Big John Bates w/ A Bunch Of Marys In Concert 10/15/11

Last Friday my buddy Hurl and I went to see Big John Bates play at New City Legion in Edmonton. The main reason I went tot his show was to see local band A Bunch Of Marys again. I had just seen the band for the first time a couple of weeks ago, but was blown away and brought a friend with me this time to see them.

The first band of the evening was local band Whiskey Rose whom are a wanna be glam band. I don't have to much to say about them,other then they had the plug pulled on them after about forty minutes and a terrible cover of The Stones song "Honky Tonk Woman". Keep at it boys, you can only get better.

The next band was local band Fire Next Time, a band I had never seen or heard before. Not sure why, but the band didn't play as a whole, it ended up just being the lead singer James Renton on an acoustic guitar singing and strumming the guitar like a motherfucker and singing his heart out. He reminded me of William Elliot Whitmore and Nick Cave wrapped up in one. I was quite impressed with his short twenty minute set. I am looking forward to checking out his full band.

James Renton of Fire Next Time.


Next band up was A Bunch Of Marys also from Edmonton. The band is led by Mike McDonald who also used to front the Edmonton band Junior Gone Wild in the early 90's. This was my second time seeing the band play live within a few weeks. Again they put on a great show playing the same set as they did last time. This is a band well worth checking out.

Mike McDonald of A Bunch Of Marys.




The headliner of the evening was Vancouver band Big John Bates. This was my first time seeing the band perform live, and have to say they were pretty damn good. They play a punk/blues style of music. They are three piece band consisting of Brandy Bones on upright bass and Hagberg on drums. Brandy on the bass was entertaining climbing all over her bass as she played. All and all a fun band to see. Also, something I didn't realize, Big John Bates was the original singer the Canadian thrash band Annihilator from the early 90's. Hurl and I had a good time at the show, with plenty of beers and a few shots of whiskey. Good times!!! They had a decent turn out or the show, which was nice to see. Keep supporting live music everyone.

Big John Bates.


Brandy Bones.


Big John again.


As well at the show I saw Chi Pig lead singer of the old Edmonton punk rock band SNFU talking with Mike McDonald, oh the stories they could tell about the Edmonton music scene of the 90's. I had the chance to talk to both of them, they were very gracious and took the time to let me take a picture of them together and then one of me with them as well. Very cool guys.

Mike McDonald and Chi Pig.