Altameda Live at The Aviary May 10th 2019

Last Friday Buzzard and I went to the Altameda and Calvin Love show at The Aviary. And as always, I had to see Altameda again.

It was cool to see this show at The Aviary, a cool little venue that was packed for this show, even for opener Calvin Love.

We got to the venue just as Calvin Love came on. Calvin is also an Edmonton musician. He was performing solo for this show. I had never heard his music before and after about three songs, I don't think I will again either. Not really my kind of music. His music is a mix of folky, kinda jazzy and melancholy. I just found it to be rather boring. But lots of people there were digging it.

Now it was time for Altameda to play. This would be my tenth time seeing them in concert. It's been a while since these guys have played a headlining show here in their hometown. This show was a kick off party for their upcoming summer tour. They will be playing some shows in Ontario in early July opening for The Sheepdogs, which is a great slot for them. I'm sure they will win over some fans on that tour.

Altameda seemed to really be rocking it out at this show, or maybe it was just because of the small venue, but man, they were tight and full on. Their new album Time Hasn't Changed You which came out in January is probably my favorite record of the year so far. They played lots from the album such as "Time Hasn't Changed You", "Run Away On You (Again)", "Losing Sleep", "Rolling Back To You", "Bowling Green" and also throwing in a couple of old songs from their debut album Dirty Rain. Off that album they played "Borrowed Suit, Secondhand Dress", "Dirty Rain" and "Queen Of The Street".

Even when lead singer Troy Snaterse straps on the acoustic guitar you would think things would slow down a bit but that's not the case at all. A very rocking show from start to finish. To close out the show Altameda did a great version of the Paul McCartney song "Coming Up". What a great show and big thank you to The Aviary for guest list. Good times!!!

Also a congratulations to the guys in Altameda for their feature in an ATB (Alberta Treasury Branch) commercial. This commercial has been playing through out the NHL playoffs in Alberta.


Altameda.

Horse Feathers Live in Edmonton May 5th 2019

Last Sunday my buddy Buzzard and I went to the Horse Feathers concert at Station On Jasper.

We missed the opener Amanda Penner.

Headlining the evening was the band Horse Feathers which is a four piece band, led by Justin Ringle on vocals and guitar who is based in Astoria, Oregon as is Nathan Crockett on violin, rounded out by J.Tom Hnatow on bass and pedal steel and drummer Robby Cosenza who are from Lexington, Kentucky.

I just started listening to this band about six months ago with the release of their sixth album Appreciation which is a great album and more upbeat then their previous albums. I was surprised to see them playing way up north here in Edmonton so I was not going to miss this show, even though it was on a damn Sunday. Which is probably why there was such a small turnout for the show. My guess would be about 30-40 people, but that didn't stop the band from putting on a great show. This was the last show of this leg of their tour.

Horse Feathers play a mix of folk / country style music, but it's Justin's distinct vocals and lyrics that really make this band, mind you the rest of the band hold their own too. The violin playing is stellar as is the drumming and bass playing. The hour long set was mostly made up from songs from their latest album Appreciation, opening with the upbeat song "Without Applause". There were only a couple older songs which got a good rise out of the small but appreciative crowd. At one point in the show the violin played Nathan brought out a saw and played the violin on that, that's something you don't see everyday. All and all this was an excellent show and really hope to see Horse Feathers make their way up here again soon.

Because I had booked the Monday off from work I decided to hang around after the show a bit and got to hang out with the drummer Robby and violinist Nathan, both super nice guys and fun to have a few drinks and smokes with. Good times!!!

Horse Feathers.

T-shirt.

Matt Andersen Live in Edmonton April 27th 2019

On Saturday night Janis, Buzzard, Mook, Erin, Allen and I went to the Matt Andersen concert at the Jubilee Auditorium. I was looking forward to this show as I had never seen Matt in concert before and have only recently started getting in to his music. Having heard his music on CKUA and reading a bit about him, I picked up his album on Record Store Day, his newest one Halfway Home By Morning and really like it, great album. I actually ended up winning tickets on RSD to this show as well, so that was a bonus.

Opening the show was a band from Toronto called Wild Rivers. I had never heard them before but got to the venue early to check them out. They are a four piece band led by Khalid Yassein on vocals who play a folk-pop kind of music. I was impressed with her vocals, and the song writing was alright too. Overall though would I go out of my way to see them again, probably not.

Wild Rivers.

Next up was headliner Matt Andersen who hails from New Brunswick, playing with Matt this time around was the four piece horn section The Mellotones who are from Halifax, making it a nine piece band for this show. Matt opened the show with the song "Free Man" from his latest album. The first thing you notice about Matt is he is a big man with a big voice, that and he makes a big guitar look small. Most of his almost two hour long set was made up of songs from the Half Way Home By Morning album. Watching and listening to him and his band reminded me a lot of The Band, which is funny because about half way through the show Matt and his band did a cover of "Ophelia" which sounded awesome. He also did a three song acoustic set, which also sounded great. I really enjoyed the show with no slow or boring parts through the whole show. For the encore he did the Neil Young song "Helpless" in which he had the audience singing along with him. Not only was Matt and his band excellent but he was also quite funny joking that there aren't many jobs where you want people yelling at you other then being a stripper or a musician, saying "I bet your glad I picked being a musician". I figured being a big man like Matt that he would be sitting on a stool playing but he didn't sit down once through the whole show. A very impressive concert and musician/band I would certainly go see again. Good times!!!

Matt Andersen and The Mellotones.

T-shirt front.

Back.

Real Sickies & Napalmpom at 9910 March 15th 2019

It's been over a week already since I went to the Real Sickies and Napalmpom show at 9910. Also on the bill was a band called the 20/20's. This was my first time going to this venue in downtown Edmonton. It's a pretty cool room for a show, it is in a basement and is a nice open venue with great sight lines and sound.

The first band of the evening was local band the 20/20's which is a band led by Dana Robertson who used to front a band called Punched Unconscious. This four piece band were loud and reminded me of the Ramones. A great band to get the night started. Lead singer Dana had all the moves and shouted his head off. I thought their set ran a little long, but was still good.

20/20's.

Next up was Calgary band Napalmpom. This would be my third time seeing them live, and as always, so much fun. They are all the classic rock fun you expect rolled into one, all that with a punk edge as well. Great songs, good vibes, awesome energy and the guys look to be having a blast on stage.

Napalmpom setlist and pictures.

Headliner of the night was Edmonton punkers Real Sickies. this was my fourth time seeing them in concert. Led by Ben Disaster on vocals with two guitar players this time around. Last time I saw them which wasn't long ago, they only had one guitarist and he was brand new. But this time around they had their original guitar player back with the new guy. It was good to see them back as a five piece band. If you are looking for 70's influenced punk rock this is the band. High energy, especially from Ben. He such a great lead man, that you can't help but get into the music. The crowd was very much into it as they were moshing around like crazy. I fuckin' love this band and am always up for seeing them play. A very fun night of Alberta punk rock. Good times!!!

Real Sickies set list and pictures.

Lynyrd Skynyrd Live in Edmonton March 12th 2019

Last Tuesday Buzzard, Janis and I attended the Lynyrd Skynyrd Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour at Rogers Place. I was hesitant about going to this show as there is only one original member left in the band, but I heard nothing but good things about their show the previous times they have come through town, and Janis bought me a ticket for my up-coming birthday, so I was going now.

Opening the show was Canadian legend Randy Bachman who has played in the Guess Who and BTO previously. This time around he is touring with his own solo band. This would be my third time seeing Randy play solo. And he didn't disappoint at all. Opening the show with the Bachman Turner Overdrive song "Roll On Down The Highway", then into another BTO song "Let It Ride". We were of to a great start, it was one classic Canadian AM/FM classic rock after another. Lots of Guess Who songs as well such as "No Sugar Tonight", "American Woman" and "Laughing". Joining Randy in his band was his son Tal Bachman who did his one big song "She's So High". Randy and his band closed their hour long set with the BTO classic "Takin' Care of Business". A great opening set that had the crowd singing along and warmed up good for the headliners.

Randy Bachman's setlist.

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Randy Bachman Band.

Now it was time for southern rockers from Jacksonville, Florida, Lynyrd Skynyrd. The only original member left in the band is co-founder guitarist Gary Rossington. On vocals was Johnny Van Zant who took over vocals in 1987 when the band reformed after the death of his brother Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and backup singer Cassie Gaines died in an airplane crash in 1977 just after the release of their album Street Survivors. Also joining the band and a long time member was Rickey Medlocke on guitar who played briefly in the band in the early 70's. He has been back in the band since the reformation in 1987.

The band opened with the song "Workin' for MCA" and after that it was classic southern rock for the hour and a half show. It was like listening to a best of album "What's Your Name", "That Smell", "Saturday Night Special", "Simple Man" you get the idea, just great musicianship from the whole band. I thought Johnny Van Zant did a great job on vocals keeping the spirit of Johnny alive and well. I really liked the cover of J.J. Cale's "Call me The Breeze". Last song of the set before encore was "Sweet Home Alabama" which had the crowd on their feet as they were for most of the night. For the encore of course they did "Free Bird", but what was really cool is that they had on the big screen behind them archive footage of Ronnie Van Zant singing, with the band playing along, while his hat rested on the vacated mic stand. Along with that they had old photos of the band, paying respect to all those that have been in the band. A great night of badass southern rock. Way better then I was expecting. Good times!!!

Checkout the setlist.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Rickey Medlocke and Gary Rossington.