KISS Collectible Of The Day Nov.30th

Today's KISS Collectible is the 1979 studio album KISS released on Casablanca Records called "Dynasty" on vinyl. This album had the band going in a disco direction, if you can believe it. The biggest single from this album was the disco song "I Was Made For Loving You". This record came with a big poster of the band, my poster has seen better days, having been hung up many times in my youth.

Also on this album, Peter Criss did very little of the drum tracks, as he was falling into a substance abuse life style. Anton Fig did most of the drumming on Dynasty.

Front Cover.


Back Cover.


Inner Record Sleeve.


Vinyl.


Poster.

Concert Poster Of The Day Nov.30th (Cowboy Junkies)

Today's poster is from the Cowboy Junkies concert Nerraw,Chris and I went to in 1990 at The Myer Horowitz Theatre back in 1990. The opener for this show was Townes Van Zandt. This was a great venue for a mellow intimate show with these two bands. So mellow, that I almost fell asleep during Cowboy Junkies set, as we had smoked way too much before the show. The Cowboy Junkies were touring for their second album Caution Horses at the time.

KISS Collectible Of The Day Nov.29th

Today's KISS Collectible is the KISS Collector's Series Pint Glass 4 Pack put out in 2008 and distributed by ICUP Inc.

Concert Shirt Of The Day Nov.29th (Merle Haggard)

Today's t-shirt is from the first time I saw Merle Haggard in concert. This show was at The Skyreach Centre in Edmonton in 2001. I won row 2 on the floor tickets to this show from The Edmonton Journal. Opening act for this show was Carolyn Dawn Johnson, have to admit, I missed her set, busy having a few drinks before Merle came on. I went to this show with Hilary. Merle was touring for his "If I Could Only Fly" album.

Front.


Back.

KISS Collectible Of The Day Nov.28th

Today's KISS Collectible is an old KISS poster that came out in 1977 and distributed by Boutwell Enterprises. The poster is of KISS on top of the Empire State Building in New York City. The poster is 35"X23" in size. This has always been one of my favorite KISS posters.

Ticket Stub Of The Day Nov.28th (ELP)

Today's ticket stub is from the time I saw Emerson,Lake and Palmer play at the Jubilee Auditorium here in Edmonton in 1993. This was actually a pretty damn good concert, I used to work with a couple of brothers Dave and Allan back in the early 90's that got me into ELP. They played for close to three hours, at that time I was more a metal head and wasn't so sure if I would enjoy this concert. But have to say, I really did. Brain Salad Surgery, that has got to be one of the best album titles ever.

Big Sugar In Concert 11/27/10

Last night my buddy Hurl and I made our way to downtown Edmonton for the free outdoor Big Sugar concert that was part of the Grey Cup Festivities. This was my eleventh time seeing Big Sugar in concert, and the first time seeing them since New Years Eve of 2003 which was supposed to be their last show ever. The band reunited this summer for some festival shows, but never made there way here til this show. I wasn't so sure how much I was going to enjoy the show, having been getting into lead guitarists Gordie Johnson's new band Grady. Why I even questioned it, I don't know. Cause again, they put on an extremely excellent show. It was good to see Big Sugar together again with original members Mr. Chill (Kelly Hoppe) on harp,horns and backing vocals, the grooviest bass player ever Garry Lowe keeping the groove and of course Gordie Johnson on guitar, they had Safwan Javed from Wide Mouth Mason on drums.

The 75 minute set started with the song Brothers and Sisters, Are You Ready?, and from there we heard all the hits. So good to hear the old rock n' reggae music of Big Sugar again, the way they meld songs together and jam, brought back a lot of memories from previous shows I had seen from them. Other songs in the set were, Dear Mr. Fantasy (Traffic cover),the rocking Ride On, the awesome reggae beat of Diggin' A Hole, If I had My Way, Turn The Lights On, I'm A Ram, All Over Now, Sugar In My Coffee, Turn The Lights On and closing the night out with All Hell For A Basement which had the whole crowd singing along, then Gordie closing the night out with the Canadian National Anthem. You could tell by the end of the set it was getting a little chilly there up on stage and in the crowd, the temperature at dropped to about -10 degree celsius with the wind picking up as well. Ol' Gordie even mentioned that it was getting a little cold and hard to keep the guitar in tune. All and all a really fun night of great music from a band that never disappoints, and all for free. Good job on whoever selected Big Sugar to close out the downtown concert aeries for the Grey Cup festivities and thanks to Big Sugar for dealing with the elements and playing. I give this show a 10 out of 10. Good times!!!



Gordie Johnson.








Garry Lowe On Bass.






Mr. Chill On Harp.




Mr. Chill and Gordie.

Concert Shirt/Poster Of The Day Nov.27th (Steve Earle)

Today's concert shirt is from the Steve Earle concert I saw in 1998 at The Winspear Centre with Buddy and Julie Miller opening in Edmonton. Steve Earle was touring for his El Corazon album at the time, which is a great album by the way. Originaly the V Roys were supposed to open for this show but was changed after tickets went on sale. would love to have seen the V Roys. Nonetheless Buddy Miller was actually quite good, Buddy also played in Steve Earle's band on this tour.

Front.


Back.




My brother at the time was living in Calgary and saw the Steve Earle concert there and had the chance of meeting Steve. My bro was kind enough to get me an autograph from Steve Earle which I later got framed. Thanks again Citrus.

KISS Collectible Of The Day Nov.27th

Today's KISS Collectible is the KISS Ultra Action Figures again, put out by McFarlane Toys in 1997. This set of figurines each member came with a letter to spell out KISS. I just had to open this set to checkout what the extras were all about.

Ticket Stub Of The Day Nov.26th (Bruce Springsteen)

Today's ticket stub is from the time I saw Bruce Springsteen in concert here in Edmonton at Northlands Coliseum in 1992. At the time I wasn't really a fan of The Boss, but my buddy Buzzard talked me into going to the concert. After this 3 hour concert, I left the show being a big fan of Bruce. He put on an incredible show to a sold out crowd, that he had up on there feet from start to finish. While Bruce didn't have The E-Street Band with him on this tour, it was still an awesome show. I believe Bruce was touring for his Human Touch album at the time.





Setlist for Edmonton Concert.

Better Days
Local Hero
Lucky Town
Darkness on the Edge of Town
The Big Muddy
57 Channels (And Nothin' On)
Trapped Play
(Jimmy Cliff cover)
Badlands Play
Living Proof Play
If I Should Fall Behind
Leap of Faith
Man's Job Play
Roll of the Dice
Gloria's Eyes
Cover Me
Brilliant Disguise
Soul Driver
Souls Of The Departed
Born in the U.S.A.
Real World
Light Of Day
Encore:
Human Touch
Glory Days
Bobby Jean
Thunder Road
Born to Run
My Beautiful Reward

KISS Collectible Of The Day Nov.25th

Today's KISS Collectible is the Gene Simmons Ultra Action Figure put out by McFarlane Toys in 1997. This series of figurines came with the Gold Record and has the Gene Simmons solo album cover, that you can see in the bottom left hand corner. Gene's figurine comes with the axe bass guitar and a winged snake on a battle staff. The Gene figure is my favorite of the four.

Front.


Instructions on how to make Gene an Ultra Action Figure.


Back.

Gordie Johnson Guitar Clinic 11/24/10

So, yesterday Grady was playing in town (Edmonton) at Union Hall, but I wasn't able to make it to the show. But lucky me, walking to work yesterday morning I noticed a poster in the window of Avenue Guitars advertising a guitar clinic by Gordie Johnson of Grady at The Varscona Hotel that same evening. Well after work I rushed home downed a couple of cold ones and made my way to The Varscona for the clinic.

It was just Gordie in a small room with about 30 people in attendance, watching and listening to him play an acoustic guitar, very intimate and very awesome. He opened with the Big Sugar song "All Hell For A Basement", he then took the time to chat about all things music and more. He talked about certain tunings he uses for certain songs, how he goes about writing songs. He asked the audience to ask anything they wanted. I felt like I got to know him more on a personal level and got to know his up bringing in the music business. There was a lot of talking between him and the audience, with some really good questions and some guitar tech jargon. He played about 8-10 songs in the 90 minute clinic, also playing the blues traditional song "Motherless Children", a couple other Big Sugar songs and ended the evening with a wicked acoustic version of Grady's song "Alberta Bones". At the end of the clinic Gordie took the time to autograph some posters and his new Grady CD Calling All my Demons the Live in Winnipeg album.

It sure made up for having to miss his concert at Union Hall last night. That was one of the few times I didn't make it to one of his shows in the city here. I have said it before, and I will say it again. Gordie is one of the best guitar players in the world right now, hands down. A big thanks goes out to Gordie and Avenue Guitars for putting on a very special performance.

Concert Shirt Of The Day Nov.25th (Dylan & Simon)

Today's t-shirt is from the awesome double bill of folk music legends Bob Dylan and Paul Simon concert I saw in Vancouver at GM Place in 1999. When I saw this show advertised, I knew I had to check this show out. This was the first time Dylan and Simon had played together ever. What a cool double bill, while tickets were on the expensive side, it was a chance of a lifetime. Paul Simon opened the show with Dylan headlining. Then for the encore they did a couple of songs together, which was cool but weird as well.

A few years later while visiting Vancouver, I found a bootleg copy of the Dylan and Simon Vancouver show on VHS.

Paul Simon's Setlist.

Bridge Over Troubled Water
Can't Run But
The Boy In The Bubble
The Coast
Trailway Bus
Mrs. Robinson
Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard
Further To Fly
Graceland
The Cool, Cool River
Slip Sliding Away
Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes
You Can Call Me Al
(encores)

Late In The Evening
Still Crazy After All These years
The Boxer

Bob Dylan's Setlist.

Hallelujah, I'm Ready To Go (acoustic)
Mr. Tambourine Man (acoustic) (with harp)
Masters Of War (acoustic)
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue (acoustic)
Tangled Up In Blue (acoustic) (with harp)
All Along The Watchtower
Tryin' To Get To Heaven
Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
Not Dark Yet
Highway 61 Revisited
(encore)

Love Sick
Like A Rolling Stone
It Ain't Me, Babe (acoustic) (with harp)
The Sound Of Silence (Duet with Paul Simon - Bob on harp)
I Walk The Line/Blue Moon Of Kentucky (Medley with Paul Simon) (Larry on fiddle)
Knockin' On Heaven's Door (Duet with Paul Simon)

Front.


Back.