Mike Plume Band at The Pawn Shop June 23rd 2012

Saturday night my buddies Hurl, Buzzard and my Sweetie Janis and I went to see Mike Plume play at The Pawn Shop here in Edmonton. We missed opening bands Jay Sparrow and James Murdoch as we were busy having a few drinks before the show.

This was my fifth time seeing Mike Plume in concert. Mike Plume wasn't promoting anything new on this tour, other then the re-release of his old catalog of music on Soccer Mom Records. It's too bad, cause I would love to hear a new album from Mike and his band. This tour started on the East Coast of Canada and ending here in Edmonton on this very evening. Nonetheless it was another good show, but in all honesty it was my least favorite show I have seen him perform. Maybe I have just seen him too many times in the past 4 years. There was an excellent turn out for the show which surprised me considering there was next to know advertising for it. Maybe being a Saturday night show on Whyte Avenue brought out a lot of people. It was good to see a big crowd, as the past few shows have been smaller turn outs.

There were no big surprises at this show music wise. Mike Plume and his band sounded tight as they always do. They played close to two hours with the crowd singing along for almost every song. One surprise that really caught my eye, was seeing a round of beers bought for the band brought up to the stage and seeing Mike Plume grab a beer and drink it. I didn't think Mike drank anymore as this was the first time I have seen him drink on stage.

All and all a fun night out with friends and great music. Here is hoping that Mike Plume puts out some new music soon.

T-shirt from the show.

KISS Lottery Ticket

Now we all know that KISS is the ultimate sell out and the kings of marketing, but can you believe this. My brother who lives in Vancouver was kind enough to send me one of these three dollar KISS scratch and win lottery tickets, only available in British Columbia. There are three difeerent chances to win on the ticket, and lucky me, won 15 dollars on mine. Hey Bro, I'll take 5 more tickets please. I'd love to win the grand prize of 50,000 dollars.

Winning!!!



To learn more click here.

The Commercial Hotel Turns 100 Years Old

Looks like this year's SOS Fest will not happen, which is a shame, the last two years they had a good thing going. SOS (Sounds Of Old Strathcona) was an all day music fest they held on Whyte Avenue here in Edmonton. They would shut down the most popular block in the city to traffic and set up two stages and have local and out of town bands play all day. Well this year there will be no SOS Fest, but it looks like there will be a street party nonehteless, with The Commercial Hotel celebrating their Centenial year (100 years in business). For those who aren't from Edmonton, or have never been here, the Commercial is a hotel on Whyte Ave with a bar called Blues On Whyte that has blues bands playing there 7 days a week, as well as having the famous Saturday afternoon jam sessions. Damn near anyone who has been to the Commie has a story to tell about this venue. Always a mixed crowd and a good time. Well, on Sunday July 8th, Whyte Avenue will be shut down between 103rd street and 104th street from 10am til 10pm with two stages of live music, starting with a pancake breakfast first thing in the morning, then followed by live music, face painting for the kids, street performers, vendors of all sorts from the avenue and the best part, a beer garden, which is something the SOS Fest never had.

Sounds like there is going to be 14 bands in all playing that day, some of the bands performing are King Muskafa (Edmonton), Funkafeelya (Edmonton), Boogie Patrol (Edmonton), JK and the Statics, Big Hank and a Fist Full of the Blues (Edmonton), Tim Vaughn (Saskatoon), EC Scott (Oakland,California) and headlined by Wild T & The Spirit (Toronto,Ontario).This is shaping up to be a really fun Sunday. Hmmm, me thinks it might be a good idea to book Monday off from work. Get out and support live music and come down to the ave and have a good time. This is the kind of thing Edmonton should have been doing for a long time ago. With great support and turn out, maybe this too, could be a yearly thing.

Tedeschi Trucks Band In Edmonton June 22nd 2012

Last night my buddy Buzzard and I went to the Tedeschi Trucks Band concert at the Jubilee Auditorium. For those who don't know, the band is a husband/wife collaboration. Susan Tedeschi on vocals and guitar and Derek Trucks on lead/slide guitar, as well as 9 or 10 other musicians backing them up including the horn section, which myself, I could have done without, at least the horn section wasn't overwhelming. Susan has got an awesome voice, sings with lots of grit and emotion. Then there is Derek Trucks whom I think is the second coming of Duane Allman. Absolutelly unbelievable on guitar, you couldn't help but get lost in his guitar playing. Susan was damn good herself.

I didn't know their music well enough to know the song titles, as I only have their live album "Everybody's Talkin'" (on triple vinyl) which I bought three weeks ago but wouldn't listen to it til after I saw them perform for myself. I have to say now, I am sure glad I picked it up. I am sitting here listening to it now reliving last night's expereince. Great album, but as per usual, much better when you are there in person seeing and listening.

My favorite part of the show was about the third song in, when there were no vocals and Derek Trucks lets er' rip, straight up rocking blues, blew my fucking mind how talented this man is. All and all this was an awesome show of blues rock with a touch of jazz thrown in, great jams that extended most songs in to 10-12 minute songs. The band played for about two hours with a short intermission after the first 40 minutes. Enough time to step out for a smoke and grab a cool one. This is a band I would surely go out of my way to see live again. If you are a fan of the Allman Brothers Band this is a band you must see. Good times!!!

















T-shirt from the show.

Motorhead Setlist from 1988

Something I stumbled upon on the weekend after I found my Alice Cooper tour program. I found this setlist from Motorhead whom opened for Alice Cooper.

I recall being at the show, first row, my Bro and I. After Motorhead was done there set the roadies were doing the tear down when one of them took the setlist taped to the stage and threw it on the floor. I saw it happen, so I took my Bro's t-shirt he had just bought and threw it right by the setlist. I then kindly asked him to pick up the setlist for me while he was picking up his t-shirt. I know, I'm an asshole,lol. Then to boot, my Bro was kind enough to give me the setlist. Finding this setlist after so many years brought back some memories. Thanks Citrus!!!!

Setlist for Motorhead in Edmonton February 20th 1988. Motorhead were touring for their album Rock N' Roll.

Alice Cooper Tour Program 1988

Today's tour program is from the Alice Cooper show I saw in 1988 at the Coliseum here in Edmonton. Alice was touring for his album 'Raise Your Fist And Yell'. The opening band for this leg of the tour was Motorhead which made for an awesome double bill.

The program is 24 pages in length with some great pictures and write ups on Alice and his guitar player at the time Kane Roberts.

Front Cover.



















Back Cover.





In concert news...Alice Cooper will be playing in Edmonton at the Jubilee Auditorium in Wednesday November 14th.

Chris Robinson Brotherhood Album Review

Finally getting around to doing a quick review of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood album 'Big Moon Ritual' that came out last week. For those who don't know, Chris is or was the lead singer of the Black Crowes, whom seem to be on hiatus at the time ,yet again.

This is Chris' third solo album, but his first with this line up in which he is calling the Brotherhood. The album came out on his own label 'Silver Arrow Records'. I picked up the album on vinyl, thank goodness I knew what the cover of the record looked like, cause if you didn't, it would be a hard record to find. There is only the CRB logo on the cover, nothing on the spine of the cover and only in small print on the back of the record is there a web address for Chris Robinson Brotherhood. After tearing the plastic from the record and opening it, I found no song titles,no lyric sheet, and nothing on the labels on the records either.

I have listened to the record from start to finish and have to say I do like it. Being a big Black Crowes fan, I may be a bit biased, as I have always really liked Chris Robinson's voice, the man can sing the blues, much like I think Gregg Allman can.

The album is a mellow affair, with a big Grateful Dead influence. I believe some of the songs are old blues cover tunes, but I could be wrong. I haven't researched that fact yet. I am thinking this album would be great come down music from a hard night of being up to no good, or a good Sunday morning listening session. This is true hippy rock n' roll to the core. All and all, I am liking the album.

In September there will be a companion album to this called 'The Magic Door', looking forward to hearing what that will be like. Here is hoping the band can make their way up to Edmonton, doubtful, sure would be a treat to see them play here.

Iron Maiden Tour Program 1987

Today's tour program is from the Iron Maiden tour dubbed 'Somewhere On Tour' from their worldwide 1986-87 trek.

I got this program at the Edmonton show in 1987 when they played the Coliseum here with the band Waysted opening. Iron Maiden were touring for their album 'Somewhere In Time'.

The program is 24 pages in length and has the most reading I have seen in any program that I own. Damn near like a book. All and all a pretty cool program.

Front Cover.





















In concert news...Iron Maiden will be playing in Edmonton at Rexall Place on Friday July 27th with Coheed And Cambria opening.

Deer Tick and Turbo Fruits in Edmonton June 2nd 2012

Saturday Night my buddy Buzzard and I went to The Novaks/Turbo Fruits/Deer Tick concert at the Starlite Room here in Edmonton. A great venue for a great band (Deer Tick).

We missed the opening band The Novaks, but were sure to be there in time to catch the Turbo Fruits whom hail from Nashville, Tennessee. I knew very little about this band, but saw the name of the band and thought I have to see what these guys are about. They were alright, nothing special, I wouldn't go out of my way to see them again, but they didn't suck either. Straight up rock n' roll, lots of energy and a fun band to watch and listen to. The highlights for me were when a couple of the guys from Deer Tick came out and played with the band.

Turbo Fruits.









Drummer Dennis Ryan of Deer Tick sitting in with Turbo Fruits.





The real reason I was at this show was to catch Rhode Island band Deer Tick play. This was my first time seeing them live and Deer Tick's second time playing in Edmonton. The first time being at last years Edmonton Folk Fest, in which John McCauley mentioned, saying he liked playing in bars much better, as he isn't much of a daytime person. My brother got me into Deer Tick a few years ago, and I have become a big fan of the band since.

I had heard and read a lot about lead singer John McCauley of Deer Tick and his stage antics in concert, from drinking lots and giving it his all during his performance, and he didn't disappoint at all in either. Deer Tick opened with the song The Bump from their 2011 album 'Divine Providence'. John has got such a distinctive voice, I loved it. While watching the show, I got to thinking that his presence and voice kind of reminded me of Nirvana. Not that he sounds like Kurt Cobain, just how he gives er', plays a sloppy but good kind of guitar style. I almost think that Deer Tick is one break or hit single away from exploding like Nirvana did. As I was thinking this during the show, what do they do, they break in to a Nirvana cover. One of three covers they performed on this evening. The others were a Replacements cover and the Beastie Boys song '(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)'.

Deer Tick played for close to two hours to a very enthusiastic crowd with no encore, other songs played were 'Funny Word' in which a member of the Turbo Fruits came out and played the cowbell "more cowbell", 'Main Street', 'Easy' and 'Dirty Dishes' those are the ones I remember off the top of my head. During the course of the show the band were swilling beers through out, I think lead singer actually drank more beer then I did this night. As the show went on it got a looser and a little sloppier but in a good way. I also liked how there was lots of interaction between Turbo Fruits and Deer Tick with both bands joining each other during there sets. I also enjoyed how each member of Deer Tick had there chance to sing lead vocals, very cool, and all were excellent. To close out the night the last two songs were the Beastie Boys cover and then the great drinking sing 'Let's All Go To The Bar', a great way to wind down your set. The sold out crowd tried hard to get the band to come out for an encore but to no avail. An awesome night of music in a hot and sweaty bar. Good times!!!

















Turbo Fruits sitting in with Deer Tick.



A video I found on youtube of the last two songs of the show here in Edmonton.



T-shirt front.



T-shirt back.