Anvil at The Pawn Shop in Edmonton Aug.2nd 2012

On Thursday night my buddy Leo and I went to see Anvil play at The Pawn Shop here in Edmonton. This was the second time in 14 months that Leo and I have seen Anvil. We missed opening bands Titans Eve and Bad Acid. Timed it perfect thought for Anvil, enough time to grab a few beers, find a decent spot on the dance floor, which wasn't hard as there were only maybe 150-200 people there. Then the curtain opened and Anvil started with 'March Of The Crabs' with Lips jumping off the stage and playing the whole song in the middle of the dance floor surrounded by his adoring fans, pumping their fists and banging their heads, what an awesome way to start the show.

Lips ripping it up on the dance floor.

After 35 years it's so good to see Lips and drummer Robb Reiner still banging out the old school metal to the old bangers like myself and to some of the youngsters in the crowd who weren't even born when Anvil released their first album 'Hard N'Heavy' back in 1981 (the band formed in 1977). Lips gave a shout out to the baldies,the grey beards and the young ones. Even with a small crowd Lips still looked like he was having the time of his life,smiling,slapping hands and telling awesome stories. I loved his story of running into the late great 'Ronnie James Dio' whom we all lifted our beers, gave the devil horns salute and gave a huge cheer to. Anvil have been riding the success of their 2008 documentary 'Anvil! The Story Of Anvil' (a must see) and touring all over the world. I thought the band sounded even better this time then they did last summer. They have a new bass played since then, his name is Sal Italiano and holds down the back end very well. The only thing that kind of bothers me is drummer Robb Reiner, he still kicks ass on the drums, but would it kill him to smile once in a blue moon, especially when you see how happy and how much fun Lips is having. Smile Robb, it would do you a lot of good.

Robb Reiner, it's so hard to get a good picture of him with him wailing away constantly.

Bass player Sal Italiano.

Some of the songs played on this evening were '666', 'School Love', 'Winged Assasins', 'Thumb Hang', 'On Fire', a newer song from their last album 'Juggernaut Of Justice', 'Mothra', 'Fuken Eh' which had everyone singing along, and of course their biggest song 'Metal On Metal'. An excellent evening of some old school Canadian metal. Good times!!!

T-shirt front.

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