Interstellar Rodeo: Day Two July 25th 2015

For day two of Interstellar my partner Janis and our friend Erin headed down to Hawrelak early as I wanted to catch the first band of the day, so it was off to the park around noon. A long day of music and beers were in store for me.

Line-up for Saturday...

Noon Gates Open
1:00 NQ Arbuckle
2:10 Justin Townes Earle
3:05 Colleen Brown
3:45 Rhiannon Giddens
4:45 Mike McDonald
5:25 Elle King
6:25 Jay Nowicki
7:05 Tanya Tagaq
8:00 Ryan Boldt
8:45 Father John Misty

First band of the day was NQ Arbuckle from Toronto. This was my second time seeing them perform having seen them play a free show at Permanent Records last year. NQ Arbuckle play a roots/country style of music and are on Six Shooter Records. Their set was good, what caught me off guard were the two cover songs they did, the songs being Jr. Gone Wild's "Downtime" from their Simple Little Wish album. They then later in the set did a countrified version of Motorhead's "Ace Of Spades". A great set to open Saturday's events.

NQ Arbuckle.

Next up was Justin Townes Earle who was one of the artists that made me really want to get tickets for this festival. Justin being the son of Steve Earle, whom I am a huge fan of. I have listened to Justin's albums and have always tried hard to really like them but they just haven't struck a nerve with me, but I just had a feeling live he would be much better, and I was right. His set was a highlight of the weekend for me (one of many). His hour long set was excellent, gave me a whole new lookout of him as an artist.

Justin Townes Earle.

Next artist I saw was Rhiannon Giddens. To be honest I had no idea who she was when I first saw her name in this years line-up. After looking her up on the net, and then hearing a few songs CKUA, I got to learn that she is or was the lead singer of a band from North Carolina called the Carolina Chocolate Drops. What I had heard of her stuff, didn't do much for me, but after seeing her perform at Interstellar, I can now say I thought her solo set was excellent. The lady has got an incredible voice, plays banjo and violin and her old style country was very captivating, easy on the eyes too. Another great set from an artist I wasn't familiar with.

Rhiannon Giddens.

Between sets of the main bands was an interlude set by Mike McDonald of Jr. Gone Wild fame, who also has a successful solo career going on right now with the release of his excellent live album "Live At The Blue Chair Café" that came out this year. I have been following his career over the past five years or so and have become a huge fan of his solo music and his Jr. Gone Wild music. I have also got to know Mike a bit through his record store that he owned in Edmonton. A great guy that puts out quality music. His set was excellent as always.

Mike McDonald.

Next up was another artist that I was very interested in seeing play live. That would be Elle King (real name being Tanner Elle Schneider) who is the daughter of comedian Rob Schneider. I have been listening to her album "Love Stuff" which I have really enjoyed so I was looking forward to her performance. And she didn't disappoint at all, another one of my favorite acts of the weekend. Her rocking blues music was perfect for this time slot after some country acts and such. She rocked the hell out of the venue with some attitude. Loved her set.

Elle King.

After Elle, it was time for Tanya Tagaq. Tanya is an artist from Nunavut, Canada, way up north. I had read an interesting article about her a few days before the festival and thought she might be cool to see. Tanya is what they call a throat singer, whatever the hell that means. But I was willing to check her out, well after about ten minutes I had heard more then enough and it was off for a few beers and smokes outside. Not my thing at all. Apparently lots of people were moved by her performance, me not being one of them. Just sounded like weird fuckin' noise to me. And I love Awful!!!

Tanya Taraq.

Next up was the headliner of the evening Father John Misty. Real name Joshua Tillman (I sense a theme here with all these artists going by stage names this year). Father John Misty was a member of the Seattle Band The Fleet Foxes at one time. This was yet another artists where I have listened to his two solo albums and didn't really think much of them. But wow, live they were incredible. Their style of music is a variety of folk, pop, psychedelic and experimental. It definitely works in a live performance. I thought he and his band were excellent. Kind of reminded me of a mix of Polyphonic Spree and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, yet have their own thing going on for sure. And like Janis and Erin who I went to the show with said, the ladies think he has a major sex appeal too, a mix between Robert Plant and Jim Morrison. I guess he has it all going on Mr. Father John Misty. Another stand out act of the weekend.

Father John Misty.

Well, I was hoping to get day three done here soon, but I am off to see more shows. So the re-cap of day three will have to wait for a bit. Good times!!!

Interstellar Rodeo: Day One July 24th 2015

So on Friday I was off to the first night of the fourth edition of the Interstellar Rodeo music festival held here in Edmonton at the Heritage Amphitheatre in Hawrelak Park that is put on by Six Shooter Records. When I first saw the line-up for this years festival I wasn't so sure of what to think of it. Because I have always had a good time at the previous years festival and have found new bands because of it, I took the chance and bought myself the three day festival pass again. Over the next couple of days I will give you a quick recap of the weekend.

The line-up for this first night was...

4:30 Gates Open
5:50 The Wet Secrets
7:05 Shakey Graves
8:05 Joe Nolan
8:45 St. Vincent

I had to leave work early as I really wanted to see the opening act Wet Secrets, who are a local band that plays a rock n' roll dance kind of music, with a heavy bass sound. I had never seen the band before but have always wanted to, so I wasn't going to miss this. Along with the heavy bass, there was horns, keyboards, drums and a great looking couple of ladies who danced and shimmied and played horns through out the set and all of the members of the band in matching marching outfits, looking sharp they did. A very fun band, only complaint was that they kept their songs pretty clean for the most part as they do have a few songs that push the envelope that didn't get played. All and all, a fun band.

Wet Secrets.

Next up was another act I had just recently started listening to. A guy by the name of Alejandro Rose-Garcia but goes by the name Shakey Graves from Austin, Texas. His brand of music is in the vain of rock and roll and blues. He usually performs as a one man band but on this night he had a drummer and bass player with him. They only played the first three songs together then it was just Shakey. I thought the set started slow, I was at first disappointed as I was expecting some ripping music. But after about three or four songs his set really picked it up. totally enjoyed his show. Great stuff.

Shakey Graves.

I missed Joe Nolan as I was out having a smoke with a couple of friends I ran into at the show.

The headliner of the evening from Tulsa, Oklahoma was St. Vincent. I have listened to a little bit of her music on CKUA radio and have tried to like it, but always found it a little too artsy. A buddy of mine at the show had seen her before and said she was quite good live as he had seen her perform before. So I gave her the chance, and have to say, when she rocked out, it reminded me of Prince, she is a great guitar player and has a great back-up band, and she is a little weird too. Great stage presence and a good singer, so when she was rocking I really liked her, but when things got artsy, she lost me. Overall not a bad set, better then I was expecting. The crowd ate her up though, the majority of the people loved her.

St. Vincent.

A great night of music,good vibes,cold beer,awesome crowd and great weather. Good times!!!

Seven Inch Saturday (Ween)

Today's seven inch single is by the band Ween doing a song called Gabrielle which really has a Thin Lizzy feel to it. This song was on their album Shinola Vol. 1 that came out in 2005. This single was released in 2006 on Chocodog Records and is just a single sided vinyl, nothing on the B side. The cover is silk screened and looks sharp.

Throwback Thursday...System Of A Down

A couple of posters from the times I have seen System Of A Down in concert.

Seven Inch Saturday (Louis XIV)

Today's seven inch single is by the band from San Diego, California called Louis XIV. This single is a seven inch limited edition square picture disc that came out in 2006. The two songs on this single are...

Side A - Pledge Of Allegiance from their debut album The Best Little Secrets Are Kept, which is an awesome album.

Side B has a instrumental song called The Hunt which is a live recording. This song was originally released on their very first album which was an independent release from 2003, it came out on their own record label Pineapple Recording Group. The album was discontinued after signing to Atlantic Records in 2004. Can anyone help me find a copy of this album?

Seven Inch Saturday (W.A.S.P.)

Today's seven inch single is a release from 1987 by the shock rock band of the day W.A.S.P. This single came in what they called a blood pack and is on red vinyl, which was perfect for a W.A.S.P. release. Of course now almost thirty years later the blood is dried up, but still looks cool.
Side A features the song I Don't Need No Doctor which was recorded live at Long Beach Arena in California.


Side B features the song Widowmaker recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon in London.

Throwback Thursday...Band Of Skulls

Some posters from the times I have seen Band Of Skulls in concert.

The Sadies Live In Edmonton July 4th 2015

On Saturday afternoon Cuz and I made our way to the Legislature Grounds here in Edmonton for the free concert for Jobs and Justice and the Climate benefit show featuring the Toronto band The Sadies. There were other bands on the bill as well which got started at 11 in the morning, but we were only able to make it for the headliner.

I'm not one for hearing speeches about the environment and such, I definitely did want to see The Sadies. This was my eleventh time seeing them in concert and again, a wicked show, playing for over an hour. There weren't a lot of people at the show, and part of that can be because of lack of advertising for this show.

Nonetheless, another great performance by The Sadies. Good times!!!

The Sadies at the Legislature Grounds in Edmonton.