Edmonton Folk Fest August 9th 2019

Last Friday my buddy Buzzard and I went to the Edmonton Folk Fest to see Jason Isbell in concert. Also playing on this night was Amanda Shires. Now I've never been a big fan of the Folk Fest (I'll get into that later), but sometimes there is an artist you just have to see, and this year it was Jason Isbell again. There was also John Prine that we wanted to see on the Sunday night, but unfortunately John Prine cancelled as he had surgery and cancelled all his summer dates. So it was just the Friday night for us.

We got to Gallagher Hill in time to catch Amanda Shires on one of the side stages. Having heard a few of her songs on CKUA I was very interested in seeing her in concert. Amanda is an American singer-songwriter, fiddle player from Texas that has released a handful of albums. She is also married to Jason Isbell and plays in his band The 400 Unit. Her latest album is called To The Sunset, I knew a few songs she played from that one, "Parking Lot Pirouette", "Leave It Alone" and "Breakout The Champagne". I was surprised by how rocking her set was, she has a great voice and great band backing her up. For the last two songs of her set, her husband Jason Isbell joined her and her band. That was cool. I had a feeling that would happen, one more reason I wanted to see her play. I was very impressed and will be looking into getting some of her albums.

Amanda Shires.

After Amanda's set we figured we would have a quick smoke and grab a beer. Well this is where the problems start. We headed to the smoking area that was close to stage 6 which is where we just saw Amanda play only to get there and be told it was closing, we would have to go to the main smoking area by the beer tent. Ok fine, why they would close a smoking area that early I don't understand. So off to the beer tent we go. Well that was a fucking shit show. Line up to get into the beer tent, line up to get beer tickets and then line up to get a couple beers, cause you might as well grab two as it took for fucking ever to get a beer. Now we have to slam back two beers as quick as possible so that we could have a smoke and get to the main stage to catch the opening of Jason Isbell's set.

We got to the main stage just as Jason was taking to the stage, but here is another reason this festival drives me crazy. The stage is at the bottom of hill, which makes it a natural amphitheatre, it's actually pretty cool. But people get there super early and lay out these huge tarps to mark there spot. Then take off and go see other acts on the other many stages. That's bullshit in my opinion. We got to the main stage and of course the only place you could find a spot was way the fuck up on the hill, where you are basically just listening to tunes and watching the performance on a video screen. So we walked amongst the tarps and found a few with no one sitting on them, so we sat our asses down and started watching Jason Isbell's show. Eventually a few come to there tarps and find us sitting on them. Well where the hell were you before the show started. The tarp I was sitting on the three ladies that came back, let me sit and share their tarp. But my buddy got hassled a bit but didn't move. So we had alright seats for Jason's set.

This would be my third time seeing Jason Isbell in concert and first time seeing him without his band The 400 Unit. This time around it was just Jason, his wife Amanda Shires on fiddle and Sadler Vaden on guitar who also plays in 400 Unit. Jason opened the set with the song "Tour Of Duty" from his 2011 album Here We Rest. He did a great selection of songs from his last three albums Southeastern, Something More Than Free and The Nashville Sound, songs like "Something More Than Free", "Molotov", "Last Of My Kind", "Speed Trap Town", "White Man's World" and "The Life You Chose", "Cover Me Up", "Stockholm" and "Elephant" to name a few. Of course there were a few songs I really wanted to hear but didn't, but that's gonna happen when you have such a solid discography. Jason's set was awesome, I find that each time I see him live he gets stronger as singer and performer. very impressed!

Jason Isbell.

After Isbell was Brandi Carlile closing out Friday nights festival. I was looking forward to seeing her as well. But after Isbell it was off to the beer tent for a cold one. Well, guess what, the fucking beer tent is closed already. What the hell, there is still another act to come on and there is no more beer to be had, not impressed. And by now the main walking area where the pissers are and food trucks and such is a mud pit and it's dark as hell too. Now the organizers did all they could do with the mud situation, bringing in sand, and rig mats to cover the muddy areas. With the shitty summer we have had, they did what they could. But nonetheless, now there is a whole lot of mud and it's dark and you can't see what you are walking in. They need more lighting in the food truck area. It was just getting messy, I was pissed about no more drinks, and then the thought of walking all the way back to the main stage and trying to find a place to see the band from was all too much. I was getting to be a grumpy fuck, so I just decided to call it a night. So I missed Brandi Carlile which bums me out, but I just wasn't having fun. And it was getting chilly out too!

A few things I would change about this festival is obviously the alcohol license issue, it would be SO much better if you could walk around and enjoy a beverage and sit on the hill and watch the show, ditch the damn beer tent already, beer stands all about the festival site would be much better, I'd ban the stupid tarps on the hill as well, more lighting on the main grounds, keep your smoke areas open later, and move the damn video screens you have at the front of the stage, yes it's nice that you can see them if you are not close, but move the screens to the back of the stage or raise them. The screens block so much of what could be good site views from the side of the stage and such. I've said it before and this time I am thinking of keeping to it, no more Edmonton Folk Fest for me until I either quit drinking or they change the beer policy here. I'll sit amongst the trees at the top of the hill outside the fenced area and enjoy the music and drink and have fun. Did it years ago and had a blast. And hell if you are sitting at the top of the hill in the grounds, all you are doing anyways is watching the screens. I'm obviously one of the few that has these complaints because the crowds prove me wrong, but I am sure that there are some that would agree with me. Anyways, the music was good, the vibes not so much.

Def Leppard and Tesla Live in Edmonton July 29th 2019

Damn, it's already been over two weeks ago since Janis and I went to the Def Leppard and Tesla double bill at Rogers Place. I myself was only interested in seeing Tesla so wasn't going to go but Janis had never seen Def Leppard before and really likes them. So we managed to get cheap tickets and decided to go. The last time I had seen Def Leppard was back in 1988 and who was opening for them back then but Tesla. These two bands are have been tour mates many a times. Phil Collen the guitarist for Def Leppard actually produced Tesla's latest album Shock.

We made sure to get to Rogers in plenty of time to catch openers Tesla. This would be my fifth time seeing them in concert. I've always been a huge fan of this band, especially their first three albums. As we were getting ready for Tesla to start, two guitarists came out on stage under a spotlight and started wailing away, I wasn't sure at first if this was part of soundcheck or start of the show, but as I listened and looked, I could see that it was actually Dave Rude and Frank Hannon given'r on the guitar, this went on for almost two minutes and then out came lead singer Jeff Keith and they kicked into "Cumin' Atcha Live", a great opening song. By this time the coliseum was starting to fill up. After the opening song, which fucking rocked, they went into "Modern Day Cowboy" two songs from their 1986 debut album Mechanical Resonance, and next up was "Heaven's Trail (No Way Out)" another awesome song this one from their second album The Great Radio Controversy. What a great three song opening. The guitars were super loud, lead singer Jeff Keith hasn't lost a beat, he sounded just like he did back in the day. Kind of a Steven Tyler junior. His between song banter is a bit hokey, but then it always has been, ne more then makes up for that minor flaw with his singing and energy. I thought their 11 song set was excellent, great song choices, they made the best of their 50 minute opening slot. By the time they finished the place was filling up good. I really enjoyed them and am very happy that I went to see them in concert again.

Setlist.

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Tesla at Rogers Place.

Next up was headliner Def Leppard. This would be my second time seeing them in concert, I could have swore I had seen them more times, but I guess not. I gave up on them with the Hysteria album.

What surprised me most about this show was how many people there were. By the time Def Leppard came on stage the place was packed. I didn't expect much of a crowd, considering we got half price tickets a week before the show. My guess would be about 14,000 in attendance, I had no idea that Def Leppard still drew that kind of crowd. Another surprise was the production of their show, wow, big stage, big lighting, lasers, huge screen behind them. I really wasn't expecting all that for a band that to me hasn't been relative in many years. But for all those there, they were rocking the hell out, including my Sweetie Janis. she was rocking, and singing to all the songs. Def Leppard's selection of songs was good for any old school fan. Lots of songs from the Hysteria album, that was the most dominant album of the whole show. But there was also some from the Pyromania album, songs like "Foolin'", the two songs they played for the encore were "Rock Of Ages" and "Photograph". A great way to end the show. I really liked that they also played two songs from the High "n" Dry album ""Bringin' On the Heartbreak" and "Let It Go".

The band sounded pretty good, lead singer Joe Elliott doesn't have the pipes he used to have, not that I really thought he did in the first place, but the rest of the band which still includes Phil Collen on guitar, Rick Savage on bass, one armed drummer Rick Allen who looked like he was having the most fun playing, and the newest member whom has been with the band since 1992 Vivian Campbell. It was a fun show all around. I'm glad I went. Good times!!!

Def Leppard at Rogers Place.

Interstellar Rodeo in Edmonton July 28th 2019

A couple of Sunday's ago Janis, Erin and I attended the last day of the annual Interstellar Rodeo Festival here in Edmonton at the Hawrelak Park Amphitheatre. This was the second year in a row where I only attended the last day of the festival. I'm just finding that the line ups haven't been as good as previous years and the ticket prices keep going up. I love this festival as it's very laid back, interesting and eclectic bands and a great crowd. So I pick what I think will be the best day, and this year's Sunday looked like a good line up and the weather was decent.

The first band of the day was a band I had never heard of before called Southern Avenue from Memphis, Tennessee. They are a five piece blues/soul band led by Tierinii Jackson on vocals. The lady had lots of energy and a great voice for this kind of music. I enjoyed their set and it was a great way to start the day.

Southern Avenue.

Next up was Saul Williams a musician/actor from New York. His performance was a mix of rap, hip hop, spoken word, poetry, with all of this seeming to have something to do with politics. I was not a fan of this whatsoever. I watched and listened to as much as could stand, it was time to go out for a smoke and beer.

Saul Williams.

Lucius was up next, they are an indie pop band formed in New York led by two ladies on vocals by the names of Jesse Wolf and Holly Laessig. These two women have backed up everyone from Jackson Browne, John Prine, Sheryl Crow, Wilco's Jeff Tweedy and most recently Roger Waters, having toured with Waters over the past three years on the Us + Them Tour. With Jesse and Holly wearing matching orange outfits and sharing a microphone the harmonizing from these two were incredible. I wish I knew their material better even so, it was a great hour long set.

Lucius.

The next band up was one of the bands that really interested me in the Sunday line up. A band based out of Austin, Texas and has been around for fifty years. I'm talking about Asleep at the Wheel. What a treat it was to see this group perform live. Led by Ray Benson on guitar and vocals, with Katie Shore on fiddle, Cindy Cashdollar on steel guitar, David Sanger on drums plus a few more musicians that I am not sure of their names. Asleep at the Wheel's music is a western country swing style of music mixed with Americana. They were amazing and so much fun. At times it reminded me of Dr. Hook. Some of the songs I recognized were "Hot Rod Lincoln", "Milk Cow Blues", "Route 66" and ending their hour long set with "Happy Trails". This was such a fun set, Ray and his band looked to be having a blast up there as were all those watching and listening. I heard a lot of people talking about how much they enjoyed Asleep at the Wheel. Certainly the highlight for me out of all the bands I saw.

Asleep at the Wheel.

Next was Whitehorse a band based out of Hamilton, the two main members are the husband and wife couple Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland. This would be my fourth time seeing the band live. When I first saw them in concert was at Interstellar in 2012, back then it was just the two of them, now they have a full band, which sounds great. Whitehorse is always a fun band to see in concert and this time was no different. How to describe their music, hmmm, a mix of blues, swamp rock with some pop mixed in. Enjoyed their set again.

Whitehorse.

Closing out this years Interstellar Rodeo was Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats. While I only have one of his albums and that being his debut album with the Night Sweats, an album I thought was just ok, until I saw him on the Austin City Limits TV program, and wow, was he ever good on that. So I was looking forward to seeing and hearing him in a live environment. And Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats did not let me down. There style of music which is a mix of soul and blues with some Americana mixed in was amazing, you could probably add some funk to the list of style of music. Nathaniel sounded great and him and his band played with a lot of energy in which the crowd fed off, as did the band. I didn't know all the music, but they played a good selection of tunes from the album I do have. The biggest song of his set of course was his hit "S.O.B.". A very entertaining show. All and all another fun night out at Interstellar Rodeo. Good times!!!

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats.