October 21st

  Back on October 21st, 2009 I saw Grady rock the hell out of the Pawn Shop here in Edmonton. This was a rocker of a show. I wish Grady who was led by Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar were still a band. They were so damn good!

October 20th

 

 On October 20th, 1995 I saw Green Day on their Insomniac Tour at the Edmonton Coliseum with the Riverdales opening.

October 19th

 

 On this day October 19th, 2013 I saw The Sadies play the Arden Theatre in St. Albert. Always a good show with The Sadies.

October 17th

  Saw this incredible double bill of Testament and Annihilator on this date October 17th, 1989 n Edmonton at M.J.'s Roadhouse in Edmonton. Both these bands were touring for that I think are their best albums. Great show!

Rest In Peace Ace Frehley

  Such sad news today hearing of the passing of Ace Frehley of KISS at the age of 74. Ace and KISS have always meant a lot to me, with them being the first rock band I ever got into and the first rock album I owned, that being KISS Alive II. As much as I liked all the members, Ace always seemed to be the coolest of them all, and as the years went on, through interviews and books and such, he just seemed like a down to earth guy with a great sense of humour and his laugh was amazing. Someone you would like to hang out with over a few beers.

 I feel very lucky that I got to see Ace perform a handful of times, starting with the first time in 1995 when Ace and fellow KISS member Peter Criss did a tour together The Bad Boys of KISS. I saw them play the Thunderdome in Edmonton in July of 1995, and what a fun show that was. I even managed to get a guitar pick that night from Ace.

 Notice the misspelling of Ace's name in the ad for the show. How embarrassing is that.

 The next times I got to see Ace in concert was him performing with KISS in full make-up on the reunion tour in 1996-97. My brother and I saw them first play in Vancouver in September of 1996, just three months after seeing the Bad Boys Tour. And then two more times in May of 1997 in Edmonton and Calgary. Talk about being in our glory getting to see Ace with KISS original line up in make up. So damn good. And the last time seeing Ace in make up with KISS was in July 2000 on the Farewell Tour.

 And then the last time I saw Ace Frehley in concert was in March of 2008 at the Edmonton Event Centre. That show too was amazing with Ace playing KISS classics, solo stuff and even a few Frehley's Comet songs. I count myself very lucky to have seen him in concert, just wish I could have met him at some point. Rest In Peace Ace! Your legacy will live on forever!

A few pictures from the 2008 show in Edmonton.

October 15th

 The gig poster for the time I saw Big John Bates play New City Legion in Edmonton on October 15th, 2011. Opening acts for this show were all local bands A Bunch Of Marys which was a band fronted by Mike McDonald of Jr. Gone Wild, Fire Next Time and Whiskey Rose.

October 14th

 October 14th, 2017 saw me at the Winspear Centre here in Edmonton seeing Whitehorse with opener Terra Lightfoot. A great Canadian double bill.

October 13th

  The ticket stub from the time I saw the Los Angeles hardcore band Terror with opening acts Counterparts, Power Trip, Code Orange Kids and Secret Rivals play the Pawn Shop in Edmonton on October 13th, 2013.

Descendents and Buzzcocks Live in Edmonton Sept.10th 2025

  This Descendents and Buzzcocks show was over a month ago, so I'm going to make this a quick review. My buddy Nazz and I went to this show at the Midway Music Hall. When we heard about this show, it was a must go show, two iconic punk bands on the same bill, super cool.

 We got to the show early and were surprised to see that there was a third band on the bill;m, we weren't aware of that. The first band of the evening was a band called MattstaGraham, a band from Tuscon, Arizona that I had never heard of before. A high energy pop punk band that I thought were alright.

MattstaGraham.

 Next up was the English punkers Buzzcocks who have been around since forming in Bolton in 1976 by singer-songwriter and guitarist Pete Shelley and singer-songwriter Howard Devoto, so ya, old school punk. I had never seen them before and was really looking forward to seeing them live, even though the original lead singer Pete Shelley passed away in December 2018. Steve Diggle who joined the band in 1977 now does lead vocals. While I can honestly say that I don't know the Buzzcocks music as much as most of the older punk crowd did, some of the songs I did know were played such as "I Don't Mind", "Sick City Sometimes", "What Do I Get", "Orgasm Addict", "Ever Fallen In Love" and "Harmony In My Head". I enjoyed their set and appreciate their music even more now.

Buzzcocks.

 Next up was the headliner, another old school punk band the Descendents out of California formed in 1977. This would be my second time seeing them in concert. And again, they were great. Led by lead vocalist Milo Aukerman, with long time drummer Bill Stevenson. The band played their pop punk style music, short 2-3 minute songs, so lots of songs in their hour plus set, probably 30 plus songs. I don't call myself a huge fan, but I do get a kick out of their music and songs. Some of the songs I remember them playing were, opening with "Everything Sux", other titles I recall were "I Don't Want To Grow Up", "Coffee Mug", "Weinerschnitzel", "I'm Not A Punk", "I Like Food", "Silly Girl" and whole bunch of others that I'm not sure of the song titles. Another great set by the Decendents. Good times!!!

Descendents.

T-shirt front.

T-shirt back.

October 9th

  On October 9th, 1993 I attended Moshfest '93 at Northlands Agricom in Edmonton. An all day festival featuring such bands as SNFU, Cadillac Tramps, Disciples Of Power, King Apparatus, Pal Joey, Drool and many more. A very fun day indeed.

October 7th

 

 On October 7th, 1991 I saw the Minneapolis band Boneclub play Nighthawks in Edmonton with local band Dimestore Hoods opening.

October 6th

  It was on October 6th, 2001 that I saw Big Sugar with opening act Staggered Crossing play the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton.