December 15th

  

 My ticket stub from the December 15th, 2013 Highway 3 Roots Revue show put on by the Northern Lights Folk Club at Queen Alexandra Community Hall in Edmonton. The Highway 3 Roots Revue consisted of Leeroy Stagger, John Wort Hannam and Dave McCann. Such a great show with all of them trading off songs for two hours. Would be awesome to see these three perform together again. This was a rescheduled show.

Dave McCann Live in Edmonton March 2nd 2019

Last Saturday my buddy Buzzard and I went to the Dave McCann and The Wildhearts concert at the Station On Jasper on what was a bitterly cold night, which might explain part of the reason for the small turnout.

This would be my third time seeing Dave McCann in concert but first time seeing him with a full band. The previous two times it was Dave McCann playing with Leeroy Stagger and John Wort Hannam (Highway Three Roots Revue). Those shows were acoustic affairs in which each performer played a few songs, a singer/songwriters circle I guess you would call it. I really enjoyed his songs both times, so it was nice to see him come through Edmonton this time with a full band promoting his new album Westbound Til Light.

We got there a little late and only caught the last 3 songs by Jake Ian, an Edmonton musician. What we heard was really quite good, a roots/country based style of music. Wish we had caught more of set. I'll be keeping my eyes open for another show of his.

Jake Ian.

Headliner of the night was Lethbridge based roots singer/songwriter Dave McCann. Dave and his band The Wildhearts sounded great, also sitting in with the band were the Mayhemingways from Ontario. Dave has got a great voice, his music is not only roots based but also a tinge of blues and rock. His harmonica player was good to, I liked that he wasn't overwhelming like some harp players can be. He did of course some new songs from his new album, a lot of the new songs are folklore stories, like the song "Can't Cheat The Mountain" which is about the Frank Slide, which was a rockslide that buried part of the town of Frank in the North West territories. Another new song was called "Swing Your Lantern" about some homeless people caught in a blizzard by Lake Superior in Ontario during the Great Depression.

Dave and his band also played some older songs from his album Dixiebluebird. I wish I knew the titles better, but I did recognize a few songs from that album as I do have that one in my collection. Overall I really enjoyed his show. It's really too bad he didn't get a better turnout for the show, but that certainly didn't stop him from putting on a hell of a show. A big thanks to Cuz for the tickets. Good times!!!

Dave McCann.

Highway 3 Roots Revue in Edmonton Dec.15th 2013

Last night I went to the Highway 3 Roots Revue held at Queen Alexandria Hall here in Edmonton. This was a re-scheduled show from November when the three musicians that make up the Revue got snowed in in Calgary. So it was nice to see them return for the make-up date.

Now the three musicians that make up this Highway 3 Roots Revue are Leeroy Stagger who is now based in Lethbridge, Alberta, John Wort Hannam from Fort Macleod, Alberta and Dave McCann also based in Lethbridge. These three singer-songwriters have toured as a trio for a few tours now, as this was my second time seeing all of them perform together.

The set-up for the show is each musician taking a turn doing a song and telling a story,and occasionally singing together. The main reason I was at this show as to see Leeroy Stagger as it had been over a year since I last saw him play, and that was with this same trio around this time last year. Dave McCann and John Wort Hannam were really good as well.

But I was focused on Leeroy's performance on this evening, having followed his career for about five or six years now. Leeroy Stagger released another great album earlier this year called "Truth be Sold". I was really hoping to hear some new stuff from the album, but it was a no go on this evening, as most of the stuff on "Truth Be Sold" is more rock then folk roots, but he did a few new songs that have yet to be released, so that was a bonus. Leeroy was the first singer to start the night, and he opened with the song "Stormy" from his album "Everything Is Real". Another song he did which is one of my favorites of his was "Dirty Windshields" from his album "Radiant Land". Speaking of Radiant Land,John Wort Hannam who has covered this title song on one of his own albums, played the song this evening, with Leeroy kicking in here and there. Some of the new songs Leeroy did was a song called "Angry Young Man" and "Ten Long Years" which both sounded quite good. Leeroy has also recorded an album with another trio called ESP (Easton,Stagger,Philips) which was done
about five years ago. Well, it looks like they have got back together and recorded a new
album that will be coming out this spring, followed by a few dates in southern Alberta. Leeroy did one of the new songs which was called "Highway Is My Home". Another great sounding song, I am looking forward to hearing the full album.


My brother has talked with Leeroy quite a bit over the past year, having seen him play Calgary lots this summer. And I too had the pleasure of speaking with him on Sunday. Word is or was that Leeroy was going to retire or take a break from his music career. Having got burned out and frustrated with the music business and now having a son (8 months old now). This would be a shame as the man is a great entertainer and singer songwriter and hell of a guitar player too. Well no sooner did he start thinking this, some breaks are coming his way. First off he landed two gigs opening for the Los Lobos in Lethbridge on Thursday January 23rd at Yates Theatre and then on the 24th in Calgary at the Thorncliffe Community Hall. And then in February Leeroy will be playing solo sets opening for Steve Earle in Chicago for three dates at the City Winery. Not only did he get these great opening slots, he also let the cat out of the bag by mentioning that he will be playing the Edmonton Folk Festival in the summer of 2014. A nice break for Leeroy as it is about time he got some recognition up here in Edmonton. So here is hoping even more great things come your way Leeroy.


Back to the show. This two hour show Sunday night was a great evening of folk inspired
tunes with all three artists putting on a great show. And a big thank you to the Northern Lights Folk Club for bringing this show to town. Good times!!!

Leeroy Stagger, Dave McCann and John Wort Hannam.

Leeroy Stagger.

John Wort Hannam.

Dave McCann.

5 Years Ago Today...November 30th

It was five years ago today that I saw Great Big Sea play the Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton.

And it was a year ago today that I saw the Highway 3 Roots Revue which consists of Leeroy Stagger, John Wort Hannam and Dave McCann play the Blue Chair Café in Edmonton.

In concert news...The Highway Roots Revue will be playing here in Edmonton on Sunday December 15th at the Queen Alexandria Hall (10425 - University Avenue). Tickets available at Tix On The Square.

Stats for the month of November...
I have been to shows 23 days out of 30 in the month of November.
And have seen 40 different shows out of them 23 days.

Leeroy Stagger,John Wort Hannam and Dave McCann at the Blue Chair Cafe Nov.30th 2012

On Friday night my buddies Hurl,Buzzard,A-Bomb,Cuz and I went to the Blue Chair Cafe (9624_76ave) here in Edmonton for the Highway 3 Roots Revue which featured Leeroy Stagger,John Wort Hannam and Dave McCann. I had never been to this venue before and wasn't sure what to expect. It turned out be a decent place to see this kind of show with a capacity of about 75 people and every seat occupied. The show consisted of the three said musicians doing a singer/sonwriter circle kind of thing. Each member telling a story followed by a song, and around and around it went. All three musicians are based in Alberta and are excellent songwriters and guitar players. This was my fifth time seeing Leeroy Stagger perform and first time for both John Wort Hannam and Dave McCann. I was very impressed with all three of them. It was fun night of acoustic music and great lyrics and singing. My only complaint is that I was hoping to see all three of them play together,ala Crosby,Still and Nash. There was some background vocals done by the guys once in a while, but I really would have enjoyed hearing all three of them twang away together. They did it for the last song of the night, a Christmas song, not sure what the song was called or who wrote it, but it was one of the best Christmas songs I have ever heard, funny stuff it was. All and all this was an amazing night of music. Good times!!!

Leeroy Stagger.

Dave McCann.

All three musicians.

In Leeroy Stagger news... Leeroy will be teaming up again with Tim Easton and Evan Phillips for a follow up recording with the project ESP (Easton,Stagger,Phillips). Their last album from 2008 "One For The Ditch" was excellent. They start recording soon, I am looking forward to hearing some new stuff from these guys. Also...Leeroy mentioned at the show on Friday night that his wife is pregnant, congratulations to Leeroy and his wife!!!