August 21st

  It was on August 21st, 2003 that I saw the Punk-O-Rama Tour here in Edmonton a Red's. This tour featured The Bouncing Souls headlining with Hot Water Music, Worthless United and The Forgotten.

Seven Inch Saturday (Chuck Ragan/Brian Fallon)

Today's seven inch single is a split seven inch that came out in 2009 on SideOneDummy Records. The copy I have is from the first printing and is limited to 1000 copies on black vinyl. It is called Gospel Songs and features on Side A Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music doing a song called "Glory".

Side B has Brian Fallon of Gaslight Anthem doing a song called "Tin Pan Alley".

25 Years Ago Today...August 21st

It was twenty-five years ago today that I saw the Scorpions with Kingdom Come play Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton.

Also on this day ten years ago, I went to the Punk-O-Rama Tour at Red's in Edmonton. The main bands on this bill were Hot Water Music and the Bouncing Souls.

27 Years Ago Today...July 17th

It was twenty-seven years ago today that I saw Judas Priest with opening act Bon Jovi play Edmonton at Northlands Coliseum.

Also on this day, twenty-four years ago, I saw Jeff Healey perform at the Jubilee Auditorium here in Edmonton. Earlier in the day Jeff Healey also did an in-store performance at the old records store The Marquee downtown. Where I was lucky enough to meet the man and get his autograph.

As well it was eighteen years ago today that I saw Ace Frehley and Peter Criss of KISS do solo shows at the Thunderdome here in Edmonton.

Also on this day eleven years ago, I saw went to the Vans Warped Tour in Calgary. Some of the bands I saw on this day were Hot Water Music, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, NOFX, Bad Religion, Death By Stereo among many others.

And finally, on this day five years ago, I saw the Black Crowes play Edmonton at the Jubilee Auditorium.

13 Years Ago Today...July 6th

It was thirteen years ago today that I went to Calgary for the Vans Warped Tour. This was the first one held in Calgary. The bands I went to see on this tour were Hot Water Music, Snapcase, Green Day, Long Beach Dub All-Stars and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones among many others.

Also on this day twelve years ago I saw Stompin' Tom Connors play in Calgary at the Jack Singer Concert Hall. Rest In Peace Stompin' Tom, you are missed.

And it was ten years ago today that I was in Montreal and saw the Foo Fighters with Pete Yorn and My Morning Jacket play at the Verdun Auditorium.

Hot Water Music / Gaslight Anthem and Rise Against Live in Edmonton Oct.7th 2012

Sunday night I went to the triple bill concert of Hot Water Music, Gaslight Anthem and Rise Against at the Expo Centre here in Edmonton. I have to say this has got to be the worst venue for a concert in the city. It's a cavernous echoing tin box warehouse, fuckin' awful sound unless you are somewhere in the middle of the audience up close to the stage. If your not, the sound is just a big muffle of noise bouncing around the place. And that was even with a decent turnout of around 2500-3000 people.

The main reason I went to this show was to see Hot Water Music and Gaslight Anthem as I know absolutely nothing about the band Rise Against, and they were the headliners. Not hard to tell why though, as it seemed seven out of every ten people in the crowd were sporting a Rise Against t-shirt or hoodie.

First band of the evening was Gainesville,Florida hardcore band Hot Water Music. This was my fourth time seeing the band play live. And again they were well worth coming out to the show for. Hot Water Music are touring for their first album in eight years called 'Exister'. And the show in Edmonton was the last date of the tour for this triple bill. I got fairly close to the stage for Hot Water Music as I knew the sound would be terrible anywhere else. The band opened with the song 'Remedy' from their album Caution. Another tune from the same album played was 'Trusty Chords', both singers Chuck Ragan and Chris Wollard were sounding good, I especially like Chuck's raspy vocals, but when both singers would sing together that sounded incredible as well. In their short 35 minute set they also did a few songs from their newest including 'Mainline' and 'Drown In It', I am sure there may have been a couple others. A great way to start the evening. I was hoping they would play my favorite Hot Water Music song 'Rooftops' from the 1999 album No Division, but to no avail.

Next up was the New Jersey band Gaslight Anthem. This was my fourth time seeing this band as well. I made sure to get myself as close to the stage as I could, because if I didn't I wasn't going to enjoy the show. In front of the stage the sound was tolerable. Brian Fallon and the boys opened with 'American Slang' then went into the song 'Howl' one of seven songs they did from their latest release Handwritten. While I like the new album, there new songs sounded better live as they felt more raw. The band seemed loose and were having a good time with lead singer Brian Fallon telling a few stories and doing an impression of Hot Water Music's lead singer Chuck Ragan if he were to be The Hulk, that got a big laugh from the audience. Gaslight Anthem had Chuck Ragan join them on stage for the song 'The '59 Sound', that was cool. Their set was only about 50 minutes long which was way too short. Yet again, I thought Gaslight Anthem kicked ass.

A few pictures of Chuck Ragan from Hot Water Music joining Gaslight Anthem on stage.

Gaslight Anthem setlist.

American Slang
Howl
The '59 Sound
45
Biloxi Parish
Here Comes My Man
Mulholland Drive
The Queen of Lower Chelsea
Old White Lincoln
Desire
Mae
Great Expectations

Headliners of the night was the punk rock band Rise Against from Chicago. As I said before, I knew nothing about the band. I had enough of being in the midst of the masses, so I was on the outside of the big crowd that had gathered in front of the stage for Rise Against. Because I didn't know their music at all and being away from the stage the sound was god awful. I couldn't understand a thing and the music just sounded like a wall of sludge. For those that knew the music and liked the band, they were going over well. The crowd was in to it big time, singing along and moshing and carrying on. The band was energetic and had video screens behind them showing all kinds of activist videos. From what I could tell they are a very political band. I left about half way through their set as I couldn't take anymore of the shitty sound.

Rise Against setlist.

Survivor Guilt
Ready to Fall
Collapse (Post-Amerika)
The Good Left Undone
Broken English
Help Is on the Way
Drones
Disparity by Design
Re-Education (Through Labor)
Blood to Bleed
Satellite
Wait for Me
Prayer of the Refugee

Encore:
Swing Life Away
For Fiona

Encore 2:
Make It Stop (September's Children)
Strong Reaction
Give It All

Encore 3:
Broken Mirrors
The Strength to Go On
Savior

I will never understand why they book bands in this shitty venue,it surely isn't made to be a concert venue that's for sure. I will be avoiding this venue at all costs. Edmonton needs a decent mid size concert venue in a bad way. All and all a good night of music. Good times!!!

T-shirt front.

Back.

Concert Shirt/Poster Of The Day Apr.29th (Vans Warped Tour)

Today's t-shirt is from the first Vans Warped Tour I went to, this show was in 2000 in Calgary at the Race City Motorsport Park. I went to this show with my brother. This was an awesome line up including bands Green Day, Snapcase, Hot Water Music, The Bosstones, Long Beach Dub All-Star Band and many others. My brother and I had a great time at this concert. This was probably the best Warped Tour line up ever.

Front.


Back.

Concert Shirt/Poster Of The Day Dec.5th (Bouncing Souls)

Today's t-shirt is from the Punk-O-Rama Tour of 2003 that I saw at Red's in West Edmonton Mall. The two bands that i was interested in on this bill were The Bouncing Souls and Hot Water Music. Both bands were incredible.

Front.


Back.