July 26th

  July 26th, 2001 The Reverend Horton Heat with opening band Bare Jr. at Suburbs in Edmonton. This was an awesome double bill.

August 10th

 

 My ticket stub and newspaper reviews from the time I saw Soundgarden with Reverend Horton Heat opening play the Convention Centre in Edmonton.

October 8th

 

 It was on October 8th, 2017 that I saw The Reverend Horton Heat headline the Starlite Room in Edmonton as part of the UP+DT (Uptown & Downtown) Music Festival. Opening the show was local ska band Mad Bomber Society.

Reverend Horton Heat Live in Edmonton Oct.8th 2017

Two Sunday's ago my buddy and I went to the last concert of this years edition of the UP+DT Festival, this gig would be the Reverend Horton Heat show at the Starlite Room. There were four bands on the bill but we only caught the last two. That being Mad Bombers Society and the Reverend.

By the time we got to the venue the place was packed, but we managed to get there in time to catch local ska band Mad Bomber Society. I was surprised to see a ska band on this bill, but then it's always good to have a diverse line up. For a band that don't do a whole lot of shows, they sounded really good. Lead singer Rich Bomber sounded great as did the rest of the band, which included a bass player, drummer and two horn players, sadly I don't know the name of these musicians, but nonetheless they all kicked ass. The crowd was really digging the band, dancing and singing along. It was nice to see Mad Bomber Society get such a good response from the crowd. A great performance by them all.

Mad Bomber Society at the Starlite Room.

Now it was time for the last band of this years UP+DT Music Festival the Reverend Horton Heat. This was my second time seeing the Reverend, the last time being in 1994 when they opened for Soundgarden here in Edmonton.

I'm not the biggest fan of rockabilly, psychobilly, or as The Rev calls themselves country-fed punkabilly, whatever you want to call it, I have always had a soft spot for the Reverend Horton Heat, one of the few rockabilly bands I can tolerate. What they do, they do it well. So I was looking forward to seeing them play a headlining show this time. The Reverend Horton Heat who hail from Dallas, Texas is made up of The Reverend (Jim Heath) on guitar and vocals, long time bass player Jimbo (Jimbo Wallace) and newest member Arjuna "RJ" Contreras on drums, who was amazing. Reminded me of John Bonham the size of him and the way he played.

The band opened the show with instrumental song "Big Sky", why is that every rockabilly band has to open with an instrumental. Then into an oldie "Baddest Of The Bad". One song they did that really made me laugh and was happy to hear was "Cowboy Love" from their 1996 album It's Martini Time. They ended the set with the Motorhead song "Ace Of Spades". What bothered me the most during the show was how long Jim Heath's stories were, very long winded to the point that a few people in the crowd myself included were shouting "play a song". I swear about 20 minutes of the hour and a half show was Jim telling stories.

For the encore Reverend Horton Heat did a cover of the Johnny Cash song "Folsom Prison Blues" and then we had to put up with a drum and bass solo, which were a total waste of time and not very good. Between the stories and solos the band could have done at least five more songs. All and all I didn't think it was a great show, it was alright but nothing special. To me I think Mad Bomber Society gave them a run for their money. Good times!!!

Reverend Horton Heat at the Starlite Room.

A big shout out to the organizers, volunteers, bands and venues for what I hope was another successful UP+DT Music Festival.

23 Years Ago Today...August 10th

It was twenty-three years ago today that I saw the Black Crowes open for Heart at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton.

Also on this day, nineteen years ago, I saw Soundgarden with The Reverend Horton Heat play the Convention Centre here in Edmonton.

And it was eleven years ago today that I saw Snapcase with Strung Out and Rise Against play Red's here in Edmonton.

As well it was a year ago today that I saw Bob Dylan play in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan.

22 Years Ago Today...July 26th

It was twenty-two years ago today that I saw the Tragically Hip play at the Convention Centre here in Edmonton.

Also on this day twelve years ago, I saw Reverend Horton Heat with openers Bare Jr. play a place called Suburbs here in Edmonton.

And it was on this day five years ago that I was at day two of the Pemberton Music Festival in Pemberton, British Columbia. Some of the bands I saw on this day were the Flaming Lips, Tragically Hip, Sam Roberts, Black Mountain and headliners Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Ticket Stub Of The Day Feb.5th (Reverend Horton Heat/Bare Jr.)

Today's ticket stub is from an excellent double bill I saw at bar in downtown Edmonton called Suburbs, the bands were the Reverend Horton Heat with Bare Jr. opening. This show was in 2001.

Lyrics Of The Day Oct.12th (Reverend Horton Heat)

"I'm calling in pissed
Hung over y'all
I'm gonna use the fake cough when I make that call
I'm sick
I'm calling in twisted"

Lyrics by The Reverend Horton Heat from the song Callin In Twisted off the album Revival (2004)

Concert Shirt Of The Day July 2nd (Reverend Horton Heat)

Today's t-shirt is from the time I saw The Reverend Horton Heat open for Soundgarden at The Convention Centre in 1994. The Rev. were touring for what I think is their best album Liquor In The Front. Soundgarden were touring for their Superunknown album.

Front.


Back.






In concert news... Reverend Horton Heat will be playing in Edmonton at The Starlite Room on Tuesday August 3rd with Split Lip Rayfield and Hillstomp.