Approximately 60 people came out to support the Ridge Rescue Association for the Mutt Strutt at the Slice, Thursday, May 29.
Talented local bands Redrum Triumph, the Junkman’s Quire and a long awaited return to Lethbridge for local country trio the Coal Creek Boys drew a decent crowd who raised $700 for the Ridge Rescue Association through a 50 50 draw, door prizes and the $13 cover charge.
Redrum Triumph aka Steve Foord and guitarist Evan Uschencko opened up the show with a solid set of unusual country music.
In addition to playing his zombie songs, Foord, stomping rhythm on an old trunk , played some new songs as well covers from country musician Jason Isbell as well as his cover of “Masters of War.” Uschenko added spooky slide to the last song which appealed to the enthusiastic audience.
The Junkman’s Quire were up next with their set of exotic gypsy tinged music.
Megan Brown added some very good violin playing while George Fowler and guitarist/ saxophonist Ross Samuel traded lead vocals as the other band members aded harmonies.
Brown also sang lead on a couple of more jazzy songs. Stand up bassist Steve Martin and drummer Isaac Neufeld added solid rhythm.
The fiddle playing was a highlight throughout the set.
The Coal Creek Boys wound up their set with a rare local show. They began with several highlights off their most recent album “Rosetown.”
Bassist Dino Scavo kicked things off by singing “Genie, Lose the Bottle” one of my favourites off their debut album.
Frontman/ guitarist John Paul Smith added hot leads and sang the last verse. Drummer Dane Smith brought it all together.
Other familiar highlights were “Carrie Nation” and “Bad Man,” and “GI Highway” from “Rosetown.”
From there they took advantage of the receptive audience to try some new material, which fell strongly in the outlaw country tradition. “Jail with The Coal Creek Boys” and “Busted” were highlights of these.
After a brief chat about the importance of Ridge Rescue Association, they wound the evening down after midnight with an interesting cover of “Hurt,” which fell somewhere between the Nine Inch Nails original and Johnny Cash’s renowned cover.
