You can count on the Geomatic Attic’s Mike Spencer to do something unique.
Because Covid prevented the Geomatic Attic’s annual Wide Skies Music Festival, Spencer decided to do an abbreviated version of it and hold a free, limited seating concert on a roof-top, Wednesday, July 28.
Skinny Dyck and Evan Uschenko were performing in the beer gardens in the Bowman Arts Centre parking lot before the show on the Park n Ride roof top with Leeroy Stagger and MonkeyJunk.
Ryan Skinny Dyck played a lot of traditional country and original music including a few tracks from his most recent album “Get To Know Lonesome” as well as some older songs like “Timing.”
Uschenko added tasteful guitar leads throughout.
They ended with country classic “Lost Highway.”
Well into their set, the lucky 400 people who were able to get tickets for the main event had started the long trek up six flights of stairs to the roof of the Park n Ride building.
It may have seemed like an odd choice for a venue, but the top level slants down, where people could place their lawn chair towards where the stage was placed, giving the set -up an amphitheatre feel.
I had to leave early to do a live edition of Disco Sucks Punkin Old School on CKXU, but was able to catch most of Leeroy Stagger’s set.
The audience gave him an appreciative welcome home round of applause as Stagger noted it was great to be back in Lethbridge where he met his wife and raised his family.
“ It’s like being in a Beyonce video, he quipped, observing the roof top set up.
Stagger, mandolinist/ guitarist Ryland Moranz, bassist Tyson Maiko and drummer Kyle Harmon, worked their way through a set full of peace, love, original music and a few covers like Neil Young’s “Everyone Knows This is Nowhere,” which featured one of many beautiful Ryland Moranz mandolin solo.
They played an Indio Saravanja song and started playing originals including “Let Love In.”
His Gord Downie tribute from his “Strange Attractor” CD was a highlight. “ I Want it All” was another one. I always enjoy “Run Rabbit Run” and his story about going through some of his grandmother’s photos and finding one of his granddad as part of Vancouver Island’s first motorcycle gang and learning about a character named “Dirty Bill.”
“ As soon as I heard that, I knew that was going in a song,” he said.
Ryland Moranz switched guitars mid song so he could play a subtle slide guitar solo.
He also played a few newer songs including “Searchlight” and a couple off his most recent album “Dystopian Weekends,”
I had to leave during an impassioned cover of Tom Petty’s “Walls” so missed MonkeyJunk.
— by Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
