Music Beat
Winnipeg musician Patrick Alexandre LeClerc brought the blues and a touch of Metis history to the Slice, Thursday, May 30 for approximately 20 people.
Unfortunately I missed bluesman Vince Andrushko’s opening set, but they combined the two bands for a third set or more blues and a touch of country.
LeClerc and his band the Nor’ Westers, guitarist Dwayne Dueck and drummer Jeff Laird played a solid set of gritty, ’50’s sounding blues featuring LeClerc thumping his upright bass. They went old school with a solid version of “ My Babe.”
Dueck tore into many a tasteful guitar solo throughout, and sneaked behind LeClerc to add extra background vocals.
“Killing the Blues,” as a highlight that came near the middle of set, which included some ’50s style rock and roll.
LeClerc switched to acoustic guitar to give a preview of his new concept album inspired by the Red River Rebellion.
He noted his great great grandfather was part of the Rebellion and sang a song he wrote from his perspective, then switched back to bass for another song called “Red Coats” about warning that the British troops advancing.
He added a couple of covers of a John Prine song and Bill Kirchen’s Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen song “Seeds and Stems,” showing of his more soulful side.
They wound down their set with an old F Holes favourite.
After a break the fun began, but it was going to leave, but didn’t want to miss the “Winnipeg mash up” featuring both Vince Andrushko’s band including bassist T.E. Fodey from the D Rangers, and Leclerc’s band jamming together.
With Fodey taking over on bass, that allowed LeClerc to bust out his harp for a whole lot more blues., most of it sung by Andrushko, who played some excellent guitar. And sang a couple classics like “ St. James Infirmary” and Hank Williams’ “Mind Your Own Business” to wind the show well past 1 a.m.
