Calgary extreme metal band Divinity have been carefully crafting their show and their sound for 20 years.
 After several line up changes and instrument shifts within the band, they re-released two previous EPs and a new third EP together as a concept album “ The Immortalist.”

They play the Smokehouse with Vancouver metal band Expain and the Avulsion.

“ Sean (Jenkins, vocalist) and I formed the band around 2001 02 2002, observed guitarist James Duncan, noting they just added  a second guitarist, Gord Olson who joins vocalist Jeff Waite, bassist Keith Branston and Duncan’s brother Brett on drums.

Duncan noted the band takes a lot of time to create the many layers of their music.
“There’s 30 or 40 guitar tracks and a dozen vocal tracks. So I had to decide what to play live. Even the synth parts were written on guitar,” he said having the second guitarist helps the band play more of the songs, not to mention gives them the opportunity for harmonized leads.

 He noted Olson is a long time friend of the band who they asked to join about four years ago, but was unable to  due to other commitments.
“We can play really heavy rhythms and go right into a harmonized lead sections like Iron Maiden it really fills out the sound,” he said.

While the album is meant as a concept album, Duncan said the individual songs  stand on their own, so they aren’t playing it in order.
“We thought about doing that, but instead we want  to draw people into the show by playing a couple of our loudest, heaviest  songs,” he said.

The Sadies make a long awaited return to Lethbridge to open the Geomatic Attic’s new season, Monday, Sept. 18.
 Guitarist/ vocalist Travis Good, plus his brother Dallas, drummer Mike Belitsky and bassist Sean Dean are touring in support of their latest  album “Northern Passages,” which they recorded in their parents’ basement.

“We sent our parents away on vacation and took over their house,” Travis Good chuckled.
“It’s where Dallas and I started playing in punk bands,” Travis Good said, taking a quick breather at home after playing a couple of successful shows in New York City
“But the most important thing was we could take our time on the songs. Dallas produced it, Usually we get a producer and take him somewhere, but it was nice to not have to be on the clock,” he said.

Over their 20 years playing together, the band have been blessed to play and record with a number of famous musicians ranging from punk legend John Doe of X to The Tragically Hip’s Gord Downie, not to mention Neko Case, R&B legend Andre Williams, The Mekons’ Jon Langford, Jon Spencer, Robyn Hitchcock, John Doe, Buffy Sainte-Marie and Neil Young.

“ The album took us a long time, though not as long as the album with Gord. That took longer because we had to work around our busy schedules, so we would go in and record one song then we’d go on tour on our own for a few months and come back and do another song,” Good said, noting they just completed a tour with Blue Rodeo.

“We haven’t had a lot of success so to speak , but that’ s success in our books, getting to play with these people. My list is getting shorter,” he enthused.

 Good looks at collaborations as a break for the band.
“Other bands take a break from each other to do their own projects but when we take a break, it’s to collaborate with someone as the Sadies. So we take a break together,” he said.

Blueprint Records celebrated their eleventh anniversary on Wednesday night, Sept. 6 with live music at the Slice. While I missed the first couple of acts , Fast Colours and Open Channels due to an early start, I was in time for headliner Jay Arner and his band.

 The band including keyboardist/vocals Jessica, bassist Adrienne and drummer Kate played a strong set of  heavily ’80s pop influenced music. So there was plenty of ambience, keyboard and catchy vocal harmonies.

Their first couple of songs  sounded like more indie rock and pop influenced Strokes. But quickly moved to more ’80s synth pop and new wave music.

 I only caught a little bit of the Shine on Music Festival at the University of Lethbridge stadium, Saturday, Sept. 2.

 The grounds were beginning to look a little apocalyptic as thick smoke descended, and turned the sun a sinister shade of red. They were running an hour late, so I waited an hour for Washboard Union to take the stage. The B.C. based trio were worth waiting for. They played a couple of their hits including their most recent “Shine,” and they went a little old school country with “Riding the Midnight Train.”

 Aaron Grain thanks the audience for singing their songs back to them and lead the band through a brand new song.

The three main members, David Roberts, Aaron Grain and Chris Duncombe grinned ear to ear and took turns singling lead vocals.
 They had tight vocal harmonies to die for, which stood out especially on a phenomenal cover of Alabama’s “Mountain Music.”

 Their hearts really were in Alabama, as a cover filled set  later included another Alabama cover of “I’m in a Hurry and I Don’t Know Why.”
David Roberts beamed as he swung his washboard around his head.

Musically they played a variety of styles of music with a bit of rock, a lot of country, a touch of bluegrass and even a touch of funk.
A big hit “Head Over Heels” came near the end of the set which they followed up with  a medley including “I’m in A Hurry,” Tom Petty’s ”American Girl” and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” including the meaningful guitar solo part of the song.

 Vancouver indie rock band Mother Mother added to the apocalyptic air with a loud, bass heavy set of sinister indie pop music.
 Their usual synth heavy pop music featured more of Ryan Guldemond’s guitar with the keyboards of Molly Guldemond and Jasmin Parkin staying in the background though their vocal harmonies rang through the smoky air.
They began their set with  a few of their more popular sings including “Love Stuck” and “Let’s Fall in Love.”

 “Monkey Tree” came a little later in the set.
 They even added a loud Led Zeppelin cover of “Dazed and Confused” as I was wandering over to CKXU for my radio show, so I missed headliners Corb Lund and Dallas Smith.
 I got to the excellent battle of the bands at the Stadium the next day, Sept. 3.

 They had a diverse line up of local bands beginning with the Awd Fellows featuring local fun  rock band Adequate, but featuring Shael Pezderic playing bass instead of the usual Scott Mezei joining band mates Keenan Pezderic on drums and vocals and guitarist Josh Thorlakson, who ended up winning first prize a package from hosts Cottonwood Records, with their set of tow tapping, funk and rap music.

Local rock band Scotch Whiskey Limousine only gave a brief taste of what they could do with their three song set, which abandoned keyboards and saxophone for a set of straight ahead, soulful rock and roll. They ended up taking second place in the competition.

 Alyssa McQuaid and Coyote junction added a dose of country music with a quick set of covers and originals.
 A new young band, Nevada Place played two songs  of soulful pop and even some Fleetwood Mac.

 Another young band Diversified showed their rock side in a set which included a boisterous version of Guns N’ Roses ‘“Sweet Child O’ Mine.”

 Local pop punk band the Youngbloods, finished the night with a third place  show of hyperactive, energetic and super tight pop punk / emo music.
It was great to see them in the daylight as they always perform an entertaining show, but usually in the wee hours of the morning.