Local progressive rock trio Lustre Creame, is all about the friendship — and rocking out.
“We‘re not really an open mic  band,” said Lustre Creame guitarist/ singer Aaron Trozzo, trying to explain this Lethbridge based progressive rock trio’s sound. They combine impeccable musicianship while melding a variety of influences including classic rock, progressive rock, grunge and well as adding elements of jazz, blues and country lyrics. Plus Trozzo plays a really cool double necked Ibanez guitar.
“It’s silly to try to categorize us. We listen to it all and appreciate all kinds of music,” added drummer Chris Lipinski.
“And I’ve played in everything from grunge to jazz bands,” added bassist Jeff Orriss.
 They are playing with under the White Dime and Asprinaut, Jan. 29 at the Slice and again, Jan. 31 at Henotic with the Myelin Sheaths and Fist City for as special two venue fundraiser.
The band met while Lipinski and  bassist Willis (Jeff) Orriss were working together in construction when Trozzo overheard them talking about music. They instantly bonded over a common love for grunge music, but their sound quickly evolved.

Henotic was packed wall to wall on both floors for a couple big events, Friday, Jan. 22.
 A fundraiser for the victims of the Haiti hurricane featured several performers including Fat Baby Jake, Jenn Pellerin and Jesse And the Dandelions.

I caught quite a bit of Pellerin’s set of solo singer/songwriter material including a couple of covers and some original music, which the crowd enjoyed, but unfortunately missed Fat Baby Jake.

But I caught an outstanding, though brief, set of theirs at the Slice’s blues jam, Jan. 19 which also featured performances by Darryl Düus and hosts Paul Kype and Texas Flood.

I caught the tail end of  Jesse and the Dandelions’ version of the Violent Femmes’ ‘Blister in the Sun’ which closed off Henotic’s Haiti fundraiser.

Upstairs, Lethbridge’s punk community  was out in force and crammed in front of the GCBC stage for Chief Mountain, Audio Rocketry and Rum Runner.

Dean Selena, formerly the Richard Doerksen Band, entertained an almost full Wooden Kilt, Saturday, Jan. 23 with the CD release party for their new CD ‘What is Unchanged.’

The trio, Richard Doerksen, Daniel Enns and Daniel Puurveen, began their second set with a Radiohead cover.

Doerksen showed he has the perfect, wavering tenor voice for Radiohead covers — an influence which carries through most of his music. He also showed equal prowess on keyboards and guitar as did Enns, who also played some keyboard in addition to some impressively intricate bass lines.

Doerksen has a beautiful feel for playing just the right notes on his Telecaster with fantastic feel and passion.

Their second set included older cuts from Doerksen’s last solo CD ’The Deep’ as well as material from the new CD. The set included Radiohead meets U2 ambient pop rock to an crazy extensive  jazz flavoured jam to a couple upbeat rockers and even a country tinged newer tune.

A full house at the Slice, Jan. 22 enjoyed a couple energetic roots flavoured sets by country rockers Dave McCann and the Firehearts. They played tracks from all of his previous albums including his latest ‘Dixiebluebird.’

Lead guitarist Dave Bauer added some impressive twanging country lead lines throughout. The tasteful lead  fit the music perfectly. McCann’s second set began with ‘Tinseltown’ and carried on to Road to Cain which featured some sweet slide playing.

McCann beamed ear to ear and jumped all over the stage while sounding like Todd Snider mixed with Hank Williams 3. He had the audience dancing throughout his set. Local bluesman Paul Kype joined the band on stage for the last song of the set, a crowd favourite, ‘When Leroy Quit Drinking.’

— by Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor