As usual, Freshfest was well attended at the University of Lethbridge, Sept. 9.

 I only caught Said The Whale’s set. They played their usual set of catchy up tempo, guitar based  indie rock, with just a touch of keyboards.

 The band sang superb vocal harmonies and took turns singing lead vocals.

The Owl Acoustic Lounge featured Salmo alternative rock duo Rainboard aka vocalist/ guitarist Tom Reimer and drummer Lyndon Schiewe, Sept. 9.

They played a set of weird, noisy rock with waves of ambient dissonance and a relentless beat.

Reimer sang in a spooky, high Radiohead style voice.

Abbotsford based post punk band Loans played a more upbeat indie rock along the lines of the Strokes.

 I missed an opening set from Unbroken Circle.

The Slice rocked with alternative sounds and big riffs, Sept. 8 with local alternative rock band the Supervoid, local rock duo Cope and Calgary riff rock band Woodhawk can be best described as loud, louder and ear bleeding loudest.

 I arrived just in time to get my eardrums torn out by one of many ear piercing screams from the Supervoid frontman Jon Vornbrock, who let loose a bellow to be proud of just as I walked by the giant speaker on the edge of the Slice stage. Vornbrock, drummer Dean Wilson and bassist Christian Nelson played a tight set or original, mostly older material I haven’t heard them play for years. There were plenty of Foo Fighters/ Smashing pumpkins alternative rock energy, though this show featured a little more Radiohead than usual.

There were plenty of ’90s style riffs and shrieks as they ended with “Take My Life.”
 Tyson Wiebe and Mickey Hayward played a strong set of riff laden instrumental rock with weird, lengthy song titles. They’re always fun to see and  a power to behold.

They ended with the three songs from their most recent EP as Tyson Wiebe wound things down by crouching down his bank of effects and fiddled with the knobs to emit shrieks and other strange noises.

Woodhawk were up next with an impressive set of huge riffs from frontman Turner Midzain, a huge bottom end from bassist MikeMike Badmington, lots of intensity and drummer Kevin Nelson beaming ear to ear as he tossed his sticks up in the air and catching them.

 They began with their new single “High Priest,” and didn’t let up for about an hour. They sounded like a blend of Black Sabbath with more  modern acts like Monster Truck and in places, Midzain sounded a lot like Ian Blurton of C’mon and Public Animal.

 They played most of the new CD “Beyond the Sun” and  finished their set with a couple of older songs including the outstanding “ Don’t Wake the Witch.”

 It’s a great week for metal, with a couple of excellent metal shows happening at the Smokehouse.

 On Sept. 23 , the U of L Headbanger’s Society present their first show of the season at the Smokehouse with  Vancouver rock/ metal  band Of Artistry with local rock/metal bands Caste of Shadows and Sidestepping the Sun and To The Mountains Admission is $15 in advance, $20 at the door, Doors open at  6 p.m.
 If that wasn’t enough metal in your face the next night, Sept, 24, get ready to bang your head and thrash the night was with veteran Calgary metal band Divinity who  are supporting their new CD The Immortalist. They will be joined by Vancouver’s Expain and local screamo band the Avulsion.
 The early show starts at 8 p.m. There is a $10 cover.

For the diametric opposite  to that, get your ’90s pop fix this week as the I Love the ’90s tour stops by the Enmax Center, Thursday, Sept. 21 with Vanilla Ice, Salt N’ Pepa, Rob Base, Young MC and CC and Music Factory.
 Tickets are $65, $85 and $102. The show begins  at 7 p.m.

The Smokehouse features a big hip hop show in between all the metal, Sept. 22 with Pimpton’s Canadian tour stopping by with special guests Kwame Dolo and Dusty Wallace and local support from Trey Mark, LRev & Heavy Knowledge, Knox and xRGx.
Doors open at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.
Also on Thursday, get ready to laugh as the Jokers Gone Wild tour returns to Casino Lethbridge. This month features Lars Callieou, Martin Mor and Gordon Souther. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10.

The Slice is all about rock this weekend with local bands To The Mountains From the Flame and Quick Draw performing at night on Sept. 22. Gabriel Thaine is playing a special, laid back happy hour show at 5:30 p.m.
 On Sept. 23, the Slice features Vancouver indie pop band Goodwood Atoms, Saskatoon punk band Owners and local indie rock band the Utilities. There is a $10 cover for the show, which begins at 9 p.m.