Unfortunately, due to running spotlights for Evil Dead, I only caught a little bit of Nick Gilder and Sweeney Todd’s show at Average Joes, Nov. 1.
He was winding up his set with a hot version of their big ’70s hit “Hot Child In The City.”
He still had an impressive voice and beamed at the audience dancing in front of the stage.
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 07 November 2012 13:29 )
Hey Ocean and Alvarez Kings provide Halloween treats
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 13:06
Richard Amery
Hey Ocean and the Alvarez Kings helped a sold-out Slice celebrate Halloween, Oct. 31. I arrived in the middle a sweet set from United Kingdom band the Alvarez Kings.
While they were dressed as ’80s cock rockers, complete with socks stuffed in spandex pants, their sound was Brit rock straight out of the’90s and early 2000s. They put on an energetic set of ambient, delay drenched rock reminiscent of bands like Blur with a touch of Oasis.
They had some catchy riffs a few nice vocal harmonies, some catchy riffs and were a lot of fun.
Most of the audience was there to hear the violent contrast— Hey Ocean. As usual, they had their feet firmly planted in the realms of pop music. They were dressed as circus characters, with lead singer Ashleigh Ball dressed as the ringmaster.
They had a plethora of catchy pop infused melodies, Ball concentrated on vocals rather than hiding behind keyboards as she usually does, but pulled out the flute for a couple songs as she chatted with the crowd clustered in front of the stage, shook a lot of hands and sang beautifully like No Doubt’s Gwen Stefani.
They added a touch of reggae as Ball talked about taking 12 hours to drive across Saskatchewan.
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 07 November 2012 13:15 )
Delhi2Dublin back with brand new CD , video and tour
Tuesday, 06 November 2012 14:04
Richard Amery
Vancouver based Celtic/ world/ East Indian electronica orchestra Delhi 2 Dublin are stoked about life. Currently in California and eagerly anticipating the American release of their lasted CD “Turn Up the Stereo,” they will be returning to Lethbridge to rock Scores South, Nov. 11. “Lethbridge has always been one of those places which has always been really supportive of us way back when we were playing for Jason (Beacock) at Henotic,” enthused electronics/ tabla player Tarun Nayar.
“People always seem to be ready to party with us in Lethbridge,” he said. Nayar is joined by Sara Fitzpatrick on fiddle, vocals and hand drums; vocalist Sanjay Seran, electric sitarist/ guitarist Andrew Kim and dhol player Ravi Binning. They combine elements of a lot of different musical styles including Celtic music, East Indian music, a lot of pop music and some R and B.
“We’ve been to Lethbridge six or seven times, and it’s really awesome. We had a lot of kids come to see us at Shambala. But we revamp our set every six months, so it will be a completely new show for people who have seen us before,” he said.
“There will be eight or nine songs from the new CD and a lot of fun remixes,” he continued.
The new CD was released in Canada in August, but they haven’t played a lot here since then.
“We’ve mostly been playing in the United States, but it’s weird because we’re playing a lot of the new songs, but we don’t have the CD with us,” he observed adding the new music has received positive response during the two weeks they’ve been playing in Canada.
Wendell and Wheat hit the streets all over the prairies
Tuesday, 06 November 2012 13:44
Richard Amery
Wendell Ferguson is as funny as he is busy. “I’m a musical prostitute,” he said when asked what projects he’s been involved in. He spends a lot of time recording on other people’s albums including Lethbridge musician Karen Romanchuk and bigger names like Sylvia Tyson.
“I do a lot of session work. The phone rings and I say yes, unless it’s the tax department, then I say no,” Ferguson laughed. “ I’ve got a little studio in my basement. It’s not Abbey Road, but it’s good. People e-mail me MP3s, I’ll record my part and send it back to them and I can make money in my pyjamas,” he continued adding working at home allows him to incorporate his vast guitar collection.
“When I go out to do a session, I’ll only five or six guitars. But when i work at home I can hear what it needs, so if it needs a baritone guitar, then I have one,” he said. But a couple times a year he gets to break from the routine of “making money in my pyjamas,” and gets to hit the road with long tome collaborator Katherine Wheatley.
The duo will be playing the Lethbridge Folk Club Wolf’s Den, Nov. 10. Their show combines Ferguson’s hot guitar playing and weird sense of humour with Wheatley’s more serious, stories and songs. They will be touring around Alberta and Saskatchewan with a few dates in Manitoba.
Meanwhile Wheatley has been busy doing her own thing according to Ferguson noting she was busy touring and playing around the Arctic Circle with scientists and researchers, multi-tasking playing music and driving heavy machinery. She also did a similar thing in the Antarctic.
“So I joked with her, I guess you’re truly bipolar,” Ferguson laughed adding she is also busy running songwriting workshops in schools. They alway enjoy getting back together for a tour.
“It’s fun because it’s so fresh. We haven’t seen each other for three months,” he said.
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 06 November 2012 14:03 )
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Slower week marked by some excellent shows
Tuesday, 06 November 2012 13:30
Richard Amery
Things slow down ever so slightly this week, but there are still several great shows happening.
Juno award winners Monkey Junk return to the Geomatic Attic, Nov. 7. The Ottawa based blues trio always put on an excellent show. the Lethbridge Folk Club also has a big show this weekend. Wendell Ferguson and Katherine Wheatley combine wicked guitar playing with wit, thoughts and stories.
They play the Wolf’s Den Saturday, Nov. 10. Delhi 2 Dublin also return to Lethbridge this week. The always popular Vancouver based band combine celtic music, world music and hop hop with pop and East Indian music. They always get a good turnout and a lot of support in Lethbridge. They will be playing Scores, Nov. 11.
And take a trip back to the ’80s with DJ Jazzy Jeff who plays the fifth annual Throw Your Panties party at Studio 54. He will be sharing the stage with a lot of DJs including DJ Skratch Bastid, MC Skillz and DJ Fuze, Nov. 9 at Studio 54.
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 06 November 2012 13:44 )
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