Vancouver metal band Unleash The Archers brought energy and some to spare with an energetic and intense set at the Stone, May 30.

I missed Enceladus and Caste of Shadows, but arrived in time for Unleash the Archers to unleash some big, fast guitar riffs, an unstoppable backbeat, and thundering bass plus operatic vocals from front woman Brittany Hayes as they played their latest concept CD  “Demons of the Astrowaste.”

 They had a cohort of 50 -odd black clad headbangers shaking their heads and bouncing in enthusiasm throughout the room.

 There were some cool guitar works and shuddering bass.
 Hayes showed she could scream on key, while  one of the other members  added some bellowing, growling vocals for contrast from guitarist Brayden Dyzckowski.

 While I try to take Mondays off, I couldn’t pass up a chance to take in the return of the Tom Savage Trio at the Slice, May 30.

 They didn’t have many people, but brought it anyway.

 The Kingston, Ontario alt country blues trio started off with several tracks from their excellent debut CD “The County Line,” including the title track as well as “No Win Situation,” which they expanded with a  long trippy, psychedelic bluesy solo. Superb solos were the highlight of this show, especially the first set.

 the trio played tight and frontman Savage told a variety of stories about  driving for days across Northern Ontario and played a song from his solo acoustic CD about the experience, but electrified and amplified. He ended the first set with a “Arizona,”  a mellow note from “The County Line.”

 He eased into the second set of all new blues inspired material, a slight departure from their Drive-By-Truckers alt-country sound
 I’m looking forward to their next CD if what I heard is any indication. They had plenty of superb playing and catchy hooks especially on one  called “Tijuana Sun” and another I think called “Come On Down the Road.”
throughout there was some slick slide guitar playing and endless energy.

Though their fiftieth season has just ended, the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra is already excited about their fifty-first which begins Oct. 7 with the first Chamber Series presentation.

 There will be a variety of highlights throughout the season —  selections from popular movies like Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, popular musicals like West Side Story, opera, a new composition  about Southern Alberta ,  handbell choir, the Bridge Bells playing for their annual Christmas concert and symphonic classics, Plus there will be new faces, new performances, new collaborations and special guests including  mezzo soprano Sandra Stringer. All that and a performance of Mozart’s popular opera “The Magic Flute.”

“It will be the full experience of the Magic Flute,” enthused Lethbridge Symphony  musical director Glenn Klassen, virtually vibrating with excitement talking about the new season.

“ The Magic Flute” takes place Feb. 3 and 4 at the Southminster United Church. It is one of many collaborations in the community with the Symphony as it is being performed with the University of Lethbridge Opera Workshop director Blaine Hendsbee.

“If we were to do these things alone, the cost would be prohibitive. But we can work together to give the community this wonderful experience,” Klassen continued. The University of Lethbridge opera workshop will be providing the singers, while the symphony, which also includes a lot of university students, will be supplying the music. The Symphony features between 50-60 performers from all over the community from students to seniors.
 “We always have new faces,” Klassen said. He is glad to welcome new principal second violin Lise Boutin.
“We’re thrilled to have her,” he said noting she has a lot of experience including with the University of Lethbridge conservatory as well as being a sought after freelance.
“She will be a wonderful asset,” he said.

You never know what will be going on at the Lethbridge Senior’s Centre Organization until you take a look around.
You will see there is more to a senior’s life than Scrabble playing and quilt-making. Seniors today are active, innovative and creative, so the Lethbridge Senior Citizen’s Organization wants to keep providing and improving programming for them.

 In addition to these popular senior’s activities, the Organization offers a variety of organizations and clubs.

Seniors can meet kindred spirits interested in jewelry making, a variety of different art groups, Tai Chi, an amateur ham radio club to karaoke singing, even a brand new Wii club and the always popular computer club.

Downstairs there is a fully equipped woodshop, where members create intricately designed toy trucks and cradles and even grandfather clocks and where Stephen Tuttle is restoring genuine eighteenth century cutlasses, one of which was even used in the War of 1812.

 He knows his stuff.
“I’ve been interested in this subject since 1965, but I’ve only been restoring them for about three years,” said Tuttle, pointing out, so to speak, the different shapes of two different cutlasses, explaining how one of them is an officer’s blade because of it. He buys many of these blades on e-Bay and spends many hours lovingly restoring them.

He has been a member of the organization for seven years. You will get a chance to check out all of the activities during Senior’s Week, this week, culminating with the second annual LSCO Rocks the Block, featuring live music in the park from noon until 9 p.m. June 11 including a plethora of free, local live music beginning with local classic metal band Rex at noon, followed by classic rock bands Wheeler Dealer, The Chevelles, Hippodrome, Who’s Yer Daddy, blues rockers Texas Flood, Alter Ego and ending with modern rock band Double Jack at 8 p.m.

 The Hibikiya Lethbridge Community Taiko Association will be playing 20 minute tweeners in between the acts while the next one sets up.

 In addition to free live music, a beer garden and an array of vendors, it will be a lot of fun for the whole family.
 Because the event attracted 700 people throughout the day last year and they received such positive feedback, they decided to do it again. 
“Last year we had families with kids, teenagers and seniors,” observed Marcie Stork, Volunteer Coordinator of Fund Development for the Organization.
“It is something really unique for downtown — an outside festival. And we had a lot of really good feedback about it,” she said.
“ And it’s not going to rain. It’s supposed to be beautiful. So I’m keeping positive about it,” she said.


LSCO Rocks the Block has become one of the four big annual fund-raisers for the LSCO.