I love to see a new band playing in Lethbridge.
Local blues influenced rock band  JJ Thomas played the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Sept. 21, opening for Calgary duo Ghost Factory.
 I missed a surprise set from the Versions, but arrived in time or JJ Thomas.

 They played a really tight set of ’70s inspired rock and roll which sounded like  AC DC meeting the White Stripes with a touch  of the Sheepdogs. Saxophonist / keyboardist/ guitarist Ben added extra musical flavourings and extra ’70s style.

 They played a solid set of catchy rock and roll with big, loud riffs and tasteful solos and a big groove and a few vocal harmonies. Individual songs like “Gypsy Queen” sounded like Mountain, and more R and B influenced material was reminiscent of Earth, Wind and Fire. A song about Scotch sounded similar to John Lee Hooker’s “Boom Boom Boom.”

There were a lot of highlights of the set including “Jack and Jill,”  “ Gone”  and one that was played on Rock 106. As well as the uptempo rocker “ Travelling Man,” which they ended the set with.

 They may have been a hard act to follow, but acoustic duo Ghost Factory were more than up for the challenge.

 Most of the people hung in there to hear them and stood in front of the stage grooving to Ghost Factory’s acoustic based drums and acoustic guitar powered Celtic punk, which sounded like a mix of Dave Matthews drunk on Jameson's Irish whiskey with a touch of Sum 41 unplugged with a touch of BA Johnston.

 They had a lot of people singing along from the beginning of their energetic set which was also quite humourous especially their “Song About Satan.” They played older material first for the crowd to sing along to, but also broke in a few new songs.