It may seem strange to have a birthday party for a blow up doll, let alone play “Happy Birthday” for one as Jesse Northey noted, Oct. 7, but Mr. Lethbridge is more than just a rustically dressed, moustachioed plastic doll, his annual birthday parties are known for good music and raising money for great causes.
This year, the Slice was the site of a full house and the Big Brothers and Sisters of Lethbridge and District were the lucky recipients of the donations.
While I didn’t get an exact total raised, there were some substantial donations sitting in the collection jug as each of the attendees paid a five dollar cover, some of them a lot more.
They were having fun. I hadn’t seen Jesse and the Northey and the Dandelions for a while, but haven’t changed much since the last time I saw them. The energetic trio (Jesse Northey, drummer Nick Vederes and bassist Tyler Stewart) played an upbeat and tight set of catchy indie-pop music along the lines of Hey Ocean and Said the Whale with just a touch of the Violent Femmes.
They introduced a couple new songs as well as several from their “Lions Tooth” EP.
The Coal Creek Boys were next with an upbeat country fried set of whiskey fuelled outlaw style country music.
The hirsute, whiskey swilling quintet have picked up their musical game a lot, starting with a couple of upbeat numbers on which bassist Dino Scavo, lead guitarist/ vocalist John Paul Smith and back up singer Ali Stuart traded lead vocals, while Smith added scorching leads, while rhythm guitarist Devin Gergel and drummer Dustin Gergel supplied the solid rhythmic foundation for the set.
I was hoping they would keep up the intensity, but ended their set on a slower note with some mellower originals and their well worn version of southern rock classic “Can’t You See.”
Smith gave a shout out to local country musicians Treeline and the Shaela Miller Threesome for inspiring the band to start playing country as the band members are usually playing pop-folk music in the Necessities or pop music with Sleeping With Tuesday.
It is great to see Ali Stuart singing more, but needs percussion or something to not only give her something to do when not singing back up, but to fill out the sound of the band.
Their second set started on a high note but was dominated by covers including an impressive version of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils’ “Home Made Wine,” and a countrified version of Steve Miller’s “The Joker,” which stood out.
And Mr. Lethbridge? He didn’t say a word, sitting stoically watching the bands and posing for pictures with his admirers. And all for a good cause.
