Nobody could fall sleep with Jimmy and The Sleepers. I caught the second set of Edmonton blues rock band Jimmy and the Sleepers at a special afternoon Lethbridge Folk Club show in Pavan Park, Saturday, July 23.
They played a high energy, tight set of mostly original blues music. I missed Reid and Writes opening set.
Edmonton bluesman Jimmy Guiboche brought the new line up of his band including long time bassist Chris Brzezicki , Calgary harp player Ethan “Shorty” Askey, vocalist Jared Sowan and drummer Bill Hobson.
Guiboche opened the set with an original instrumental “ Cricket Boogie” before welcoming soulful singer Jared Sowan to take a seat on stage and belt out upbeat, mostly original toe tapping blues from the band’s most recent CD “All That Money.”
Sowan started his portion of the show by belting out the title track of the album and dancing in his chair while a handful of people took refuge in the shade while a few others relaxed in the sun. He sounded like a blend of Shinyribs and Dr. John.
Guiboch played some sweet slide guitar and danced into the audience and into the beer gardens in the shade next to the stage.
They slowed things down for “God Only Knows.”
As Guiboch switched guitars from his Telecaster to a battered Harmony, Askey gave a shout out to local singer songwriter Dave McCann.
They played a fantastic, high energy set fullof hot harp playing, smoking. Guitar and were the perfect soundtrack to a sweltering summer afternoon.
Up next, The Lethbridge Folk Club hosts the Lethbridge Roots and Blues Festival Saturday, Aug. 20 at Legacy Park featuring John Wort Hannam, Ryland Moranz , Brayden Gates, Makiisma, Bryan Bradfield, Papa King and Karen Romanchuk plus workshops with Magnolia Buckskin, Bryan Bradfield, Karen Romanchuk and Reid Seibert.
Admission is free. The music begins at noon.
— By Richard Amery, l.A. Beat Editor
