People ask me all the time, how do I manage to get to as many shows as I do. The answer is a combination of good time
management, taking advantage of set breaks, not having a life outside of music and being crazy as a rat in a tin outhouse.
But what it comes down to is, I love music— all music. I have a pretty open mind when it comes to music, and while I prefer some styles over others, I can appreciate the technical proficiency it takes to play music, especially in front of an audience. Because whether you like it or not, all music requires some sort of technique, from the roughest garage rock and punk to metal — just try keeping up the intensity of modern metal music for an entire hour long set let alone an entire night — to intricately picked classical guitar — which obviously requires a lot of dexterity and a keen ear. I’ll respect anyone who has the courage to get up on stage and play a song for an often inattentive and sometimes surly audience. Because I usually don’t have that confidence.
Being a musician myself and trying to play all types of music definitely gives me appreciation for it. And don’t even ask me how tough it is to not only remember lyrics, but sing them — sell them to an audience, make them feel the characters you are singing about or the emotion you are trying to convey to them.
For example, I wrote a theme to my new old school punk show on CKXU, 88.3, Wednesday nights called “Disco Sucks— Punkin’ it Old School,” and pretty much blew out the tendons in my arms for a week. I saw the Ramones live once, and was blown away by how they could keep that intensity, energy, and all those continuous downstrokes for over an hour.
I don’t like disco music, but when I see a band like Hippodrome playing it, I sure appreciate it— the funky bass, the weird guitar, not to mention intricate horn arrangements, and the drums which hold it all together. I try to look at music from the musician’s perspective. Even if I don’t care for the genre, I try to see what the people making the music see in the music— what draws them to it.
I love music so much that when I don’t make it to a show, I actually feel guilty about it because I know I missed a good show and I don’t want to miss any of them, even if they don’t start until just before midnight on a Sunday, like the Meisha and the Spanks/ Manvils show, which was awesome.
That got started late because the entire staff of the Slice was at the Geomatic Attic for their first show of the season featuring Danny Michel. He grinned ear to ear, cracked jokes and incorporated a variety of delay and loop effects to play a rhythm while he played leads, and kept it going while he frantically emptied out his bag, looking for his iPhone, so he could play police siren and gunshot sound effects though his guitar pick up and into another delay/loop effect.
So if I had taken the night off, I would have missed that. And I hate to miss something new, innovative and exciting.
Maybe this week, though that’s not likely, as there are several excellent shows, including the return of Incura, who play the Gate with Jesse and the Dandelions and Lock and Load on Oct. 1.
Incura also play the Slice, Oct. 2 with Eyes of Isis.
The Owl Acoustic Lounge has a big acoustic show on Friday, Oct. 1 with Wooden Sky, Northcote and Yukon Blonde all performing.
Jesse and the Dandelions are also playing the Zoo at the University of Lethbridge, Sept. 29 with the Darby and Joan Club.
There are several open mics as usual this week. Hot Pie hosts the open jam at the Slice tonight, L.A. Beat sponsors an open jam at the Owl Acoustic Lounge on Wednesday and there are several open mics around the city on Thursday.
And on the topic of playing music yourself— Mr. Lethbridge’s birthday party this year is going to be an open mic at the Owl Lounge, Oct. 2. Local musicians are welcome to play cover tunes to help raise money for the sick kids unit at the Lethbridge Hospital. Another concert for a good cause is country musician Sean Hogan, who will be playing a fundraiser at Antons in the Lethbridge Lodge to raise money for the YWCA Harbour House.
There are several country acts playing in Lethbridge this week with the Dusty Boot Band at the Lethbridge Casino this weekend and Blue Steel at HB’s Lounge. There is also something different this week as well— the College Drive Community Church is having a live Mariachi show, Oct. 1 which features traditional Mexican food, fare and culture.
The other big shows this week are Toronto based jazz quartet the Amanda Tosoff Jazz Quartet who play the Slice on Wednesday, Sept. 28 and Vancouver based singer/songwriter Rodney DeCroo returns to the Slice, Oct. 1with Carolyn Mark.
Last , but not least, Bo Diddley’s also has live music this weekend with Pilgrimage of the Lost and Cast of Shadows performing, Oct. 1.
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
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