Rebel Angels made their debut at Casino Lethbridge to bring back the spirit of the ’50s for the weekend.

I caught one of their sets on Saturday, Nov. 12.

They played a variety of’50s pop music and a little bit of rock and roll that had  a people showing off their best ’50s dance moves.

I arrived in the middle of “Yakety Yak (Don’t Talk Back) and stayed with the kitschy part of the ’50s with  “Splish Splash.”

Ben Lamb showed of his best ’50s lounge singer voice, crooning a couple famous ’50s ballads like “The Great Pretende.r”

 The band, dressed ’50a style including white t-shirts and greased back hair, included Ben Lamb lead vocals ; Keith lamb guitar/vocals ; Rod Cahoon/bass vocals ; Mitch Rassmesen drums  and Gary Drayton keys/vocals.

They  showed some sweet multi-part vocal harmonies.

 They  got people moving with their version of the Big Bopper’s “Chantilly Lace” and Sam Cooke’s “Twisting The Night Away” and got toes tapping with “Bee bop a Lula.”

 I left as they were kicking into a more punk version of “I Fought the Law.”

— by Richard Amery, L.A. beat Editor

It is fun watching new bands form, evolve then disband due to other interests or moving. Local progressive metal  trio Pomeranian Fight Club has been one of them. But guitarist  Eric Trotter is keeping the emo/ progressive rock burning in a new band Alec Arms, who opened for the Mahones, Oct. 27.

 They played their own show at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Saturday, Nov. 12.

They had that sound down, with plenty of loud guitars and experimental noises and strongly emo influenced vocals.

 They showed their usual stellar musicianship.

The show turned into a farewell show for Pomeranian Fight Club after Alec Arms’ set, with Lincoln Shriner on drums and singing a few songs and Chris Dyer on guitar and vocals and Erik Trotter playing bass for most of the set .

 They are always impressive to watching with constant instrument swicheroos and Chris Dyer singing over two-handed tapping.

 They ended with a song about Lethbridge to rousing cheers.

—By Richard Amery, L.A. beat Editor

 The Slice was packed, Thursday, Nov. 10 for Skinny Dyck’s Cd release party for his new album “Palace Waiting.”

But first the audience got a strong dose of soul and R and B with a touch of funk from Aladean  Kheroufi.

 I caught most of his set. Backed by a tight band, Kheroufi bared his soul with  velvety vocals and a whole lot of groove.

Skinny Dyck stepped  up from behind his steel guitar to take centre stage for the beginning of his set. He’s usually found in the background playing with a lot of local country  acts, but got to show his own, original country music style.

He had his steel guitar set up but plucked his Telecaster and concentrated on singing lead vocals for first  the part of the set that I saw.

 It was pretty much the new EP “Palace Waiting” in order, beginning with “Hey Who’s Counting,” followed by “Jackson Hole” and the highlight “TV Blue.”

Skinny Dyck, backed by a crack band including  drummer Clayton Smith, sang heartfelt, laid back vocals with plenty of twang.

 “Jackson Hole” and “TV Blue” were immediate highlights of what he was setting up to be a pretty mellow evening of country music.

—By Richard Amery, L.A. beat Editor

 I jumped right into work, hours after getting back to Lethbridge after my most excellent vacation on Outlaw Cruise West. And I paid for it the next day but there were a couple of can’t miss shows, Thursday, Nov. 10.

Metallica Tribute Damage Inc. celebrated their  tenth anniversary at the Place, Nov. 10 with plenty of local support on stage.

 I missed most of Good Time Charlie’s opening set.

 I was in time to see Breanne Urban trade her cowboy hat for her rock and roll hat with Train Wreck.

She and band mates James Nagy, guitarist Kelly Klimchuk and Scott Morris focussed on the powerhouse female vocalists of the ’late ’80s and early  ’90s.

 They opened with Alannah Myles’ “ Still Got This Thing For You.”

 They covered a lot of ground as they also tackled Loverboy’s ’80s hit  “Turn Me Loose,” and reworked  Blondies’ “ Heart of Glass. Their set showcased  Urban’s powerful pipes. They went grunge for Hole’s “ Celebrity Skin,” and Alanis Morisette’s angst -ridden hit  “You Oughta Know.”

 They also tackles  some classic rock from Billy Squier which featured a drum solo and a bass solo.

 Their cover of Sass Jordan’s “ High Road Easy” was a highlight,” and they dug into the well of ’80s power ballads for the Scorpions “ Still Loving You.”

Drummer James Nagy was doing double duty as Damage Incorporated ’s drummer.

 Damage incorporated The Metallica tribute focused on early Metallica, particularly the “Masters of Puppets” record.

 I missed the first part of their set, but returned in time for their namesake “Damage inc.”

They played note prefect solos and Mark Antony’s lead vocals were spot on if not a little more melodic than James Hetfield’s. They were on fire for their tight, high octane set of vintage thrash metal.

The drumming was thunderous. I left as they finished “Seek and Destroy”  and had just begun tearing into “Master of Puppets.”

— By Richard Amery, L.A. beat Editor