Steve Keenan introduced a few new songs from his upcoming CD to open up the Friday night jam at Honker’s Pub, Sept. 25. Keenan was joined by Paul Kype, both strumming acoustic guitars, and keyboardist Gary Drayton.

Kype opened up the set with a heartfelt version of Van Morrison’s “Into The Mystic.”

 Keenan was in a country kind of mood, as he tuned down to drop D for the first new  song of the night called “Country Buzz,” which was  very much country influenced. Kype, who is also producing Keenan’s album, added an upbeat solo and Drayton, centre stage, took a big keyboard solo.

 Keenan followed that up with an older song called “Lucky One.”

  Keenan played a new arrangement of one of my favourite older songs “ Whiskey Drinking blues,” which will also be on the new album. the new arrangement of the up tempo blues-rocker included an excellent organ solo from Drayton, followed by guitar solos from Keenan and then Kype.

 They wound down their set with one of Keenan’s newest songs, a slower number  Gambler’s Hand,”  which included pretty solos from Keenan and Kype.
 They made way for the  night’s jammers with a hot version of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “ Pride and Joy.”

Live music is back and then some this week. Though  musicians are performing behind plexiglass, giving the impression of watching them in some sort of alien terrarium, it’s just nice to be able to see live music again.
 Open mics return to the Owl Acoustic Lounge beginning tonight, Tuesday, Sept. 22.
 They have been moved from their previous Monday spot.

They begin at 8:30 p.m. every Tuesday night, and inside as well. Bring your own instrument. Sanitized microphones will be provided, and due to Covid, only soloists and cohort duos can play.
Musicians are playing indoors instead of the outdoor patio beginning this week.
Local songstress Wendy Colby performs on Friday, Sept. 25. And Makiisma plus James Swinney return to the Owl stage on Saturday. Sept. 26.

Tomorrow, Wednesday Sept. 23, Juno and Covenant award winning country bluegrass band duo Tim and the Glory Boys, including Abbotsford based Christian musician Tim Neufeld bring their Small town hoedown tour to a special outdoor show outside the College Drive Community Church,  at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Sept.  23.
 Bring your own lawn chairs and face masks are mandatory. Tickets are $12.
 There is the usual open mic at Beaches with Devin Gergel on Wednesday and the Slice’s open mic on Thursday.
 The Steve Keenan band, who are just finishing recording a new CD  will be playing then hosting the Friday night jam at Honker’s Pub, Sept. 25 beginning at 7 p.m.
 Aaron Landry hosts Honkers’  the Saturday afternoon jam from 4 -8 p.m.

Sound Garden is now featuring regular live music on weekends.

Local funk/ ’70s R and B trio Adequate are performing Friday and Saturday beginning around 8 p.m.

Even Theoretically Brewing is dabbling in more live music as they welcome local surf rock band the Atomicos playing beginning at 7 p.m. on Sept. 25.

The Slice features  Calgary punk band Citizen Rage’s Citizen Rage’s EP release party on Sept. 25.
 They having a EP and video release part for  their latest EP  “Black”
 Citizen Rage frontman Mark Russell will be spinning  old school, punk, hardcore and thrash music in between sets by  the Oi Street Scoundrels and the Hockey Moms. Tickets are $10 in advance from the Slice and  the bands. There will be no ticket sales at the door.

 Local country rock band The Mark Hall band returns to the Slice on Saturday.

The Chevelles christened the new stage  at Sound Garden, Sept. 18 and 19.

 Sound Garden have moved the stage to the centre of the room,  rather than in the corner, where a pool table now sits.

 They have draped three sheets of plexiglass from the ceiling don to the railing of the stage. I was impressed with the  lights and sounds as I could hear every note the Chevelles played and sang.

I only caught the last set on Sept. 19. I wanted to see  how they broke in new bassist / vocalist Seamus Chevelle aka Joe Brewster.
 He adds an impressive baritone harmony and also sings some impressive high notes as he  showed on a note perfect cover of Motley Cruë’s “Home Sweet Home.”
 He added more of a punk edge, singing Billy Idol’s “White Wedding” and Rebel Yell.”
He also adds bagpipes to the Chevelles’ tool box, though I missed that as he brought them out in the  second set.
This set included   the usual suspects-lots of classic rock including   “Sprit In the Sky,” which drummer Don Plettell sang.
Other highlights included Iggy Pop’s “Real Wild Child,” and  a hot cover of Ace Frehley’s “Back in the New York Groove.”

The Chevelles will be playing Sound Garden regularly. They will be back in a coupleof weeks. Adequate plays next weekend. Suite 33 will be there in a few weeks as well.

The Slice was packed for another one of Ben Lamb’s massive multi-band shows, Sept. 19.

 I missed Fractures of Etalon again, but was just in time for the debut of Ben Lamb’s brand new Volbeat tribute, Rebel Angel.

I’ve never really listened to the Danish rockers Volbeat, other than to hear them occasionally on modern rock stations, but I was impressed.
Ben Lamb impressively aped Volbeat frontman Michael Poulsen’s voice.

 As a bonus, the more than sold out audience got to hear the more heavy rock side of country singer Breanne Urban, who was sharing lead vocal duties, of course behind plexiglass boxes due to Covid. I recognized a few  songs that are played on the radio.
 Braeden Rouse was on hand to lay down some sizzling guitar solos, and the rest of the band shouted out some impressive gang vocals to add to the massive voices of  Ben Lamb and Breanne Urban.

 Tyrants of Chaos were up next. The local power metal band have a new bassist and introduced four new songs they have been writing since Covid crippled live music.

 They played a solid set of ’80’s  and New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, drawing heavily from the wells of Iron Maiden.
Powered by the air raid siren shrieking of frontman Phil Sirias, and twin guitar attack of Curtiss Vaselenak and Josh Nichol, there were plenty of galloping guitar riffs, harmonized soling and war history inspired lyrics. They happily delivered everything ’80s metal  aficionados could  ever want.
A couple of  war inspired new songs included  Black Cap and  Red Rage, which I think was inspired by First Nations and settlers.

They took things down a notch with a slower new song, then wound up another intense set with covers of Pantera’s “Cowboys from Hell” and a Slayer cover.

The Andi Roberts band are always a delight to watch. Powered by Sheldon Arvay’s guitar attack and lead singer Andi Roberts’ massive voice, they delivered a high  spirited set of classic rock covers. Tyrants of Chaos drummer Ryan Dyck was doing double duty as the Andi Roberts band’s drummer as well.
 They began a fast paced set with a cover of Don Henley’s  “Boys of Summer’ which had more in common with the Ataris’ punk cover than the original.
 The rest of the set was in the same vein.

 They crashed into a fast version of Pat Benetar’s hit “Hit Me With your Best Shot.” and bassist Joey Steckly took lead vocals on John Cougar Mellencamp’s “Hurts So Good.” 

Roberts sang an impressive version of Meredith Brook’s late ’90s hit  “Bitch.”
Steckly also sang another Mellancamp hit “ Wild Night.”

 I would have stayed for the rest of the show, but  didn’t want to miss a revamped Chevelles at Sound Garden.