Though I was deafened by Black Mastiff at the Owl Acoustic lounge, I was glad I didn’t give Calgary’s l’Omelette a miss at the Slice, Saturday, Nov. 20.

I missed Makiisma but l’omelette were a pleasant surprise as they featured  Peter and the Wolves Pete Cormier behind the drums and Wolves’ saxophonist Meg Thompson seamlessly switching from acoustic guitar, singing lead vocals and saxophone.

 They were a weird, appetizing mix of progressive rock, jazz, pop music and ’60s psychedelic music.

 They played something that sounded a lot like Billy Eilish early on last set of the night.

 They played a lot of experimental music  which went heavy on the groove, punctuated by Thompson’s sizzling saxophone solos.

 They had a strong pop bent, but showed a heavier side by turning Back Sabbath’s “War Pigs” into a jazz number.

—By Richard Amery, L.A. beat Editor

 Edmonton power  trio/ jam rock/ stoner rock  Black Mastiff made a long awaited return to the Owl Acoustic lounge, enjoying the big new stage and impeccable sound, Saturday, Nov. 20.

 I missed most of Face Cut’s opening set.

Black Mastiff, Guitarist/vocalist Bobby Yiannakoulias, drummer Alan Harding and  bassist Clay Shea sounded like  a massive mix of  Queens Of the Stone Age, Govt. Mule and had an obvious nod to Black Sabbath.

 So that meant there were a plethora of huge guitar riffs, plodding thunderous  bass and drumming that was out of sight.

 The drummer Alan Harding was front and centre and putting on a show.

 While  Yiannakoulias was hidden behind a giant glowing green pyramid  on the left side of the stage, Shea was hidden in the shadows on another glowing green pyramid on the opposite side of the stage.

 Shea howled background vocals while Yiannakoulias sang lead, hitting  Josh Homme high notes.

 A mini mosh pit started early on on the set, but quickly dissipated, but fans happily danced and shook their heads.

 The sound was perfect, though loud. yYou could hear every note in every corner of the room.

 There wasn't much  dialogue with the audience, though Shea announced one of the closing numbers as a song abut   taking a rocket ship through space.

“Everywhere We Go Was a highlight.”

They ended with a couple slower songs that were very much Govt. Mulesque.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor 

There is music every day of the week this week. The theme of the week is roots and country with a little bit of punk rock tossed into the mix.

The Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra is back at Southminster United Church, Monday, Nov. 22 with Series 2 Hungarian Rhapsody featuring pianist Bradley Parker. They will be performing Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2;Liszt - Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat and Bartók - Concerto for Orchestra. Tickets are $25-$75. The concert begins at Southminster United Church at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday is unusually busy. As usual, Good Times has their weekly comedy open mic. But there are also some outstanding roots shows happening.

Saskatchewan folk/country troubadour Zachary Lucky returns to the Slice, Tuesday, Nov. 23.

 Surrey folk duo Ocie Elliott’s show at The Geomatic Attic’s main venue is sold out, Nov. 23.

 The Geomatic Attic has a busy week as Saskatchewan country duo Kacy and Clayton play the downtown venue on Friday, Nov 26 in support of their new record “Carrying On.” The show is at 8 p.m., with doors opening  at 8 p.m. Tickets are $32.

 The Geomatic Attic also features Manitoba country roots musician Del Barber and his  band playing the main venue, Nov. 28. The show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $32.

 Also in the roots country milieu, the Mariel Buckley band returns to the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Saturday, Nov. 27. There is  a $10 cover charge.

 Wednesday is jazz night at the Watertower Grill and Thursday is the Slice’s  weekly open mic.

Whiskey Gap Country host Honkers Pubs’ Friday night open mic.

Honkers Pub went ’50s  on Nov. 13.

 I caught the end of Honkers Pub’s ’50s Sock hop which started early with Rebel Angels, who I missed, but was in time for the last set from local blues rock band Coda.

 There were still a lot of of enthusiastic folks in their favourite ’50s finery, mostly looking like extras from Grease.

The band including lead guitarist Sheldon Shukaliak, keyboardist Cory Rasmussen front and centre on the stage, drummer Ben Lamb hidden behind everyone else and Rebel Angels bassist Rod Cahoon took turns singing lead vocals and playing kazoo solos where a saxophone would usually be on a variety of ’50s favourites.

But first as the show was about the close, they conducted a limbo contest to the tune of “Walking After Midnight.”

 But they had a whole lot of music to play including some Jerry Lee Lewis and, of course, Elvis Presley to play first and the dancers had a lot of  ’50s moves to show off too.

 Guitarist Sheldon  Shukaliak donned a mask and wandered into the audience to solo on one of the booths. 

 Ben Lamb belted out “Come on, Let’s Go” and “You Ain’t Nothing But a Hound Dog,” from behind his kit.

 He also crooned out some ’50s pop.

 Shukaliak showed off his sensitive side on “Oh Donna.”

 “Oobie Doobie” was another highlight.

— By Richard Amery, L.A Beat Editor