I caught the end of a special Lethbridge Jazz and Blues Festival presentation of TendaVillage at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Saturday March 25.

 I missed all of their originals but was in time for a solid set of R and B flavoured, jazz tinged ’80s covers.

 Lead singer Kate Melvina soulfully sang from behind a bank of keyboards, belting out songs that were on the air longer than most of the band members, keyboardist Brandon Smith, drummer Graeme Rife,  bassist Cam Dougall and  guitarist Linden Conroy had been alive, which she observed, asking  her band mates how old they were in 1982 when Prince’s  “1999” was released.

“ She  brought back the sexy side of the ’80s with  her rendition of Lionel Richie’s’“All Night Long,” and delved deeper for some smooth contemporary jazz before returning to the ’80s for some Hall and Oates.

 Another highlight was  their version of “Proud Mary,” which had the crowd singing along.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor

Saskatoon band GreenWing brought new music, new band members and the spirit of  Weezer to the Owl Acoustic Lounge’s diml lit stage, Friday, March 24.

While I missed Alec Arms ’ opening set and couldn’t  stick around for Fawns’s closing set, I caught a hot set from GreenWing.

 They played a solid set of ’90s inspired power pop and indie rock, which  referenced everything from the Pixies  to Wheatus and Fountains of Wayne plus a whole lot of 

Weezer.

 They introduced new band members and some new music  full of  catchy power chords and riffs.

— By Richard Amery, L.A Beat Editor

After a Calgary run, a Peter and the Wolves show was just what I needed.

 As expected the Slice was packed for Peter and the Wolves’ March 24 show.

 Frontman Peter Cormier was playing guitar as I arrived with Meg Thomson adding extra rhythm guitar and a new bassist on the upright bass.

 The dance floor was full of people showing off their favourite ’50s dance moves.

 Meg Thomson sang lead on a couple of songs including a cool version of classic country hit “ Thanks A Lot,” giving Cormier a bit of a vocal break and switched to saxophone as Cormier took a seat behind the piano to tap into the spirit of Jerry Lee Lewis.

 They were playing a lot more country than usual, but  the show ended up being a nice slice of the 1950s including classic country, lots of rock and roll and ’50s pop music plus Peter and The Wolves ’50s style originals.

They ended their second set with one of my favourite Peter and the Wolves originals “ Wolfman Rock.”

 Peter and the Wolves have a busy week in Lethbridge. They were at the German Canadian Club for the Geomatic Attic, March 30 and will be playing a special Red Tie Gala at the Coast Hotel on Saturday, April 1 for the United Way. Tickets for the show incuding dinner and the presentation of awards for individuals and community organizations are $150.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. beat Editor

The German Canadian Club was packed to the rafters literally for the Geomatic Attic’s Rockabilly and blues and dance party, Thursday, March 30 featuring Peter and the Wolves and MonkeyJunk.

 The show, which began at 8 p.m. was well underway by the time I arrived so I missed another great  Peter and the Wolves show, I caught them on March 24.

 But I was in time for MonkeyJunk to launch into “Time To Roll,” the title track off their last album.

 Every chair on the floor as we well as every foot of the dance floor was occupied as were most of the seats in the balcony.

The  Ottawa trio including baritone guitarist/ harp player and singer Steve Marriner, lead guitarist Tony D and drummer Matt Sobb are always a good time and this show was no exception.

 They had 15 years of music to draw from as they are touring in celebration of their  15th anniversary. They were mostly playing older material.

But they played their  brand new single “ Shotgun Love” came early in the set. it  is a blustering  blues rocker, which recalls the funky riff of Living Color’s “ Cult of Personality.”

 They added a tasty, funky sauce and a dash of R and B to a triple helping of the blues, which had the dance floor seething with energy.

They went back to their 2015  album “Moon Turn Red for  “ Small Town Evil” and “ Show Me Yours,” which brought the funk to the forefront.

Marriner belted out powerful tenor vocals. Tony D supplied searing slide guitar solos and Matt Sobb set down an unstoppable groove.

 They turned blues classic “Tiger in Your Tank,” on its head, and from their  2014 album of the same name“ Small Time Evil.”

 They played a lot of hot, heavy, sweaty and funky riffs  guaranteed to get the crowd moving.

They wound down their show with solo spots. After Marriner shone with a harp solo and Tony D showed his favourite slide guitar chops, they segued into a hot cover of Big Sugar’s “Digging a Hole.”

Around 10:30 p.m. They wound up their set with “Light it Up” from their 2015 “ Moon Turn Red” album.

—By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor