It’s been a while since I’ve seen local funk, R and B  icons Hippodrome. I missed their annual pre-Christmas  bast at the Slice, but was glad to have caught the last  part of  their Jan. 7 show at the Slice.

 They have three powerhouse vocalists in Shawna Romolliwa, Erica Hunt and Juran Greene who were taking turns  singing lead on a variety of ”’60s and ’70s disco and pop and R and B favourites.

 They had their rock solid  rhythm section  of bassist Paul Holden, drummer Brad Brouwer and percussionist Kyle Harmon, but had a new guitarist and had tweaked their horn section.

 A Hippodrome show is always a hot, sweaty, energetic  good time. So it was no surprise the show, for Pardip Athwal’s birthday, sold out quickly.

 Everybody was dancing and having a good time.

Erica Hunt was  helping belt out “ Hold I’m Coming” as I arrived.

 Their exceptional cover of Stevie Wonder’s “ Signed Sealed and Delivered (I’m Yours)” was one of many sweaty highlights.

 They wound down their second and last set of the night with a few crowd favourites including “Play That Funky Music.”

 Erica Hunt belted out Proud Mary.” Shawna Romolliwa  took on  “ I Will Survive,” and Juran Green  lead the blissed out crowd home with “Mustang Sally.”

— By Richard Amery, l.A. Beat Editor

This week is all about jazz and a little bit of the blues.

Keith Woodrow hosts the blues jam at the Slice, tonight, Jan. 10.

Greg Rekus returns to The Owl Acoustic Lounge stage to host their open stage tonight., Tuesday, Jan. 10.

 The first jazz jam of  the new year is at the Owl Acoustic lounge with hosts HBO3 and Ryan Heseltine kicking things off at 8:30 p.m. with special guest  Mike Carter.

But before that, Sheena Lawson and Randy Epp perform at the Watertower  from 6-8 p.m.

U of L based jazz combo Midnight Channel have a regular gig at the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden Bunka centre on Thursdays at 7 p.m.

 For blues, Paul Kype hosts the open mic at Honkers Pub, Friday, Dec. 13.

 And the Eric Braun band will be playing the blues for you at Casino Lethbridge, jan 13 and 14.

There are a lot of other fun events happening as well.

Pop’s Pub South   had almost cleared out by the time I arrived for Uncovered’s last set for New Year’s Eve.

 Alison Fehr  (vocals, percussion) Chris Craig (vocals, Djembe, Various percussions) Danny Douglas (vocals, guitar) and Kelly Klimchuk (vocals, bass and guitars) played a mix of ”90s pop, rock and country music and a few newer songs including “Don’t Give Up on Me.”.

 They played Alanis Morissette’s “Ironic” and followed it up with the Killers’ “Mr. Brightside.” before winding things down with   U2’s“ I Still Haven”t Found What I’m Looking for.”

Alison Fehr put on a spirited performance on lead vocals and everybody else laid down a solid musical foundation adding superb vocal harmonies.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. beat Editor

 The Slice rocked in the new year ’50s style, Dec. 31 with Rebel Angels. Frontman Ben Lamb was dressed to the nines in a tuxedo as the band played everyones’ ’50s favourites, which had most of the room shopping their ’50s moves.

 I arrived at the tail end of  a set of ’50s style pop including “Unchained Melody,” before Gary Drayton to the helm to rock things up a notch on keyboards, channelling the spirit of Jerry Lee Lewis  on a rousing rendition of “Great Balls of Fire,” which ended their set as they took a brief break before the countdown.

Their set leading up to  the new Years’ countdown was solid gold ’50s rock, beginning with Real  Wild Child.”

 The band (Ben Lamb lead vocals ; Keith Lamb guitar/vocals ; Rod Cahoon/bass vocals ; Mitch Rasmussen drums  and Gary Drayton) followed it up with  Elvis Presley’s“Jailhouse Rock,” plus Little Richards‘ Tutti Fruiti.

 The Everly Brothers’ “Bird Dog” and Buddy Holly’s “Rock Around With Ollie Vee”  stood out before letting Drayton loose again on “Rock Around the Clock.”

 Bassist Rod Cahoon  crooned  some doo wop “ I Dream of You.” They stayed in the vein for “Last Kiss,” made famous again by Pearl Jam.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor