The News

Jenny Whiteley a South Country Fair highlight

Tuesday, 21 July 2009 15:03 Richard Amery

Two time Juno -award winner Jenny Whiteley enjoyed her first South Country Fair gig, July 17-19 in Fort Macleod.

Drummer Erik Allen, who played on Whiteley’s second solo CD, “Hopetown” handpicked a band including guitarist Dave Bauer and bassist Sherry Wray to play the South Country Fair.

“I just met Dave yesterday. He plays guitar and mandolin,” Whiteley said following her Saturday evening set, which included “Banjo Girl” — one of the highlights off of ‘Dear,’ and which sounded great played on mandolin.

“We came in rehearsed for a couple hours ran through the songs and called it a rehearsal. We were going to rehearse again today but it was too bloody hot. So we just hung out and saved our energy for the crowd,” she said.

She played the Winnipeg folk festival last week where she was teaching songwriting , went home for a couple days and then flew out to Calgary for this show.

“I’ve never been here before, but knowing it was Alberta and Fort Macleod, I play Alberta quite a bit and thought maybe I’d focus on country songs. So I sent them a set list focusing on my country music and less on my folk and pop songs,” she said.

“We just kind of rocked the country a little a bit. Those guys were great. It was really good,” she said adding she enjoyed the fair.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 21 July 2009 15:47 ) Read more...

No shortage of action this week

Tuesday, 21 July 2009 14:55 Richard Amery

Chris Colepaugh and the Cosmic Crew play the Slice, July 23

If you only see one show this week in Lethbridge, make sure you hit Chris Colepaugh and the Cosmic Crew’s debut performance at the Slice, July 23 (Thursday), because it will be killer.

I’ve seen them several times in other places and can assure you their shows are mindblowing if you like psychedelic blues rock with lots of jamming along the lines of Govt. Mule and the Allman Brothers. The New Brunswick trio have released six albums and logged thousands of road miles through intensive touring.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 21 July 2009 21:15 ) Read more...

Fred Eaglesmith is fantastic

Tuesday, 14 July 2009 16:40 Richard Amery

Fred Eaglesmith was in Lethbridge for an outstanding sold out show at the Slice, July 9. He had a crack band and backup singers, The Ginn Sisters who provided back up after an outstanding set of Austin country twang and gorgeous harmonies.

Eaglesmith played a lot of great old material including “Rev It Up,” “Alcohol and Pills,” “Indian Motorcycles,” “105,” “Freight Train” and of course “49 Tonnes” was interspersed between earthy jokes, admonishments to the crowd to be quiet while he was singing in between a few tracks off of last year’s twisted gospel CD “Tinderbox” including “Pray Now,” “Fancy God,” and “Get on Your Knees.”

Even better he brought back some of the popular songs from his bluegrass CDs from a few years ago like “I Shot Your Dog,” and “30 years of Farming,” which James King turned into a bluegrass hit. Though he didn’t play my favourite song “Indiana Road,” you can’t go wrong with Fred whose character, sense of humour and unparalleled songwriting talent and charisma talent always shine through in any show.

—Richard Amery, L.A, Beat editor

Music for Olympians a smash success

Tuesday, 14 July 2009 16:33 Richard Amery

July 11, a good sized crowd supported a fantastic new annual event — the Olympic Athletes Musicfest outside the Geomatic Attic, July 11, which was hosted by the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame and the Lethbridge Kinsmen Club. The event had a double benefit — not only raising money to support skeleton rider Carla Pavan and hammer thrower Jim Steacy’s quest for Olympic gold , but to support local musicians as well. Carla received a cheque for $500 , Steacy will receive another third of the proceeds, but was unable to attend. The other third of the proceeds is being put into a special fund for

Several fantastic performers took the stage beginning with Karen Romanchuk and the Constant Remnants (Darwin Romanchuk, James Oldenburg and David Popovitch) who played an entertaining set of original country music including “Tired And True” the song Karen submitted to the South Country Fair and Calgary folk festival songwriting competitions.

The Shaela Miller Threesome were up next with a set of darker original country as well as Hank Williams’ “Lonesome Blues” and Elvis Presley’s “Blue Moon of Kentucky.”

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 14 July 2009 16:48 ) Read more...

Hot Blood Bomber mellows with the Lambta Das

Tuesday, 14 July 2009 16:22 Richard Amery

David Schneider is best known for being part of Regina rockers the Hot Blood Bombers, but shows his more introspective and mellow side with the Lambta Das who hit the GCBC Lounge in Henotic, July 22.

“I’ve been recording (Lambta Das material) for 10-12 years with buddies. It is really laid back,” said Schneider from his home in Regina. In the live show, he and drummer/ percussionist Kate B, who has just been part of the Lambta Das for a few months, strip down the Lambta Das’ heavily orchestrated music into basic drums, guitar and percussion.

“I picked the songs I wanted to play and we worked them out as a two-piece,” he said.

“ We try to keep it simple. On the records some of the songs could have like 52 tracks. We can break them down to one guitar and a vocal melody. That’s how I write a song,” he continued, adding they are burning a limited run of a CD including between 12-13 new songs, called “ Snakes and Chutes” to bring along on this tour. He said he has recorded and home burned and released 10-12 CDs, though seven of them were lost.

“It’s definitely a departure from what I can do with the Hot Blood Bombers, but I like it,” he continued, adding the Lambta Das’ tour is pretty quick. It hits Regina, Lethbridge, Calgary and Saskatoon beginning July 16.

“It is just a brief tour. It will be a nice western escape,” Schneider said, adding he is enjoying working with Endangered Ape and Myelin Sheaths member Paul Lawton, who has organized this show. Schneider is returning the favour.

“We went on tour with Endangered Ape and I’m working on a show for the Myelin Sheaths in Regina. Paul is awesome,” he said. Parlovr from Montreal as well as the Square Waves are also performing.

— Richard Amery, L.A. Beat editor

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 14 July 2009 19:59 )

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