Shaela Miller is enthused about winning the South Country Fair Songwriting Competition finals newcomers category at the Slice, April 25.

“It was pretty exciting to learn I won,” Miller said adding she got great feedback from the judges and the other competitors for her song “Loving Me.”

“Everyone did a really good job. So I was really happy,” she continued adding it won't be on the next CD which is still being completed, but it will be on the next.

“So I get $300 and tickets to the fair and get to play my song on the main stage, Friday or Saturday. But just to say I won and can put it on my résumé , that's what it’s all about,” she enthused.

Karen Romanchuk won honourable mention for her song, Tired and True (An Ode to Alberta)

“It was really good,” Romanchuk said adding the Slice had a decent crowd by the time the April 25 event started at 8 p.m.

Pow Navarro placed second in the category for his song “Going to L.A.”

In the old pros category, Brandi Sidoryk won first for her song “Mortimer,” as well, Scott Cook took second for “The Ramblin’ Kind” and Cort Delano won honourable mention for “Maski-pitoon Broken Arm”

Neil Young proved he is the godfather of grunge, the fife of folk and quite possibly a baron of the blues because he played a little bit of everything during his April 25 show at the Enmax Centre.

Standing beneath a set of lights spelling out “Neil,” Young, clad in a work shirt, t-shirt and jeans and dwarfed by a massive ancient, battered  amp cabinet, took over with an electrifying Crazy Horse set which began with “Love and Only Love”, which I didn't recognize right off, but then launched into “Hey Hey My My” which proved why grunge rockers idolize him.

He was scowling and tearing into his big Les Paul like it did him wrong, and had the crowd loving ever minute of it.  And while he played  quite  a few new songs from his new CD, “Fork In the Road” including “Fuel Line” and “Get Behind the Wheel” but  “Cortez the Killer”, “Cinnamon Girl” and “Pocahontas” were to be heard among them. 

This coming week is going to be legen— wait for it— dary.

Not only is Neil Young coming to the Enmax Centre, April 25, but there is a cornucopia of music happening.

One of my favourite quirky country bands, Luther Wright and the Wrongs, will be playing April 24 at the Slice. They get extra cool points because a few years ago they released a double album of country versions of Pink Floyd's the Wall, which is just outstanding. Plus they used to play with Sara Harmer in a band called Weeping Tile, so don't miss them.

Endangered Ape is releasing a new EP the same night at Henotic, with Amelia Earhart, the Myelin Sheaths, Evan Van Reekum, Kent Aardse and The return of Ran! Most of them were playing at Henotic this week too, so if you missed them this week, catch them on Friday.

A big event is happening at the Slice, April 25, unfortunately competing against Neil Young. The semi-final competition of this year's South Country Fair songwriting take place featuring Lethbridge acts Shaela Miller, Karen Romanchuk, George Arsene and Bruce Roome. It starts at 8 p.m., I'll most likely miss it as I'm going to be “rocking in the free world” with Neil Young, but it is sure to be an outstanding show.

The first two were both performing to packed houses this past Saturday night, April 18.

Romanchuk and a full house of well wishers, enjoying the music from her new CD “Shine” as well as a lot of new material and choice covers from the likes of Willie P. Bennett, and Lucinda Williams. She sounded fantastic, bringing the spirit of old school country back.. Her backing band including lead guitarist James Oldenburg, bassist David Popovitch and her husband Darwin pounding out rhythm on a “Cajon” were tight.' Romanchuck is also going up to Calgaryon May 9 for the Calgary Folk Fest songwriting competition in the Alberta category with her song “Tired and Trrue” which she played at her show.

I hadn’t heard Shaela Miller play for a few months until her Front Row pub debut, April 18 so I was impressed to hear how much she has improved her craft. She played a most of the music off last year's EP including an uptempo version of my personal favourite, “Manchester” as well as a lot of cool new old country style throwbacks including the song she entered in the South Country Fair songwriting competition called “Loving Me,” which was exceptional. her backing band drummer Tyler Bird and stand up bassist Paul Holden were outstanding and as always Shaela has a unique vulnerable, yet edgy sound that makes her immediately appealing.

First things first before telling you about another excellent week in local music, as most of you know by now, I was laid off by the Herald last week, I don't bear any ill will, It was just business - nothing personal and I wasn't alone. Which makes it all the more important to look at the positive things in a life which can be at times miserable and depressing — positive things including the music being made by talented people. So as long as I am able I will be covering the local music scene the same as always in the Buzz which is now officially a freelance gig.

Because that's always and always will be what it is all about — supporting the cats who are out there doing it. I love doing it , I'd like to thank you all for your kindness and support. Music is part of who I am. I love meeting and listening to musicians because I love the passion and excitement they put into their performances and the craft they put into their music.

That being said, If you have a show coming up and want to let people know about the where and whens of it, then let me know by e-mailing me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at least a week before the event as my deadline is Sundays.

Joys have excitement to spare

There was excitement to spare this week, beginning with the Joys at the Slice, April 8.

They started late, just after 11 p.m. with an incendiary set of original classic rock sounding like Aerosmith meeting Darby Mills and the Headpins in a head on bus crash, with Melissa Etheridge performing CPR on the victims.

Frontwoman Sarah Smith grinned ear-to-ear throughout the London band's energetic set, She was bounding all over the stage, brown hair flying everywhere as if she couldn't be happier anywhere else rather than right there playing for about 15 enthusiastic fans.

It was a great show which included most of their new CD, “Unfold” including their new radio single “Storm.”

On April 9, I went to Henotic for the Necessities and the United Steelworkers of Montreal. But was only able to stay for guitarist/vocalist Steve Foord, vocalist/percussionist Tom Woodman and guitarist/drummer Devon Gergel, aka the Necessities. They displayed impressive musicianship, some excellent harmonies and a lot of heart-felt lyrics during an all-original set which had a John Mayer feel as well as classical music inclinations.

Treeline and New Weather Machine outstanding

On April 10, I hit a couple gigs beginning with a sparsely attended open mic at the Wolf's Den.

I arrived in time for Bill Letouzel's set which was mostly music and not as much chat between songs as usual.

After that, Leon Barr gave a brief preview of his opening set for Tim Williams' May 23 show.

He played some energetic fingerpicked blues and folk including “Sunshine Alley Rag” which included both a kazoo and harmonica solo, then launched into some impressively jazzy fingerpicking for “Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out.” He ended his set with Neil Young's “After the Gold Rush.”

I left during Cathy Hawley's excellent set to hit the Treeline and New Weather Machine show at the Slice.

Treeline's sound continues evolving. This time they had a real new wave feel thanks to the addition of keyboards, which were incorporated into their usual reggae/blues/rock sound which also added quite a bit of psychedelia, in part due to a smoke machine and trippy coloured lights flashing on the white cloth stage backdrop.

Afterwards, I had to see Jon Martin's New Weather Machine Perform. Martin's band including consummate pros Brad Brouwer on drums, bassist Paul Holden and Treeline's Taylor Ackerman on lead guitar, proving he can play just about any style of music. The tight band made Martin's '70s style Mott The Hoople meets David Bowie music shine. He played my favourite, “ That's What You Get For Falling in Love” and left because I wanted to see Los Angeles hair metal band Dirty Penny play at the Blarney Stone and was shocked to see them winding up their set just before midnight. They had the poofy hair and spandex look down pat. It's been a while since I've seen a Lethbridge club show end before midnight.

That wasn't the case at the Slice on April 11 where at least 70 people were on hand to check out a newish classic rock/ punk trio called Vinyl Static. They definitely have a lot of potential.

Fifteen Famous Minutes was the main event. Featuring guitarist/ singer Randy Shaver, drummer Stan Hartman, bassist Dan Espelien played their usual energetic and fun-filled set. They introduced their new keyboardist Chris who added a whole new dimension to the band's ‘90s rock sound with organ and piano sounds as well as guitar on a couple tracks

Coming up

It's a fairly slow week, relatively speaking, coming up. I just learned Average Joes downtown will be bringing in classic rockers Toronto. They had a string of ‘80s hits including “Your Daddy Don't Know”

Mother, Mother and Said the Whale hit Henotic on April 16, which should be a lot of fun for people who like ambient original rock music. And Karen Romanchuk officially releases her new CD “Shine” on April 18 at the Mocha Cabana. It has an excellent country/folk sound with superb songwriting. Also on April 18, the Shaela Miller Threesome play the Front Row Pub for what is sure to be an excellent show. If you like rap, DJ Booda promotions is bringing rapper Classified along with J-Bru, Mic Boyd and DJ IV to the Blarney Stone on May 1. Classified is known for his hit single “Anybody Listening.”

Listings

April 11

Mocha Cabana— Dan Reeder

Slice — Jessica Beach

Henotic—Nix Dixons

Lethbridge Casino— Al Barrett Band

Slice— Fifteen Famous Minutes & Vinyl Static

April 12

1010— open mic

April 13

Average Joes — Holly Wood and Toronto

 April 14

Slice— Jazz Jam with David Renter

April 15

Mojoes — Mahoney

Henotic— open mic

April 16

Slice— Madcaps

Henotic— Mother Mother with Said the Whale

Shark Club— Mahoney

April 17

Henotic (CGBC Lounge) — Porter Hall, Miesha and the Spanks, Endangered Ape

Mocha Cabana — Rhythms By Rita

Hollywood Bowl HB Lounge— Fast Times

Lethbridge Casino—Basically Billy Joel

Lethbridge Legion— Randy Hillman

April 18

Lethbridge Casino— Basically Billy Joel

Slice— Deep Dark Woods

Mocha Cabana — Karen Romanchuk cd release party

Front Row Pub— Shaela Miller Threesome

Hollywood Bowl HB Lounge— Fast Times

Lethbridge Legion— Randy Hillman

April 19

Slice— Blind Mule and Kirby

1010— open mic

April 20

Slice— Adam’s Rib

April 21

SLice— Jam night with Treeline

April 22

Slice — Megan Rourke and Ali Free Earth Day

Mojoes — Mahoney

April 23

Shark Club— Mahoney

Slice— Dead Rockstar party with Lustre Creame and the Dirti Speshuls

 April 24

 Slice—Luther Wright and the Wrongs