It was the end of an era, June 5 at the Slice as The Fourth Wave Freaks alternative lifestyles zine went out in style for their tenth edition which they released over the past three years.

 There were  a lot of costumes  sported by people expressing their love for John Waters’ cult films like “Hairspray”  and “Pink Flamingos” by dressing as some of his characters.

There was a lot of costumes, guys in drag, women with nothing but tape holding up their breasts and a lot of weird music.

 In addition to drag performances by Sophie Wright I caught was a new local synth pop band called the Married Men, which featured Brenna Lowrie singing spooky vocals and drummer Clayton Smith.

There was a lot of competition, June 5, but one man band Windborn held his own during a return visit to the Owl Acoustic Lounge.

I only caught the last couple songs from Windborn aka  Jeff Pike, who was singing, strumming and  stomping his way through a set of energetic folk infused music.

He had a drum kit set at his feel and  gave himself a full sound.

He ended his set by looping a few more rhythms and  singing over them.

I’d heard Money Penny guitarist Kelly “ The Bastard” jamming on some Ozzy Osbourne with Calgary redneck punks Puttin’ on the Foil a few weeks ago so stopped by the Smokehouse, June 5 to  check out his classic rock/ metal band Money Penny.

 I arrived in the middle of a long set break and was just about to leave when they crashed into  the Cult‘s classic “ Love Removal machine.”

 They were fronted by a leather lunged, massive voiced  woman with a magnificent  mid-range,  but they were playing songs which required a piercing high range  like  Sweet Child of Mine, This Flight Tonight and Anyway You Want it. which sounded out of sorts.

 It didn’t matter anyway as everybody was  drowned out by thundering bass, so you couldn’t hear anything anyway.
 I could hear echoes of hot  guitar playing and they were tight, but not served well by excruciating volume.

After a busy Lethbridge Jazz Festival week, you can take a bit of a breather, though not for long.
 

In addition to the Centric Music Festival coming up, June  24-28, this week CKXU and the Electric Eye Music Festival is helping you get psyched for Sled Island in Calgary with a  trio of shows featuring Sled Island acts visiting Lethbridge first.

The first show, at the Army Navy Airforce Club,Saturday June 20, features a slew of Montreal alternative rock bands including post rock band Big Brave, experimental rock band Maicamia which features a member of Godspeed You and electronica band Technical Kidman. They will be accompanied by local electronica act An Ant and And Atom.

 The second show is a big rock show at the Slice the next day, June 21 featuring Medicine Hat metal trio Terra, Winnipeg punk/ garage rock duo Vampires and local garage rock trio the Ruby Plumes and alternative rock band Internet Love.
 The third show is at the Owl Acoustic Lounge June 23 with Danish experimental electronica DJ  HVAD plus Vancouver punk / no wave band Softess and Sackville, New Brunswick punks Kappa Chow. Admission to the shows is $10 each or $15 for a wristband including admission to all three.

If you like electro-industrial music, one of the pioneers of the genre returns to the Slice, June 18. En Esch, who has played with KMFDM, Slick Idiot and Pigface comes to Lethbridge in support of his sophomore CD SPÄNK. He will be joined by Buffalo, New York’s Ghostfeeder. Tickets cost $10. The show begins at 9 p.m.