Three local musicians released Cds, March 23 at the Slice for a full house.
 While I missed Jordan Orstrom, I caught the end of another solid solo set from Matthew Robinson, who was taking things easy, playing much of the music from his brand new CD. He ended on a mellower note sounding similar to Neil Young’s mellower moments.

 I’d never seen Lethbridge band Stars From Streetlights before, though everyone was there to see the band who include Steve Birss (Rhodes, piano, loops, synth, bass, guitar),  bassist Ray Banman and Austrian Graf on vocals as everyone was filming the show.
 They played a laid back, emo tinged set of pop music with electronica beats. They started with a mournful keyboard powered song backed by a rattling drum track and ethereal vocals along the lines of many Vancouver based indie-rock bands like Said the Whale and Hey Ocean mixed with a little disco tinged ’80s new wave bands like Blondie.
 Austrian Graf showed an impressively hypnotic voice and there was some cool bass groove happening.

 Over at the Owl, a spur of the moment punk show drew a good sized crowd, March 22.
 Cold Gold opened the show with a solid debut performance of original ’90s style pop punk along the lines of Green Day, Blink -182 and Treble Charger, who they  sounded very similar to.

But Cold Gold’s vocalist, who also played Punkalotamus,  March 24 at the Lethbridge Legion, could carry a decent melody and the band was tight though a variety of time tempo changes and energy which had the crowd clustered in front of the band, playing in front of  the stage.

 Lethbridge punk band Stressed Out followed that up with a short, fast loud and sweet  and sweaty upbeat set that was very familiar to all those who have heard  nay experienced a Stressed Out show. They sang about high school and shit salads and were having a lot of fun with the crowd, still clustered in front of them as they too played on the floor of the Owl. They ended with their namesake song “Stressed Out,” and before you knew it, were out the door.

I didn’t get to a lot of shows this week.
 One I’m glad I caught was an all to brief opening set  from Yellowknife based Dene singer Leela Gilday, who was opening for John Wort Hannam, March 22 at the Slice.

 I was blown away by her beautiful soulful pipes. She strummed her guitar pleasantly and had tasteful fiddle background sounds provided by Scott Duncan.

 She barely needed a microphone as her sultry, jazz tinged vocals soared through the air with just a touch of gospel and encapsulated the crowd of approximately 50 people who sat silently in awe.
 I unfortunately missed John Wort Hannam’s set.

It is a slightly slower week this week, however there are a quite few highlights, most of them at the Slice
For you rock and rollers, Big John Bates returns to the Slice, March 29. They will be playing with Bloomington, Indiana band Murder By Death and Black Mastiff. Murder By Death combine old west murder ballads with a strong shot of rock and roll adrenaline. They have just  released a new record “Good morning, Magpie.”
Vancouver based Big John Bates, of course, is a Canadian psychobilly icon, known for high energy shows and bringing burlesque dancers to put on one wild show. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.


Blackberry Wood return to the Slice this week with a brand new CD  of rock edged, jazz tinged circus music.
While Blackberry Wood have a very eclectic, jazz/ gypsy based sound with a lot of theatre, lead singer/ guitarist Kris Wood noted he comes from rock and roll roots. They will be playing old favourites as well as a brand new CD which they are just about to release
 They play March 28. There is a $10 cover.



 Two big events happen at the Slice this weekend. Jesse Northey is giving a Lethbridge a ‘swig’ of Alberta, March 30.
 Northey and Joe Gurba from Edmonton organized the three day traveling festival, which will  hit Lethbridge, Calgary and Edmonton, beginning March 30, then moves to Calgary the next day and  Edmonton on April 1.

 The Record Holder is just one of the bands playing. Northey drew a lot from his friends’ bands involved with his record label  Esper Records. So Lethbridge’s Brenna Lowrie, RedRum Triumph (who Northey will be recording with), and his own  band Jesse and the Dandelions will be playing with  Calgary’s Extra Happy Ghost!!!, Medicine Hat’s Daydream Johnny,  as well as Edmonton’s Stalwart Sons, Jessica Jalbert, Mitchmatic, The Joe (Joe Gurba), Wand and headliner Michael Rault, will be playing Lethbridge from 7 p.m. until close.  Each band will be playing a 20 minute to half hour set.Tickets cost $10 in advance, $15 at the door.