The other big show I caught, Saturday, Nov. 12 was Vancouver based rising country/ pop stars One More Girl who were playing to a good sized crowd at Average Joes.

Britt and Carly McKillip were dressed in style, danced up a storm and introduced the audience to a lot of new music from upbeat pop rockers to tender ballads which will appear on their forthcoming sophomore CD , the second single “Misery Loves Company and the CD. One of the new songs featured Britt on harmonica and Carly on guitar and sounded a little like Martina McBride‘s hit “Independence Day.”

 Of course they played their big hits  “I Can Love Anyone,” and their big hit “Misery Loves Company.” they even threw in a strong version of Chilliwack’s “Fly at Night.”

The Slice was home to another fun fundraiser, Nov. 13, this time for the Lethbridge College Fashion Club. The evening had the theme of mustaches and Christmas sweaters, so there were plenty of all of those present in the packed house.

The club was not only  raising money for Fashion Design and Marketing student’s supplies and fabrics, but also accepting donations for  the Club’s annual family in need project as well as were accepting donations for prostate cancer.
Several local musicians were on the bill including  solo performances by Leisha Miller and Jesse Northey.

Bridgette Yarwood sang an exceptional set of laid back jazz, her powerful voice piercing the murmur of the crowd.

She  along with Sleeping With Tuesday keyboardist Evan Schaaf, running the gamut between old Frank Sinatra songs like “Fly Away,” and Roberta Flack plus originals. She sang beautifully as usual and had quite a few couples slow dancing.

I’d never seen the Fred Penner Revival band  before and was impressed as they effortlessly combines blues jams, with current hits by the likes of Radiohead and Kings of Leon, and even played a version of Dolly Parton’s Jolene and after urging from the audience, welcomed Jolene Draper up on stage to help sing it.

 They even added in a little reggae during a song  about  sandwiches which was their “Tribute to Fred Penner and a cool version of “Hoochie Coochie Man.”

The Necessities finished off the show.

 The Slice was sold out  for an Alberta Music  event featuring local singer -songwriter Alyssa McQuaid, the Dudes and a surprise visit from Calgary alt-country band, Cowpuncher,  Nov. 12.
 So the sold out crowd not only got a taste of outstanding Alberta music, but also raised a lot of money for the Interfaith Food bank as that’s where all of the proceeds from the $15 tickets were going.
 While I missed Alyssa McQuaid‘s half hour set of originals, I was blown away by Cowpuncher’s five guitar attack.
They combined elements of Tom Petty’s roots rock with Fred Eaglesmith’s storytelling lyrics and a little bit of the Band’s laid back feel.
 But they  were just getting warmed up by the end of their 45 minute set, which had most of the crowd on their feet.

 They had the audience singing along by the last song “Thank God for Lonely Nights,” which had a guitar riff reminiscent of “Ghost Riders in The Sky.”

One of the guitarists, Tynan Groves picked up the banjo to add even more twang to the proceedings.
But everybody was there to hear the Dudes and all crowded in front of the stage even before they began.
They did not disappoint  as the locked into an energetic, upbeat  set of ’60s inspired pop rock with vocal melodies and catchy guitar and a frenetic drummer.

Vancouver metal band No Other Way played an excellent show at the Slice, Wednesday, Nov. 10.
 Local rock band Alley Cat Blues opened with an intense set of dirty, sleazy rock and roll.

  But No Other Way dug in and cut loose with music from their new CD “Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump,” delivered a lot of fast paced, Iron Maiden galloping riffs and dual guitar harmonized solos and even added a punk version of the Beastie Boys’ “Fight For Your Right to Party,” as well as a high octane version of “Eye Of the Tiger.”

 They had a decent Wednesday night crowd into it, most of them  clustered in front of the stage where some of them even started a brief mosh pit.

 They were done their set in just about an hour, but packed a lot of energy and plate-load of notes into it.