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A cornucopia of comedy and much more for April Fools week

Tuesday, 02 April 2024 10:50 Richard Amery

April Fools Day is over, but there is plenty of comedy and drama happening throughout the first week of April.

Terry, Trish and Shank from Canadian cult comedy classic FUBAR bring the funny to the Place stage tonight, Tuesday, April 2. Doors open at 7 p.m.. Tickets begins at $32.21.

Les Fox hosts pro-Amateur night at Good Times on Wednesday,April 3.

Queerprov 404 edition returns to Good Times , April 4 .

The funny folks from the Impromptu Players will deliver uncensored songs, sketches and a belly full of laughs, April 4 beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $14.95

And Alex Carr returns to Good Times Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $19.95 for the shows which are at 8 p.m., Friday, April 5 and 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 6.

Chinook Regional One Act Play Festival is Saturday April 6 at the Sterndale Bennett Theatre 6:30 p.m. The shows begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10.

Wanda Krein -MacKay’s band Wildflower Whisky hosts the open mic at Honkers Pub,Friday, April 5. Photo by Richard Amery

There is a lot of music happening as usual.

The big show of the week is at the Yates Centre where Canadian blues legend Colin James will be holding court, Sunday, April 7 at 7 p.m. The show is sold out.

But a lot more happens before that.

The Owl Acoustic lounge’s weekly open mic is Tuesday, April 2.

The Owl is hosting a special film screening fundraiser for popular long standing skate shop Boarderline at 6:30 p.m., April 3.

Celtic Routes return to Theoretically brewing on Thursday for the monthly Celtic jam

If you like Cuban jazz music and feel like dancing, The Owl has a really special show on April 5 as Klave Latin Band and Tricia Edward will be playing a tribute to renown Cuban collective the Buena Vista Social Club. The show is at 8 p.m. Admission is $25 in advance.

The Eric Braun Band has the blues for you and a whole lot more at the Owl Acoustic lounge, April 6.

Prairie Oyster’s Russell DeCarle focuses on solo songs and country classics at Geomatic Attic

Friday, 29 March 2024 11:38 Richard Amery

Russell DeCarle is best known as bassist for ’90s Canadian county icons Prairie Oyster, but strummed an acoustic guitar and showed his blues and jazzy sides at the Geomatic Attic, Sunday, March 24 for an engaged audience.

DeCarle, strumming acoustic guitar and singing lead vocals played for a good sized crowd with guitarist Steve Briggs and upright bassist Jeremy Holmes adding harmony vocals.

They complemented each other just about perfectly as Holmes had just caught a plane from Kelowna and joined them in Calgary before this show.

Russell DeCarle ad Steve Briggs playing the Geomatic Attic, March 24. Photo by Richard Amery

There wasn’t a lot of Prairie Oyster to be heard other than “Mean Streak,” which DeCarle rerecorded and expanded for his latest solo album “ The End of the Road” and a co write with Willie P Bennett “ Goodbye, So Long, Hello.” DeCarle told a story about writing the song with Bennett which gave him the confidence to write more story songs.

Most of the first set was music form his solo albums, though the trio added a few deeper classic country covers from Hank Snow ( I Don’t Hurt Anymore) and Marty Robbins (The Hand’s You’re holding Now) and Charlie Rich.

He played several songs from the new album including touching, jazzy highlight “ Take Away Your Blue” and “ The More You Live,” which came early in the show.

The receptive audience listened intently and applauded after each of Steve Briggs’ tasteful, rock tinged acoustic guitar solos and Holmes’ occasional upright bass solo.

They ended the first set with DeCarle yodelling on “Under the Big Blue Sky,” the title track of his 2010 solo album.

— by Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor

Undefined play an array of music for Slice audience

Friday, 29 March 2024 11:24 Richard Amery

With most people at the Owl Acoustic lounge for Shaela Miller’s second CD release parties, local band Undefined. had the Slice all to themselves with a few folks looking to enjoy some popular cover songs, Saturday, march 23.

The rejigged mark Hall Band including guitarist Mark Hall , lead vocalist Laurie Wintoniak, bassist Ed Knelsen and drummer Ryan Ebbinghoff.

Laurie Wintoniak singing with Undefined at the Slice, march 23. Photo by Richard Amery

They played a mix of classic rock, pop and ’90s country music.

The band were playing “ Hang On Sloopy,” as I arrived.

They we”t ’80s to cover Katrina and the Waves’“Walking on Sunshine,” then went country with “Folsom Prison Blues.”

The moved in to ’90s country with The Dixie Chicks ” “Goodbye Earl,” and Carlene Carter’s “ Every Little Thing” before turning it up for a little “Old Time Rock n Roll.”

— By Richard Amery,L.A. Beat Editor

Shaela Miller shows dark wave side at After the Masquerade album release party

Friday, 29 March 2024 10:52 Richard Amery

Shaela Miller played a pair of sold out CD release shows for her new album After the Masquerade .

I missed the sold out show at the Slice, March 22 and the matinee at the Owl Acoustic Lounge on March 23.

But caught the show that night, though I missed opening acts Carter Felker and the Denim Daddies.

MIller and her crack band, Bassist Paul Holden, Taylor Ackerman on keyboards and guitar a little later in the set, drummer Tyler Bird. Skinny Dyck on steel guitar and guitar and Austrian Banman singing background vocals were playing the new album of original primarily really laid back dark wave / ’80s pop style music from beginning to end.

Shaela Miller playing the Owl Acoustic Lounge, March 23. Photo by Richard Amery

They set down a hypnotic set of synth heavy ’80s pop which is a big departure from the classic country sounds she has been exploring over the past few years.

Shaela Miller’s sweet vulnerability continues to be the common thread throughout all of her musical faces in the new music has it has been throughout her career.

She gave old crowd favourite “Station,” a new dark wave sheen which shone during the show.

One of my favourites featured bassist Paul Holden referencing the Peanuts theme in a new song “Waterline”

They wound down her set with a few older songs including long time crowd favourite “ Vicious Bitches, ”and a couple from her last album “ Big Hair Small City,”—“Crying Blues,” and “ 700.”

Shaela Miller, Tyler Bird and Paul Holden at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, March 24. Photo by Richard Amery

They also added a cover of the Yazzoo’s “ Bad Connection.”

They were called back for an encore which included a cover of Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus.”

— By Richard Amery, L.a. Beat Editor

Whole lot of rock and roll plus Quaint Quirky and Queer for Easter long weekend

Tuesday, 26 March 2024 10:30 Richard Amery

Easter weekend rocks with Dave Chomiak’s annual ultimate ’80s Easter Weekend.

The weekend begins Thursday, March 28 with tributes to The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi and Alanis Morissette. The fun continues Good Friday, March 29 with tributes to Def Leppard, Dokken and Heart and the fun continues Saturday, March 30 with tributes to Van Halen, Motley Crüe and Judas Priest. Tickets are $60 for all three nights, $50 for any two nights and $30 for single tickets at the door or $25 in advance.

Danica Sommer plays the Ultimate ’80s weekend at the Place in her Alan's tribute as well as the next night at the Slice. Photo by Richard Amery

But that’s not all.

The rock begins tonight, Tuesday, March 26 with Chinook High School rocks returning to the Owl Acoustic lounge and an all ages gig at the Moose Hall with death metal band Dying Remains, Calgary metal band, Snakepit, Edmonton/ Fort Saskatchewan thrash metal band Pre Breaker and local metal band Drearius.

There is a $20 cover for the show which begins at 6 p.m.

Wednesday is all about jazz music with Sheena Lawson and the LoveCats returning to the Watertower Grill.

It’s the end of the month so Teri Petz returns to the Owl Acoustic lounge to host the monthly poetry open mic.

Steve Foord hosts the Slice’s open mic on Wednesday, March 27 as well.

HBO 3 returns to the Owl Acoustic lounge on Thursday, March 28.

As usual Gabe Thaine hosts the weekly jam for hunger at Theoretically Brewing beginning at 6 p.m on Thursday.

Danica Sommer has a busy weekend as her Alanis Morissette tribute plays the Place on Thursday to open the ultimate ’80s weekend. She is also playing an acoustic opening set with Austin Phillips on Friday at the Slice. They are opening for Wanda Krein -MacKay’s new project Wildflower Whiskey which features Jack Horne Jr, Kyle Horne Skye Hurd and Reg Osmond.