CBC Radio have embraced Fernie based stoke-folk rockers Shred Kelly, naming their New Year’s Eve gig in Nelson as one of the top five in Canada, and apparently their Jan 5 gig at the Slice as one of the top 10 of the night in the country.
It was easy to see why.
Keyboardist/ vocalist/ percussionist Sage McBride was a personable hostess, greeting the full house like old friends, as Shred Kelly’s music got everyone all hot and sweaty, making the room shake as they jumped up and down in time to the rhythm.
McBride was completely blissed out, a tiny smile creasing her face as she jumped up and down when she wasn’t banging her tambourine, playing some piano or singing ghostly vocals on several songs, mostly from the band’s latest CD “In The Hills.”
Tim Newton was no less impressive hammering on his guitar, howling his vocals and shredding on his banjo, while the rest of the group leaped around, the rhythm section locked in.
The crowd danced up the dust as they played an almost too brief set sf songs from their CDs. They brought a trumpet player up for a couple of songs. He’d weave his way through the packed dance floor and up on the stage, whenever a touch of jazz was needed.
Their new song “Leaving Town” was a hit with the crowd and McBride sang beautifully on tracks like “the Bear” and “Jewel of the North,” from the new CD.
Of course they ended with the always popular “I Hate Work” as Newton broke out the ukulele for the song, which had most of the room singing along.
Local band Sweet Tea including Darryl Düus on lead guitar and Leigh Doerksen and Dan Puurveen locked in on bass and drums, played an incendiary set of energetic blues rock to open the show.
They played covers like “21st Century Boy,” and several originals as Düus howled the lyrics.
