 |
| GREAT BIG ROCK JAM Published by Erika The Red � 2005 (Graphic donated by Don Berryman) |
 |
| February 15, 2005 - Page 2 |
 |
| Two other female performers I caught in action were Andrea Lake (who instantly became one of my favourites) and Sadie Threat (of Toronto-based The Threat). I was thrilled to be able to acquire one of the last few copies of Andrea�s revelatory Bender CD, released in 1995 but, as is usually the case with independent recordings, unnoticed by the major record companies. Apparently this insult (my term) was enough to stifle (or maybe just financially cripple) the production of any subsequent recordings for the next decade. More is the pity, I say, but Andrea assures me she has some new compositions written and hopefully they will be on the market soon and will gain a wider fan base for her. A serious attempt at marketing, along with some reliable contact information, would be the first step I would recommend for her. The Threat, a �rock-us� bass-driven quartet, have a punk attitude and image, but their music is equal parts surf-guitar and manic rockabilly (a.k.a. psychobilly). The band was on a bill of multiple performers at Amp Records� benefit (also held at Casbah) for a women�s shelter in Hamilton. Sadie Threat fronts the band as lead vocalist, backed by guitarists Jet and Johnnie Threat and drummer Colt Threat. Sadie was kind (or savvy) enough to donate a burned copy of their self-titled 3-song demo CD, a cost-effective way to get their product into the hands of die-hard and potential fans. I personally enjoyed both their energetic live performance as well as the recorded versions of �New Orleans�, �Not the Only One� and �Spirits of the Dead�. That being said, my barely-teenaged son and stepdaughter (who are much closer in age to this band than I am) failed to detect the musicality on this recording. They did listen (without squirming) almost to the end of the third track before politely asking me to �turn that down�. Apparently, The Threat doesn�t compare to Sum 41, whose own (admittedly rockin�) concert performance at Mile One Stadium on February 7 [see the review on the next page] was still resounding in their young ears two days later. While speaking with Sadie at Casbah, she was excited to hear that I was moving to St. John�s and bid me say hello to a particular booker here whose name has now escaped me. (Don�t fret; I�ll find him eventually!) --------------------------------- On the eve of my departure from Hamilton, in mid-December, I had the good fortune to be �sent off� (however inadvertently) by saxophonist-vocalist Sonny Del-Rio�s Annual Christmas Benefit Concert at the Liquid Kitty. He has been staging this event for a number of years (decades?) at an upscale banquet hall, which attracted high-profile musicians and audience members alike. This year�s affair was targeted more �for those who like to rock�, but not necessarily of the heavy-duty kind. The change of venue did nothing to deter the faithful from attending and participating. In fact, one woman in particular, who must have been at least 80 years old, was on her feet and dancing for most of the night (�Go, Great-Granny, Go�!). I�ll take my cue from this grande-dame, before retiring my own dancin� shoes! The performances included appearances by Jude Johnson (an erstwhile artist who devotes her time to the cultural enrichment of children via MAD - music, art and drama), country-rocker Ray Materick, '50s and '60s rock & rollers Ronnie & The Rockets (with Sonny Del-Rio on saxophone), Trickbag, Dave Rave (with Tim Gibbons guesting on guitar) and too many more to mention here. It was an absolute blast of fun, but I thought the security people could have �lightened up� a bit; it was a Christmas benefit, after all� In return for the complimentary tickets proffered by co-organizer Rob Platsko, I splurged and bought a couple of donated CDs, e.g. the Dave Rave Group�s Everyday Magic and a CD called Two Hound Blues, a new release of material originally recorded in the �70s featuring the late great Richard Newell (a.k.a. King Biscuit Boy), Sonny Del-Rio and numerous other renowned musicians from Hamilton. In an uncharacteristically magnanimous gesture on my part (where my precious music is concerned), I gave away this collector�s CD as a parting/ Christmas gift to a very dear and special friend without having had the chance to even listen to it. I�ll definitely have to buy another copy of it, as well as the Ronnie & The Rockets CD, to keep for myself...IF there are any left unsold. For a list of the players and songs on the Two Hound Blues CD, check my photoblog at http://rockintheblues.blogspot.com. I was also given copies of Ray Materick�s double CD, Life and Times, a musical autobiography of selected compositions from his prolific catalogue dating from the �70s to current times, and a 2004 recording by jazz multi-instrumental Mark Thibodeau of the Windsor-Detroit area, entitled Waiting for J.J., both of which I have been delayed in reviewing thus far.* Thanks for being so patient, guys. I am on Newfoundland time now, you know� |
 |
|
| * See the "CD Reviews" section for reviews recently completed. |