Sold out! And for good reason, after all, it was the smalls, on their big return to Winnipeg for their (Slight Return) reunion tour, and people were excited. Well, I know I was. And so was the bass player for Black Mastiff who was the opening band for the tour. He expressed it often, using much profanity, just how excited he was to be part of this.
It was a Monday night. What better way to escape the mundane and celebrate being one-day into your work week than with some eardrum shattering metal? Who said a good night's rest?! Get out of here! .... Good...
You wanted the best, you got mediocre at best. The most redundant band in the world- KISS.
I first saw them in 2000 during their Farewell Tour. I remember it so vividly. I was sixteen and I believed every word they said. Paul Stanley promised to play all night. I thought I was going to be out until four in the morning considering they had such a large back catalogue.
It was devastating news in 2002 when I learned of Layne Staley's passing. He had so much character, angst, and emotion in his vocal delivery. Although Alice In Chains had been dormant for years, with Jerry Cantrell still popping out solo albums, I was hopeful that he would put the band back together after he got a few things out of his system.
At Motley Crue on Tuesday night, I saw people older than my parents and almost as young as my child, but the majority of us on the floor were cascaded in our twenties. Fan enthusiasm for this event was quite strong -- the girl behind me couldn't have lived a day in the 80s but this was her seventh time seeing the band.
Something was missing at the Bon Jovi concert on Friday night, but it certainly wasn't fan enthusiasm.
The set list was balanced by playing 8 songs from the 80s, 4 from the 90s, 8 from the 2000s, 3 brand new tracks, and one full cover.
Tegan and Sara, the Canadian folk pop twin sister duo, have been performing together for almost 20 years and making records for nearly 15. With six studio releases under their belt, floating mostly between indie folk and rock, the sisters' seventh record (Heartthrob, released on January 29, 2013) takes them head on into a commercialized pop sound.
During his TD Jazz Lab at the Manitoba Music Conservatory, Lucky Peterson played to the people. Taking requests and telling tales, the Buffalo bluesman gave a preview of his storied career. Joined by his wife Tamara, Peterson encouraged audience participation through a number of classics and standards.
"Jazz is not just a genre of music," announced Steve Kirby.
The Manitoba bassist had Juss Jazz packed elbow-to-elbow while his hot quartet ended their set. As the evening unwound, venues facilitated genre-spanning performances all under the Jazz Festival banner.
"I'm so sorry, this is not jazz," proclaimed a flustered patron to his table.
It was midway through Larry and His Flask's set. The man was in a suit and accompanied by two women in fancy dresses. Everyone else in The Pyramid Cabaret was dressed casual, in vests or had facial hair. After killing another shot, the trio departed.
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