St. Patrick’s Day “in” The Oak Republic

Posted on 2015-03-25 by Rod Wilson

The Oak Republic at the Heid Out, Tuesday March 17, 2015 (St. Patrick’s Day) 6:30 to when ever.

St. Patrick is reputed to have converted pagan Ireland to Christianity. If he did that then it is kind of ironic that the life of this Christian Saint is celebrated with a day of bachanalian frivolity. St. Pat never made it to The Oak Republic but given half a chance he would have been right at home. Where is the Oak Republic? Well it isn’t actually a place, maybe it’s more a state of mind that exists in the imagination of a musical collective known as The Oak Republic. OAK REPUBLIC?? Where did that name come from? As it turns out the band’s Bouzouki player Shawn Robertson is a big admirer of the great Canadian guitarist Don Ross. Don is famous for his aggressive finger style playing that has been labelled “Heavy Wood”. Considering the nature of the band’s music “Heavy Wood” would seem an appropriate name for the band but, in deference to Don, the band moved on looking for another name. “What’s a significant heavy wood. Let’s see; say what about Oak? Now that’s a step in the right direction. What’s a name for a collection of citizens? How about a Republic? By George Jay, you’ve got it. The OAK REPUBLIC is what we are.” Under that name Jay Toner (guitar, vocals), Allyson Blake (fiddle and vocals), Shawn Robertson (guitars, mandolin, vocals and Irish Bouzouki), Murph Martin (electric 5-string bass) and John Seiga perform music of both the old and new worlds. It is a folk/rock based ensemble with a touch of “the olde Irish” in the mix. In honor of the day’s celebration the band kicked off the evening with The Wild Rover, Whiskey in the Jar, and the Pogues re-invention of Ewan McColl’s classic Dirty Old Town. And that was just the beginning. It was a night of frivolity, fun and some great old tunes. Here are some images from the night.

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Vested Interest – Polishing Diamonds at BJ’s

Posted on 2015-03-04 by Rod Wilson

Here is a happy band of musicians – Brian Noer (lead guitar, bass & vocals), Dave Prinn (guitars, bass & vocals) Bill Renwick (guitar, vocals and harmonica) and why shouldn’t they be when they get to play the music they love (classic rock and folk/rock). As a group (Vested Interest) they have been working away at their choice of material for maybe a year. Each performer has made his own mark as a solo performer or in many musical configurations around the area. Their music is really coming together as they polish the “diamonds” of the classic rock and folk/rock eras.

Saturday February 28, 2015, 8pm: VESTED INTEREST at BJ’s Creekside Pub – great food and great music.

Generally I am not a fan of pop/rock music but there are certain gems of the classic era that I enjoy. Maybe it’s because that was the music of my youth. My tastes in music may have evolved since then but the music of The Beatles, Crosby Stills and Nash, Neil Young, The Eagles, Bob Seeger and other bands and performers of that era that have an undeniable appeal. Maybe its the vocal harmonies or maybe I think the songs are just better. To come to think of it the only song in recent memory to make it into the “standard classic rock” repertoire is Wagon Wheels.So Vested Interest has been working away at the vocal harmonies, tasty lead guitar breaks, some 12 String guitar guitar riffs, “blues Harp” and clean guitar picking that I am sure will continue to win them a growing audience. Some of the material covered included I’m a Believer (The Beatles), Copperhead Road (Steve Earle), Dead or Alive, Everybody’s Talkin’ About Me (from the Movie Midnight Cowboy), Truckin’ (The Grateful Dead), Hollywood Nights (Bob Seeger and the Silver Bullet Band), Turn, Turn, Turn (with some marvelous 12 String guitar from Dave Prinn a la Pete Seeger), Yankee Lady (Jessie Winchester), City in the Grass (a Dave Prinn Original), Free Falling (Tom Petty), Helplessly Hoping (Crosby Stills and Nash), Heart of Gold (Bill Renwick out does Neil Young on this song), I’m Gone Gone Gone (I think this is a Bill Renwick original), The Weight, It Ain’t Easy, Can’t You See, and many more. It was a great night of “acoustic music” (no screaming guitar work or over the top drums) played by a trio who enjoy performing for an audience who obviously appreciates the music. Here are some images from the evening —–

oh! I forgot to mention “Brian sure looks handsome with his new haircut”

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60 Hertz – The Trio

Posted on 2015-02-06 by Rod Wilson

60 HERTZ – THE TRIO at BJs Creekside Pub, Saturday January 24, 2015, 8pm

These three musicians, Rob Young (lead guitar, backup vocals), James Neve (singer / songwriter, 6 and 12 string guitars) and Dave Birch (backup vocals and bass guitar) have been playing music together for more years than our adult children have had birthdays. From time to time they have been joined by fine drummers (Gerry Bird, John Seiga or Marty Musser) to perform as your standard folk/rock band. The format may be standard but the music is more than a notch above the run of a mill folk/rock band. The most recent drummer, Marty Musser, who was an exceptionally fine fit for the band, has moved onto other “Pastures of Plenty” and 60 Hertz is back to performing as a trio. Not to worry! On Saturday night at Bj’s Creekside Pub they delivered James Neve’s signature songs with the same tight ensemble performances with Rob Young’s very tasteful guitar leads, Dave Birch’s dancing bass lines and James Neve’s vocals. As always their music on this evening was a cut above almost any other live band you are likely to encounter in the area. Here are some images from another exceptional night of music at BJs Creek side pub.

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Kitchen Party at the Heid Out – “The lads are back”

Posted on 2014-12-24 by Rod Wilson

The Kitchen Party at the Heidout, hosted by Angus MacDonald and Angus Liedtke, Sunday December 21, 2014, 5pm.

Angus MacDonald (fiddle) and Angus Liedtke (vocals, guitar, harmonica) are two young Cranbrook musicians who, in the fall, headed down east to Holland College in Prince Edward island. Their quest was for more education and work related skills for a career in music and business. Naturally at Christmas they wanted to be back here it town to celebrate the season amongst friends and family. Part of the planned celebrations was a KITCHEN PARTY at the Heidout in Cranbrook. That was just an excuse to gather together their musical friends and have some fun. The night was kicked off by LEATHER BRITCHES (Angus MacDonald – fiddle; Will Nicholson – guitar and Rod Wilson – Irish Bouzouki) reprising some of their standard repertoire that included The Dr Shaw Set, and The Graduation Set. Angus Liedtke had spent the last four months polishing his song writing skills and judging from his first set it has been time well spent . What a Sorrow – a song about an old couple who lived in the woods and one day the wife dies and the old man has to bury her and deal with his grief; Pack of Cigarettes – a friend’s experience with heartbreak; You gave it your Best – a song about Louis Riel that started out as a song writing challenge by a friend. From there on the music just flowed from Steven Knowles (guitar and vocals), Blake Nowicki (electric guitar and vocals) and Justice Jones (guitar and vocals).

Angus Mac and Angus L were not the only lads back in town. Young country musician Connor Foote has been away for a while and he was back in town to hook up with his his musical compadre Clayton Parsons. They played a bracket of tunes from the good ol’ days in their band Gold Creek. Clayton had recently turned his hand to building guitars and now has also started playing the dobro (such a sweet sound).

After the young lads it was time for the “old” guys to add some of their solo performances to the evening. Tom Bungay, (guitar and vocals) pulled some songs from his immense standard repertoire; Mark Casey (guitar and vocals) obliged with some songs that included a special request for a Kinks song. Rod Wilson (cittern and vocals) obliges with some new tunes fresh from the press (so to speak) that included the Malachi Set (Malachi / Bondi Junction / The Heid Out), some older tunes (The Train Set – Come by Chance / The Train Stops Here / Sad Arrival on the Orient Express) and for good measure and old Irish ballad The Nightingale.

The two hosts returned to the stage to round out the evening. Angus Liedtke cruised though one song, Dressed in Red, in an imaginative Mexican scenario with his girlfriend before finishing up his set with with Hearts of Fire and This Old Bed (an ode to high school days in Cranbrook). Angus MacDonald set the place on fire with a bracket of extended tunes that he has gleaned from the traditional music sessions in PEI. The first set included Gordon Duncan’s Tune / Christy Crowley’s / Superfly; the second set Marie Hughes Jig (from Tim Chaisson) / Dan Collins Farther’s Jig / Don MacKinnon’s Reel / and a reel from Brenda Stubbert. The not too gentle rhythmic stamp of feet that accompanied this bracket of tunes was a real joy to hear.

Here are the money shots from the evening – Angus MacDonald and Mark Casey.

Before he leaves town Angus MacDonald will be back with more down east fiddle music with Leather Britches at the Heid Out on January 9, 2015 6:30 pm.

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ONCE MORE WITH FEELING

As promised Leather Britches returned to the Heid Out on January 9, 2015, 6:30 – 9:30 pm for some more down- east fiddle music prior to Angus MacDonald’s return to PEI for the spring semester at Holland College. Here a couple of images of William Nicholson and Angus from the evening:

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Vested Interests in The Heid Out

Posted on 2014-09-20 by Rod Wilson

No, this is not a financial report. Vested Interests is the folk/rock (or something like that) group who performs regularly at The Heid Out in Cranbrook. I suppose, true to their name, they do have a vested interest in the place. The better they perform the more likely patrons will be happy and the band will continue to be invited back. The original Vested Interests was Dave Prinn on vocals and guitars, and Bill Renwick, also on vocals and guitars. Brian Noer has joined to group to fill out the vocal harmonies and add some tasty licks on lead guitar.

Vested Interests at the Heid Out in Cranbrook, September 12, 2014, live music until 11pm.

What can I say that I haven’t said before. I arrived late after taking in the Daniel Champagne show at the Studio / Stage Door but I was amply rewarded with some great sounds as the group played right through to 11pm. Always keep the Heid Out in mind for great food, great beer and great music. This coming Friday (September 26, 2014 6:30pm) will feature OUT OF MIND – THE MUSIC OF JAMES NEVE with Lonesome Jim on vocals, guitars and effects and percussionist Juan Havana…… Be there. Here are some images from the Heid Out’s Friday show.

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?Ravens Roost or Bears Den

Posted on 2014-09-13 by Rod Wilson

Open mic Session at the Ravens Roost, September 12, 5-8 pm, hosted by Bill St Amand.

Well, paradise at last. Or at least the bears thought so when they were checking out the Kimberley golf club deck from a vantage point in a nearby tree. They were spotted by the early club members who were waiting for the sun to burn the frost of the greens. Maybe the bears didn’t like the local clientele because they didn’t hang around for the Friday evening open mic session on the deck. It’s a shame because it was a good evening. The weather for this summer’s open mics has not been too co-operative but for this last session of the season the weather gods must have been appeased because the evening was perfect. The sun was brilliant but not hot; it was just right. The regular crowd of musicians were there – Bill St. Amand, Rod Wilson, Alphonse Joseph, Gary Jaclin and a new comer to the area Michael Harrison. It was the usual mix of rock, country and blues classics with a little bit of Celtic thrown into the mix. Here are some images from the evening (sorry, the bears couldn’t make it for the photo shoot).

and a fitting toast to beautiful day

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A Strong Breeze from “The Windy City” at the Key Theatre

Posted on 2014-08-17 by Rod Wilson

25 or 6 to 4 : THE CHICAGO STORY , Saturday August 16, 2014, 8pm at the Key City Theatre in Cranbrook

Normally I don’t pay much attention to the pop/rock genre of music. In fact I have lived through whole musical eras and been oblivious to the music that has often become the soundtrack of a particular generation. I have always worked on the assumption that if the music is any good I will get to hear it eventually. Well, Saturday evening was a moment of “eventuality” that put the music of Chicago front and center. Their record, no pun intended, speaks for itself. The band was formed in 1967 and this year, 2014, they are releasing their 36th album. During that 6 decade run they have had 21 top-ten singles, 23 Gold, 18 Platinum and 8 multi-platinum records (see the Wikipedia Link. ). Their claim to fame is their innovative use of a horn section within a rock and roll environment. This tribute band, and I hesitate to call them a tribute band because the music sounded so fresh, seems to have been pulled together by saxophonist Rick Lingard and is a fine aggregate of local musicians. The line up includes, front and center the horn section with Keith Todd on trombone; Dave Ward and Tim Bullen on trumpets and, of course, Rick Lingard on saxophones and vocals. The front line is supported by Doug Stephenson on bass, Colin Spence on keyboards, Tony Ferraro on drums and Darren Mahe on guitar. Arron Nelson is the male vocalist who doubles on congas and, the frosting on the cake is the three well turned out female vocalists Melody Diachin, Lisa Backus and Sydney Galbraith. Of course they beg the question why do the ladies make such an effort to look so good on stage and the guys don’t seem to bother ?

This may be a tribute band but for me there was no element of musical nostalgia. The only real elements of nostalgia were the slide show on the back curtain. That was nice touch. The repertoire was all new to me. As befitting a twelve piece fully amplified power house band they nearly blew the walls out and in the process put on a great show. It was probably one of the better shows I have witnessed at the Key City Theatre in recent memory. This was a follow up to their performance at the Kaslo Jazz Festival a few weeks ago. I hope that we get to see and hear this band again in the near future. Here are more images from the evening:

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The Jazz Council Reunion at the Studio/Stage Door

Posted on 2014-08-17 by Rod Wilson

The Jazz Council Reunion Concert, at the Studio / Stage Door Friday August 15, 2014 8pm

Here are some brief words from their press release to get the ball rolling:

“Cranbrook, BC – It’s reunion time! Two years after their last concert together, the original members of The Jazz Council are bringing their infectious swing, magnetic energy, and new original tunes back to The Stage Door in Cranbrook on Friday, August 15 at 8 PM. Drummer Sven Heyde, pianist Tim Plait, saxophonist Bernie Primbs, trumpeter Laurel Ralston, and bassist Joel Kroeker have been honing their skills and exploring new musical horizons – here in the Kootenays, across the country, and abroad. They are thrilled to meet back at home this summer and pick up where they left off – making great music in their signature style.The Jazz Council has given over 40 performances since forming in 2010, and released their successful debut album, Dawn, in 2011. They are renowned across the Kootenays for their unique sound and blend of instruments, skillful playing, and irresistible stage presence. The Jazz Council firmly believes that jazz is, at its core, popular music, and can be both authentic and accessible. Their original compositions and their covers weave together many different strands and sub-genres of jazz, giving the listener’s ears a well-balanced diet, while their ability to select sounds from a specific palette gives them a unique, clear sound that is all their own.”

In the meantime there are a lot of images to browse:

The Jazz Council kicked off this concert with Bernie Primbs ode to his wife with Quiere Casarte Conmigo followed by the Miles Davis tune Four. That first tune was off their CD Dawn. So that set the pattern for the night – a mix of tunes they had recorded and mostly new and original material. Their playing was very “snappy” and precise with lots of swing, so much so that it was hard to believe that they have not had many, if any, opportunities to practice together over the past two years. In her never ending search for technical and spiritual inspiration Laurel has been dipping into to playing of Booker Little. The results of her research was her rendition of Booker’s composition Bee Tee’s Plea (check the YouTube link Bee Tee’s Plea ). Booker was a disciple of the Jazz trumpeter Clifford Brown who died in a car crash in 1956 at the age of 25. Booker was only a couple of years later and was only 23 when he died of the complications of uremia. Considering how short their respective careers were it is amazing that here in this day and age, 50 years after their deaths, these two musicians are still exerting a significant influence on new generations of trumpet players. Other compositions played were Drifting (Herbie Hancock), If I was a Bell, A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square (a piano trio outing with some nice brush work from Sven). No night of jazz would be complete without at least one Thelonious Monk’s tune and the band did the honors with the jazz standard Well You Needn’t. The original compositions presented were Laurel’s Broken Drill Bit Blues and Cinder; Joel’s 5/4 romp Rainy Night Caper and his funky January 29th; and Bernie’s “creepy Jazz Style” On the Prowl and for the encore his Everybody Could Use a Minor Funk. There was lots of humor in the evening and it was evident that these musicians really enjoy what they are doing. It is a pity we may not get to hear them more often. Laurel is heading back to Ottawa, Tim to Edmonton and Joel to Fernie. That only leaves Bernie and Sven around town. Too bad.

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MIRAGE at Summer Sounds

Posted on 2014-08-01 by Rod Wilson

MIRAGE (Jim Mashall) at Summer Sounds, July 26, 2014, 11 am – 12 noon, Rotary Park Cranbrook

For those who don’t know Jim Marshall is a musician, guitarist and vocalist with several CDs under his belt. He has been active on the local music scene for many years. His strength is his finger picking guitar work that often features strong bass lines running though the performance. He recently switched to a cutaway Larivee Nylon Strung guitar thereby adding a more mellow dimension to his playing. For this particular performance he invited me (Rod Wilson) to join him on stage with a percussion set that featured three congas, Djemebe, Darbuka, Bodhran, Tambourine, Shakers,Cajon etc.). Never one to refuse an invite to bash away on anything within an arms reach I was pleased to participate in a collection of original songs and cover tunes that included Blues Jam, Dancing in the Dark, Don’t be Cruel, Crazy (Willie Nelson’s classic tune made famous by Patsy Cline), Black Cat Jack, Five Foot Two, Arabia (an original), King of the Road, I’m On Fire, Hard Times and the Louis Armstrong hit Hello Dolly. During the hour long set there were many more tunes to enjoy before Jim concluded with La Bamba. Jim’s partner in crime (Lorraine) captured some images and video that I have included below.

and here’s the link to the video MIRAGE at Summer Sounds

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“Even the Ravens were walking”

Posted on 2014-07-31 by Rod Wilson

Bill St. Amand’s Open Mic Session at The Raven’s Roost – Kimberley Golf Club, July 25, 2014, 2013 5-8pm.

Bill insisted that earlier in the day “it was so windy on the golf course that even the Ravens were walking”. I think that’s a story. There were a few gusts on the deck in the late afternoon but nothing more than just a little something to freshen the air. Once again Kootenay sunshine out did itself and patrons were able to kick back and tuck into the fine BBQ and listen to some great tunes. The attraction of “open mic” sessions for musicians is to escape from playing music in the basement and socialize with their compadres. And there are always surprises in the musical mix with well known configurations of players or, as on this day, new musicians on deck. The usual performers were there with host Bill St. Amand (Martin Travel Guitar and vocals), Gary Jacklin (guitar, vocals and effects), Sam Hornberger (guitar, vocals); from almost out of retirement – The Blarney Pilgrims – Wally Smith (Irish Whistle, Button accordion) and Rod Wilson (Irish Bouzouki and percussion), the duo JR Lives – Jon Bisset (guitar and vocals) and Rod Wilson (12 String guitar) and also Mark Casey (“the folk singer with attitude”). Mark was accompanied by Patrick Stohmenger on harmonica. Patrick is fresh out of Vernon and is just infiltrating the local music scene. Here are some images from “another day in paradise”.

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Rod Wilson's Blog

Tag Archives: Local Performers

St. Patrick’s Day “in” The Oak Republic

Vested Interest – Polishing Diamonds at BJ’s

oh! I forgot to mention “Brian sure looks handsome with his new haircut”

60 Hertz – The Trio

Kitchen Party at the Heid Out – “The lads are back”

Vested Interests in The Heid Out

?Ravens Roost or Bears Den

A Strong Breeze from “The Windy City” at the Key Theatre

The Jazz Council Reunion at the Studio/Stage Door

MIRAGE at Summer Sounds

“Even the Ravens were walking”