Wow. What a great show at My Martini Place on Friday night. My faith in live shows in Kelowna has been renewed! Kudos to the people that organized this event. The promotion was great, lots of posters around town and good mention in the papers. The venue was really cool, 7-8 rooms with lots of photos, paintaings, sculptures and short film. Dj’s outside on the patio, upstairs and downstairs bars, good prices and abour 250 people in attendance!

The bands played from 9:30 till well after midnight, with minimal breaks between bands. It was hot and sweaty in the downstairs room with the bands, so the sound wasn’t exactly 100% but you don’t expect it to be perfect in such a small, crowded venue. The first band was Trainwreck and they were great, lots of energy. The second band was Ladyhawk. I believe some members are from Kelowna and it seemed like the crowd were familuar with their material. I can’t wait for there first CD. Check out.

http://www.myspace.com/ladyhawk

Black Mountain went on a about 11:45pm. They didn’t mention the fact that starting today (August 2nd) they are opening for Coldplay across North America for the next 5 weeks. That’s pretty cool. This band is getting lots of hype in NME and Rolling Stone. They have a great sound with a unique mix of 70’s rock and psychedlic guitar riffs. I can’t wait to watch this band rise in popularity, I’m sure they will blow everyone away in the states. What a great showcase of BC talent.

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/features/artistprofiles/b/black-mountain/

The Doors of the 21st Century with Vanilla Fudge and Pat Travers at the PNE, Vancouver, July 21st, 2005.

Unlike a lot of the skeptics, I was going into this show with a clear undestanding that Ian Astbury was not trying to imitate Jim Morrison and fill the spot of lead singer. Ian, like amny singers from the 80’s and 90’s, was hugely influenced by Jim and his singing style and stage presenence. With the stealer playing of Ray Manzerek and especially Robbie Kreiger the night was a huge success.

The show kicked off with Pat Travers and his 3-piece band playing some blistering blues songs. I’m not familuar with his tuff, but they were very tight. Vanilla Fudge with the original line-up from the 60’s played some great cover versions of the Zombies’ “She’s not there”, U2’s “One”, Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready”, Donovan’s “Season of the Witch” and the Supremes hit “Keep Me Hangin On”. They were clearly having a lot of fun and remenising when they opened for Led Zeppelin in the same venue in the summer of 1970.

This was the first time the Doors played the PNE since June 6th, 1970. Some of the setlist was the same as it was 35 years earlier and the band played very tight with lots of improvisation.

Road House Blues
Break on Through (with ‘I am A Solider’ lyrics)
Love Me Two Times
When the Music’s Over
Peace Frog
Five to One (With “Do It” tease)
Crystal Ship (acoustic, 12-string)
People Are Strange (acoustic, 12-string)
Eagle in the Whirlpool
Touch Me
LA Woman

encore:
Light My Fire

Before Five to One Ian commented on the NHL being back and dedicated the song to you “beer guzzling hockey loving motherf&@*ers”. He even commented on the great state of Canadian music with bands like The Arcade Fire and Death from Above 1979. They played the new song “Eagles in the Whirlpool” and asked for the crowds’ opinion afterwards. Ninety minutes of classic Doors songs, and on several occasions if you closed your eyes you would think you were at the Fillmore, Felt Forum, Avalon Ballroom of the Winterland.

Strangely enough, the next day on July 22^nd, original Doors drummer John Densmore won his lawsuit and from now on the band has to use the name D21C.

Edmonton Sun article

Calgary Review

Doors in Vancouver June 6, 1970 poster

Five bands playing July 17th – Evangel Church heritage room

In Medias Res http://www.imr.ca
Five Songs
Tri-State Heroes
matthew and andrew

Evangel Church
3261 Gordon Dr.
July 16th
7pm
$5

Four bands playing July 23rd at Emmanuel Assembly
2600 Herbert Rd.

Ever We Fall
Kaddisfly (after they finish the Warped Tour)
Sleepersetsail (Sonic Unyon Artist)
The Archer and the Eagle
6:30pm
$5

http://www.myspace.com/sleepersetsail

A few days before the band, BLACK MOUNTAIN, begin their tour opening for Coldplay, they’re playing Kelowna!! I gotta feeling this is going to be the must-see show of the summer

Friday July 29 – Kelowna, BC @ Duotone Arts Festival w/ Ladyhawk
Habitat, 248 Leon

http://www.duotonearts.com/
http://www.thewaxmuseum.bc.ca/jwab/

I seen Black Mountain open for the Pixies last year in Vancouver. It should be a great show!

This year the Kelowna Regatta got a great line-up of bands
check out the schedule
http://www.kelownaregatta.com/entertainment.html

Parks Alive Concerts

Wed July 13th 6:30 – 10pm Waterfront Park
Songwriters Night
http://www.parksalive.com/Wednesday%20-%20July%2013.htm

Fri/Sat July 15/16th 6:45 – 11pm Kerry Park
Folk Fun
http://www.parksalive.com/Theme%20Weekend%20-July%2015%20&%2016.htm

http://www.parksalive.com/events.htm

I suggest you definitely check out the Komasket Music Festival August 5-7th
http://www.komasketmusicfestival.com/

Lots of great local and international reggae, folk, blues and rock artists.

It’s down Westside Rd before you get to Fintry
http://www.komasketmusicfestival.com/directions_maps_print.html

Samsara have a bunch of shows coming up this summer. I went to the show at the Community Theatre with Zen Media and it was a great, high-energy show! Check them out!

Saturday June 25
Alpha Yaya Diallo + Samsara (Plus special guests Devi Dasi Dance Co + Esam – lead visual artist for Shambhala) – The Vernon Performing Arts Centre – $20 – http://www.ticketseller.ca

Wed June 29
K-OS, Samsara + others @ The Summer Jam – The Bluffs – Kelowna

Aug 5, 6, & 7 2005
Komasket Music Festival – Okanagan’s Cultural & Independent Music Celebration – Komasket Park Westside RD Vernon http://www.komasketmusicfestival.com

http://bobdylan.com/live/

So it’s not part of the Willie Nelson show, but Bob will play Prospera on Friday July 22nd. Should be a great one!

Hey,
For anyone who’s interested, Def Leppard and the Tea Party will be playing Prospera on August 26th. Should draw a big crwod, even though I heard the band had a bad experience last time when some equipment got stolen.

Cheers,
Jason