REFRAIN MUSIC

For almost four decades the Living Christmas Tree has been thrilling audiences in the greater Moncton area with its entertaining blend of music, lighting, and song. For many people the season doesn’t  “start” until the LCT has been put on and draws thousands of people from all over the Maritimes.

Involving a cast of over 200, the tree features music, dance and drama and the accompaniment of a live band, and this year had a special treat in an almost week long guest appearance by country star Jason McCoy!  This year it features improved stage effects, a snowflake filled auditorium, the pristine Wesleyan Celebration Center, and a guest country superstar!

Living Christmas Tree 2011

Moncton Wesleyan is Atlantic Canada’s largest church, with a congregation of over 3500 people averaging more than 1,700 persons in attendance each weekend and have had a presence of over 100 years in the City of Moncton.  The Wesleyan Celebration Center is a comfortable 1800 seat, two level auditorium that contains modern lighting, sound, and projection systems.  The Atrium acts as a large foyer to the Center and off the atrium there is a secondary Life Center with a 600 seat auditorium with stage.  Adding to all of this this year was the addition of Canadian country superstar Jason McCoy whom is a two time CCMA Male Vocalist of the Year and winner of the Global Artist Award in 2006 by the CMA’s in Nashville.  He is also well known for writing many great country hits for other artists like Doc Walker (Rocket Girl), and collaborating on many others.

The show always starts with a grand spectacle and this year it was music and lights and about 50 dancing Santas, that got the crowd into it right away, followed up by a local school choir which was a feature of the show all week, by having local schools participate in the show.  The show featured everything from choral performances, to individual songs, trios in sleighs, and it even had “the Grinch”!  The Grinch took us through some fantastical keyboard playing, playing music from the Phantom of the Opera, and being joined by kids of the church to do the “grinch rap” after a baritone choral member did an admiral job filling in for Boris Karloff in the Grinch song/narration.

Soon after the stage was taken by none other than the featured artist, who regaled us with great stories, songs, and an unexpected humor that had everyone enjoying themselves.  He spoke to what Christmas meant to him and his young family, and told stories of his youth intermingled with songs and jovial anecdotes.

Jason McCoy - Living Christmas Tree 2011

After a twenty minute intermission where you could buy refreshments in the Atrium, bake-sale cookies, and visit the “World Vision” table to get informed about adopting an needy child in a third world country, it was time to light the Living Christmas Tree.    With the auditorium filling with choral sounds of the season the ‘living’ Christmas Tree comes to life with it’s 35,000 multi-coloured bulbs undulating from top to bottom and side to side and it’s ‘choir ornaments’ adorning the tree.

The almost three hour event went on with more songs, a great live painting to music, an interview of Jason McCoy by lead pastor L.D. Buckingham about his work with World Vision and more performances by the country star.  Not wanting to give too much away I must say the show was a great event all around and lead right up to the grand finale complete with ‘flying’ angels that soared above the crowd.

Living Christmas Tree 2011

The Living Christmas tree is a spectacle of lights, sound, laughter, music and spiritual messages that many will take many different things from, but it is an all around top notch local production that next year with be celebrating it’s 40th Anniversary, for which, I expect they will pull out all of the stops!  I want the thank the LCT Director Pastor Don Ingersoll, The Moncton Wesleyan, and Jason McCoy for a humorous and fun musical evening and encourage you all to take in the show next year for their 40th anniversary!  Until next time!

On the second night of their “Are You With Me” Tour the guys of Doc Walker excitedly take the stage of Moncton’s Capitol Theatre for a show that was sure to please.  Doc Walker always provides a great night of entertainment and skillful musicianship and I’ve been looking forward to this show ever since I heard it announced and the multi-CCMA award winning group was sure not to disappoint.

Doc Walker - Capitol Theatre - 11/15/11

After an introduction by local radio personality Shilo Bellis from XL-96, the guys of Doc Walker hit the stage with the song “Are You With Me Tonight” the name of the current tour that is making it’s way across the country and started two nights ago in St. John’s, NFLD.  The small and enthusiastic crowd welcomed them to the stage with loud applause and whoops of joy, the Capitol Theatre, making for an almost ‘intimate’ setting for the band’s show on this night.  Lead vocalist, Chris Thorsteinson, even commented on how much he enjoyed it when he got to play in this great little theatre, one of his favorites before the band went into one of their biggest hits in “Driving With The Breaks On”.

Guitar player Murray Pulver showed why he was the CCMA guitar player of the year for 2008-2010 as my focus kept being drawn back to him at various points in the evening as his solos and smooth riffs pulled you in and enveloped you in electric guitar, I even heard some Rush thrown in at the end of one of their own songs which I thought was quite awesome.  The touring band this night also included Brent Pearen on Bass and drummer Steve Broadhurst that just finished another cross Canada tour with Dean Brody, Aaron Lines, and Deric Ruttan, both very good musicians and Brent’s bass playing stood out for me on both tours.

Doc Walker had humble beginnings back in 1991 in the Canadian prairie province of Manitoba.  Which is exactly where they recorded their new album 16 & 1 in an old school house that was attended by Thorsteinson, which he bought, and they eventually turned into a recording studio for their latest effort.  They scoured the internet looking for vintage recording gear to stock their acoustically fit house of childhood memories with and recorded the new album that appears to have a distinct rock edge to it.   Since beginning back in the day, the Open Road Recordings artists have been nominated and won numerous CCMA awards for songs off of albums like “Go”, won a Juno award for 2009 Country Recording of The Year (Beautiful Life), and show no signs of slowing down but simply getting more creative with their music which shows on 16 & 1.

Chris Thorsteinson - Doc Walker - Capitol Theatre - 11/15/11

Thorsteinson stepped away from the mic a few times this evening giving it up to his compatriots in Dave Wasyliw and Murray Pulver for a couple of songs just before their brief intermission…wait, did I just hear the ‘Black Eyed Peas’?  I seriously think these guys can play just about any kind of music and make it sound good…after the break, we found that out, as they went into their mini Christmas set.  As they tour across the country through the Christmas season they only thought it fitting to have a seasonal section mixed into their more regular fare which was alright with the crowd on this night.   Chris, took his mic at one point and journeyed into the crowd, bringing up the house lights, to lead a sing-along of jingle bells with a young girl from the crowd to much appreciation from the fans in attendance.

The guys finished off the night with some more of their best known songs like “If I Fall”, “Rocket Girl”, “Make You Love Me” (a personal favorite), and finished the night with a raucous “Get Up” before bidding the crowd farewell, or so they thought.  While a few of the fans made for the door to beat the rush, the majority stayed and pulled the band back out for a two song encore that caught some of the band members off guard.  They played one song with the full band and then the three guys of Doc Walker stepped even further forward and played one more for the very appreciative crowd.

Dave Wasyliw,Chris Thorsteinson, Murray Pulver - Doc Walker - Capitol Theatre -11/15/11

I highly recommend getting out to see Doc Walker as they make their way across the country on this tour, they provide an evening of high quality entertainment mixed with great stories, laughter, and fun filled music…check www.DocWalker.ca for tour details and to get tickets.  I look forward to the next time the guys of Doc Walker bring their music and fun to our city and thank the band, the Capitol Theatre, Sonic Concerts, and RGK Entertainment for a great night of music.  Until next time!

Deric Ruttan, Aaron Lines, and Dean Brody…all in one show, playing their own music, telling storys and playing some cover songs, how could you not want to see that as a country fan!?  This night was the CMT Hitlist tour that appeared at Casino New Brunswick, a tour that began in Kelowna, BC and is travelling across 26 Canadian cities between September 22nd and October 22nd.  It’s a really interesting concept for a concert, three acts singing together and separately, touring together and performing to each others fans. Another interesting thing about this tour, is before it started fans could vote on CMT.ca from a list of ‘cover’ songs they wanted to hear in their city, of which, the guys would take the top three vote getters and perform at the show (cool concept).

CMT Hitlist Tour - Casino NB - 10/19/2011

The night started with all three acts taking the stage together to sing “Hey Good Lookin'” and work the, smaller than expected, crowd into a lather for what was to come.  After the first song the two “D’s” of the show (Dean and Deric) left the stage and Aaron Lines maintained center stage singing some of his bigger hit’s like “Turn It Up” and “Can’t Hide Beautiful” telling the story that the latter song was written for his wife and now he feels applies to both his wife and young daughter.  Aaron Lines, has been on the music scene since 2001, from Fort McMurray, Alberta, he has had success on both sides of the border with the aforementioned ‘Can’t Hide Beautiful’ rising to number four on the Billboard Country Charts in 2003 and opened that year for Martina McBride.  Lines finished his set that evening with his only ever #1 country single “Cheaper To Keep Her”, off his fourth album Moments That Matter, to much appreciation from the crowd and it turned into a ‘sing-a-long’ song.

CMT Hitlist Tour - Casino NB - Aaron Lines

Next up with no pause was hit songwriter and singer Deric Ruttan, bursting on to the stage styled more like a rock star than a country star (no cowboy hats and plaid shirts here, like the other two acts), Ruttan started his set with his hit song “Sing That Song Again”.  I found Ruttan to be the most ‘talkative/interactive’ with the crowd of the three acts on this night as I normally find the singer from Bracebridge, Ontario to be extremely personable and very in touch with his fans.   A noted songwriter Ruttan has has a score of hit songs both himself and with others, winning the Canadian Country Music Award for Songwriter of the year in 2007 (Aaron Pritchett – Hold My Beer).  He’s written hit songs for Dierks Bentley (What Was I Thinkin’), Aaron Pritchett (Hold My Beer/My Way), Eric Church (Guys Like Me), and many more artists like Paul Brandt, Doc Walker, and Jason Blaine.  An accomplished songwriter he’s also had a slew of his own hits like his next song “Feel Alright For The First Time, and as he noted his most successful single “How I Wanna Go Out”.  Telling a story to the crowd about the local ‘legion’, Ruttan then jumped into a song that most of the crowd seemed to know the words too (made me think this would have been a great ‘bar show’) in “Up All Night” and this turned into a crowd participation sing-a-long song.  He then finished up his set with another great Ruttan song “Good Time” and made way for the next part of the trio of acts.

CMT Hitlist Tour - Casino NB - Deric Ruttan

Dean Brody took to the stage playing his hit from 2010, “Roll That Barrel Out” to much appreciation from the crowd. Brody, appears, the most ‘country’ of the three acts tonight being the only one of the three that sports a cowboy hat, but somehow it fits his style and his sound (not really picturing the other two in cowboy hats).  Brody, another Canadian boy like the first two acts was born in British Columbia and grew up in the true country blue collar style of working in places like a sawmill before moving to Nashville in 2004.  Now calling Nova Scotia home after a bad accident and some extensive recovery time, he released his second album on his current label, Open Road Recordings, the album “Trail of Life”.  He went into a series of songs off that album to top out his set playing songs like “Little Yellow Blanket”, “Wildflowers”, and “People Know You By Your First Name”.

CMT Hitlist Tour - Casino NB - Dean Brody

Next up the three acts took the stage together once again, taking the opportunity to sit together on stools with acoustic guitars, tell some more stories and alternate back and forth singing their songs in turn for the crowd.  Playing songs like “What Was I Thinkin'” (Deric), “Haven’t Heard You Cry” (Aaron), and the first hit single by Brody, “Brothers”.  They each played two songs, alternating back and forth in this ‘intimate & interactive’ portion of the show before cranking it back up again for the final portion of the night, the ‘cover songs’.

CMT Hitlist Tour - Casino NB - Aaron Lines

As I referred too previously, prior to the shows the fans could vote on CMT.ca from a list of ‘cover’ songs they wanted to hear in their city, of which, the guys would take the top three vote getters and perform at the show. Of which they kicked it off with the Eagles classic “Take It Easy”, and then taking an opportunity to introduce the band which featured CCMA guitar player of the year Jason Barry from Derby Junction, New Brunswick.   They also played country favorite Keith Whitley’s, “I’m Over You, and classic crossover hit “Copperhead Road” by Steve Earle.

CMT Hitlist Tour - Casino NB - Deric Ruttan (thanks for the smile Deric!)

The finished the night being pulled back for a one song encore by the crowd to complete a great show, with a variety of different paced music, some hits, some new songs, some covers, and a whole lot of fun.  The CMT Hitlist Tour is an interesting concept, three acts, different styles, all playing to each others fans separately and together and potentially increasing their own fan base a bit.  It’s a tour style that I could very much see repeated and hope there is a “Hitlist part deux”!  I want to thank CMT, Casino NB, Strut Entertainment, Sonic Entertainment, Open Road Recordings, Aaron, Dean, and Deric for a great night of entertainment!  Until next time!

Now this was one that I’d been looking forward to for a while, Jeff Beck, arguably one of the greatest guitar players of all time, live in a fairly intimate setting at Casino NB.  To my surprise I found out that day that there would also be an opening act named Tyler Bryant who I was anxious to hear as well (not everyone gets asked to open for Jeff Beck), I ventured to the Casino in anticipation of being enveloped in some amazing musicianship.

Tyler Bryant hit the stage right on time, and it was visible that this lad was young, and he stated in the show that he was only 20 years old.  But his youth did not effect his skill, he was simply put an incredible guitar player, and at the tender age of twenty he’s already been playing guitar for fourteen years, having gotten his first guitar at the age of six!  Bryant made his acoustic guitar sing, saying he normally didn’t play acoustic that much, rarely live, but it surely didn’t show on this night.  He played some blues and slide guitar that would have made some players three times his age envious.  He rattled through some of his own tunes, stripped to their core on the acoustic, songs like “Kick The Habit” and “Good Life” off of his first full CD ‘From The Sand Castle’.   Bryant is from a little town called Honey Grove, Texas but now calls Nashville, TN home and you can see him featured in the film ‘Rock Prophecies’ that features guitarists like Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, and Slash.  He’s played at Eric Clapton’s ‘Crossroads’ guitar festival in Chicago by the time he was 15, and has opened up for many great acts like BB King, Aerosmith, Heart & Vince Gill.  On this night he was a treat to watch perform and listen too, in person he is a very nice young fellow (signing autographs in the merch area) and I highly recommend his music.

Opener Tyler Bryant - Jeff Beck Concert - Casino NB - 10/13/2011

Then it was time for the headliner, Mr. Jeff Beck to take the stage, and the crowd was buzzing in anticipation as for many, this would very likely be their only chance to ever see him live.  Beck is considered one of the best guitar players of all time, being one of three of the greatest to play in the band The Yardbirds (Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page being the other two).  With a career spanning almost five decades Beck has played with a plethora of artists, a list that reads like the who’s who of the music industry, and is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice both with the Yardbirds and as a solo artist.

The concert this evening also featured some fantastic musicians in his band, the drummer tonight (and vocals) was Narada Michael Walden, drummer, producer, singer/songwriter who has a yard long list of achievements, from gold, platinum, multi-platinum records, Grammy awards, and has worked with some of the biggest names in music like Whitney Houston, Maria Carey, and Aretha Franklin.  On Bass, was Halifax born (and Montreal raised) bass player Rhonda Smith, who is most notably know for her work with Prince and has worked with many others like Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Patti Labelle, T.I., and George Clinton to name a few.  On Keyboards and vocals was Jason Rebello, who has worked with Sting in both the studion and on live performances since 1998 and has toured with Jeff Beck since 2006.  This ensemble of fantastic musicians combined with Beck led to some of the tightest most complete sounds I’ve ever been privileged enough to hear, with amazing percussion, funky bass, smooth transitions and chaotic keys.

Beck went through a wide range of music from funky jazz, to smooth blues, and back to classic Rock & Roll, even playing his classic rendition of “Over the Rainbow” which is amazing to see how he plays this song.  Playing songs like “A Day In The Life” and “You Never Know”, he took the crowd on a roller coaster of melodic and sometimes almost symphonic sounds for almost and hour and a half, receiving a standing ovation at the end of almost every song from the crowd.  The crowd ‘head nodded’ and rocked, ranging in age from their twenties to their late sixties, and absorbed all the band had to offer.

Pulled out for for one encore at the end of the night by the crowd, Beck did an amazing tribute to some great artists starting off with one of his big influences in Les Paul (whom he had the chance to play with) playing a sleek black Les Paul custom, hitting us with Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” (sung by drummer Walden), and a tribute to Sly & The Family Stone (also sung by Walden, who looked like he was having a blast all night) and even played a beautiful Nessun Dorma.

Definitely earning a spot in my top twenty list of favorite concerts of all time this was one that lived up to the anticipation and left the crowd with huge smiles and great rock memories.  Thanks to the band, the casino, and Paul Mercs Concerts for bring this great concert to us.

Jeff Beck - Casino NB - 10/13/2011

Unable to obtain tickets to the Moncton show I took the option of travelling to Fredericton,NB to the UNB campus to the Aitken Center arena to see Travis Tritt’s Solo Acoustic tour, and I’m glad I did.  Stripped down to just a stool and a couple of acoustic guitars, this show was one that I’m glad I didn’t miss.

The night began by rolling into a very confusing parking lot at the Aitken Center and navigating our way to the front entrance of the building and just in time to catch opening act Ryan Cook.  I was actually surprised to find an opening act but was happy with the choice, Cook is a talented young musician from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia who’s newest album “Peaks & Valleys” was named the best Canadian Country album by Country Music News for 2010 (his previous album “Hot Times” being named the 8th best album in Canada for 2008).  He played a mix of fast and slow songs, like his very humorous songs “OCD Blues”, and a great one about social media and Facebook.  We very much enjoyed his music, his calm confident demeanour with the crowd, and hope to see him perform again soon.

Travis Tritt Solo Acoustic Tour - Aitken Center UNB - Opener Ryan Cook

Then a strange thing occurred, they turned all the overhead lights on, all of them and we waited for about half an hour before the main act took the stage.  The arena this evening was only using one ‘end’ to create an amphitheater style seating arrangement that’s more interactive with the performers.  It gave me the opportunity to notice several different age groups and walks of life were in attendance, even the Premiere of New Brunswick, David Alward, was in attendance about six rows ahead of me.  This signals to me something that I already knew, that Travis Tritt appeals to a variety of crowds and personality types with his blues filled rocking country.

Travis Tritt Solo Acoustic Tour - UNB Aitken Center - Fredericton, NB

Travis Tritt took the stage with a simple announcement over the PA, and the crowd welcomed him vigorously.  With a simple hello he launched right into playing, a novel concept just the musician and a guitar where most acts now tend to go bigger, louder and brighter, Tritt has stripped this down to where it started, where a lot of these songs were written, him and his guitar.  He even commented later in the show, how when discussing his idea for this tour with his people (you just know he has people) that someone commented “who would pay to see that?”, well with the number of ‘sold out’ shows on this tour…a lot of people.

Travis Tritt Solo Acoustic Tour - UNB Aitken Center - Fredericton, NB

Tritt played some great classic tunes to start off the show, like a personal favorite, “I’m Gonna Be Somebody” and mixing it up with stories of writing and hanging out with good friends like country legend Marty Stuart.   Rolling through great hits that have spanned the last two plus decades he hit us with songs like “Here’s a Quarter”, “Tell Me I Was Dreaming”, and “Where Corn Don’t Grow”.

Travis Tritt Solo Acoustic Tour - UNB Aitken Center - Fredericton, NB

He told some fantastic stories that led into great songs, about the awe he felt when he met Johnny Cash for the first time, and how one of his personal treasures still at home were a stack of hand written letters from Cash himself.  He then asked if the crowd would mind him playing a few Johnny Cash songs like “I Walk The Line”.   He talked about his great friendship with Waylon Jennings and also played a few Jenning’s tunes as well, much to the joy of the crowd.  Tritt told a wonderful and emotional story about his father and his ‘farm’, his childhood weeding in his father’s garden, before launching into “Fields of Home”.

Travis Tritt Solo Acoustic Tour - UNB Aitken Center - Fredericton, NB

Travis also treat us to an incredible finger-picking instrumental that really showed off his accomplished guitar playing and got the crowd energized once again, and played songs like “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” to end off the night.  Brought back for an encore by the crowd he treated us to three more songs, including an Eagles classic, before ending the night.

If you have the opportunity to see this tour, I highly recommend it, or any Travis Tritt show for that matter, it’s well worth it.  I want to thank Travis Tritt, the Aitken Center, and PMD Concerts for a great evening of great entertainment…until next time!

Terri Clark - Roots & Wings

   She’s a proud Canadian, a success in country music on both sides of the border, and a quality entertainer…Terri Clark rolls in to the Casino to spend an evening with us and her music.   After a minor mix-up with my credentials at the gate I was looking forward to this ‘sold-out’ show at the Casino, and could tell by the buzz in the room, that the crowd was as well.

Terri Clark – Casino NB – 10/01/11

The shows tend to begin promptly at the allotted time at the Casino, which is kind of refreshing as a lot of venues things tend to start late, and this rainy windy night was no exception.  Terri Clark was born in Montreal, Quebec, but her family later moved to Medicine Hat, Alberta where she was raised and has taken her music all over North America for the last sixteen years.  Signed to Mercury Records in 1995 at the age of twenty-five her first three albums were certified platinum in both the US and Canada, she’s released over twenty singles, had six go to number one, and her very first single was in the top five in both the US and Canada. Tonight she took the stage without a great deal of fan fare, no long intro’s, just the lights dimming and the band taking the stage.

Terri Clark - Casino NB - 10/01/11

Clark on this night appeared as though she was ready to have some fun, she was all smiles, dancing around the stage and after the first couple of songs addressing the crowd for the first time and thanking them for coming to her show.  She also took the time to point out the large ‘bar service’ signs that are projected on the wall on either end of the Center, one of several times she did this throughout the night, injecting some humor into her show.

Clark rolled through hits, and some not so well known songs this night and even did about a 5 song medley of some of her heavier radio play songs that didn’t necessarily make it all the way to the top of the charts.  She played her first single, the one that started it all “Better Things To Do”, “Emotional Girl”, “No Fear”, and many more.  She then switched it up by talking about her new CD, “Roots & Wings”, and playing songs like “Northern Girl” and “Breakin’ Up Thing”.  Clark also gave the band a break at one point, and sitting alone on the stage on a solitary chair, told the crowd the emotional story of her mother’s battle with cancer and her unfortunate passing in April of 2010, which led into her singing “Smile” off her new album, to which the crowd responded with a standing ovation.

Clark then rolled through several more of her hit songs like “Poor, Poor Pitiful Me”, “When Boy Meets Girl”, and “Dirty Girl” before talking a chance to introduce the band which contained a surprise guitar player in one ‘Anita Cochran’.  Cochran an artist in her own right had a number one single in 1998 with the song “What If I Said” a fabulous duet with country music artist Steve Wariner.  Clark also took a break from the stage and Cochran with the rest of the band performed a slow powerful ballad for the crowd, mixed with her confident guitar playing, that was well received.

Terri Clark Concert - 'Anita Cochran' - Casino NB - 10/01/11

Clark returned to the stage to end the night on a high note bringing with her that amazing white ‘canadian flag’ guitar that this reviewer loves so much, and calling the crowd out of their seats to the front of the stage (why some venues are so against people in front of the stage is beyond me).  The crowd dove to the front of the stage at Clark’s request and spent the remainder of the evening, along with your’s truly, cheering and singing along.

Clark, ended the night but was brought out by the crowd almost immediately for an encore and she played Canadian band Trooper’s classic rock song “Here For A Good Time” which she covers on her latest album “Roots & Wings”.

Terri Clark - Casino NB - 10/01/11

Musical, entertaining, fun, and an all around enjoyable show I recommend country fans that haven’t had the opportunity to take in a Terri Clark show, she interacts with her crowd, tells stories, has quite the sense of humor and is an all around good entertainer.

We had a blast on this evening and thank Terri Clark for a great show and Casino NB and PPRL for making it happen…until next time!