Local country band Shaela Miller and Treeline brought down two full houses at the Slice, for two sold out CD release parties for their new CD “Curtains,” Oct. 11 and Oct. 12.
I only caught the Oct. 11 release, but it was excellent.
Carolyn Mark began the show with a shot of country and the music of stand up bassist Terri Upton who used to play with Vancouver bluegrass/ folk trio The Gruff and Beekeeper.
She also had New York City based guitarist/ singer Jack Grace who sang about half the songs while adding some twang to Mark’s old school country songs.
She sang one of my cheery favourites about the petting zoo ‘Save the Goats.’ I wanted to hear a little more of her alt country stylings. She dedicated crowd crowd favourite “You’re Not a Whore if Nobody’s Paying’ to Shalea Miller after which Miller joined her on stage to sing a couple of old country duets.
Uncle Thirsty and Aunty Gravity aka Nanton guitarist and funnyman Lance Loree and his wife Toby played a solid set of country music which let Lance show off his prodigious guitar chops. Toby strummed her mandolin for most of the set and sang lead on most songs, while Lance sang excellent harmonies.
Shaela Miler and Treeline finished off the night with two solid sets including new songs off the CD like “Sentimental Cowboy, as well as old crowd favourites like “Half Way in Love” and “Loving Me”
She and Ryan Dyck took turns singing leads on song and sang a couple of lovely duets together.
Dyck sang older Treeline songs like “Tombstone Grey” and “Tennessee Sweater.”
They also added some classic country including Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline and Bob Wills.
Their version of “Dance a Little Longer,” got a couple couples two-stepping,” and the rest of the crowd joined them on the dance floor for most of their show.
Everybody got to sing though. Tyler Bird sang an excellent version of blues standard “Mind Your Own Business” while thumping on his stand up bass.