The moon set on the Slice, Aug. 22 as they officially (Though there was one last final local concert scheduled for Aug. 27) closed their doors with with a big, loud show of prairie progressive rock featuring Swift Current band The Moon Runners and Winnipeg progressive rock trio Moon Tan.
Local rock/ desert rock band the Rainbow Patrol opened the late starting show just after 10:30 p.m. with a solid set of Queens of the Stone Age inspired desert rock. They even covered an old Queens of the Stone Age song.
They had a big groove courtesy of drummer Travis Arnodussen, who snarled out the vocals on some of the band’s heavier songs while hammering away at his kit.
Bandmates, bassist/ keyboardist Richard Charlton and guitarists Chris Arnoldussen and Joel Sincennes set down a big, ’70s inspired groove. Sincennes remembered getting punched in the face during his first visit to the Slice while local band Advertisement was playing a show. They played tasteful guitar solos as well.
Swift Current band the Moon Runners added a more emo feel to their eclectic progressive rock sound.
Frontman Stacy Tinant sang with heartbreaking urgency while bringing back a taste of ’80s style two handed fretboard tapping, which playing the occasional harmonized guitar solo with Logan Amon, who also showed some tapping skills.
Bassist Brady Frank was locked in with drummer Brett Tinant to hold down a complex groove that had quite few feet in the full house moving to the band’s groove which ranged from intricate progressive rock to ’80s style new wave and funk tinged pop and more exotic melodies.
headliners Moon Runner didn’t start until well after midnight, but the wait was well worth it.
The amazingly tight Winnipeg based trio, Brady Mitchell, Adrian Dyer, Nick Kula, wearing make-up designed like the phases of the moon, put on a wicked show with a heavy groove and wailing vocals which sounded like a mix of Rush and Budgie.
There was plenty of big, heavy, fast paced guitar riffs and a flurry of fretboard tapping. They embarked on a massive jam featuring funky bass, massive drums and plenty of guitar.
After that was done, they crashed into a pretty much note perfect version of Rush’s “ Spirit of Radio.” before sending the smiling, though bittersweet feeling audience into the night with a quick cover of the Killers “I Believe In A Thing Called Love.”
