I only caught the second set of Shaela Miller and her band’s set for their “Big Hair Small City” Cd release party at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Saturday, Oct. 2.
I caught a quick Brandy Cox drag set before Shaela Miller began her second set.
Shaela and drag performers Chrissy Cox and Brandi Jayne danced together as a recording of one of her songs played.
The band began their second set by going old school with crowd favourite “Station.”
As usual, the band, drummer / singer Tyler Bird, lead guitarist Taylor Ackerman, Skinny Dyck on steel guitar and Paul Holden holding down the bottom end on bass played a solid set of vintage Miller. They've been playing together for a long time , so they were a s tight as usual, providing plenty of twang and sighing steel guitar.
Edmonton musician Alex Vissia joined the band to add extra background vocals, tambourine and some sweet dance moves which fit right in.
Most of the audience joined them in front of the stage, showing a few moves of their own.
I must have missed most of the new material.
But the classic Shaela Miller stood out. They played all the favourites including “Half Way in Love” as well as a couple classic country covers. Most of the set was pretty mellow, which made it perfect for slow dancing, which the audience gladly did.
She picked up the tempo to wind up her set with another Shaela Miller classic “ Vicious Bitches,” picked things up a bit more with “Cheating and Lying” and ended her show with an apt cover of “Thanks A Lot.”
The audience called the band back for one last encore before calling it a night.
The sold out show raised $2,500 for local organization Aakah'kohsiiksi (Those Who have Many Children, a local organization which helps indigenous women, families and marginalized people such as sex workers.
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor