The Slice had a decent crowd for the New Weather Machine and a trimmed down Toques and Beards.
 While I just missed New Weather Machine, I was interested to hear a trimmed down Toques and Beards including Taylor Ackerman and Brett Skauge trading guitar and bass and Tyler Bird on drums with all three singing lead vocals.

 They began their set with a couple songs I hadn’t heard before, including the superb ‘Trash’ sung by Ackerman who was also on guitar for this one.

 They even threw in a Dr. Hook cover and then picked up the tempo with a couple upbeat numbers. They work well as a trio though I missed Jason Schultchen’s bass playing and vocals, which gave the band a little something extra.

 They tapped into their country side on a  great cover of David Allan Coe’s ‘Time Off for Bad Behaviour.’ Then they tapped into a set of more Sadies style psychedelic country rock featuring music from their CDs.

Erin Ross brought her sexy, sultry voice and guitar playing prowess to a full house at the Owl Acoustic, Lounge, March 10.

She also played the Mocha Cabana, March 9. She busted out her electric guitar for the Owl, but was still drowned out  by the chattering crowd.

But she was playing some really pretty, blues fingerpicked songs including blues classics like ‘Stack O Lee.’ She displayed a really lovely voice, carrying  pleasant melodies, but could do with some more power.

She was still going strong late into the night as the crowd thinned out.

Several big events this week include St. Patrick’s Day, of course, but keep an eye out for live music at the Enmax Centre for the 2012  Ford Women’s Curling Championship and some of Canada’s more unique roots and blues acts playing the Prairie Folk Tournament at the Slice and the Owl.
 

St. Patrick’s Day is the big day where everyone gets to be Irish.
 Vancouver Celtic punk rock band the Real McKenzies are happy to get you into the Celtic spirit, March 15 at Bo Diddly’s with the Scallywags.
 The Shamrocks and Shenanigans pre St. Patrick’s Day party with the Real McKenzies and the Scallywags begins at 9 p.m. at Bo Diddly’s.
Advance tickets cost $15. Bo Diddly’s also has a St Patrick’s Day show with Suite 33 and Deuce Coustics.

Most of the other big shows this week for St. Patrick’s Day are related to the second edition of the Prairie Folk Tournament — three days of alt country, roots and blues from all over Canada playing at two different venues — the Slice and the Owl Acoustic Lounge, March 15- 17.

 The Owl features the Redhead reunion tour with Southern Saskatchewan born songwriter Megan Nash and Nova Scotian born songwriter Jenny MacDonald on March 15,  the Alex Vissia Band,  March 16 and B. A. Johnson, March 17.
Over at the Slice,  Bryson Waind, Red Rum Triumph and Church play March 15. There is a seven dollar cover in advance, $10 at the door for that show.
 The next day Tin and Toad, Treeline and Shaela Miller play. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

It’s hard to believe Hamilton musician/ manic funny man B.A Johnston has been making a living playing music for eight years, but his quirky songs, and sense of humour resonate with a lot of people.
 He has recently released his eighth record to positive reviews.

“I like to say if you keep polishing the turd a little bit for 15 years, it keeps getting better,” said Johnston, from a tour stop in Regina. He is on his way to Lethbridge to wind down the Prairie Folk Tournament, March 17 at the Owl Acoustic Lounge.

“It’s St. Patricks Day, so I’m going to get really drunk on green beer at the Owl,” he laughed.
“I wasn’t sure I was part of it (the Prairie Folk Tournament). I don’t play a lot of folk festivals, but I’ve got an acoustic guitar, so I guess I’ll fit in,” he said.

He recorded his latest album ‘Hi Dudes!!’ in Toronto with producer Paul Linklater who has worked with the Rheostatics.
 He hasn’t changed his songwriting much.

“Most of them are about food and breaking up. I want to be like AC DC and write the same song like ‘Thunderstruck’  over and over again,” he laughed. There are also humourous songs about  video games, ’80s cartoons and television and the Goonies in ‘The Truffle Shuffle’ which features CBC personality Laura Barrett.

“She’s covered my songs though she hasn’t recorded them, she plays them in her live show. She’s done my song ‘Hamilton,’ a couple of times,” he continued.