The Prairie Folk Tournament brought back some of western Canada’s best bands roots to the Slice, March 15 and 16.
While I missed the Grain Report and Kory Istace vs. the Time Pirates at the Slice, March 15, I was glad I caught the return of the Ball Gag N’ Chain Gang.
Their set wasn’t as theatrical as usual, though they brought out a didgeridoo made out of a plastic pipe for Didgeritonk. But this time, it was their outstanding musicianship on display. So instead of going for the theatrical effect, they played a more straight ahead set of country -rock roots music.
They added trumpet as well as lots of banjo and even some violin on an array of originals and some very well done covers, which touched on their wicked sense of humour. A highlight was their countrified punk tinged version of Queen’s “Fat Bottom Girls,” and almost more impressively a fiddle and mandolin powered version of AC DC’s “Big Balls.” While crowd favourites like White Guy Dance Party were conspicuously absent, they couldn’t resist playing their ode to bacon and all of the ways you can enjoy it.
There were a lot of new songs as well including one that sounded like the Ozark Mountain Daredevils’ “Homemade Wine,” which seemed to be called “ I Can’t Wait.”
They also played a catchy gospel influenced number called “Open Your Heart.”
The second day of the Prairie Folk Tournament featured a mostly local lineup including country trio Hurtin’ featuring most of the Pezderic family plus Ryan Dyck adding extra steel guitar and Taylor Ackerman playing keyboards.
Ackerman was also the star of Rancho Deluxe’s set or original music and choice country covers as, in addition to playing guitar, dusted off his tap shoes and tapped up a storm on stage grinning all the while as the band, stand up bassist Tyler Bird, Ryan Dyck on steel guitar,drummer Brad Brouwer and frontman George Arsene, took a breath and watched.
Nobody could accuse Calgary musician Rob Ursel of being ordinary. He ended the night with an energetic, enjoyable and upbeat set of quirky lyrics and even a cigar box guitar. Ackerman returned to tap dance some more and Ursel wound thing down with All of God Creatures are Going to Die.”
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
