Brand new year, brand new bands. I caught a couple of them at the Slice, Jan 4.
 Up first was a hot new country trio called Blacksmith featuring Keenan and Shael Pezderic’s dad on bass and vocals. They played a tight, up beat set of country covers and a lot of originals. They reminded me a lot of a trimmed down Prairie Oyster, with their retro Texas honky tonk sound that had much of the room clapping along.

They played several mid-tempo country style originals and added a few choice covers like Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl.” Their vocal harmonies shone on a pretty version of Trooper’s “Janine.”

 John Greenshields also introduced his new band, Johnny G and the Spots including drummer Keenan Pezderic, Nicholas Donald Hay on guitar and Steve Harris on bass. They played ’70s style southern rock similar to the Sheepdogs.

Their music is very much country influenced psychedelic blues rock similar to his other band Big Jim and the Twins, but more focused on the songs than psychedelic jams. They sounded like a blend of Chris Colepaugh mixed with the Band.