| eye review of a live performance in Calgary, Alberta, | | | | weren't much to look at, not having a drummer on |
| from a local 60's, 70's and 80's rock band. This three | | | | stage with them or the heavy-metal concert |
| person group is called ShadowBeat. If going to | | | | trappings seen in bar bands of years gone by. It was |
| Calgary and you appreciate older music, you might | | | | just the three of them. Dying to have a voice. They |
| just enjoy this combo. Do so if you get a chance. | | | | were just there. Authentic. In your face. They were |
| "Get your motor running" That's what this band will | | | | good. |
| do to you. I managed to catch this three person | | | | I like it when a cover band tries to make the |
| combo by accident Friday night in Calgary. They were | | | | well-known piece their own and have fun with it. |
| shaking the walls in some lost eastside pub called | | | | Granted, ShadowBeat did not do this with every |
| Chelsea's, and though the crowd was not huge, we | | | | composition on the setlist but when they did, it shone |
| were on fire with this performance. And so was | | | | through, and the effort became worthwhile. You |
| ShadowBeat. | | | | might want to check out the original versions of |
| As the night went on I found myself losing time but | | | | these songs. I did some Googling and found out that |
| not wasting it. It was an experience worth living. The | | | | they have their own mini internet broadcast station |
| little place was a-happenin', as they might say and we | | | | easily found by entering "Shadowbeat radio". That's |
| all enjoyed many familiar oldies (think John Paul | | | | where you can hear those originals. Handy. It's at |
| George and Mick) and a few NotHeardThatinAge's. | | | | Who would have thought a stage keyboard could be |
| And then they hit us with a sharp left hook. A few | | | | played like that? Not me, that's for sure. Somebody |
| great wing-ding's from the 1990's country line dancing | | | | sprinkled this guy with magic dust, or maybe a few |
| and hat head era. Personally, I don't two-step, but | | | | extra recorded tracks. It's hard to tell. Wait for "Time |
| plenty were stompin' their runners to this classic | | | | of the Season" by the Zombies. It's worth it. |
| string of hits that included an Alan Jackson favorite | | | | In general, the band takes full advantage of the highs |
| of mine and that old Grundy County Auction song. I | | | | and lows (tempo, dynamics etc.) in the material. |
| could tell by the wall posters that country bands | | | | When they were tight, it was as good as it gets and |
| frequented this establishment. But this was a rock | | | | the loose rambling between songs kept the feeling |
| outfit with a bit of creative dabble. | | | | quite casual. Nobody was intimidated. With the old |
| The first set I saw opened with Born to be Wild by | | | | stuff I heard that night, you'll go back to your |
| Steppenwolf and by the third or fourth selection we | | | | younger days in an instant. |
| were convinced this group knew their stuff. They | | | | |