If this morning’s swirling snow has you a little down, remember that there are plenty of local events especially crafted to lift those late winter spirits. Take for example last Friday’s sophomore concert with Brian Grest and a host of his friends at the Humboldt Community Gathering Centre. That hall was packed once again full of people enjoying those sweet 60s through 90s sounds and all the good-natured joking and insightful stories that came with them.
Brian Grest is a bit of a musical chameleon. Not only does he perform in various duos, and with summertime power trio BBC (alongside Cory Barnes and Brett Hrynewich), and of course cabaret favourites 40 Oz Philosophy. With Friday night's configuration, the assembled musicians settled into a comfortable zone of middle of the road pop and rock, with some country dalliances.
The evening started with distinct Canadian overtones. The group performed the Hip’s “Ahead by a Century” followed up by Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold,” and a timeless gem from the vault of Frank Mills and the Bells, “Love Me Love Me Love.”
Walter Bushman, a veteran of the Plunkett Rock Fest as the band noted, performed one his favourites, “Old Hippy” by the Bellamy Brothers, which he mused is becoming somewhat autobiographical.
Lady Friday, the duo of Katie Nichol and Jodie Hergott have been performing together for five or six years. The pair became acquainted during their time with “Voices in Tyme,” the locally based vocal ensemble. Now, they’ve steered into pop and rock, often taking unusual approaches to modern classics, like an ethereal and beautifully harmonized turn at Radiohead’s “Creep.”
With the support of the full band, which included Brett Hrynewich’s guitar work and Nathan Gregg on drums, Lady Friday also covered soft rock greats Little River Band with “Cool Change.”
Grest dipped into some of his favourite with timeless radio hits like “Runaway Train,” a stripped down “Everlong” by Foo Fighters, and deep cuts like “Swinging Party” by the Replacements and “Walls” by Tom Petty.
Walter Bushman pulled things back into the folk stream with Valdy’s cherished “Rock and Roll Song,” complete with reminiscences of the Canadian folksinger’s visit to Humboldt at Walter’s invitation.
Grest’s chameleon nature goes to his vocal range that emulates singers from Neil Young to Paul Westerberg to Burton Cummings as the band kicked into a rousing version of “Running Back to Saskatoon.”
Late stayers partook in another rocking set to wrap up the night. Proceeds from the event went to the Humboldt Community Gathering Place, home to the Humboldt Lions Club who pitched into the evening with beverage and ticket sales.