An interesting night indeed, was ahead for us as we completed our eight hour journey to a small bar called the Ballard Fire House. Much smaller then we could have imagined but loaded with character. Many a building burned as fire crews wrestled to swing open the huge, wooden double doors. One could only wonder how a local elderly couple might react, out for a nightly stroll, passing the old firehouse as April Wine took the stage amidst a flurry of firebells and rotating lights.
Well, it paints a great scene but only the bravest would be out that late in that neighborhood.
We arrived early in the afternoon hoping to catch the guys during the sound check but as we slipped through the front door while a guy was working, we only found an impatient group waiting for an overdue bus. We were allowed to stick around and finally an hour or so later, the bus finally pulled in. No band though, as an earlier stop had left them at the hotel. A worried road manager looked over the situation as we chatted with the bus driver. He told us an interesting story about the bus being involved with the plane crash that killed guitarist Randy Rhodes. The passenger section had been completely rebuilt and now it carried AW across Canada. The destination on the front of it said "FEMALES WANTED".
It was a small bar, with a small stage in one corner and a capacity of perhaps 300. I asked one of the local setup guys if the show was sold out and he said they really don't keep track. They just sell the tickets and every one crams their way in. He said they were expecting a big crowd and they were removing all the tables and chairs in order to get as many in as possible.
Ken, the road manager, had his hands full. It was getting late and the facilities definitely left much to be desired. We introduced ourselves, and while he would liked to have helped us, he didn't know when he'd next talk to any of the guys. He said he really wasn't in any hurry to tell them about this place. He took our niece's phone number whom we were visiting just a few blocks from the bar, and said if he talked to them, he'd relay the message.
Well, it was time to head down to the show and no call, so we headed down to get in line. We were about 10 back in line when I spotted Bob, the guy that told us they were expecting a big crowd. He remembered us and got us through the front door. Once inside we tracked down Ken, who allowed us to stay. They had left a few high tables and bar stools along a side wall so we grabbed a couple directly across from the stage about 30 feet back. We ordered dinner and watched Jerry warmup a bit before the doors opened. He slipped off when we weren't looking and we never saw anybody again until they came on stage.
The next four hours was spent listening to three, that's right, three opening bands. Third Stone was pretty good, "something" Strange was tolerable but the third band, which I think was called Sierra, wore down my patience. They definitely thought they were something. A gal outside the restrooms commented that they seemed to be more interested in their hair than their music. Each would swing it around and around, and you had to give them credit, because they never seemed to hit each other with it. When they finished their first song, the lead singer said "Wow, there's April Wine's equipment. Lets grab it and play I Like To Rock"
Yeah, right.
Finally at midnite, the stage was cleared for the arrival of April Wine. It was getting ugly down in the trenches. From our vantage point on the bar stools, we had already witnessed a guy put a forearm into a someone's nose. Blood splattered all over the adjacent crowd, now packed like sardines all the way up to the stage. A mic stand was pulled down into the crowd and emptied of its guitar picks before a stagehand managed to drag it back on stage. That escalated into a shouting match and very nearly into a stageside brawl before the stage hand backed off.
The April Wine chants grew in intensity as one by one the guys made their way on stage followed by that same stagehand who made the introduction. After a sharp drumshot, the fire bell and the lights set off the opening song, Oowatanite. Unfortunately because of the small size of the room and the lack of total darkness the usual effect was somewhat lessened. Jim was in good form, handling the vocals with his usual enthusiasum. It was a perfect start to a nostalgic evening of great April Wine classics.
Next was Enough is Enough. You could tell Myles was also in good form. Missing was his usual "Welcome to the concert" between the first two songs but he pretty much did have something to say in between each song that night. This was definitely the most I've ever heard him comment throughout the course of a show.
The usual combo of Sign of the Gypsy Queen/Just Between You and Me followed with Brian delivering a great guitar solo on ...Queen. Myles set up Just Between... saying "I wrote this song for my first wife and I dedicate it to my second."
I might add at this time my ears had grown somewhat accustom to the high volume level. While it wasn't as loud as say, the last Boise show, I'm sure it was keeping at least a few of the locals awake that night.
A quick switch of guitars for Myles preceded Say Hello which sounded much fuller than I previously remembered during past shows. The "high" in the "Take me high, Say hello" line was much more pronounced, with an extra emphasis on the "eee" or "higheee..." It made me wonder if the song in it's early development, ever went "Take me high, take me low."
One of my all time favorites came up next, Future Tense. It was the first song that could clearly demonstrate how the loss of the third guitar might effect the music. In the past this song had been highlighted by an incredibly precise guitar solo tradeoff sequence, difficult both for the musicians and the lighting crew. This night appeared to belong to Brian as he seemed to played that sequence as a continuous solo himself without any tradeoffs. The "shhhhh..." sound near the beginning, which at previous shows had been a vocal by the band was absent. My wife thought she heard it but it must have been synthesized and perhaps not at a high enough volume for my already worn down ears.
Brian got his chance to take point next with his classic, Before the Dawn. I'm glad that song still makes the cut. It's a great song. Interestingly, Myles played the intro portion.
Crash and Burn, with it's bristling guitars rounded out this mini hard rock set. While I really don't consider this song a classic, the guys sure have fun playing it. It can be challenging trying to keep up with the guitars and who's playing what.
Smoke break time as Myles starts a solo that almost sounds oriental but soon turns into an intro to Weeping Widow. Again, Jim nails this one dead on. His voice still sounds just like it did when he sang the song on Electric Jewels.
Well, maybe not exactly but he came still hit those high pitched notes dead center.
Time for the keyboard interlude. It was a nice break from the hard driving stuff. Once again I missed out on Like a Lover... They only did Comin' Right Down On Top Of Me and Rock n' Roll is a Vicious Game. Myles comment before the later was "Believe me, it really is that way." One of the stagehands played a guitar behind the stacks as Brian worked a harmonica to perfection.
Away with the keyboards and out with I Like to Rock. It received the biggest audience response of the night. True to form, Jerry's solo popped up in the middle and it was the finest one I've yet to experience. He's back there banging away, blowing on a whistle and throwing in an occasional chant. He asked the audience to "help me out" trading "ahhhhhh...ahhhhh"'s back and forth. The frenzy built quickly as pulsating yelow and blue lights alternated back and forth overhead. He let out a mammoth scream as he began the slow motion, one hand drum roll. Increasing in intensity, the strobe created an eerie, almost ghost-like scene. The rapid-fire exchange finally culminated with Jerry on his feet, drumsticks high over his head, letting out a tremendous roar as the crowd went nuts.
The rest of the band rejoined Jerry as they coasted toward the finish. As the crowd began to subside a bit, Myles tried to calm everyone saying "Alright, now quiet down, Jerry has to nap."
The crowd had quieted down when he then said "OK, here's his wake up call."
followed by the opening of Roller. The guitar guys really put on a show as the main portion of the show came to a close. Bye, Bye, Bye, Bye.
I was really looking forward to the encore as it has proved in the past to contain some of the best surprises. While it only contained two songs and no Fast Train, I was caught off guard as they began to play Rock Myself To Sleep. It was a song that in the past had garnered little attention on my part, but in concert it took on a much different sound. I must say it became a very pleasant addition to an outstanding show.
We were now just alittle over ninety minutes into the show as Could Have Been a Lady wrapped it up and while I do enjoy this song I would have rather heard Fast Train. This song does have a great ending in concert and with that I have come to the end of my report. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.