Long Time Coming

He Rocked America……and Canada throughout the late seventies and into the eighties.  He is a masterful songwriter, and singer—a musical craftsman of the highest degree!  Yet, his profile in this country was what can be termed as subdued.  He came up the hard way, and like most Canadian musicians of the time, (1970’s) never thought to give up.  He is Nick Gilder, and in the 21^st Century, he is forging forward with gathering momentum!

I have not talked with Nick since the mid-nineties, when he returned home to Vancouver.  We recently re-connected, and all the impressions and memories came flowing forward whilst we were in conversation.  Nick is a very thankful, humble person and one that really doesn’t realise his impact upon modern music culture!  That’s right; one can accurately describe him as a working man’s musician…an individual that just wants to share his passion with the masses.  As mentioned, his Talent as a songwriter is second to none; he possesses a knack for the ‘turn of a phrase’, and incorporates it in his shaping of the lyrical content of his music.  Nick swims in to a groove, and builds tasty, melodic, and memorable ditties that will bounce around our hearts for years to come.  We already know this with such songs as “Roxy Roller”, “Hot Child In The City”, “Rated X”, “Rock America”, and much much more!  Present day Nick Gilder is embarking upon the same musical plain…what with a fistful of new tunes ready and willing to be shared, his up-coming appearance in the Okanagan promises to unleash all those good memories, plus form some very special new ones!  To be assured, one special memory will be when he is joined onstage with long-time musical partner; James McCulloch for the first time in years!!  On July 20^th we can expect a rockin’ and heartfelt performance from Nick Gilder and his band of rock n’ roll rebels…and relive all of those tunes along with him and get a taste of his new and masterful material—played only like Nick gilder and Company know how to do—with the ultimate passion of true musical craftsmen!!

(Next Week’s column will feature Nick Gilder in his own words)

Now, please don’t forget that you have several chances to see the Flu, before they embark on dates outside of the Valley.  The group will be performing on July 19^th with Darby Mills and The Headpins in Peachland at the Edgewater.  July 26^th will see the group team up for a Concert In The Park, with none other than Fields Of Green…it should be one hot night in West Kelowna, with these two premier Okanagan Talents!!  August will see the Flu participate in the CFOX sponsored Vancouver Seeds performances…more on that a little later.

As mentioned in last week’s column, I have just come off a Talent Search trip in BC and Alberta.  One group that caught my eye and ears is ‘Jesus Krysler’, a power trio out of Vancouver…founded by ex lead vocalist of Hard Labour; Larry Jordan…this Power Trio have a unique way of playing Rock n’ roll.!  Currently celebrating the release of their second album, the group is readying for some key dates across Canada, and we’ll talk with them in the next few weeks—in the meantime, remember their name: “Jesus Krysler”!

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Upcoming Club/Concert Highlights:

Doc Willouby’s Downtown Pub:    Rude City Riot:   July 19^th    

Fernando’s:   Kieren Strange:  July 12^th    The Chantrelles  And Horse Girls:  July 13^th    

Kerry Park (101.5 EZ Rock Weekends):  July 12^th-6:30pm to 10:30pm: ‘Steppin’ Out’   ‘Floyd Vedan Band’  ‘Radio Lifeline’    ‘Forever Young’     July 13^th:  ‘To the Max’  ‘The Ozzy Ozmunds’  ‘Non-Prophet Society’  ‘The Deb Stone Band’ 

The Blue Gator:   Poppa  Dawg:  July 12^th & 13^th 

The Grateful Fed:    Paperboy  July 13^th     ‘Hippiecritz’  ‘Heroin Hayride’  ‘The Cleaners’:   July 19^th    

The Minstrel Café:   My Kind Of Karma:  July 12^th    Kenny Wayne & Sherman Doucette:  July 14^th   Melissa Endean:  July 15^th   

The Streaming Café:   Dogwood & Dahlia with Sykamore:  July 13^th  Harlan Pepper:  July 20^th 

  

Notable Concerts:    

Edgewater Inn (Peachland)  Headpins & the Flu:  July 19^th 

Summer Stomp ’13 (Sicamous)---Headpins  July 20^th 

Dancin’ Barefoot Music Festival- Peachland :   Nick Gilder & Sweeney Todd: July 20^th                 

South Okanagan Events Centre (Penticton):   Alan Jackson: August 3^rd   Bad Company:  September 14^th 

Peach Festival  Penticton:  Honeymoon Suite:   August 8^th                 

 …if you have a musical story or news and would like me to write something… drop me a line at:  [email protected]  and let’s celebrate Kelowna’s rich and varied music community together!!.....

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.