Holder of the keys

Both were considered to be intellectual, progressive rock ensembles.  One from Middle America, and one from the distant shores of England.  The English group “City Boy” were making the scene much earlier than the American powerhouse “Kansas”.  Yet both groups had a common future.  When “City Boy” split, Mike Slammer, the group’s guitarist extraordinaire, teamed up with one Steve Walsh-from “Kansas” and  Bassist: Billy Greer.

This team formed the critically acclaimed Anglo-American group “Streets”.  Although the group released only two full-fledged albums, they did turn heads.  In 1985 the group dissolved and  “Kansas” reformed with Steve Walsh bringing Billy Greer in to the fold.  This re-vitalised version of “Kansas” also sported Steve Morse on guitar—and later of “Deep Purple”.  Meantime, Mike Slamer  took up session work, and continued to polish his production skills, and writing.  He did several movie and television projects and went back to his first love of writing songs and producing  with the band “Steelhouse Lane”, which he actually formed but did not play live with.  Mike was the group’s main songwriter and on their first record-played all the guitars, even though the group’s listed guitarist was Chris Lane.  “Steelhouse Lane” were a hard hitting melodic rock outfit that acted as a showcase for the type of music that Mike had been writing for the better part of the 1980’s and 1990’s.  The group released two albums: 1998’s “Metallic Blue” and 1999’s “Slaves Of The New World”. On the group’s second album, Mike continued to play a dominant role as the key writer of both lyrics and music, but sharing guitars with Chris Lane.  This album was harder and more melodic .  Such tracks as “Son Of A Loaded Gun”, “Slaves Of The New World” and “Seven Seas” solidified the group’s sound. 

In 2000, Mike re-united with Billy Greer, and long time musical friend, Terry Brock.  This time around, Mike was not a ghost member; he was prominent in the line-up playing both guitar and keyboards.  The group was named “Seventh Key”, bringing together the elements of “Kansas”, “Streets”, and “Steelhouse Lane” and polishing them to a fine degree.  Two albums were released, the self-titled debut in ’01, and the second, “Raging Fire” in 2004.  Finally, not content to be in the shadows, and only in the recording studio—“Seventh Key” actually performed live at select dates, resulting in the  “Live In Atlanta” DVD of 2005.  This would be the first video document of this line-up, and the first ever video of Mike Slamer playing live!

It has taken another eight years for the group to surface with a whole new set of songs!  “I Will Survive” is living testament of this ensembles extraordinary talent.  Although Billy is still a very potent member of “Kansas”, he and Mike have re-committed to the “Seventh Key” mission.  The duo have primarily written this new album, and have enlisted some very special musical guests…such as David Ragsdale, (Kansas) on violin, the return of Terry Brock, and Chet Wynd on drums.  As 2004’s “Raging Fire” was met with excitement, so will this effort.  A little harder-edged than previous work, “I Will Survive” will compel, and show the more progressive rock styling’s of Mike and Billy!   

Bruce E.J. Atkinson    

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Upcoming Club/Concert Highlights:

The Blue Gator:    Young ‘Uns:   May 29^th & 30^th  Zamboni  Brothers:  June 4^th   Rann Barry & The Random Act:  June 5^th  & June 6^th   Linus:  June 11^th  Jimmy LeGuilloux Band:  June 12^th & 13^th

Doc Willoughby’s Downtown Pub:   Cow Puncher:  May 30^th  The Classy Chassys:  June 6^th

Fernando’s Pub:   Deluge:  May 30^th  Edge Of Attack:  June 2^nd    Greg Macpherson:  June 3^rd  Blackberry Wood:  June 5^th

Minstrel Café & Bar:  Kenny Wayne:  May 30^th

Turtle Bay Pub:  Poppa Dawg:  May 30^th

Whiski-jack’s Pub:  Jimmy LeGuilloux Band:  June 5^th  & June 6^th

Notable Concerts:   

Prospera  Place:  Aerosmith:   July 13^th  Dean Brody/Paul Brandt:  September 26^th

South Okanagan Events Centre:   Journey:   July 10^th   Brit Floyd:  (it is the closet to the real thing)   August 12^th    “Weird Al” Yankovic:  September 9^th    Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band-(featuring Todd Rundgren, Steve Lukather, Gregg Rolie plus others!!)   October 10^th

Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre:    The Oak Ridge Boys:   June 7^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.