{ WESTFEST } ~ 03.06.2017

Lyle Odjick and Northern Steam were honored to be among the musical acts invited to Westfest 2017.

This was our second Festival gig and our first gig with our new bassist, Chris Breitner.
As musicians, we love these as much as the audience: we all get together in one gigantic event and catch up with each other's lives as well as hear each other play.
We were scheduled on the Saturday and included among a stellar list of bands and musicians: Lucas Haneman, Jesse Greene Band, Clint Everson Band, River City Junction, and closing the night, Juno award winners Monkey Junk.

This was our first Westfest gig and it was something special.  The Organizer, Creative Force, and Inspiration for Westfest, Elaina Martin, deserves all the credit for how greatly loved this festival has become for musicians and the Ottawa community as a whole: her attention to detail, her determination to meet all the acts and extend a gracious and warm connection was inspiring.  The sound crew and volunteers were friendly and professional.
Some shots setting up before our set and then launching into it.
I was playing the kit provided by the Festival - a Mapex drum set.  Cymbals were my K Zildjians.

The weather held up and hopefully we did our part too!

{ CTV MORNING LIVE } ~ promoting our Westfest gig

Lyle Odjick, Ben Griggs and myself were invited to play on CTV Morning Live June 2nd  in promotion for our Westfest gig.


I was asked to bring a stripped-down kit {Sonor Vintages  14 x 5.75" snare, 18" Sonor S-Classix kick drum , 20" K Custom Ride Zildjian, and 16" K Zildjian Light Hi-Hats.  I played with some Steve Smith Tala Wands for less attack than sticks but a bit more projection than Hot Rods.

We played an original called "Cut Me Loose"

was fun!

{ JUNOFEST } ~ at the end of the Rainbow

Okay, so here's the deal
The band has only been together little over a year
and we get the call to be the second act opening for not one but TWO Juno award winners
scary? intimidating? amazing?
all of the above.

A whirlwind of impressions: the Rainbow was packed to the rafters; sitting from the drum set it felt like they were right on top of us; I remember the heat from all those people causing so much sweat that I was worried I wouldn't be able to hold on to my sticks; the incredible feeling of satisfaction when we finished and the crowd's awesome response; sitting in the audience and soaking in the amazing performances of not one but TWO Juno-award winning bands; seeing the ultimate set when members of Paul Reddick's band joined Monkey Junk in  a 'jam' with star turns by the guitarist from Blue Rodeo and the drummer from Bryan Adams who were both in town playing at the big Juno Show the following evening.

After our set I was passed a note written on the back of one of the tickets from someone in the audience:
"Some say he cuts his drums out of oil barrels with his fingernails;
Some say he skins them with the hides of a hundred virgin gerbils (????!!@*eh)
All we know is he is the Sticks,
& he is our fabulous drummer
-Richard Jeremy Clarkson
U.K. Top gear"

the wonderful world of playing music live and the responses it can generate!