Newt's rock 'n' roll weekend planner, Vancouver edition, March 6 to 8

by Steve Newton on March 5th, 2015 at 3:06 PM

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The big news this weekend for fans of old time rock 'n' roll--the genre and the song both--is the Bob Seger show on Saturday at Rogers Arena. He was pretty amazing the last time he was there a couple years back; definitely still got the pipes even though he'll hit 70 this May.

I got a look at one of his recent set lists, and longtime fans won't be disappointed by the inclusion of classics like his first hit, 1969's "Ramblin' Gamblin Man", "Night Moves", and the tune so fine Metallica had to cover it, "Turn the Page".

Seger's also been doing a few covers, like Steve Earle's "The Devil's Right Hand" and John Hiatt's "Detroit Made", both of which were included on his latest album, last year's Ride Out.

The bonus for fans of homegrown Vancouver music this time around is the scoring of the opening slot by local blues-rock phenoms Rich Hope & His Evil Doers. I'm not saying they'll blow Bob off the stage--although I did see them pluck Chickenfoot at the Commodore back in 2009--but they will surely get folks primed up for some no-bull, straight-up, Detroit-made rock 'n' roll.

If you already saw Seger in 2013 and aren't quite wealthy enough to afford going again, then here's some more BS for you to consider on Saturday night: Big Sugar. Canadian blues-rock great Gordie Johnson brings an acoustic version of his band to the Vogue Theatre, performing material from the new stripped-down album Yardstyle.

So take your pick: Bob Seger or Big Sugar. Then try saying it five times fast: Bob Seger Big Sugar. Bob Seger Big Sugar. Bob Seger Big Seger...aw crap!

And if you're not interested in any BS that night, then how about a tribute to the Pogues? An impressive array of local talent--including C.R. Avery, Dustin Bentall, Rockland Moran, Natalye Vivian, Shane’s Teeth, Vagabonds, Babe Gurr, the Whiskeydicks, and MC Aaron Chapman (the Commodore book guy)--are taking part in the CelticFest Vancouver event at the Imperial. If none among them sees fit to perform this tune, I'd definitely complain:

And the last call for Saturday night goes out to the Music Heals Benefit at the Rickshaw. That's when local bands Spoon River, the Sh-Shakes, the Wandering Halls, Eric Campbell and the Dirt, and Random Dander perform in support of the Music Heals Charitable Foundation, which helps raise awareness of the healing powers of music and fundraises to increase access to music therapy for patients in children’s hospitals, senior’s homes, palliative care, and AIDS & HIV programs.

That's a great cause, obviously. Now let's take a look and see what the headliner is all about: