Newt's rock 'n' roll weekend planner, Vancouver edition, May 29 to 31

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      Women rule on this weekend's rock 'n' roll planner—at least up until Whitesnake closes things off at Hard Rock Casino Van on Sunday. The fairer sex kicks it old-school with guitars a-crankin', I'm happy to report.

      First up is beloved activist-rocker Bif Naked, who's been raising hell in these parts ever since bands like Gorilla Gorilla and Chrome Dog were household names in the rockingest of Vancouver households. She brings her band to the Rickshaw Friday night, along with guests that include the Living, the Wett Stilettos, and Cobra Ramone.

      According to this article by my punk-lovin' pal Allan MacInnis, for her Rickshaw gig Naked will return to her harder, more raw-sounding roots, and you know that can't be bad.

      Rumour has it that the evening may include an appearance by local metal maniac Cam Pipes of 3 Inches of Blood.

      “Doing duets with Chi [Pig] and Joey Shithead were the highlights of my life," the Bifster told Big Al, "so if I can do this duet with Cam, I will die happy."

      At the same time that Bif Naked is tearing it up on East Hastings, four fab females from across the pond will be bringing the noise to the Granville Strip. Girlschool plays Venue—along with guests Crucified Barbara, Old James, and Velvet Black—and boy, do they bring back memories. I recall rocking out to their 1981 album Hit and Run, which boasted a cover of ZZ Top's "Tush", not to mention a pretty swell title track and the standout opener "C'mon Let's Go".

      I also remember seeing Girlschool open up for the reunited Deep Purple at the Pacific Coliseum, 30 years ago last month.

      Original members Kim McAuliffe (rhythm-guitar/vocals), Enid Williams (bass/vocals), and Denise Dufort (drums) are still in the lineup to this day. Sadly, original lead-guitarist/vocalist Kelly Johnson died in 2007 at the age of 49 after a six-year battle with spinal cancer. Former Blitzkreig member Jackie Chambers now handles lead for the band.

      And just in case all that girls 'n' guitars action isn't enough to get your weekend party started, keep in mind that Friday also marks the beginning of Vancouver Craft Beer Week, so why not take a break from that 24-pack of Molson Pilsner (though it is tasty as hell) and try something that wasn't brewed by a major label...I mean distiller.

      And if you happen to be a hoity-toity type who abhors loud music and beer, and just wants to sip pop in a darkened movie theatre instead, here's a tip. Go check out the exclusive first run of the documentary Dark Star: H.R. Giger's World, which is screening on a double-bill with Ridley Scott's Alien at the Cinematheque through Sunday.

      Here's what a blurb from the Internet says: "Full of great archival footage, including clips from Giger’s own films, Dark Star illuminates the sometimes sunny, sometimes tragic life of an unusual artist whose biomechanical, sex-and-death-suffused creations have long been revered by acidheads, tattoo fetishists, and SF aficionados."

      As previously mentioned, the rock 'n' roll weekend will officially climax with Whitesnake's Sunday engagement at the Hard Rock. I was never that crazy about the band during it's mid-'80s heyday, when it went the power-ballad route with hits like "Is This Love". I mean, I enjoyed ogling Tawny Kitaen on the hood of a car as much as the next guy, but I much preferred Whitesnake in the late '70s/early '80s, when guitarists Mickey Moody and Bernie Marsden were more concerned with hot licks than hot chicks.

      But I gotta tell ya, I'm pretty psyched about this particular Whitesnake gig because the group is on The Purple Tour, which means singer David Coverdale is focusing on songs he recorded with Deep Purple in its Mark III days, on the Burn and Stormbringer albums. 

      Yeah, yeah, I miss Ritchie Blackmore as much as the rest of you, but hey—life ain't fair. And how about that drummer, eh? Living legend Tommy Aldridge, who told me 25 years ago that Black Oak Arkansas threatened to break his arms if he ever quit.

      Now that's a highly valued drummer!

      Just seeing him slam the crap out of the skins is gonna be a hoot, I reckon. "Look ma, all hands!"

      Comments

      2 Comments

      shoegazer

      May 28, 2015 at 10:35pm

      Some good,some shit.Just like every month.But the "24 pack of Molson Pilsner(though it is tasty as hell)" comment leaves me cold.That crap may come in useful washing your car but as a viable libation,it ranks up there with Scope.

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      Vitamin P

      May 29, 2015 at 10:12am

      Enjoy your grapefruit honey ale and leave the Pilly for the drinkers. I'll shotgun a couple in your honour.

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