30-Morth Shore News — Friday, March 3, 2000

fans pack
Commod

Bob Mackin

News Reporter bimackin@nsnews.com

IF the fine folks at House of Blues Concerts are
business savvy, they'll stage another Smugglers’
concert at the Commedore Ballroom soon.

Very soon.

The Gumbooted Five attracted a sold-out crowd Feb, 25
with an all-star bill chat included the Donnas, Chixdiggit, Black
Halos and the comeback performance of Nardwuar the
Human Serviette’s Thee Goblins.

As many as 200 people waited outside in the cold, wet
weather — hands in pockets
and fingers crossed — hoping
to score a ticket. They wanted
to see the best feast of inde-
pendent, garage rock since
West Vancouver's Smugglers
opened for the Shadowy Men
on a Shadowy Planet, Young
Fresh Fellows and Posies
almost a decade ago at the
same venue.

The lucky 1,000 inside
weren't disappointed —
except one male patron cele-
brating his birthday. An
ambulance took him away
after he was beaned on the
noggin by a beer bottle dur-
ing the Donnas’ set.

Smugglers’ fans came
from Thunder Bay and
Portland to see the local
release party for their sixth album, Rosie. Seems ex-L.A. Law
star Corben Bernsen is also a follower. He could be seen bob-
bing his backwards bascball-capped head on the Commodore’s
bouncing floor.

Rose Melburg of the Softies joined the band onstage for a
duet with singer Grant Lawrence and helped him distribute a
bushel of roses to fans in the pit. Black Halos’ singer Billy
Hopeless made a cameo during the encore, with a rose
between his teeth, while Donnas’ guitarist Donna F. traded
licks with Smugs’ axemen Dave Carswell and Nick Thomas.

See Suund Page 32

NEWS photos Sprout www.eyetesser.com/sprout

Show Business Giants played the Railway Club last week before heading out on tour.

Giants off on European tour

From Page 28

Jon (No Means No) on guitar/vocals and
drums, Keith (Royal Grand Prix/Hardrock
Miners) on bass and Ford Pier on guitar and
keyboards/vocals.The music is cerebral,
upbeat and driven, not to mention incredibly
tight. The lyrics are clever and musing. The
Show Business Giants left last Sunday on 3
27-day tour of Europe, 11 countries and 24
shows.

Chixdiggit: The Commodore Friday, Feb.
25

Chixdiggit live are exceptional. Unpretentious
purk rock, pulsating bass lines and gripping
guitars. A solid set list, ripping songs and the

energy and musicianship to perform them. The
band is from Calgary. They make it out to the
coast periodically, check them out the next

time they roll into town. (Apparently a new
CD will be our soon.)

Bass/vocals: Mike Eggerman; Drums: Dave
Alcock; Guitar/vocals: aj jansen Guitars/vocals:
Mark O*Flaherty

B Exit This Side: The Brickyard, Friday,
Feb. 25
Local line-up Exit This Side rocked the
Brickyard last Friday night. Uncompromising
drum beats (pert-like) and textured guitars. Fat
bass lines and solid tunes with framework and
melody. (See photo page 19).
. ~— Sprout

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