HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-10-19, Page 23Music review
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1988. PAGE 23.
Merceys help country make big noise
BY KEITH ROULSTON
Cou ntry music paid a rare visit to
Blyth Memorial Hall Friday night
as seven-time Juno-award-winn-
ing top country music group of the
year'The Mercey Brothers took
over the stage of the hall.
The event, part of the Blyth
Festival’s Family Festival of enter
tainment contained a little bit of
something for everybody from old
tyme country to gospel to jazz to
near-rock renditions of old stan
dards.
Sprinkled through the concert
were the Mercey Brothers’ own
hits from over the years such as
“Hello Mom” but most were
wrapped into one medley with the
audience treated toonly a couple of
verses of songs like “Who Wrote
theWords", “UncleTom” and
“Loving You From a Distance’’.
More time was devoted to songs
from their newest album including
the jazzy “Scotch and Soda’’. But
totouchbases with the old tyme
audience they also did the old
standard “There Goes My Every
thing".
The Merceys, Larry on lead
vocal and Lloyd on drums and
back-up singing, were supported
by two fine Stratford guitarists,
Eric Mahar on lead guitar and
Thomas Wade on bass, both of
whom contributed strong vocals as
well. The strength of the voices in
the group could especially be
appreciated in the first act finale
when they set aside their guitars
and went to the acappella gospel
tune “Jesus Gave Me Water".
But for the most part the group
stuck to their rock-tempoed coun
try songs. Perhaps the combina
tion of the rock and country was
shown best in a show-stopping
rock-tempo version of the old
western song ‘ ‘Ghost Riders" that
wound up the concert with each of
the members of the band getting a
chance to show off their musical
skills.
That number also perhaps poin
ted up the problem of the concert
for audience members: it was
dangerous to the eardrums. It’s a
constantproblematMemorial Hall
to convince amplified music
groups that a hall that allows Liona
Boyd to play her single, unampli
fied guitarwith every note heard in
every seat, doesn’t need the
master control pot on the amplify
ing equipment turned up as if it was
Maple Leaf Gardens.
As usual though, the profes
sionalism of the production at
Memorial Hall added to the
pleasure of the concert. Ray
Salverda provided lighting for the
concert that was so well timed, one
would have thought hours of
rehearsal had gone into the show.
If there’sadisappointmentin
the Mercey Brothers it is that
despite the fact they’ve grown up
in Western Ontario and won
national and international audi
ences, they might as well be from
Tennessee for all the difference it
makes. Like many Canadian
groups they use little of their roots
in their music, trying instead to
sound like an imported American
group, complete with American
placenames in the songs. While
Canadian groups seeking interna
tional success might be excused if
they don’t put the word Canada in
every lyricyou’d think now and
then their real background could
creep into their music.
BLYTH CHILDREN’S
PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA
THURS., FRI..SAT.
5P.M.-12A.M.
BLYTH INN
EAT IN OR TAKE OUT
523-9381
CINDERELLA
BY
MARITIME MARIONETTES
Saturday, October 29, 2pm
AT BLYTH MEMORIAL HALL
Tickets $6.00
At the Door $7.50
CALL BOX OFFICE 523-9300/9225
Ontario produces more hogs,
poultry, eggs, sheep and lambs,
fruit and vegetables, corn, soy
beans and tobacco than any other
Canadian province.
mond, Brussels, wish to
announce the engagement
of their daughter Brenda
Irene to Bert Kenneth, son of
Mr. and Mrs. HarrySjaarda,
Goderich. The wedding will
take place Saturday,
November 5at 4 o’clock in
Brussels United Church
with an open reception at 9
p.m.atB.M. &G. Commun
ity Centre.
4 Z?
OCTOBER 22
Happy Birthday
From Mom, Dad, Brian,
Amanda, and Cynthia.
Marjory Fraser wishes to
honour of their 40th wedding
anniversary. Family and
friends are invited to a
reception to be held on
October 22, 1988 at 9:00
p.m. in Brussels. Your
presence is gift enough.
Best wishes only please.
announce a celebration in
Carl and Kathleen Longman
October 23,1988.
Love from your family.
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ft&TCi w theatre
I Phone 357-1630 for 24 hour movie information
SPECIAL RETURN ENGAGEMENT
Playing from Friday to Thursday, October 21 to 27
Friday and Saturday at 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. ‘
Sunday to Thursday One show each evening at 8:00 p.m.
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BENEFIT
DANCE
FOR
BRUSSELS LEGION
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21
AT 8:00 P.M.
AT B.M. & G. ARENA
EVERYONE
WELCOME
HELP BRANCH 218
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