‘Oowatanite’ for classic rock ‘n’ roll at Whoop-Up Days
April Wine, 38 Special don’t disappoint
Sometimes the old boys can teach the young guys a trick. And oh, what a night. Or should I say, “Oowatanite.” Those who saw April Wine and 38 Special Wednesday night at WhoopUp Days would most certainly agree. It was the type of nostalgia that millennials would pay too much money to try to falsely replicate.
“Lethbridge, you ready to do this?” asked Don Barnes, lead singer and co-founder (along with Donnie Van Zant, who retired a few years ago) of 38 Special as they opened with 1979’s “Rockin Into The Night.”
“This is the place to be on a Wednesday night. You all ready to get a little wild out here tonight?”
Barnes, guitarist Danny Chauncey, keyboardist Bobby Capps, drummer Gary Moffatt and bassist Barry Dunaway didn’t waste any time getting into their numerous hits from the band’s primary run between 1974 and 1987.
Tracks like “Back Where You Belong” and “Wild-Eyed Southern Boys” quickly had the Florida-based band showing off their trademark blend of southern rock and stadium rock.
Capacity at the Exhibition Park Grandstand, site of the second of two special ticketed concerts, is about 4,000 (with standing room). I’d confidently say the attendance was north of 3,000 Wednesday night.
Most of them weren’t shy about dancing to well-known tracks such as “Teacher, Teacher,” “Fantasy Girl,” and “Second Chance.”
“Just like it was yesterday, right?” Barnes said with a laugh.
After an extended drum solo by Moffatt, 38 Special dove into mainset closer “Caught Up In You.” As part of their encore, they played “Hold On Loosely,” and a cover of CCR’s “Travelin’ Band.”
Earlier in the evening, Canadian rock legends April Wine performed an 80-minute set packed with their string of hits from the 1970s and 1980s.
An early run of “You Could Have Been A Lady,” “Fast Train,” and “Enough Is Enough” proved they didn’t care if anyone in attendance had hearing aids. They were loud.
“Hey Lethbridge. We've been here before,” said April Wine founder and lone original member, Myles Goodwyn. The current incarnation of the band also includes Brian Greenway, Richard Lanthier and Roy Nichol.
“Nice to be here tonight. Used to be Jack Daniels, now it’s water,” Goodwyn said before songs “Just Between You And Me,” “I Like To Rock,” and “Rock ‘N Roll Is A Vicious Game.” “So is bull riding,” he joked. It was pretty clear not even halfway through their set that a lot of people in Lethbridge have spent a lot hours listening to April Wine in their lives.
Hits like “Say Hello,” “Tonite Is A Wonderful Night To Fall In Love,” “Sign Of The Gypsy Queen,” “Roller,” and show closer “Oowatanite,” showed us how and why they were a huge act for 20 years — and can still pack crowds into a show.
Tuesday’s concert hair colour of choice was dyed blonde, while Wednesday shifted back to the traditional Whoop-Up Days grey. I think the shows this week have been a perfect blend.
Whoop-Up Days always reminds me of a great classic song. To me, the fair is nostalgia personified.
But Exhibition Park has shown in the past couple of years that they also aren’t afraid to look forward. They changed the rodeo format. Result? Success. They have brought in more younger and contemporary bands and have increased their social media presence. That’s working pretty well, too.
There is nothing wrong with forward thinking. And there is definitely nothing wrong with sticking to the classics — or sticking with your roots.
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