Opening up the final day of Rock The Lake was none other than Carole Pope.
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Known for her unique vocal register that made Rough Trade big in the 80's, Pope’s sultry allure is one fans have adored and admired for decades.
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A first time visitor to Kelowna and her only stop of the summer, Pope and her band laid it all out on the stage for Rock The Lake. Her voice sounded near record perfection as she could still muster up the grueling force needed to make her lyrics pack a real punch.
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Crowd favorites were, of course, Rough Trade’s massive hits "High School Confidential” and “All Touch”. It wasn’t just her Rough Trade staples that got the crowd going, but her original works as well peaked the interest of many with their enticingly vulgar lyrics.
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Her rebellious nature and nonchalant attitude may have put off some but for others, it only added to the hype that is a Carole Pope show.
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You may have noticed the peak in classic metal bands being represented via t-shirts on day three, well that was all thanks to the dedicated metal head crowd Helix drew to the event.
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As the only metal band, Helix had the tough task of putting on a show that everyone loved, however they managed to with ease. As if they had just clawed their way out of the depths of Lucifer's confines, these Canadian metal gods came out rabid and ready to rock.
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Immediately leaping across speakers, proclaiming their love to the audience, Helix quickly earned the title for the most energetic band of the weekend.
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Playing everything from their villainous library including "No Rest For The Wicked" and "Rock You" as well as their new releases, fans were loving everything Helix gave them and made their excitement well known.
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Singer, Brian Vollmer, was all charisma. Driving fans wild as he egged them on and pointed at those of us rocking out along with him.
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Did I forget to mention his vocals were on point? Sounding reminiscent to that of Bon Scott which is impressive considering singing heavy metal for multiple decades can put quite the damper on your vocal chords.
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Bass player, Daryl Grey, delivered sludgy riffs and solos that felt like they had been dragged through tar for miles, creating notes that crashed against the surrounding buildings like a battering ram.
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Ferocious, and relentless guitarist Chris Julke would not quit. Head banging to the point spinal cord detachment, he gave the crowd his heart with every vehement solo.
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Impressive instrumentation, top notch aesthetics, and energy levels that never maxed out, these dirty dogs definitely rocked The Lake.
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If ever asked to name a band that personifies the word soul, one’s immediate answer should be Chilliwack after seeing their performance this weekend.
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True lovers of music, the passion carried by band members as they hit the strings of their guitars was felt throughout the audience.
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Opening their set with “Lonesome Mary” and “Whatcha Gonna Do”, Chilliwack came out swinging, as did frontman Bill Henderson. A wizard with a guitar, Henderson possesses the ability to animate his guitar, allowing it to share the stories of where the band has been and how far they’ve come for him.
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“We’ve been together since the 60’s, now we are in the 7th year of our 40th anniversary tour!” Said Henderson, followed by the rumbling cheers of the crowd as if they were trying to portray their thankfulness for Chilliwack’s music.
Impeccable instrumentation showcased by each member of the band, Chilliwack verified that they are more than just a few hit singles, they are actual artists. The heavenly duet between Bill Henderson and Ed Henderson during the song “Baby Blue” was stunning enough to bring a tear to your eye as the two guitars spoke fluently in their own language tugging at the heartstrings of many.
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Chilliwack delivered so strong during their set that the crowd cheered for minutes after each song and praised them even harder as they did their final bow.
Following the group’s sound check, KelownaNow caught up with the man himself, Bill Henderson to ask him more about the band’s longevity, success and music.
A sudden sadness filled the hearts of many as Chilliwack bowed off stage, as the realization that the festival only had one act left before it’s departure for another year.
The heartache quickly dissipated as Honeymoon suite infiltrated the stage. Rushing the stage with hyperactive vitality, each member of the group put on a show all their own, creating one epic performance.
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Equipped with a set list that was packed full of all the classics from “Stay In The Light”, “Burning In Love” and “New Girl Now”, Honeymoon Suite gave fans exactly what they came for, a good time.
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Veterans to the live performance trade, these dudes know just what it takes to take a crowd from zero to 60 with just one pluck of a guitar string.
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Derry Grehan demonstrated that not only is he able to write a catchy song, but he can also deliver one hell of a guitar solo, as within only seconds of hit the stage as he pumped out multiple like some sort of crazed robot.
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Frontman Johnnie Dee seemed to be everywhere all at once, hoping across speakers as he attempted to get as close to his worshiping fans as possible, all the while sounding faultless beyond compare to that of the band's early recordings.
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The only band to grace the stage this weekend with an all original line-up, you could feel the strength between their bonds, a feeling of unity swept over the crowd as they played.
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Spellbinding, Honeymoon Suite had their set down to a science, hitting fans hard with all the riffs, high notes and classic jams you would expect at a classic rock festival, making them the perfect band to end the perfect weekend.
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Before they closed out the weekend, KelownaNow met up with Johnnie and Derry to chat with them about their music and set.
Perhaps one of the most energy-ridden, soulful, and magnetizing days of the weekend, Rock The Lake Day three gave us a helpful reminder as to why classic rock bands will live on forever.
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For a full photo gallery of the weekend's festivities head to the KelownaNow Events Facebook page!
