High Kicks, the Calgary bass and drums combo of Matt Doherty and the Dudes' Dan Vacon, were in for a challenge following up the spirited hard rock of Black Thunder. It's the nature of a two-piece group: work twice as hard to elicit the same response, even when it's only just rock'n'roll.
Vacon did his best to win the crowd over with his punchy, fuzzed-out bass and showman theatrics, distinct bluesy vocals cutting through and sailing overtop Doherty's vivacious moves on the drums. It's nothing new and they'd agree — Vacon took a moment to praise Edmonton act Whitey Houston for serving as a framework for High Kicks — yet their humour and sense of fun made it all the more exciting. What kind of band would pull out a hilarious cover of Celine Dion's "I'm Your Lady" for a crowd who had clearly skipped out on Thanksgiving dinner yet found their meat and potatoes standing in front of them?
Vacon did his best to win the crowd over with his punchy, fuzzed-out bass and showman theatrics, distinct bluesy vocals cutting through and sailing overtop Doherty's vivacious moves on the drums. It's nothing new and they'd agree — Vacon took a moment to praise Edmonton act Whitey Houston for serving as a framework for High Kicks — yet their humour and sense of fun made it all the more exciting. What kind of band would pull out a hilarious cover of Celine Dion's "I'm Your Lady" for a crowd who had clearly skipped out on Thanksgiving dinner yet found their meat and potatoes standing in front of them?