RAMP First Anniversary

Curated by members of the Summerlad, RAMP is a monthly concert series dedicated to artistically amped-up gig experiences. On RAMP’s one-year anniversary, Calgary bands covered Calgary bands. Most of the roster included young bands reverently covering fellow contemporary local bands. Thankfully, musicians who have outlasted scene turnovers sprung classics from the vaults that might not ever make it to ring tone status, but shouldn’t be collecting dust either. The cheeky Ex-Boyfriends blazed through saucy numbers from animated rock’n’roll predecessors in the Vindicators and Warren Kinsella’s the Hot Nasties. Along with Woodpigeon, guitarist/vocalist Peter Moersch brought the house down with a spot-on tribute to wistful scene favourites of the ’90s, Straight. The Keith Frank proficiently covered scene titans, the Primrods — another ’90s band of cool kids from art school. Rodney "Guitarsplat” Brent gave a warm-hearted salute to Stampede city cow punks, Agriculture Club. Since Lock Fulton focused on the A-Team during his documentary, Breakfast at Rock Central, it was only fitting that he and Matt Masters (as the Martin Fulton Overkill) dove into a sweaty A-Team set. Although very conservative in their song selections, younger musicians were more playful in their performances. The Consonant C leapt off the stage to sing Azeda Booth songs a cappella while interpretively dancing around a band-mate devouring lemon meringue pie. Adding to a sugary twee love fest, the Tetraktys along with Azeda Booth covered the Consonant C. Two promising outfits, Lucky Sonne and Winnipeg transplants the Lonely Hunters sailed through expressive covers of Chad VanGaalen and the Jagatha Christies respectfully. The evening ended with technically impressive renditions from the gravely, soul-gripping sounds of GutterAwl (covering punk legends the Inquisition), the impressive Thwomp (covering Summerlad) and the mighty Lint, with far too short a set covering Gunther. Although sluggish in parts, the evening was a casual but artistically articulate homage to Boomtown hits both past and present.