Lethbridge Community Expanding Vol: XXXIV Issue: 7 Wednesday, Nov.24, 1999 Big Sugar sweetens the Barn TINA COBB and held the beat for Big Sugar like a pro. Staff Writer " The most memorable jam of the night, The Barn was buzzing Friday night in was If I had my way, off the band's fourth anticipation of Toronto's rock band Big album, Hemi-Vision which has surpassed Sugar. The stage sported a multitude of platinum. It incorporated powerful coloured lights and a sound system that melodies and a stellar guitar solo from rattled eardrums was in the middle of the Johnson. bar, a foreboding of things to come. During his solo, Johnson raised his gui­ Scratching Post, the opening band for tar above his head, and flipped it around Big Sugar, was a solid power pop band to reveal a Canada flag painted on the that blended 80 punk with 90 heavy metal back. The patriotic crowd went crazy, and guitar licks. the dance floor swelled. Lead singer Nicole Hughes, 24, belted The show didn't end there. A rendition out five songs off tJieir new album: of James Brown's Get on up, The Scene, Destruction of the Universe. The band also off the album Heated and Ride like Hell, covered Crash by The Primitives, and per­ off the album Five Hundred Pounds, were formed two previously unreleased tracks. gems. The combination of sound, lighting As Big Sugar took stage, fans at The and musical talent was pure genius. Barn flooded the dance floor, and didn't The closing song of the night was none budge all night. Big Sugar was all about other than, Oh Canada. Johnson per­ big sound. formed an up beat rock version of the "How y'all doin' tonight?," shouts lead national anthem that reflected the spirit of singer Gordie Johnson. the evening. The perfect ending for a On that note the crowd started cheering, leading Canadian rock band. and the band broke out into I'm a ram, a . Big Sugar has played in Lethbridge a bluesy Johnson favourite, off the album few times before. They tend to play most 500 pounds. of the smaller cities throughout Canada, Following tunes were off the latest Big along with bigger venues in Toronto, Sugar album, Heated. Released in Vancouver, Calgary and Ottawa. September 1998, and climbing the popu­ *T grew up in a small town, and no larity charts, Heated boasts a new side of bands ever came to play live. That's why Gordie Johnson no one has seen on previ­ we do it," says a tired Johnson, after the ous records. h show. Heated incorporates a 70 classic rock "We tour some in the States, but play sound with reggae and blues, that strays mainly in Canada. We sell more records from the traditional blues-based Big Sugar here, and have more fans here." recordings. Before hitting The Barn in Lethbridge, "A lot can happen in five years", says Big Sugar had sold out three shows at The Johnson. "Our music is constantly evolv­ Commodore in Vancouver. They drove ing." into town on Friday to jam in Lethbridge, Turn the lights on was electrifying, and headed off the foHowing morning to brought to life with a hard core reggae continue their tour in Saskatchewan. bass line and eclectic guitar riffs. Gordie Big Sugar is continually adapting dif­ has a way of mesmerizing the crowd with Photo by Tina Cobb ferent styles and techniques to their guitar solo after guitar solo. Lead singer for Big Sugar, Gordie Johnson, mesmerized crowds with his music. Their success can be attributed to Dear Mn Fantasy, sent the crowd in a guitar solos Friday night at the Barn. the dedication of the members and their frenzy, as bouncers at The Barn had their musician extrodinaire. His energy and talent bring to will to push the boundaries of new sounds. hands full, controlling a wild dancing audience. Big Sugar what Elvis brought to rock and roll. A new record is waiting in the wings, and should Reggae meets blues as Garry Lowe, the newest Hoppe's versatility is unwavering and all of his solo's prove to be as intense as Heated. bassist for Big Sugar, pounds out reggae bass lines were superior. "We will be releasing a new album by the middle that bring an unparalleled sound to the music. Al Cross can not go unmentioned. Smacking die of next year," assures Johnson. Lowe, the obvious reggae influence of the band, drums all night long is not easy, and to do it with "Most of the songs are already written." has an uncanny way of making reggae fit so perfectly such power for every song is an amazing ability. With that said, the fans can only anticipate how with classic rock and roll. Cross masterfully controlled the kit all night long, sweet the new record will be, and what Big Sugar Kelly Hoppe on saxophone and harmonica, is a See our view pg.4 will accomplish in the year 2000. (irails, wan! to saw $750? """Just bring your grad Seta * certificate in to receive mEftKfi our grad rebate! i. oine checkout our huge selection of pre owned vehicles! 2324 5 Ave. N. *North of the Water Tower*Lethbridg» C, Includes $750 grad rebate 321-4455 * 32?-JEEP * l-ffOO-?44-7304 Page 2 The Endeavor, Wednesday, Nov. 24,1999 — College Letter to the editor Life's no game of Yahtzee KOKO PETRICEVIC in for a coupleof hours and pour Studio 82 manager responds to column Staff Writer beers for middle-class Calgary subur- banites, fake interest and a smile at Loverboy, an theiT 'when I was your age' stories,, especially lousy and walk out with $50 in tips. '80s band that EDITOR: I should have known something belted out the. This letter is in response to the article about Studio 82, "Bikini Bar Bomb" by was up when ol' sis told me not. to ; song Koko Petricevic (staff writer) Wednesday October 27, 1999. This is not a letter in wear'anything too nice. r''z yv "Everybody's which I am taking sides as to the 'moral dilemma' raised in the editorial. I am sim­ Within; a couple of minutes after working for the ply addressing the misleading statements about Studio 82. walking, through thedomain apron i> weekend'* insin­ Mr. Petricevic wrote that he visited our establishment on a Sunday and watched was thrown my way and directions; tic uated that those football on our TV's. It is true, we show football all day on Sunday. For the record, the kitchen were •given. I was trappec who survived we have twq^ievels to our bar, Studio 82, Sports & Bikini Bar. not to mention dupecL : the dreaded Monday, to, Friday work Excerpts from Mr. Petricevic's article: v I have spent my whole life avoid­ week could break out the Yahtzee ing manual labor and getting my board come the weekend] "LIKE MOST BARS...TACKY POSTERS WITH BUDWIESER BIKINIS..." 'handsdirty. ;'yy'yyv| We do not have 'bikini' posters on the main level. The bikini bar is not While many of you may have ;', ;, But here I was with dish-wafer all open on Sundays except for special events (i.e. Grey Cup Sunday). embraced Loverboy's anthem, the over me trying not to get sick at the "OUR SERVER DENISE..." less fortunate were stuck washing 'sight of half chewed food. I seriously We don't have a server, nor bartender working here by that name and we dishes at a restaurant trying not to get. contemplated sneaking out the back haven't for the lastlhree years. salad dressing on delicately; moistur-: door. •.' /,/;• J "SHE DID.. .THERE ARE BURLY BOUNCERS..." ized hands. ! Almost as bad as the .actual dish . • Maybe it was.just mewho was Not since the inception of Studio 82 has there ever been, "burly bouncers" pit, was collecting the bus pans from spending Saturday night in a dish pit. or any bouncers employed by Studio 82. We pride ourselves on having the main dining area.'I could hear th^ You see, my sister is a part owner,; upscale clientele and doormen are not required for this reason.- snickers and whispers as I walked by of a littie family restaurant. "I WAS BORED, THE BEARS LOSING AND...BEER KEPT COMING IN You wouldL; think I had the plague. -Translation: itis so small thatthe WARM MUGS..." "Honey, careful he doesn't brush The beer kept coming in warm mugs? All of our mugs are stored in a only staff other than the owners are family members of the owners. up against you." ; freezer and we are proud to say that draft beer is the coldest served in Jerks I can deal with, filth I can't. Family members never get a fixed "Sin City." Believe nie, until you have cleaned schedule, just phone calls an hour or ALAS, HOPEFULLY THE EDITORS OF THE ENDEAVOR..BAR TAB..." dishes in a pit you haven't seen filth, i two before they heed help and likey Alas, I survived,, and if anything I It's doubtful Mr. Petricevic even patronized Studio 82 on a Sunday and I soldiers are expected to rise to the have a new found genuine respect foi wouldn't reimburse him one cent. Please tell Mr. Petricevic that if he call of duty. " . • \ > • y ; folks who need to do this for a living wants the good folks of Lethbridge to read a factual editorial about an Originally when I got the call I to make ends meet.