BLOG: Canadian Hard Rock Legends heat up Hamilton.
Opening Hamilton’s Studio Theatre show was nonother than the stupendous Juno nominated, 38 year Canadian heavy metal icons, Killer Dwarfs.
RUSS GRAHAM
Pumping us with their typical empowering set in a Hard Luck Town, telling us it Doesn’t Matter and for us to Stand Tall and Keep The Spirit Alive while Drifting Back showing us their Dirty Weapons expressing a Union of Pride as they were Coming Through for their impressive up close and intimate crowd.
Gerry Finn Johnny Fenton
even engaging a toddler named Ruby who sported head-phones while playing along with drum sticks in hand, so adorable even drummer Darrell Millar (seen below) left his post during the set to mingle with their newest generation of fans.
Just a great night of memories with new experiences which turned into a unique never before seen Killer Dwarf time capsule. They surely revved the sea of fans leaving us with a perma-grin leading into the awe inspiring headliner Darby Mills Project. http://www.killerdwarfsband.com
FLYIN SOLO at 59 and a half, music veteran Darby Mills (former voice of Juno nominated Canadian rock band the Headpins) continues to soar high well into her 4th decade on the music scene with her act the Darby Mills Project, touching down in Hamilton as part of 3 Ontario 2019 tour dates which included Guelph and Kingston) via Jasa Entertainment. The Queen of Scream is in phenomenal shape, and totally undaunted by the grueling tour dates back to back.
One of the most recognizable vocals in Canada, Darby still possesses that raspy lyrical mezzo/contralto combination ramping from mid-low range to those beautifully strong and mighty powerful high notes reaching stratospheric proportions sporting both her traditional hard rock into some spicy blues infused sounds with her heavy rhythmic thrust!
Darby put together a strong lineup of musicians who have worked their tails off for years and years featuring a new rhythm section with bassist Dave Hopia and drummer Chris Murray Driver who blended perfectly with guitarist Randy Gabel, keyboardist Doug Rasmussen.
DAVE HOPIA Darby with CHRIS MURRAY DRIVER
RANDY GABEL and Darby Mills DOUG RASMUSSEN
As if it were YESTERYEAR with the pause button released taking you back in time. Her most compelling expression to date, rich in complexity, tranquility, and sincerity, with cerebral melodies that sink into your brain. Conveying hit after hit from her FLYIN SOLO album, Darby dove into her finest with Want it, Run, Hot Water, Cry To Me, Monkey, Bad Bay Boy, Don’t Stop Keepin’ On, as well, Feel My Body from her LIVE album, Headpins vibrant hard rock classic hits Staying All Night, Just One More Time, Don’t It Make You Feel, injecting a smooth cover version of Stories’ Brother Louie and perfecting covers by 3 pioneering women in music history that she admires, who were instrumental in creating her voice like Janis Joplin’s Piece of My Heart; Kiki Dee’s I Got The Music In Me and Carol King’s song that Aretha Franklin made famous (You Make Me Feel Like a) ‘Natural Woman’ thus proving Darby to be an extremely versatile performer that has different arrows within her quiver to work with.
The crowd roared with anticipation for her encore return to the stage and she proudly accommodated nailing Head Pins Turn It Loud and the impressive version of Nazareth’s Hair of The Dog to close out her one of a kind showcase.
What a majestic roller coaster ride! When music is your soul, your breath, and your life, there is no way anyone can stop you from following your heart’s passion, thanks for the music.