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Econoline Crush rocks out
Leah Miller
Lakeside Leader
Canadian rockers Econoline Crush arrived in Slave Lake just in time for July’s Riverboat Daze and to headline the Sawridge Inn and Conference Centre’s concert series.
At its second kick at the can hosting a concert series, the Sawridge Inn almost didn’t have a concert to see the night of July 4. Originally the hotel’s special events coordinator Boyd Kelham had booked popular Canadian rock band Hedley to perform, but at the last minute they pulled out.
Luckily, Kelham was able to pull things together with another noted rock band, Econoline Crush.
“I knew that Econoline Crush was playing at Boonstock (Music Festival) in Gibbons so I called their agent and they agreed to come,” says Kelham. “We had almost no prep time.”
Through his online Facebook connections and a little help from 92.7 FM The Fox radio station, the concert saw over 300 music lovers attend.
“It turned out alright,” says Kelham. “It was a success.”
Following the outdoor concert held in the Sawridge Inn’s parking lot on Main Street, and an autograph signing session, some of the band members even hung out at the after party held at the Ridge English Style Pub beside the hotel.
“We met the Econoline Crush guys,” says Kelham. “It was nothing too crazy. Trevor (Hurst, the lead singer of the band) was like one of the boys. They weren’t walking around like they were somebody.”
Fun at the Sawridge Inn didn’t stop Friday night. The Sawridge Inn turned its parking lot into a beach volleyball pit and hosted a tournament and a strongman competition.
Six co-ed teams competed in the weekend’s Bud Light Beach Volleyball Tournament. The winning team was the Gunners (Donny Lamouche, Sherri Jackson, Mathew Auger, Lyle Cardinal and Jamie Auger). Second place went to the Bumblebee Tuna team of Sila Belcourt, Cheyenne Gaudette and Daniel Belcourt. Both teams won trips to Jasper courtesy of Labatt Breweries of Canada and the Sawridge Inn and Conference Centre.
Eight men participated in the strongman competition, but only four completed the five events. This first required strongmen to hold a car battery at a 90-degree angle for as long as they could, then carry a 100-pound steel plate on their chest while circling a number of posts, then moving four full kegs of beer from one end of the parking lot to the other, then flipping over a 350-lb tire over three times and finally towing a one-tonne truck 100 feet.
First place was won by Ian Cameron, of Slave Lake, who was awarded two tickets to the Rexall Edmonton Indy held this weekend. Second place was won by Karl Goodyear, of Slave Lake, who was awarded with two tickets to SummerSlam rock music festival in Grande Prairie on July 10. Third place was won by Kelham himself, who picked up a $100 gift certificate for food and beverage at the Sawridge Inn and Conference Centre.
Last year a country band performed and next year Kelham promises to host an event that will blow Slave Lake away.
“We’re doing something huge next year,” he says, leaving out details until they can be confirmed closer to the date. “Next year we’ve got something up our sleeves.”
This summer’s next concert at the Sawridge Inn will feature Edmonton bands Tupelo Honey and Red Limit on Friday, Aug. 9 outside the Sawridge Inn. Tupelo Honey just finished a Western Canadian tour with Bon Jovi. Tickets are $20 at the door or $15 in advance. The bands will be available to sign autographs following the show and the beach pit and patio will be open.
Econoline Crush
Econoline Crush is a band from Winnipeg that has been around for 16 years - an amazing feat for an alternative rock band. Originally formed in Seattle, lead singer Hurst, guitarist Scott Whalen, bassist Ziggy and drummer Brent Fitz eventually moved back to Vancouver. Notable singles include Wicked, Home, Sparkle and Shine, Make It Right, All That You Are, You Don’t Know What It’s Like and their recent single Dirty.
After their 2001 album Brand New History, Econoline Crush appeared to be on hiatus while Hurst started his own band simply called Hurst. But as of January 2007, Econoline Crush reunited and resumed touring. The band has released four albums, the most recent in January of this year called Ignite.
Econoline Crush has been nominated for a Juno twice for their 1997 The Devil You Know album, and received gold and platinum awards for sales of the same album.
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