Traditionally Rock ’n August’s Friday Night Car Cruise steers crowds to St. Anne Street for a show and street dance.
While the four-wheel beauties steal the hearts of car enthusiasts, it’s the rock band that keeps the mood light and the place hopping.
This year’s band of choice for the Friday Night Dance is Dash Riprock, a dynamic classic rock band that is unafraid to push the performance envelope.
For band spokesman, Michael Cearns, a special point of pride is that Dash Riprock is the first St. Albert band to perform at Rock ’n August.
Rounding out the band is Fred Miller (vocals), Bob Morin (guitar), Mike Hill (bass), Dez O’Kell (drums), Miles Jackson (keyboards), Kasara Jaxson (vocals) and Crystal Hanson (vocals).
For one night only the eight-piece rock band will dispatch their best ’70s and ’80s classics.
“Organizers wanted to move out of the ’50s and ’60s era and be a little more current,” said Cearns.
He adds that ’50s and ’60s music was simply the beginning of the rock ’n’ roll era.
“In the ’70s and ’80s music became more complex with bands like Eagles and King Crimson. It was more multilayered. In the ’70s and ’80s in Los Angeles you also saw a shift to bands like Wrecking Crew – more accomplished players. Studio musicians dropped off a bit as band musicians started to play their own instruments.”
Since the late 1990s when Cearns and Miller teamed up to form Dash Riprock, the emphasis has been strong vocals, well-blended harmonies and unmatched musicianship.
Their repertoire encompasses a broad swath from the Eagles, the Beatles and Meatloaf to Amanda Marshall, Blondie, Kelly Clarkson and Elle King.
“The girls especially sounded fantastic at rehearsals – even better than I’d expected. And for an old crusty musician like me that’s saying a lot,” laughed Cearns.
While many rock bands promote their singularity, he believes Dash Riprock’s vocal strength sets them apart.
“We’re multi-layered and cohesive. We have a lot of experience, and when we assign parts we can go to anyone in the band and quickly make changes if we need to.”
A decade-old trend across North America has been to downsize bands, in large part because many clubs are reluctant to pay costs for a larger posse of musicians.
Dash Riprock stands out because of its size and efforts to swim against the current craze.
“I’ve always wanted to have a big band. Everyone is going small. But I’m going in the opposite direction. Next year I plan to add a horn section.”
At the Friday night concert expect to hear songs such as the Eagles’ Hotel California, Nancy Sinatra’s fun piece These Boots Are Made For Walking and Sonny and Cher’s The Beat Goes On to name a few.
“It’s a good fun event. The sound is always good outdoors. The cars are a major attraction and it’s for a good cause.”
The all-ages dance runs from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Free admission. Dressing up in era-appropriate clothing is encouraged.
