Blaze of Glory – keeping the faith
Last night I traveled to Club 351 in Salmon Arm, BC to see Vancouver’s Blaze of Glory – a Bon Jovi tribute band.
The club is down a set of stairs one block off the main drag of town, and didn’t look terribly promising from the outside, but once inside boasted a very slick bar area, large dance floor with couches spread around, and comfortable tables, booths and barstool areas. While definitely an older space, it was clean, freshly painted and well looked after by serving staff, door staff and security.
The band came on just after 11pm (no opening act which was nice) and jumped into a killer rendition of Raise Your Hands which fired up the somewhat small audience. You Give Love a Bad Name, Born to be my Baby, and Living on Prayer followed in succession by which time the audience had grown substantially in size, as well as volume!
Bed of Roses saw singer Ted Moore (Jon Bon Jovi) out in the audience with a cordless mic, singing to a few ladies who had braved being on the dance floor with their girlfriends.
By the time Blaze of Glory hit the setlist, a group of about 10 decided to pick up their table with all its contents, and move it to the dance floor only feet from the stage. The band and staff went with it, which increased the fun factor. Have a Nice Day, Runaway and Bad Medicine rounded out the first set list at which time the band took a short break to gear up for the second half.
After a brief respite in the green room, Blaze of Glory came back on stage to rock us into the next day. Lay Your Hands and One Wild Night got more people up on the dance floor and the smoke effects kicked in nicely. The new set also saw Ted/Bon Jovi in new duds. There had been a few changes of jackets in the first set list – jean jacket, leather jacket etc.. the new duds were the addition of a cowboy hat and faded well worn jeans instead of leather pants, and brown suede jacket with fringes down each arm – very retro, very true Bon Jovi. The band too were true to the roots of Bon Jovi, respendent in dark sunglasses, retro concert tees and faded jeans (thank goodness they skipped the spandex pants/tights era!)
The set list was rounded out with I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead, Make a Memory, It’s My Life, Wanted Dead or Alive, I’ll be There For You, and closed out with Keep the Faith. The band was well honed, expert at their instrumentation but also masters of live performance.. they know how to have fun while putting on a kick ass show for people. The band consists of Ted Moore on Vocals, Randy Robertson on guitar, Mike Champigny on bass, Mike Russel on keyboards and Doug Grant on drums. I also want to mention their sound/lighting engineer Orest Patraschuk (and his two assistants) who did a great job making sure the sound was clear and crisp and the lighting perfect for the space.
This review by Donna Mair
Tags: Blaze of Glory, Bon Jovi, Doug Grant, Mike Champigny, Mike Russell, Randy Robertson, Ted Moore
Blazing rockers
Jan 19, 2010 News
Ted Moore and his Bon Jovi tribute band will arrive in Salmon Arm in a Blaze of Glory this Friday.
Real rock: Randy Robertson as Richie Sambora, Mike Champigny on bass, Ted Moore as Jon Bon Jovi, James Meyer on keyboards and Doug Grant on drums perform at Club 351 Friday Jan. 22. Doors open at 9 p.m.
Moore once gave up a musical career, returned to university and taught school in White Rock. But the music beckoned and seeing other tribute bands gaining popularity, he turned to one of his favourite bands.
“They are very much a rock band and yet also have very wide appeal,” he says. “With Blaze Of Glory we play shows to all ages and hear kids singing the words to the songs. In the clubs, resorts, and casinos, we see 20 to 50-year-olds singing along as well.”
This kind of appeal is what initially drew Moore to writing and performing.
“I wanted to reach as large an audience as possible and see the world.”
Hailing from Vancouver, this powerful five-piece ensemble features a stellar cast from the West Coast Music scene fronted by venerable Vancouver singer/songwriter Ted Moore, and including Doug Grant on drums, Randy Robertson on guitar, Mike Champigny on bass and Mike Russell on keyboards.
Blaze of Glory runs Friday, Jan 22. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission for the first 100 people is $5. After that, admission will be $10.
