Bumper to Bumper, the Assiniboia Times, Nelson GM, Ryan鈥檚 ATV, the Town of Assiniboia, Brandon Wiebe Graphic Design, the Assiniboia Kinsmen and Cat Country presented a free drive-in concert at the Assiniboia Fairgrounds on August 20.
According to figures provided by Great West Electric (Bumper to Bumper) 鈥淛ustin LaBrash and True North played to a crowd of over 185 vehicles and 450 people last night at one of Saskatchewan鈥檚 biggest Drive-In concerts this summer.鈥�
Moreover, $1690 was raised in donations for Assiniboia and district鈥檚 new recreational complex.
Justin LaBrash and True North played their brand of country rock starting at 8 p.m. for hundreds of people who arrived for the largest outdoor event to be held this summer in this corner of 麻豆传媒AVwest Saskatchewan during the pandemic.
The concert was held in compliance with SHA regulations. Participants were asked to keep within an arm鈥檚 reach of their vehicles. Visiting between vehicles wasn鈥檛 permitted and hand sanitizer was provided along with disinfectant wipes to prevent any possibilities of COVID-19 transmission at the event.
With all of these security measures in place, the crowd were still able to enjoy LaBrash and True North鈥檚 presentation of raucous country mixed with tinges of rockabilly, interspersed with the country artist鈥檚 melancholic ballads.
LaBrash has acknowledged a kitbag of country and rock influences, including Brett Kissel, Blink 182, Garth Brooks and Dwight Yoakam, making Thursday night鈥檚 gig an evening of musical surprises.
The band opened with their rendition of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band鈥檚 Fishin鈥� in the Dark from 1987.
鈥淗ow鈥檚 it going Assiniboia?鈥� LaBrash asked the audience. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 terrible,鈥� he responded in a gravelly voice somewhat reminiscent of a younger Van Morrison. 鈥淟et鈥檚 make some noise,鈥� he shouted back, prompting an orchestra of car honks.
The night encompassed a carnival-like atmosphere, with energized families and friends sitting together in cars and pick-up trucks, cheering and honking horns throughout the evening. There was also a stand at the event hawking BeaverTails pastries.聽
鈥淣obody knows how to party like Saskatchewanians,鈥� LaBrash declared. 鈥淪o, we wrote a song about it,鈥� he said before launching into an audience favourite, Party like Saskatchewan.
LaBrash and True North had their quieter moments too, such as the country ballad, Miss You 鈥� a tearful, brooding melody comparable to George Harrison鈥檚 gloomier solo efforts, but with a countrified twist.
LaBrash鈥檚 song See you in the Stars had a stronger and more distinctive country sound without losing the wistful edge 鈥� a thoughtful quality featured in many of LaBrash鈥檚 ballads.
LaBrash and True North are also fans of early rock and roll and country, seen through their performance of Johnny Cash鈥檚 Folsom Prison Blues with super-cool metallic guitar breaks.
The band also played Blue Suede Shoes from Carl Perkins (made famous by Elvis Presley) with the same vigour of those Jukebox originators from the 1950s.
鈥淚鈥檝e got to pull out some moves with this one,鈥� LaBrash announced before digging into this Sun Records classic from 1955, pulsating with garage and surf rock distortion. 聽聽聽聽聽聽
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