Been a while since I made time to present a #threetunetuesday and I am gonna shake it up more ways than just being a day late! I usually post #thoughtfuldailypost (@Wesphilbin waves the @thoughtfulposts flag) with my tunes and this time, they are my thoughts ABOUT the tunes.

Big Sugar

I am not sure how many people have heard of the band Big Sugar but I have like them for the last 30 years. The reason I bring it up now is that they threw a 30-year anniversary concert for the album I first purchased back then.



Hemivision is the name of the album and I actually picked up the 25th edition vinyl for my collection. Gordie Johnson is the only original member from this line up and now they are a clean power trio.

I love a bunch of the songs on that album and Diggin' A Hole is one of my favourites. I just love the heavy blues with overdone of heavy guitar distortion, harmonica and full-throat vocals.

The reason I think maybe not many people may not have heard of them is they are another Canadian band. Sometimes, a band has to leave the country to get any sort of fanbase, and others never stray too far and are as obscure abroad as they are famous domestically. I will have to ask at the end!

The fusion of styles are what make these guys special to me. Heavy guitar lickin' blues with plenty of reggae grafted right on. The green yellow red of the ghetto blaster in the back works well.

I was trying to think of a newer song since I lost track of them after the 90s. Cramming for the show, I found Nicotina on the playlist and thought "AH! This is a new one!" Nope. 2001 but all the timeless signature sound to be new.

Pretty neat video running behind the show keeps changing between cool branded cinematics. There is a retro car theme to their imagery and the steering wheel has made it through the decades to today.

I am really digging the new bass player Anders Drerup who joined the band a couple years ago I think. Solid on the bass but also a great backup vocalist and harmonica player. Here, he leans into a harmonica solo while Gordie takes over on the bass to keep the rythm going.

So many good songs to share but this cover of Dear Mr. Fantasy is a great one to close on. Originally covered in 1995, this recording is live from last year with the current line up. I love the original and have played it live with the band a few times but never as heavy as this.

Turns out it was a great show and 3 decades haven't taken the show out of this act. If you liked Hemi-vision back in the day, you will like this show.

Thanks for joining me on a concert 30 years in the making.

Is this your first taste of Big Sugar?