Chardonnay + Alison = Bliss

After some great west coast crab and an incredible Californian chardonnay, I am left listening to more bluegrass (go figure?). As I mentioned, if you haven't heard Alison Krauss, you need to. She has a remarkable voice, and the best backing band in the biz. Here's Alison and Union Station (featuring Dan Tyminski and Ron Block). Enjoy and relax - it's the weekend!

My Deep Dark Musical Secret

Here's the LATE edition of Friday Night Happy Hour Video Date with Pete.

I have a deep secret. I listen to a lot of Bluegrass. In fact, I listen to it every day. What I have come to love most is the outstanding musicianship of many of the players. To quote Wikipedia, "Bluegrass music has attracted a diverse and extremely loyal following worldwide. Bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe characterized the genre:Scottish bagpipes and ole-time fiddlin'. It's Methodist and Holiness and Baptist. It's blues and jazz, and it has a high lonesome sound. It's plain music that tells a good story. It's played from my heart to your heart, and it will touch you. Bluegrass is music that matters."

Oh Carol!

Welcome to the November 12th edition of "Friday Night Happy Hour Video Date with Pete". I am in the middle of enjoying four days off, and I have earned my happy hour after a busy day of house organization. Now on to the details: The dichotomy between camaraderie and competition between the Stones and The Beatles has always fascinated me. While the Fab Four were considered somewhat risqué in the early 60's, they were still a relatively shining example of youth as compared to the Stones, who were the absolute epitome of the "bad boy" image. Yet, each group respected the other for their obvious talents. I remember seeing a picture taken during the recording of Sergeant Pepper's, where Mick Jagger sits looking up at Paul McCartney, who is conducting a symphony orchestra for some backing tracks. The look in Mick's eye was one of pure adoration and amazement.

Tonight's track is from 1964 and features the original Stones lineup (including Brian Jones who died tragically in 1969). Although it's a dub (as many live performances from this era were), I love the video as it shows the youthful Jagger, the ever-solid Wyman, and a host of fans who end up hurling chairs onto the stage as the band exits behind the mains. Enjoy and post your comments please!

Heart to Heart

Happy hour has begun and that means it's time for your weekly video date. I caught this performance pretty soon after it was taped and was quite blown away. Heart is definitely one of the bands that we all grew up with. When The Knots recorded last year at Mushroom Studios, it felt kind of weird being in the same control room where Dreamboat Annie was captured so long ago. Both Ann and Nancy Wilson are still touring, and although the backing band has changed, the true essence of Heart still remains. They can be mellow, dreamy and ethereal - and then kill it with "Barracuda" or a cover of a Zeppelin song, all in one concert. Here, they play one of my favourite songs by Elton John - and their version may just rival the original. Enjoy "Mona Lisas & Mad Hatters". Have a safe weekend.

Don't touch the brown acid

Happy Hallowe'en FB friends and welcome to "Friday Night Happy Hour Video Date" with Pete. Tonight's show features a track from Woodstock in 1969. If you have never seen the documentary about this festival, go rent it NOW. It's an awesome movie capturing the true essence and spirit of the 3-day event.

After a crazy evening including The Grateful Dead, Joplin, CCR, and Sly & the Family Stone, Jefferson Airplane took the stage at around 8:45 a.m. and proceeded to mellow people out with their psychedelic set. Had you been there at this time, you would likely have been asleep, high on acid, or who knows what - but most certainly you would have been blown away by Marty Balin and Grace Slick's evocative and dreamy performance. Enjoy!

Blue Friday

Hey Everybody, welcome to the October 15th edition of "Happy Hour Video Date with Pete". The requests are flying in now so tonight I'd like to play a tune from an artist that my big sister recommended. Joanne Shaw Taylor is a phenomenal UK blues guitarist discovered at the age of 16 by Eurythmic's Dave Stewart. Her style is clearly inspired by Stevie-Ray Vaughan, with a twist of B.B. King, and a dash of Joan Osborne mixed in. My sis had the chance to see Joanne play in an intimate setting recently, and was blown away by her talent. Sit back for seven minutes, crank it up, and take a listen. Cheers!

I was cool once

Welcome to Friday Night Happy Hour Video Date. I love one-hit-wonders, and this band was certainly that. Formed in 1977, they recorded an album which sat for over a year before being released. This song went to #17 in Canada and provided excellent accompaniment as I drove around Vernon looking cool. I was indeed, in the Driver's Seat. Enjoy "Sniff and the Tears" and have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

'79 was fine

Another edition of Friday Night Happy Hour Video Date is on the air. Tonight, I am going to be a bit selfish and play a song from one of my favourite groups from the 70's and 80's, The Cars. Their first two albums were superb, and groundbreaking in the transition from 70's glam rock and disco to what was aptly labeled "New Wave" music. Featuring Ben Orr on vocals, this song was absolutely, positively, without question, my top song as I left high school and entered the real world ('79 was fine). Here's The Cars and "Let's Go."

Look Ma, I'm current!

Another edition of "Friday Night Happy Hour Video Date" is here. Tonight, I am going to put aside the 70's and 80's in favour of one of Jeff Huggins' favourite bands - a group that he introduced me to in the summer. "Civil Twilight" hails from South Africa and when I first heard them, I was reminded of a young U2 and to a degree, Coldplay. Lyrically, this is evocative. Musically, it's haunting. Jeff had the pleasure of seeing Civil Twilight at SquamishFest last month. Hope you enjoy them as much as we do! Happy weekend.

Bulldogs unite

Hey everyone - time for "Friday Night Happy Hour Video Date" with Pete. You know, I have always felt that The Beatles remain the greatest band ever, and I know I am not alone in that assessment. I found this nugget the other day and wanted to share. It's a pretty rare glimpse of the fab four at Abbey Road Studios during the recording of "Hey Bulldog". This was, according to the band's engineer, the last time they would cooperate with each other in a friendly and enthusiastic manner. Enjoy and have a safe weekend!

HoJo

Hey fans, welcome to another edition of "Friday Night Happy Hour Video Date" with your host Pete. 25 years ago this summer, some 2 billion people watched as Live Aid was broadcast across 60 countries. I remember sitting at my friend BK's house as we took in all the great performances. Tonight's video is from Live Aid (at Wembley Stadium) and features Howard Jones. I have always considered HoJo as a key player in the 80's sound - not only as a performer but as a thoughtful writer. This song (Hide & Seek) is one of my favourites. It goes to show that even at such a large scale venue, a man with a piano and a good song can entertain as well as anyone. Enjoy and keep those comments and requests coming!

Never play with guns

Hey all. Welcome to a late evening edition of "Friday Night Happy Hour Video Date with Pete". I'm going to pull out a doozy tonight for you. Everybody has heard of the band "Chicago", mostly from their pop success in the 80's. Before that, however, they were harder edged and had the benefit of a guitar player who Jimi Hendrix said was... the best he had ever heard. That man was Terry Kath. Unfortunately, in 1978 at a roadie's house party, Terry pulled out a gun and pointed it at his head, pulling the trigger and saying "Don't worry, it's not loaded," after showing the empty magazine to his friend. However, one bullet remained in the chamber, killing him instantly when fired; a week shy of his 32nd birthday. This video demonstrates what an exceptional guitar player he was. Enjoy "I'm a Man" and remember, NEVER play with guns.

Sequins and stuff

Hey fans - welcome to another edition of "Friday Night Video Date with Pete". I have been away on vacation the last two weeks so it's time to pry open the vault and go WAY back to 1972. As a man with a very talented and musical family, I am always blown away by tonight's featured group. From top to bottom, they were great musicians and entertainers. Once you get over the bell bottoms and sequins, you have to appreciate their extremely catchy pop songs. Plus, they would have been amazing to see live. Ladies and Gentlemen....THE OSMONDS!!!!!!

Squeeze me

Hey FB friends!! Time for another edition of "Friday Night Happy Hour Video Date" with your host Pete. This is our 3rd episode and tonight I'd like to honour a request from my Sister-in-Law Mary, who obviously has great taste in music and is a big fan of the show. From 1980 comes "Another Nail in My Heart" by Squeeze. This British band is often overlooked as one of the best and most influential of the 80's revolution. Which begs the question, what was your life like in 1980...where were you...what were you doing? Love to hear back some comments. And if you have a request for next week, send it to me by e-mail. Thanks for listening!

When Johnny comes marching home

Time for another edition of ""Friday Night Happy Hour Video Date" with your
host Pete (coming to you this week LIVE from Vernon B.C.) Thanks for all your comments on our inaugural show last week. This episode, we change gears and feature a song from one of my favourite all-time bands, The Clash. I think this live performance captures the raw energy that they possessed. What do you think?

We're ON THE AIR!

OK Facebook friends here is something new. Starting tonight, I plan to feature a music video from the past on my FB page - a regular gig - "Friday Night Happy Hour Video Date" with your host Pete. I'll try and pick interesting videos that will range from the 60's to today, and I'd love your comments and to see an open discussion about them. We start off with a classic from 1985, "Take On Me". I have always loved this video for the story it tells. Even by today's standards, the SFX are great, and the song....well can you remember what you were doing the first time you heard it? See you next Friday.

Postscript: The origin of Friday Night Happy Hour Video Date was on Facebook, however we moved to this blog format in January 2011.