Right from the get-go 鈥� introduced as 鈥淐anada鈥檚 rock stars from the 1970s (pause), now, they鈥檙e IN their 70s鈥� 鈥� you knew it was going to be a fun night with The Stampeders.

And it was.

Canada鈥檚 rock stars from the 1970s sounded fantastic in their 70s as they delighted a capacity crowd at Vernon鈥檚 Performing Arts Centre with their catalogue of hits.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to play some old songs and some of our new songs,鈥� said drummer Kim Berly, who lives in Vernon. 鈥淥f course, by new songs, I mean from 1998.鈥�

Joined by fellow group originals Rich Dodson on guitar, and the always-hilarious Ronnie King on bass, Berly and The Stampeders covered all of their hits during the two, one-hour sets.

They opened with Dodson belting out Devil You, followed by Berly on lead vocal for Minstrel Gypsy.

King, quipping one-liners between songs all night, took his turn at the mic on In the Shadows, and Hit the Road, Jack, which included King鈥檚 tribute to the late famous disc jockey from American Graffiti fame, Wolfman Jack.

鈥淲olf鈥檚 up in heaven along with Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison,鈥� said King.

鈥淎nd Colonel Sanders,鈥� deadpanned Dodson.

Set two began with The Stamps doing a terrific cover of The Lovin鈥� Spoonful classic Summer In The City. After another four songs, the trio rattled off their three biggest hits in succession: Oh My Lady (Berly sounding phenomenal lead vocal), Sweet City Woman and Wild Eyes.

They ended the night with two encores, though they never left the stage and Berly told the audience why.

鈥淏y the time Ronnie gets off the stage and back to his spot, you鈥檙e going to be in bed.鈥�

After the show, the longtime bandmates gathered for a huge hug full of smiles and laughs all while receiving a raucous standing ovation.

Vernon was the third stop on their current 11-city, 13-day tour of B.C.

roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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