Bad Copy

It never ceases to amaze me the energy that an intimate venue carries when you watch a band tear it up onstage. Sunday evening saw SoCal legends Good Riddance headline in small mountain town Banff in Alberta, Canada. Wrapping up a short tour with supporting act A Vulture Wake, Good Riddance still brought that punk rock grit after years of being on the road with a long list of fan favorite tunes. I was so stoked to be a part of the evening. There is just something about being in a smaller room watching one of your favorite bands do what they love for you to rock out to.

Sunday night began with local Calgary, AB openers The Foul English. Heavily inspired by UK punk sounds of the 70’s and 80’s hardcore, TFE brought a fresh variety to the evenings bill.

Next up, A Vulture Wake (members of Lagwagon, ALL, Drag The River, Good Riddance, Real McKenzies) hit the ground running with a fast-paced set and melodic riffs for all present. I will admit, I didn’t quite know what to expect when I heard of these guys. Typically, and I’m just speaking for myself here, when a band comes out and part of the draw is “including members of-” it falls flat for me. But dudes, A Vulture Wake isn’t one of those ‘hey we’re bored, let’s make a new punk band’ types. The musical talents of each member of AVW lend perfectly here. This is a band best enjoyed live, loud, and up close.

Closing out the night, Good Riddance hit the stage with all force. From stage diving, to mid-set audience scraps, and a fake puppet Owl propped up to “Letters Home,” GR’s set was a blast from start to finish. A perfect way to spend an evening in the mountains. Check out the gallery below for photos of the night.