The Headstones (Hugh Dillon Vocals, Tim White Bass, Trent Carr Lead Guitar & Dale Harrison Drums) played what seems to be their now traditional one and only open air show each summer as first day headliners at the K-Days festival in Edmonton, the second all ages show of this tour, something Hugh and Trent were reminded of when they did an interview with 100.3 The Bear, a request I found very strange as when you book a band with the reputation and energy these guys and Hugh in particular generate on stage to ask them to check their language seemed bizzare.

As the sun set on a day which had started with torrential downpours and high winds the Headstones took the stage and raised the temperature of the crowd to molten levels with “Binthiswayforyears” all the while Hugh trying to make good on his radio interview request by missing out the profanity only to have it not go to plan as the crowd were more then happy to fill in the blanks.
As the rock and roll train continued out of the station “Mystery To Me”, “Pinned You Down” and “Something Stand For Nothing” thundered out on the evening air and I wouldn’t be surprised if it wasn’t heard all the way to Calgary.

Bouncing around the stage and climbing all over the rigging and top of the massive speakers Hugh could get a true view of the whole audience and their enthusiastic reaction to “1 x 1” which is the b-side to the new vinyl single “Fuck it” due for release this December and which for obviously reasons didn’t get performed that night.
“Tweeter And The Monkey Man” and “Settle” came up next all with massive crowd particiation and then two of the three songs from Love + Fury played that night “Longwaytoneverland” which Hugh informed the crowd to “put ear muffs on the kids as it was going to get a little bumpy” all of which was totally ignored by the already hyped up audience who were then rewarded with “Farawayfromhere” a tune that doesn’t get played to often.

This outstanding set list continued with “Unsound” and the fantastic “Oh My God” cut with The Rolling Stones “Sympathy For The Devil” which never fails to get the crowd jumping and the band absolutely nail this song and I must admit it’s the ultimate show anthem and when this rolled into Three Angels you just think to yourself it doesn’t get much better then this and actually I’m at a loss to how it could, with Tim’s thumping bassline, Trent’s lead guitar hitting every note with perfection, Dale keeping everyone totally together and Hugh working the audience like a master puppeteer “Losing Control”, “SOS” (yes Abba’s SOS) mixed with “Changemyways” which was genius and “Do That Thing” which has made a resurrection brought this outstanding show to sensational end.
With daylight gone and the darkness now letting up to the awesome lightshow the encore erupted to “Smile & Wave” with a little help from “Eve Of Destruction” only to have us all end up down at the “Cemetary” not that anyone had any objections too, nor did they when we were all “Cubically Contained”, but all good things must come to an end and it did with Rancid’s “Journey To The End Of The East Bay”.

Well that’s what we all thought as Hugh left the stage leaving Tim, Trent and Dale playing their usual explosive final jam only to have him returned and decided the audience needed to witness a ‘Keith Moon moment’ and all of a sudden much to everyones surprise and delight trashed the drum kit while Dale was still playing, and to be honest I’m not sure who was more shocked the band or the audience but its this crazy display that makes these guys one of the most ultimate rock and roll bands around today.

And so this small summer tour was at an end and all I can say is that fans were subjected to old, new and not played for a long time songs which were dusted off and played like they had been in the set list on a regular basis and that totally killed each and every show and I believe left no fan disappointed because as normal with these guys you got the fully loaded, no bullshit experience that only leaves you wanting more, and to quote Hugh Dillon “There are only two words you ever need to remember, one is ROCK and the other one is ROLL.”
So all that leaves me to say is Hugh, Tim, Trent and Dale thank you for another awesome tour and here’s to next time maybe later this year.
[Tweet “@realhughdillon @timwhite @trentcarr @theheadstones ROCK Edmonton at K-DAYS REVIEW by Karon Hagon @Lngway2neverlnd “]
Photo copyright Karon Hagon