Bumper to Bumper, the Assiniboia Times, Nelson GM, Ryan’s ATV, the Town of Assiniboia, Brandon Wiebe Graphic Design, the Assiniboia Kinsmen and Cat Country presented a free drive-in concert at the Assiniboia Fairgrounds on August 20.
According to figures provided by Great West Electric (Bumper to Bumper) “Justin LaBrash and True North played to a crowd of over 185 vehicles and 450 people last night at one of Saskatchewan’s biggest Drive-In concerts this summer.”
Moreover, $1690 was raised in donations for Assiniboia and district’s new recreational complex.
Justin LaBrash and True North played their brand of country rock starting at 8 p.m. for hundreds of people who arrived for the largest outdoor event to be held this summer in this corner of Southwest Saskatchewan during the pandemic.
The concert was held in compliance with SHA regulations. Participants were asked to keep within an arm’s reach of their vehicles. Visiting between vehicles wasn’t permitted and hand sanitizer was provided along with disinfectant wipes to prevent any possibilities of COVID-19 transmission at the event.
With all of these security measures in place, the crowd were still able to enjoy LaBrash and True North’s presentation of raucous country mixed with tinges of rockabilly, interspersed with the country artist’s melancholic ballads.
LaBrash has acknowledged a kitbag of country and rock influences, including Brett Kissel, Blink 182, Garth Brooks and Dwight Yoakam, making Thursday night’s gig an evening of musical surprises.
The band opened with their rendition of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Fishin’ in the Dark from 1987.
“How’s it going Assiniboia?” LaBrash asked the audience. “That’s terrible,” he responded in a gravelly voice somewhat reminiscent of a younger Van Morrison. “Let’s make some noise,” he shouted back, prompting an orchestra of car honks.
The night encompassed a carnival-like atmosphere, with energized families and friends sitting together in cars and pick-up trucks, cheering and honking horns throughout the evening. There was also a stand at the event hawking BeaverTails pastries.
“Nobody knows how to party like Saskatchewanians,” LaBrash declared. “So, we wrote a song about it,” he said before launching into an audience favourite, Party like Saskatchewan.
LaBrash and True North had their quieter moments too, such as the country ballad, Miss You – a tearful, brooding melody comparable to George Harrison’s gloomier solo efforts, but with a countrified twist.
LaBrash’s song See you in the Stars had a stronger and more distinctive country sound without losing the wistful edge – a thoughtful quality featured in many of LaBrash’s ballads.
LaBrash and True North are also fans of early rock and roll and country, seen through their performance of Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues with super-cool metallic guitar breaks.
The band also played Blue Suede Shoes from Carl Perkins (made famous by Elvis Presley) with the same vigour of those Jukebox originators from the 1950s.
“I’ve got to pull out some moves with this one,” LaBrash announced before digging into this Sun Records classic from 1955, pulsating with garage and surf rock distortion.
