The Tea Party at River Cree on Black River Tour

The Tea Party made it’s way into the Edmonton area on it’s Black River Tour across Canada and down the American West Coast before working their way into Australia.

Most wouldn’t think to put a band on the bill with any reference to “roots” or “country” on the same bill as Canadian Rock group The Tea Party but there’s something about the unique sound of “roots rock and country roll” that works incredible well and the fans are soaking in the Proud Sons on the Black River Tour across Canada.

Word must be getting out on them because you usually don’t see most people ready and in their seats at the start of a concert in anticipation for the opening act, but the River Cree Resort had few stragglers come in once they took the stage and even fewer missing it all together … they were all ready for all the music that was coming off the stage.

 

 

For almost 30 years, through more than a dozen Juno nods, millions of albums sold worldwide, numerous tours all over the globe and many more within Canada, Ontario native The Tea Party marched out on stage at precisely 10pm and made a Canadian Rock statement that they are still a force to be reckoned with on stage.  They played through nearly 2 full hours of their classics, making a few covers their own, including Nickelback and U2, and of course some new music a few years in the making, which is what’s prompted the tour and it’s name!

 

Everything about the custom drum kit, the massive Black River banner and the strut out from backstage to open the set screamed we still got it goin on and the crowd was up on its feet ready for the ride before the changeover from the Proud Sons set was complete.

 

 

 

 

No one could stop staring at the drum set up.  As soon as its lights – and just its lights – were turned on before the start of the set, everyone was whipping out their phones for photos.  Those near the front even politely relinquished their spots to allow others to come through for unobstructed photos of the set up!  Definitely the coolest thing – and the best lit set up I’ve seen in a while.  There were some technical difficulties with it towards the end of the set, despite the crew checking everything twice before the show started.

 

 

I imaging THIS is the most captured image from photographers and fans across the entire tour.