Rockin' Chair
SO last night my man took me to see a coupe of Canadian bands--fortunately these were big enough that I had heard of them in the US, even played them on the radio when I was dj-ing. We went up to Casina Rama in Orillia, Ontario, fully armed with $20 each to blow on slots. We're big spenders that way.
It was the occasion of our eleventh wedding anniversary. We try to do something special each year, even if it is just a good restaurant. We left at about 4pm headed to the Casino about 2 hours away with doors opening at 7, concert at 8. I was amused when we passed a stretch limo on the way up. I joked it was probably the band. It actually was.
Dinner was at A & W Root Beer, which I had never been to in Canada. I had the "Grandma Burger) which, now that I think about it, foreshadowed the night.
I've been a long time Wendy's fan, but this burger was amazing. Seriously delicious (sans horseradish sauce of course). The only thing that keeps me from making A & W my new favorite restaurant is that they don't serve ice. They don't even HAVE ice. If you know me, you'll understand my frustration.
Off to the casino where it took me almost an hour to lose my $20. I tend to be fairly lucky at casinos and lotteries--not big wins, its just I usually break even. This was the case on the nickel slots. But I eventually got down to just 15 cents and it was time to go find our concert seats.
I have to tell you, the entertainment venue is amazing. Half of it is floor seating and the riser seating is about the same as a modern movie theater. It can hold 5000 total but it does so very intimently. We had east floor seats (facing the stage we were to the left) in row 11 at the outer end of the row. It was pretty comfortable, although I'm not sure I would want these seats at the kind of concert where people are standing all the time. That wasn't the case here. Not because the bands were bad, but the crowd was--lets just say thier mosh pit days were OVER.
I snuck in my tiny video camera and voice recorders just to see if I COULD get past security and shoot something. It was a walk in the park, although later there was an older usher harassing folks with iphones. We were near the door so it was easy to watch the people amble in. It was like a geriatric field trip. Walkers, canes, scooters and crutches abounded and I would say that hair was conspicuously absent. Nobody flicked thier Bic. There was a bit of a crowd in front of the stage, but the big screen shots we saw made us giggle. Gray haired ladies reaching for the stars. Dentured men gently bopping up and down to the music. Cougars (read: women in thier late 40's who think they are sexy) with serious sag in dropped necklines below their jowls. It was depressing. It was even more depressing when we realized we were there too. Maybe not in front of the stage, but hubby is bald and I have a cane so obviously-to our chagrin-we fit right in.
The concert was a benefit for Radio for Radiology, a fundraiser to get new radiological cancer treatment machines in the local hospital at Orillia/Muskoka. After ticket sales of this concert they are only $20,000 away from their half million dollar goal. Astounding success. Casino Rama donated the venue and the acts
appeared either free or at cost. Two radio stations and several local businesses partnered in this endeavor and the equipment will be installed this fall. The opening band, Code Blue, was formed from surgeons from RVH and they didn't suck! The first headliner was Glass Tiger (Don't forget me when I'm Gone). I really enjoyed them.
(here are their then and now photos)
and a grainy live clip from last night
And the top headliner was April Wine (Just Between You and Me and Sign of the Gypsy Queen). I didn't realize they had been around since 1969!
{Old, newer and Current Photos)
This band was definitely Doug's favorite. A little too hard rock for my taste, but they can still rock!
(obligatory pirate video)
So there were were, rockin' from our chairs on the floor of Casino Rama. Old, and loving it!
It was the occasion of our eleventh wedding anniversary. We try to do something special each year, even if it is just a good restaurant. We left at about 4pm headed to the Casino about 2 hours away with doors opening at 7, concert at 8. I was amused when we passed a stretch limo on the way up. I joked it was probably the band. It actually was.
Dinner was at A & W Root Beer, which I had never been to in Canada. I had the "Grandma Burger) which, now that I think about it, foreshadowed the night.
I've been a long time Wendy's fan, but this burger was amazing. Seriously delicious (sans horseradish sauce of course). The only thing that keeps me from making A & W my new favorite restaurant is that they don't serve ice. They don't even HAVE ice. If you know me, you'll understand my frustration.Off to the casino where it took me almost an hour to lose my $20. I tend to be fairly lucky at casinos and lotteries--not big wins, its just I usually break even. This was the case on the nickel slots. But I eventually got down to just 15 cents and it was time to go find our concert seats.
I have to tell you, the entertainment venue is amazing. Half of it is floor seating and the riser seating is about the same as a modern movie theater. It can hold 5000 total but it does so very intimently. We had east floor seats (facing the stage we were to the left) in row 11 at the outer end of the row. It was pretty comfortable, although I'm not sure I would want these seats at the kind of concert where people are standing all the time. That wasn't the case here. Not because the bands were bad, but the crowd was--lets just say thier mosh pit days were OVER.
I snuck in my tiny video camera and voice recorders just to see if I COULD get past security and shoot something. It was a walk in the park, although later there was an older usher harassing folks with iphones. We were near the door so it was easy to watch the people amble in. It was like a geriatric field trip. Walkers, canes, scooters and crutches abounded and I would say that hair was conspicuously absent. Nobody flicked thier Bic. There was a bit of a crowd in front of the stage, but the big screen shots we saw made us giggle. Gray haired ladies reaching for the stars. Dentured men gently bopping up and down to the music. Cougars (read: women in thier late 40's who think they are sexy) with serious sag in dropped necklines below their jowls. It was depressing. It was even more depressing when we realized we were there too. Maybe not in front of the stage, but hubby is bald and I have a cane so obviously-to our chagrin-we fit right in.
The concert was a benefit for Radio for Radiology, a fundraiser to get new radiological cancer treatment machines in the local hospital at Orillia/Muskoka. After ticket sales of this concert they are only $20,000 away from their half million dollar goal. Astounding success. Casino Rama donated the venue and the acts
appeared either free or at cost. Two radio stations and several local businesses partnered in this endeavor and the equipment will be installed this fall. The opening band, Code Blue, was formed from surgeons from RVH and they didn't suck! The first headliner was Glass Tiger (Don't forget me when I'm Gone). I really enjoyed them.(here are their then and now photos)
and a grainy live clip from last night
And the top headliner was April Wine (Just Between You and Me and Sign of the Gypsy Queen). I didn't realize they had been around since 1969!
{Old, newer and Current Photos)
This band was definitely Doug's favorite. A little too hard rock for my taste, but they can still rock!
(obligatory pirate video)
So there were were, rockin' from our chairs on the floor of Casino Rama. Old, and loving it!
Posted by Robin Bellamy at 8/21/2011 5:20 PM 
Categories: On Life
Tags: Casino Rama April WIne Old Glass Tiger Code Blue
Categories: On Life
Tags: Casino Rama April WIne Old Glass Tiger Code Blue
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