Yukon Blonde and The Paint Movement united for a night of great rock music at Brixx Bar & Grill on November 7th.

The Paint Movement – who had a slow start to their set, but stepped it up by song three – played a tight set to warm the crowd up for Yukon Blonde. Their timing was impeccable, every band member played exactly the right note at exactly the right moment. Aesthetically, the band dressed the part – their clothing matching the hippie-rocker feel of their songs. However, what really sets The Paint Movement apart from other similar bands is their incorporation of a saxophone into their music. This gives it a home-y vibe – sort of like how your parents played their music in the car while you were a kid and too young to appreciate it – and in doing so, transformed a bar of strangers into a warm & friendly place. My only complaint was that the six-piece band didn’t have enough room to really spread out and move. I think that was the reason the crowd didn’t get as engaged with the music and the band as they could have, although plenty of people were smiling and nodding along with the beat. The Paint Movement is coming back through Edmonton this Sunday, November 13 at Wunderbar – it will be interesting to see how the six-piece act performs in a different space.

From the moment Yukon Blonde took to the stage, their energy was contagious. The lead singer, Jeff Innes, began the set by jumping in place for several beats before turning around and belting out the song. This is exactly how every band should start its set. Above all else, what struck me about Yukon Blonde was their authenticity. They were genuinely happy and excited to be at Brixx at that moment in time. As Innes said, “you know… if you weren’t here, we wouldn’t be playing, because the show would be canceled. That’s pretty mind-blowing when you think about it, so… thank-you.” Yukon Blonde’s music provided a slight change of pace from The Paint Movement. While The Paint Movement seemed to be more influenced by 60s rockers, Yukon Blonde – contrary to their recorded music – took out the softer, country music influences and played a set of pure rock and roll. I’m not talking screaming and swearing here, just genuinely fantastic guitars, tight drums, and strong vocals. Tons of hand clapping, head-banging and jumping ensued… and not just from the band. Fans were packed tightly around the stage, drawn in by the energy Yukon Blonde exuded.

– Jenna Marynowski