Code Blue & The Hoolies Rock The Inn

News: November 2, 2018

If you made it out to the Red Rock Inn on Friday night (November 2), you were in for a treat. Don Evans, owner of the 5 star Hotel has been continually working to make the Inn not just a beautiful place to stay, but a year round source for entertainment. The growing crowd was treated to the sounds of Code Blue and headliners, The Hoolies fresh from their sold out show at the Thunder Bay Auditorium Tuesday night. I had the chance to sit down and speak to members of both bands.

Gord Ahl, vocalist, lead guitar and drum programmer extraordinaire has been playing since age 11, and the Nipigon group consisting of Ron Hudson and Larry Rowley have played local gigs for years, and rocked their way to the West coast and back again. Gord was inspired by a rock a guitar player at Dorion Bible Camp and instantly knew that’s what he wanted to do. In terms of genre, Gord’s influences include Classical, Rock, Jazz, and notably Stevie Ray Vaughan, whose brilliant style of playing has been studied and emulated. The band’s origins reach back to 1972 and are still rocking today with covers and their own compositions. You can come see Code Blue play the Nipigon Legion on November 10.

Stephen Clark, of Thunder Bay with both The Sensational Hot Rods and The Hoolies is lead vocalist, harmonist and lead guitar player. The band has opened for Trooper, Harlequin, Honeymoon Suite, Prism, Kenny Shields, Helix, Collin James, and Nazareth, from Arizona to BC to the East Coast and all points in between. Beginning over 20 years ago with the Sensational Hot Rods 50’s era music, and also enjoying rocking the scene with The Hoolies, Steve said, “As far as The Hoolies, we love this little band because we get to really play the songs that are close to our hearts, we don’t really do it for a job, or for big money, we do it for the love of it, really.” 

The secret to the longevity of the band Steve said, “Most bands last 2-3 years, and really you’re only minutes away from a break up at any time. I been the leader of both of these bands for 20 years, and I don’t believe in democracy in a band, because I’ve seen it ruin too many. I believe you have to have a captain at the head of the ship to say we’re doing this, we’re doing that. Because then there’s no, ‘well I don’t think we should do that kind of stuff.’ 

Steve also added, “And one of the biggest ways to keep them together is to pay them. Pay them a good wage, and when you pay them they have a tendency to take little bit more of your grief, a little bit more of the situation, because there’s always a lot of situations you gotta go through, you’re always walking into events blind, and when they get their paycheck it kind of softens the blow of any crap that went on getting there.”

The Hoolies Performing at the Red Rock Inn

The harmony of The Sensational Hod Rods was brought into the Hoolies, the band also consists of Jason Bozec (harmony, lead guitar,) Robert Elliot (harmony, bassist,) Mauri Marchand (harmony, drummer) and during my time listening to them they surprised me with a country song I’m in a Hurry (and Don’t Know Why) by Alabama, the harmony was evident in the smile on my face. 

Steve said, “I love Red Rock, this community and Nipigon, and maybe one day I will buy a house here, the music business will have to slow down a bit first.” He also said, “I’ve known Don Evans for quite a while and to come in and play the old Red Rock Inn, I’m really looking forward to it.”

It was an excellent show, the sound was great and there were many people in attendance clearly enjoying it, as well as Mr. Tommy Horricks supporting the band, of which I had the pleasure of finally meeting and interviewing.

You can drop in at The Sensational Hot Rods and download 54 free tracks consisting of covers and originals for free today.

Unpublished week of November 6-13

Dee McCullay