Lose control with Van Halen cover band at the Bert Church Theatre

You might as well Jump when Loss of Control: The Van Halen Experience perform at the Bert Church Theatre on Feb. 23.

The Van Halen tribute band, featuring Airdrie’s own Russ Hamilton on bass, is headlining SLAM (Supporting Local Area Musicians) Halen, in support of SLAM’s Picks for Performing Arts.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and opening act Twenty Two Years, based out of Calgary, will get the night started at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $10 in advance and can be purchased online at www.slaminairdrie.com, at Music Centre Canada’s Airdrie and Calgary North locations or at The Hair Lounge in Airdrie. Tickets will cost $15 at the door.

SLAM in Airdrie president Jay Stoudt explained the non-profit society creates opportunities like SLAM Halen for local musicians to perform, as well as a support network for musicians to bounce ideas off one another.

At SLAM Halen, they will also be selling Picks for Performing Arts.

“Picks for Performing Arts is a fundraising event that we’re doing for the Bert Church Theatre expansion,” said Stoudt. “The theatre is going to be building a new lobby and multi-function area and we’re raising funds to help enhance the patrons’ experience and to help the musicians as well.”

Those who purchase one of the guitar picks for $20 will write their name on it. The picks will be lacquered into the bistro tables once the renovations are complete in the new multi-function area.

“We have a pretty aggressive goal to raise a considerable amount of funds,” said Stoudt, adding that they hope to sell 3,000 picks by the end of 2014 and raise $60,000. “So far it’s not really going quite to plan, but we’re getting there and slowly building up our money to help with the expansion.”

Hamilton, who is also on the SLAM committee as its secretary, said he started with Loss of Control about a year ago, but the Calgary-based band had already been around for a few years prior to that.

“At the time, I was trying to start a Pink Floyd tribute band and it turned out that the singer hadn’t bothered to learn his stuff,” said Hamilton. “At the time, I was in the zone thinking a tribute would be cool. I’ve been anal about learning songs and playing them. If you’re going to do cover songs, playing them exactly like they’re supposed to sound, instead of doing a hack version, so a tribute band is right up my alley.”

A mutual friend pointed Hamilton towards the Van Halen tribute band that was in need of a bass player at the time so he decided to join up.

“We play them as accurately as we can … trying to get their moves down and their stage presentation,” explained Hamilton of his band.

All the proceeds from SLAM Halen will also be going towards the renovations to the Bert Church Theatre.

SLAM in Airdrie will hold its annual general meeting in the Co-op room of the Airdrie Co-op on March 13 at 7 p.m. Their next event will be held in conjunction with the Rocky View Roller Derby Association at the Woodside Golf Course featuring the band Steady the Wheel on April 20.

Go to www.slaminairdrie.com for more information.