Calgary Music History: Shows that Changed My Life

Written by Pete Emes of Smalltown DJs

A great live show can have lifelong impact. Calgary born and raised Pete Emes, now a world touring DJ and producer, recounts his most memorable live music moments and the Calgary venues that made them happen.

I specifically remember going to a party at the Rock Central house for the first time around 94 or 95. And I was definitely there for the first Stampede Breakfast - it was hilarious, a freak show. Really really crazy, like homeless ladies slow dancing with German Shepherds and stuff. But the music was always raw and wild, and funny, if not played perfectly. It was so punk. Rock Central directly or indirectly spawned The A-Team, The Dudes, The Infernos (who played at my 18th birthday party too, no joke), Dojo Workhorse, Matt Masters, as well as comedians Paul Spence, Dave Lawrence and Andy Sparacino from Fubar, and Pat Kelly from CBC and Comedy Central (@thepatkelly).

In Pat’s words: “I lived in Rock Central for 6 months and all I remember is the not stop Jamming and joking. The house was so isolated that noise was never an issue and so 7 nights a week different combinations of people would invent new bands. Out of this time period came the “Dudes” of which I can lay claim to being their original drummer. (which if you have heard me drum…is perhaps the biggest joke of all). I have a ton of memories of that period of my life…but my biggest has to be the very first “Rock Central Stampede Breakfast”. We not only thought that Calgarians deserved another option for Stampede entertainment…but we also thought it was hilarious that it should be us. So we built a stage in the backyard, rented a griddle and suggested people show up around 11ish. To our surprise people came…and from what I understand they continued to come year after year for about 10…until the house was leveled.”