Calgary Vocalists to Perform Husker Du Classics with Original Bassist Greg Norton
In a landmark event for Calgary's music scene, local vocalists will join forces with Greg Norton, the original bassist of the pioneering Minneapolis punk band Husker Du, for a special performance at Dickens on April 24. This will be followed by a show at The Buckingham in Edmonton on April 25, marking Norton's first return to Calgary since Husker Du's final appearance in the city in 1982.
Reviving a Historic Connection
Husker Du's last Calgary show took place on June 5, 1982, at the now-demolished Calgarian Hotel, a venue that played a crucial role in the city's nascent punk scene during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The band performed 13 songs, including tracks from their hardcore-punk live debut Land Speed Record and future classics like Everything Falls Apart and Diane. Norton recalls the venue as "a crazy spot" and "a decrepit hotel," noting it was later torn down after a fire in 1986.
While Husker Du's former guitarist-singer Bob Mould has played Calgary multiple times, and drummer-singer Grant Hart may have performed here solo before his death in 2017, Norton has not returned until now. This makes his upcoming appearance particularly significant for fans of the band's influential music.
The Greg Norton and Buddies Program
The performance is part of a program called Greg Norton and Buddies, which features Norton, guitarist Jon Snodgrass, and drummer David Jarnstrom playing Husker Du songs as instrumentals while local vocalists take on the singing duties. Norton emphasizes that this is not karaoke, but rather a tribute to Husker Du that gives musician friends the opportunity to perform with the band's original member.
"We try to get people who actually have a musical background and know what it's like to perform on stage," Norton says. "For the most part, it works out really great. Every once in a while, you get somebody who gets up there and freezes, but we're there to pick up the slack."
A Birthday Celebration and Musical Tribute
The event will also serve as a 50th birthday celebration for Darren Ollinger, lead vocalist of the Calgary punk band Julius Sumner Miller. Ollinger met Norton last year at the inaugural Buddies Fest in Tillsonburg, Ontario, and invited him to bring the act to Calgary and Edmonton. Ollinger will have a spreadsheet at the gig indicating which Husker Du songs are available for vocalists to perform.
Fans can expect to hear classics from Husker Du's extensive catalog, such as I Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely, Makes No Sense At All, and Pink Turns to Blue. The band, which broke up in the late 1980s, left behind a legacy that continues to inspire punk and alternative music today.
Looking Ahead to the Performance
This collaboration offers a unique chance for Calgary music enthusiasts to experience Husker Du's iconic songs performed by one of the band's original members, alongside local talent. It highlights the enduring impact of Husker Du's music and the vibrant punk community in Calgary, bridging past and present through a night of powerful performances.
