Hitzone, Vancouver Band, at Lulu's Lounge, River Rock Casino!

Shawn Soucy, Tom Arntzen, Rachael Chatoor, Russell Marsland, Billy Mendoza

Our biggest thanks to Paddy Manning for the audience cam videos~ 

                       We had a brilliant weekend at Lulus. Thank you to the River Rock Casino!

Gigging with HitZone at the fabulous Commodore Ballroom

The last time I was at the Commodore I was backstage shooting video of Loverboy for Kelly and Rach's All Access Pass. Last weekend I was fortunate enough to not just be backstage, but onstage.

And oh what a stage,  it was magnificent....I felt free as a bird!

The Commodore Ballroom. It's a legendary venue and many of the greatest bands and musical acts ever to pass through Vancouver have performed there over the years. Getting the opportunity to perform up on that stage is something of a massive thrill, not to mention a complete cakewalk as the staff and sound technicians at the Commodore treated us like gold.

So, I thought I would share some of my behind the scenes iPhone pictures from last weekend as my band HitZone played at the Commodore for a corporate event. I only took pics at soundcheck, but some of the band members took some live shots which I thought I would share also!

At sound check, I walked into the beautifully set up venue... Wow! It already felt like a party.

Russell Marsland, guitar genius and soul man getting his tones and sound set up during sound check.

Shawn Soucy, dialing in his monitor sounds so he can drive the bus with his solid, funky, outstanding beats and rhythms.

Billy Mendoza, grooving, driving the bus with Shawn and keeping the low notes .

Tom "check, check, hook me up with a wireless cause I'll probably jump into the crowd and party with the dancers"  Arntzen.

Outstanding horn players Bill Abbott and John Korsrud joined us for the night!  (Sorry John I only had this shot where your back is turned...)

And then, we took to the stage.....and oh what a night!

I love my job, so much!

Just thought I'd share a little peek with you all!

Happy Holidays everyone!

Hugs, Rach!

photo blog Robson Square Skating rink, vancouver band, the Hitmen~

Last week I sang at the re-opened Robson Square skating rink. As a Vancouver born and raised resident of this city, I'd like to say that I  am simply delighted to see the skating rink being  used once again.   I feel very privileged to have been up on that beautiful stage putting on a great show for people of all ages with excellent musicians like the Hitmen. This was the kind of gig that felt like an intimate concert; people paid attention,  children enchanted us with their dancing, everyone moved, sang along or clapped in time whenever we asked them to......   and the natural theatre shaped setting meant the energy flowed back and forth between  the band and the audience exactly  the way it is supposed to. It was the ancient campfire on a chilly winter night and everyone spoke the same musical language and I guess in a way,  we were the storytellers.  

I love nights like that.

Photos courtesy of Thesa Pakarnyk

Tom Arntzen~Rachael Chatoor~Nathen Aswell~Shawn Soucy~Russell Marsland

The Hitmen

By the way, I think you should book us for your next event!
The Hitmen

Rach xo

Christmas at the Commodore Ballroom

                                                                      

 The Hitmen

Kent Wallace, Bill Abbott, Tom Arntzen, Rachael Chatoor, James Wright, Shawn Soucy, Nathen Aswell
                                                               

So last Satuday night I was singing with the fabulous Hitmen at the Commodore Ballroom  which is a Live Nation venue in Vancouver BC. It was truly an exciting end to a fantastic year. 

As I strolled around backstage during soundcheck, it occured to me that just last year I was there filming the Loverboy videos with Kelly Brock, feeling  in complete awe of the venue and the stage that has hosted some of  the most talented artists and exciting concerts this city has seen. Now here I was, about to be front and centre on the same stage with an amazing band being treated like royalty and I even had my own dressing room.

The gig was a blast and the band was on fire. The sound was amazing, the stage was vast and I was completely free to fly, so I did. I felt like a million bucks.

There really is not a lot more to say other than  just share a few pics from the night!

Nathan with his famous Stick ( a bass/guitar combo) and James Wright

(who sat in for Russell Marsland on guitar).

Its awesome playing any gig with Shawn Soucy, a long time dear and trusted friend, I

always feel very secure onstage knowing Shawn is laying down the beats.

No kidding, Tom is just fun onstage, another nutter of a showman I can  play off of and be goofy with.

The horn section just brings thing to the next level! LOVE it!

Watch out for my Vodoo child, watch out for my Vodoo.

I am glad to report that it all went very well, the client sent us a warm email saying he got floods of compliments from the crowd and that he thought it was the best he had seen the band,  he even pointed out the new vocalist was terrific (the new vocalist being me)!

So I ended the year with quite a bang, I am so thankful. This was my last gig of 2009 and it couldn't have been a more fantastic event to close with. I worked hard throughout the last year to get here, I wanted this gig very much, wanted to play with these boys more than anything and I admit I pushed and wished for a long time.  It didn't come easy  but I never gave up, and now, here I am, feeling very much like part of the family. It's been totally worth it. Thank you to the boys for taking a chance on me.

Looking back I am proud, and I am walking into 2010 feeling ready to take on any challenge.

This folks,  is only the begining.

Happy Holidays to you all, be good, be strong, face your difficulties head on and keep your chin up. Things always work out they way they are supposed to.

Talk to you soon........xox