Raising a little hell for Riverboat Days Canadian icons share the stage with local bands THEY’RE here for a good time. A 90-minute free concert by Canadian classic rockers Troo- per is expected to pack the park this Saturday, It’s the first time Concerts in the Park has headlined a major rock act. And organizer Tony DeMelo hopes the 5 p.m. performance will help put the spotlight on the 17 other northwest perfor- mers that will share the band- shell stage through the River- boat Days weekend. “We wanted to bring in a real big entertainer,” DeMelo said. “Probably the only thing known better in Canada is the Stanley Cup.” Even that’s questionable. A Canadian who doesn’t re- cognize “Raise a Little Heil”, “The Boys in the Bright White Sports Car”, or “General Hand Grenade” likely lived in some remote outpost beyond the reach of AM radio. So etched into the Canadian psyche is Trooper, that its be- loved Can-con rock anthems have been adapted by politi- cans and comedians. The federal Liberals and the Reform party have both used “Raise a Little Hell” as their campaign theme. - And This Hour has 22 Min- ‘utes has repeatedly used Troo- ‘per songs, leading Parliament Hilt politicians and overseas peacekeepers in singalongs of -“Raise a Little Hell”, and “We're Here For a Good - Time”, respectively. Youthful music listeners _ might be quick to condemn the ‘band as dinosaurs, Canada’s - low-budget version of the Roll- - ing Stones or Supertramp. But even young Terrace re- _. Likewise, CANADIAN ICON: Rick Mercer of This Hour has 22 Minutes, left, with Trooper front man Ra MCGuire. sidents not yet born when Troa- per soared to fame in the 1970s were seen singing along to the ald hits when the balding band rocked the Terrace Inn last summer. “Whenever I’ve seen them live anywhere they are a phe- nomenal, phenomenal act,” DeMelo says. He confesses to first seeing Trooper 26 years ago as a child at the Terrace arena in 1976. They’re marked by a sense of fun, energy and a blue-collar earnestness. The product: a full- out straight ahead foot-stomp- ing romp, puncutated by senti- mental - okay, mushy — love ballads. Some of their songs bring with them a distinctly north- west flavour. “We're Here For A Good Time” refers to “this rainy city” and counsels listen- ers to “have a good time, the sun can’t shine every day.” was reputédly inspired by a party on the boat of Prince Ru- pert fisherman-turned-city- councillor Paddy Greene. “Santa.:Maria” ». Trooper at its essence is 52- year-old lead singer Ra Mc- Guire and guitarist Brian Smith. Newer band members have filled in the gaps in the roster over time. Although the hits dried up in the 1980s, the band never stop- ped touring. The sound remains the same, and with it the repu- tation Trooper claims as Cana- da’s number one party band. Trooper plays here the night after performing at Rockfest in Vanderhoof, a pair of gigs sandwiched between stops in Manitoba, Vancouver and Otta- wa, The free performance here is paid for by Sight and Sound, CFNR, and Telus Mobility. Concerts in the Park opens Saturday afternoon around 12:30 with Kitimat band What’s His Name and the Other Guys. Sunday will start out on soft notes with groups such as CRC, but shift to harder-edged rock sounds after 4 p.m. with bands Fableway, Marmalade, and the, closer, Neurotic Dog, Looking For Auto Parts? Drop By Today & Check Out Our Large Selection! POLARIS The Way Out. Sportsman 500 H.O. Complete with 2000 Lb. 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