March 28 2008 – The Royal 3 band bill

BBT shared the Royal stage with with "The Gruff" (The Gruff , a 3 women, 1 man band with stand-up bass, violin, a kick drum and a marching-style snare were beginning a cross-country tour) and "Kent McAlister and the Iron Choir" (Kent MacAlister shared the stage with BBT at ‘The Main’ in Vancouver last summer. This time BBT was warming up for him as he was bringing his band through on their Canadian tour).

In what may have been become their last show at ‘The Royal’ the boys played one of their strongest shows up to that point in time.

Set up began early in the afternoon while Steve and Mike worked at their paying jobs. Mark and Troy did the heavy lugging and setting up of stuff. As 5:00 pm rolled by Steve and Mike showed up and took over. Sound checks were done, monitors were set up and everything seemed to be ready to go.

The other bands showed up near dinnertime, and the 3 groups met, chatted, took pictures, drank some beer, and arranged for some downtime before the show.

The set list Big Bubba Tres played was; Mud Bound in the Prairies, 3 – Eyed Farm Boy, George Forman Grill, Whiskey Hit The Liver, Peanut Butter Tongue, Zombies in the Snow, Sister for your Knife, Rodeo Robots, Sea Monkey Drug Binge, Weasel on your Face, Like A Virgin, Utopia, and Weasel Mountain.

The show was a hit. BBT truly rocked. They played their set and tore down and hauled gear back to ‘the space’ while Kent set up. The place was packed – likely close to 200 people. Kent's set was a hit, And The Gruff took over and played until closing time.

People from both bands talked to Troy throughout the night and they all said that BBT should have headlined the show. They repeatedly said to the crowd that Fernie was very lucky to have a band like Big Bubba Tres as a ‘local band’ in their midst.

Tres was tight, their songs were well arranged, and the words were great. Comments made included “you are not a guitar driven band’, and both bands said that BBT could make it in Vancouver, if not nationally.

The Royal shut its doors ‘for good’ shortly after the show....