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Well, if you've read my previous reviews of Hanker, you're not surprised by the rating. :)

Another 5-hour drive to Quebec City, and it was well worth it.  This time the show was at a great bar called L'Arlequin, located in Old-Quebec City.  There was a good crowd, although I would have expected a little bit more.  The advantage was that no one got in my way when I wanted to get a beer. :)

The opening act was a Quebec City-area band called Prophecy.  They had a great set-list made up mostly of Metallica covers and some of their own material.  The Metallica covers were absolutely awesome.  Nothing from the Load albums, thank god!  Most songs were from the first three albums (the best).  Songs played include, but are not limited to:  Enter Sandman, Seek And Destroy, Master of Puppets, Creeping Death, etc...  I swear to you, their playing of those songs was near perfection!  They also play that stuff like Metallica did in their pre-Bob Rock era (i.e. the good old days.)  Their own material is somewhat speed/trash with a perceptible old-Metallica influence.  I bought their CD Nostradamus 1999 at the show, I will be reviewing it very soon.  A final note, they like to get the crowd to participate, and are overall a great live act.

Next came Hanker, and then the crowd really got excited.  They started with the first songs from their debut album, In Our World, and, as in the Sept. 11 show,  treated us with a few songs from their soon-to-be-released third album, Snakes And Ladders.   They also played a few songs from their second album, The Dead Ringer.  As for the first Hanker show I saw, the songs were wonderfully executed, and they got the crowd to participate in a few of those, most notably Staring At The Rain from their first album.  This was on the second comeback, the vocalist Pascal Cliche came back alone on stage, started singing and playing, and then the crowd started to sing along.  This was a really great moment.  Not long after, the other band members came back on stage and started playing full blast.  Just great.

I was surprised when I arrived at l'Arlequin and Pascal recognized me right away.  This is when I discovered I was on the guest list! ) We then went backstage where the other band members were, and those too recognized me right away.  Considering that I had only talked a few minutes with them at the first show,  I thought that was pretty cool!  Pascal mentioned I was crazy to drive for 5 hours to come to their show.  I told him that I didn't mind the driving (and the associated expense) when I know that it will be worth it.  I stand 110% behind this: if there is a chance you can see one of their show, go!  You won't regret it.  Satisfaction guaranteed or next time don't listen to me!

This was an excellent evening, above any expectations, and I look forward to a next show by both Hanker and Prophecy.  I'm going nuts over the wait for Hanker's Snakes And Ladders album.