Kid gets knocked out by Doc Walker (photos)

I have a confession to make.

I didn't hate Doc Walker.

In fact, I really, really enjoyed them.

Under the mistaken impression that the music of Doc Walker was New Country, of which I am definitely not a fan, I intended on snapping my photos, hanging around for a few songs, then hightailing it outta there.

But the band's Southern Rock feel, raw energy and superb musicianship, especially that of guitar player Murray Pulver, compelled me to take in the entire show.

While Doc Walker had almost 1,800 Saultites on their feet, singing along to every word last night at the Essar Centre, all of this excited proved too much for young Connor Simms who was spotted sound asleep on dad's shoulder near the end of the show.

For Angela Burley, who showed up at the Essar Centre at 5 p.m. in order to secure her front-row-centre seat, the concert was just right.

Beautiful Life, Burley's favourite Doc Walker tune, made her first Essar Centre concert that much more memorable.

Other fan favs included in the set list were Driving With the Breaks On, Get Up, One Last Sundown, Annabelle, and Rocket Girl.

Obviously having a great time on stage, everyone was a bit shocked when the band broke into a killer version of KISS's I Was Made For Loving You.

Inviting opening performer Tara Oram on stage to share vocals, this morphed into a medley of the Bee Gee's Staying Alive, Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive, and Alabama's Mountain Music.

"We're proud Canadians," front man Chris Thorsteinson told the audience prior to the band's encore. "We'd like to pay tribute to some of the Manitoba bands we grew up listening to."

With this, Murray Pulver pulled an impressive baritone as he stepped up to the mic to sing The Crash Test Dummies' Superman's Song.

Naturally, others included in the tribute were the Guess Who's American Woman, BTO's You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet and Neil Young's Rockin' in the Free World.

The night ended with Doc Walker's own She Hasn't Always Been This Way.

Although the show took place in a 4,500-seat arena, Doc Walker's skill, diverse set list and genuine love of performing turned the Essar Centre into an intimate club, with the audience as the band's number one priority.

Be sure to check out www.docwalker.ca in about a month's time to see Sault audience footage shot by Thorsteinson during the show.