MUSIC: Fools Tongue channels Peter Gabriel
What a world where musicians can make music as progressive as the proggiest of prog-rock – in an Edmonton basement. Fools Tongue’s new album “New World” sounds like Sting meets Peter Gabriel in, er … words fail, a home recording studio. Don’t get that every day around these parts. “That’s our world,” says singer Luke […]
INTERVIEW: Sass Jordan on Canadian Idol, short attention spans
There is no alternate reality where American Idol and its ilk did not exist so we could all say, “See? Look how great popular music is without all these deluded show-offs to ruin it for everyone!” The Idols would’ve shown off anyway. These sort of TV talent shows just put inner workings of the pop […]
Has Black History Month lost its meaning?
The trouble with Black History Month isn’t over the fact that it happens to be the shortest month of the year. It’s the word “black.” Does it mean African, and if so what part of Africa? It’s a big continent. It could mean Caribbean or American, descendents of American slaves. And what about black people […]
Happy Valentine’s Day! Yanni’s coming, hint, hint
Hey Ladies! Who loves you? That’s right, Yanni loves you. Do you know who loves you even more? The man who buys you tickets to Yanni, who returns to the Jubilee Auditorium on Tuesday, Sept. 9. Tickets go on sale Friday – Valentine’s Day. Hint, hint. And this should really be directed at the men […]
Astounding CKUA changes: No one gets fired!
For more proof that the CKUA Radio Network is unlike almost any other radio network on Earth, look no further than the station’s impending “shake-up” that takes effect Feb. 18. They didn’t fire anybody! What’s a “change in direction” if they don’t ambush and heave overboard at least one notable radio personality? It happens all […]
Young Frankenstein the Musical a no brainer
Can anything be made into a musical? The short answer is yes. The more difficult question is why. You don’t have to dig far to see that musical theatre has wormed its way into all orifices of popular culture. When rock stars and the guys from South Park and Family Guy and Disney start getting […]
REVIEW: Free Candy sweet outside, bitter within
No amount of sexy name, boppy songs, marching band costumes, tooting horns, fuzzy bass and bloopy old Farfisa organs can hide the fact that the Wet Secrets is a damned dark band. Their new album Free Candy might give sensitive listeners the urge to slit their wrists – if it weren’t for all the delicious […]
Heart returns to Edmonton in a mighty second wind
It is so gratifying to see a once-forgotten classic rock band enjoy a new life. Hey, it happens, from time to time. This time, it couldn’t have happened to a more worthy band than Heart. With the first rate soul sista rock chicks Nancy and Ann Wilson in fine form into their 60s, the band […]
Calgary bar steals ‘Sidetrack’ mojo – Edmontonians irked
Some Edmonton music scene-sters are crying foul over the sudden appearance of the “Sidetrack Stage and Grill” in Calgary – but managers insist that this is not a crass attempt to cash in on Edmonton’s famous sadly defunct music venue. “No disrespect is intended,” says Darcy Clendenning, promotions manager for the Sidetrack Stage and Grill […]
Motley Crue to hit Edmonton on farewell tour
Start the waterworks. Motley Crue, the most bad-assed badass rock band of all time, is going away – and they won’t be coming back! Announced yesterday at a press conference, the band will play one final tour and that will be it: 70 dates across North America, including Tuesday, Nov. 18 at Rexall Place in […]
Heavy metal tenor finds passion in opera
Opera is doing a good job staying “hip” – that is, relevant to a younger generation who unanimously reject the “hipster” label that allegedly applies to anyone 35 or younger. Heavy metal is hip, isn’t it? Opera has a lot in common with heavy metal: Drama, pageantry, passion. At some point the two genres meet […]
MUSIC: Jamuary brings new spirit to jam culture, also jam
Of course they’re going to be selling homemade jam at the jam band gig celebrating jam culture in Jamuary – Saturday, Jan. 25 at the Newcastle Pub featuring Edmonton’s preeminent jam band the McGowan Family Band and other like-minded jammy jammers. Somebody’s bound to get the munchies there. You can buy CJSR’s “Rad Staff Jam,” […]
