Posted on July 23, 2012
By Robin Schroffel
The Latest
Too much stage banter can ruin a perfectly good concert. That is, of course, unless it’s Steve Martin doing the bantering: then, corny jokes become the star attraction, and Martin doled out plenty at the Jubilee Auditorium Sunday night. For example, “I’m the one in the white pants, and I will be all night – […]
Posted on June 20, 2012
By Robin Schroffel
The Latest
Escapism comes in many forms: rom-coms, daydreaming…. And Bryan Adams. With the Canadian icon’s endless list of sticky-sweet, hook-laden hits, listening to him is just like reading a good novel or eating half a pumpkin pie in one sitting. It just feels good. Adams passed down that comfort-zone spirit to the crowd at Rexall Place […]
Posted on June 10, 2012
By Robin Schroffel
Music
The skies sure opened wide Saturday evening at the Open Sky Music Festival – but that didn’t stop the revelry at Hawrelak Park’s Heritage Amphitheatre. Girls danced in the downpour, teenagers wrapped themselves up like ghosts in soaking sleeping bags, and dreadlocked students made friendly conversation while the weather howled through the festival grounds and […]
Posted on May 12, 2012
By Robin Schroffel
Front Slider, Music
The jump kicks may be no more, but that doesn’t prevent David Lee Roth from executing some impressive moves for a man his age. Flamboyantly sparkly, all smiles, he shimmies and slides across the stage with the Van Halens rocking out behind him – guitarist Eddie, Alex on drums and Eddie’s son Wolfgang on bass. […]
Posted on March 31, 2012
By Robin Schroffel
Front Slider
They say that third time’s the charm – let’s hope that holds true for the third year of Western Canada Fashion Week. After changing its name from Edmonton Fashion Week in March 2010 to reflect a decade of accomplishments and attract a broader audience, WCFW has been doing its best to grow into a player […]
Posted on March 30, 2012
By Robin Schroffel
Front Slider
Sandra Fernandes, creator of Western Canada Fashion Week, and Lynn Mandel, wife of mayor Stephen Mandel, strode to the end of the hardwood catwalk hand in hand, said a few words about Edmonton’s arts scene, shed a few tears, and with a dazzle of flashes from the photo pit, the fall/winter 2012 show was off […]
Posted on February 25, 2012
By Robin Schroffel
Front Slider, Music
The only sign of Peter Case’s punk background was the fact that he wore a denim jacket underneath his pinstriped blazer. That, and some well-chosen anecdotes from back in the day. No surprise, really: the veteran songwriter has four entire decades of material to draw from – which fans heard just a slice of when […]
Posted on November 11, 2011
By Robin Schroffel
Front Slider, Music
He may look a little less svelte in his tartan-accented custom leisure suit than he did on the cover of “Dedication,” but Les McKeown and his group of faux-Bay City Rollers proved Thursday night why Rollermania should not be forgotten. The Century Casino was packed with overgrown teenage girls who rushed to the front of […]
Posted on November 1, 2011
By Robin Schroffel
Culture, The Latest, Theatre
Latex glove. Playing cards. Toilet paper. Flashlight. Confetti. The contents of the audience participation kit seemed a little intimidating at first glance, especially for someone whose only previous experience with The Rocky Horror (Picture) Show took place one Halloween 13 years ago under the influence of pink lemonade-vodka cocktails. I was ready to believe the […]
Posted on October 13, 2011
By Robin Schroffel
Culture, Theatre
Hot off a successful summer that included the Edinburgh Fringe – where lead Michael Peng earned a nomination for Best Actor – and dates in Kiev and Antwerp, Wishbone Theatre’s production of Bashir Lazhar returned home for a short stint of shows at the Avenue Theatre that ended Oct. 16 Detailing the experiences of an […]
Posted on October 10, 2011
By Robin Schroffel
Culture, Music
Keyboard solos have become a lost art – as Rod Argent reminded everyone at the Zombies on Sunday night. The 66-year-old founding member of the British band pounded the keys like a lion, and made them roar like nobody’s business. With fellow founding lead singer Colin Blunstone and the support of a tight band, the […]
Posted on October 5, 2011
By Robin Schroffel
Culture, Music
Darlings of Chelsea have been around. Names like The Black Halos, Robin Black and CJ Sleez are likely familiar to anyone following the underground music scene across Canada over the past decade or more, and in 2009, a few longtime rockers who paid their dues as members of the above banded together in Toronto to […]
