25 YEARS AT THE SUN: Close enough for rock ‘n’ roll
I have seen The Tragically Hip 14 times, Blue Rodeo 13 times, Nickelback seven times and heard Four Strong Winds at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival 18 years in a row. I have reviewed approximately 400 concerts in the arena soon to be formerly known as Rexall Place. Ask me to remember 10 and I […]
Super silly satire a spectacular success
Ben Spencer didn’t plan to become a children’s entertainer. He kind of stumbled into it. And now it could become his true calling. The Edmonton singer-songwriter, who’s just moved back home after 10 years in Montreal, with a French wife and two toddlers in tow, is a little new at this. The release show for […]
Century-old Vimy Ridge song brought to life
Remembrance Day always seems to bring out the best in people – even if they’re no longer alive. Maybe especially so, for Nov. 11 is the one day a year to offer a moment of silence to remember soldiers who fought – and died – to protect freedom. It’s the least we can do. Ken […]
Stop the Acronym Pandemic!
The straw that broke the camel’s back was an AHS staffer at the RAH who didn’t know what CASA stood for. It’s enough to drive you CRZ. As is this recent political news story: WTF LPC FTW JT XOXO CPC FUBAR RIP NDP SOL LOL! Does anyone know what’s up with the TPP? To what […]
Edmonton busker battles!
It’s Saturday night on Whyte Avenue. A busker behind a drum kit made of plastic pails pounds out a furious beat, all by himself. You can hear it blocks away. Directly across the street is a guy playing loud electric guitar through an amplifier – on a completely different song. They even drown out the […]
RADIO: Dirty Deeds done expensive
In the Bear radio station’s “Dirty Deeds” contest to win tickets to the sold-out AC/DC show at Commonwealth Stadium on Sept. 20, the first challenge was to call your wife and tell her your dog died … and another radio stunt goes over the line. Asked to explain themselves, the cast of The Paul Brown […]
Is Landmark Events another pay to play scam?
It turns out that Landmark Events is not the Spawn of Satan and Stephen Harper rolled into one. This is a LEGITIMATE business making money off the sweat of young musicians. It happens all the time. They’ll be holding another battle of the bands … sorry, “showcase festival” in late August at the Starlite Room. […]
INTERVIEW: It’s all beautiful to Lisa Fischer
When they call Lisa Fischer the “best back-up vocalist in the world,” they’re not joking. She can sing, sure, but there’s a lot more to it than that. The Rolling Stones, Luther Vandross, Tina Turner, Chaka Khan, Sting, Beyonce, Alicia Keys, and Nine Inch Nails are just a few of the people she’s worked with. […]
EXCLUSIVE! 19th Century Psychic rips Long Island Medium
A séance was held, and the spirit of famed 19th Century psychic Catherine Fox agreed to an exclusive interview to celebrate the appearance of the Long Island Medium in Edmonton – just like magic! GIGCITY: Ms. Fox, thanks for doing this. I know you must be busy. FOX: I always have time for the living. […]
Dead Venues doc honours Edmonton’s fallen clubs
“One day your pet’s going to die. One day your club’s going to close. Nothing lasts forever, and that’s too bad.” Leave it to Jr. Gone Wild founder and Edmonton music legend Mike McDonald to deliver the stinging slap of truth – deftly summing up the heart of a new documentary about Edmonton’s music scene. […]
WHO NAMED THE BAND: Bipolar Two Bears North
Two Bears North is neither two bears, nor are they two. They are a celebrated Edmonton folk trio. The name comes from singer-bassist Melissa Walker’s father, who suffers from bipolar disorder. He remarked to his daughter one day, “I’m feeling a little two bears north today,” two meaning bi and bears north referring to polar. […]
