MUSIC PREVIEW: Rollins the Raj of Rage
Just over a year ago on late night television, Stephen Colbert asked Henry Rollins what makes him angry. He replied, “Anything where humans could be better, where they could treat each other and themselves better.” Colbert cut in, “Isn’t being angry the sort of thing we should stop? Aren’t you part of the problem, Henry […]
NYE PREVIEW: The Secretaries play to type
As the year concludes, this weekend’s live music opportunities center around – no surprise – New Year’s Eve. There’s a bevy of options for everyone, from folk to rock to folk-rock, from electronic to pop, and lots in between. One of the best shows, and the best values, may be at Ritchie Community Hall, where […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: A visit from Cadence
The cat came back. They all come back, sooner or later, these former Edmonton artists who moved to greener pastures. Even if it’s just a family visit at Christmastime. Performing a homecoming show Friday at the Needle Vinyl Tavern, Cadence Weapon may be thriving out East, but the rapper born Rollie Pemberton was raised in […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Remembering Steve
The Edmonton music scene lost a good friend and panjandrum a few weeks back in a tragic accident, as Steve Steffler, one-time co-owner of Bohemia and founder of Sometimes Music, passed away, the victim of carbon monoxide poisoning. Always a music lover, always willing to give an act starting out a leg up, always a […]
Mother Mother gets intimate in Edmonton
Big band, small club – now this is the way to experience live music. If you’re lucky enough. Like some 300 Sonic 102.9 radio listeners who won a chance to see Mother Mother at the Needle Vinyl Tavern Saturday night. The band will probably be playing to about 10 times that number at the (cavernous, […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Waxing Half Moon Run
One of the finest bands from the so-called “Montreal scene” is returning to Edmonton. Half Moon Run is the perfect group to take advantage of the subtle acoustics of the Winspear Centre on Wednesday, Dec. 14, being unconventional multi-instrumentalists with a special fondness for percussion. The “everybody gets a drum” rule is one of the […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: July Talk all action
After playing a surprise “secret” gig on Tuesday here in the city, July Talk heads down for a quick gig in Red Deer before circling back for a second SOLD OUT show, on Friday night at Union Hall. The Toronto-with-the-Edmonton-connection indie rockers released their debut self-titled album in 2012 to critical acclaim, and followed that […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Make Something Different
Since the death of Steve Steffler from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning on Sunday, it’s become clear how important he was to Edmonton’s music scene – and how much he’s going to be missed. He was always looking for something different. He took risks when booked bands at Bohemia, a funky little club on 97th Street […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
Maybe it’s time for a little distraction – and so we can look forward to a visit from one of weirdest and most wonderful artists in Canadian rock: Brad Roberts from the Crash Test Dummies. At the Almanac on Friday as a duo, with guitarist Stuart Cameron, Roberts and his old band reigned supreme for […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Holy Hannah
As talented with her voice as she is on guitar and bass, Ontario-born Hannah Georgas has earned a solid and devoted fan base from coast to coast, an seen her share of critical acclaim, with nominations from both the Junos and Polaris panels. She plays the Myer Horowitz Theatre Saturday night. The indie songstress is […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Local folk teen turns to rock
Edmonton artist Rebecca Lappa has put a lot of points on the scoreboard of her career so far – two albums, two EPs, three original folk operas, three major awards, and a claim of more than 200 songs written. And she’s only 19 years old. Are they all good songs? That’s for the fans to […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Stumbellas sellout
It’s no surprise that one of Ontario’s hottest folk-rock bands is playing a sold out show at Winspear Centre this Thursday night – when just four years ago they were playing Wunderbar. The Strumbellas’ 2012 album titled My Father and the Hunter was one of the year’s very best, featuring their epic song The Sheriff, […]
