WHAT’S GOING ON: Primus to Stage Rush Tribute in Edmonton
If there’s any legend of rock who would be really into the music of Rush, it would be Les Claypool – whose own band Primus set a new bar for weird art rock so distinctive only a few notes are necessary to tell who it is.
Makes sense, then, that Primus would mount “A Tribute To Kings” tour that devotes one of two sets to playing Rush’s 1977 album A Farewell to Kings in its entirety. It’s happening at the Edmonton Expo Centre on Friday, June 10.
There’s really no better band to pull this off. Turns out Claypool has been a Rush fan for a long time. In a press release, he says, “Hemispheres was my first concert (1978). Originally we’d always kind of joked around about doing Hemispheres, but we settled on Kings, because A) it was the first Rush record I ever heard and B) it contains Cygnus X-1, which has always been my favorite Rush tune. It seems to be a good one for us to tackle; 2112 seemed a little obvious.”
True Rush fans should know what he’s talking about.
“Due to popular demand” they always say when they add more dates to a tour – and so it is with Imagine Dragons adding nine more shows to its Mercury World Tour, including – says the press release – “Victoria, Ottawa, Quebec City and more.” What are we, chopped liver? Imagine Dragons will play Edmonton, at Rogers Place on April 14. The eclectic hit machine from Las Vegas is touring behind its latest album, Mercury – Act 1.
When’s Act 2?
READ: 2017 review of Imagine Dragons in Edmonton
There’s magic in the air! Wait, where did it go? Wow, that’s amazing!
Fans of illusion won’t want to miss Masters of Illusion Live! – featuring Jonathan Pendragon, Chipper Lowell and Dan Sperry as seen on the CW Network series. They perform on April 14 at the Winspear Centre, promising a mix of large and small scale tricks, mind magic, comedy and daring escapes.
Bands in Bars
Friday at the Starlite Room sees a multi-band bill topped by The Unfortunates (above), with Mint Club, Medical Pilot, and The Lauriers. Tickets are $15.
There seems to be a banjo lurking in a photo of The Brigadiers, a local group playing a free show at the Black Dog Saturday afternoon from 4-6 pm – just so you know what to expect. A BANJO!
What is it with blues that goes so well with barbecue and beer and other things that begin with the letter “B”? The ancient (by local standards) Transit Hotel has rebranded itself as the “Transit Smokehouse & BBQ” with what appears to be live music every night. Mike Chenowith, who’s been around a long time, is the host Saturday night. IMPORTANT NOTICE: While “Gerbil Racing” was said to be part of the hotel’s 115-year history – they have a photo to prove it – it will not be returning at this time.
Ongoing Theatre
Brad Fraser’s 2011 play 5@50 – is said to be a “raw and darkly comedic portrayal of turning fifty in contemporary society, and of the friendships we can’t live without,” in the blurb for the Walterdale Theatre’s production playing until Dec. 18.
Shumka’s Nutcracker is exactly what it says – the venerable Christmas fantasy about dancing candy and royal rodents rendered in lively Ukrainian dance (above). It plays Dec. 17-18 at the Jube. Tickets from $25.
Based on the 2003 movie that has become a Christmas staple, Elf: The Musical plays at Festival Place Dec. 11-23, featuring a cast of 30 and a 15-piece chamber orchestra.
The Citadel Theatre has launched its holiday tradition, A Christmas Carol, this year starring Ted Dykstra as Scrooge. It plays until Dec. 23. You will be visited by three – no, four ghosts, including Marley.
Maybe they can turn Jason Kenney’s Hot Boy Summer into a wacky Christmas musical. Maybe they’ll do a nod as this smash hit extends its run at the Grindstone Theatre and elsewhere until Dec. 16 and BEYOND.
One of the seminal figures of rock ‘n’ roll is celebrated at the Mayfield Dinner Theatre with Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story until January 2022.
