FLASHBACK: Nickelback Stabbed in the Back

FLASHBACK: Nickelback Stabbed in the Back

Never make friends with rock stars

FLASHBACK: Mudstock ’99 Ends Badly

FLASHBACK: Mudstock ’99 Ends Badly

True story

STREAMING MUSIC: Which Twitch Will You Watch?

STREAMING MUSIC: Which Twitch Will You Watch?

With a little dram of hope, but still no end in sight to the concert-less world we now live in, more and more musicians are doing a little something online. Recent live-stream luminaries include Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie), such favorites as the Arkells, and everywhere in between, Cold War Kids and Dan Deacon, […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: Whole Lotta Streams

MUSIC PREVIEW: Whole Lotta Streams

With virtually no end in sight to the coronavirus pandemic, bands and musicians continue to flock to livestreams to stay connected with their fans, and with any luck make a few dollars along the way. Some of the larger brands have also been helping out, with Bandcamp hosting a one-day event last week where 100% […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: The Stream Must Go On!

MUSIC PREVIEW: The Stream Must Go On!

Alberta’s own Corb Lund (below, right) is still scheduled to play live and in-person at the Jubilee Auditorium on Monday, May 4. They’re still selling tickets – but like many events upcoming, no one really knows what’s happening and what’s not. Meanwhile, undaunted, our cosmic cowboy is staging a live-stream concert on Instagram Live – […]

Streaming a Good Outlet for Artists and Fans – But Where’s the Money?

Streaming a Good Outlet for Artists and Fans – But Where’s the Money?

It seems darkly ironic that the primary escapes so many of us are anchoring to during these uncertain times as more and more of the nation becomes house-bound – be it movies, televisions, books, and music – are proffered to us by those in the so-called “gig” economy, whose incomes have been most impacted by […]

EDMONTON ENTERTAINMENT: What Hasn’t Been Canceled?

EDMONTON ENTERTAINMENT: What Hasn’t Been Canceled?

At this point it would be easier to list the events that haven’t been postponed or canceled. COVID-19 has spooked all of humanity like an alien invasion – and we’re all in the same ark. But if you’re not in self-isolation (some people have been doing this for years), there’s still a lot of live […]

Mercury Opera Stages Grand Puccini in Strangest Space Yet – a Legit Theatre!

Mercury Opera Stages Grand Puccini in Strangest Space Yet – a Legit Theatre!

It’s not that Mercury Opera impresario Darcia Parada hasn’t produced Puccini’s beloved potboiler La Boheme in strange venues before. Back in 1994 she staged Act I of the heartrending opera in a loft in New York’s Tribecca neighbourhood. The producer-opera singer-designer-international entrepreneur has made a career out of staging grand opera in exotic locales (which […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: Zakk Attakk!

MUSIC PREVIEW: Zakk Attakk!

Black Label Society struts into town on Sunday night for a gig at Midway – one of the city’s newest arcade bars on Calgary Trail. It’s in the old Ranch nightclub location (and if you go way, way back, Barry T’s). The venue is evolving into a notable live venue with some pretty well-known bands […]

Steve Hackett’s Genesis Masterclass Makes Grown Men Weep at the Winspear

Steve Hackett’s Genesis Masterclass Makes Grown Men Weep at the Winspear

“Progressive rock” is that quintessentially English breed of music that you either love or hate. There’s not a lot of middle ground. It’s safe to say that for the 600 people who attended Thursday night’s show with Steve Hackett of the band Genesis at the Winspear Centre, it was pure magic. It was a criminally […]

EDMONTON CONCERT PREVIEW

EDMONTON CONCERT PREVIEW

The city’s 2020 major concert schedule was looking a little sad for a while there – a desert punctuated by an April oasis, with Alice Cooper at the Jube on April 15, (he just gets better with age), James Taylor with Bonnie Raitt (April 17), a Celine Dion double-header (April 21-22), and then nothing. After […]

LISTEN HERE: Rocking On Mental Health

LISTEN HERE: Rocking On Mental Health

Lazy bum, good-for-nothing, failure, lacks motivation, can’t even be bothered to get out of bed … these are just some of the invalidations hurled at grown men struggling with mental health. Most come from themselves. It’s quite the pickle. Men are supposed to be strong, it may be hard-wired, and some have trouble getting in […]