MUSIC PREVIEW: Frequency off the dial

Posted on February 15, 2018 By Mike Ross Entertainment, Front Slider, Music

Can a DJ be a rock star when all they apparently do is push the “play” button, and then dance around waving their arms and looking fabulous, while thousands of equally fabulous fans dance their brains out for nine straight hours?

It is the age-old argument. Headlining Boodang’s annual Frequency rave at the Shaw Conference Centre on Sunday night is Tiësto, who’s been voted the No. 1 DJ IN THE WORLD by every media outlet that holds such contests. The Grammy-winning Dutch producer will be joined by such electronic dance music stars as Oliver Heldens, Purple Haze, Nora En Pure, Brennan Heart, Snails, Keys N Krates, Bonnie X Clyde, Ray Volpe, and more.

Who are these people, you ask? And for those “live music” purists who may further scoff at such events, ask yourself a good hard question: have you ever been to a rave? Do it at least once before you pass judgement. This night might be the perfect place to start. It’s an entirely different experience from a rock concert – where there’s often so much tracking on stage they’re basically pushing the “play” button, too.

The DJs “perform” from 9 pm to 6 am the next morning. Be sure to stay hydrated. Advance tickets from $90.

Thursday 15

Avenged Sevenfold – Ha! It’s just a “Stage” they’re going through – The Stage being the title of this tight-like-a-tiger Metallica-like metal band’s latest album. Last here opening for the actual Metallica at Commonwealth, Avenged Sevenfold is headlining Rogers Place on this night, with support from Breaking Benjamin and Bullet for My Valentine. 6 pm, advance tickets from $39

Dan Bern – “Imagine if Dylan never plugged in” is one way to describe this celebrated Iowa singer-songwriter whose staggering output includes 27 recordings since 1996, filled with songs that speak deeply and sometimes humorously to the human condition. Bern is also a novelist, painter and poet, as if music weren’t enough, and is on tour with his latest album Adderal Holiday – “adderall” being a type of amphetamine used to treat ADHD kids. The Almanac, 7 pm, $18 advance

Friday 16

Kreator – If you’re still in a metallic mood after Avenged Sevenfold, this wunderbar-schrecklich German outfit isn’t shy about either their sound or their subject matter, with songs that include Satan Is Real and other stirring “End Times” material from the olden school of metal. If – like some Christians – they keep singing about the end of the world and it never comes, how do they account having such a long and thriving career since 1982? It’s theatre! Also on the bill: The like-minded Sabaton, from Sweden. Union Hall, 6:30 pm, $40 advance

Valdy – Here we dig deeply into the Canadian folk canon with one of the few legends of the form who needs only one name. As fans know, Valdy owns a small piece of the soundtrack to the hippie revolution with his 1972 hit song, Rock and Roll Song, which ironically isn’t technically a rock and roll song. It’s more like country from a time when soft rock was at its zenith, what with Carole King’s Tapestry at No. 1 and all. Also performing at the Uptown Folk Club for the two-day Winterfest 2018 will be Skip Ewing, Gary Fjellgaard, Wendell Ferguson, Roger James, Caitlin Hanford, Alee, Alfie and Byron Myhre, Rebecca Lappa, and Twisted Pickers. Tickets are $20 for Friday, $30 for Saturday, or $40 for both.

Languid – Anything but their name is the general idea here, as this area punk band is the exact opposite of “a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed.” EP release at Bohemia, with the opening acts Rhythm of Cruelty, Paroxysm and Sister Suzie. $10 at the door.

Saturday 17

I Am the Mountain – Now this is languid – also beautiful, haunting, strummingly satisfying folk music coming off like woodland lullabies from a group you can imagine living off the grid. From Calgary they are, where you can actually see the mountain. We’re so jealous. Let the inter-city healing begin with their new album, We’re Here For Each Other. Opening the show at the Mercury Room will be Heaven and the Ghosts, Danielle Dayton and Meagan Loves (of Swear by the Moon). 8 pm, $15 advance

A word about the Mercury Room, which will be closing for good on March 31 due to landlord issues: Weep, if you must, over the loss of yet another cool Edmonton music venue that hosted such a ridiculously eclectic assortment of acts – but don’t think of this as a failure. People move on. Maybe they try again. Trying is the important thing. It’s the cycle of life. While it lasted, the Mercury Room reflected the vision and dedication of its owner Trevor Belsher – one of many hard-working indie curators not in this for the money, and part of a long line of unsung Edmonton music industry builders who gave so many talented musicians a chance to perform on a live stage. Those moments will be remembered. They’re important. And Edmonton’s music scene has been improved by the existence of the Mercury Room.

Sunday 18

Whitney Rose – Bonafide rising Canadian country star here. All the way from PEI with YouTube mojo and three recordings, this 31-year-old singer entertains at the Empress Ale House on this night, touring on her new album with Six Shooter Records, Rule 62 – Rules 1 though 61 having apparently been completely broken. With the opener Lucas Chaisson. 8 pm.