MUSIC PREVIEW: Vince Neil
Vince Neil is in town on Saturday night, playing a gig at River Cree (9 pm, $47 and up, BUY). Would he be offended if we called him a classic rocker? Perhaps, but certainly, he was at his peak when he was the frontman of Motley Crue from 1980 to 1992.
While there’s still some debate whether he was fired or quit (just depends who you ask), he set off on a somewhat rocky solo career thereafter and has managed to record three albums as a solo artist since then as the Crue replaced Neil with John Corabi (Angora, Scream).
After those ill-fated Corabi years, and Neil’s languishing solo career, the Crue reunited in 1996 with the vocalist, and he remained with the band through their final show in 2015. He continues to tour – obviously – and has become a bit of a polymath, with a bevy of irons in a bevy of fires, from gentlemen’s clubs to his own tequila to ownership of an arena football team.
Friday 20
Iron Tusk – This stoner rock band out of Siksika Nation features a cadre of musicians from punk band No More Moments; they recently released the three-track EP Dark Spirit on vinyl, and yep, cassette. With Dead Fibres, Pill Crusher, Faith Crisis, and Tyle. Aviary, 7:30, $10. BUY
Boosh – This local project is part of an evening focused on eclectic, experimental, electro rawness. With The Faps, Milhouse, and Pot Cop. Sewing Machine Factory, 8 pm, $10.
Borscht – This Edmonton power-pop project hasn’t released anything new in a while, but hey, their fans can hope, right. Led by songwriter Maria Elena Martine, the band is currently a seven-piece that is, well, just plain old fun. Also on the bill are Marlaena Moore, Caity Fisher, and Dead Friends. Temple at Starlite Room, 8pm, $8. BUY
Saturday 21
Chantal Kreviazuk – This Canadian favourite plays her way through her pop-rock catalog with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Winspear Centre, 7:30, $39 and up. BUY
Lucas Chiasson – This Cochrane indie-folk hero is performing an afternoon set at downtown’s Cask And Barrel. 4 pm, no cover.
Steve Miller Band – Formed in 1966, this band went on a tear through the charts in the mid-to-late 1970’s with such singles as The Joker, Fly Like An Eagle, and Abracadabra. The latter was also the name of the project’s 1982 album, which was the last to have any significant chart play. However, Miller and a bevy of other musicians have released six more albums since, and continue to tour regularly, most notably in 2014 with Journey. Miller himself was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. With fellow legend Peter Frampton, whose discography is just as impressive. Rogers Place, 7:30, $59 and up. BUY
Jung People – This Calgary post-rock group are masters at both slow, methodical ambiance, and fast, intricate guitar. Founded in 2010, the band’s most recent effort Empyrean was released last September. Pigeon Breeders, Fitness, Tab C.A. + Tension Collectors are also on the bill. Aviary, 8pm, $12. BUY
Next Week
Casper Skulls, who play Tuesday night at Temple (at Starlite Room, 8pm, $13, BUY), released a brilliant album last November titled Mercy Works. Formed in 2015, the trio has crafted a sound that is both founded in current art rock, but harkens back to post-punk, early 90’s indie, and good old-fashioned lo-fi fuzziness.
