2019 MUSIC PREVIEW: Ozzy! Priest! Skynyrd! Ariana!
The Big Three – can we call them the Big Three? Yes! – THE BIG THREE shall rock Edmonton this summer.
Name other metal legends so widely known by only one name: Ozzy, Priest, Maiden – this trifecta alone will make 2019 a huge year for classic heavy metal in Edmonton.
Ozzy Osbourne, age 70, has announced he’s retiring, or at least scaling back, and will bring his No More Tours tour to town July 9. Judas Priest will prime the pump on June 11. And the indefatigable Iron Maiden plays Rogers Place Aug. 30 on their “Legacy of the Beast” tour.
What’s left? Lemmy died and ascended to Metal Valhalla, where he jams with all of the Ramones. Pantera is toast. Motley Crue retired. Fucking Slayer retired. AC/DC is in limbo. And that leaves … Metallica? Sadly, it’s unlikely this band will be back in Edmonton in 2019, as they’re just wrapping up a tremendous tromp around the world, but these guys really aren’t in the same league as the BIG THREE, are they? Short answer: No.
Ozzy! Priest! Maiden! Flex your devil horn salutes and gird thy loins, brothers and sisters. It’s going to be a hard year.
Here’s a look ahead at some other notable concerts coming to Edmonton in 2019 (all events listed are on currently on sale):
January
Dierks Bentley (Jan. 24, Rogers Place, with Jon Pardi and Tennile Townes, $45-$281, BUY TICKETS) – The “bro-country” thing is just about played out, yet there are still many sturdy and talented male country stars who write hit songs about beer, women and trucks, not necessarily in that order or all at the same time – and fill sports arenas across the land.
Arkells (Jan. 31, Rogers Place, with Lord Huron, $45-$185, BUY) – The New Arena Rock Kids on the Block, Canadian heroes, so radio-friendly they hump your ear.
February
Justin Timberlake (Feb. 6-7, Rogers Place, with Francesco Yates, $63 to $481, BUY Feb. 6, BUY Feb. 7, make-up dates for November postponement; previously-held tickets are still good) – From Disney twerp to mature soulman, Justin has enjoyed a remarkable career – thanks to his obvious love of authentic R&B, a keen wit, strong work ethic, good looks, competent dance moves, and most important: surrounding himself with better musicians. It rubs off.
Mother Mother (Feb. 15, Jubilee Auditorium, with Said the Whale, $41-$65, BUY) – First headlining show in the Jubilee Auditorium for this West Coast fivesome whose dark and steamy brand of alt-pop music has captivated fans across Canada.
Snoop Dogg (Feb. 20, Rogers Place, with Bone Thugs N Harmony, Warren G, Kurupt, and Luniz, $49-$316, BUY) – Top up the local cannabis supply! Another remarkable career transformation here: From misfit gangsta rapper to smoove-talkin’ mainstream MC who hosts a “cooking” show with Martha Stewart.
Little Big Town (Feb. 24, Rogers Place, with Midland and Ashley McBryde, $65-$273, BUY) – Slick hot country quartet from Alabama has two guys, two girls, and can therefore provide a balanced perspective in modern country musical sexual politics. In short: less beer and trucks, more women.
March
Lynyrd Skynyrd (March 12, Rogers Place, with Randy Bachman, $87-$407, BUY) – Bar bands cower in fear over drunken shouted requests of “Play Freebird!” It’s become a cliché – and here now is what’s left of the band that actually created the song. Cultural anthropologists should have a good time reporting on the possible alt-right element that might turn up at the show – and it’s another farewell tour. But while the overrated, overplayed Sweet Home Alabama is your classic “Southern Pride” song, it’s actually Freebird that epitomizes the truer, kinder and gentler spirit of Skynyrd. Another band that can be known by only one word.
April
Fleetwood Mac (April 13, Rogers Place, $89 to $499, BUY) – There sure were a lot of pissed off fans who moved mountains to make it to the show in November, only to find it cancelled at the last minute due to an ailing Stevie Nicks. For this make-up date (for which previously-held tickets are still good), curiosity remains what the “new” line-up will sound like, with Neil Finn from Crowded House as the newest member.
Michael Buble (April 15, Rogers Place, $118-$928, BUY) – Let’s be Frank: Michael Buble is no Frank Sinatra, but he’s awfully close. A velvet voice and love of the Great American Songbook balance with a charming wit in a man-suited package that goes over well with women. His yuk-filled banter can get a little bit much, so let’s hope he tones it down this time.
Alan Parsons Live Project (April 16, Winspear Centre, $52.50-$72.50, BUY) – To be more famous as a throw-away joke in an Austin Powers movie than for your own music says a lot about the esoteric legacy of true “art rock,” i.e., how few people are actually into it, and maybe a lot about ourselves.
Ariana Grande (April 25, Rogers Place, with Normani and Social House, $92-$604, BUY) – Assuming you have teenage daughters and a car radio, your ear-holes have by now been stuffed with ear candy for at least two years now. Fun fact: Making her first appearance in Edmonton, Ariana became famous as an actor first, but music is what she really wanted to do. Seems to be working out for her.
Kansas (April 26, Jubilee Auditorium, $60-$200, BUY) – All we are is dust in the wind! Could there be a better grammatically-incorrect prog-rock comeback statement for 2019 than this? Short answer: No.
May
Godsmack (May 3, Rogers Place, with Volbeat, $99-$317, BUY) – A prequel to the Summer of Metal, this extremely Bostonian band comes into classic metal-dom a little late, and a little sideways, yet like their elders enjoy more cult following than hit radio fame.
Thomas Rhett (May 10, Rogers Place, with Justin Lynch, $43-$321, BUY) – Another wholesome downhome man-country show, this from a Georgia pop singer whose twang is pretty much the only thing that brands him “country.” Notice how many of these guys have two first names? What’s up with that?
Twenty One Pilots (May 15, Rogers Place, $49-$221, BUY) Now you can say, “I knew them back when …” as the moment an “alternative band” plays a hockey arena is the moment they cease to be alternative. This Iowa duo has released a steady stream-of-consciousness of eccentric music, but nothing has come close to the enormous impact of their breakthrough hit in 2015, Stressed Out – which holds up even more today.
Cher (May 25, Rogers Place, with Nile Rodgers and Chic, $119-$676, BUY) – “Pulling a Cher” now is the official term for a star who stages a farewell tour and then neglects to go away. Despite the fraud of fooling fans into buying tickets thinking they’re never going to see her again, no one seems to mind. Besides, this time Cher will be singing ABBA songs in keeping with her Mamma Mia fame. The opening act should be a treat, too.
Carrie Underwood (May 28, Rogers Place, with Maddie & Tae, and Runaway June, $76-$354, BUY) – Still a breath of fresh air in a wasteland of bruh-country that still sounds like warmed-over 1980s pop, this singer proved her worth on American Idol, and at least tenfold ever since.
June
Judas Priest (June 11, Rogers Place, with Uriah Heap, $74-$569, BUY) – These guys have been rocking for 50 years, give or take, and still get ignored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Shawn Mendes (June 16, Rogers Place, $50-$358, BUY)– “I’m prepared to sacrifice my life, I would gladly do it twice” – and that’s some heavy shit coming down from this 20-year-old Canadian singer whose killer combo of charm and honest vulnerability has made him a superstar.
Corey Hart (June 21, Rogers Place, $77-$319, BUY) – The Shawn Mendes of his day managed to do well enough in the ‘80s and ‘90s that he effectively took the entire 2000s off. If only we all could’ve been so lucky.
July
Ozzy Osbourne (July 9, Rogers Place, with Megadeth, $96-$477, BUY) – He’s actually retiring from touring, and will continue to “perform select shows” – just probably not in this town.
Backstreet Boys (July 25, Rogers Place, $68-$500, BUY) – When are they going to induct these guys into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? They qualify at 26 years old, a ton of records sold, and a fan base now mainly made up of soccer moms. Bonus question: Aside from Judas Priest, which of the acts on this list have been snubbed by the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, despite having sold more than 100 million albums with virtually no radio airplay? Answer below.
August
Iron Maiden (Aug. 30, Rogers Place, with The Raven Age, $56-$268, BUY) – Fun fact: Frontman Bruce Dickinson – who called the Rock Hall people “sanctimonious bloody Americans” (after which they had to look up the word “sanctimonious”) – is also an author, actor, radio announcer, fencing champion, and licensed airline pilot.
September
Elton John (Sept. 28, Rogers Place, $87-$1,045, BUY) – People are crying bloody murder over ticket prices for this show (pro tip: The lowest priced seats are limited and tend to go fast). Do we scream about sports star salaries? Oh, right, we do. But just take a look at the scoreboard: Elton has more classic hits than all of the above put together (OK, minus Fleetwood Mac). The 71-year-old Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famer is also an incredible musician and an engaging performer. Guys like this aren’t famous by accident, and if Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is indeed the last time we’ll get to see Elton John in the flesh, this is a must-see. If not and he pulls a Cher, then, well … we probably won’t mind.
