The Night Before Wombat

The Night Before Wombat

‘Twas the night before wombat and all through the snerse, Not a weeful was starping, not even a cherse, The weppels were hung by the stabbage with hair, In the clam that snat eelix would carter the snare. And nox in her keppitch, and meal in my lap, Was flopping and keeling like mice in […]

REAR END IN VIEW: Stick a fork in it

REAR END IN VIEW: Stick a fork in it

For the fourth year running, a story about Purple City was one of the most widely read articles on GigCity. It’s an Edmonton thing. Among all the weird attractions in a weird town is this time-honoured ritual of getting high and going to stare at the lights outside the Alberta Legislature at night. After a […]

End of the Earth

End of the Earth

Super silly satire a spectacular success

Super silly satire a spectacular success

Ben Spencer didn’t plan to become a children’s entertainer. He kind of stumbled into it. And now it could become his true calling. The Edmonton singer-songwriter, who’s just moved back home after 10 years in Montreal, with a French wife and two toddlers in tow, is a little new at this. The release show for […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: Freecloud Records marks 30 years

MUSIC PREVIEW: Freecloud Records marks 30 years

The man who runs one of Edmonton’s last remaining record shops is also the frontman for Mad Bomber Society – so of course Rich Bomber gets to play for his own Freecloud Records’ 30th anniversary shows this weekend. The concerts happen Friday at the Rocky Mountain Icehouse with the Mad Bombers, the Cygnets, the Fuzz […]

End of the Earth

End of the Earth

Getting in Rolling Stone the best Revenge

Getting in Rolling Stone the best Revenge

A mysterious and sinister Edmonton band you may never have heard of has wound up in Rolling Stone magazine’s 20 Best Metal Albums of 2015. This list includes the usual suspects: Lamb of God, Clutch, Napalm Death, Slayer, and at No. 1, Marilyn Manson for Pale Emperor. Coming in at lucky No. 13 is a […]

CASSETTE COMEBACK: Are you kidding?!

CASSETTE COMEBACK: Are you kidding?!

They hiss, they rattle, sometimes they get eaten. Like snakes, cassettes are great survivors. From the brink of extinction these humble little tapes have been revived by a thriving sub-culture of young musicians and music fans. Who would’ve thought? Old people – who got rid of their turntables to buy tape decks, then ditched their […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: Half Moon Run, full speed

MUSIC PREVIEW: Half Moon Run, full speed

If there’s a bigger Canadian buzz band than Half Moon Run this fall then it would be a shock to most music writers. The Montreal band has released two singles this year, Trust and Turn Your Love, the latter of which hit No. 11 on the Canadian alternative charts. Formed in 2009, multi-instrumentalists Devon Portielje, […]

Huron Carole founder speaks on Syrian refugees

Huron Carole founder speaks on Syrian refugees

Coming from Tom Jackson, words of support for Syrian refugees carry a lot more weight than the usual pundits. The 67-year-old actor and singer perhaps best known for his role in North of 60 has dedicated his life to helping less fortunate people. “When there are vulnerable people, we need to let it be known […]

Metric and Megadeth in March

Metric and Megadeth in March

We’re getting into the M’s now. The latest concert announcements are Metric and Megadeth in March. Not on the same bill, of course. Could you imagine? Metric will play Rexall Place on Tuesday, March 29, a “co-headlining” bill with the great Death Cab For Cutie, even though that would be impossible unless both bands play […]

Bill Maher brings political comedy to Edmonton

Bill Maher brings political comedy to Edmonton

Why one of America’s greatest political comedians would spent even a moment away from his home country in the run-up to one of the most important elections in history is a mystery. But we’re still glad Bill Maher is finding the time for a short Canadian tour next summer. Maybe it’s his vacation. The outspoken […]