Put it where the Sun don’t shine
They came to mock, not to bury – but then The Sun News Network suddenly went off the air, leaving a group of local performance artists intent on venting their feelings towards Ezra Levant’s soapbox with a wake instead of a roast. The first – and probably last – presentation of The Scum News Network […]
Alberta punks gone country in Pal Joey
Trent Buhler has fond memories of playing bars in the crumbling 100-year-old downtown building that houses The Artery – soon to be torn down for the LRT – and it is at The Artery where his band Pal Joey stages its stealth comeback with a CD release show Saturday night. For the record: This popular […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: An embarrassment of riches
What a world! Anyone make their own records. You can literally do it in your own bedroom now. The downside: Anyone can make their own records. There are, at rough count, SIX worthy Edmonton artists releasing new records this weekend. Take your pick: Alt-country from Pal Joey, singer-songwriter from Amy van Keeken, roots-rock from Bobby […]
Shania Twain aims high for comeback-farewell
Eyebrows have been raised with news of Shania Twain’s comeback-farewell tour in one, coming to Edmonton for not one, but two shows at Rexall Place, June 11-12, with top tickets – on sale March 13 – going for almost $200. Who does she think she is, Madonna? A lot has changed since the Canadian country […]
A Christian band in a secular world
White Lightning can’t hide the fact they’re a Christian band – though there are no explicit references to Jesus in their music. You can just hear it: Zippy, poppy, catchy numbers brimming with life-affirming positivity. Also, just look at them. The Edmonton groove-rock trio releases its new four song EP, 1979, with a show at […]
Plastic Men shut out at Canadian Screen Awards
Tiny Plastic Men, Edmonton’s sole representative at the 2015 Canadian Screen Awards, went zero-for-three at Sunday night’s ceremony in Toronto – but it was an honour just to be nominated. Really, it was. Mark Meer, who was up for Best Actor in a Continuing Leading Comic Role, was a good sport about the loss, Facebooking […]
Madonna comes to Edmonton in October
Edmonton has long been a bellwether for superstardom in the concert industry. If they’re coming all the way here, they’re either on their way up or on their way down. Then again, Madonna is such a music marketing powerhouse that she may be capable of being both at the same time. So all hail the […]
Viet Cong attacks Artery with dark magic
This was the last time you’ll be able to see Viet Cong on such a small stage in Edmonton. Given the buzz that this Calgary band has been generating, their history, and the tremendous response to their self-titled debut album barely a month old, this band is headed somewhere big. But for a sold-out crowd […]
OPINION: Eulogy for the Artery
I can’t remember the first show I saw at the Artery. I remember that I walked there, I remember that it was cold, I remember the only bit of warmth was my girlfriend Emily’s hand in mine. And I remember I fell in love with the room that evening. Emily and I split up shortly […]
UPDATE: Artery closing to make way for progress
The local music scene is reeling with the sudden news that the The Artery will be closing at the end of March to make way for the Valley Line LRT Project– and there goes another popular Edmonton live music venue. On the heels of the bad news about the historic McDougall United Church needing massive […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Viet Cong on the attack
Calgary’s Viet Cong is quite probably the nation’s biggest buzz band right now, receiving acclaim not only across Canada, but also from some of the biggest blogs south of the border, like Brooklyn Vegan and My Old Kentucky Blog, who have been raving about the band, and including them on their weekly radio show, since […]
