Jewish film asks awkward question: What DID grandpa do in the war?
You’d be upset, too, if you discovered that your Jewish grandparents partied with Nazis – an astounding example of “temporary mutual interest.” Playing at the Edmonton Jewish Film Festival that runs May 26-29, The Flat starts with a very ordinary scene familiar to everyone of a certain age, and not at first something you’d think […]
COMMENT: Stephen Mandel’s big dreams had high price
The decision by Mayor Stephen Mandel not to run for a fourth term is probably sensible on a personal basis. For all his shortcomings, he’s one of the hardest working civic leaders Edmonton has ever had. And now he’s 67 years old. The timing still strikes me as cowardly. The two showpieces of his administration […]
Monster Energy salute for those about to rock in September
Important disclaimer: Drinking Monster Energy drink will not turn you into a monster, though it might keep you moshing continuously through four monstrous rock bands coming to Edmonton on Monster Energy’s Rock Allegiance Tour. It’s a five-hour energy drink, right? Pulling into Rexall Place on Tuesday, Sept. 10 will be Volbeat, HIM, All That Remains […]
Queens of the Stone Age return to Edmonton in August
Every generation gets the prog rock band it deserves – or needs. Which is why there is great rejoicing among members of the so-called “Generation X” that Queens of the Stone age is returning to Edmonton – playing Wednesday, Aug. 7 in the Shaw Conference Centre; tickets go on sale Friday. This trippy California band […]
Record Store Reunion to celebrate coolest job ever
Like steam locomotive repairmen, harpsichord tuners and silent movie title card calligraphers, record store clerks are nearly extinct. People of the future will look back upon four decades, the 1960s to the 1990s, and no doubt have a few questions: What were “albums?” What’s a record store? Why was being a record store clerk such […]
Brad Paisley, Accidental Racist, plays Edmonton in October
Oh, man, we’re going to have some fun with Brad Paisley when he comes to Edmonton this fall on his “Beat the Summer” tour. The proudly redneck country singer – a mean guitarist and clever songwriter who knows how to push people’s buttons – plays Saturday, Oct. 26 at Rexall Place. Tickets go on sale […]
COMMENT: Why Mayor Kerry Diotte would be good for Edmonton
That Kerry Diotte is running for mayor of Edmonton is exceedingly good news. He threw his hat into the ring for the Oct. 21 civic election at hastily assembled press conference Thursday. Full disclosure: I know the guy. I worked with him for more than 15 years at the Edmonton Sun, where he was one […]
WEEKEND MUSIC: All that glitters is Gold and Youth
Within the next week Edmonton plays host to three major sold out shows: Carrie Underwood, Mumford and Sons, and Imagine Dragons. And while all will undoubtedly be extraordinary, one of the more intriguing live music options will happen at the Pawn Shop on Monday night – and you can still get tickets! Vancouver alternative band […]
Surviving punters assemble first and last Joe Bird album
If you believe in life after death, you could imagine Joe Bird in heaven laughing at his friends left to deal with all the recordings he made before he died suddenly in 2009 – music that was never released. His good friend Jason Kodie knows what he’d say: “I think Joe’s laughing. He’s pissing himself […]
Fringe festival to tee off on James Bond
And the Fringe theme of the year is … Bond, James Bond. Doesn’t “From Fringe With Love” open a whole can of fun and adorable worms – the classic Bond film from 1963, made at the height of the Cold War. Fringe themes rarely coincide with actual content of the plays – but the fact […]
Goddo finds muse, falls in love, settles down – in Calgary
Fact: Hot young women fall for wrinkly old rock stars all the time. It’s not just the rock stardom itself. It’s the character and stamina and ego required to become a rock star in the first place that’s so attractive. It’s obviously hard-wired. One so rarely gets a chance to explore this topic, so it’s […]
