WE THREE KINGS: Ben Sures, Paul Bellows and Mike McDonald
Posted on December 8, 2011 By Mike Ross Front Slider, Music
The teaming up of three of our top singer-songwriters inspires tantalizing visions of an Edmonton supergroup – Mike McDonald, Ben Sures and Paul Bellows – along the lines of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings. They might even be convinced to wear some of those gay caballero costumes. Well, maybe not. The supergroup isn’t out of […]
Coldplay to launch North American tour in Edmonton April 17
Posted on December 8, 2011 By Albert Smith Front Slider, Music
It’s always a treat when we get a visit from a British band – begging the question: Are British rock bands better than North American ones? Short answer: Yes. We’ll go to the scoreboard in a moment, but for now celebrate the return of Coldplay, playing April 17 at Rexall Place. The band has chosen […]
First Cats, now Puscifer – Maynard James Keenan’s new thing hits the Jube March 10
Posted on December 7, 2011 By Staff Front Slider, Music
On the heels of the announcement of Cats at the Jubilee Auditorium comes news of another apparently feline-related act coming to that same building on Saturday, March 10 – Puscifer. What are the odds? And who named the band, you ask? It’s just Tool’s Maynard James Keenan up to some new tricks, that’s all. Puscifer […]
ANNOUNCED: Meow, hiss, here comes Cats
Posted on December 7, 2011 By Staff Family, Front Slider, Theatre
Here comes Bombalurina, following closely by Rumpleteazer and Mr. Mistoffelees! Aren’t they adorable? There lurks Grizabella while The Rum Tum Tugger stalks his prey. Mee-ow. And look! Skimbleshanks is rubbing his face against your leg. Aw, Mungojerrie is jealous. Hissss … If you have no idea what we’re talking about, consider yourself lucky. Or unlucky […]
Bar owners fear Bill 26 – but the ‘damage’ has already been done
Posted on December 6, 2011 By Mike Ross Culture, Front Slider
It’s hard to believe, but driving drunk wasn’t always considered such a heinous offense against humanity. As Alberta legislators continue to debate tough the new drunk driving sanctions in Bill 26 – which some members of the hospitality industry are opposing because they think it might hurt the hospitality industry – it might be helpful […]
Dwight Yoakam to cool up the River Cree Casino Feb. 4
Posted on December 2, 2011 By Staff Front Slider, Music
There is hot country and there is cool country – and Dwight Yoakam is definitely the latter. Still walkin’ that line between too cool for his own good and not hot enough to become the next Garth Brooks, Yoakam brings his high and lonesome cosmic California country sound to the River Cree Casino on Saturday, […]
THEATRE: New couple cooped up in The Survival of Pigeons
Posted on November 30, 2011 By Ben Dextraze Front Slider, Theatre
Nothing tests a love affair like moving in together. Just ask the characters in Surreal Soreal Theatre’s new play “The Survival of Pigeons As Studied By Human Lovers,” opening Thursday at the Varscona Theatre. “The play really speaks to moving in with another person and the deepening of that relationship as you discover who they […]
MUSIC: Polkadot Cadaver straddles line between gloom and comedy
Posted on November 29, 2011 By Kevin Maimann Front Slider, Music
Don’t let them scare you. Polkadot Cadaver’s eccentric mash-up of rock, metal, dance, polka and everything in between is accompanied by some downright twisted lyrics that sometimes make strangers apprehensive about approaching the band. Take the chorus of lovably eerie ballad Chloroform Girl, for instance, on which singer Todd Smith croons, “It’s been three years […]
COMMENT: Nickelback, the Talus Dome and some basic civility
Posted on November 27, 2011 By LH Thomson Culture, Front Slider, Visual Arts
It’s funny how a small shift in perspective can change how we view things and influence human behaviour, particularly in the arts, where the debate between art, popularity and finance rages eternal. We all benefit from considering others’ perspectives sometimes, whether it’s on Nickelback being publically shunned or a public art installation. One man’s interpretation […]
Sexual trade show all about education, insight, sex toys
Posted on November 23, 2011 By Mike Ross Front Slider, Theatre
When tying up one’s sexual partner, it’s easy to learn knots that won’t constrict blood vessels or cause nerve damage. And one should always have a safeword, preferably not “please … don’t … stop” or combination thereof. These are just some of the many things you can learn at Taboo, the Naughty … But Nice […]
THEATRE: Fiction stranger than truth in Offensive Fouls
Posted on November 22, 2011 By Mike Ross Front Slider, Theatre
Strange but true: Fiction can sometimes illustrate truths about reality even better than reality. Wrap your heads around that, non-fiction people. This idea is demonstrated in a big way with Concrete Theatre’s touring school plays. The latest production, Offensive Fouls, deals with racism, something young people – heck, most people – are often unwilling to […]
GIGGLE CITY: Jon Lajoie brings viral comedy to the stage
Posted on November 21, 2011 By Mike Ross Comedy, Front Slider
Jon Lajoie is admittedly a “little hungover” when reached on the phone for an interview one recent morning. Some kind of late-breaking Halloween party, apparently. We’re trying to get him to explain how it is that some guy with a viral YouTube video suddenly becomes one of the hottest new comic performers in Canada – […]
