PLAYBOT: High expectations for Carole King musical
How a nice Jewish girl from Brooklyn became one of the greatest songwriters of all time is the rich subject of a new musical that opens in Edmonton tonight. From a Broadway hit in 2014 to the Jubilee Auditorium until Nov. 11, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical follows the inspiring story of its titular subject […]
Alan Parsons Project to play Winspear Centre
Therefore, we shall call it … the Alan Parsons Project! Oh, my God! What now? The Alan Parsons Project is a progressive rock band in 1982. Why don’t you just name it Operation Wang-Chung …? You just don’t get it, Scotty. Because the real Alan Parsons Project is coming to Edmonton, that’s why – a […]
Last chance to see Ozzy Osbourne in Edmonton
We want to give Ozzy Osbourne the same pass we do when other rock stars announce their farewell: Hey, man, you can change your mind if you want to – you’re always welcome in this town. In the meantime, we can imagine this will be the last time to see the Elvis of Heavy Metal […]
Foote in the Door tackles con game musical with mixed results
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels was a thoroughly delightful film released in 1988, starring Steve Martin and Michael Caine. It was a throwback to the Hollywood of the ‘30s and ‘40s with goofy but marvelous performances and a clever plot. In short, it was a property just calling out to be a musical. The result was a […]
REVIEW: All work and no phones make Jack White a clever boy
You won’t see any selfies on social media from your buddy at the Jack White Canadian tour opener in Edmonton on Friday night – ditto for any video clips of precious moments. By completely banning all cell phones, the Detroit rocker and former White Stripes frontman ensured that the likes of Instagram, Twitter and even […]
TONIGHT, I HUNT: Myth and reality fuse in powerful Redpatch
Early in World War 1, the British High Command had difficulties in distinguishing the Canucks (considered inferior) from the Brits in the ranks. So, at the Battle of The Somme, a single red patch was attached to the Canadians’ uniforms. Some of those soldiers were First Nation and Metis. In fact, some 4,000 volunteered to […]
Mother Mother to ‘Dance and Cry’ in Edmonton
The band so nice they named it twice is coming back to Edmonton yet again – and we couldn’t be happier. Mother Mother has included the Jubilee Auditorium on its most ambitious tour so far – 40 dates across North America on the “Dance and Cry” tour, named for the band’s seventh studio album, out […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: No devices at Jack White!
Like communism, a cellphone-free concert experience is a beautiful idea – in theory. In practice, security will be on your ass if you pull it out at Friday’s Jack White concert in Rogers Place. If one makes a rule to benefit the greater public good, one needs to enforce it. Otherwise what’s the point? Communism […]
Justin Timberlake forced to postpone Edmonton shows
Fans of Justin Timberlake are encouraged to hang on to their tickets for the postponed shows in Edmonton this coming Sunday and Monday – because he fully expects his “bruised vocal cords” to heal up in time for make-up dates in early 2019. How do you even bruise your vocal cords, anyway? By singing too […]
PLAYBOT: Redpatch tells untold (until now) WWI story
Edmonton First Nations actor Sheldon Elter can’t be in two plays at once – but one imagines he would’ve totally been up for Redpatch. He’s already starring in The Comedy Company (see below), another play about World War I. Coincidence? Not this time, Jasper. Remembrance Day is coming up. At the Citadel Theatre Nov. 1-11, […]
The Bone House will scare you out of your skin
In the dying days of Vaudeville, I attended a traveling production that scared the living daylights out of me – it lingers even now some 70 years later. A virtuoso storyteller told us of the terrors of the night that inhabit our world. As he talked, we realized that they were drawing near. Suddenly, the […]
