FESTIVAL GUY: Interstellar Rodeo a triumph of Edmontonian proportions
“Eclectic” may be too generic a word to describe the mish-mash of musical genres thrown together for this year’s Interstellar Rodeo – everything from Americana from Steve Earle to the electronic art rock from Edmonton’s own Shout Out Out Out Out. There seemed little cohesion between the different artists at the weekend’s cosmic soundwave soup […]
Local singer to tackle cyberbullying in new video
An Edmonton pop singer has found the perfect location to shoot a music video with an anti-bullying theme – at the same high school where she was bullied. Going by the name of ESMA, the 24-year-old dance music artist has the blessing of the Edmonton Public School Board and the school principal to shoot at […]
REVIEW: Marathon reunion show proves Jr. Gone Wild must go on
It’s as if Jr. Gone Wild stepped out of a time capsule – its honky-tonky, punky good-time Alberta country music perfectly preserved all this time to be revived with a vengeance by four rock ‘n’ roll Rip Van Winkles. Rock ‘n’ roll seems to be hard-wired to celebrate the past in 20 year cycles, and […]
Don’t be afraid of Death Toll Rising – be very afraid
Things can get a little awkward when you try to explain to someone why your band’s last album was called “Defecation Suffocation.” Of course, for those well versed in extreme metal, such titles are par for the course. Edmonton band Death Toll Rising, which dropped the aforementioned album in 2010, doesn’t expect anyone to take […]
JR. GONE WILD: Dumb enough to quit, smart enough to start over
Hate to burst your bubble, but the Jr. Gone Wild reunion was motivated by money. Give thanks to local promoter Frank Klemen, a longtime Jr. fan who felt it was so important that his favourite Edmonton alt-country band get back together that he wouldn’t take no for an answer. “It was up to me,” he […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Bay City Roller comes out clean
That Les McKeown of the Bay City Rollers could admit to being bisexual on the British reality show “Rehab” four years ago and suffer no apparent backlash from his loyal female fans is a sure sign of progress in society. “I would imagine that would’ve been completely taboo back in the ‘70s,” the 57-year-old singer […]
Justin Timberlake to hit Edmonton – in 2014
Talking about building anticipation – not to mention collecting bank interest on ticket sales seven months before a major event. Well played, Justin Timberlake. The pop-soul superstar is coming to Edmonton on his 20/20 Experience world tour – but not until Jan. 13, 2014, at Rexall Place. Tickets go on sale Monday, May 13. Presale […]
Gigantour 2013 to mangle Edmonton metalheads in July
Area metal fans are advised to gird their loins and prepare for the unrelenting brutal sonic assault that is Gigantour. The 2013 edition of Megadeth’s touring thrash metal jamboree comes to Edmonton’s Rexall Place on Friday, July 26 – also featuring Black Label Society, Device, Hellyeah, Newstead (former Metallica member Jason Newstead’s solo project) and […]
Eagles return to Edmonton this fall
Is it really necessary to call an Eagles tour the “History of the Eagles” tour? All Eagles tours are histories of the Eagles tours. At least they’re being up front about what is sure to be yet another nostalgic trip back in time – coming to Edmonton’s Rexall Place on Monday, Sept. 9. Tickets go […]
