THOMSON: Like a Souper Trooper
There’s much to be said for the most recent use of Canadian classic rock band Trooper’s anthem “Raise A Little Hell.” Doubtless, the mere suggestion that a television commercial can represent art rankles some. And yet, when the cumulative effect of good graphic design and foot-pounding sound is this naughtily impressive, what else can you […]
The best thing about those old Bugs Bunny cartoons – aside from the high quality violence you just don’t see anymore – was the music. They used full-blown orchestras in those days, creating an evocative canon of music that became its own genre: cartoon symphonies. The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra takes a crack at it at […]
MUSIC: Casino gigs all in the Temptations
On an average night, a casino lounge in Edmonton is a long way from the big time, when Otis Williams and his bandmates in the Temptations were cranking out hit after hit, eventually putting the Motown legends in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But when the lights go up, and the MC has […]
VISUAL ARTS: Smokey gets the hang of the unhinged Arctic
Cabin Fever: Renderings of an Unhinged Man not only shows an illustrator hovering around the top of his skills so far, it’s also an inspiring exercise in recycling, both physical and cultural. Its artist is Nickelas Johnson, who wears the name Smokey when he’s out fighting crimes of apathy, which he, like most creative people, […]
ROSS: What’s that SOUND? Edmonton’s lowest-rated station has potential for greatness
Random question asked of 10 random “alternative adults” in a random shopping mall on a random evening in recent history: Do you listen to The Sound? Their answers, in order (guaranteed real!): 1. No. 2. Sorry, man … (walks away quickly). 3. (Smirks) I don’t listen to the radio. 4. I listen to my iPod. […]
CONTEST: Wen there’s a will, there’s a Wei…and free tickets, too
Wen Wei? Way! ….when? If you asked the question above, you’re either a mildly delusional website editor or a fan of the unparalleled Wen Wei Beijing Modern Dance Company. Assuming the latter, you could win free tickets to the company’s performance Feb. 25 at the Timms Centre. Wen Wei blends multiple styles including traditional Chinese […]
ART: Pawn stars benefit from collateral collectibles
Stony Plain Road is a great destination if, due to poor financial advice, you need to pawn your Makita drill. It’s also handy if you need nipple tassles for your girlfriend (or boyfriend) from one of the area’s handy adult XXX shops. But it’s not the part of the city you would think to hit […]
Music … and a few other gifts, besides
Edmontonian Rhea March isn’t just building a team of talented young musicians. She’s building a family. March has spent the past four years assembling a roster of gifted Albertan songwriters under age 22 for her non-profit U22 Productions. U22 shows youngsters the ropes of the music industry through mentorship, performance coaching, booking, management, promotion, recording […]
Mass Effect’s Commander Shepard gets his one-man improv on
When Mark Meer speaks, geeks listen. His voice is devoured by theatre audiences, improv junkies and video gamers; we’re all geeks in our respective interests. “My concerns are nerdy,” says Meer. “I grew up enjoying SCTV, Monty Python and Kids in the Hall. I didn’t have drama class in school. The closest I had to […]
Rihanna gets Loud in Edmonton June 22
Poetic justice 101: Chris Brown proves himself a complete twit after he didn’t win a Grammy (complaining on Twitter: “This industry is based on politics and a**-kissing!”) – while the woman he was convicted of assaulting has turned into an even bigger star than ever. In the wake of collecting a trophy for best dance […]
MUSIC: The ever-reliable Boogie Patrol kicking in the smoking harp and electrics at Blues on Whyte? The Stefan Kijek Quartet at Jeffrey’s Cafe and Wine Bar? One of 1,600 bands named Radioflyer at Brixx? Over to you on this one, folks. TELEVISION: If you can rip your eyes away from the Habs laying the smackdown […]
