Fort Saskatchewan gets first radio station, lots of Bon Jovi, with Mix 107.9
Tucked away at the end of the radio dial, waaaay up at 107.9 FM, is Fort Saskatchewan’s very first radio station – which launched Tuesday morning as Mix 107.9 FM with a format that could only be described as “Somewhat Contemporary Hits Radio.” Once CFKT’s big-ass 20,000 watt transmitter is fired up, we’ll be able […]
What to expect when you’re expecting Paul McCartney
Edmonton is on the brink of full-blown Macca Mania, a frenzy of celebrity excitement not seen since Bieber Fever – except with Baby Boomers instead of teenage girls in their own rush of blithering Beatlemania 50 years later. Wow, man, circle of life. Leading up to Paul McCartney’s sold out shows at Rexall Place Wednesday […]
WEEKEND MUSIC PREVIEW: So long, EEC!
If the history of Edmonton’s volatile live music scene has taught us anything, it’s that when one bar goes down, another pops up somewhere else – but there’s always a lot of sadness, as if we’d lost a close friend. Or at least a familiar acquaintance. We’re still heartbroken over the closure of the Sidetrack […]
Are the Chili Peppers modern age Beach Boys?
Not since the Beach Boys has there been a band that’s as all about California as much as the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Playing Wednesday and Thursday at Rexall Place, these keyed-up Angelinos are the quintessential modern Golden State rock band. Thanks to a wonderfully raucous cover of Stevie Wonder’s Higher Ground in 1989, they […]
CONCERT REVIEW: Leonard Cohen class all the way
In the Internet age, when success is so often determined by slick branding and youthful imagery, it’s telling that Leonard Cohen’s cheekily titled 2012 album “Old Ideas” is far and away his highest-charting record, in a career spanning 12 studio albums dating back to 1967. Cohen stepped out onto the Rexall Place stage Sunday night […]
Leonard Cohen the Godfather of great singers who can’t sing
The Return of Leonard Cohen Sunday night reminds us of a very special class of singer-songwriter for whom the art of singing is secondary to the art of songwriting. Let’s just say that Len – like Neil Young, like Bob Dylan, like Tom Waits, like Lou Reed, like Nick Cave, name your legendary croaker – […]
WEEKEND MUSIC PREVIEW: Canada loves the Metric system!
For a band tagged as “modern rock,” Metric’s extraordinary popularity soars across age ranges, across income levels, across, well, across everything – as we shall see when the band plays Rexall Place Thursday night, its first time in the Big Building. Half the nation’s men are probably in love with vocalist Emily Haines, but the […]
Nelly Furtado returns to Edmonton in January with new album, new sound
You know who we haven’t seen around these parts for a while? Nelly Furtado. She’s coming back to Edmonton, first time since 2007, to play the Jubilee Auditorium on Tuesday, January 15, touring behind her new album, The Spirit Indestructible and the new hit single therein, Big Hoops (The Bigger the Better). Tickets go on […]
Alice Cooper revisits Nightmare, Obama re-elected – coincidence?
Alice Cooper is one of a number of rock stars expected to be bummed out by Obama’s re-election – but at least he’s taking it in good humour. He tweeted before the election, “If I’m #elected I promise the formation of a new party A third party, the #WildParty!” And afterwards, “Did I win?” Contrast […]
WEEKEND MUSIC PREVIEW: Wintersleep comes to Wintertown
There’s a bit of a lull in the major act schedule – at least until Alice Cooper hits the Jubilee Auditorium next Wednesday – but that’s just fine. It’ll give us a chance to dig out from the winter storm that smashed into the city. The weekend’s biggest name, yet still relatively unknown, is Wintersleep, […]
With YouTube success comes responsibility for ‘goony’ local rapper
Video killed the radio star – only to be squeezed off the airwaves by vapid reality TV programming. The music video has only grown stronger since moving from MTV to the Internet, and it’s now more crucial than ever for unsigned talent. Young local rapper Jo Thrillz, a.k.a. Joel Vaillancourt, has mastered the art of […]
