John Mellencamp, Record Store Day and the joy of vinyl
John Mellencamp’s had that “respected country rock troubadour” label hanging around for long enough now for him to become iconic, the Farm-Aid face of a generation. When he rolls into Edmonton for his gigs tonight and tomorrow at the Jubilee Auditorium, it’s another city of a million souls, a good chunk of who are […]
Next best thing to Vegas
It has long been a dream to see a new theme hotel built in Las Vegas, one that would pay homage to the old Vegas that was torn down to make way for the new Vegas: Vegas Vegas! Imagine: A bar that looks like a mini Sands Hotel, 1950s decor, Rat Pack waiters, Dean Martin […]
Hot Picks: Keeping cool with Ice Cube
Question of the day: Why do rappers always look so grumpy? Would it kill them to smile once in a while? Maybe. It might kill their careers. A clue to the answer may be found in the movie Goodfellas, when Joe Pesci’s character says: “I amuse you? I make you laugh, I’m here to f—in’ […]
TRUE TALES OF THE ROAD: Classified’s brush with greatness
This story takes place in a men’s washroom. If you’ve never been in one, know that it is a place where men pee standing right next to one another. Some suffer “stage fright,” and are unable to relax enough to let it flow in the presence of other males, and are thus relegated to omega […]
Hot Picks: That’s MISTER Bates to you
Today on THE BRANCHES OF PUNK we explore “punkabilly,” which may also be called “psychobilly” or “what the fleckabilly,” and all it really means is a fusion of rockabilly and punk rock – plus something else, we don’t know what. Ahh, the aroma of “je ne sais quoi” can be detected in the music of […]
Dominelli dominates Mayor’s Arts Awards
Awards are flying everywhere when you’re in the arts. Keep doing what you’re doing and if you’re reasonably good, sooner or later you’re going to catch one of them. But when the MAYOR himself gives you an award, well, now we’re talking. It’s like the key to the city. Local jazzman Sandro Dominelli was just […]
Colin James plays not-so-secret gig at the Mac
Colin James just came back to say hello – and now the secret is out. He performed Monday at the Hotel MacDonald. This was an invite-only, Fairmont Hotels-promotional sort of gig to hype Colin’s new greatest hits set “Take It From the Top,” featuring two new songs produced by Bob Rock. He’ll be performing for […]
THE WEEK AHEAD: Cheese, with a side of ham and corn
Ladies and gentlemen: Cheese. Ham and cheese. Ham and cheese with a side of corn. Great. Now we’re all hungry for Julio Iglesias, the man whose picture you see before you, whose pose was obviously contrived to pre-emptively make fun of Julio Iglesias. Yes: I fully admit I am often seen as a hokey old […]
World-class classical, one-night only
Two absolutely world-class performers are in Edmonton tonight. And you lucky dogs: though it says online you can’t get tickets….YOU CAN. There are still some tickets available at the door for tonight’s concert at Muttart Hall, an Edmonton Recital Society gala featuring Georgy Tchaidze, a 22-year-old native of St. Petersburg, Russia and the winner of […]
