Alberta punks gone country in Pal Joey
Trent Buhler has fond memories of playing bars in the crumbling 100-year-old downtown building that houses The Artery – soon to be torn down for the LRT – and it is at The Artery where his band Pal Joey stages its stealth comeback with a CD release show Saturday night. For the record: This popular […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: An embarrassment of riches
What a world! Anyone make their own records. You can literally do it in your own bedroom now. The downside: Anyone can make their own records. There are, at rough count, SIX worthy Edmonton artists releasing new records this weekend. Take your pick: Alt-country from Pal Joey, singer-songwriter from Amy van Keeken, roots-rock from Bobby […]
Shania Twain aims high for comeback-farewell
Eyebrows have been raised with news of Shania Twain’s comeback-farewell tour in one, coming to Edmonton for not one, but two shows at Rexall Place, June 11-12, with top tickets – on sale March 13 – going for almost $200. Who does she think she is, Madonna? A lot has changed since the Canadian country […]
A Christian band in a secular world
White Lightning can’t hide the fact they’re a Christian band – though there are no explicit references to Jesus in their music. You can just hear it: Zippy, poppy, catchy numbers brimming with life-affirming positivity. Also, just look at them. The Edmonton groove-rock trio releases its new four song EP, 1979, with a show at […]
Madonna comes to Edmonton in October
Edmonton has long been a bellwether for superstardom in the concert industry. If they’re coming all the way here, they’re either on their way up or on their way down. Then again, Madonna is such a music marketing powerhouse that she may be capable of being both at the same time. So all hail the […]
Viet Cong attacks Artery with dark magic
This was the last time you’ll be able to see Viet Cong on such a small stage in Edmonton. Given the buzz that this Calgary band has been generating, their history, and the tremendous response to their self-titled debut album barely a month old, this band is headed somewhere big. But for a sold-out crowd […]
OPINION: Eulogy for the Artery
I can’t remember the first show I saw at the Artery. I remember that I walked there, I remember that it was cold, I remember the only bit of warmth was my girlfriend Emily’s hand in mine. And I remember I fell in love with the room that evening. Emily and I split up shortly […]
UPDATE: Artery closing to make way for progress
The local music scene is reeling with the sudden news that the The Artery will be closing at the end of March to make way for the Valley Line LRT Project– and there goes another popular Edmonton live music venue. On the heels of the bad news about the historic McDougall United Church needing massive […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Viet Cong on the attack
Calgary’s Viet Cong is quite probably the nation’s biggest buzz band right now, receiving acclaim not only across Canada, but also from some of the biggest blogs south of the border, like Brooklyn Vegan and My Old Kentucky Blog, who have been raving about the band, and including them on their weekly radio show, since […]
Lip syncing thrives in concert karaoke
The Quixotic quest to get warning labels on concert tickets appears to be a non-starter. Imagine: “PARENTAL ADVISORY: Portions of tonight’s ‘live’ concert will contain pre-recorded backing tracks” … only in your dreams. “There are no plans to require concert promoters to print warnings on tickets regarding pre-recorded material,” says the Alberta government. “I’ve never […]
Aerosmith to draw Blue Army in Fort McMurray
Aerosmith’s legions of fans are sometimes referred to as the “Blue Army,” because they all wear blue jeans and blue jean jackets and work in blue collar jobs, while some of the band’s oldest fans are even old enough to have blue hair – not to mention the band members themselves. Way to pinpoint that […]
Disaster report, Octopus extras, tales of Fjalladrottning
Ben Disaster is the opposite of his name. That is not an Ungentle Ben reference. Disaster is an artist’s musician. Writing songs on his phone or whatever is in reach, with his creativity and dedication to his craft alone, he is most worthy of Sonic’s Band of The Month moniker. With that said, when interviewing Mr. Disaster, it […]
