Astounding CKUA changes: No one gets fired!
For more proof that the CKUA Radio Network is unlike almost any other radio network on Earth, look no further than the station’s impending “shake-up” that takes effect Feb. 18. They didn’t fire anybody! What’s a “change in direction” if they don’t ambush and heave overboard at least one notable radio personality? It happens all […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Vancouver duo a killer
Imagine taking the best part of your favorite rock radio station, and the best part of your favorite blues station, pushing it through a high-end juicer and then drinking the result. That may be an apt description of Vancouver duo Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer. Sort of reminiscent of The Black Keys, but a little […]
Young Frankenstein the Musical a no brainer
Can anything be made into a musical? The short answer is yes. The more difficult question is why. You don’t have to dig far to see that musical theatre has wormed its way into all orifices of popular culture. When rock stars and the guys from South Park and Family Guy and Disney start getting […]
REVIEW: Free Candy sweet outside, bitter within
No amount of sexy name, boppy songs, marching band costumes, tooting horns, fuzzy bass and bloopy old Farfisa organs can hide the fact that the Wet Secrets is a damned dark band. Their new album Free Candy might give sensitive listeners the urge to slit their wrists – if it weren’t for all the delicious […]
Heart returns to Edmonton in a mighty second wind
It is so gratifying to see a once-forgotten classic rock band enjoy a new life. Hey, it happens, from time to time. This time, it couldn’t have happened to a more worthy band than Heart. With the first rate soul sista rock chicks Nancy and Ann Wilson in fine form into their 60s, the band […]
Calgary bar steals ‘Sidetrack’ mojo – Edmontonians irked
Some Edmonton music scene-sters are crying foul over the sudden appearance of the “Sidetrack Stage and Grill” in Calgary – but managers insist that this is not a crass attempt to cash in on Edmonton’s famous sadly defunct music venue. “No disrespect is intended,” says Darcy Clendenning, promotions manager for the Sidetrack Stage and Grill […]
RIP: David Finkelman pursued path less taken
Dave Finkelman, an immensely popular musician, CJSR DJ, friend, brother and son, tragically passed away on Jan. 27 after being struck by a car while he was walking in a marked crosswalk on Whyte Avenue. A short distance away from the Wunderbar – a venue the 27-year-old musician and his band Energetic Action performed at […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Folk the weekend
This weekend’s gig schedule is filled with a whole lot of folk musicians and singer-songwriters – appropriate to the city’s music scene and also the time of year. Come to think of it, we get great folk all year long. Josh Ritter and Geoff Berner headline shows on both Friday and Saturday night, and then […]
Edmonton indie game developers find success par for the corpse
Pity poor Sir Reginald the Obtuse. He is brave, adroit, fleet of foot. But if you want to get across that spike pit, you’re going to have to bounce off poor Sir Reginald’s spike-riddled carcass to do it. The video game platformer Life Goes On is the most twisted little piece of black comedic […]
Motley Crue to hit Edmonton on farewell tour
Start the waterworks. Motley Crue, the most bad-assed badass rock band of all time, is going away – and they won’t be coming back! Announced yesterday at a press conference, the band will play one final tour and that will be it: 70 dates across North America, including Tuesday, Nov. 18 at Rexall Place in […]
Heavy metal tenor finds passion in opera
Opera is doing a good job staying “hip” – that is, relevant to a younger generation who unanimously reject the “hipster” label that allegedly applies to anyone 35 or younger. Heavy metal is hip, isn’t it? Opera has a lot in common with heavy metal: Drama, pageantry, passion. At some point the two genres meet […]
MUSIC: Jamuary brings new spirit to jam culture, also jam
Of course they’re going to be selling homemade jam at the jam band gig celebrating jam culture in Jamuary – Saturday, Jan. 25 at the Newcastle Pub featuring Edmonton’s preeminent jam band the McGowan Family Band and other like-minded jammy jammers. Somebody’s bound to get the munchies there. You can buy CJSR’s “Rad Staff Jam,” […]
