WEEKEND MUSIC: Monsters of musical history
Wishbone Ash is a band known more for its influence on others than its own music, the Mudhoney of its day – holding a place in music history in the vanguard of the progressive rock movement that developed in the late ‘60s. In short, right place, right time. Luck was with these lads. When the […]
WHO NAMED THE BAND: Captain Tractor sails 20 years
It’s hard to be taken seriously when your band name is a joke. “Captain Tractor” was coined 20 years ago by an actual comedian, one Neil Grahn, current TV guy and former member of Edmonton’s legendary comedy troupe Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie. He was playing on the “superhero” idea for his friends, a […]
Boonstock 2013: From Limp Bizkit to Benny Benassi
Boonstock 2013 has finally announced its line-up! It’s going to be That Band All Over the Radio, ‘80s Band With One Member Left, Generic Folk Band and Two Dudes with a Macbook, plus many more. It will take place at the Three Hottest Days of Summer in a Really Inconvenient Location. Tickets go on sale […]
GIGGLE CITY: Jeremy Hotz keeps it short and sweet
When we started the unfortunately named Giggle City feature – asking the same set of dumb questions and expecting smart answers from any stand-up comedian who happened to be in range – we were hoping for a detailed, in-depth exploration of the modern comic mind. Sure, we learned a lot, like how female hecklers are […]
Mike Plume performs tribute at Stompin’ Tom memorial
Last Wednesday, Canada lost the great Stompin’ Tom Connors, King of Canadiana, everyman chronicler of Canadian history and life, the Johnny Cash of his country. A nation mourns. On Thursday morning down in Nashville, former Edmontonian Mike Plume was lamenting the loss of what he called a “father” figure when he was struck by a […]
WEEKEND MUSIC: Imagine Dragons, Heart on Big Monday
Whichever era of Heart you’re a fan of (assuming you’re a fan to begin with), the fabulous Wilson sisters will undoubtedly perform songs that you’ll love at the Jubilee Auditorium on Monday night – part of our extended long weekend of Big Shows. What’s not to love? This concert is sold out. Heart is an […]
MUSIC: 100 Mile House in the vanguard of folk trend
You read it here first: Folk is the latest trend in pop music. All over the radio we are hearing furiously strumming banjos and mandolins, whomping floor toms, lusty male vocals and rousing drink-along sea chanties writ large, from the likes of Mumford and Sons, the Lumineers and, OK, yes, fun. To that list, on […]
DISASTER DOCS: Who needs Towering Inferno?
There was no shortage of disaster movies at this year’s Global Visions Film Festival, which wrapped on March 3 after screenings of more than 45 documentaries from around the world. Thing is, these were real disasters. Who needs Irwin Allen? Who needs Towering Inferno when you have Twin Towering Inferno? The festival people haven’t crunched […]
Alabama Shakes to headline Interstellar Rodeo
One of the hottest new rock bands on the continent is coming to Edmonton this summer. Alabama Shakes has been announced as one of the headliners for the second annual Interstellar Rodeo, taking place July 26-28 at Hawrelak Park. The full line-up and ticket on sale details will be announced later this month. Distinguished by […]
Zebra Pulse too weird for punk rock?
For the last five years, Zebra Pulse has been making noise. Thanks to an arsenal of pedals, processors, cassette players, turntables and anything else that can generate a racket, the group has been a regular fixture at such places as Bohemia and Wunderbar where fans can indulge in their ear-bleeding nuances. Zebra Pulse has become […]
WEEKEND MUSIC: Pop sisters still the indelible indie twins
They may be famous now, but Tegan and Sara remain the indelible indie pop twin sisters from Calgary. They parachute into Edmonton on Sunday night for a show at the Shaw Conference Centre. The girls began playing guitar and writing songs together at the age of 15, and, now, almost twenty years later, have amassed […]
GLOBAL VISIONS REVIEW: Wampler’s Ascent a manifesto for the disabled
Like the blind man who summited Mount Everest, Steve Wampler undertook an impossible ordeal few people would think was sensible – scaling the highest cliff in the West despite being afflicted with cerebral palsy. Wampler’s Ascent, the gala closer of the Global Visions Film Festival on Sunday, March 3, details the California native’s attempt in […]
