Blue Chair Don’t Swing Blue, but Lenny Bruce Lives On
Once upon a time, on a dark and stormy night in a galaxy far, far away (but still in Edmonton, strangely enough), there was only one story slam. It was at The Blue Chair Cafe and it grew to be so popular that on some nights it even had to turn folks away. But things […]
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 […]
THEATRE: All for one and one for all!
So there’s this young sword-fighter named d’Artagnan who goes to 17th Century Paris to seek his fortune, only to get embroiled in a tale of intrigue involving an evil Cardinal, an adulterous French queen, a deceitful countess, various dukes, lords, cutpurses, whoresons, comely wenches, dashing swashbucklers and … to HELL with all this historical exposition! […]
GIGGLE CITY: Tim Koslo’s comic recovery
Tim Koslo once experienced a personal Fear and Loathing in Alberta wasted on alcohol, morphine, Ativan, Valium, Quaaludes and LSD. He remembers the list very clearly. On day three of the epic bender, he did a stand-up comedy show which audience members later described as “brilliant,” featuring material nobody had ever heard before or since. […]
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 […]
