Posted on May 8, 2012
By Wayne Arthurson
Lit, The Latest
Edmonton literary fans will soon have the chance to participate in the city’s first ever WordCrawl. Remember the Stroll of Poets from the ’90s? It’s like that, except on a bus. “It’s the love child of an orgy between a literary reading, a poetry slam, a songwriting showcase, and a pub crawl. On speed!” explains […]
Posted on May 8, 2012
By Mike Ross
Music, Theatre
Consider the Six Degrees of Elton John in Alberta Ballet’s production of Love Lies Bleeding, at the Jubilee Auditorium Thursday through Saturday. The ballet is based upon the life and music of Elton John, who is being played by dancer Kelley McKinlay, who grew up in Fort Saskatchewan, where he did not hang out with […]
Posted on May 3, 2012
By Mike Ross
Music, The Latest
If the lady who’s buying the stairway to heaven finds the stores are all closed – stores that sell stairways to heaven, Rona, maybe – and she can still get what she came for when she gets there, that is, heaven, then why does she even need a stairway to heaven in the first place? […]
Posted on May 3, 2012
By Kevin Maimann
Front Slider, Music
The Saturday forecast is calling for rain – but the Pawn Shop will turn up the summer vibes with margaritas, go-go dancers and a smoking hot CD release to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Local surf-rock favourites the Frolics will drop its brand-new full-length album, Bombastic. There’s lots more going on, with the opening acts White […]
Posted on May 2, 2012
By Mike Ross
Front Slider, Music
If being in a rock band is like a marriage, it follows that a band break-up is the ugly divorce. Who gets the money? Who gets custody of the kids? How did our love come to this? It can be just as painful as any relationship gone awry. “Having to leave Wide Mouth Mason was […]
Posted on May 1, 2012
By Albert Smith
Music
Some folks are born to wave the flag, or with a silver spoon in hand, as the case may be, but John Fogerty ain’t no senator’s son. He’s a stone cold American troubadour whose powerful anti-war lyrics still hold up today. He didn’t go to war – he just sang about it. Time for a […]
Posted on April 30, 2012
By Albert Smith
Music, The Latest
Holy hot Texas tamale! Not since Steve Earle shacked up with that redhead firebrand Allison Moorer has there been such a power music couple as seen in the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Featuring Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, both formidable modern blues stars in their own right, The Tedeshi Trucks Band plays Friday, June 22 at […]
Posted on April 30, 2012
By Mike Ross
Front Slider, Music
Naming a band is like branding a cow. The band cringes at the process, but once done, there’s just a scar. The cow, or band, as the case may be, eventually doesn’t even notice its brand, which loses any original meaning beyond conferring identity and ownership. “It’s just the name of the band, man!” say […]
Posted on April 26, 2012
By Mike Ross
Front Slider, Music
Putting aside the question of whether electronic music fans are crazier than rock fans – Northlands seemed to think so when they refused to allow alcohol to be sold at this weekend’s Elements Music Festival until a judge ordered the decision reversed – there are more basic questions for those who don’t know their “house” […]
Posted on April 24, 2012
By Mike Ross
Front Slider, Music
We now have eyewitness evidence that things were better in the old days. For musicians. Tommy “The Senator” Banks remembers – age 75 and still going strong, he has a lot to remember – “In the 1960s, within one block of Jasper Avenue on either side, between 100 Street and 109 Street, there were 18 […]
Posted on April 23, 2012
By Mike Ross
Comedy, Front Slider, Lit, Theatre
The chief difference between stand-up comedy and performance poetry, according to noted performance poet Jem Rolls, is that “I don’t have to be funny all the time.” So it’s more relaxing for the audience if they don’t expect a punch-line every single time, he adds, and even better, “It’s more relaxing for me.” Appearing Friday […]
Posted on April 21, 2012
By Mike Ross
Front Slider, Music, Theatre
It’s fun to imagine what Ludwig Van Beethoven was like. There are so many depictions, caricatures and stories about this frowning old composer – some of it must be true. Ornery, given to wild experimentation, perfectionist, did great work and knew it, enjoyed his fame, went deaf, music was used to torture a criminal in […]
