The 10 Commandments of Oprahism
Millions, perhaps billions of people hang on Oprah Winfrey’s every word. OK, hundreds of millions. Celebrities line-up at her television confessional. She’s presides over a global media empire. She can make us laugh, cry, get mad or say “Aha!” Her generosity has touched millions. She attends to the poor. One word from Oprah can bestow […]
BOB SEGER: King of rock songs about rocking rocks Edmonton in March
This one has been in the “will get to Edmonton eventually” file for ages, and look how time flies – Bob Seger is finally coming to town. The consummate classic rocker, perhaps best known for “Old Time Rock and Roll” and other rock songs about rocking, will bring his Silver Bullet Band to Rexall Place […]
HISTORIC EVENT: Oprah Winfrey to inspire Edmonton in January
You thought McCartney was huge? Oprah Winfrey is coming to Edmonton – and right soon! The talk show queen will appear for an “inspirational evening event” on Monday, January 21 at Rexall Place. She’ll share her stories, and she’s got a few, with an overriding theme to “illustrate ways attendees can take control of their […]
Parts greater than the sum: Fleetwood Mac returns to Edmonton in May
Continuing the ongoing rock concert series dominated by Legendary Baby Boomers comes the return of Fleetwood Mac in 2013. Featuring most of its key original members, the band plays Wednesday, May 15 at Rexall Place in Edmonton, part of an extensive North American tour announced Monday. Tickets go on sale Monday, Dec. 17 at Ticketmaster, […]
DAY 2 REVIEW: Paul McCartney does it again!
Edmonton hasn’t seen a spectacle like this since the Oilers were last in the Stanley Cup Finals. The crowd at Rexall Place for Paul McCartney’s second show on Thursday night was perhaps even more boisterous, with a wave going around the arena before the show even started, the noise approaching near deafening levels waiting for […]
Eight surprising things about Paul McCartney in Edmonton
Never let it be said that Paul McCartney didn’t have the element of surprise on his side for his historic first appearance in Edmonton. He played the crowd at Rexall Place like a violin on Wednesday night – kept his fans guessing from start to finish. Here’s a quick look at some of the surprising […]
CONCERT REVIEW: Journey treats fans to ’80s delights
The last time Journey played Edmonton, Wayne Gretzky was 21 years old and the Oilers were two years away from winning their first Stanley Cup. Thirty years later, both Gretzky and the Cup are long gone, but ‘80s rock is still going strong. Just ask the 11,000 people who came out for Tuesday’s night show […]
What to expect when you’re expecting Paul McCartney
Edmonton is on the brink of full-blown Macca Mania, a frenzy of celebrity excitement not seen since Bieber Fever – except with Baby Boomers instead of teenage girls in their own rush of blithering Beatlemania 50 years later. Wow, man, circle of life. Leading up to Paul McCartney’s sold out shows at Rexall Place Wednesday […]
WEEKEND MUSIC PREVIEW: So long, EEC!
If the history of Edmonton’s volatile live music scene has taught us anything, it’s that when one bar goes down, another pops up somewhere else – but there’s always a lot of sadness, as if we’d lost a close friend. Or at least a familiar acquaintance. We’re still heartbroken over the closure of the Sidetrack […]
Are the Chili Peppers modern age Beach Boys?
Not since the Beach Boys has there been a band that’s as all about California as much as the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Playing Wednesday and Thursday at Rexall Place, these keyed-up Angelinos are the quintessential modern Golden State rock band. Thanks to a wonderfully raucous cover of Stevie Wonder’s Higher Ground in 1989, they […]
CONCERT REVIEW: Leonard Cohen class all the way
In the Internet age, when success is so often determined by slick branding and youthful imagery, it’s telling that Leonard Cohen’s cheekily titled 2012 album “Old Ideas” is far and away his highest-charting record, in a career spanning 12 studio albums dating back to 1967. Cohen stepped out onto the Rexall Place stage Sunday night […]
Leonard Cohen the Godfather of great singers who can’t sing
The Return of Leonard Cohen Sunday night reminds us of a very special class of singer-songwriter for whom the art of singing is secondary to the art of songwriting. Let’s just say that Len – like Neil Young, like Bob Dylan, like Tom Waits, like Lou Reed, like Nick Cave, name your legendary croaker – […]
