Queen + Adam Lambert better than no Queen at all

Queen + Adam Lambert better than no Queen at all

Of course it’s impossible to fill the shoes of the late, great Freddie Mercury – but the flambouyant Adam Lambert gets the ultimate endorsement from the surviving members of Queen: They’re touring together as Queen + Adam Lambert, playing Rexall Place on June 24. Tickets go on sale next Friday, March 14. The unlikely combo […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: Wake Owl a hoot

MUSIC PREVIEW: Wake Owl a hoot

To have Vancouver claim the great band Wake Owl as its own may be a little misleading – because its singer-songwriter Colyn Cameron seems to be from a lot of different places. Raised in Southern California, he went off to study organic agriculture in England, then worked on various farms in the UK, Germany, Chile, […]

Motley Crue to hit Edmonton on farewell tour

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 […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: Country is as country does

MUSIC PREVIEW: Country is as country does

It would be an excellent weekend to dust off that cowboy hat in the back of your closet. You do have a cowboy hat in the back of your closet, don’t you? If not, check your head. Big names in the gig calendar make this a real country weekend. Blue Rodeo is in town for […]

REVIEW: Timberlake goes for soul overkill

REVIEW: Timberlake goes for soul overkill

Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience was more than just a pop concert. It was soul overkill. Any possibility of subtlety or spontaneity was mercilessly crushed under a relentless barrage of pure bombast, over-arranged, over-played, overwrought. Timberlake may want to be like Prince, but he is the Meat Loaf of R&B. You can’t blame the guy. […]

Rear End in View: Top 3 of 2013

Rear End in View: Top 3 of 2013

In a surreal year of major concert events that started with the insufferable Oprah Winfrey – who brandished the “truck balls” purse she was given as a gift by the good people of Edmonton and made us into a laughingstock – the three that stood should come as no surprise. This is the weirdest top […]

CONCERTS: Kings of Leon, Goo Goo Dolls, ZZ Top, R5

CONCERTS: Kings of Leon, Goo Goo Dolls, ZZ Top, R5

A big wad of concerts announced Monday offers something for every generation – from ZZ Top to Kings of Leon, not necessarily in alphabetical order. Getting to the big one, Kings of Leon, the award-winning band whose music can best be described as “alternative Southern rock” will return to Rexall Place on Wednesday April 2 […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: Old school vs. new school

MUSIC PREVIEW: Old school vs. new school

There are a surprising number of exceptional options this weekend for being so late in the year, including the Sonic Band of the Month showcase featuring Death By Robot, and a homecoming gig for the beloved Christian Hansen. Interesting, too, is an old school versus new school rap battle. It’s Shaggy at the Union Hall […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: Aoki dokey to eclectic weekend

MUSIC PREVIEW: Aoki dokey to eclectic weekend

While all eyes are on Rexall Place for Sunday night’s performance by the renowned Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails, the rest of the weekend promises a little something for everyone. From top electronic with Steve Aoki, to folk-rock with The Stanfields and Chris Carrabba’s new project, Twin Forks, all the way to country and […]

SHOCKER: Nine Inch Nails now classic rock!

SHOCKER: Nine Inch Nails now classic rock!

Here’s a big rock ‘n’ roll anniversary that went unremarked: Nine Inch Nails is 25 years old this year! Where is the Grand Quadrancentennial Celebration, the Silver Jubilee all-star tribute concert featuring Jay-Z and Eddie Vedder, the Cameron Crowe documentary “NIN100/4”? Here’s the real shocker: returning to Rexall Place on Sunday, Nov. 24 on the […]

BIG ANNOUNCE DAY: Arcade Fire, Nick Cave coming in 2014

BIG ANNOUNCE DAY: Arcade Fire, Nick Cave coming in 2014

First Sabbath and now this: Arcade Fire is coming to town. Nick Cave, too. It’s a big day for big announces in Edmonton. Arcade Fire, the Montreal orchspectacular band that music critics first fell all over themselves to love and then later seemed to have second thoughts about will perform at Rexall Place on Monday, […]

Black Sabbath to hit Edmonton in April

Black Sabbath to hit Edmonton in April

Area metal fans have waited a long time for this – Black Sabbath is coming to Edmonton. With Ozzy! The date is Tuesday, April 22, 2014, at Rexall Place. Tickets range from $29 to $125 and go on sale on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 10 am at Ticketmaster. Expect the show to sell out, maybe […]