MUSIC PREVIEW: Attack of The Pack!
Vancouver noise duo The Pack a.d. doesn’t need any introduction to local music fans. The grinding guitars of Becky Black, and the barely-reigned-in-chaos drumming of Maya Miller have caught the attention of media and public alike throughout the nation, with songs like “Sirens” and in particular “Haunt You”, which was a radio behemoth. The duo […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Wednesday Night Heroes return
While the only big names playing Rexall Place from now through February are the opposing teams the Oilers will play, there’s a lot more to this city’s music scene than hockey arenas. And even if we didn’t have any touring musicians at all, the local music scene has more than enough stellar talent in a […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Rockin’ New Year’s Eve!
Edmonton’s eclectic music scene always throws down some mean New Year’s Eve parties, and this year may take the proverbial cake. The biggest draw may be over at the Starlite Room, where local legends Shout Out Out Out Out are headlining. The dance-punk group featuring two drummers were somewhat quiet this year, but they’re going […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Life beyond The Hip
Paul Langlois joined the Tragically Hip in 1986, just three years after the band’s founding by Gordon Downie and friends, and just one year before their historic debut EP was released. Since then, well, nobody needs an introduction to The Hip, do they? They’ve played in Edmonton at least 25 times since back in the […]
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: Paper Lions bring East Coast to town
Darlings of the East Coast music scene, PEI’s Paper Lions headline a show on Friday at The Artery that’s sure to be the center of this weekend’s gigs. Actually from the small village of Belfast on the island’s South shores – where Lord Selkirk first landed in 1803 – the plucky band of castaways typifies […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Stars align in Edmonton
The city plays host to a milieu of exceptionally talented touring music acts this weekend and beyond. Friday night is punctuated by alt-country Lindi Ortega’s sold out show at the Royal Alberta Museum, which is getting a reputation as one of Edmonton’s best acoustic venues, and the buzzworthy Hollerado gig at the Starlite Room. Saturday […]
Hollerado: When pop punk gets smart
Next to American country music stars, there is no one in show business that gets accused of rampant stupidity more than “pop punk” musicians. These thinly disguised boy bands play songs just as fast and loud as punk, but with candy coated hooks and lovey dovey lyrics in place of snarling political satire. You can […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Country giants among us
It’s been a bit of a disappointing week here in the city, what with two major shows being cancelled in the last six days – first Deer Tick (family emergency), and then Pink (laryngitis and inflamed vocal cords). It’s getting so that you need an injury roster to track your favourite bands, much like hockey […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Women of rock, pop rule the stage
As we look forward to the back-to-back pop spectacular with Sarah Brightman and Pink at Rexall Place next week, there are definitely some worthwhile gigs happening this weekend, including an early show by New York’s The Pretty Reckless over at the Starlite Room on Friday night – featuring Taylor Momsen, one of the most colourful […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Up to Downtown in fab new fest
While Edmonton doesn’t usually host festivals this late into the fall, the inaugural Up + Downtown Music and Arts Festival is about to give it a whirl. Organizers might have positioned themselves well to ensure success during an otherwise festival-free time of year, as they’ve attracted an intriguing cadre of talent-laden regional and touring acts […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: It’s not the band I hate, it’s their fans
Pop quiz: Name the album that was voted the No. 1 Canadian album OF ALL TIME by respondents to a Chart magazine poll. The answer may surprise any but true Sloan fans – and there are lot of them, an entire generation moved by the iconic Toronto quartet’s ground-breaking 1994 album “Twice Removed,” which contains […]
