By Darren Young
I admit it– I was, and still kind of am, a diehard Kooks fan. “Naïve” and “Sofa Song” got some serious playtime on my iPod Mini. How could I help it? Many a young schoolgirl has fallen for the bubbly love songs and ironically upbeat ballads of The Kooks, not to mention frontman Luke Pritchard’s… Continue reading Spun: The Kooks
By Darren Young
Having gone through more roster changes than a McDonald’s franchise, Shai Hulud is pressing forward with or without permanent members. The metal-core band has never recorded more than one album with a single vocalist nor do they currently have a consistent body behind the drum kit. This is a probable explanation for the mere three… Continue reading Rockers Shai Hulud weather the career storm
By Darren Young
There are five members in New York progressive rock outfit 3. The band formed 14 years ago, released their fifth album last year, has been signed to two record labels and in four days, will be using a vehicle with four wheels to roll into Calgary. Joey Eppard, guitarist and brains behind the band, is… Continue reading The numbers balance out for 3
By Darren Young
Canadian rock staples Sloan have been on the verge of success for the better part of their career. The shaggy-haired quartet have a cult following north of the border, but have consistently come up short in their attempts to break into the American mainstream. With their ninth release, Parallel Play, Sloan is proving that even… Continue reading Sloan’s music is action packed
By Darren Young
Combining generations of musicians with varying degrees of experience in one group can sometimes spell disaster. Different levels of experience means different levels of ability, and different levels of ability within a group can impose limitations on the music. The Davidson/Murley/Braid Quintet, on the other hand, is, by all accounts, an exception to this statement.… Continue reading Generational differences make for good music
By Darren Young
No matter what the comic books say, it is no easy feat to kill Coheed and Cambria. After suffering through an immensely rocky period in their history, the band has found new life in their latest concept album installment Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World For Tomorrow. The band has also… Continue reading Of comic books and rock groups
By Darren Young
Suppose while traveling the world you stumble upon a Ouija board possessed by evil spirits and, out of the kindness of your heart, give it to a friend as a gift. Now suppose that upon using the board, your lives are thrust into turmoil that can only be conquered by burying the board as deep… Continue reading Prog rock group finds musical inspiration in the unbelievable
By Darren Young
Amidst the chaotic clamoring of a noisy rock ‘n’ roll band, a parallel can often develop between the music and the events of real life. For Andrew Forsman, drummer of the Seattle-based rock outfit The Fall Of Troy, the parallel chaos has found its way into his kitchen sink. “We don’t have a garbage disposal… Continue reading The rise of The Fall of Troy
By Darren Young
Though two or three of the members of Black Mountain have worked for the Insite supervised injection pilot project in Vancouver, you probably will not hear them make a big fuss about it. The project has been a controversial issue for Canadians, specifically in the eyes of the Conservative government attempting to dispose of it,… Continue reading Mountain climbing to the top
By Darren Young
After a three-month hibernation, the dancers at the University of Calgary are starting to creep out of their studios and into the University Theatre to present their latest Mainstage Dance show. The dancers have spent hours a day for the past several weeks in preparation for the show, which is typically one of the most… Continue reading Dancing on the Mainstage