By Ken Clarke
This year, the Calgary International Blues Festival is adding a family connection to its musical one. One featured artist on the lineup is a familiar name to local blues lovers–Calgary-based Donald Ray Johnson. Internationally renowned for his deep blues vocals and power-driven drumming, Johnson will be musically reunited with his singer-songwriter daughter Panzie Johnson. A… Continue reading Family ties flourish at this year’s Blues Fest
By Amanda Hu
The world of blues music has the old boys club set-up perfected. The genre is defined by hardened hands picking at tattered strings that belong to a weathered man who knows the ways of the world. Despite this, up-and-comer Lindsay Ell is taking Calgary’s blues scene by storm. The 19-year-old has struggled with the preconceptions… Continue reading Songstress breaks down the barriers
In the summer of glitzy, ginormous music festivals, the Summerwood Warren is bringing something completely different to the table. Instead of needless swag, sparkly wristbands or fancy laminated badges for people who drop thousands of dollars so they can get access into the VIP lounge, they deliver the goods with jubilant events like a bicycle… Continue reading Choose Yer Own festival presents all possibilties to its patrons
Metal isn’t a genre, it’s a way of life. Vancouver based 3 Inches of Blood don’t waste their time with jobs, they spend almost all their time playing shows and getting wasted with fans. Three Inches has been with Roadrunner Records since 2003 and have just completed their third album, Fire Up the Blades, an… Continue reading Nothing quite so metal as blood
With sexy well re-established, the Uncas are bringing redneck back. Band members Sook, Futch, Louis and John are your average Alberta-born, boot-knocking, high-kicking prairie rockers. Think of them as E-town’s answer to local purveyors of alt-country-rock, Agriculture Club. “We play east central Alberta rock ‘n’ Roll,” says vocalist/guitarist Sook Uncas. “Real bumpkin music that makes… Continue reading Edmonton band brings redneck back
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! The incantation of the name frees the monster trapped beneath a carefully constructed city of Astroturf green and cardboard cut-outs of houses and SUVs. The same applies for the first three “whoas” raked out at a Blind Assassins show. Just as the crazy striped-suited character emerges from another dimension and wreaks havoc… Continue reading Stabbing blindly with the Blind Assassins
2006 was an odd year musically. While hip-hop largely floundered, only producing a handful of noteworthy albums and an endless pit of highly-anticipated flops, rock and folk flourished as many bands rediscovered the elusive decade between the often-mined ’60s and ’80s. At the same time this revivalist trend was taking place, a smattering of bands… Continue reading Best of Music in 2006
By Darren Young
Claudio Sanchez has an entire universe growing in his head, and some speculate that there are several galaxies hidden in his wild mane of hair. Sanchez understands the immense proportions his fictional world has grown to, and is expanding to new mediums to express his lofty thoughts. Not only has he seen success in the… Continue reading Blood and gore is awesome! Coheed and Cambria rock out.
It might seem strange that a band can achieve national fame, securing a fan base hundreds of thousands strong, before ever releasing a full-length album. Thanks to the wonder of Myspace–that web-crack to scenesters and casual socialites alike–Hellogoodbye were launched into the limelight long before their debut LP was cut. Formed in 2001, the band… Continue reading Both greeting and parting salutations
By Jon Roe
From the home of the Roughnecks, Take a look around you can see where all the drugs went.It’s flooded with free base.All the damn police can’t keep the streets safe.” Most people know Calgary as Cowtown, the city of Stampede, white cowboy hats and 10 days a year where anyone can be a cowboy and… Continue reading Music Interview: Cutting beats and boxes