Tag: Music

Family ties flourish at this year’s Blues Fest

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

Songstress breaks down the barriers

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

Edmonton band brings redneck back

By Kevin de Vlaming

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

Stabbing blindly with the Blind Assassins

By Andrea Campbell

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

Best of Music in 2006

By Garth Paulson

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

Blood and gore is awesome! Coheed and Cambria rock out.

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.

Both greeting and parting salutations

By Kevin de Vlaming

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