Being excited about going to a Death From Above 1979 show in 2014 is an exercise in nostalgia. The dance-punk band from Toronto, comprised of Sebastien Grainger and Jesse F. Keeler, played two back-to-back dates, the first date this past Wednesday at the Vogue. Hump day, all-ages, no ins-and-outs, ended before midnight, theatre seat – […]
Since resurfacing in the wake of his struggles with drug addiction, Vancouver’s Madchild has been touring and recording at a torrid pace. In 2014 alone, he moved to Los Angeles, resurrected Battleaxe Records, released a solo EP (Switched On) and a full-length record with Swollen Members (Brand New Day), toured across North America and Europe, […]
“Have you seen the movie Drive?” Last Saturday night at the Biltmore Cabaret, this question was tossed around by people thinking of something to say to someone. It was a rhetorical exercise, anyway. Most people were there because they had seen Drive, and when they had seen it, the only thing on their minds was, […]
It was hot as hell inside the Electric Owl on Sunday night. The first signs of fall had started to show: the leaves had begun to change from green to brown. A chill wind cut through the air, and toques were being worn for more than purely stylistic purposes. Heck, even Winter Ale was back […]
It was beautiful to be able to forget where I was when I saw Christopher Owens & Co. perform this past Wednesday night. From what I can recall, I would like to think that those who were set beside me felt something similar. The Biltmore was its usual moody self, lit like a dive bar. […]
When the opportunity to review the Vancouver-based ensemble the Koerner Quartet came up, it made me realize that I hadn’t really been exposed to classical music since I was a kid, decades ago, screeching away on my own violin. And thank God, my neighbours would say if they knew what I sounded like back then. […]
I never thought I’d see the Constantines again after they played the Palace Nightclub in Halifax six years ago. That was because 1) I lived in a small town where bands didn’t frequent, and 2) a couple of years later the Cons went on indefinite hiatus. But last February the Guelph five-piece regrouped and announced […]
The night started off with a hook. My name wasn’t on the list. Great. I had brought a guest thinking that I could get into a sold out show and came ended up empty handed. Luckily, my tongue was as quick as my words, and I was able to talk my way into Celebrities on […]