It's not all that often that original, creative and talented musicians come from hard work and persistance. Nowadays it seems like some of the biggest money makers are formed, and produced by some bigger company. And it's especially tough to find such amazing artists in a city like Edmonton. Not to say that it doesn't happen, just take a look at Christian Hansen and the Autistics. They were one of Sonic's only lasting Bands-of-the-Month, and their rising populartiy is taking them to Toronto. Well, Christian and his wife, Molly Flood, who plays keyboards etc in the group. Two of the bands original members are unfortunately no longer part of the move, and current drummer, Doug Organ, and bassist, Doug Hoyer, will also be staying in Edmonton. Once they're settled they'll be trying to immediately find a new drummer and bassist to round out their quartet, as well as releasing sophmore album "Dance Floor Deathcore", and two new music videos (one of which yours truly is in!).
If you'd like to read a bit more about the band's move, and an interview with Christian Hansen, click here.
It's tough to see a group like Christian Hansen & the Autistics leave Edmonton, but hope for them creating bigger and better things in Eastern Canada is the only thing pulling me through.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Photo changes
For all those Through Music... loyalists out there (let me delude myself for a minute), you might notice a minor change when it comes to the pictures I post. I used to have a few recent show pics up, towards the bottom of the homepage. I've realized this is too difficult to keep up to date, and since I already upload the entire show-of-the-time's pictures on my Picasa album...it's just more work!
So, now instead of feeling constantly guilty for not updating those few pictures, I've just decided to do away with that section altogether. Now you can spend your nights and days looking at the pictures on the Picasa link, on the right hand of the screen! Happy viewing!
So, now instead of feeling constantly guilty for not updating those few pictures, I've just decided to do away with that section altogether. Now you can spend your nights and days looking at the pictures on the Picasa link, on the right hand of the screen! Happy viewing!
Featuring: Said the Whale, Pearl Jam, and the Wet Secrets
First and foremost, I just want you to know that the title of this post is NOT one show (but wouldn't that have been cool...and yet...the strangest thing ever?).
Wednesday night was supposed to be my only concert this week, part of the trying-to-cut-back plan. You'll find out in a minute how that plan went spiraling out of control over the following few days.
Anyway, Wednesday night came, and with it the early show featuring Said the Whale and guests, Sarah Lowe and Rah Rah. Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to see Sarah Lowe at all, but was able to catch the last few Rah Rah songs. This band out of Regina (seems like a great surge of talent coming out of this Saskatchewan city lately) were great, considering I had no idea what I should have been expected. They were more danceable than StW, and came with their own inflatable silver balloons that circulated throughout the outstretched hands of the crowd. There were quite a few of them on stage, and hopefully they'll one day make their way back through the city, so I have a proper chance to see their full set.
Wednesday night was supposed to be my only concert this week, part of the trying-to-cut-back plan. You'll find out in a minute how that plan went spiraling out of control over the following few days.
Anyway, Wednesday night came, and with it the early show featuring Said the Whale and guests, Sarah Lowe and Rah Rah. Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to see Sarah Lowe at all, but was able to catch the last few Rah Rah songs. This band out of Regina (seems like a great surge of talent coming out of this Saskatchewan city lately) were great, considering I had no idea what I should have been expected. They were more danceable than StW, and came with their own inflatable silver balloons that circulated throughout the outstretched hands of the crowd. There were quite a few of them on stage, and hopefully they'll one day make their way back through the city, so I have a proper chance to see their full set.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Nevermind 20 years.
Where would our music world be if Nirvana, the iconic album "Nevermind", their plaid-button ups, ripped jeans, and long hair were never unleashed upon the world? Good thing we don't have to think about that, since 20 years ago this Saturday, Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl contributed to the world of rock music an entire new genre: grunge.
Grunge was just starting to become popular in the smaller clubs and bars across North America, and started to gain popularity with the general public once albums like "Nevermind", "Badmotorfinger" by Soundgarden, and "Ten" by Pearl Jam were released and started to get radio play in the early 90's. Seattle, WA, where those two bands are from is often called the birthplace of the grunge movement, fueling a huge grunge scene in the area. The funny thing about grunge is that as popular as the genre got the members who played in these rising bands were usually not comfortable with the popularity. They liked remaining unknown and underground, which might be why many bands ended up fading away.
Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and few others actually had staying power. So celebrate by getting some sweaty hair in your eyes, wearing your most well-loved grandpa-sweater and playing your favourite fuzzy, distorted, socio-political song!!
PS. Sorry, I know those last two exclamation marks don't go with the grunge theme about not giving a &*$%
Grunge was just starting to become popular in the smaller clubs and bars across North America, and started to gain popularity with the general public once albums like "Nevermind", "Badmotorfinger" by Soundgarden, and "Ten" by Pearl Jam were released and started to get radio play in the early 90's. Seattle, WA, where those two bands are from is often called the birthplace of the grunge movement, fueling a huge grunge scene in the area. The funny thing about grunge is that as popular as the genre got the members who played in these rising bands were usually not comfortable with the popularity. They liked remaining unknown and underground, which might be why many bands ended up fading away.
Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and few others actually had staying power. So celebrate by getting some sweaty hair in your eyes, wearing your most well-loved grandpa-sweater and playing your favourite fuzzy, distorted, socio-political song!!
PS. Sorry, I know those last two exclamation marks don't go with the grunge theme about not giving a &*$%
Use your Library Voices
The weekend was well...eventful to say the least. Friday night kicked it off with an amazing 18+ show with Christian Hansen and the Autistics. So good they almost blew the windows off the Dinwoodie Lounge at the U of A. This being one of their last shows in Edmonton before they make the trek to move to Toronto, I just had to go. I won't say much since I talk about them constantly, but I should mention that if you didn't catch them on Friday, you still have a last chance at happiness THIS Friday, Sept 23, when they play an all ages show at Avenue Theatre w/ Doug Hoyer.
And thanks to Rebecca Black we all know that after Friday comes Saturday, and this weekend that meant The Provincial Archive, and Library Voices at the Pawnshop. I had been able to see P.A earlier this year and was immediately blown away by their unique mix of slight electronic-rock (using a talk box and what seemed like a synth), and folk (it makes me smile when they bring their banjo and upright bass to the stage).
And thanks to Rebecca Black we all know that after Friday comes Saturday, and this weekend that meant The Provincial Archive, and Library Voices at the Pawnshop. I had been able to see P.A earlier this year and was immediately blown away by their unique mix of slight electronic-rock (using a talk box and what seemed like a synth), and folk (it makes me smile when they bring their banjo and upright bass to the stage).
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Young the Giant - My Body Remix(s)
Check out these two remixes of the song My Body by Young the Giant. The band came out with remix EP in the summer. Two versions of the song, by Tokyo Police Club, and Two Door Cinema Club are streaming here!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Venue Rules
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Sonic Boom or Bust?
I've needed a bit of time to cool down, but now I hope you're ready for my post about last Sunday's Sonic Boom round III. It's one of Edmonton's up and coming music festivals and in this case 3rd time was most definitely not the charm. The "festival" is a full day (usually 11am-11pm) of modern and alternative rock, and tends to include a good mix of local Canadian music along with big headlining names to round out the night. This year wasn't all too different when it comes to line-up with names like Hollerado, Cee-Lo Green, The Joy Formidable, Cake, Metric and the final act of the night Jane's Addiction. There is quite a bit written below, so if you need to take it in two doses I wouldn't blame you.
To be honest I agree with a lot of Sonic listeners out there that say to be a headliner for a festival like this you should be able to sell-out an entire statdium. Don't get me wrong, Jane's Addiction is a legenary band, who's lead singer, Perry Farrell, is responsible for one of North America's biggest music festivals, Lollapalooza. However, I am also 99% sure that they would never be able to fill a venue like the Shaw Conferance Centre (let alone Rexall Place). There just isn't the same audience for them that previous headliners like Rise Against/Weezer or Franz Ferdinand. "Loyal" Sonic listeners had been causing a fuss on social media websites all summer about the less-than-stellar line up, and many were talking about boycotting the fest to try to teach the radio station a lesson about booking bands. But really I wasn't all to worried about the line-up, I was still more than willing to pay the $90 for General Admission ticket (or the $145 that I ended up paying for VIP tickets, that came with a few "extra perks"); there were still amazing artists and a full day of outdoor fun to look forward to.
To be honest I agree with a lot of Sonic listeners out there that say to be a headliner for a festival like this you should be able to sell-out an entire statdium. Don't get me wrong, Jane's Addiction is a legenary band, who's lead singer, Perry Farrell, is responsible for one of North America's biggest music festivals, Lollapalooza. However, I am also 99% sure that they would never be able to fill a venue like the Shaw Conferance Centre (let alone Rexall Place). There just isn't the same audience for them that previous headliners like Rise Against/Weezer or Franz Ferdinand. "Loyal" Sonic listeners had been causing a fuss on social media websites all summer about the less-than-stellar line up, and many were talking about boycotting the fest to try to teach the radio station a lesson about booking bands. But really I wasn't all to worried about the line-up, I was still more than willing to pay the $90 for General Admission ticket (or the $145 that I ended up paying for VIP tickets, that came with a few "extra perks"); there were still amazing artists and a full day of outdoor fun to look forward to.
Friday, September 2, 2011
I've been gone for a long time
It's been a little over a month (yes..I know all of August...) that there have been no posts. I had to leave you postless and starving while I was gone out of the country on a month long trip. But I'm back now and missed you just as much as I hope you missed me.
No concerts yet, but one thing that I did get the chance to see on August 30th was the Red Hot Chili Peppers Movie: "I'm with you": Live. Now don't get me wrong, it was amazing to see the band, after so many years, playing their entire new album (also titled "I'm with you", released on Aug 30th as well)....but (and you knew there was a but), the "film" just wasn't what I had been expecting. I thought it would resemble the Foo Fighters movie that came out just before summer "Back and Forth", which followed the bands history from birth to present. The RHCP film was not like a documentary however, it was literally just a live concert brought to theatres worldwide by satellite. It was of course much less expensive, much better sound quality with better views than I would ever get at Rexall Place, but I just wish that they had copied the Foo Fighters...just a little at least. The band has such an amazing and varied history that I'm sure fans would love to know about, but alas unless you read Anthony Kiedis' book "Scar Tissue", you'll forever be left with a mystery. (I think the book is likely why they didn't do the film as a biography...since the book does go into a lot. But mostly sticks to Kiedis' life only).
No concerts yet, but one thing that I did get the chance to see on August 30th was the Red Hot Chili Peppers Movie: "I'm with you": Live. Now don't get me wrong, it was amazing to see the band, after so many years, playing their entire new album (also titled "I'm with you", released on Aug 30th as well)....but (and you knew there was a but), the "film" just wasn't what I had been expecting. I thought it would resemble the Foo Fighters movie that came out just before summer "Back and Forth", which followed the bands history from birth to present. The RHCP film was not like a documentary however, it was literally just a live concert brought to theatres worldwide by satellite. It was of course much less expensive, much better sound quality with better views than I would ever get at Rexall Place, but I just wish that they had copied the Foo Fighters...just a little at least. The band has such an amazing and varied history that I'm sure fans would love to know about, but alas unless you read Anthony Kiedis' book "Scar Tissue", you'll forever be left with a mystery. (I think the book is likely why they didn't do the film as a biography...since the book does go into a lot. But mostly sticks to Kiedis' life only).
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