Author: Sheldon

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DREAMS AND LANTERNS with Purity Ring


By Kyra Leib

It’s a good thing that I changed my shirt and brushed my hair before hearing Megan James of Purity Ring say “Hey, I can’t see you!” when I sat down to have a chit chat with the hot new band over Skype. I turned on the video and there they were; Megan and Corrin Roddick sitting for a moment in the darkness of Roddick’s apartment before turning on the lights. “There, that’s better” I said as the lights came on and Roddick’s gorgeous apartment came into view. I began shooting questions at the duo and here’s what came of it! Continue reading “DREAMS AND LANTERNS with Purity Ring”

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Hillbilly Highway – Lindi Ortega, honest and raw

by Sheldon Birnie

Lindi Ortega is a Toronto born singer-songwriter with pipes of a honky tonk angel. Now based out of Nashville, Lindi is poised to release her sophomore LP Cigarettes & Truckstops, on Last Gang Records October 2nd. Her tunes touch on classic country themes of heartache, hard travelling, over indulgence, infidelity, and all that good stuff. While the production and writing give nods to country music’s past, Ortega’s tunes are contemporary in all the best ways. Next week, she’ll be cruising the Hillbilly Highway through Winnipeg opening for k.d. lang. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Lindi Ortega, honest and raw”

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Propagandhi :: Rec hockey and Failed States


by Sheldon Birnie

On September 4th, Epitaph Records will release Propagandhi’s sixth studio album, giving heavy hitting music fans a few months to enjoy headbanging along with it before constricting economic and geo-political realities propel our society into its final phase or, alternately, “Nibiru comes flying out of the Oort cloud and annihilates Earth in late December.” Over a couple beers on a blistering hot July afternoon, Chris Hannah sat down with Stylus to chat about rec hockey, the state of the world, and the new record. Continue reading “Propagandhi :: Rec hockey and Failed States”

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Trampled by Turtles :: Slow and steady wins the race


By Scott Wolfe

These bluegrass boys just released their new album Stars and Satellites in April and have a hectic touring schedule planned for the summer. Stylus talked with Eric Berry (mandolin) over the phone to catch up with the band, chat about the new album and (personally) get super stoked for their show at the West End Cultural Center August 30th! Continue reading “Trampled by Turtles :: Slow and steady wins the race”

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Hillbilly Highway – Dylan’s Tempest about to drop

by Sheldon Birnie

Love him or loathe him, it’s impossible to argue the influence ol’ Bobby Dylan has played not only on those who travel the Hillbilly Highway, but how we, as listeners, view the Highway itself. From his galvanizing early work, to his genre defying output on Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde on Blonde, the new pastoralism of The Basement Tapes and John Wesley Harding, through all the ups and downs from Planet Waves to Street Legal, Infidels through Oh Mercy and beyond, Dylan’s output alone is staggering. The fact that the lion’s share is gold is enough to humble – or shame – any would be songwriter. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Dylan’s Tempest about to drop”