Winnipeg music & culture since 1989
by Kacey Fields
What happens when old school punks grow up, get married, have a few kids, and decide to start making music again? The Washups, that’s what. They describe themselves as “washed up punk rock dudes making music,” and that’s about as accurate as you can get (although I would add that they make damn good music). Continue reading “The Washups :: 21st Century Digital Band”
by Sheldon Birnie
Rock biographies are a treat for those of us who are so obsessed with music that we want to know the ins and outs of our favourite albums, bands, venues, and everything in between. But many of our favourite artists fall short of the vaunted rock bio. For fans of the Watchmen, your day has come! Stylus got in touch with author Vanessa Azzoli ahead of the release of her new book Uncovered: The Story of the Watchmen to talk about her new book, her obsession with the band, and everything in between.
Continue reading “Vanessa Azzoli on Uncovered: The Story of the Watchmen”
by Harrison Samphir
In 2008, Ava DuVernay’s documentary film This Is the Life chronicled the rise of LA’s alternative hip hop community from the vantage point of the Good Life Health Food Centre’s weekly open-mic night. Founded in 1989, the event attracted emcees, poets and heads alike. It was a place to freestyle (cuss-free), practise the art of rap and celebrate hip hop culture with the serious disposition of an aspiring artist. Jurassic 5, Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Skee-Lo and the Pharcyde were all schooled at Good Life. Continue reading “Nonstophiphop :: Open Mike Eagle and the LA sound”
by Devin King
July 2014 sees the release of Morrissey’s latest and perhaps most Morrissian-titled album to date: World Peace is None of Your Business. Morrissey the Performer has always demanded a closer critical review, as his actions and words – both in his music and outside of the music itself – are a closely scripted characterization of Morrissey the Character. More than ever, with this latest release, there is an evident slipping of the curtain to reveal Morrissey himself rather than Morrissey the Character. This later period Morrissey seems to be, intentionally or not, dropping many of the idiosyncrasies that define the Morrissey character. Continue reading “Fear of Music :: This Stephen Patrick is No Morrissey”
by Sheldon Birnie
Deep in the American south lies the small community of Silverhill, Alabama. Lush, green foliage surrounds a cabin in the woods. Dogs lay in the shade during the heat of the day, and howl by the light of the moon. Silverhill is a place where “moonshiners still bootleg whisky” from 106 year old recipes; a place where they don’t call the cops, and fire wood is hewn by hand. A beautiful place at once captivatingly unique, and yet also just like any other stop off a remote backroad. Continue reading “Scott Nolan :: Mining Silverhill for solid gold”
by Anastasia Chipelski
Last weekend’s third annual BBQ & Blues festival promised tasty food and drinks, and a slew of impressive local and international acts. I caught a few songs here and there, but only took in one full set (sadly) – the Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer – after stumbling out of bed at the crack of two, groggy from wrestling a nasty stomach bug. While the band had better excuses to be in worse shape, they still pulled themselves together mightily for a rousing mid-afternoon show. Continue reading “BBQ & Blues Fest :: Sunday Reviewed”
by Matt Williams
For years now, the relationship between Taylor Swift and country music fans has been strained at best. Swift has been on an unstoppable rocket to peak fame and stardom, traveling at light-speed, since the beginning of her career, and until recently, she had at least managed to satiate her country fans, albeit less and less with each album. Red, arguably her best record to date, was almost devoid of anything resembling country, instead trading in the twang for new tricks like dubstep-lite (“I Knew You Were Trouble”) or straight-up bubblegum pop (“22”). But still, until Monday’s release of “Shake It Off,” the kickoff single from Swift’s upcoming “very first documented, official pop album” 1989, many still believed there was a chance for their saviour to come back home, or at least keep things country enough that she could pass for a slot at the CMAs. Continue reading “Why Taylor Swift was right to break up with country music”
by Gil Carroll
Fast Romantics from Calgary will be in Winnipeg on August 15 at the West End Cultural Centre on their last leg of their second tour in support of Afterlife Blues, produced by Howard Redekopp and released by Pipe & Hat, an influential Winnipeg label. In anticipation for their high energy live show on Friday with locals The Hours, Stylus caught up with singer/songwriter Matt Angus in Calgary by the way of telephone. Continue reading “Fast Romantics :: Blood, guts, and whatever else”
by Anastasia Chipelski
While they trade in the haunted howls of the blues, the Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer are not the doom-soaked reapers one might expect. “We’re not a dark band, it just sounds like a dark name. We’re jovial people, really,” asserts Shawn Hall, aka the Harpoonist. Continue reading “The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer :: Jovial folks, really”
by Victoria King
“Sparkly” is an appropriate word to describe glitter glue, sequins, maybe even slumber parties – but now it is also the word that Carl Newman of the New Pornographers chooses to describe the vibe of Brill Bruisers, the band’s latest release. Continue reading “Propulsive Pornographic Sparkles :: The New Pornographers release ‘Brill Bruisers’ on August 26”