Winnipeg music & culture since 1989
by Sheldon Birnie
“The snow’s like a ghost of cocaine on the highway, it shifts and plays tricks on your mind. The wind is like razors. In only two days, you’ve done 200,000 white lines.” Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Jonathan Byrd, real dang deal”
by Martyna Turczynowicz
Jessy Lanza is an up-and-coming R&B artist from Hamilton Ont. She made a name for herself with her debut EP “Pull My Hair Back”, a mash-up of R&B and electronic with some funk and soul thrown in. Stylus caught up with Lanza for a Q&A. Continue reading “Jessy Lanza makes a stop in Winnipeg”
by Broose Tulloch
In less than four years, local music label Dub Ditch Picnic has reached a pivotal milestone, releasing its 50th album, err cassette, April 1st. The compilation of 50 artists includes several local acts that have enjoyed some success on Campus/Community radio, such as Dead Ranch, Beef Donut, and Kindest Cuts. Continue reading “Dub Ditch Picnic :: Rebuilding, Moving Forward with 50th Release”
words & pics by Jordan Cayer
The Southern California desert is a perplexing place. The hot, dry atmosphere leaves even the most hardened individuals gasping for water and shade. When night comes, it is often a relief that can sooth one’s sunburnt skin and leave a promising, albeit short, period of cool breeze and safe haven from the sun’s harsh rays. When that same sun rises over the San Jacinto mountains, it breathes a new life into the cool atmosphere that sets the whole cycle into motion once again. Continue reading “A look back at Coachella 2014”
by Devin King
It’s March 14th at 8:33pm – three days into Neil Young’s one month funding drive for the new Pono Music Player. The goal was $800 000, but in the first three days it’s already raised an extraordinary $3,315,512. What does this mean? There are three possible answers. Continue reading “Fear of Music : Determining the Surprising Success of PonoMusic”
by Gil Carroll
With the onslaught of promotions and showcases leading up to the Junos, the broadcast of which takes place in Winnipeg on Sunday, March 30 at the MTS Centre, local bands, artists, and labels go on with life as usual. While the Junos are a celebration of Canadian music, there exists an obvious detachment from the underground, DIY, independent labels, scenes and bands. The Junos generally will avoid these scenes at all costs as a band recording and making its own cassettes in a basement is not a very Juno thing to do. Because cassette making in a basement is an independent venture without, in all reality, much money to be made, there is no point for a relationship to exist. Continue reading “Excited for the Junos? Oh No!”
by Martyna Turczynowicz
The Neighbourhood is an indie rock group from California. They’re made up of vocalist Jesse Rutherford, guitarists and Jeremy Freedman and Zach Abels, drummer Brandon Fried and bassist Mikey Margott. Last year they made a name for themselves with their hit “Sweater Weather” and released one EP I’m Sorry and their debut full length, I Love You. In between stops on their tour, Stylus caught up with guitarist Zach Abel for a quick Q&A. Continue reading “The Neighbourhood :: Loves You”
by Matt Williams
Last night, Power 97 hooked up Winnipeg’s hungry rock ‘n’ roll fans with three bands and a St. Patrick’s Day party. It was about exactly what you’d imagine if you picked up on the key words there – dudes in “Keep Calm and Chive On” and Dropkick Murphy’s shirts, young longhairs and aging rock star wannabes, women with short, edgy haircuts in faux leather, Bud cans and Jager on special. Most of the crowd looked underage, like it was their first time seeing live music in a bar, and that sentiment was reinforced tenfold when a fat drunk in shamrock sunglasses knocked my beer out of my hand and fell flat on his ass. Neither him nor his Neanderthal buddy in Mardi Gras beads offered to replace it. Kids should learn the rules. Continue reading “Teenage Kicks :: All Through The Night”
words & image by Kaitlyn Emslie Farrell
With the upcoming release of their new EP Troubled Heart, local five piece indie rockers Naysa is working hard and having a good time doing so. Dave Todd, Hayley Smith, Sean Leslie, Grant Danyluk and Graham Duval are making their mark on Winnipeg’s goofy, underground music scene that never disappoints. Last month, the band took time out of jamming to talk to Stylus about their band, the way spring smells, meteor showers, and fresh baked pies. Continue reading “Naysa :: Troubled Hearts and Fresh Baked Pies”
by Daniel Emberg
“Breaking Bad is basically a country song.” You’ve probably never heard it put that way before, but it actually seems pretty intuitive when you think about it, no? Those are the words of John Showman, frontman of the Toronto band New Country Rehab, in explaining to Stylus how he views music. It is not just a catchy quote. Showman’s point is that while art is always modern in its own time, the things people most care about are the questions that have proven vexing enough to keep getting asked by every successive generation of humans. Continue reading “New Country Rehab :: Music Changes, Themes Don’t”