Features – Page 25 – Stylus Magazine

February 13, 2014

Heavy fOnk and high vibrations :: Finding peace with Dudley Perkins

by Harrison Samphir

Before I spoke with Dudley Perkins (aka Declaime), the emcee from Oxnard, CA, I was half expecting the sort of humdrum discussion a music journalist typically shares with an interviewee: those unambiguous conversations about new records, inspirations and touring schedules. After all, I thought, Dudley’s been in the rap game for nearly twenty years. He helped solidify a West Coast hip hop resurgence with neighborhood friends Madlib, Oh No, DJ Romes and Kankick. There can’t be a question he hasn’t heard before.

As it turned out, however, the interview – like Dudley – was anything but ordinary. Over the course of an hour we talked about his unique style, the universe and how sonic vibrations influence the way listeners think and behave. Together with his wife, soul singer and songwriter Georgia Anne Muldrow, Dudley operates SomeOthaShip Connect, a California-based independent record label. His latest release is called Dr. Stokley, an 18-track, funk-infused album released through the Mellow Music Group. Continue reading “Heavy fOnk and high vibrations :: Finding peace with Dudley Perkins”

February 12, 2014

Hillbilly Highway – Outlaw: Waylon, Willie, Kris, & the Renegades of Nashville

This latest retrospective on Nashville’s “outlaw” years, Outlaw: Waylon, Willie, Kris, & the Renegades of Nashville attempts to cram over a decade of history and a half-dozen or so storylines into a concise, readable 230-odd pages. For the most part, Michael Streissguth does a decent job of it, and occasionally even admirable one. However, there are plenty of instances where connections seem forced, and the same territory feels tired and worn out. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Outlaw: Waylon, Willie, Kris, & the Renegades of Nashville”

January 30, 2014

Ridley Bent :: Wild Card up his sleeve

by Sheldon Birnie

“I’m a little card player,” Ridley Bent says with a laugh. “ I wouldn’t consider myself a very good card player or a gambler at all. But my characters are.”

With two critically acclaimed full length records under his silver buckled belt, and an underground hick-hop classic in his back pocket, Ridley Bent is preparing to release his third country record, Wild Card, in January. Bent’s albums are full of toe-tapping tales of gamblers, drifters, hard working, hard boozing, hard rocking characters, and his latest is no exception. Continue reading “Ridley Bent :: Wild Card up his sleeve”

January 29, 2014

Hillbilly Highway – RIP Pete Seeger

Pete Seeger 1980 photo by David Landy / Winnipeg Free Press — Pete Seeger 1980
photo by David Landy / Winnipeg Free Press

Pete Seeger died early Monday morning at the age of 94. A tireless crusader for social justice, and an inspiration to countless musicians and social activists, Seeger will be missed and mourned by many. His positive attitude and ceaseless struggle against oppression in all forms, and his commitment to folk music will be remembered for years. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – RIP Pete Seeger”

January 24, 2014

Big Fun :: French Press

by Jenna Priestner

Winnipeg’s French Press has evolved over the last year from Chantel Emond’s solo project to a trio. The additions to the line-up have added a spark of grunge rock to her dominantly indie-pop sound, but it’s her beautifully charming voice that carries the band and tugs right on your heart strings. Emond is always sure to have you singing along to her crowd-pleasing title track “Back on the Mattress” from her 2012 release. With a new album scheduled for production in the near future, we can be assured her songs will be brought to life in a new and exciting way. Continue reading “Big Fun :: French Press”

January 23, 2014

Big Fun / Pop Nuit :: Mahogany Frog

by Broose Tulloch

The WSO’s New Music Festival and prog-rockers Mahogany Frog have more in common than you might think. Like this year’s theme, “Beyond” both continue to grow and explore new directions. Under the guidance of WSO Artistic Director Alexander Mickelthwate, the New Music Festival has added a late night component, Pop Nuit, to explore new music that blurs the lines between pop and classical.

Mahogany Frog began with prog-rock exploration of the blues (Mahogany Frog Plays The Blues) and have grown into an experimental electronic rock group exploring psychedelia, a shift that began with 2004’s Mahogany Frog vs. Mabus. The music of Mahogany is at once accessible and undeniably rock yet also strangely new; complex yet cohesive; making the quartet, comprised of Jesse Warkentin (guitar/keyboards), Graham Epp (guitar/keyboards/trumpet), Scott Ellenberger (bass/keyboards/trumpet), and Andy Rudoph (drums/electronics), a perfect fit for Pop Nuit. Stylus talked to Graham Epp and Scott Ellenberger about the music of Mahogany Frog. Continue reading “Big Fun / Pop Nuit :: Mahogany Frog”

January 23, 2014

Big Fun :: The Reckless Heroes

by Jenna Priestner

The Reckless Heroes have been paving their through the punk and metal scene in Calgary since 2009. The Heroes will be hitting the road soon and Kevin (vocalist/guitarist) took time out of his busy pre-production schedule to talk about the upcoming release and Big Fun Festival. You can listen in to their older stuff on Bandcamp, but chances are you’ll be hearing some fresh material at The Cavern. Continue reading “Big Fun :: The Reckless Heroes”

January 22, 2014

Hillbilly Highway – Zachary Lucky stops by for Big Fun!

by Sheldon Birnie

Zachary Lucky is a Saskatoon based singer-songwriter whose drive to create beautiful folk and country gems is rivalled only by his relentless commitment to the Highway. With 2012’s Saskatchewan followed quickly with 2013’s The Ballad of Losing You, Lucky released as solid a one-two punch as we’ve seen in recent years out here on the Highway. The former, a brooding folk portrait of the province Lucky calls home; the latter, a touching country ballad in the tradition of Hank Snow, Guy Clark, and Townes Van Zandt. Lucky took a few minutes to chat with Stylus before hitting the road on his latest adventure, which will see him stop in Winnipeg on Friday for an afternoon at Big Fun, before heading back West, down into the USA, and overseas later this spring. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Zachary Lucky stops by for Big Fun!”

January 20, 2014

Pop Nuit!

by Broose Tulloch

Last year the WSO’s New Music Festival added a late night component, Pop Nuit. The two-night affair featured a performance of Beck’s Sound Reader, an album released only as sheet music, from Winnipeg’s own Royal Canoe. More than a coincidence, as Royal Canoe’s Matt Schellenberg is the curator of Pop Nuit, and WSO Music Director Alexander Mickelthwate is a fan of the band. Stylus spoke with Matt Schellenberg about this year’s music, artists, and festival. Continue reading “Pop Nuit!”

January 17, 2014

Surprise Party :: Rock and Roll all night and Party everyday

by Gilad Carroll

Surprise Party is without a doubt one of Winnipeg’s busiest (and tightest) bands. Between full time jobs, school, music video filming and editing, recording, weekly shows, and ironic T-shirt shopping Stylus managed to sit down with them and talk about all that goes into Surprise Party. Luckily, Mischa Decter (guitar and lead vocals) figured he, Danny Hacking (Bass and vocals) and Kyle Loewen (Drums) could fit Stylus in one night after work, and before a fiercely competitive race to see who could eat an entire box of ice cream using only chopsticks the fastest (Mischa won). I quickly realized that Surprise Party is much more than just a loud and fun Winnipeg band: it is a state of mind, a way of life if you will… Continue reading “Surprise Party :: Rock and Roll all night and Party everyday”