Winnipeg music & culture since 1989
by Martyna Turczynowicz
Hana Lu Lu is set to release their very first EP, Keepsake, on November 15. The Winnipeg based trio is made up of Kevin Desjarlais on vocals, keyboard and synthesizer, Atom Dzaman on synthesizer and Chris Aquin on drums. The band made a name for itself with it’s fresh, synth-heavy sound. Stylus caught up with Dzaman and Desjarlais to talk about the new album and the band’s upcoming plans. Continue reading “Hana Lu Lu :: Presents you with a Keepsake”
by Sheldon Birnie
Anyone who follows these Hillbilly Highway pit-stops I keep posting up, or who has maybe consumed a couple road pops with me, knows I’m a big fan of Todd Snider and what the fellow is all about. The East Nashville based dude is one of my favourite songwriters, and a true American original. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Here come some Hard Working Americans”
by Daniel Emberg
There is a question that passed through seven generations of my ancestors who never had the privilege of asking an expert. Given the opportunity to speak with Owen Strasky of Krang, I couldn’t avoid putting it to him. That most unscratchable itch could be raked once and for all: what is the difference between stoner rock and psychedelic rock? Continue reading “Krang :: Electric Motorbike Prairie Tragedy”
by Sheldon Birnie
It’s amazing to think that CKUW, our campus and community station broadcasting here from the University of Winnipeg, is celebrating its 50th year in existence this year. The station, which began as a radio club in 1963, broadcasting to a closed-circuit audience from the basement of UW, has seen a lot of changes over the years. The biggest change, perhaps, could be seen as the jump to the FM dial, and a city wide audience, in 1999. Continue reading “Longrunning CKUW DJs reflect on the switch to FM in 1999”
by Sheldon Birnie
Jesus rip-roarin’ Christ, how come nobody told me about the Bottle Rockets until today? Has my head been so far up my ass that maybe somebody did tell me, and I either forgot or didn’t bother to check them out? What the sweet fuck? Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Bottle Rockets reissues”
Despite having the web presence of a single song on SoundCloud, people have taken to talking about Chrys Fournier and his dual musical pursuits. This year should be just as interesting, when he drops a diverse trio of cassettes in the fall. Continue reading “Crabskull :: A foot in the doors of perception”
by Sheldon Birnie
Lou Reed died this weekend. What a fuckin’ bummer. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Lou Reed rides with the King (RIP)”
by Harrison Samphir
Dear hip hop, I’ll love you ‘til I die
To taste the grace of your embrace, I will try
My mission is to utilize my skills on the mic
To rid you of the losers, abusers and stereotypes
– Dan-e-o, “Dear Hip Hop” (1996)
For many reading this, it might be difficult to imagine what Canadian hip hop looked and felt like in the mid- to late-1990s. Younger folks, for example, might remember Kardinal Offishall’s fourth record, or recognize Drake in a Sprite commercial – but could they identify the underground raps of Da Grassroots out of Jane & Finch in North Toronto? We’re not pointing fingers here, instead we are directing your attention toward Canada’s bygone “golden age” of hip hop music: that lost era of dub-influenced boom-bap drums and lyrics that combined East New York scheming with Caribbean flavour. Indeed, this nation’s pioneering rap stars are also a symbol of Canada’s multiculturalism. Our mosaic of ethnic groups and their associated cultures have largely determined the subculture. In this first installment of Stylus Magazine’s Hip Hop Retrospective, we feature some icons of this movement and the under appreciated records they importantly released.
Continue reading “Hip Hop Retrospective :: Pt 1 The Northern Touch”
by Matt Williams
Winnipeg’s own hardest working man in showbiz, Greg MacPherson, will release his sixth studio album, Fireball, on October 29. The album combines MacPherson’s lightning-in-a-bottle live show energy with the skills of award-winning engineer Cam Loeppky and the razor-sharp, heart-pounding drums of Rob Gardiner. Stylus caught up with him over some expensive rum between painting his basement floor and an early-evening photo shoot. Continue reading “Greg MacPherson :: Dropping Fireball on the World”
by Sheldon Birnie
Oh man, seems like a while since I’ve properly posted here on Hillbilly Highway. I’ve been neck deep in home renovations lately, and all my records and CDs have been boxed up and in storage. Same with my stereo I hook my phone to in order to blast those sweet, icy MP3s. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Dump tapes keep rolling on down the line”