Category: Features

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Dean Murdoch & Nightseeker :: Giv’r till it hurts

by Sheldon Birnie

Dean Murdoch (aka Paul Spence) is one of the deadliest dudes to ever pick up a bass guitar, shotgun a Pilsner, and just fuckin’ giv’r shit. Made (in)famous by his role in Fubar and Fubar 2: Balls to the Wall, Deaner has since moved on from the Mac and kept his heavy metal band Nighseeker rocking from coast to coast. The Deaner and Nightseeker are hitting Winnipeg and Brandon on October 25 and 26. Gettin’ ready to giv’r, Stylus caught up with the Deaner, over the phone, as he was finishing a bag of chips earlier this week. Here’s how our conversation went down.
[Editor’s Note: The following post is probably NSFW, and certainly contains deadly references to partying hard and giv’n’r to the fuckin’ max. You have been warned.]
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Nova :: Midnight, Midnight and the beauty & frustration of Winnipeg

by Darcy Penner

Of the many ways one usually expects a band to form (from the ashes of previous bands, high school friends jamming with beer stolen from their parents, the side-project that was only supposed to be about fun, etc.), Nova’s inception has a unique flare to it: a release for workaholics bonded by their love of, and commitment to, Winnipeg. That, and two-thirds of the band didn’t really play their instruments. Continue reading “Nova :: Midnight, Midnight and the beauty & frustration of Winnipeg”

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Hillbilly Highway – Carly Dow rolling solo

by Sheldon Birnie

Winnipeg folk fanatics undoubtedly know Carly Dow from her prior performances around Winnipeg with a variety of acts over the years, most notably Bog River. But after a couple solid years with the boys in Bog River, releasing a full-length and touring out west and back, the band recently called it a day. Now Carly Dow is stepping out onto the stage on her own again, with a big gig at the Folk Exchange on October 20th. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Carly Dow rolling solo”

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Departures :: Q+A

by Darcy Penner

This Saturday, October 13th, 2012, Winnipeg post-rock five-piece Departures will be celebrating the release of their debut full length, Still and Moving Lines (released October 9th on Borana Records). Recorded by Howard Bilerman between Private Ear in Winnipeg and Hotel2Tango in Montréal and mastered by Bob Weston, the album is already turning heads. Graeme Wolfe, Nick Liang, and Rob Gardiner (the band is rounded out by Alannah Walker and Steve Kesselman) sat down with Stylus to answer a few questions ahead of the show.   The following is an edited transcript.

Check out the full album stream here. The show is at Ace Art Inc.(290 McDermot Ave.), with Slow Dancers opening.  Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, and available at Into the Music, Music Trader, and through the band members.  Doors at 9:30 PM.

Continue reading “Departures :: Q+A”

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Royal Wood :: Q+A

by Darcy Penner

This coming Monday, October 15, Toronto’s Royal Wood will be kicking off a cross-Canada tour in Winnipeg, at the West End Cultural Centre, to support his latest MapleMusic release, We Were Born to Glory.  Stylus had the opportunity to meet up with Wood at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, and had a brief conversation about the album, growing older, and Wood’s successful career.  The following is an edited transcript of the interview.

Tickets are $20 through Ticketmaster or the Winnipeg Folk Fest Music Store. Elisapie is opening.  Doors at 7:15 pm, show at 8:00 pm.

Continue reading “Royal Wood :: Q+A”

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Hillbilly Highway – Dylan rumbles through Boomerville

by Sheldon Birnie

I hit the Bob Dylan show at the MTS Centre last week when he cruised into town on the Hillbilly Highway, and I’m sure glad I did. It’s the third time I’ve seen ol’ Bob, and it was possibly the best performance I’ve seen him churn out in the nine years that span those three dates, and certainly more enjoyable than Dylan’s last Winnipeg date, back around 2009. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Dylan rumbles through Boomerville”

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They Say / Enjoy Your Pumas / The Secrets / JICAH // @ Park Theatre 09-28-12

photos & words by Ginaya Jesmer

On September 28th the Park Theatre was taken over by four very talented bands for the release of THEY SAY’s debut CD Disguises. First on stage was Enjoy Your Pumas, followed by The Secrets, then JICAH, and lastly THEY SAY. All of the bands gave very energetic performances and the enthusiasm from the audience seemed to accumulate after every performance. There was a notable amount of energy during the JICAH performance which managed to get the majority of the crowd dancing and involved. Continue reading “They Say / Enjoy Your Pumas / The Secrets / JICAH // @ Park Theatre 09-28-12”

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JohNNy SiZZle :: Still shaking the tree after 20 years


by Sheldon Birnie

“A funny thing has happened on the way to the stage,” says Winnipeg’s JohNNy SiZZle as we chat in the Stylus office (“It’s not as glamorous as I imagined it,” says SiZZle). “They could still see that I’m very influenced by underground hardcore punk, but I think that underground hardcore punk has seeped so much into the mainstream culture, that it’s not like ten or 20 years ago where I had to make a full explanation of myself, of what I’m doing with an acoustic guitar. They can clearly get it, that ‘Oh, acoustic guitar playing heavy hardcore punk. I get it.’”
Continue reading “JohNNy SiZZle :: Still shaking the tree after 20 years”

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Ingrid D. Johnson :: Art for Hope

By Darcy Penner

For over half a decade, Ingrid D. Johnson has been creating and publishing poetry, music, spoken word, and videos, all with the purpose of sharing a positive message of overcoming childhood sexual abuse and violence against women.  Johnson founded her own publication social enterprise, In The Closet Productions, to further her work and “inspire those wounded by childhood sexual abuse and other forms of trauma… to do more than just survive their past — to overcome it!”  Her career has included many successes, from wide exposure throughout provincial and national media, to partnering with many community organizations, to being included in The Manitoba Women’s Advisory Council and Mentoring Artist’s for Women’s Art’s publication, Women In the Arts: Artists Working for Social Change.

On Sunday, October 7th, Johnson will be celebrating the release of her debut full length, What About Love?, at The Park Theatre Cafe. Recorded at Studio 11 by Jason Gordon, Johnson is joined by her backup band, The Funky Fresh Crew, to create a heart-filled blend of gospel, blues, and pop.  Johnson took the time this week to answer a few questions for Stylus.

Head down to the Park on Sunday night to see Johnson’s set: doors at 7:15, tickets $15 advance/$20 at the door (includes CD).

Continue reading “Ingrid D. Johnson :: Art for Hope”

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Hillbilly Highway – Those Darlins new Winnipeg inspired track

by Sheldon Birnie

It’s no secret I’m a big fan of Nashville based rockers Those Darlins. Since seeing them open for King Khan & BBQ Show at the Albert a few years back, I’ve been head over heels for the smokin’ babes & hot dude that make up Those Darlins, and the sweet, sweet country tinged rock n roll they pump out. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Those Darlins new Winnipeg inspired track”