When you hear the name Big Sugar, generally a big smile will come over your face and you will begin to rehash the 90s and unknowingly start to hum the chorus of “Turn the Lights On.” Continue reading “Big Sugar – Yard Style”
Kevin Drew – Darlings
The newest solo offering from Broken Social Scene’s de facto ringleader does nothing to dispel the notion that he’s still indie-rock’s biggest heart-on-your-sleeve (and, self-admittedly, failed) romantic. Continue reading “Kevin Drew – Darlings”
Jill Barber – Chansons
On her sixth album, Canadian chanteuse Jill Barber takes you to Paris with a layover in Montréal. Continue reading “Jill Barber – Chansons”
The Trews – …Thank You and I’m Sorry
The Trews have consistently been pumping out rock albums since “Not Ready to Go” first came blaring out from every Canadian rock station in 2003. Continue reading “The Trews – …Thank You and I’m Sorry”
Stars :: Conquer the North
by Fabian Suárez-Amaya
Keeping the same touring and recording line-up together for over a decade, Stars is something of an anomaly among modern musicians. They recently strode through Winnipeg as an opening act for Metric at the MTS Centre. I spoke to Evan Cranley as Stars is preparing to embark on their next tour, promoting their new album The North. Continue reading “Stars :: Conquer the North”
Hillbilly Highway – Dustin Bentall & The Smokes to light up the Park
by Sheldon Birnie
Dustin Bentall is an award winning songwriter off of the West Coast of British Columbia. Since the early Oughts, he’s been travelling hard across the Hillbilly Highway, churning out a couple albums worth of solid storytelling songs about drifters, gunfighters, and guitar slingers. On his recent EP, Orion, Bentall has finally locked down a solid band at his back. With the Smokes in tow, Bentall, son of Canadian folk-rock hero Barney Bentall, is rolling into town with Lindi Ortega to take the Park Theatre by storm. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Dustin Bentall & The Smokes to light up the Park”
Black Walls – Acedia
If Casper the Friendly Ghost was into wearing hardcore t-shirts and skateboarding through Toronto’s endless suburbs, he’d be a lot like Black Walls’ Ken Reaume. Continue reading “Black Walls – Acedia”
Die Mannequin – Danceland
Creepy, catchy, disgusting, uplifting – 30 seconds into the record and it’s clear that Die Mannequin still has the same magic that they possessed in their debut. Continue reading “Die Mannequin – Danceland”
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.]
Hillbilly Highway – A cold road indeed
by Sheldon Birnie
Boy, it sure is winter now, here in Peggritty. Undeniably so. For anyone who’s checked the listings in our great city lately, while there are certainly shows to be seen, the frequency and breadth of selection has certainly withered considerably since the dog days of summer or the last minute rush of autumn. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – A cold road indeed”