New Music Revue: Long Distance Runners deliver eccentric indie rockLong Distance Runners Elements (Independent) 3/5 Elements, the third album from Newfoundland rockers Long Distance Runners, blends folk, country, psychedelic, and classic rock sounds. The band delivers unique arrangements of guitar, bass, and percussion with synth and horns, creating a very eccentric sonic landscape. The punchy bass lines and shimmering guitar leads take centre stage: […] Continue Reading |
Ringo Starr’s band shines just as bright as the former Beatle at Victoria concertThe legendary Ringo Starr rocked Victoria (with a little help from his friends, the All Starr Band) on October 8 at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Starr and his bandmates (former Journey keyboardist Gregg Rolie, Todd Rundgren, former Bread saxophonist Warren Ham, Mr. Mister singer Richard Page, and Toto guitarist Steve Lukather) stepped out onto a […] Continue Reading |
If We Were Birds not for the faint of heartTheatre Inconnu’s If We Were Birds captured the audience’s attention last night with intensity; not knowing if an appropriate reaction would be laughing, cringing, or crying seemed to be the general consensus. Walking into the innocent-looking venue, you wouldn’t really expect a production with brutally striking content, but If We Were Birds drew in the […] Continue Reading |
If We Were Birds doesn’t back down from tough subject matterIf We Were Birds director Wendy Merk claims that this particular production is going to be one of the most difficult plays she’s ever directed. The play has graphic sexual violence and centres around the theme of rape used as a weapon of war against women. But Merk has the skills necessary to pull it […] Continue Reading |
Art gallery exhibit looks at the lives of Chinese literatiOur city, relative to its size, has long had an incredible variety of opportunities for its residents to take in many forms of cultural expression; the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (AGGV) has been a constant provider of these chances. One of the AGGV’s current exhibits, Treasures of the Chinese Scholar’s Studio, promises to uphold […] Continue Reading |
Weekend of films at local theatre highlights indigenous voicesAfter the popularity of the indigenous film program at the 2015 Victoria Film Festival (VFF), The Vic Theatre decided it was time to bring Victoria audiences an international series of films by indigenous filmmakers. So, that’s exactly what will happen from September 27 to 29 at The Vic. The three-day event puts the spotlight on […] Continue Reading |
Sarah MacDougall: the Nexus interviewThis is an expanded version of the story which appeared in our September 23, 2015 issue. Sarah MacDougall, a Swedish-born singer/songwriter who now calls Whitehorse home, comes with a long list of accolades. For example, her music just won her the West Coast Music Awards Roots Solo Recording of the Year prize (which she’s no stranger […] Continue Reading |
Despite rain Rifflandia 2015 a successEven though there was intermittent rain all weekend, Rifflandia 2015 was a success. The festival, now in its eighth year, brought 230 musicians to the city for four jam-packed days of music spread throughout Victoria from September 17 to 20. Orchestrated by local production company Atomique Productions, Rifflandia transformed 22 locations around the city—from parking […] Continue Reading |
Speed-the-Plow rips Hollywood cynicism apartDavid Mamet’s Speed-the-Plow is an eviscerating satire on Hollywood cynicism that underscores how little has changed in the film industry since its first staging on Broadway in 1988. Directed by the Belfry’s Michael Shamata, it features Brian Markinson, Vincent Gale, and Celine Stubel in a spare set that evokes American Psycho and its themes of […] Continue Reading |
New Music Revue: Raccoon BanditRaccoon Bandit Close Your Eyes (Independent) 3.5/5 Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island indie rockers Raccoon Bandit’s second album, Close Your Eyes, is well worth checking out. Unlike many indie-rock bands, whose sounds meld together into a wave of redundancy, this band is unique. “Searcher Song” is a particularly noteworthy track that very wisely opens the album […] Continue Reading |
