New Music Revue: Husky use Australian suburbs for powerful inspiration on Rucker’s Hill

Husky Rucker’s Hill (Nevado Music) 4/5 Inspired by Australian suburbia, Rucker’s Hill is a tempestuous indie-rock EP that will tug your heartstrings. Upbeat vocals with a hint of melancholy drive abstract chord progressions, reminding one immediately of The Shins, with nostalgic and bittersweet lyrics similar to Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs. The album is refreshingly honest […]

Continue Reading

New Music Revue: Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten explores the lost rock and roll of Cambodia

Various Artists Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten: Cambodia’s Lost Rock and Roll (Dust-to-Digital) 3.5/5 This soundtrack to the film of the same name documents the history of rock and roll in Cambodia: it ain’t pretty. Cambodian rock musicians have been killed for being rock musicians, making both this album and the documentary fascinating and important looks […]

Continue Reading

Langford-based film studio aims big with new production

Just over a year ago, a dream was put into production. Alexander Panagopoulos and his team over at Langford’s Ragnarock Studios wanted to create a film project to get their company up and running. They had developed a story set in ancient Greece, and, as a fan of action movies like 300 and having Greek […]

Continue Reading

Shotgun Jimmie embraces lo-fi sounds for his latest album

When Manitoba-by-way-of-New Brunswick singer-songwriter Jim Killpatrick, better known by his stage name of Shotgun Jimmie, is asked what his musical influences are these days, he pauses a moment, then says emphatically, “Karaoke is my biggest inspiration right now.” To anyone familiar with Jimmie’s easy-going character and down-to-earth songwriting, the answer is not all that surprising. […]

Continue Reading

New Victoria gallery aims to change minds about media

On Flux Media Art Gallery’s opening night, dozens of attendees gathered in the 600-square-foot office space to reflect on the work of artist Terry Haines, mingle over edibles, and greet the furry dog meandering through clusters of people. This is not your typical art gallery. Programming director Catlin Lewis has had almost a decade of […]

Continue Reading

Cirque du Soleil’s Varekai brings magic to Victoria

Touring Cirque du Soleil show Varekai started its run in Victoria’s Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre last night, and it started with a bang. I’ve seen my fair share of ballets, plays, and musicals, but this was my first encounter with Cirque du Soleil, and I have never seen anything like it. My mind was blown. Varekai […]

Continue Reading

Victoria’s Isobel Trigger learn how to rock through trial and error

Victoria indie rock/pop band Isobel Trigger packed up the van and hit the road for their cross-Canada tour in April and have been driving and jamming ever since. Vocalist/synth player Felicia Harding says that she learned some important things while on their previous tour, like the importance of getting lots of rest, not indulging too […]

Continue Reading

Uno Fest brings home serious performing talent

Until May 24, Intrepid Theatre will be home to 15 different performers from all over the world at this year’s Uno Fest. The fest is made up of solo performances that explore all different forms of art, which includes everything from circus acts and stand-up comedy to live film creation. “Whether you like stand-up, intense […]

Continue Reading

New Music Revue: Autopilot’s dreamy alt-rock impresses

Autopilot Desert Dreams (Independent) 3.5/5 Saskatoon’s Autopilot follow up their debut full-length, Diamond Rough, with this concise seven-song… EP? Mini-album? Album? Call it what you will, but I call it a good length, as the band’s dreamy alt-rock doesn’t have a chance to get stale before that refreshingly brief runtime is up. Not that I’m […]

Continue Reading

New Music Revue: San Felix don’t have the fire

San Felix Fire Island (Independent) 2/5 Victoria indie-rock group San Felix’s new album, Fire Island, opens with catchy percussion and electric guitar in “I Was a Vulture.” However, the lead vocalist sings like he’s coming down with a cold and the range narrows to the same few notes. After the first song, the instruments lose […]

Continue Reading