Sampson, storytellerJohn K. Samson is the highly praised singer and lyricist for Manitoba-based rockers the Weakerthans. The release of his first solo album, Provincial, coincides with the release of his first book, Lyrics and Poems 1997-2012 (Arbeiter Ring Publishing). Long recognized as a stellar songwriter, Samson takes us through the lyrical years from the Weakerthans’ first […] Continue Reading |
Local, Live, and Loud: March 7-20Thursday, March 8 Tower of Dudes, Dave Lang and the Black Squirrels The Fort Cafe, $5, 9 pm Come celebrate International Women’s Day with a tower of dudes. No irony here, purely literal. Purely literal, swampy, washboard, folky-rock goodness. Friday, March 16 Veviter, Bonehoof, Iceberg Ferg Logan’s Pub, $14, 9:30 pm I could go and […] Continue Reading |
New Music Revue: March 7, 2012 issueJohn K. Samson Provincial (Anti) 4/5 Provincial is the first full-length solo release from John K. Samson, singer/guitarist of Manitoban folk-punkers the Weakerthans. This album isn’t a huge stretch from his work with the Weakerthans: both show that Samson’s real strength is his lyrics. His ability to give the listener insight into the characters and […] Continue Reading |
Play sparks discussion on homelessnessSometimes a play is sparked by an idea of creating change. Like Joel Bernbaum’s play, Home Is a Beautiful Word, for instance, which came out of talks with the Belfry Theatre’s artistic director Michael Shamata about homelessness and will be debuting at the aptly titled Spark Festival. Bernbaum’s verbatim theatre piece was written based on […] Continue Reading |
Getting down with Down with WebsterOnce there was a group of kids with big dreams. Now, they’re a bunch of adults living those dreams. What started out as a middle-school talent-show act has turned into a music career for a group of six Torontonians. Together, they’ve forged the popular rap-rock group Down with Webster. “Growing up, what really got me […] Continue Reading |
Brave New Waves get sublime at tribute showBrave New Waves frontman Graham Eyerley ran away from home at 14 years old and made a new home for himself on his friend’s father’s sailboat in French Creek Harbor, just outside of Parksville. It’s here that his interest in music blossomed. “There was a guitar on the boat, and not having any parents tell […] Continue Reading |
Delhi 2 Dublin bring India and Ireland to VictoriaDelhi 2 Dublin formed for a one-off show in 2006, not even realizing that this performance would lead to others. Cut to six years later, and the band is fully realized and are certainly more than just a one-off party band. Doug Simpson, the director of Vancouver Folk Fest, was in charge of putting together […] Continue Reading |
Two festivals celebrate words, ideasPeople in Victoria are talking this month. With both the Victoria Spoken Word Festival and the Ideawave conference happening on the same week, Victorians are being exposed to a variety of artists and critical thinkers with something to say. The second annual Victoria Spoken Word Festival is one of the few opportunities for young Canadian […] Continue Reading |
New Music Revue: February 22, 2012 issueBaby Eagle & the Proud Mothers Bone Soldiers (You’ve Changed Records) 3/5 Bone Soldiers, by Canadian outfit Baby Eagle & the Proud Mothers, lays claim to being the most confusing, but “okay, I’m starting to enjoy this now” listening experience so far this year. The album starts off really poorly, with some of its worst […] Continue Reading |
Local, Live, and Loud: February 22-March 6Thursday, February 23 Brave New Waves, Hillside Hooligans, Step Back Dave, Tuff Jelly Club 90NE9, $16.50, 9:30 pm This event is a tribute to the ska-punk greats Sublime. The Victoria Ska Society has to be one of the hardest working music collectives on the south island; it seems like there’s a new ska or rocksteady […] Continue Reading |
