New Music Revue: The Cribs convincingly sell a vibe on new albumThe Cribs Selling a Vibe (Play It Again Sam) 3.5/5 The Cribs are a British rock band that first showed up to the public in 2001 with their four-song demo Feelin’ It! They’re still going strong 25 years later with the release of their 10th album, Selling a Vibe. The Cribs have done a great […] Continue Reading |
Local filmmakers show diverse movies at Victoria Film FestivalThe 32nd annual Victoria Film Festival (VFF) is recognizing and bringing to light bold, creative films and storytelling. From February 6 to 15, the festival will run films from local, regional, and international creators. This year, the VFF will screen 91 feature films and 39 short films that will be shown in nine locations, as […] Continue Reading |
New Music Revue: Annabelle Chairlegs go back in time with Waking upAnnabelle Chairlegs Waking Up (TODO Records) 3/5 Anyone that grew up in the ’90s like I did would be forgiven for wondering if they had ricocheted back through time while listening to Annabelle Chairlegs’ new album, Waking Up. Those were the days when DayGlo-coloured pleather covered everything, and soft breathy lyrics layered comfortably over gritty […] Continue Reading |
Zombie Blizzard brings Margaret Atwood’s poetry to lifePacific Opera Victoria performed Zombie Blizzard on Sunday, January 18 as the final part of their Luminary Series, but this was neither about zombies nor blizzards, much to my initial relief and confusion; it’s about the mess that comes with digging too deeply into the past. The songs were written by Aaron Davis—he took selected […] Continue Reading |
Maanomaa, My Brother tells tale of childhood friends reuniting in GhanaThis February the Belfry Theatre will serve as the backdrop for a highly praised theatrical production not yet seen on the west coast: Maanomaa, My Brother. Co-created by Tawiah M’Carthia and Brad Cook, the play tells the story of two childhood friends reuniting in Ghana after decades apart. Director Phillip Akin says that the vibrant […] Continue Reading |
New Music Revue: Gavial get weird on new albumGavial Thanks, I Hate It (Exile on Mainstream) 4/5 I’m a sucker for bass-driven rock ‘n’ roll. I also really love a plodding rhythm that feels like a war machine slowly picking up speed. Because of these reasons and more, which I will get into momentarily, I quite enjoy this little peach of a record. […] Continue Reading |
New Music Revue: Vesseles fall prey to black metal sins on debutVesseles Home (Independent) 2.5/5 The debut album from Santa Clara’s Vesseles tells a rich, interesting story with its lyrics. Unfortunately, it also falls prey to black metal’s most common sin: the vocals in half the songs are unintelligible. When the vocals do come through clearly, they are beautiful and poignant, but all too often they […] Continue Reading |
Angry Snowmans return for annual evening of festivitiesIf you’re like me and approaching what feels like infinity years old, you probably need to pace yourself when it comes to going out at night. I will happily go for months on end without ever leaving my house after dark, but even despite my advanced age there are some things I just can’t resist. […] Continue Reading |
New Music Revue: Sis and the Lower Wisdom don’t reinvent the wheel on Saints and AliensSis and the Lower Wisdom Saints and Aliens (Native Cat) 2.5/5 Saints and Aliens is the fifth full-length album from experimental jazz yogis Sis and the Lower Wisdom. Hailing from California, these guys have a bright, beachy sound that will not offend anyone. You can hear the palm trees blowing in a mellow breeze. You […] Continue Reading |
Fifty Shades of Ink focuses on traditional Chinese ink paintingThe practice of Chinese ink painting was created in the ninth century, yet it’s still alive to this day. This is what the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (AGGV) has decided to shine a spotlight on with Fifty Shades of Ink, which focuses on ink painting by historical and contemporary artists, in addition to the […] Continue Reading |
