New book highlights Canadian radio broadcaster Red Robinson’s celebrity lifeI had no idea what I was about to get into when I started reading Red Robinson: The Last Deejay. I had never heard of Robinson, and I didn’t know that Canadian radio had such a fabulous past; all this, and I was raised in the very same city that Robinson made famous. The book […] Continue Reading |
Snowed In Comedy Tour returns to Victoria for more laughsThings often look bleak during Victoria’s rainy and cold winter months. Wintertime sadness, illness, and general hatred of our city’s weather all set in and people start to ask themselves, “Why must we live in such gloominess?” Well, Victorians can stop asking themselves that now, because the annual Snowed In Comedy Tour is returning to […] Continue Reading |
North Carolina soloist says music serves as an outlet during the holidaysAmerican soprano and soloist Molly Quinn is no stranger to life on the road. And she’s travelling down that never-ending path and ending up right here in Victoria on December 17 to perform Festive Cantatas: JS Bach Magnificat. Quinn says the show is a joy to perform because it’s focused on the talents of each […] Continue Reading |
Local artist examines colonization from personal experienceArt wasn’t something that Victoria’s Mike Alexander thought he was able to commit to. Originally working as a guidance counsellor for at-risk youth, Alexander has worked with mainly inner-city youth for 15 years. But he drew from his identification with those youth and from his passion for helping others, and it shows in his art. […] Continue Reading |
New book sheds light on ferry disasterWhen the Queen of the North ferry sank in British Columbia waters in the early hours of March 22, 2006, the entire province held its breath. Two people went missing that night; they remain missing to this day. The new book The Queen of the North Disaster is captain Colin Henthorne’s account of the sinking, […] Continue Reading |
Local artist looks beyond botany for inspirationAurafidelite Arindam is a local artist who specializes in botanical-themed work, but her knowledge of art goes far beyond botany. Arindam apprenticed with her late husband Auro, who attended multiple international arts institutions, and even studied under famous Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali. She has a large appreciation for impressionism, which was made popular by artists […] Continue Reading |
New Music Revue: Dante DeCaro, Ween, Young MammalsDante DeCaro Kill Your Boyfriend (Last Gang Records) 4/5 Jazz legend John Coltrane once said that “the emotional reaction is all that matters.” That sentiment is reflected on Kill your Boyfriend, the debut solo EP from Wolf Parade’s Dante DeCaro (who also played in Hot Hot Heat). In 24 minutes, across five beautifully written and […] Continue Reading |
New Music Revue: Metallica get halfway there with new albumMetallica Hardwired… To Self-Destruct (Blackened Recordings) 2.5/5 Metallica is one of the few bands I have a deep respect for. They have stood the test of time, battling addiction, arrogance issues, and artistic bankruptcy. Hardwired… To Self-Destruct is fun to listen to, and it undoubtedly connected with any unexplainable metaphysical resentment I held within myself. […] Continue Reading |
Musical celebrates the work of Canadian folk legend Joni MitchellGiven that Canadian folk singer Joni Mitchell had her career peak in the ’70s, why would Camosun College students care about I Think I’m Fallin’, a new musical playing at the Belfry? I Think I’m Fallin’ director Michael Shamata says the time is right to talk about Mitchell, with Bob Dylan recently winning the Nobel […] Continue Reading |
Brewing Revolution goes down easyI don’t normally read memoirs or biographies; I find they tend to be insipid and vain. However, when my editor asked me if I like beer—I do—and asked me to review Frank Appleton’s Brewing Revolution (Harbour Publishing), I made an exception. I’m glad I did. Starting out as a microbiologist in England, Appleton came to […] Continue Reading |
