Web Exclusive

In her new book, Imprint: A Memoir of Trauma in the Third Generation, Salt Spring Island author Claire Sicherman braids her family’s past with the emotional and physical impact it had on her. “The book is basically my attempt at breaking my family’s silence about the Holocaust,” says Sicherman. “I grew up knowing stories about […]

Parliament Medicaid Fraud Dogg (C Kunspyruhzy Records Inc.) 4/5 Yes, that’s right: Parliament has just released the follow-up to their 1980 LP, Trombipulation. The legendary funk band’s 10th album, Medicaid Fraud Dogg, is a larger-than-life production that holds up with Parliament’s concept albums of the ’70s. Band mastermind George Clinton never ceases to amaze and […]

Suddenly Dance Theatre artistic co-director David Ferguson explores the human body and its expression in Body Language, an exhibit featuring the work of 19 artists. Ferguson—whose work is exhibited in the show—says Suddenly Dance Theatre, who this exhibit is a fundraiser for, is often an ambassador for culture in Victoria. “I think there’s value in recognizing […]

RBG gives an intimate and informative look into the professional and private life of trailblazing US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The 98-minute documentary provides a blend of historical footage and photographs with current interviews from, to name just a few, former president Bill Clinton, Ginsburg’s granddaughter, and the woman of the hour herself, “The […]

Golden Dawn Arkestra Children of the Sun (Independent) 3.5/5 This second album from Austin, Texas’ Golden Dawn Arkestra is a slight contrast to their first album, Stargazer—Children of the Sun utilizes more serious afrobeats and sounds more mature than its predecessor. Through its 11 tracks, Children of the Sun steadfastly proclaims that it has arrived. Picture rays […]

When his mother died in late 2011, Camosun Digital Communications instructor Andy Bryce inherited a Pandora’s box of family memorabilia. As he was going through it all, one name kept coming up: Peter Henderson Bryce. Peter is Andy’s great-grandfather, and, until that point, Andy knew little about him. “What I had known about him was […]

Frog Eyes Violet Psalms (Paper Bag Records) 3.5/5 The eighth full-length album, Violet Psalms, from Vancouver indie rockers Frog Eyes is their last, with a farewell tour to come this spring and summer. The quartet—who started off in Victoria—has been through a few lineups but vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Carey Mercer and drummer Melanie Campbell—who is married to […]

Figure skating is the only sport in the world that can make the act of placing your face in someone else’s crotch seem elegant. That was part of one of the many precise, artistic moves on display at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre Tuesday night when Stars On Ice rolled through town, and—for the most part—it worked. […]

David Byrne American Utopia (Warner Music Canada) 4.5/5 There is no point in using comparative words—David Byrne is in a class of his own. His latest release, American Utopia, showcases everything that has made Byrne a lasting success. Whether it was as frontman with the Talking Heads, working solo, or in collaboration with artists like Brian […]

Strung Out Black Out The Sky (Fat Wreck Chords) 4/5 California punk rockers Strung Out branch away from their original mosh-pit-hungry roots in the mainly acoustic Black Out The Sky. And it works: this album showcases what it means to be human through a mix of elegant songwriting and great, melodic, fast punk. There are […]