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PLAYING WITH STORY – Northern Pikes, Calgary AB

PLAYING WITH STORY – Northern Pikes, Calgary AB
Deerfoot Casino, Calgary | November 29, 2014 With no pretense of fanfare, The Northern Pikes, in trio format hit the stage running and never looked back. Blasting into one of their biggest hits, “Teenland” and taking the room by storm, they shook and shimmied, casting the story into the crowd and never releasing it. The song, complete with Zeppelin’s “Whole... Read More

THE TEA PARTY LIVE AT THE COMMODORE BALLROOM

THE TEA PARTY LIVE AT THE COMMODORE BALLROOM
With guests Pigeon Park December 9th & 10th, 2014 Jeff Martin, Stuart Chatwood and Jeff Burrows’ incredible musical talents were demonstrated completely during this long awaited performance in Vancouver, B.C. The three artists from Windsor Ontario were back with progressive rock music that exceeded new boundaries of imagination. They all looked ready to Rock the Commodore. Jeff Martin’s sleek anchor... Read More

RANDY BACHMAN TO LAUNCH HEAVY BLUES

RANDY BACHMAN TO LAUNCH HEAVY BLUES
(December 17 – Toronto, ON) The man known as the “architect of Canadian rock n’ roll” is forging ahead into 2015 with a brand new project billed simply as BACHMAN. Joined by a virtuoso rhythm section with Anna Ruddick on bass and Dale Anne Brendan on drums, the trio’s debut effort entitled Heavy Blues will be available worldwide on April... Read More

MONSTER TRUCK ROLLS INTO OTTAWA

MONSTER TRUCK ROLLS INTO OTTAWA
Saturday night, Monster Truck rolled into Ottawa’s Bronson Centre, and turned this once Catholic high school for girls 700-seat auditorium into a spectacular arena rock show. Ultra high ceilings, a massive elevated stage, theatre-style seating, and plenty of standing room up front, made this the perfect sized venue, and despite its cavernous interior, maintained excellent acoustics. The name, Monster Truck,... Read More

WARMING TO THE HEAT – MOIST

WARMING TO THE HEAT – MOIST
Grey Eagle Resort & Casino, Calgary – November 28, 2014 A keyboard sequence swishing through the PA from side to side and enough smoke to suggest a raging fire backstage signaled the opening of the show as each member of Moist moved separately to the stage. The sequence surrendered to grinding guitar chords as “Mechanical” churned into life. The song,... Read More

M+M – The Song Remains The Same

M+M – The Song Remains The Same
The release of their 1984 album `Mystery Walk’ found the band Martha and the Muffins at a transitional stage, the band’s name shortened to M+M and now primarily consisting of just lead vocalist Martha Johnson and her husband, guitarist Mark Gane augmented by a number of key session players. Yet that 10-track recording registered two hit singles; “Black Stations/White Stations”... Read More

MDM Recordings: Feeling The Passion

MDM Recordings: Feeling The Passion
When Mike Denney travelled to the 2008 Canadian Country Music Awards in Winnipeg, the last thought on his mind was to initiate a new record company. Victimized by three personal redundancies as the music industry went pear-shaped as major record companies merged, downsized and eradicated literally hundreds of employees in response to plunging record sales, Denney felt he had to... Read More

SO TRUE – THE TREWS

SO TRUE – THE TREWS
Flames Central, Calgary – November 21, 2014 Honesty in any form of musical expression is challenging. One wants to stay true to an artistic vision while maintaining a hold on reality and, slim though it may be, make a living from one’s art; the balance between making yourself happy as an artist and your audience happy to support you. Opening... Read More

BRYAN ADAMS Reckless 30th Anniversary

BRYAN ADAMS  Reckless 30th Anniversary
(Universal/A&M) It was just before Christmas 1984 when I received a phone call from Bruce Allen asking if I was interested in writing a Music Express feature story on Bryan Adams who was conducting his first headline U.S tour in support of his fourth album, Reckless. The album had just been released in October and, based on the strength of... Read More

Catching A Lift With Dallas Smith

Catching A Lift With Dallas Smith
Dallas Smith is feeling very upbeat these days so it seems appropriate that the title of his new country platter is Lifted. His debut album Jumped Right In launched five singles onto the Canadian charts and landed him a Juno nomination for Album of the Year. He supported that album with a string of tour dates opening for veteran rocker... Read More

The Tea Party – Breaking The Firewall

The Tea Party – Breaking The Firewall
“It was 98 degrees when I left Perth Australia last week and now it’s minus a zillion degrees,” protested The Tea Party’s lead vocalist/guitarist Jeff Martin, calling in from Quebec City where the band is about to play the second date of a short Canadian tour in support of their latest recording The Ocean At The End, the band’s first studio... Read More

GORDON LIGHTFOOT – LIVE AT OTTAWA’S NAC

GORDON LIGHTFOOT – LIVE AT OTTAWA’S NAC
Upon the mention of the name Lightfoot, words like troubadour, singer/songwriter genius, and Canadian folk music legend come to mind…to name a few. But more, he has the ability to write songs that stick like glue. Completely memorable songs that have woven their way through our lives, with each one reminding us of a certain time, a certain moment, heartache,... Read More

NEIL YOUNG – STORYTONE

NEIL YOUNG – STORYTONE
(Reprise Records) Storytone, Neil Young’s latest foray in the work of recorded music, consists of 10 songs recorded twice. Firstly, as minimal acoustic versions with Young singing with piano or guitar and secondly, as full-production versions recorded live with a 92 piece orchestra and choir, and a big band ensemble. Young’s plaintive voice, as distinct as a prairie whisper, adds... Read More

Headstones: Playing It Straight

Headstones: Playing It Straight
Headstones’ front man Hugh Dillon is thrilled by the concert review penned by Music Express scribe Brian Stanko of the band’s recent performance at Calgary’s Flame Central – except for one slight oversight. “We played the gig on a Wednesday in the freezing cold yet the place was packed as though it was a Friday night, it was totally insane,”... Read More

NICKELBACK No Fixed Address

NICKELBACK No Fixed Address
(Republic/Universal) Those legions of Nickleback haters are about to become truly spasmodic when they hear the Hanna Alberta band’s eighth studio release. Yes it’s full of all those musical ingredients Nickleback’s detractors have come to loath, crunchy guitar arrangements, a driving rhythm section, powerful vocals and hook-laden lyrics that are set to lobotomize your brain for months to come. What... Read More

Kira Isabella Shaking Her Cowboy Booty

Kira Isabella Shaking Her Cowboy Booty
Kira Isabella is on a roll. Literally. She’s just completed a seven-hour bus ride from Saskatoon to Brandonwhere she will be performing in support of her new album Caffeine & Big Dreams, which is winging its way up the Canadian country charts. For someone who has just logged over 600 kilometers Kira sounds remarkably perky as she calls prior to... Read More

THE TRAGICALLY HIP. Fully Completely (Deluxe Re-release)

THE TRAGICALLY HIP. Fully Completely (Deluxe Re-release)
(Universal Music) Following a now well defined re-release formula, the pride of Kingston, Ontario, The Tragically Hip has re-released their Fully Completely record as a two-disc CD, two disc vinyl and a super deluxe set. Disc One is a fully re-mastered version of the original record which now includes two new tracks; the original version of “So Hard Done By”... Read More

The Return Of Die Mannequin – Blah, blah, blah!

The Return Of Die Mannequin – Blah, blah, blah!
Should you find yourself placing a telephone call to Die Mannequin lead vocalist/guitarist Care Failure, the recorded message will no doubt sound like this. “Hi you’ve reached Care. Blah blah blah. Blah blah phone number, blah blah blah. Blah blah. When finally contacted to discuss her band’s latest CD release Neon Zero, Care, also known to select neighbours as Caroline... Read More

Bryan Adams To Be Honoured with Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award at CMW 2015

Bryan Adams To Be Honoured with Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award at CMW 2015
Canadian Music Week is pleased to announce Bryan Adams as the 2015 recipient of the Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award. The award – bestowed to the singer-songwriter in recognition of his social activism and benevolent support of humanitarian interests and causes – will be presented on Thursday, May 7, 2015 at the Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry Awards gala in... Read More