Hurricane Lisa - Get Ready to be Blown Away
It was on a bitterly cold night in January that I first saw Hurricane Lisa. Pulling up to Mugs – a tiny pub in downtown Calgary – I left the warmth of my car, jammed my hands into my pockets and made the dash across the slippery parking lot, my breath steaming in the frosty night air. Stepping out of the cold and through the doors, I was instantly transported to another world. The venue was a small, cozy corner pub, with a bar taking up most of the central real estate and an
Gil Tougas - The Hardest Working Guitarist in Rock n Roll
When I showed up at Morgans Pub in Calgary at 9:30pm, things were pretty low key. I wasn’t too surprised, though. It was a damp, miserably cold evening in late April, and Thursdays are hardly best night to go out if you’re looking for crowded dancefloors and wild parties. That all changed, however, when Gil Tougas and his band took to the stage. Fronting a trio called Three Way, Tougas stepped up to the mic with his guitar, introduced himself and his band, and busted into one
Sarah Beth Keeley - A Story of Inspiring Devotion to Music
Last month’s Backyard Jam at Legends was a blast, and I think it’s safe to say that everyone had a great time – both bands and audience members alike. I thoroughly enjoyed taking in all of the acts that made their way across the stage that night, but there was one artist that really struck a chord with me (see what I did there?) amongst an evening full of truly stand-out musicians. It was during a performance near the end of the night, when Sarah Beth Keeley (or SBK, as she’s
Junk - Working Hard Has Never Been this Fun
Junk doesn’t mess around when it comes to having a good time. I’d been told before seeing them at the King’s Head Pub to expect brilliant musicianship, gobs of energy, and an all-around incredible evening. I wasn’t disappointed. Billing themselves as a cover/party band on Facebook, I expected Junk to take the stage at the King’s Head and play some crowd-pleasing rock tunes to a mostly-disinterested audience. It’s a hard gig pulling people away from their chairs and conversati
Why I Love Live Music
I was having a conversation earlier this month with a friend on the topic of live music. Being something of a concert addict, I was going on and on about a show I had recently seen up in Edmonton. Halfway through my musings on just what exactly made the experience such a great one, my friend stopped me and asked what else I had been doing in Edmonton that I was up there and able to check out the concert. “Nothing,” I replied. “Nothing?” “Nothing.” “So, you just, drove to Edmo
Blakkstone Hexx - Keeping Rock & Roll Alive
It was a frosty, foggy night, and my headlights just barely cut through the swirling brume as I pulled into Crossfield. I parked in front of the Jack’ n’ the Throttle Bar and made my way inside. Soon enough, Blakkstone Hexx took to the stage, and the entire atmosphere changed. The dark, damp chill of the night was pushed aside as guitars wailed and drums rang out. The oppressiveness of the evening made way for good, fun rock & roll. “You kind of get picked up by the music and
New Soul Duo - Music From the Soul
It’s been a pretty incredible month for New Soul Duo. When I spoke to Vance Alexander – one half of the self-described power-cover duo that we’re featuring for this month’s music column – he had just got back into town after being on the road with his bandmate, Anthony Blaine, for a show. This was no ordinary gig, though: New Soul Duo had just been half-way around the world a few days earlier, bringing their musical talents all the way to Middle Eastern country of Bahrain! “W
Envy - Live Music Doesn’t Get Any More Exciting Than This!
As an avid music lover, I’ve witnessed more live shows than I can count. During my time going to concerts, I’ve come to realize that more often than not, bands fall into one of two categories when you put them on stage. The first type of band will get up there, play some great tunes, get the crowd moving, maybe play an encore, and will leave you feeling like you got your money’s worth. Then, there are bands like Envy. Watching Envy perform is like grabbing a live wire with yo
Blind Box - You Never Know What You’re Going to Get
I first saw Ryan Alim – front man for local rock act Blind Box – perform this past summer, at Legends in Strathmore. It was an acoustic night, and Ryan just happened to be at the pub, enjoying a drink, when a number of patrons cajoled him into taking the stage. As he reluctantly agreed and made his way up to the front, the crowd erupted in cheers – they’d seen him sing before, and knew what to expect. I, on the other hand, wasn’t quite sure what was in store. After adjusting
Brands Are Launching Deeper and More Sophisticated Integrations Into Live Music Events
The Rolling Stones changed everything back in 1981 April 6, 2014 "Ain’t singin’ for Pepsi,” Neil Young wails on “This Note’s for You,” his 1988 anti-commercialism anthem. “Ain’t singing for Coke/I don’t sing for nobody/makes me look like a joke. This note’s for you.” A decade earlier, Young would have seen no need for such a song. But, by 1988, corporate America had well insinuated its presence into the world of music, with concerts joining sports as a platform for brands to
