New Music Revue: Danny Brown still turning heads with new album

Danny Brown uknowhatimsayin¿ (Warp) 4/5  Back in 2011, Detroit rapper Danny Brown turned heads with his gap-tooth smile, flamboyant rockstar outfits, graphic lyrics, and sharp storytelling. Now that he’s closing in on 40, Brown has drastically changed his appearance. He’s healthy, fixed his infamous tooth gap, and no longer rocks skinny jeans that’d cost the […]

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New Music Revue: Face to Face get live in a dive

Face to Face Live in a Dive (Fat Wreck Chords) 3.5/5  Esteemed SoCal punk-rock band Face to Face have released a new live album, their contribution to Fat Wreck Chords’ long-running Live in a Dive series. Recorded over three nights at Brooklyn’s Saint Vitus Bar, the album features live renditions of songs spanning from their […]

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Toronto’s Hawksley Workman continues to evolve

Before an artist can be celebrated as “eclectic,” it’s a rite of passage for them to create and then shatter audience expectations. Early success with hits like “Striptease” and “Jealous of Your Cigarette” had Toronto-based singer-songwriter Hawksley Workman playing in front of sold-out audiences that wouldn’t leave happy if he didn’t play another of his […]

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Rick Mercer’s 22 minutes of fame still going strong

Long before Donald Trump hijacked the term “fake news,” a little known comedy show called This Hour Has 22 Minutes hit the CBC airwaves. About a decade before the satire boom that brought Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert to prime time south of the border, Canadians had developed a taste for the medium. 22 Minutes […]

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Isle of Tease burlesque festival celebrates diversity

Victoria’s burlesque scene is on the rise. And now, having been a dream for years and in planning for months, the city’s first international burlesque festival is soon to be a reality. The event, Isle of Tease, is organized by local performersand artists Misty Moss, Champagne Sparkles, and Gala Vega. “Festivals are kind of like […]

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What’s Going On: October 23 to November 5, 2019

Until Saturday, October 26 See what really matters If seeing super-current art and film is something that tickles your fancy, or you feel like you just really need some creative inspiration, Antimatter 2019 is a great way to spend some time this October. Checking out the media art and installations is free, and the films […]

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New Music Revue roundup: Hua Li, Lagwagon, Vultures, Vinnie Caruana, and Jail Socks

Hua Li Dynasty (Next Door Records) 3.5/5 If there’s a clear takeaway from Victoria-born, Montreal-based rapper, vocalist, DJ, and producer Hua Li’s debut album, Dynasty, it’s that it’s anything but one-dimensional. Dynasty sees Li combine R&B slow jams with triplet flows to tackle numerous subjects, including identity, intergenerational trauma, and romantic anxieties.  The opening track, […]

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Vancouver’s Tourist Company use Mount St. Helens eruption as inspiration

Vancouver-based alt-rockers Tourist Company are gearing up for a new chapter in their career. After years of touring, vocalist/guitarist/bassist Taylor Swindells and drummer Brenon Parry have been hard at work producing new music, and Swindells is excited about the future of the band, which includes a local connection. “Yeah, things have been going good. It’s […]

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William Head on Stage reimagines The Wizard of Oz in new play

Generally speaking, most people would hope to avoid jail at all costs. However, if you love the theatre and love trying new things, then conquering that fear and going to jail for an evening could end up being a pretty unique experience. It’s an experience put on by William Head on Stage (WHOS), which is […]

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