On a sunny Tuesday evening, I parked my car in the Canadian Tire Centre parking lot and made my way to Gate 3 where media enters. I couldn’t help but notice the HAIL SATAN! license plate covers as I walked through the lot. Guess who was in town.
Rêves Come True in Ottawa
Beautiful spring weather has finally arrived in Ottawa and the evening of May 8 was the perfect night for the Algonquin college Spring Launch concert featuring two Canadian Juno Award Winners, Preston Pablo https://www.prestonpablo.com/ and Rêve https://www.revemtlmusic.com/ .
Carcass Crush Vancouver
Extreme metal pioneers, Carcass, brought their unique brand of Death n Roll to Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom on Wednesday, bringing together a myriad of metal heads.
With a vast discography, ranging from grindcore to melodic death metal, and everything in between, revolutionaries Bill Steer and Jeff Walker, force-fed fans all of the best parts of Carcass throughout a 16-song set. And man, were we feasting.
From classics like “This Mortal Coil” And “Corporal Jigsore Quandry” to “Kelly’s Meat Emporium” and “316L Grade Surgical Steel” – the set list catered to fans of every Carcass era, despite it being dubbed the Torn Arteries tour. The band breezed through the song’s technicalities with ease and flair.
Though Walker and Steer are far from on their way out, you’d think after four decades of trailblazing they’d of slowed up. However, that’s far from the case. The pair, and their newest lineup additions, performed with such tenacity and prowess that if you closed your eyes you’d think it was their 20-year-old selves on stage.
Not only was the precision of the set a highlight, but the energy radiating from each member was truly remarkable. It didn’t feel like one of those “make-a-buck” tours, that you’ve come to expect from bands 40 years into their careers. The gratitude and love for their craft, and fans, was palpable. Not just from Carcass, but every band.
Each act to hit the stage commanded the room, creating a unifying ambiance that one really can only experience at a metal show. While Carcass was undoubtedly the highlight, one of the coolest things about this show was the diversity in the lineup. Sure, these bands all played some form of metal, but they were also fantastic representations of their niche sub-genre and Carcass’ influence on the genre as a whole.
Supported by party thrash legends, Municipal Waste, the groove-stricken Sacred Reich, and Texas death metal titans, Creeping Death, the attention to detail of this bill cannot go unnoticed. Every band delivered a crushing set, leaving the audience rabid and famished for more.
Whether we were headbanging to the point of whiplash with Creeping Death and Sacred Reich or guzzling beers and crowd surfing with Municipal Waste – this show and all the musicians who were a part of it, was not only perfection but an incredible look at the growth of metal music.
Lee Brice brought his beer drinking opportunity tour to Kingston
I’ve only really considered myself a “Country Music” fan for about that last 15-16 years and even at that I’m often drawn more to the Canadian indie scene. That said Lee Brice has long been an artist on my bucket list that I’ve been wanting to see and this past week I got the best of both worlds as Lee Brice along with two rising stars on the Canadian Indie scene, Josh Ross and Tenille Arts, paid a visit to Eastern Ontario, first with a stop at Canadian Tire Centre followed by a stop at Kingston’s Leon’s Centre.
Suddenly Ottawa Sees KT Tunstall
Last night, music fans in Ottawa were treated to an unforgettable concert featuring KT Tunstall and opener Pre-Loved.
Kellie Loder live at the Rivoli
Canadian singer/songwriter Kellie Loder graced the stage at the Rivoli in Toronto.
Live in Ottawa! The man who danced with the lady in red
Celebrated Irish singer-songwriter Chris de Burgh regaled fans with stories and song at Ottawa’s TD Place on April 19. The Nation’s capital was the midway point on his Canadian Legend of Robin Hood and Other Hits Tour.
Matt Andersen dishes up some home-cooked soul with a side of joy
Fans feasted on a musical smorgasbord of gospel, blues, country, soul and rock as part of Matt Andersen’s Big Bottle of Joy Tour, with special guests Hello Darlins, at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on April 16.
Matt Andersen Brings Joy To Edmonton
Matt Andersen spills a ‘Big Bottle Of Joy’ on the stage at the Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton on Easter weekend and shook the walls.
Chicago Brings The Brass To Rama
Neil Donell Chicago @ Casino Rama // Photographer: Elliott Deseure
On Saturday April 8th the band knows as Chicago brought the endless hits to Casino Rama Canada. With over 55 plus years in the business it doesn’t seem like they’re slowing down anytime soon, with over 100 shows this year already planned. With some new additions to the band this year, the main core founding members consisting of Robert Lamb and James Pankow still leading the charge every night with long time member Lee Loughnane on trumpet.
Ray Herrmann Chicago @ Casino Rama // Photographer: Elliott Deseure
For those who aren’t familiar with the band (those who live under a rock), Chicago is know for not only their brass section to their music but their stunning compositions with brilliant vocalists to boot. Each member of the band almost has a vocal to be heard, majorly Robert Lame and their Canadian boy, Neil Donell. But don’t kid yourself, Chicago brings the brass to rock music when they aren’t serenading us with one of their many famous ballads that millions have used as wedding songs all over the world for decades.
James Pankow Chicago @ Casino Rama // Photographer: Elliott Deseure
Chicago @ Casino Rama // Photographer: Elliott Deseure
Chicago is best known for their hits “If You Leave Me Know”, “You’re The Inspiration”, “Hard To Say I’m Sorry”, “25 Or 6 To 4” and “Saturday In The Park”, it’s hard to not believe that with 38 albums that they have cracked the code on songwriting. Both Lamb and Pankow in the songwriters hall of fame. Having sold over 100 Million albums world wide, they are one of the best selling groups of all time, and longest touring too. If you haven’t seen them I would recommend doing so, with grace they show you live mastery of music at it’s best. A must see in my opinion for starting musicians wanting to learn how to compose a song.
Ray Yslas Chicago @ Casino Rama // Photographer: Elliott Deseure
