June 1 Edmonton Headlines
Welcome to Bike Month, Edmonton. Get out there and ride!
The City is going after “tags” in this summer’s anti-graffiti campaign. That’s exactly what they should be targeting; wipe out gang tags, not listen birds and street art.
630CHED/iNews880 looked at what the Capital Region’s cities and municipalities would be asked to chip in, if the downtown arena was viewed as a regional project. I’d rather they chip in to build a more regional transit system if we’re asking them for money.
Edmonton’s taxes and utilities aren’t the most expensive in the country. But we’re on our way!
A handful of Edmonton community projects are up for your vote in a new program from The Keg. So get online and vote!
Edmonton’s Stollery Children’s Hospital is sending home a little girl, after two years at the hospital. Two. Years. Speaking of hearts…researchers at the University of Alberta are trying to prevent heart damage from some cancer treatments…
Operation Red Nose is looking for a non-profit partner for a winter 2011 return to Edmonton.
The Journal’s look at Edmonton bakeries continues, with a taste of Poland at Baltyk Bakery.
Sidney Poitier is coming to our city.
You think Edmonton’s got a lot of news, wait until you see what else is going on around this place. (more…)
10 things to do that are not eating turkey
Worst Thanksgiving present ever.
Enjoy the long weekend, Edmonton. We’ll see you back here when we wake up from turkey comas.
- Hit the market – It’s the last weekend for the City Market Downtown.
- Watch hockey – The Oil Kings play at Rexall Saturday, the Oilers on Sunday.
- Vote – You can vote in an advance poll, in your ward, Saturday.
- Enjoy the weather – 20+ degrees for Saturday and Sunday? Yes, please.
- Rock ‘n’ Fundraise – A bunch of Edmonton bands and artists are playing Wunderbar all day Saturday, to help get band N.N. to Japan Music Week.
- Holy Fuck – The band with the controversial name plays twice at the Pawn Shop.
- Hydeaway – Doug Hoyer is playing the Hydeaway. You need more Old Ugly in your life.
- Free cookies – There’s still time to get over to Luzarra, on Whyte, for Free Cookie Friday. Well, depending on where you are in the city. I don’t want you to crash your car for a cookie.
- Dance – The Brian Webb Dance Company kicks off a new season with les Ballets Jazz de Montreal.
- Eat turkey – You know it’s going to happen anyway.
I think what I'm trying to say is that I want you to have fun this weekend.
Weekend 2.0
Welcome to weekend 2.0 Edmonton.
I really don’t know what that means, but everybody slaps 2.0 into their stuff and it just sounds so cool.
Sally mentioned The Joe’s big show, this Saturday at The Hydeaway, in her new feature “Welcome to the Beat Laboratory.” So, to reiterate, The Joe is playing a big show Saturday at The Hydeaway. With lots of other great rappers. At The Hydeaway. Saturday.
I hope they have bike-powered smoothies again.
Hey, this Saturday is Bikeology, and we’ve never missed a Bikeology festival yet, here at the edmontonian. Alright, we’ve only had one to cover. But I plan on being there tomorrow, so that will make us 2/2.
It’s happening in tandem with the City’s Park(ed) event on 102 Avenue. So, park the car, hop on the bicycle and take in our city at a slower, more enjoyable, pace. There’s also a rock show over at Churchill Square.
And they say our downtown is dead…
One event that Sally will be going on and on about is the release of Toy Story 3. Check with our resident sass-machine for other movies coming out.
Rent begins a run at La Cite, a theatre in Edmonton’s French district.
Improvaganza is still providing laughs. That’s two major festivals already mentioned today.
FC Edmonton is playing. While I initially thought it was something to do with a Coca-Cola sponsorship, it turns out they will be taking on one of Chile’s best soccer teams, Colo-Colo. This could be the cure for your World Cup fever.
Also in sporting news…the Edmonton Prospects are home (home being John Fry Park) to Swift Current and Okotoks this weekend.
The WhitSundays are playing the Pawn Shop tonight.
(I think this is the least amount of music I’ve ever mentioned for a weekend.)
National Aboriginal Day is Monday, but the events begin before that.
Our good friends at ShareEdmonton (and their friends at YegLive.ca) have some ideas of their own about this weekend. That makes it sound nefarious, but they’re actually just good ideas.
You know, it’s almost summer. The real summer. Which makes Summer Solstice sound like just the right kind of event.
At ShareEdmonton they always know when the Edmonton Energy are playing. The Energy are on the hardcourt this weekend, against the Yamhill Flyers. I did not make that up.
Luke and Tess Pretty are releasing a CD. If you don’t know who Luke and Tess Pretty are you haven’t spent a lot of time on Whyte Avenue in the summer.
Maybe you just want to watch Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog again? There’s an event for that.
Tim Allen is at the tent at River Cree.
Sunday is Father’s Day. Fort Edmonton Park has “Dad vs. Wild,” which disappoints me only because it’s nothing like Survivorman.
Maybe it’s Mikey
(Editor’s note: Here’s a preview of Mikey Maybe’s latest release, written by Joe Gurba. But wait, you might ask, Joe Gurba is THE Joe, and he’s running the label Mikey’s on. Yeah, but when The Joe says he’ll write for you, you say “Yes, sir.” And then put in an editor’s note to satisfy everyone’s bias radar.)
By Joe Gurba
Michael Hamm is an exceptional individual. He is handsome, intelligent, charming, and soaks up skills with his mere presence, leaving him to exude an atmosphere of intimidating talent. His endeavors include, but are not limited to, Mikey Maybe, Racoon Suit, Rappers Are People, Rap Club, and The CBT.
As well as being a creative and professional writing student, Mikey Hamm has managed to give voice to his multi-dimensional inventiveness time and time again. But what is odd is that, despite the staggering output of these collected projects, the hundreds of shows over the last four years, and the hundreds of songs he has written, he has not yet released any official recordings. On Wednesday, April 28th, Mikey Maybe is finally presenting his loyal fans with something to take home.
In anticipation of a full length album appearing this summer, Mikey Maybe presents Chips and Pop, a tape cassette/digital download of 8-bit rap recordings.
I sat down with Mikey Maybe and managed to extract some juicy bits of truth concerning his new cassette, his rare recordings, and his nightmares, amongst other things.
Joe: Explain your obsession with 8-bit music
Mikey Maybe: I am fascinated by 8-bit music for the same reason that most of the scene is: nostalgia. I think most people have some sort of fascination with nostalgia. Maybe it’s because I had a good childhood that I am so nostalgic myself — and a big part of my childhood was video games. Those colours just stick in your mind. [He stares into the distance for a minute.] Those sounds just stick in your mind. [He regains his composure.] 8-bit music seems inspiring for some reason. Perhaps it’s playing on these points in your brain that were created in a time when you had the most imagination. It seems as though 8-bit is tapped right into the core of your imagination.
Probably more than 8-bits.
J: Alright, let’s do some music math. What do you think this new tape sounds like?
MM: The genre version of that equation would be Indie, you know, Indie, that’s the overarching [laughing] — you know, you just slap that on anything. So let’s say indie + 8-bit + hip hop/rap - not divided by, I know we’re doing a math thing here, just slash rap - + dub-step. There’s a lot of bass warble in there. That’s just the tip I’m on right now.
Going back to nostalgia, I somehow convinced Mikey to relate to me a childhood anecdote. He went on to describe a hunting trip when he was eight-years-old. After his uncle killed a beaver, Mikey asked for the teeth as a souvenir.
He was then subjected to the sight of a full grown man trying to hammer out a beaver’s teeth with a hatchet. But the teeth wouldn’t break free.
“Uncle Gary, please please, I don’t need them.”
He didn’t hear me. He just kept going.
“Uncle Gary. Uncle Gary!”
“Huh, what? What?”
“I don’t need the teeth.”
“Oh, good. I don’t think they’re coming out.”
[Awkward silence ensues.]
J: Who are your inspirations on this new record?
MM: Camp Lo, Ludacris, The Joe.
J: And what label is Chips and Pop coming out on?
MM: OLD UGLY, the blood when you brush. We are the litres and litres of blood that we have donated to the blood bank. OLD UGLY has donated more blood than any other Edmonton based charity [Old Ugly is not a charity]. 47 litres of blood and 37 litres of plasma last year alone. That’s like 23-and-a-half milk cartons full of blood. You go to pour milk? No. It’s blood. Just imagine all that plasma in ice cream buckets! Thick goopy plasma.
J: OK, that’s enough. Tell me about your nightmares.
MM: I am in bed and something is learing over me, something is above my head, and I am trying to yell, but the words won’t come out. I’m yelling ‘Jesus, help me!’ but the words won’t come out. One time, it was centipede. An obsidian black centipede with hundreds of squirming legs lurching over me. Demonic dreams.
[Awkward silence ensues.]
J: You think there’s any room for newcomers in the 16-bit genre?
MM: Yeah, my next album is a 16-bit minidisc!
J: Is that on-the-record?
MM: Yes, that’s sarcastically on the record.
When prodded, Mikey promised a full length album for 2010 and a long awaited Rappers Are People EP for the fall, legitimizing the group’s lengthy tenure and live performance infamy. (He went on to deflect blame for everything that has transpired to delay these recordings from appearing. He then wished his fans a good day.)
The Chips and Pop tape release is on Wednesday night at the Hydeaway, located at 10209 100 Avenue at 8pm, for $8, with fellow OLD UGLIANS The Joe, Mitchmatic, and Rappers Are People. The album will be available as a digital download as well from OLD UGLY Recording Co.
You can listen to Mikey Maybe’s Mazda, Mazda at mikeymaybe.bandcamp.com.
Edmonton Events
Yes, Edmonton, we’ve made it through that short week. Well, shorter for some. If this was a 5-day week for you, you’ve really earned a weekend.
So…here you go.
I don’t know if you know this, but Edmonton has a good sports team playing right now. I know, the Oilers still grab a lot of newspaper ink, but let’s forget about drafting 1st or 2nd for a minute and focus on the Edmonton Rush. They could be the best team in their conference, maybe the entire National Lacrosse League, when the season ends. They’re home to the Colorado Mammoth tonight. Boo-ya.
Hey, some of our YegSwap music buddies are playing tonight. Lyra Brown is at a songwriter’s showcase over at The Hydeaway. The Joe is part of a big show happening at the Avenue Theatre.
Some new friends, The Party Martyrs, are playing DV8 Tavern over on 99 Street. They will punk you. Tonight.
Also tonight, Matthew Barber is at the Haven Social Club.
Sally’s already been over the Spring Fling. That’s happening Saturday.
Now…for the best part, I head over to ShareEdmonton and raid their events listings, because I am lazy. And not too proud to hide that.
It’s the Northlands Farm & Ranch Show. Which is not news to you if you’re connected to the farm and/or ranch scene. Northlands also has the Canadian National College Finals Rodeo. Yee-haw!
What about the Edmonton Mini World Cup. Maybe you’re into that?
Oh, and the Century Grill is turning 10-years-old. I bet they’ll celebrate with food.
Beever’s Best
Best & Worst of Edmonton 2009 according to me, Gregg Beever
It’s probably a week late for a “year in review” type post, but I’ve
managed to convince the Editor-in-Chief to let me do it anyway. So
gather ‘round Edmonton, here is the year’s best and worst according to
me, Gregg Beever.
Best Local Band: The Provincial Archive
Edmonton has a very good music scene. While I haven’t experienced
enough of any other city’s scene to be considered even remotely
expert, I think I can humbly and modestly declare Edmonton’s the best
on the planet.
Our city has a plethora of small, intimate venues like the Empress,
Blue Chair or the Hydeaway. Here the music isn’t deafening, neither is
it crowded with hordes of drunk teenage lunatics screaming in your
very aged and sensitive ears. These are venues where the nuances of
each tune can be soaked in peacefully over a pint or a coffee. I can
spend an entire show in relaxed mesmerization of a percussionist’s
talented movements, the concentration of a cellist or violinist, or
the deft fingering of a guitarist.
Small venues also give you the opportunity to chat with the musicians.
I always make a point of telling an artist when I liked their set. My
theory is no one gets tired of hearing they are awesome. Plus it leads
to some interesting conversations, for instance: I once had a chat
with Megan from The Last Town Chorus about the logistics of using
laminated bookmarks as tools for cleaning up sexual fluids.
A friend of mine once told me she avoided chatting with musicians for
fear of becoming “that girl.” You know the one; that wound up
pre-pubescent girl, lavishing band members with intense adoration
before giving in to hyperventilation and passing out.
Which bring us (finally) to The Provincial Archive.
Craig Schram’s melodic prairie tunes truly demonstrate the fantastic
level of musical talent that exists in E-town. The Archive’s soft
sounds, formed from a collection of guitar, accordion, mandolin,
glockenspiels and other absorbing rhythms, somehow find me
steering-wheel drumming like I was rocking out in my car to Motion
City Soundtrack. In short, they’re excellent.
So excellent, in fact, that when I was chatting with one band member
before a show at the Pawn Shop I sounded like that hyped up
pre-pubescent girl meeting the Jonas Brothers.
I’m willing to bet I didn’t come off quite so ridiculous, but that’s
how I remember it:
“You guys are fantastic, I listen to you in my car every day! It’s
weird that you guys are, like, from Edmonton and I’m playing your
music in Edmonton, you know? That’s just…weird, right? I love you
guys. I’m going to have your babies.” (more…)
Who wants to see Green Go at the Hydeaway?
I occasionally get e-mails from record labels/PR folks letting me know that one of their bands are in town and may be of interest you guys. Most recently, it’s Guelph, Ontario’s Green Go, who are playing here tomorrow, twice – first, during the day over at Grant Mac’s back to school festivities, and then again tomorrow night at the Hydeaway, alongside Warrior Music, The Rivals and Protocol.
Now believe me, I need to fill a page as much as the next guy – but when it comes to music, I try to be as discerning as possible. Hats off to all you musicians out there, but some of you are terrible. (I can say that because I am also a musician, and sometimes, I am terrible. But let’s not make this about me). And if I go sending you guys to terrible stuff all the time, you’ll never believe me when I say anything.
My point here is that you should believe me when I say that Green Go is great. They sound kind of like a cross between the Go Team! and Electric Six. They have a song called Danger Bay, you guys. They’ve also been remixing a bunch of songs by other Canadian artists, including my favorite favorite favorites the Rural Alberta Advantage.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY – they are so pumped about their first tour out west that they’re giving us a pair of tickets for tomorrow night’s show at the Hydeaway AND and a song for you guys to download and check out.
So here’s an mp3 of Brains for Breakfast. Don’t say we never get you guys anything.
And if you would like to win the pair of tickets to tomorrow’s show, send an e-mail info@theedmontonian.com and tell us; Who the Mayor of Guelph is!
Great Bloomers at the Hydeaway: One of many things that happened after my bedtime.
Landon R. Coleman at the Hydeaway
First things first: I never made it to see Toronto’s the Great Bloomers. Even though I really wanted to, because if you give them a listen, you will see that they are pretty great.
But, because I am 79 years old, and because I have important things to do, like get up at 4:45 to watch Canada AM (I so love Seamus), I could not sit through a 4 band set on a Tuesday night – even if that set featured the Great Bloomers as headliners. Plus, my ego was bruised from my first trip to the Hydeaway. All these attractive young people in their skinny jeans and irreverent t-shirts. It just made me want to hop on my hoveround and go home.
But I will tell you this; I did see the first performer on the quadruple bill – a young fellow named Landon R. Coleman. Landon is a singer/songwriter from Nova Scotia, and goddamn, folks, this will probably be the only time the kid plays to an audience this small. Seriously, Landon R. Coleman is Landon R. Awesome. He performed a four or five song solo acoustic set and it was so, so good. His voice is a kind of cross between Nathan Willett of the Cold War Kids and Jeff Buckley, and his songs are clever, sweet and haunting. He said he’s going to be back in town later this year, so look for him; I certainly will.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go meet my pinochle team over at the Legion.
*rides hoveround away*
