When I walked into the upper gallery of TCU Place on Jan. 21, I was struck by something unusual. It was classy — a little too classy. But that is the life of the fine arts student: spend your daylight hours shuffling through the hallway in black sweatpants or paint-covered jeans, but be prepared at any moment to clean up and dazzle your audience with elegance and charisma.
We the Artists was one such occasion.
Although a new act in Saskatoon, Reform Party members certainly aren’t new to the music scene.
Guitarist Levi Soloudre and bassist Enver Hampton played together for years in Volcanoless in Canada, and have now joined together with other Saskatoon musicians, drummer Tallus Scott, who has been a part of several different local bands, and frontman Kay the Aquanaut, a well known hip-hop artist, to form the new group Reform Party.
Bassist Enver Hampton sat down with the Sheaf to talk about the birth of Reform Party, their new video release on Ominocity.com and future plans for the band.
Not every upstart band in Saskatoon has an indie music bent and eyes CBC Radio 3 as its goal. Sometimes bands are purely driven by their interest in the music, in the effect it has on an audience and in having a good time doing what they love.
This is the case with Misterfire, a genre-defying band with ska and funk elements who are releasing their debut album at Louis’ on Jan. 21. Refusing to pin themselves down musically and aim only for a niche audience, Misterfire’s hope for their album is just to spread the music and get their product to a larger audience.
Looking back at 2011, it was generally a strong year for new music, but most of all it marked a time when rap was brought back to from the brink of self-destruction.
Looking at the best-selling acts of the last few years, you might say that rap never went anywhere, but although rap has been around for decades, it was turning into a genre that lacked any kind of creativity, whether it be lyrically or in production. This last year a new breed of rap entered the ears of the masses thanks to the new free Internet mix-tape scene, giving all kinds of different rappers a way to get their music heard.
This Christmas break, Saskatoon’s musicians come together and create a night of magic — and they give themselves less than 24 hours to do so. It’s that time of year again: Band Swap!
Each year, in early December, a one-hour registration window opens to any locals who want to play in the event. Only the first 28 people are chosen for inclusion and, along with seven pre-designated “captains,” have their names drawn from a hat the night before Band Swap to form the temporary bands. Once sorted, musicians try to pick cover songs that match the group’s skillset and, 24 hours later, the new bands take the stage for 20 minutes each.
Her music might consistently burn up Canada’s radio charts, but Lights herself doesn’t shy away from how icy the music on her new record Siberia is.
It’s named after one of the coldest places on Earth, after all.
The man, the myth, the legend — who was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart? The newly arrived production of Amadeus may not provide exact historical accuracy, but it does provide a sizzling spectacle of classic elegance and bloodthirsty rivalry.
This fall, Greystone Theatre is putting on the Peter Shaffer play that delves into the mystery of the genius who changed history. Amadeus is told from the perspective of Viennese court composer Antonio Salieri. It begins in the early 19th century, with Salieri wasting away in his autumn years, his distinguished career long behind him.
As a fan of Canadian music, and of independent artists, I always make a point of revisiting old favourites. With David Myles, I was a steadfast fan from the start. Over his career, he has released a series of steadily-improving albums that all represented his talents and style well. This is why I found his most recent album so disappointing.
I just went to write a review.
Some time later I was lying on the floor in a dark room. Only black light. Above, dancers whirled neon-laced hula-hoops and fiberoptic rainbow wands. They wore tight black suits with fringy neon epaulettes.
When you hear the words “De La Soul,” what comes to mind? If you say one of hip-hop’s most famous musical groups, you’re correct.
Formed in Long Island, New York in the mid-1980s, De La Soul is a hip-hop phenomenon consisting of Kelvin Mercer, David Jude Jolicoeur and Vincent Mason. I was fortunate enough to interview Vincent Mason, one of the iconic band’s members who is better known to the music world as “DJ Maseo.”
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