The Magic Flute Aug 8, 7:30pm; Aug 10, 2pm Sir James Dunn Theatre 6101 University Avenue $20 W hen Nina Scott-Stoddart, artistic director of the Halifax Summer Opera Festival, steps into the spotlight to introduce The Magic Flute, she tactfully draws our attention to both the beauty of the music and the antiquated libretto. She […]
Reviews
Posted inArts + Music
Album review: Hitman, The Offering: Side One
Hitman, The Offering release w/Black Moor, Lionsault, Diner Drugs Friday, August 24, 10pm Gus’ Pub, 2605 Agricola Street $7 adv/$10 door Halifax stoner-metal outfit Hitman is back with its third release, The Offering: Side One, a four-track EP that shows both progression in sound and better execution of bringing its live atmosphere on record. The […]
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Show review: Our Lady Peace and Matthew Good at the Scotiabank Centre
Nostalgia reigned supreme in the most satisfying way at the Scotiabank Centre last night, as late 90s/00s CanCon stalwarts—and one-time public snipers—Matthew Good and Our Lady Peace held a full and enthusiastic crowd close for a combined two-and-a-half hours. A jovial Good, last seen in Halifax singing on his back from the bar of the […]
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Show review: Hey Ocean! at The Seahorse
An Intimate Evening with Hey Ocean! did not disappoint. Friday’s show consisted of many HO! back catalogue tunes (starting with “If I Were a Ship”), a handful of new ones and solo songs from the band’s three founding members. Although the crowd was very chatty (seems to be a problem in Halifax these days) HO! […]
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Review: Japanese Breakfast, Soft Sounds from Another Planet
Tegan and Sara w/Japanese Breakfast Thursday, July 27, 8pm Rebecca Cohn Auditorium 6101 University Avenue $49.50 The title of Soft Sounds from Another Planet, Michelle Zauner’s second album under the Japanese Breakfast moniker, suggests a supernatural focus that doesn’t entirely capture her decidedly worldly concerns. Aside from the iridescent lead single “Machinist,” which sees Zauner […]
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Review: David R. Elliott, Strawberry Grass
If a Jeff Tweedy-type fronted White Fence, you’d have a good opener for David R. Elliott. Controversial opinion: On Strawberry Grass, I also hear everything I like about Steve Miller Band. Fight me, I don’t care. The psych-rock Ty Segall-ish guitar on songs like “Due Time”, “Letter To My Son” and “I’m Not Him” (note: […]
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Review: Shadow of Everest, Idle Hands
For a contemporary progressive metal band—Halifax’s Shadow of Everest list Tool, Black Sabbath, Queens of the Stone Age as bands they’ve been compared to—this debut full length has a surprisingly classic sound. The guitar tone—especially on title track “Idle Hands” and “Holding On”—could fit right in with Maiden or Metallica. But the song structures prove […]
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Review: Keonté Beals, Man Overboard
In just four songs, North Preston’s Keonté Beals covers a lot of ground, and doesn’t pull any punches from the jump: The kick-off, “Man Down,” may feature the claps and laser synths of Top 40 pop, but the subject matter is much more serious. “How can I go through the motions once again?” Beals asks […]
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Review: Blue Spirits, Liquid Courage
Liquid Courage is the debut recording from Blue Spirits, the Halifax quartet led by trumpeter Paul St-Amand and self-described (accurately) as “a colourful collision of classic and contemporary.” It starts strong just on the titles of the first two songs, “Magnifico” and “How to Be Unthoughtful” (and what’s the over/under on “One Page to Another” […]
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Review: MAJE, Insert Flame Emojis Here
“What’s the topic of conversation/if I ain’t the topic of conversation?” asks MAJE in the opening minute of the 12-track Insert Flame Emojis Here, and it’s a fair question. In an album that begins with the refrain is “My whole team had hoop dreams,” it’s worth nothing he’s assembled a major collection of collaborators here, […]
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Review: Wake Rider, Wake Rider
Indie pop mellow melody makers Wake Rider’s recently released its first eponymous full length EP, and the chillness is extremely real. The technical prowess of music students is evident here, but Eric Skinner’s icy, disaffected vocals coat it evenly, blending well with the songs, as some Diamond Dave-type (lol can you imagine) would push this […]
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Blue Rodeo does it yet again Saturday at Scotiabank Centre
Every day in my life is near about the same. I eat the same breakfast (frozen blueberries microwaved two minutes, half cup Alpen, half a banana, half cup plain yogurt). I talk to my son about the same assortment of things (Let’s go find the fox in the castle. Is it time to watch two […]