POP, lock, and drop it

In the vast landscape of the indie-folk genre, Young Benjamins would lie at the intersection of better-known acts Born Ruffians and Mumford & Sons. Their repertoire features mostly frenetic foot-stomping tracks, with some laid-back tunes mixed in. Relative newcomers to the music industry, the four-piece Saskatoon group only released their first LP, Less Argue, this past spring. The band has equal gender representation, composed of two men (guitarist and drummer) and two women (bassist and violinist/keyboardist). Though they’re still somewhat raw, their versatility and exciting melodies provide glimpses of the high ceiling Young Benjamins has. The presence of the violin really strengthens their sound, and makes for an interesting dynamic when it interacts with the edgy electric guitar. If you’re looking for a lively show that strikes a balance between dancing and artistic enjoyment, look no farther than Young Benjamins.

Ingrid Gatin: 1000 Lives (Pipe & Hat)

Ingrid Gatin: 1000 Lives

Few modern artists use the accordion in their songs, and even fewer can use it with the grace and flair of Ingrid Gatin. Her second full-length release, 1000 Lives, is dramatic and old school, relying heavily on piano, and the aforementioned accordion.  Winnipegger Gatin has a dynamic, strong voice, and[Read More…]

Bonobo: The North Borders (Ninja Tune)

Bonobo: The North Borders

Bonobo is back, and he has evolved. The North Borders, the British producer’s first album of original material since 2010’s Black Sands, boasts a heavily modern UK garage sound with inflections of fellow garage artist Burial. Simon Green, also known as Bonobo, is the most popular guy on the Ninja[Read More…]

Maston: Shadows

Frank Maston has created a fast-paced, intriguing, and peculiar album with his band Maston’s latest release Shadows, one calling to mind The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and 2012’s breakthrough act Tame Impala.  The album is whimsical and dreamy, zipping through to its conclusion before you know it—only one of the[Read More…]

Alexandra Allaire / McGill Tribune

Something wicked this way comes

Players’ Theatre’s production of Macbeth, directed by Martin Law, transports Shakespeare’s classic tragedy to the end of WWI in the form of a humanized epic. The play features a strong cast, with Matthew Rian Steen and Annie MacKay at the helm as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Setting the play in[Read More…]

Fleetwood Mac: Rumours (Reissue)

Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 classic Rumours is the best break-up record ever made, as it chronicles the breakdown of relationships between bandmates John McVie and Christine McVie, Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. This month, the band is reissuing the album to coincide with a tour of the U.S. and Canada in[Read More…]

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