Concert Reviews

This being the first concert I've attended solo, I had no idea what to expect walking into Studio TD last week to see Nourished By Time. Showing up fifteen minutes before showtime to a practically empty room made me feel too visible, too seen. But people pooled in, and it allowed me to observe the demographic and feel present in the room, alone but part of a collective. 

In the pantheon of great indie rock beefs, The Brian Jonestown Massacre versus The Dandy Warhols looms large, mostly due to its thorough documentation in the highly acclaimed 2004 rock doc Dig! If you know, you know, and you probably have already picked a team. I have been and remain Team Dandys, and have seen them live many times, most recently this past March. 

Heading to the McKinley Dixon show on Monday, I was so tired. I mean, it was a Monday. Mondays are typically reserved for reconciling the weekend and doomscrolling. Despite the fatigue hanging on my body, I knew McKinley Dixon would be unmissable. So I stumbled to La Sala Rossa, somewhat revived from a Trip de Bouffe sandwich and my curiosity for the show ahead. Dixon is touring for his latest album, Magic, Alive!, which was released this past June.

Walking into Studio TD on that warm August night felt like stepping back into Leopold’s Tavern back home in Regina. It’s cozy without being cramped, and the kind of room where a whisper can carry just as far as a scream - which is exactly what Willow Avalon’s music calls for. 

Third time’s the charm. At the end of the winter semester, my friend had convinced me to come see her friend’s band play at Casa del Popolo—not knowing at all what their sound was, except for the fact that this friend had said the band was “glam-rock esque.” I had immediate visions of Kiss, with their loud makeup and frequent tongue protrusions. I remember not knowing what to expect; the unknown lay before my ears, and I was vaguely uncomfortable. We were preparing for a certain amount of wincing and had hung close to the wall.

If you were to take Morrissey’s crooning vocals infused with the rhythm of The Cure and The La’s’ piercing optimism, you’d be left with the nostalgic sound of The Kooks.

Cypress Hill’s O CANADABIS 2025 Tour came to Place Bell on May 20th, featuring The Pharcyde and De La Soul. Each of these groups are extremely important in Hip-Hop history, redefining the genre and inspiring future generations of artists.