One of the great under-the-radar talents in Canada is Eamon McGrath. With a new album on the way, the DIY punk folkie with the distinctive voice and relentless energy decided to play his entire new album almost two months before it is officially released at a special show on Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Bovine Sex Club on Queen Street West in Toronto.
I admit it: I stopped reading the Harry Potter books after book four (the progressive thickness of the books, plus my adult ADHD kicking in, may have been a factor). So, you can understand my skepticism about watching Potted Potter, a parody that condenses all seven Potter books into a 70-minute performance. But, as it turns out, no prior knowledge of J.K. Rowling’s world of wizardry is necessary for watching this Mirvish production.
In an age where news is broadcast almost as fast as it happens, it seems impossible that any celebrity, no matter how passé, could die without any media attention. That’s exactly what happened to Neil Hope, who played Derek “Wheels” Wheeler on Degrassi: The Next Generation, Degrassi Junior High and The Kids of Degrassi Street.
Owned by the aptly-named Jason and Rachel Hazzard, Parkdale’s newest café is devoted to the mighty pinball machine. After growing up on a pinball diet, it dawned on the adult Mr. Hazzard that “you can actually buy these things when you’re a grown up!” A collection ensued, and the next logical step was to open up The Pinball Cafe. Current fans include folks from the Toronto Pinball League in addition to champion player Sean O’Neill.
When it was announced that The Bachelor’s train wreck of final roses and hot tub dates was rolling into Canada this year, I was asked to write a story about the reality TV show’s arrival. It wasn’t until after I perused its ridiculously chipper application form and its sign-your-life-away fine print that I realized there was more than just a story here, there was a journey. My journey of attempting to marry meet Canada’s most eligible bachelor.
Harmonies swell and surround you, clinging to the air like moisture to the outside of a cold glass in a sweltering basement room. Feet stomp and plastic picks hit metal strings while fiddle and electric guitar manoeuvre through songs like a seasoned waitress in a crowded bar. This is The Pining: five (sometimes six) ladies singing and dancing their way through some of the most joyously bittersweet songs this side of the 49th parallel.
These days, there’s no shortage of extreme sports out there. Now, Ultimate Tazer Ball has joined the fray. Played in an indoor soccer arena, the sport pits teams of four burly, taser-wielding men against each other — all of them looking to throw a 24” ball into a large net. Yes, it’s a real thing, and fans of football, rugby and, well, stun guns, might actually enjoy it. And Toronto, of course, hasn’t failed to get in on the action.
A young girl’s battle with leukemia turns into a fantastical, musical journey as she battles to get her health back.
Theatre Passe Muraille, Backspace,16 Ryerson Ave., 416-504-7529. Feb. 16 – March 4.
I do not get to experience New York City and Broadway as often as I would like, but I was in Manhattan over a year ago to visit my daughter and had the pleasure of seeing In the Heights with her. It was a sweet, high-quality musical about Hispanic immigrants in the Washington Heights area of Manhattan, above Harlem, most of them from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
Kathleen Edwards and her new album Voyageur are making a big splash south of the border. Sure, her association with Justin Vernon, of Grammy-nominated Bon Iver fame has surely helped. But, don’t kid yourselves, this is a solid record on its own with or without Vernon twiddling the dials in the control room — a very Kathleen Edwards record.
Years ago, a laid-back, musically-inclined dude from Barrie, Ont. named Afie Jurvanen moved to Toronto. Sure, he could have been a star out of the gate, but he was too damn busy backing up other local musicians such as Jason Collett and Leslie Feist.
First, The Clone Wars was animated. Now, The Phantom Menace has been released in 3-D, and we’re powerless against George Lucas‘ jedi mind trick (ahem, cash grab). Starting tomorrow, geeks, nerds and dorks will unite to witness the re-release of Episode I in all its three-dimensional glory. Expect the pod racing scene and lightsaber duels to be worth the hype, but losing Qui-Gon Jinn again in 3-D? Not so much.
