Columns

METAL MONDAY: 5 Amazing Metal Bands I Saw in Australia

March 5 2018 // Chris the Frog (Sewer Spewer) // Columns

Back in December, I took a trip to the land down under. I loved almost everything about Australia—the intensely hot weather, the accent, the creative cursing inserted into casual conversation. The only downside was the beer being twice as expensive. I spent most of my time in Melbourne, a city with wide-ranging arts scene. In many ways, it was like the Montreal of Australia. During my time in Melbourne, I was able to check out a handful of shows, where I fell in love with Australian’s heavy scene. Here are my picks of the best Australian metal bands that I saw live.

King Parrot

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Our Picks at This Year's Pitchfork Festival

July 10 2017 // Antonella Fratino and Michael Cardillo // Columns

Pitchfork’s eponymous festival hardly needs an introduction. Since its inception in 2006, the event has brought together acts that would entertain even the most discerning among the site’s readership. This year, the three-day festival held in Union Park, Chicago, will feature tremendous headliners LCD Soundsystem, A Tribe Called Quest, and Solange, as well as PJ Harvey, Vince Staples and George Clinton & Parliament, to name a few. The festival promises to provide good times all around—and here are the bands we’re especially excited to see.

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A Guide to Montreal Comiccon

July 6 2017 // Brian Holidae // Columns

So you're considering going to Montreal Comiccon… If you're a seasoned Comic-con adventurer you've probably been to the Montreal one, as well as Fan Expo in Toronto, or the NYC convention in the fall—maybe even San Diego Comic-Con, considered the BIG SHOW to most geeks. One thing that stands true through all these conventions is that they're always crowded. This is a guide on how to explore, shop and get the the best out of your Montreal Comiccon experience.

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Chris Cornell (1964-2017)

May 24 2017 // Matthew Warner // Columns

Having been the frontman of one of Seattle’s most well-known rock bands, frontman of the second band in history to perform live in Cuba, and named as one of the godfathers of the grunge genre, Chris Cornell was a rare, unique, and special act in the rock & roll/grunge scene. In 1984, Cornell had formed the band Soundgarden back in his hometown Seattle with his friend Kim Thayil, who took role as the guitarist, Hiro Yamamoto, who took role as the bassist (but was later replaced by current bassist Ben Shepherd), and Cornell himself taking the roles of drummer and vocalist.

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OBEY Convention X: Go East

May 10 2017 // Zakary Slax // Columns

Recently, I have spoken with individuals who, perhaps to my undeserved surprise, have never ventured to the Eastern edge—who have never set foot in Nova Scotia despite enticing tales of slackened lifestyles, dramatic landscapes, majestic sea creatures, and kindly leprechauns. This May, there is a more of a reason than ever to go the distance and explore the mysterious Maritimes firsthand—OBEY Convention X, one of the most forward thinking arts festivals in Canada, is celebrating its tenth year of being.

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Ode to "You Suffer" by Napalm Death

March 29 2017 // Chris Aitkens // Columns

Press play.

YOU SUFFER BUT WHY?

In just a blink of an eye, it’s over. You’d think with all the time I managed to save by listening to this single track, I would spend it on something much more constructive. But no, I want to hear it again.

YOU SUFFER BUT WHY?

Why? Good question. I wanted to see if the lyrics actually lined up with what Nik was actually yelling. Sounds more like “you-aghhh” to me.

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How Punk and Metal Crossed Over

March 13 2017 // Chris Aitkens // Columns

So you might be wondering why I’m participating in this year’s Metal March, even if I’m not listed under CJLO’s metal shows. Isn’t Sewer Spewer primarily a punk show? (Follow-up question: what the hell is a Sewer Spewer?) Well, if you ever bothered to listen to my radio show, you would realize that the lines between the punk and metal tunes I play on the air are quite blurred.

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Geektastiq

May 28 2015 // Brian 'Döc' Holidæ // Columns

Origins

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Comedian David Heti releases album that showcases his trickster spirit

May 8 2015 // Sarah Stupar // Columns

“It was ok” is a self-produced stand-up special, originally released independently by David Heti, and now available through Stand Up! Records. It is available as an audio recording and also with video; the special was filmed in front of a live audience at Grumpy’s here in Montreal, that fact alone makes me counsel you to buy it. It is also quite funny.

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Geektastiq

April 22 2015 // Brian 'Döc' Holidæ // Columns

Bobby Drake, AKA Iceman, is set to come out of the closet in an upcoming issue of X-Men. Although the character has dated many women in the past, it will soon be revealed that the character is gay.

Iceman wouldn't be the first Marvel leading man to come out; Northstar came out in the early '90s in Alpha Flight #106. At the time it wasn't an easy task and writer Scott Lobdell had to fight to get the line "I am gay" approved before the issue came out. Bobby's coming out is more pull than open reveal (see the leaked panels below), but in the end he accepts that the truth is out and is okay with it, even going so far as to make a joke.