Magazine

Independent, provocative, now! The CJLO Magazine is the resource for features, reviews, and interviews. Established in 2004, and run by dedicated CJLO volunteers, the magazine covers the latest and best in local and international music, art, theatre, film, festivals, and more!


Fringe 2019: Ink at La Chapelle

Ink was a visual metaphor for the cyclical self-destructive relationship between an artist and their craft. It was a brilliant depiction of how one invests themselves in their work and how the result of doing so can cost so much. It was also a beautiful story of one man overcoming debatably self-imposed adversity, and learning how to create without suffering.

Fringe 2019: The Man Behind The Curtain

Productions Presents’ The Man Behind the Curtain is an innovative magic show not for the faint of heart. Performers Erin the Magician, Erik Leisinger and director Sam Jameson’s immersive magic show will leave you questioning reality. Performed in front of ten audience members in the confines of Sam’s apartment, this meta, genre-hopping theatre piece will haunt you to your core.


The Peers : Montreal Improv

It has been a long time since I have laughed so hard. 

There are 2 major elements that I really enjoyed about The Peers: their very real depiction of theatrical catastrophe, and their ridiculous take on Shakespeare. The premise of this show is that a theatre company has severely overbooked themselves, and they now have to perform multiple Shakespeare plays in one evening. Against undeniably self-inflicted odds, they accomplish this admirably. 


David Picco exposes his Heartland Country soul in “Out Of The Past”

Singer-songwriter David Picco is back with a fifth studio album, Out Of The Past. It features ten new songs that run through a roots rock stream but with a heartland country soul.


Festival Chromatic célèbre 10 ans d'art et de musique

Le festival Chromatic d’art et de musique célébrait son dixième anniversaire en grand cette année, avec une plus vaste programmation et un parcours d’exposition atypique.

En entrant dans l’ancienne usine de confiture au cœur du Village gai, à la soirée d’ouverture le 11 mai, on comprenait rapidement d’où venait l’engouement pour cette semaine d’expositions, de conférences, de films et de musique électronique. Le bouquet d’artistes et de DJs invités était à l’image du public, jeune et dynamique.


Fringe 2019: CJLO's Top Picks

The CJLO Magazine crew will be hitting up all sorts Fringe Fest performances over the next two weeks. To get you ready for this year’s edition, here are some top picks from our contributors Erica, Chris, and Fiona!


Musical Musings: Gloom Influx & Perturbator, May 13, 2019

 

The day had barely ended, but the sky was as dark as pitch. Light rain fell over a city awash in gunmetal greys and damp taupes. I leaned against the wall, half-finished drink in hand, and waited for my friends. Garish neon lights of blue and green flashed out from the Société des arts technologiques and lit up the raindrops in freefall. Heady baselines thumped through the wall, and I took the repeated slaps on the back until I spotted my entourage. We traded in our tickets at the door, held out our wrists for branding, and set foot inside the S.A.T for a Monday night show.


Smino Brings his Hoopti Tour to L’Astral

On May 14, 2019 Smino brought his Hoopti tour to Montreal, performing to a full house a L’Astral. This was one of the last stops of the 30-date trek, but you couldn’t tell from the amount of energy Smino and his band brought with them.


Blaze Bayley at Piranha Bar, May 12 2019

 

From the 94-99 era of Iron Maiden

Blaze Bayley was truly an interesting headliner, hailing from the United Kingdom, Blaze brought some flare to Montreal as he stepped on to the stage. 

Showcasing the Infinite Entanglement Series, along with a few classics from his back catalogue, Blaze sure knows how to please a crowd and get them energetic and moving. Singing along to shreddy guitar melodies and solos, it was almost, but not quite, an Iron Maiden concert in a small bar. I will always remember the fact that Blaze Bayley almost spat on me as he gave a aggressive stare, shouting aggressively i'm Blaze f*king Bayley! 


Amazing Grace: The Spiritual Musical

Letterboxd Review “Sends You on a Spiritual Musical High” 

    Amazing Grace is a gospel hymn that is as iconic as the American national anthem. It is also the title of a live album that Aretha Franklin recorded in Los Angeles, January of 1972. As well as being the best selling album for Franklin, it is the highest selling gospel album of all time. Originally Warner Brothers created a documentary film, directed by Sydney Pollack. It was Constructed as footage of the recording album set to be released in 1972, but it was later shelved. This lost footage is now finished in this documentary from director Alan Elliot and Editor Jeff Buchanan. Pollack is credited as a director for this documentary. 


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