Despite sitting last in the National Hockey League with only 25 wins, Elk Point product and Columbus Blue Jackets forward Mark Letestu can see some light at the end of the tunnel.
Playing in the central division among heavyweights St. Louis, Detroit, Nashville and Chicago, the Jackets struggled throughout the year, but have managed a few wins here and there, like last week against the Red Wings. Read the full story at the St. Paul Journal.
The Minnesota Wild have gone from first place in the Western Conference to eighth, yet the team still remains optimistic it will make the playoffs this season, according to forward and St. Paul product Kyle Brodziak. Read the full story at The St. Paul Journal.
Singer/songwriter Samantha Savage Smith discusses the breakout year she had in 2011 after touring and releasing her debut LP ‘Tough Cookie’ (Arts & Crafts) while never losing sight of her hometown.
Untouched Sounds is a Toronto-based web series documenting new and exciting music acts.
I didn’t think twice when I was asked to cover the Edmonton Folk Festival earlier this month. Although this wasn’t my first time in Edmonton – I had spent a summer there a year ago working – it was my first experience with the festival itself and I would certainly return given the chance. For a four-day event run entirely by volunteers and drawing nearly 2,500 people, I was amazed at how smoothly everything went as well as the kindness of the people there. It was one of the most enjoyable music festivals I’ve ever attended.
Thanks to Kendra Hart for shooting and editing, Jordan Delic for producing and Jocelynn Rennie for her coordinating expertise and being a great impromptu sound person.
Scottish band Glasvegas has just put out a new album called Euphoric Heartbreak and I interviewed them when they stopped in Toronto during their North American tour in support of it. Guitarist Rab Allen is by far the tallest Scottish person I’ve met and along with bassist Paul Donoghue, the band was a pleasure to chat with.
Thanks to Rick Thompson for shooting and Tristan Moran for editing the final piece.
Arctic Monkeys have been a bit creative with the songs they take the stage to so when I interviewed them for AUX Weekly, I requested a top five list of their all-time favorite tracks to walk-out to. The songs they named off were a bit surprising, but hilarious. Just think of waiting for the Monkeys to come out and hearing “Bump N’ Grind”. View the full list on AUX.
This was my second time interviewing Magneta Lane (the last time was about a year ago while I was still an intern at AUX) in which they revealed details of an new EP of songs they recorded in Spanish. They also told me details regarding their forthcoming album they are currently working on with some members of Finger Eleven. Read the full piece on Spinner.
To learn more about the band or for the latest updates, visit their official website. You can also follow them on Twitter.
I interviewed Israeli singer-songwriter Yael Naim while she was here in Toronto a little while ago promoting her latest album She Was a Boy. She spoke to me about her beginnings in music and growing up in Israel where she felt a little closed off from the world. Naim also commented on the Macbook Air commercial from a few years ago that essentially kick-started her career. Read the full piece on Spinner.
UK band Foals’ latest album, their second, is called Total Life Forever and was released in May of 2010. In this interview members Yannis Philippakis and Edwin Congreave talk about the making of Total Life Forever and how they’ll be heading into the studio after their current tour to start work on a new record.
I did a print piece not long ago about Black Lips detailing how to use a human skull as a reverberation chamber. This video is from the same interview and is equally entertaining. Be sure to check out the band’s upcoming album Arabia Mountain when it comes out on June 7 via Vice.
Thanks to Rick Thompson for shooting and Michelle Lottamoza for editing this piece.
Keep your eyes wide 