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This article was published 03/10/2019 (2360 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Watchmen

This weekend marks a homecoming for Winnipeg rockers the Watchmen, who will swing by the Club Regent Event Centre on Saturday, Oct. 5.

Since reuniting officially in 2008, the classic lineup of Daniel Greaves (vocals), Ken Tizzard (bass), Joey Serlin (guitar) and Sammy Kohn (drums) has sold out shows across the country. In 2017, the band released its first live album, Live and in Stereo, which was recorded during a performance at the Burton Cummings Theatre in 2016 — the first record in the Watchmen catalogue to be released on Serlin’s own record label, Fifth Kid Records.

The Watchmen made the news this summer when a New York Times investigation into the 2008 fire at a Universal Studios Hollywood backlot revealed thousands of original master recordings in the Universal Music Group archives were destroyed — such as, possibly, those of the Watchmen, who released their first three albums, including their platinum-selling 1994 album In the Trees, via MCA Records (now Universal). Hundreds of musicians were kept in the dark, many hearing about the devastating losses for the first time from the Times story.

In July, Greaves told The Canadian Press he was shocked when the Watchmen showed up on the list of artists affected, and has no idea what would have been in the U.S. archives. “It’s pretty nefarious,” he said, “but at the same time, do any of us expect anything different from the record companies?”

Veteran Toronto roots-rock act Skydiggers are also on Saturday night’s bill, touring in support of their hot-off-the-presses new album, Let’s Get Friendship Right, which is out on Friday, Oct. 4.

Doors open at 7 p.m., the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets range in price from $50 to $64 (including fees and taxes) at Ticketmaster.

— Jen Zoratti

Artist returns home for architectural photography show

It’s been almost exactly one year since former Winnipeg jurist-turned-gallerist-turned-artist Leala Hewak dropped in for a little show and tell.

The Winnipeg-born former lawyer, Cream Gallery founder and newly minted photographer, who moved to Toronto several years ago, had a show called Richly Appointed at Library Gallery in the Exchange District last fall that featured nine massive prints focusing on the buildings of Canadian mid-century-modern architect Peter Dickinson.

Artist Cliff Eyland wrote of her show, “These pictures defy normal architectural photography, which is mostly promotional, for images that subvert the modernist idealism in the work and the documentation of (modern) architects.”

Architecture remains the theme of her latest work, which will be launched on Friday, Oct. 4, at the Winnipeg Architectural Foundation at 266 McDermot Ave. at 7 p.m.

Dark Days is a book and photo exhibit by Hewak and city artist William Eakin that “approaches Winnipeg’s 20th-century urban landscape from a 21st-century perspective.”

For something in a lighter vein, check out hubby Don Hewak’s fourth series of hand-drawn trading cards, called Ex-Winnipeggers, which go on sale Friday at the Winnipeg Art Gallery gift shop, and feature such local icons as Monty Hall, Randy Bachman, Terry Sawchuk, Neil Young and many others.

— Shane Minkin

Climate First Tour featuring David Suzuki and Stephen Lewis

From the Sept. 27 global climate strike to the forthcoming federal election on Monday, Oct. 21, the state of our planet and the role humans play on Earth’s well-being has never been more front of mind with Canadians.

So a doubleheader tour featuring two of Canada’s most outspoken activists, authors and speakers is a timely event in our ever-changing world.

Since mid-September, David Suzuki and Stephen Lewis have been travelling across Canada as part of the Climate First Tour, a five-city, coast-to-coast excursion that has seen the pair engaging with each other and their audiences about the most pressing issues surrounding climate change.

Suzuki and Lewis wrap up their Climate First Tour in Winnipeg on Friday, Oct. 4., at the Dr. David F. Anderson Gymnasium in the University of Winnipeg’s Duckworth Centre at 7 p.m. The pair have been inviting special guests to join them in their climate-change chats throughout the tour; for the Winnipeg stop they’ll be joined by New Brunswick Mi’kmaq lawyer, political commentator and author Pam Palmater.

Tickets for the Climate First Tour are $20 for the general public or $10 for students (with student ID); a limited number of meet-and-greet tickets are available for $100. For more information and for tickets, visit wfp.to/climatetour or climatefirst.ca.

— Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson

Thrush Hermit

College rock fans of the ‘90s fondly recall Clayton Park, the loose, classic rock-influenced 1999 sophomore album by Thrush Hermit. The record, released by Hamilton label Sonic Unyon, propelled the Halifax group past their reputation as goofy Sloan proteges and dominated the campus-radio charts for the whole year.

Sadly, the band would break up before ushering in the 2000s, leaving behind a testament to their talents that would presage the rise of such bands as the Strokes. (The album was nominated for alternative album of the year at the 2000 Junos, but lost to Julie Doiron and the Wooden Stars.) Singer-guitarist Joel Plaskett, bassist-vocalist Ian McGettigan and guitarist-vocalist Rob Benvie remained active in the music scene — with Plaskett in particular finding success as a solo act — but fans of the scrappy, melodic jams of Thrush Hermit had to content themselves with the band’s limited output.

Now, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Clayton Park’s release, original members Benvie, Cliff Gibb (drums), McGettigan and Plaskett have reunited for a limited run of shows, including one at the Garrick on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. Expect Thrush Hermit to play such fan faves as The Day We Hit the Coast and (Oh Man!) What To Do? (which became a surprise radio hit in Australia in 2007). No word on whether Benvie still breathes fire onstage or if the band still indulges in all-Steve Miller cover sets, but it’s sure to be a good time. Tickets are $30 at eventbrite.ca.

— Jill Wilson

Rockin’ Richard’s Record and CD Sale

Rockin’ Richards Record and Sale has been a haven for music lovers and record collectors for 19 years, and this fall’s event, Sunday, Oct. 6, at the Victoria Inn, has added a fundraising aspect.

Ever since its inception, record vendor Brian Parkinson has manned one of the 90 tables set up at the sale. This summer, though, Parkinson died of cancer, and his table will instead be taking donations for CancerCare Manitoba in his memory, sale organizer Alex Reid says. There will be a raffle, with proceeds also going toward CancerCare, for a gift package of albums and T-shirts from Streetheart, who will hold a meet and greet at the show, which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

As usual, the other 89 tables will be chock full of records from all over the world, including Elton John, whose albums should be in high demand after his two concerts at Bell MTS Place earlier during the weekend.

— Alan Small