There are a lot of pitfalls to singing live, and one of them is falling off the stage. Vic DeSousa laughs at the time he stepped into thin air.
“It was quite humorous. I was so involved in the song, I forgot where I was,” says the St. Albert Catholic high alumnus. As DeSousa tumbled he made a split-second decision to make it part of the act. “But I don’t think the audience bought it,” he laughs.
DeSousa Drive, now preparing the final touches of their second album Smile For the Wrecking Ball, opens for Keep 6 tonight at the Taphouse.
Reflecting their new polish, the album shakes with an edgier vibe. “We call it mature life experience rock. We write about life experiences that we have personally or people that we know have had.”
Some of the new stuff includes Dream Catcher, a tune about not giving up and staying true to the self. Fake or Real is a love song and Drowning touches on those overwhelmed by life. And they’ll also perform the first single, Day by Day, now a video on YouTube.
“We promise you won’t be disappointed. We have a top-notch show full of energy. We don’t just sing off a set list. We’re very interactive with the audience.”
Live music starts at 9 p.m. Cover is $7.
Internet bullying is a hot button topic these days. Incidents can be vicious, invisible and bullies can strike at any time.
Award-winning Morinville writer Marty Chan tackles this growing issue in the final instalment of his mystery series. The fourth book, The Mystery of the Cyber Bully, is released at Audrey’s Books on Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
“There’s a growing trend toward cyber-bullying. As I go to schools, I ask upper elementary students if they know of cyber-bullies or victims. About 25 per cent put up their hand,” Chan says.
He has come to believe a “culture of cruelty” is developing as we use more and more social media. Chan was even a target at one point. As a visiting writer to elementary schools he takes photos of the children.
He posted a grouping on Facebook and later found inappropriate comments written under them. The elementary school helped him track down the perpetrator. Through questioning, the school discovered the boy’s older brother had used his Facebook password to write the comments. The teenager was ordered to write a letter of apology.
Chan hopes his latest novel will empower young boys and girls. “It’s a great introduction to the humour. It’s all tongue-in-cheek. Beyond the serious issues, the characters are still fun and engaging.”
Every year Mark Ammar’s Open Stage dedicates one evening to the femme fatales of the blues scene. And this coming Tuesday, Ammar steps down as host and Mary Thomas, a haunting vocalist at the Beaumont Blues Fest takes over the hosting duties.
Also on board are Nadine Kellman (guitar), a sensitive writer with a funky blues rhythm and cheeky groove, Angela Mackenzie (drums) formerly of the Hootin’ Annies, Andie Wood, a classically trained guitarist and St. Albert’s own Brenda Williams (bass), of Sweet Hush, Borderline and Nite Crawler.
The jam at LB’s Pub starts at 9 p.m. No cover.
