By Jason Menard
This is likely the only time I’ll write about country music. While there are a few songs I enjoy, it’s not my genre of choice. Yet, I’ll fully admit to being excited about today’s announcement that the 2016 Canadian Country Music Association Awards and Country Music Week will be hosted by the Forest City.
I’m excited by both the short and long-term benefits of the event. And that excitement is based on precedent.
And I’m looking at Cher. Continue reading
By Jason Menard
What’s in a name? When it comes to fans and their sports arenas, quite a bit. But unless fans are willing to dig a little deeper into their own pockets, perhaps they should take solace that the marquee outside has little impact on the product inside.
And that’s something that the citizens of London, Ontario need to keep in mind, with our curious case of preferring one brand over another. Continue reading
By Juliana and Jason Menard,
London, Ontario may be right in the heart of Bieber country, but for one night the fairer half of the Jelena pairing owned the night — and the hearts of thousands of delighted girls — as Selena Gomez took to the stage at the John Labatt Centre for the We Own the Night Tour on Oct. 24, 2011.
In a departure from the normal #jlcreviewer format, tonight marks the inaugural #jlcjrreviewer experience — courtesy of this he-said/she-said review of the Selena Gomez & The Scene concert by myself and my Selena-loving daughter Juliana. Continue reading
By Jason Menard
There is a major challenge for anyone considering putting together a show based on the work of Michael Jackson — and that is not to be overwhelmed by the subject matter itself. That could have been the problem with the Cirque de Soleil presentation entitled Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour.
The solution? Simply do what you do best — and for Cirque de Soleil that’s paint a tapestry of images, movement, and physicality that combines the best of athleticism and art. Continue reading
By Jason Menard
While London, Ontario has received a black eye thanks to a thrown banana, it’s important to not let the negative obscure the positive that this city – and its hockey fans – have to offer.
Nothing’s ever perfect and beyond the moronic actions of one banana-throwing idiot, there are certain negative things that London is known for. The market is somewhat fair weather, failing to sell out the John Labatt Centre unless the team is amongst the upper echelon. There’s always at least one moron who disrespects the national anthem to shout “Go Knights Go!” before the song is finished. Games are filled with, uhm, “plentiful and opportunistic” advertising. And let’s not even talk about the music – I’m all in favour of a permanent ban of “Cotton-Eyed Joe” in any arena. Continue reading
The M-Dash by Jason Menard 