Music Biz Headlines, July 22, 2019
Toronto rapper Puffy L’z is making moves, Bieber calls out Trump, and the horror obsession of Kirk Hammett. Others in the headlines include Lido Pimienta, Randy and Burton, Sam Roberts, J Mascis, Dolly Parton, David Crosby, Live Nation, Beyoncé, Burt Bacharach, Nipsey Hussle, and Earth, Wind & Fire.
By Kerry Doole
Exclusive: Toronto rapper Puffy L'z talks new music, working with Drake and more
Puffy L’z, a young Somali kid from the Regent Park neighbourhood of Toronto, is one of the good ones. He’s an artist full of potential, a great personality and a non-threatening playful sense of humour. – Respect
Justin Bieber asks Donald Trump to "let those kids out of cages"
In a tweet, Bieber alludes to the ongoing controversy surrounding the conditions of U.S. migrant detention centres. – Daniel Sucar, Montreal Gazette
It’s Alive! Metallica’s Kirk Hammett shares his horror obsession at the Royal Ontario Museum
Horror film memorabilia belonging to Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett will be featured at a new exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum through January of 2020. – Brad Wheeler, Globe
‘Be sure of yourself and love yourself’: Lido Pimienta on navigating the music industry
Lido Pimienta gave a talk at the Whitehorse Public Library last week, advising Yukon musicians on how to get by as a musician in Canada. – Joshua Azizi, Yukon News
Vancouver Folk Music Fest 2019: Sam Roberts aims to hold up a mirror to his times
“Lyrically speaking, the world is all over the map right now, and it’s hard not to want to talk about it. It’s hard not to want to… if not offer an opinion, at least hold up a mirror to the times that we’re living in,” Roberts says. – Alex Varty, Georgia Straight
Warm memories, hit singles: Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings reunite for charity show
The on-again, off-again musical partnership reached a high note at Music Under the City Stars, a fundraiser in support of Canada’s Walk of Fame at Toronto’s landmark Casa Loma, where the duo reminisced about the good times.. – David Friend, CP
'Further than I ever dreamed': Dirty & the Perks preps for Ness Creek debut
Dirty & the Perks has risen quickly from playing open mic nights to one of the biggest music festivals in their beloved home province. – Matt Olson, Star-Phoenix
J Mascis played a surprise set with Matthew "Doc" Dunn at Grasshopper Records
The Dinosaur Jr. guitar hero joined the local singer/songwriter for a full set of psych-jams for a crowd of 40 crammed into the Dundas West record store. – Jesse Locke, NOW
Dolly Parton's house
Heist’s annual Pride tribute goes big-haired with a salute to Dolly Parton. – Morgan Mullin, The Coast
David Crosby says Woodstock 50 is "dead" and "not happening"
Despite having no venue or any tickets on sale, organizers behind the beleaguered Woodstock 50 festival still have yet to call the whole thing off around a month before it's scheduled to begin. Now, Crosby is outright claiming that the event is "not happening." – Exclaim!
Music Notes: Reel Big Fish in a little pond
Music might slow down in the summer, but it never stops. Matt Olson recommends a few concerts happening in Saskatoon. – Star-Phoenix
3 Generations of Jazz make century-old music cool again with a familial twist
The family band is making waves in the Vancouver scene for playing traditional jazz music. Tom Arntzen represents the middle generation, but he says that whole family’s love of all things arts stems directly from his parents, especially his father, Lloyd, who still plays in the band at age 91. – Ben Boddez,Georgia Straight
international
How Live Nation helped Metallica and other artists place tickets directly on the resale market
A secretly recorded phone call sheds light on the process, sparking outrage. – Dave Brooks, Hannah Karp, Billboard
Film Review: ‘David Crosby: Remember My Name’
In a stirring rock-nostalgia documentary, David Crosby appears as the aging poster boy for '60s excess, and for the spirit it took to survive it. – Owen Glieberman, Variety
Beyoncé: The Lion King: The Gift review – superstar shows impeccable taste
Her solo numbers are of varying quality, but Beyoncé gives a valuable platform to African artists in this collaborative Disney spinoff. –Alexis Petridis, Guardian
‘Sharpening the knives’: Musicians join the protests in Puerto Rico
Among the tens of thousands who flocked to the streets of Puerto Rico this week to call for the resignation of the island’s governor, Ricardo A. Rosselló, there was a new kind of activist: well-known musicians ready to use the clout of their enormous social media followings to energize the brewing discontent. – Frances Robles, NY Times
Earth, Wind & Fire becomes first R&B Group to receive Kennedy Center honors
They're only the fourth music group overall to be honored, following three rock groups: The Who(2008), Led Zeppelin (2012) and Eagles (2016). The award generally goes to individuals. – Paul Grein, Billboard
Austin implements ‘digital tip jar’ for local musicians
The city of Austin has launched a new program to help local musicians earn money using digital tip jars. The program is called “tip the band” and it’ll allow fans to give artists money, using a debit or credit card through a special device from DipJar. – Matthew Prendergast, KXAN
Burt Bacharach review – magic moments from master of lounge
His political fire may be dampened by syrupy backings, but Bacharach’s musical chemistry with guest vocalist Joss Stone is considerable. – Mark Beaumont, Guardian
Patrice Rushen found success in jazz and dance music. She hasn’t been forgotten.
She was already an accomplished jazz bandleader when she began releasing pop albums for Elektra in 1978. A new best-of compilation looks back at her major-label career. – Giovanni Russonello, NYTimes
Pitchfork Music Fest 2019: 14 things we loved from a sweaty day
The heat and the music were rising as the Pitchfork Music Festival kicked off its 14th year Friday in Union Park. Here are some highs, lows and oddities from Day 1 of the three-day festival. –Staff, Chicago Tribune.com
Donald Trump has suggested that he is willing to pay A$AP Rocky’s bail
The US rapper is in custody in Sweden as police investigate his alleged involvement in a street fight. – The Independent
Across L.A., murals are a testament to Nipsey Hussle’s legacy
Months after his death in March, Nipsey Hussle’s influence pulses through the city — in alleys, on the fronts and sides of buildings, along busy highways and streets, on billboards and basketball courts, in galleries and breweries. – Dorany Pineda, LA Timesrany Pineda, LA Times
Musicologist backs up copyright infringement claim against Katy Perry on Day Two of 'Dark Horse' trial
Expert witness Todd Decker alleges “five or six points of similarity" between Perry's 2013 hit and the 2008 Christian rap song "Joyful Noise." – Chris Eggertsen, Billboard
Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, Amanda Shires, and Natalie Hemby form band, announce new album
The four noted songwriters have formed a new supergroup: The Highwomen. Their self-titled debut album is out September 6 via Low Country Sound/Elektra. – Pitchfork
Spice Girls Las Vegas residency could net £10 million each
The famed girl group - which includes Mel B, Mel C, Emma Bunton and Geri Horner - recently enjoyed a successful reunion tour across the UK, and they're now being lined up for a six-week show in Sin City. – Music News
