By Kerry Doole
Celebrating the life of Teenage Head’s Gord Lewis
More than 600 tickets were gobbled up during the first week of sales, without any advertising, just word of mouth and social media posts, Graham Rockingham writes. The tribute is on Nov. 5 and FirstOntario Place. –The Hamilton Spectator
Art Bergmann biography 'The Longest Suicide' chronicles a lifetime of punk rock conflict
Read excerpts from the authorized book by Jason Schneider. – Exclaim!
Calgary temporarily renames bus route “Crybaby” to honour pop stars Tegan and Sara
Calgary’s transit authority is temporarily renaming a city bus route in honour of indie pop stars Tegan and Sara and their upcoming television series. The identical twin sisters, who were born and raised in Calgary, returned to the city earlier this year to film “High School.” – CP
Inside Allison Russell’s emotional performance with Joni Mitchell and her year of flying anything but solo
The first single from Allison Russell’s breakthrough 2021 album Outside Child is about perseverance, grace and the power of new dawns. “Yeah, I’m a midnight rider,” she sings, “stone bona fide night flyer.” A metaphor, of course. Or is it? – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail
Her brother forbade her to touch this instrument. Now she’s playing with Jeff Beck in Toronto on Monday
Rhonda Smith has also played with Beyoncé, Erykah Badu and a long run with Prince. – Nick Krewen, Toronto Star
Neil Young announces 50th anniversary edition of Harvest
A special anniversary edition of his iconic ‘Harvest’ album is on the way and he has shared a live version of the album’s main song ‘Heart of Gold." – Noise11
‘Hamilton’ slated to return to Toronto stage this winter after Covid delays
The Broadway hit “Hamilton” is scheduled to return to the Toronto stage this winter — nearly three years after the Covid crisis cut its original run short. Mirvish Productions announced Wednesday that the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical will run Feb. 22 through May 14 at the Princess of Wales Theatre. – CP
Broken Social Scene's Brendan Canning on 20 years of You Forgot It in People
Even as their breakthrough record celebrates its 20th anniversary this weekend, the earnest sincerity of the Toronto-based supergroup still resonates in listeners. – Paste
Local country music band nab Canadian Country Music Association awards
Katie Rox, who grew up on a farm just outside Airdrie, said that when Nice Horse, the all-female country music band, of whom she is a part of, heard the news that they won multiple accolades at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards, all of the band members were floored. – Anna Ferensowicz, Discover Airdie
Two-faced Bublé rocks Leafs jersey day after telling them to "suck it"
Michael Bublé is many things: a kid who definitely really loved Christmas, a hopeless romantic, and the likely winner of dozens of talent shows throughout his lifetime. But he’s clearly not someone you can trust when it comes to anything he says about sports teams when on stage. – Adam Laskaris, Daily Hive
Cape Breton's folk-rock kings Villages return with new single, video
The acclaimed folk-rock band has long made feet stomp and heads bob with its unique, roots-based, yet rock 'n' roll-balanced sound—and the band's upcoming LP, which was recorded at Joel Plaskett's Fang Recording in Dartmouth over a tight eight-day window, promises more of both. – Morgan Mullin, The Coast
Jeremy Dutcher is breathing new life into old songs
On Saturday, Oct. 22 in FirstOntario Concert Hall, Dutcher will join the HPO for songs from ‘Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa,’ Leonard Turnevicius writes. – Hamilton Spectator
OLG Stage Niagara opening after a 40-month delay
A new $94.1 million theater is finally opening in Niagara, Ontario, after a 40-month delay due to the pandemic. The brand new OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino will host its first shows this month in Canada’s top tourist destination, which draws 13 million visitors annually according to Niagara Economic Development. – Karen Bliss, Venues Now
Canadian Music Week helps create Radiodays North America in June 2023
Considered one of the best industry conferences for radio and audio broadcasting in the world, Radiodays Europe will be bringing this event to North America in association with the Canadian Music Week conference held June 8th and 9th in Toronto at the Harbour Castle Westin Hotel. Newswire
Elon Musk isn't sure if Grimes actually exists
All of the effort Grimes is putting into looking otherworldly might be paying off. So much, in fact, that her ex Elon Musk has questioned whether or not she's just a "simulation" his mind created. – Sydney Brasil, Exclaim!
Dry Cleaning, Lil Yachty, Weyes Blood: Here are 6 songs you need to hear this week
This week’s Star Tracks playlist also includes new music from Toronto R&B crooner RealestK, Nigerian singer Johnny Drille and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. –Toronto Star
Grammy winner J’Nai Bridges and Montreal mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb reflect on stepping into one of opera’s most iconic roles
Bridges and Chaieb share the titular role in the Canadian Opera Company’s production of ‘Carmen,’ running until Nov. 4. – Joshua Chong, Toronto Star
International
MBW’s Key Songs In The Life Of… Julie Greenwald
We asked the Atlantic Music Group CEO & Chairman to choose up to seven tracks that have defined her life to date, and no more. She very nearly stuck to the limit. – MBW
Exploring the shady history of the mafia within the music industry
As with many business dealings over the last century, it may come as no surprise to learn that the mafia has had its hands in the music industry. Several dodgy characters, particularly in the Italian and Jewish mobs, have played a hand in the development of musical ventures. – Thomas Leatham, FarOut
BTS's free concert attracts 49M viewers online
Four months since announcing that the band would go on a hiatus, K-pop sensation BTS staged a free concert in Busan, South Korea, over the weekend, attracting more than 49 million viewers in-person and online. – Mandy Dalugdug, MBW
Can big data really predict what makes a song popular?
At Carleton University, a group of data science researchers sought to answer the question: “What descriptive features of a song make it popular on music/online platforms?” – The Conversation
Music generated by artificial intelligence is coming to the radio sooner than you think
Earlier this month, a company called HYBE spent US$32 million to acquire another South Korean company called Supertone. Its main asset is some software that it claims can create “a hyper-realistic and expressive voice that [is not] distinguishable from real humans.” – Alan Cross, Global News
Blur’s Graham Coxon says he’d be happy to get Oasis back together: “I’d have a chat with them”
He also gave an update on Blur's movements. – Damian Jones, NME
Michelle Phillips finally reveals the secret history of the Mamas and the Papas
She spent her youth redefining the sound of pop — and the next 50 years looking for something she could call her own. – Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone
Brandy thanks fans for ‘prayers and support’ after reported hospitalization in LA
Brandy is grateful for fans for their “prayers and support” after she was hospitalized in Los Angeles for a possible seizure. – Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times
Bob Dylan on the songs that captivate and define us
The title of Bob Dylan’s latest book, “The Philosophy of Modern Song,” is, in a sense, misleading. A collection of brief essays on 65 songs (and one poem), it is less a rigorous study of craft than a series of rhapsodic observations on what gives great songs their power to fascinate us. – Pete Townshend The New York Times
Tina Turner gets the Barbie treatment in honor of a hit song's 40th anniversary
Another rock star gets the Barbie treatment with a new Tina Turner doll from Mattel. The Tina Turner Barbie Doll, part of the toy company’s Music Series, features the Grammy-winning and chart-topping singer in the outfit she wore in the iconic music video for “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” pegged to the song’s 40th anniversary. – Anna Tingley, Variety
On ‘ForeverAndEverNoMore,’ Brian Eno sings for the end of the world
The musician and producer’s new songs meditate on folly and annihilation, playing like a far more fatalistic sequel to “Another Day on Earth” from 2005. – New York Times
Dolly Parton donation strategy: ‘I just give from my heart’
Dolly Parton laughs at the idea that she is some sort of secret philanthropist. “I don’t do it for attention,” she told the Associated Press in an interview, shortly before she received the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy at Gotham Hall in New York City Thursday night. – Glenn Gamboathe, AP
Billy Idol review – old-school rock’n’roller transcends nostalgic fun
The swaggering, 66-year-old punk-rocker’s candid new material is just as warmly received as the inevitable hits that made him a global superstar. – The Guardian
Man plays his saxophone through 9-hour, "very, very complex" brain surgery to remove tumor
A musician had a brain tumor removed in Italy last week in a nine-hour surgery that he spent not only awake and fully conscious, but playing his saxophone. The 35-year-old male patient had the procedure at Rome's Paideia International Hospital on Monday and was discharged three days later.– Anna Matranga, CBS News
Legendary Talking Heads and Ramones manager Gary Kurfirst gets Rock Hall push
Kurfirst's son, a partner at WME, says his dad should be considered for industry induction in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. – Dave Brooks, Billboard
Jerry Lee Lewis, Keith Whitley join the Country Hall of Fame
Two artists who started their careers outside of country music were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame as early rock pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis and bluegrass performer-turned-country star Keith Whitley joined the ranks. – Kristin Hall, AP
