Christopher Ward’s Revealing Novel Strikes A Familiar Chord

April 15, 2014 Keith Sharp

Christopher Ward has worn many hats during an eventful career in the music industry. He’s been a recording artist, a late-night TV host, improv comedian, one of Canada’s first Much Music Veejays, a successful songwriter, radio host, and a TV talent judge. Now you can add author to his credits with the January release of Dead Brilliant, published by Dundurn... Read More

Do Make Say Think duo scores with new dramatic comedy Algonquin

April 11, 2014 Music Express

Given that he and creative partner Ohad Benchetrit composed the soundtrack for Algonquin, a new dramatic comedy film set partly in the titular Ontario park, I feel obliged to ask Justin Small if he has ever visited Algonquin. He has. Some 30 years ago with his family, although his memories are understandably hazy. “At one point they took us out... Read More

COREY HART – Ten Thousand Horses

April 9, 2014April 9, 2014 Keith Sharp

(Warner Music/Siena Records) How ironic is it that Montrealer Corey Hart should release one of the best records he has ever recorded as his farewell offering to the music industry. But that’s exactly what he’s done with the April 8th release of “Ten Thousand Horses”, his first offering in over 16 years. A record that culminates Hart’s performing career that... Read More

BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE – Not Fragile (40th Anniversary Edition)

April 7, 2014April 9, 2014 Keith Sharp

(Universal Records) How fitting that BTO should re-release a deluxe version of their 1975 ground-breaking “Not Fragile” release just weeks before being inducted into Canada’s Music Hall Of Fame, March 30th at the Juno Awards in Winnipeg. Finally, a silly internal spat between Randy Bachman, Fred Turner, Robbie Bachman and Blair Thornton has been resolved that now allows the feuding... Read More

THE COOPER BROTHERS 40TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT – Friday, March 21, 2014

April 2, 2014April 2, 2014 Music Express

~ CENTREPOINTE THEATRE The Cooper Brothers, along with a little help from their vast array of musician friends, gave a monumental performance in front of a sold out crowd at Ottawa’s Centrepointe Theatre. It was a celebration of their music, that has stood the test of time, since their first release, “Finally”, in 1974 under the Polydor label. “Ottawa was... Read More

COREY HART DELIVERS ¨TEN THOUSAND HORSES¨ AS A PARTING GIFT TO FANS

April 1, 2014 Music Express

Tuesday, April 1, 2014 – For immediate release Canadian superstar to close out performing career with new album, sold-out arena show and self-penned memoires. It seemed that Canadian superstar Corey Hart had come out of nowhere. In 1983, no one knew his name. In 1984 no one could escape it. His self-penned hit “Sunglasses At Night” was a monster smash... Read More

HEADSTONES & RUSH BIG WINNERS OF 2014 MUSIC EXPRESS AWARDS

March 28, 2014 Keith Sharp

More than 10,000 Music Express readers have cast their on-line ballot for the Long & McQuade 2014 Music Express Awards with Rush and The Headstones leading the way with three awards each. Rush, who claimed three ME awards in 2013, repeated again this year, winning Top Group, Top Live Performance (Arena) and Top Compilation Release for their Clockwork Angels-Live Rock... Read More

Sam Roberts’ Three-Year Perpetual Cycle

March 24, 2014March 24, 2014 Keith Sharp

Sam Roberts calls it his `three-year cycle. The time it takes for him to write, record, release and tour a specific record before he has to do it all over again. This, according to Roberts, is also why he always seems to be on a perpetual comeback. “It seems my plan to release one or two albums a year has... Read More

Just right for the blues – Doucette

March 20, 2014March 20, 2014 Music Express

Deerfoot Casino, Calgary | February 22, 2013 When Jerry Doucette first came to radio’s attention in the 70s, his signature song “Mama Let Him Play” included the line “He’s too young for the blues, he’s still inside his first pair of shoes.” A statement of simple rock and roll fact wrapped in a tidy metaphor: youth is for reckless abandon... Read More

Five Man Electrical Band: A Sign Of The Times

March 12, 2014March 13, 2014 Keith Sharp

There are some songs that survive due to great lyrics and there are other songs that transcend even great lyrics to take on a meaning that continues to evolve with time. Five Man Electrical Band’s Signs is one such song. Written by lead vocalist Les Emmerson who noticed a plethora of signs during a band trip along the now legendary... Read More

From Deadly Snakes to The Husband

March 11, 2014April 10, 2014 Music Express

MAXWELL MCCABE-LOKOS USED TO RAGE ON STAGE WITH BLUES PUNKS THE DEADLY SNAKES. NOW HE EXPLORES MALE RAGE IN BRUCE MCDONALD’S NEW FILM THE HUSBAND. Maxwell McCabe-Lokos is willing to play the game. Finally. Speaking the day before his 36th birthday in the lounge of A71 Entertainment, the Toronto distribution company behind his new film The Husband, the former member... Read More

FROM STAGE TO SCREENS

March 11, 2014March 13, 2014 Music Express

Lots of musicians have dabbled in acting (think Beyoncé, Prince or David Bowie), but only a few have gone from rocking out to acting out full-time. MARK WAHLBERG Mark Wahlberg gave us good vibrations as frontman for early ‘90s rap-soul outfit Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. Their debut album Music for the People (1991) included the American number one... Read More

Shari Ulrich: Always Up For A Challenge!

March 7, 2014March 13, 2014 Keith Sharp

When your child asks you for help on his/her homework assignment, it usually involves solving a math problem or dealing with some English grammatical puzzle. Yet in the case of Shari Ulrich’s daughter, Julia Graff the assignment in question was a little trickier. As a project for her Masters in Music in Sound Recording in 2013 at Montreal’s McGill University,... Read More

New Faces: BETTY MOON

March 3, 2014March 3, 2014 Keith Sharp

The Dark Side Of Betty Moon – Not Really!! Five years ago, promising rock musician, Betty Moon decided that if she wanted to succeed in the entertainment industry, she needed to go to where that scene was happening rather than to wait for that scene to find her – so she dropped everything and moved from her native Toronto to... Read More

Tom Cochrane to be inducted to the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame

February 28, 2014March 12, 2014 Music Express

Canadian Music Week has announced Tom Cochrane as a 2014 inductee to the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame. Cochrane is an award winning singer, songwriter, producer, activist and Canadian icon, and will be honoured amongst his peers at the Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry Awards gala, taking place on Thursday, May 8, 2014 at the Kool Haus in Toronto.... Read More

Down With Webster: Playing By Their Own Rules

February 25, 2014February 25, 2014 Keith Sharp

Uncompromising, that’s the word that best describes the rise to fame of Toronto band Down With Webster. If any young band wants to follow a template on how to successfully break through into the music business, they could do worse than follow the route carved by these six musicians who have maintained their independence in establishing a career which has... Read More

THE SAM ROBERTS BAND – Lo Fantasy

February 23, 2014February 23, 2014 Keith Sharp

(Universal) To suggest Lo Fantasy is a comeback record of sorts maybe a little unfair to Montreal Sam Roberts but he’s certainly been flying low under the radar for the past few years. Having now recorded his fifth release in 11 years, Roberts has always taken his time over projects, usually spacing his work out over two or three years.... Read More

3-2-1…Brett Kissel Blasts Off

February 16, 2014 Roman Mitz

Brett Kissel is on a roll. The 22-year-old country singer from Flat Lake Alberta was recently signed to a major record label deal and he has already scored two Top 10 hits with Started With A Song and Raise Your Glass. He also just won two Alberta Country Music Association Awards for Rising Star and single of the year (Started... Read More

Marianas Trench’s Matt Webb: Taking A Bus Man’s Holiday

February 13, 2014February 13, 2014 Keith Sharp

Marianas Trench lead guitarist, Matt Webb can hear the howls of protest already. As he prepares to promote the release of his second, Ep, “Right Direction” with a mini tour kicking off in Hamlton March 5th, he knows that cynics will be anticipating a band split just as Marianas Trench come off their most successful year to date, having been... Read More

Down With Webster – LIVE in Calgary

February 11, 2014February 11, 2014 Music Express

Calgary, AB. Feb 1, 2014 MacEwan Conference & Event Centre 123…Jump! Dynamic energy Down with Webster jolts to the stage pending an apprehensive audience. A crowd waiting for something to happen. And “happen” it did! Not to disappoint Martin “Bucky” Seja opens with One in a Million, arms rise instantly in unison. It’s on! The throngs of young girls squishing... Read More

Year: 2014