Indie pop

Dan Mangan forges new frontiers with Blacksmith

The Juno-winning musician and songwriter rides a layered new album into Saturday’s Massey Hall show. Nick Krewen Music, Published on Wed Feb 25 2015 Dan Mangan is going deep. The 31-year-old eloquent, observant singer and songwriter has returned with a newly named band Blacksmith to introduce what’s arguably his finest album to date in Club Meds. The Smithers, B.C., native views the CD, his first since 2011’s Juno-winning Oh Fortune,…


Sinéad O’Connor gives audience what they want

Controversial Irish singer delivers a mostly solid set of old and new favourites to adoring Toronto fans.   Nick Krewen Music, Published on Sat Oct 25 2014 Sinéad O’ Connor at Massey Hall 3 stars Boy, have they missed her. The moment the diminutive Sinéad O’Connor stepped on the Massey Hall stage on Friday night, she was greeted with a standing ovation so thunderous, she literally couldn’t start the show…


John Southworth finds inspiration on both sides of Niagara

Southworth’s latest theme album is a double disc, with an “American” and “Canadian” side. He plays Toronto’s Music Gallery on Sunday. Nick Krewen Music, Published on Sat Oct 11 2014 For his latest album Niagara, technically constructed as a double album with a nine-song “Canadian” disc and an 11-song “American” disc, John Southworth has specific instructions as to how it should be heard. “It’s not meant to be listened to…


Ed Sheeran delivers an A+ show at the ACC

Ed Sheeran performs as if every show is his last, injecting his songs with an elevating jolt above what is heard in his recordings. Nick Krewen Music, Published on Fri Sep 19 2014 Ed Sheeran Air Canada Centre Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014 The singer and songwriter of “The A-Team” brought his A-Game to the Air Canada Centre on Thursday night. British ginger-haired dynamo Ed Sheeran is unlike any other contemporary…


‘Glad to be Gay’ still a potent anthem in modern era

‘Glad to be Gay’ still a potent anthem in modern era Tom Robinson will sing his famous 1970s song at Friday’s opening ceremony for WorldPride in Toronto. By: Nick Krewen Music, Published on Wed Jun 18 2014   If you want a definition of the word “surprise,” look no further than British singer and songwriter Tom Robinson, when his song “Glad to Be Gay” became an international anthem back in…