Artist Spotlight

Donald Fagen and friends cruise into new band

By: Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Fri Aug 10 2012 Ready for some retro soul, man? When the Dukes of September Rhythm Revue convenes at Molson Amphitheatre this Sunday led by the stellar trio of Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen, ex-Doobie Brother Michael McDonald and “Lido Shuffle” hitmaker Boz Scaggs, they’ll be mixing it up for the masses. While it’s not too much of a stretch to assume…


Drake’s OVO Fest brings Nicki Minaj and Snoop to town

Entertainment / Music Toronto’s Aubrey “Drake” Graham gets hometown hero’s welcome at Molson Amphitheatre Nick Krewen Special to the Star Published on Mon Aug 06 2012 The one question on everyone’s minds as the lights went down for rapper Drake’s main set of his third annual OVO Fest was how was he going to top himself this time? For the first hometown celebration of October’s Very Own, christened for the…


Havoc over, Alanis Morissette sees the bright lights

Havoc over, Alanis Morissette sees the bright lights Motherhood and romantic stability put a happy spin on Alanis Morissette’s new album, Havoc and Bright Lights. Alanis Morissette reflects on a tarnished brass ring: “I saw that fame could support me as a tool to support my agenda, my agenda of uplifting, and comforting, and titillating — just engaging in conversations that I’m so passionate about. . . . I need…


Blue Skies Ahead for Skylar Grey

NEWS GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter discusses transforming her career and her new album, Don’t Look Down NICK KREWEN GRAMMYS MAY 15, 2017 GRAMMY.com If at first you don’t succeed, try a pseudonym. That’s what Wisconsin native Holly Brook Hafermann did in 2010 when she emerged as Skylar Grey and garnered two GRAMMY nominations, including Song Of The Year for co-writing Eminem and Rihanna‘s 2010 smash “Love The Way You Lie.” She subsequently…


Aerosmith brings its history to life in Toronto

Well into their sixties, veteran rockers deliver the goods – with fewer gymnastics. Nick Krewen Special to the Star Published Thu, Jun 28 2012 The last time they were at the Air Canada Centre — August 17, 2010 to be exact — Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry knocked singer Steven Tyler offstage and into the crowd to retaliate for Tyler accidentally hitting him in the head with his microphone a few…