Award Winners

Mötley Crüe shout at the devil one last time

The band’s All Bad Things Must End tour gave Toronto fans quite the send-off last night. Opener Alice Cooper gave a masterful performance, too. Nick Krewen Music, Published on Mon Aug 11 2014 Mötley Crüe/Alice Cooper Molson Canadian Amphitheatre Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014 3 stars If the All Bad Things Must End tour is truly the final hurrah for Hollywood heavy-metal mavens Mötley Crüe, then that was quite the send-off…


John Legend’s effortless concert also effort-free: review

Nick Krewen Music, Published on Sat Aug 09 2014 John Legend 2.5 stars At the Molson Amphitheatre, Aug. 8 John Legend is a man is without a care in the world, it seems. And why shouldn’t he be? Life is good for the Ohio born-and-bred singer and songwriter. Just under a year ago, he tied the knot with his Sports Illustrated model wife Chrissy Teigen. In a recording career that’s…


Canadian country music star Brett Kissel performs Thursday in Bowmanville

Singer with eight CCMA nominations kicks off Boots & Hearts Festival Thursday night Nick Krewen Music, Published on Wed Jul 30 2014 When Canadian country star Brett Kissel hits the road for a nationwide tour with headliner Brad Paisley in October, the eight-time Canadian Country Music Award nominee will be financing the trek by selling a few of his cows. Seriously. The 23-year-old Kissel, who was raised on a 100-year-old…


The Drake Effect

Story by Nick Krewen | July 24, 2014 For SOCAN Words and Music.   “Started from the bottom, now the whole team here.” So says Drake in “Started From the Bottom,” and that’s exactly how his big-bang explosion on the worldwide hip-hop scene has affected the fortunes of his whole team – more than 60 Canadian, Toronto-based songwriters, beat-makers, producers and other collaborators. Drake has almost single-handedly created an entire…


Katy Perry is pure spectacle at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre

California pop goddess Katy Perry literally used every shade and hue on the colour spectrum – and maybe even invented a hue or two – during a visually stunning two-hour spectacle that was actually better eye candy than ear candy. Nick Krewen Music, Published on Sat Jul 19 2014 Now, that was colourful. California pop goddess Katy Perry literally used every shade and hue on the colour spectrum – and…