Country

Gillian Welch’s album, eight years in the making

Entertainment / Music Musician rewards patient fans with intimate collection of dark-edged folk tunes. HANDOUT PHOTO David Rawlings and Gillian Welch play Toronto’s Phoenix on Monday.  Nick Krewen  Special To The Star,  Published on Sun Jul 24 2011 The drought is over. The prayers of Gillian Welch disciples who have been pining for a new album since 2003’s Soul Journey were answered a few weeks back with the release of the New York City…


The persistence of Indie Lindi Ortega

Entertainment / Music Her old label decided she’s no Lady Gaga, as one listen to Ortega’s lonely, affecting tunes should have told them.    Singer/songwriter Lindi Ortega Nick Krewen Special to the Star Published on Mon Nov 29 2010 When The Killers’ Brandon Flowers visits The Sound Academy Saturday to support his new album Flamingo, he’ll have a local hired hand singing backup that everyone should keep an eye on. Though raven-haired and…


Carrie Underwood at the ACC: She sings, she scores

Entertainment / Music Carrie Underwood didn’t need the fancy props she brought to her concert. This performer is magnificent.    Nick Krewen Special to the Star Published on Wed Nov 03 2010 Like her hockey-playing husband, Carrie Underwood knows a few things about scoring. Twenty-four hours after centre Mike Fisher spearheaded an Ottawa Senators victory in a squeaker over our beloved Toronto Maple Leafs, Mrs. Fisher, a.k.a Underwood, returned to the scene…


Finger Eleven, pointed forward

Entertainment / Music Burlington band has to please itself, first, with Life Becomes Electric.     From left: Finger Eleven, the pride of Burlington, are Scott Anderson, James Black, Rich Beddoe, Rick Jackett and Sean Anderson. Nick Krewen Special to the Star Published on Mon Oct 04 2010   It’s all about the calibre. As Finger Eleven unleashes a new album to the lucrative North American market this Tuesday, all eyes are…


Remembering Shel

  Nick Krewen GRAMMY.com Nov/Dec 2005 Legacy Recordings’ reputation for mining its vaults and producing superb compilations received another boost this past summer with the release of such acclaimed packages as Johnny Cash‘s 4-CD box set The Legend, Miles Davis‘ quintuple-disc The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions and Bob Dylan‘s Martin Scorsese-driven No Direction Home. One watershed anthology, however, got lost in the shuffle: the best of Shel Silverstein – his…