Concert reviews

Canadian musicians rise to challenge of Lilith’s return

Entertainment / Music Despite a disappointing lineup, Mary J. Blige, Sarah McLachlan and many smaller musicians played to an approving audience     Nick Krewen Special To The Star Published on Sun Jul 25 2010 When opportunity knocked, Canadian women answered. The departure of several headliners from the Lilith tour — Kelly Clarkson and Norah Jones among them — meant that space had opened up for several domestic acts to demonstrate their…


Toronto crowd sings for Bon Jovi

Entertainment / Music All Jon Bon Jovi had to do was flash his pearly whites Tuesday night and the crowd at the Rogers Centre was putty in his hands        Nick Krewen  Special to the Star Published on Tue Jul 20 2010 Oh, what that million-watt smile can get away with. Jon Bon Jovi exercised his considerable charm over the predominantly female crowd Tuesday night at the Rogers Centre for…


Ever cool, Jack Johnson needs no flash

Entertainment / Music Singer Jack Johnson doesn’t rely on flash to impress the crowd at the Molson Amphitheatre.  . By: Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Mon Jul 19 2010     Nothing fazes Jack Johnson. After successfully navigating through the slower intro of “Bubble Toes,” the surfing songwriter from Hawaii accidentally launched into the second verse of the lively love song once he switched tempos. Johnson didn’t break a sweat, but instead…


Broken/Pavement concert reveals hometown edge

Saturday’s concert at Olympic Island had an enviable conclusion, and some unfortunate openers. Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Mon Jun 21 2010 Playing to the hometown crowd has its advantages. While Saturday’s Olympic Island Festival 2010 concert marathon headlined by Pavement may have marked the return of the influential New York lo-fi cult legends to Canada, there was no mistaking that this was Broken Social Scene’s party….


With Jann Arden, the jokes are as good as the songs

Entertainment / Music Celebrity bitch-fight, eh Jann? Jann Arden performs at Massey Hall on Jan. 27, 2010. Nick Krewen  Special to the Star, Published on Thu Jan 28 2010 Celebrity bitch-fight, eh Jann? It was during the Q&A portion of her opening four-night residency at Massey Hall when someone in the audience asked Alberta songbird Jann Arden if she would be appearing on this year’s revival of Lilith Fair, the all-female concert…