Instruments

Adult Contemporary, Canada, Concert reviews, Events, JUNO, Leonard Cohen, Manitoba, Piano, Pop, Toronto, Voice November 9, 2024

Chantal Kreviazuk makes her Massey Hall concert a family affair. It just took some time for it to click

The legendary Canadian singer-songwriter had some help from husband Raine Maida’s band Our Lady Peace, plus a supporting act from her son.  By Nick Krewen Special to the Star Chantal Kreviazuk Three stars (out of 4)  Massey Hall, Toronto  Friday, Nov. 8, 2024  The family that plays together, stays together. As cliché as that might seem, that was the conceptual thread that ran through Chantal Kreviazuk’s two-and-a-half hour concert at Massey…

Arranger, Bass, Composer, Concert reviews, Events, Grammy, Guitar, New Wave, Pop, Reggae, Rock, Rock 'N Roll Hall Of Fame, Songwriter, United Kingdom, Voice September 21, 2024

‘Surprise is the essence of music’: Sting still has a few tricks up his sleeve in five-show Toronto stint

By Nick Krewen Special to the Star One amazing evening down … four to go. Rock superstar Sting returned to the familiar and intimate surroundings of Massey Hall Friday night for the first of five concerts in six nights at Toronto’s Grand Old Lady, which — if not unprecedented for the venue — certainly is rare. With his longtime guitarist Dominic Miller and recently recruited Mumford & Sons touring drummer…

Concert reviews, Country, Events, Hip-Hop, Outlaw Country, United States, Voice September 14, 2024

Country-hip-hop star Shaboozey shines in Toronto debut — and it’s not just because he had the hit of the summer

Of course, the rising star brought out “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” but one came away with the notion that we were witnessing an artist demonstrating a rare finesse that offers unlimited potential, writes Nick Krewen. by Nick Krewen Special to the Star Shaboozey 4 stars (out of 4) Danforth Music Hall, Toronto, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024 Well, Shaboozey — that was a doozy! If there was any sort of debate…

Bass, Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, Canada, Canadian Music Hall Of Fame, Cinema, Composer, Drums, Festivals, Garage Rock, Guitar, Indie, Producer, Rock, Rock 'N Roll, Songwriter, The Tragically Hip, Toronto, Voice September 5, 2024

Revisiting his brother’s death for a Tragically Hip docuseries was the hardest but also most fulfilling thing Mike Downie has ever done

“It wasn’t uncommon for me to have a good cry,” says Mike Downie about making a documentary about brother Gord Downie and his band. The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal debuts at TIFF on Sept. 5. by Nick Krewen Special to the Star Mike Downie’s labour of love was also his toughest assignment. As the director and producer of the superb four-hour-plus documentary The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal that…

Arranger, Bass, Canada, Canadian Music Hall Of Fame, Composer, Drums, Garage Rock, Guitar, Indie, JUNO, Producer, Rock, Rock 'N Roll, Songwriter, The Tragically Hip, Toronto, Voice September 5, 2024

Sidebar: Canada had a love affair with the Tragically Hip. These 10 songs remind us why

By Nick Krewen Special to the Star They’re Canadian to the core. As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Kingston, Ontario’s the Tragically Hip with a number of projects, ranging from the devastatingly good docuseries The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal to  oral history coffee table book “This Is Our Life” (out Oct. 1) and the boxed set of the band’s first album, Up to Here (Nov. 8), here’s a…