California Dynamo Writes The Songs That Sell Millions Nick Krewen Toronto Star Special to the Star December 28, 1998 Wynonna Judd, Mark Chesnutt and a gaggle of country and non-country music celebrities paid $125 U.S. a head a few weeks ago to stuff themselves into Nashville’s renowned Bluebird Cafe and witness a historic event:the first ever full-length concert by Diane Warren. Diane who? Unless you peruse the Billboard…
PUBLISHED IN THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR AUGUST 25, 1998 NICK KREWEN Hamilton Spectator August 25, 1998 TORONTO: Seems American rock critics can’t quite get it right when it comes to defining and describing Cracker, the sardonic Richmond, Virginia-based rock group led by singers and songwriters David Lowery and Johnny Hickman. So the band made it easy for them on their new album Gentleman’s Blues. “I had to…
PUBLISHED IN THE TORONTO STAR ON JANUARY 30, 1997 Nerf Herder Makes A Career Of Taunting Van Halen’s Ex-Singer By Nick Krewen Toronto Star January 30, 1997 “Is this what you wanted, Sammy Hagar? Sammy Hagar, is this what you wanted? Dave lost his hairline, but you lost your cool, buddy. Can’t Drive 55, I’ll never buy your lousy records again. Never again.” –from “Van Halen,”…
PUBLISHED IN THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR Thursday, August 17, 1996 NICK KREWEN There’s good news in the Van Halen camp: Namesake guitar wizard Eddie Van Halen won’t be wailing — in pain, that is — because his bad hip is giving him minimal trouble. “He’s jumping around again, and playing better than ever,” reports bassist Michael Anthony, 41, from a recent sound check in Boston, where the band played last week…
PUBLISHED IN THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR ON THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1996 to advance shows at Toronto’s Opera House (April 14) and Kitchener’s Volcano (April 15) BY NICK KREWEN Is David Lowery the most misunderstood writer in American pop? He thinks it’s possible. “I’ve developed a little bit of a reputation for being a very cynical, sarcastic person,” says the lead singer for Cracker, his deep baritone resonating over the…
