Alt. Rock

Alt. Rock, California, Hard Rock/Heavy Metal, Metallica, Rock, Songwriter July 15, 2017

Avenged Sevenfold pleased to pause arena tour play even larger stage opening for Metallica

Guitarist Brian “Synyster Gates” Haner Jr. remains proud of their ambitious recent album The Stage — on one track, featuring Neil deGrasse Tyson. Nick Krewen Music, Sat. July 15, 2017 They may be perched atop the throne of the heavy-metal world, but Huntington Beach, Calif.’s Avenged Sevenfold aren’t afraid to take risks when it involves the bigger picture. Take, for example, this Sunday’s extravaganza that finds them sandwiched between superstar…

Alt. Rock, Americana, Americana, Blues, Canada, Country, Country Rock, Folk, Guitar, Producer, Rock, Songwriter, Toronto, Vancouver February 23, 2017

Blackie & The Rodeo Kings see TV ties pay off on album and in concert

Long-running roots supergroup gets royal reward of guest stars, on new album and at Massey Hall on Saturday. Nick Krewen Music, Thu. Feb 23, 2017 Those Nashville connections continue to pay sweet dividends for Toronto-born Colin Linden and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, who kick off a 14-date cross-Canada tour at Massey Hall Saturday. Linden, 56, who also resides in the town that the country-music business TV soap opera is…

Alt. Rock, Americana, Americana, Blues, Business, California, Folk, Grammy, Latino pop, Los Angeles, Pop, Rock 'N Roll, Songwriter, Tex-Mex/Tejano, Texas Blues, United States January 31, 2017

Rockin’ the suburbs with Los Lobos

New venues help bring Grammy winners — and many others — to Southern Ontarians’ backyards. Just don’t get them started about Donald Trump. Nick Krewen Music, Tues., Jan 31, 2017 Suburbanites: now you don’t necessarily have to go to Toronto to see the big shows — more than ever, they’re coming to you. This week, for example, four-time Grammy winners Los Lobos perform at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre on…

Alt. Rock, Canada, Electronic, Indie pop, Montréal, Pop, Songwriter, Synth pop, Synthesizer, Toronto, Voice January 19, 2017

Austra steps into a perceived troubling feature with new album, tour

Loneliness and political readings of band’s founder create album, Future Politics, that fits into ‘true political uncertainty’ of times. Band plays Jan. 20 at the Mod Club. Nick Krewen Music, Jan. 19, 2017 The moment that Toronto electro band Austra completed its world tour to support its sophomore album, Olympia, its lead singer and songwriter Katie Stelmanis hit the books and began a voracious reading cycle. “I had felt that…

Alt. Rock, California, Indie, Mariachi, Rock, Songwriter, United States December 27, 2016

The Bronx are masters of the two-faced band

The punk rock band is one of few with an alter-ego: a sunny ensemble called Mariachi El Bronx. Nick Krewen, Music, Tues., Dec 27, 2016 Jekyll, meet Hyde. There’s nothing too sinister about Mariachi El Bronx, the alter ego of L.A. punk rockers The Bronx, but the duality of a band that pursues both identities with equal career-driven vigour is a rarity in this day and age. Where The Bronx…