Acoustic Architects

Regina Spektor’s music a mystery even to the creator

Regina Spektor’s music a mystery even to the creator Arty, gifted popster coming to Sony Centre has no clue how her songs arrive. By: Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Wed Oct 10 2012 Words like “eccentric” and “quirky” don’t really define the peculiar pop compositions of Regina Spektor, but they’re a decent starting point. The 32-year-old Moscow-born, Bronx-based singer and songwriter — a classically trained pianist with…


Jason Collett reckons times are tough

How do you write songs that have political overtones without being perceived as political? . Veteran Toronto rock musician and Broken Social Scene member Jason Collett. By: Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Fri Sep 28 2012 How do you write songs that have political overtones without being perceived as political? It’s a dilemma local hometown songwriter Jason Collett finds himself in with Reckon, his fifth and latest…


Ed Sheeran’s folk-pop sheer brilliance shines at Echo Beach: Review

Perhaps there’s hope in the pop world after all. By: Special to The Star Nick Krewen Published on Mon Sep 17 2012 Perhaps there’s hope in the pop world after all. Inundated as we are by hormonal determination of the female tween populace regarding such lightweight romantics as the Justin Biebers, One Directions and numerous copycats whose musical, puppy-eyed declarations of love carry the emotional resonance of a Twix candy…


Owl City stay’s wired to what’s current

Adam Young, playing Toronto on Sept. 15, built his career, and his new hit with Carly Rae Jepsen, online. Adam Young of Owl City says his collaboration “Good Time” with Carly Rae Jepsen was done without them meeting. By: Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Fri Sep 14 2012   Remember MySpace? It was only a few years ago that the Beverly Hills-based social media site was the…


Avett Brothers work at great concerts

Like the title of its latest album The Carpenter — released the day before they entertain Wednesday’s City And Colour crowd at the Molson Amphitheatre — North Carolina’s Avett Brothers are in the midst of constructing an enduring legacy modelled after the career of a good friend of theirs, Dave Matthews. Bob Crawford, Seth Avett and Scott Avett are the Americana act The Avett Brothers, opening for City and Colour…