Acoustic Architects

Havoc over, Alanis Morissette sees the bright lights

Havoc over, Alanis Morissette sees the bright lights Motherhood and romantic stability put a happy spin on Alanis Morissette’s new album, Havoc and Bright Lights. Alanis Morissette reflects on a tarnished brass ring: “I saw that fame could support me as a tool to support my agenda, my agenda of uplifting, and comforting, and titillating — just engaging in conversations that I’m so passionate about. . . . I need…


The Monks’ Bad Habits hard to break

An anomalous punk hit in Canada gets a loving tribute at the Horseshoe. By: Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Wed Jul 25 2012 “Nice legs, shame about her face.” If you’re old enough to remember those lyrics, you’ll recall that circa 1979-1980 there was a band named The Monks that owned Canadian Top 40 radio for a spell with the novel ditty “Drugs In My Pocket.” The…


Blue Skies Ahead for Skylar Grey

NEWS GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter discusses transforming her career and her new album, Don’t Look Down NICK KREWEN GRAMMYS MAY 15, 2017 GRAMMY.com If at first you don’t succeed, try a pseudonym. That’s what Wisconsin native Holly Brook Hafermann did in 2010 when she emerged as Skylar Grey and garnered two GRAMMY nominations, including Song Of The Year for co-writing Eminem and Rihanna‘s 2010 smash “Love The Way You Lie.” She subsequently…


Beirut: Down to brass attacks

Gypsy-pop band coming to Sound Academy leading a wave, says frontman Zach Condon. Messy-haired ukulele (“a joke at first,” he says) leads the indie-folk band Beirut.       Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Wed Jul 18 2012   Is brass making a comeback? Beirut’s Zach Condon certainly thinks so. At the very least, the Santa Fe band’s lead singer, songwriter and trumpet player is doing his…


Silversun Pickups hit EdgeFest with new album Neck Of The Woods

Silversun Pickups share the EdgeFest 2012 main stage at Downsview Park on Saturday with Billy Talent, Death From Above 1979, the Sheepdogs and others. L.A.-based Silversun Pickups have a third album out called Neck of the Woods. They play the main stage at EdgeFest 2012.         Nick Krewen Special to the Star Published on Thu Jul 12 2012 The title of Silversun Pickups’ newest album, Neck of…