Songwriter

Ryuichi Sakamoto works with giants and with glaciers

Composer found music even in the frigid waters of the Arctic Sea.  Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Mon Oct 25 2010 Over 80 albums and 32 years, revered Japanese cultural icon Ryuichi Sakamoto — who made a rare Toronto concert appearance Sunday at the Queen Elizabeth Centre — has dabbled in a lot of genres. Since he graduated from his electronic music studies at Tokyo’s University of Art, Sakamoto,…


Phoenix rises to the challenge at Ricoh

Entertainment / Music Phoenix rises to the challenge at Ricoh French band works to win over arena crowd, with success.        Nick Krewen  The Toronto Star Published on Sat Oct 23 2010 Appearing before an estimated 5500 faithful at the Ricoh Coliseum on Friday night, Phoenix certain didn’t waste any time when it came to hauling out the heavy artillery. Most bands usually wait until the conclusion of their set…


Plundering the past with Phil Collins

Plundering the past with Phil Collins | Toronto Star A mature pop titan becomes a covers act for the first time.  Nick Krewen Special to the Star Published on Fri Oct 08 2010 “I just bought a second cannon.” Not exactly the words you expect to hear flowing from the mouth of Phil Collins. But the 59-year-old’s chief passion these days is no longer music, but collecting 1820-1840 era Texas…


Cee-Lo Green didn’t expect his cursed good fortune

Entertainment / Music Cee-Lo Green didn’t expect his cursed good fortune | Toronto Star  Nearly five million views for his Motown-flavoured kiss off and Gnarls Barkley singer Cee-Lo Green has a hit, even if radio can’t touch it.   Cee-Lo Green’s new single tore up the Internet with nearly five million views, but it’s not getting on the radio without rather severe editing. Nick Krewen Special to the Star Published on Mon…


Arcade Fire ignites Toronto’s Olympic Island

Arcade Fire ignites Toronto’s Olympic island | Toronto Star Montreal alternative music darlings play Toronto’s Olympic Island.      Win Butler leads the Arcade Fire into an examination of his childhood. Nick Krewen  Special To The Star,  Published on Sun Aug 15 2010 Full throttle or second gear? On Saturday night at Olympic Island, it seemed to be one or the other for Arcade Fire, the Montreal alternative music darlings…