Rise Against rises to occasion once more

Thursday night at the Air Canada Centre, Rise Against, the Chicago four-piece punk band with a social conscience, fired up its an estimated crowd of 11,000.   Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Fri May 11 2012 They could have taken the easy way out. On the final night of its marathon Endgame tour — one which initially touched down last summer at Edgefest in Downsview Park —…


Edward Sharpe’s ongoing emotional rescue

Entertainment / Music Magnetic Zeros’ Kool Haus show just one more bit of good news for spirited, varied band. Alex Ebert is Edward Sharpe and usually happier for it. Nick Krewen Special to the Star Published on Fri May 11 2012 Here’s some heartening news from the Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros camp: although they’re dropping their sophomore album Here on May 29, it won’t be the last new…


Big Wreck bigger than ever

Ian Thornley plays the Danforth Music Hall with Big Wreck on May 10 and 11. Nick Krewen Special to the Star Published on Thu May 10 2012   Well, that’s one less albatross around his neck. Ever since Ian Thornley added Big Wreck’s name to the ever-increasing pile of reunited rock bands, he’s been rewarded with an accolade he never received during the combo’s first late ‘90s run: a No….


M83 synthesizes some stardom

Gonzalez puts keyboards front and centre, and the result is a sold-out Sound Academy. Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Fri May 04 2012 When Anthony Gonzalez was seven years old, he took a hit of Oxygene that changed his life forever. Gathered around their living room with the rest of his family in Antibes, France, the future principal of M83 watched fellow Frenchman, electronic music synthesis and…


Nickelback burns up ACC

  Nick Krewen Special To The Star, Published on Sun Apr 22 2012 Rock ‘n’ roll is supposed to be larger than life. Last night at the Air Canada Centre, Nickelback made it seem mammoth. Operating under the notion that bigger is better, the four deans of lustful, bone-crunching rock offered the estimated 14,000 in attendance (and pop star Avril Lavigne) everything that one would expect from a dazzling marvel:…