DJ Cummerbund does it again, this time by mashing up Rush instrumental “YYZ” with the Kelis R&B pop single “My Milkshake”. The producer says, “I wanted this to be the most disliked video on YouTube and you people aren’t helping me at all.”
The Canadian Music Hall of Fame Welcomes Four New Inductees: Andy Kim, Bobby Curtola, Chilliwack and Cowboy Junkies
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) today announced four legendary Canadian artists will join The Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Inductees include Andy Kim, Bobby Curtola (posthumously), Chilliwack and Cowboy Junkies. The newest inductees will be celebrated at an industry event on Sunday, October 27 at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre in Calgary, AB.
Established in 1978, The Canadian Music Hall of Fame recognizes Canadian artists who have made outstanding contributions to spotlighting Canadian music here at home and/or on the international stage. Andy Kim, Bobby Curtola, Chilliwack and Cowboy Junkies will join the ranks of Canadian music icons including Anne Murray, Joni Mitchell, k.d. lang, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Oscar Peterson, RUSH, The Guess Who, The Tragically Hip, Shania Twain, and more.
“We are very proud to welcome these four highly deserving artists into The Canadian Music Hall of Fame,” said Allan Reid, President & CEO, CARAS/The JUNO Awards & MusiCounts. “Canada has such incredible talent that are represented on the international stage and The Canadian Music Hall of Fame Ceremony Presented by Music Canada will help us recognize and honour these individuals for all of their artistic contributions to the cultural fabric of our country.”
The newest members of The Canadian Music Hall of Fame are:
• Andy Kim: JUNO Award winner, Andy Kim got his start working at the iconic Brill Building in New York at a young age, where he went on to craft major hits including “Baby I Love You,” and “Sugar, Sugar.” Years later in 1974, he released the #1 hit song “Rock Me Gently.” Kim’s musical longevity was cemented with the release of his 2015 album, It’s Decided.
• Bobby Curtola: (Posthumously): From the beginning of his career at sixteen, to his rise to fame with his hit single “Fortune Teller,” and then receiving the first Canadian registered gold album, Bobby made his mark in Canadian music. Before the JUNO Awards’ inception, Bobby won an RPM Gold Leaf Award for Best Male Vocalist in 1966 and his early success helped shape the Canadian music industry of today.
• Chilliwack: Chilliwack’s style has continuously evolved since the band’s inception in 1970, championing genres including psychedelia, blues rock and eventually pop. The JUNO Award nominated* band known for their classic hits “Lonesome Mary”, “Fly at Night”, and “My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)”, head into their fifth decade continuing to thrill their audiences across the country with their live performances.
*Bill Henderson and Brian MacLeod took home a JUNO Award in 1982 for Producer of the Year for “Watcha Gonna Do”, “Secret Information” for Chilliwack.
• Cowboy Junkies: Anyone who has followed Cowboy Junkies’ journey knows the band has always traveled its own path. In 1988, they proved that there was an audience waiting for something quiet, beautiful and reflective. The Trinity Session was like a whisper that cut through the noise — and it was compelling. For the past three decades, the band has remained true to their unique artistic vision and to the introspective, quiet intensity that is their musical signature, creating a critically acclaimed body of original work that has endeared them to an audience unwavering in its loyalty.
The MusiCounts Inspired Minds Ambassador Award (MIMAA), presented by the Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation will also be handed out during the Canadian Music Hall of Fame Ceremony. The award recognizes an individual who has had an extraordinary impact on education and the charity over the course of its history. The MIMAA recipient will be announced in the coming weeks.
An hour-long special showcasing the event will be available to stream on November 2, exclusively on CBC Gem. In addition, a second special highlighting the Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees and featuring in-depth interviews will air as part of Music Day on CBC, broadcasting Sunday, March 15, 2020, ahead of The 2020 JUNO Awards on CBC.
The 49th annual JUNO Awards and JUNO Week 2020 will be hosted in Saskatoon, SK from March 9 through March 15, 2020, culminating in The JUNO Awards, on Sunday, March 15, at the SaskTel Centre, broadcast live on CBC, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, the free CBC Gem streaming service in Canada and globally at cbcmusic.ca/junos.
Photo Gallery: Our Lady Peace with Bush, Live and Dear Rouge at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage
All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her at minismemories@hotmail.com
Taylor Swift Announces ‘Lover Fest’ For US and European Stadiums
Taylor Swift has announced her first concerts in 2020 to support her new album, Love. “Lover Fest West” and “Lover Fest East” will likely add more dates. Continuing her historic career, she will become the first woman in history to open an NFL stadium when she performs at the inaugural concert at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on July 25 and 26.
Check out the full list of dates below.
June 20 — Werchter, Belgium @ Werchter Boutique
June 24 — Berlin, Germany @ The Waldbühne
June 26 — Oslo, Norway @ Oslo Sommertid
July 1 — Roskilde, Denmark @ Roskilde Festival
July 3 — Gdynia, Poland @ Open’er Festival
July 5 — Nîmes, France @ Festival de Nîmes
July 9 — Oeiras, Portugal @ NOS Alive
July 18 — Sao Paulo, Brazil @ Allianz Parque
July 25 — Los Angeles, CA @ SoFi Stadium
July 26 — Los Angeles, CA @ SoFi Stadium
July 31– Foxborough, MA @ Gillette Stadium
Aug. 1 — Foxborough, MA @ Gillette Stadium
Haviah Mighty has won the 2019 Polaris Music Prize for the album 13th Floor
Haviah Mighty has won the 2019 Polaris Music Prize for the album 13th Floor.
“For me, the 13th floor is something that we remove from our reality because it is something that we don’t understand and therefore we dismiss it,” said Haviah Mighty. “This is very parallel to so many of the experiences that I speak on, on this album. I’m in a room with so many different people from so many different walks of life who have acknowledged that this is something they feel is important. These people don’t necessarily share the narratives that I do, or the walks of life that I have, and yet, here we are, finally on what I believe is the 13th floor. This is the moment of resurgence where the dismissal that has existed is now being removed, and the discussion is being had. I’m so grateful that the people around me push me to be brave enough to speak my truth and to have it be acknowledged in this way.”
The Prize, which was presented by CBC Music, goes to the best Canadian album of the year based on artistic merit without regard to genre, sales history or label affiliation. It was determined by a Grand Jury of 11 music media professionals drawn from the greater Polaris jury pool of 199 writers, editors, broadcasters, DJs and personalities from across the country.
Haviah Mighty’s victory came with a $50,000 monetary reward. The nine other Short List nominees each received $3,000 courtesy of Slaight Music.
Held at the historic Carlu in downtown Toronto, the evening featured performances by nine of the 10 Polaris nominees. These included Marie Davidson, Elisapie, FET.NAT, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Les Louanges, Haviah Mighty, PUP, Shad and Snotty Nose Rez Kids. Jessie Reyez was also in attendance. CBC Music’s Raina Douris was the host for the gala. Re-watch the Polaris Music Prize gala performances and winner announcement HERE.
The 2019 Polaris Short List was:
Marie Davidson – Working Class Woman
Elisapie – The Ballad of the Runaway Girl
FET.NAT – Le Mal
Dominique Fils-Aimé – Stay Tuned!
Les Louanges – La nuit est une panthère
Haviah Mighty – 13th Floor
PUP – Morbid Stuff
Jessie Reyez – Being Human In Public
Shad – A Short Story About A War
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – Trapline
The Grand Jury who decided the winner included Jacques Boivin (ecoutedonc.ca), Stephen Cooke (Chronicle Herald), Erin MacLeod (Freelance Journalist), Christine McAvoy (3AM Revelations), Max Mertens (Freelance Journalist), Nneka Nnagbo (Ottawa Beat & Melted Magazine), Ryan B. Patrick (Exclaim!), Chantal Rondeau (Indigenous Today), Fanny St-Amand (Belle et Bum), Richard Trapunski (NOW Magazine) and Melissa Vincent (A.Side).
“This year’s Grand Jury were exceptionally thorough in their listening and discussion, changing their opinions and taking on new points of view in response to their fellow jurors’ passionate arguments about the meaning of Canadian musical art in 2019,” said Polaris jury foreperson Katherine Duncan. “Their commitment, dedication and heartfelt debate is inspiring to share. It’s with great pleasure that we congratulate the winner of the 2019 Polaris Music Prize!”
The past winners of the Prize are: Jeremy Dutcher (2018), Lido Pimienta (2017), Kaytranada (2016), Buffy Sainte-Marie (2015), Tanya Tagaq (2014), Godspeed You! Black Emperor (2013), Feist (2012), Arcade Fire (2011), Karkwa (2010), Fucked Up (2009), Caribou (2008), Patrick Watson (2007) and Final Fantasy / Owen Pallett (2006).
Video from 1995: Tupac on Growing Up Poor, His Rise to Fame & His Future
In 1995, Tupac Shakur and MTV News correspondent Tabitha Soren took a stroll down the Venice boardwalk for an in-depth conversation about where the rapper has been and where he sees himself going.
“Long May They Run” Music Documentary Podcast Series Kicks Off With Phish
C13Originals, a division of leading premium podcast company Cadence13, today announced the launch of Long May They Run, a groundbreaking music documentary series about iconic touring bands who have a lasting impact on music culture, the industry, music streaming, touring, their fans and beyond. Season One of Long May They Run will focus on the band Phish, exploring in depth the journey that made them one of the most successful and influential touring bands of all time, and how they redefined the bond between artist and audience, created a way of life, and innovated an entire industry along the way.
Created, directed and produced by C13Originals, and hosted and written by Dean Budnick—veteran music journalist, Editor-in-Chief of Relix Magazine, author, and filmmaker—each season of Long May They Run will explore the greatest, most successful, pioneering, touring and iconic and bands of all time, whose communities and followings grow larger with each decade that passes, who have a deeply rooted and emotionally intimate connection with their fans and who do not tour simply to promote an album, but who tour for touring’s sake. Told by those immersed in the music world—from insiders to fans to musicians—each season of Long May They Run will encompass one band, with each episode focusing on a topic relevant to its culture, pioneering, history and influence. This groundbreaking documentary series will give fans and listeners unparalleled insight into the impact of carefully chosen artists.
Long May They Run, Season One: Phish—which features new interviews with band members and the music of Phish—will explore how Phish revolutionized the music industry, shedding light on all of the areas that the band has helped to pioneer, from self-produced multi-day music festivals that created a blueprint for events like Bonnaroo to ticketing initiatives that disrupted the status quo to unprecedented streaming ventures. The series will also explore the Phish’s unique relationship with its devoted audience, its lasting impact on the concert industry and the many trails they blazed. With more than seventy-five interviews—including the voices of band members—Long May They Run, Season One: Phish will give listeners a rich and textured portrait of a band who pioneered an entire industry on many impactful and important levels, on their own terms.
Long May They Run, Season One: Phish will launch on September 18, 2019 with Episodes One and Two on Apple Podcasts, RADIO.COM, Spotify and everywhere podcasts are available, with new episodes available every Wednesday throughout the season. Listen to the trailer and subscribe to the series here.
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“Our vision was to create and give music fans a franchise set apart from anything that’s been done in podcasting. We believe that Long May They Run accomplishes just that, and will provide an experience that takes Phish fans, and music fans in general, to the next level, and redefine what can be done in this space,” said Chris Corcoran, Chief Content Officer, Cadence13. “Dean is an astute and compelling storyteller and interviewer, and few bands have the musical and cultural impact of Phish, which made them the perfect choice for Season One.”
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to share these stories in this format,” said Dean Budnick. “Phish is such an innovative band and many of the group’s pioneering endeavors have been overlooked or nearly lost to history. It’s been a pleasure to work with the team at C13Originals to bring their far-reaching legacy to light.”
Over the course of ten-episodes in Season One, Budnick and guests will explore a wide range of topics including: the music festivals of Phish, including The Clifford Ball and Big Cypress, and the significant impact Phish’s festivals have had on Bonnaroo and other events; the personal and professional legacy of former Paradigm head of music Chip Hooper, the renowned booking agent who helped Phish secure its independence through the deals he masterminded with Ticketmaster and venues around the country; the band’s pioneering efforts in cyberspace, which has resulted in the creation of an environment where fans can now congregate and travel show to show via “Couch Tour;” the art of Phish, from their Jim Pollock-designed poster, tickets, and merchandise to fan art; why the band carries on the tradition started by the Grateful Dead of allowing tapers at their shows; the band’s activism through its Waterwheel Foundation and beyond; Phish’s famed Halloween shows, at which they don a “musical costume” and perform another artist’s album in its entirety; Phish’s ethos of taking the music but not themselves seriously, and the many gags the band is known for, from their annual stunts at their legendary New Year’s Eve shows at Madison Square Garden to the trampoline they bring on stage to the vacuum played by drummer Jon Fishman; references to Phish in pop culture including The Simpsons, The Office and Parks and Rec; the early days of the band in Vermont; and more.
Long May They Run will feature over seventy-five interviews with a wide range of key players and music industry insiders including new interviews with members of the band; Blues Traveler frontman John Popper and other artists who cite Phish as an influence; members of the Phish fan community; authors; artists; lighting designers; tour managers and others. Guests include Phish’s former longtime manager John Paluska; original co-manager Ben Hunter; legendary music promoter Ron Delsener; celebrated rock photographer Danny Clinch; Bonnaroo and Superfly co-founders Rick Farman and Kerry Black; Paradigm Agency head of music Dan Weiner; Phish “first fan” and longtime friend of the band Amy Skelton, known for hosting the legendary “Amy’s Farm” show; Gregg Perloff, CEO, APE; longtime Phish poster artist Jim Pollock; Governor’s Ball founder Tom Russell; Phish’s tour manager Richard Glasgow; and NBA legend Bill Walton. In addition to the new interviews with the band and other guests, the series will also feature exclusive archival interviews Budnick conducted with Gregg Allman and others that have not aired until now.
Considered by many to be the best live act in America, each Phish concert is a unique experience, unlike any that preceded it, or any that will follow it. Nearing forty years together, Phish remains one of the biggest draws in music. In 2017, Phish made history by playing The Baker’s Dozen: thirteen consecutive shows at Madison Square Garden, while never repeating a song. A banner commemorating the achievement permanently hangs from the rafters in the arena. From their early newsletters to the LivePhish app, the group anticipated today’s direct fan engagement, while interacting with fans at their live shows via on-stage chess matches that allowed the audience to play the band, a “secret language” of special musical cues and a “Big Ball Jam.” The group’s management and support team consist of outliers and innovators whose work continues to resonate throughout the live entertainment industry.
C13Originals is the division of Cadence13 focused on original storytelling and developing a slate of IP through a new premium level in-house production studio, and creators of top podcast series Root of Evil: The True Story of the Hodel Family and the Black Dahlia and the white-collar crime docuseries Gangster Capitalism.
Dean Budnick is the editor-in-chief of Relix, a popular music publication. Budnick has covered the live music scene for over two decades, reporting for Billboard, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. In 2002 he created the official Bonnaroo festival newspaper and has edited it ever since, while working on similar specialty publications for Phish, Dave Matthews Band, LOCKN’ and Fare Thee Well. He is the co-author of Blues Traveler front man John Popper’s memoir Suck and Blow: And Other Stories I’m Not Supposed to Tell as well as Ticket Masters: The Rise of the Concert Industry and How the Public Got Scalped, which chronicles the previously untold story of the modern concert industry.
Want to be a Guitar Rock God? Get out there and Play!
In a world where music fans look to the past for the music they love, now is the time to become a guitar rock god. The stage is set, the spot light is on. All you have to do is get the right equipment, perfect your licks, wear something garish, join or form a band, and get out there and play. There is a massive musical gap for a new rock star, and this is a gap that you could fill.
In this post, we look at what you need to become the next Hendrix or Frusciante.
Get the Best Guitar and Equipment
Ultimately, your musical prowess on your guitar will dictate how you sound, but a great sounding instrument and equipment will be essential if you are to dominate the world of rock. There is a wide range of products for guitars that will help you perfect your all-important signature sound. Every top guitarist you can think of from Gilmour to May to Clapton to Slash are instantly recognisable when they play. This is because they have a signature sound and perfecting your sound is what you should be aiming for.
Take the time to read reviews of equipment and garner what other players thought of it, before making a purchase. This invaluable information will help you in your rock god quest.
Here is a brief list of what you will need to get out there and play.
- Guitar – Get a good one. Listen to your favourite guitarists and choose a similar model to what they play.
- Hard guitar case – Keep your pride and joy and your future livelihood protected.
- Amplifier – How can anyone hear your musical genius without one?
- Pedalboard – Pedals are part of rock history, and you can buy a range of pedals to give you a great sound. Read reviews and buy pedalboards online from reputable stores.
- Cables – Get ones that are not too long, to begin with and get spares. They can and do develop faults.
- Picks – Experiment with a range of picks to suit your style.
- Tuner – You want to keep your axe in tune, and there is some evidence that using a tuner will perfect your musical ear. Some pedalboards come with tuners built-in.
- Spandex trousers and codpieces – This is completely optional, and it depends on how ‘old school’ you want to be.
Your band will need a PA system. The better music venues where you will delight the crowd will probably have one of these.
Now you have your guitar and related equipment it is time to get good!
Practice like it’s 1999
The key to perfecting your musical prowess is to practice. Soon the chords will come, and you’ll play licks and solos from your favourite guitarists. This is great, and you will impress your friends.
To start creating classic albums like Prince’s 1999 you have to take this a step further. You have to learn to write your own music and learn how music works in context with a band.
It is a good idea to join a band and start playing gigs as soon as you start to sound good. This will give you confidence and invaluable knowledge about how this rock god thing works.
Ultimately, to become a rock superstar, you have to forge your own path. You might be able to play a Hendrix classic, but you will never be Hendrix. He was a one-off.
If you become a one-off, you too will be considered a rock god! Peace and rock out!
Photo Gallery: Carly Rae Jepsen with Ralph at Hamilton’s FirstOntario Concert Hall
All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her at minismemories@hotmail.com
The 1977 Television Documentary About The Making of ‘Star Wars’ And Hosted by C-3PO and R2-D2
On September 16, 1977, the ABC television network aired “The Making of Star Wars”, a wonderful one-hour documentary that went behind the scenes of the blockbuster new film Star Wars IV: A New Hope, which had been released in May of that year.
This TV special, the first ever Star Wars documentary, was hosted by C-3PO and R2-D2 and narrated by William Conrad, with appearances by George Lucas, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford.