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James Blonde: Sh!tshow

The new single from the alt-pop/rock trio is a hook-heavy romp that, like the accompanying self-made video, is a lot of fun.

James Blonde: Sh!tshow

By Kerry Doole

James Blonde - Sh!tshow (Independent): This alt-pop/rock trio hails from Niagara Falls, ON, and group members Neil Carson, Phil Taylor, and Steph Mercier have played together since high school, adopting the James Blonde moniker in 2017.


All three members sing, and the resulting full-blooded vocal harmonies are a group signature. Their vocal hallmark is showcased on this new single, a hook-heavy romp that, like the accompanying self-made video, is a lot of fun. Lyrically, lines like "just waiting for the next shitshow" are sadly very timely in these crazed times. 

Given the now commonplace use of profanity, from the White House down, I'm not quite sure why the song title comes self-censored though.

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The band has spent the last few years touring North America and has made major festival appearances at Osheaga, Edgefest, CMW and Burlington Sound of Music. A self-titled LP was released in 2017, spawning the single Heartbreak, which topped several prominent Spotify playlists and received major Starbucks play. 

James Blonde is currently working on a new record for a 2019 release.

James Blonde opens for Taylor Dayne at The Ridge, Le Roy, NY, on July 26, followed by extensive North American touring in the fall. Check here for dates.

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Management: Mike Greggs, Been There Done That Entertainment

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Ed Sheeran performs onstage at iHeartRadio Z100's Jingle Ball 2025 Presented by Capital One held at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2025 in New York, New York.
John Nacion/Billboard

Ed Sheeran performs onstage at iHeartRadio Z100's Jingle Ball 2025 Presented by Capital One held at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2025 in New York, New York.

Music News

Ed Sheeran Addresses Controversy at First Show Since Openers, Backing Band Dropped Off Tour, Calls It ‘The Best Show of My Life’

Before his show in Philadelphia, Sheeran read a statement acknowledging the issue of Israel and Palestine, but still tried to keep things neutral.

Ed Sheeran needed to address the situation before he could start playing guitar. It wasn’t how he wanted to start his show, and he’s made it abundantly clear that the last thing he wants around him is controversy or, in his words, to be an “activist musician.”

But here he was, at the first show after his opener and friend Macklemore was kicked off the tour, following pressure by a group of venue owners led by Robert Kraft who took issue with Macklemore’s statement of support toward Palestine. That led to the rest of the tour’s openers and even Sheeran’s backing band for the tour dropping off the tour in solidarity with Macklemore — all of which became a huge news story and PR nightmare for the usually very un-controversial Sheeran. And though he had already made one highly scrutinized statement online while the news story was at its most potent, Sheeran felt the need to address the crowd at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday night (Sept. 19) in person, before the show really started.

This article was first published by Billboard U.S.

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