Music Biz Headlines, Aug. 15, 2018
An analysis of Nicki Minaj's new album (pictured), classical music for novices, and a fond farewell to Ken Pickering. Also in the headlines are Chastity, Elvis Presley, festival noise, Justin Bieber, Ticketmaster, Nancy Wilson, Jack Richardson, Edmonton Folk Fest, John Mellencamp, Elliott Brood, New Order, and classic rock.
By Kerry Doole
Review: Nicki Minaj still cares about the old way of doing things. Does anybody else?
Uneasy lies the head that wears Nicki Minaj’s crown. That’s the prime takeaway (whether or not she intended it to be) from “Queen,” on which she spends so much time describing her dominance that a clear conclusion is that she fears it’s beginning to erode. – Mikael Wood, LA Times
How two New York 70-year-olds have spent decades befriending some of the world's biggest bands
Both 70 years old and wearing black band t-shirts, Dennis Anderson and Lois Kahlert are as passionate about music as they were when they had their first date in 1975 – at CBGB, fittingly, the veritable mecca of punk music at the time in New York’s East Village. – Sheila Flynn, Daily Mail
Classical music for beginners: A guide for the newbie who's been too intimidated to ask
Classical music aficionados: Go away. This article is not for you. Instead, it is for everyone who sees classical music as a private club and who feels they’re standing outside the clubhouse. – Anne Midgette, Washington Post
Chastity bandleader Brandon Williams conceives their debut LP for ‘an audience of one’ and ends up reaching global audiences
it’s been a bit of a revelation for him to witness the numbers who fit that description whilst touring the debut record upwards from the lower west coast of the US since its release three weeks ago. – Ben Rayner, Toronto Star
Aug. 12: 62 years ago, Elvis played New Orleans -- and The Times-Picayune hated it
The Kingplayed not one but two shows on the same day at the Municipal Auditorium, and The Times-Picayune's reviewer was not amused. "Elvis Presley jerked his torturous way across the stage of the Municipal Auditorium on Sunday," he wrote. – Melina Morris, nola.com
A fond goodbye to a jazz great: Ken Pickering's passing mourned
Longtime Vancouver International Jazz Festival artistic director Ken Pickering introduced many Vancouverites to jazz; he also sent a fair number of Vancouver jazz musicians out into the world. – Alex Varty, Georgia Straight
The art of keeping the sound from music festivals contained
The issue of noise is one all such events have to take seriously. – Brad Wheeler, the Globe and Mail
Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin spotted over the weekend in Stratford, Ont.
Justin Bieber fans flooded social media with photos of the pop star and his fiancee Hailey Baldwin spending time in his southern Ontario hometown over the weekend. – CP
Ticketmaster to shut Seatwave and GetMeIn resale sites
Controversial secondary ticketing sites will be replaced by a fan-to-fan exchange. The move follows persistent criticism of “secondary ticketing” platforms used by touts. – Rob Davies and Laura Snapes, The Guardian
Nancy Wilson rocks on
Four decades in, the Heart guitarist is still making new music she’s excited about—while trying to heal her famous family rift. – Alison Lang, The Coast
Jack Richardson's name off London music hall of fame, awards amid ugly rift
The celebration of London’s music achievements no longer will bear Jack Richardson’s name. A legal spat with the Richardson family has led to the removal of the late Canadian music icon’s name from the London Music Hall of Fame and the London Music Awards. – Joe Belanger, London Free Press
Jayda G's DJ sets are as fun to watch as they are to listen to
The Canadian-born, Berlin-based electronic musician loses herself in her ebullient soul, disco and house music, and it's easy to follow suit. – Michael Rancic, NOW
Weather versus music: the struggle of 2018's Edmonton Folk Music Festival
No way to mini-doughnut sugar coat it, right? The weather was cruddy on the folk fest hill Sunday — but just think of how the local footwear economy gets a cash injection replacing all those mud-drowned sneakers! – Fish Griwkowsky, Edmonton Journal
Art museum to feature paintings by rocker Mellencamp
The Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio, has announced a new exhibition of paintings by John Mellencamp, known for his expressionistic oil portraits and other works. "John Mellencamp: Expressionist" opens Sept. 20 and runs through Nov. 18. – AP
Elliott Brood relishes opportunity to sample National Music Centre's collection
The Hamilton, Ont.-based trio’s upcoming residency at Calgary’s National Music Centre, falls between festival dates in Alberta and BC. – Eric Volmers, Calgary Herald
New Order announces concert documentary 'Decades'
The synthpop legends' new concert documentary, Decades, follows the rehearsals of the band preparing to re-stage their acclaimed So It Goes collaboration with Liam Gillick. – Sam Tornow, Billboard
Is Classic Rock dead?
Steven Hyden’s Twilight of the Gods: A Journey to the End of Classic Rock is old news in so many ways. Reading rock as religious experience goes back to the start of rock and writing about it, though most of that writing doesn’t come from creative critics like Hyden. – Henry Carrigan, No Depression
