Music Biz Headlines, Dec. 4, 2017
A feature about Canadian places and people that have influenced Neil Young leads off our look at the headlines. Also featured are comedy albums, A Tribe Called Red, Richard Hell, Radiohead, Boland, The Pack a.d., and Ansley Simpson.
By Kerry Doole
Neil Young's Canada
From a town in North Ontario to the Red River Valley, a look at the places, people and sounds that influenced the icon — Colton Eddy & Jesse Kinos-Goodin, cbc.ca
Comedy albums are making a comeback
Vancouver label 604 Records is laughing up the charts with them — Marsha Lederman, The Globe and Mail
Rock ’n’ Roll, between the covers
A look at new biographies of stars including Lou Reed, Stevie Nicks, and Al Green — Evelyn McDonnell, NYT Review of Books
Punk icon Richard Hell looks back at “Blank Generation” 40 years later
"It’s really like you’re looking at another person, but you know at the same time that it’s actually you” — Nicole DeMarco, Village Voice
The best Toronto concerts happening in December 2017
These are the shows our critics are most looking forward to this month — NOW
Death of drum technician in Radiohead stage collapse subject of Ontario coroner's inquest
Chief coroner to hold inquest into Scott Johnson's death after parents, band demand answers — Amara McLaughlin, cbcnews.ca
For the Pack a.d. there’s more to life than getting Dollhouse likes on Instagram
Their latest album is being partially framed as a commentary on centring oneself in a Trump-era world that seems to get shittier with each passing day — Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight
Why Ian Campeau had to leave A Tribe Called Red
"It just felt lonely," he says. The acclaimed Indigenous group is now down to a duo — Luke Ottenhof, Buzz Feed
St. Michael's Choir School comes together for Messiah
Students aged 10 to 17 are, for the first time in the school's 80-year history, working together on a complete Messiah — William Littler, Toronto Star
Emie R Roussel Trio, Parc X Trio, Daniel Arthur Trio CDs reviewed
Three promising and young piano trios based in Montreal have just put out albums — Peter Hum, Ottawa Citizen
Ansley Simpson comes out of her 'hiding place'
The Indigenous artist has recorded her second album, She Fell From The Sky. The 11-song collection will unfold as a story — cbc.ca
Toronto rapper Boland grinds toward greatness and is Your New Favourite Thing
The hip-hop creator did a lot of polishing before his recent burst of beats and rhymes — Ben Rayner, Toronto Star
Neil Young + Promise of the Real: The Visitor review – energised, pithily funny protest songs
On his new album, Young confronts hatred and division with humanity and hope — Dave Simpson, The Guardian
The 10 best holiday benefit shows in Toronto
From Teenanger to a giant James Taylor singalong with Choir! Choir! Choir!, here's where you can party while supporting a good cause —NOW
Tina DavisCourtesy of Girl Connected