Music Biz Headlines, June 25, 2018
Trent Reznor (pictured) laments the state of his homeland, Nile Rogers reflects on a turbulent life, and Scott Helman remembers a drunken escapade. Also in the headlines are Simply Saucer, D.O.A., The Flaming Lips, Kilmore, Big Daddy Kane, Rita MacNeil, Massey Hall, Edmonton and Toronto Jazz Festivals, Olafur Arnalds, Boris Brott, and Jack White.
By Kerry Doole
Trent Reznor Interview: "You're seeing the fall of America"
He’s survived infamy, addiction and a foray into tech. Now the Nine Inch Nails frontman has swapped his self-loathing for shame about the state of the nation he calls home – Ben Beaumont-Thomas, The Guardian
U of S-trained musicians jamming across the jazz festival lineup
Skilled musicians from the University of Saskatchewan are making a splash in their hometown during the jazz festival – Matt Olson, Star-Phoenix
Simply Saucer return with their first new songs in 40 years
The Hamilton psych cult legends are far from nostalgic – they're a band unstuck in time – Michael Rancic, NOW
Nile Rodgers: ‘My family were high-functioning addicts. I inherited that gene’
After a tumultuous childhood, drug addiction and the death of disco, the coolest man in pop is bringing back Chic – Simon Hattenstone, The Guardian
Vancouver punk legends D.O.A. ripped off after gig in Spokane
After a US show, the band discovered that its van had been broken into. The thief (or thieves) made off with $4,000 worth of gear and merchandise – John Lucas, Georgia Straight
Singer Scott Helman plays the Budweiser Stage — the venue he was once kicked out of
“I was 16 or 17 and I went to a Phish show with my friends and we were tailgating in the parking lot like idiots and — well, do they still have those things called Cold Shots?" – Ben Rayner, Toronto Star
The Flaming Lips' psychedelic wonder party a hard concert to top
The Flaming Lips' concert to open the SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival was nonstop fun and excitement – Matt Olson, Star-Phoenix
Massey Hall memories: Legendary musicians on why playing there meant 'you've arrived'·
Massey Hall, Toronto's iconic concert venue, holds a special place in the hearts of musicians and music lovers around the world. And it's falling apart – but that's about to change – CBC.ca
Kilmore’s Call
On its new LP Call of the Void, the hard-rock Halifax outfit deals with the everyday pressures of life – Jonathan Briggins, The Coast
Big Daddy Kane receives Key to Brooklyn
The legendary rapper Big Daddy Kane is inducted into the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Celebrity Path and received the Key to Brooklyn in a ceremony last night – Darryl Robertson, Vibe
Rita MacNeil as a queer icon? Pop collective aims to challenge perceptions
When asked to name an LGBTQ music icon who influenced him, guitarist Thom Gill vaults over the usual favourites Madonna, Cher, Britney Spears and Liza Minnelli – CP
Canada shines for its diverse styles, sounds at jazz festival
Canadian jazz artists deliver a wide range of styles and sounds at this year's TD Edmonton International Jazz Festival – Roger Levesque, Edmonton Journal
Olafur Arnalds’ compelling musical islands
Arnalds is an Icelander who has carved out a musical niche influenced by classical Western music as well as ambient pop; but it would be unfair to place him in either slot – John Terauds, Toronto Star
Judas or Jesus: Who is the real Jack White?
The White Stripes mainman continues to test the boundaries while enjoying testing his audience – Jonathan Dekel, The Globe and Mail
The best Toronto Jazz Festival concerts for 2018
The festival is once again filling Yorkville with free concerts and also offering genre-stretching hot tickets all over town – Chaka V. Grier, NOW
Thirty years later, the National Academy Orchestra of Canada still develops Canada’s professional musicians
Boris Brott recalls that Barbara McDougall laughed at him when he asked why there were no government training programs to help musicians – William Littler, Toronto Star
