Music News Digest, Aug. 21, 2019

By Kerry Doole

The 24th Honey Jam showcase of Canadian female artists is set for Toronto's Mod Club tomorrow (Aug. 21). The fundraiser, for the YWCA programs for women and girls, is hosted by the CBC's Amanda Parris and features special guest Saveria .

Honey Jam is credited with launching the career of Nelly Furtado back in 1997, and it has also boosted the careers of Jully Black, Anjulie, Melanie Durrant, Haviah Mighty, The Sorority, and Jordan Alexander. More info on this year's performers here.

– Two veteran punk bands, The Offspring and Sum 41, are teaming up for a 14-city Canadian tour that launches Nov. 12 at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, NS, and closes Dec. 2 at Kamloops' Sandman Centre. Pre-sale tickets went up yesterday (Aug. 20), with public tix available on Friday. 

– AI and data company Lixar, the National Music Centre (NMC), and Polaris Music Prize, have announced a new partnership that will give one act on the 2019 Polaris Long List the chance to explore and record inside NMC’s facilities at Studio Bell.

The new residency, called Lixar and the National Music Centre present the Polaris Artist Residency, is open to all 2019 longlisters. The winner  will be announced at the Polaris gala in Toronto on Sept. 16. That act receives a five-day residency at Studio Bell. The resulting work of the residency will be recorded and pressed to vinyl, courtesy of Lixar, with distribution details TBA.

– Neil Young and Crazy Horse release a new album, Colorado, in October ( their first since 2012's Psychedelic Pill), preceded shortly by a single, Rainbow of Colors. In a post on his official website, Young stated the new album will feature 10 new songs which range from "around three minutes to over 13 minutes." He has also made a documentary about the making of the record, Source: Music News

– Media outlets blasting the phrase 'seriously injured' in regards to a recent Kiefer Sutherland accident would have alarmed fans of the 24 star, but they can rest easy. The Canadian actor turned country-rocker slipped on the steps of his tour bus while travelling to Denmark last week, injuring a rib. He posted on Instagram that the injury "makes it difficult to breathe and impossible to sing." As a result, he cancelled the remaining three shows of his Euro tour, but he pledged to make them up in the fall.

– The Firecracker Department will present the inaugural Blaze Award to Jann Arden at the very first Firecracker TIFF Party on Sept 8 at CFI in Toronto. Firecracker Department was started by Naomi Snieckus three years ago as an attempt to create more platforms for womxn’s stories and voices. Since then, it has evolved from three to 20 people, and has now grown into a community of core members in Toronto, Los Angeles and London (UK). In a press release, Snieckus states that “to me, Jann Arden is the epitome of a Firecracker! She’s smart,  funny, fiercely driven but also kind, supportive and a contributor to her community."

– American country star Hunter Hayes released a new album, Wild Blue (Part 1),  last Friday, and that is reawakening interest in earlier hit single Heartbreak that was co-written with Canadians Gordie Sampson, Simon Wilcox, and Thomas ‘Tawgs’ Salter.

– The Banff Centre is accepting submissions for its Wîchoîe Ahiya Indigenous Singer-Songwriter Intensive. The residency (from Nov. 18 - Dec. 7) explores the art of songwriting, vocal presence, and production, with expert faculty and guest artists, as well as group workshops among peers. Apply by Sept. 11.

– Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited, the publicly traded UK-based firm founded and run by Canadian industry veteran Merck Mercuriadis, has acquired both writer and publishing rights in the catalogue of artist/production duo The Chainsmokers, for an undisclosed fee. The deal includes 32 songs as well as an additional 10 additional written by Andrew Taggart, including the hit 1-800-273-8255 by Logic featuring Alessia Cara and Khalid. Source: MBW

– We all know that car names frequently pop up in the lyrics of songs in many genres. Lyric licensing leader LyricFind has now ranked the top auto brand mentions in music, and the results are fascinating. Heading the pack is Mercedes, followed by Cadillac, Bentley, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Porsche, and Lamborghini. No Lada in sight!

– Montreal jazz guitarist Sam Kirmayer recently released his sophomore record, High and Low, and he'll promote it with extensive Canadian touring in the fall. After August shows in Quebec, national dates begin in Courtenay, BC, on Sept. 19, closing out in Pointe-Claire, QC on Oct. 6. Itinerary here

– The London, ON, music community has been quick to rally in support of those affected by last week’s massive explosion in Old East Village. An OEV benefit concert was held last night (Aug. 20) at the Aeolian Hall, organized by Tara Dunphy of The Rizdales. Source: London Free Press

RIP

Larry (Samuel Lawrence) Taylor, an American bass guitarist, best known for his work as a member of Canned Heat from 1967, died on Aug. 19, at age 77, of cancer. Before joining Canned Heat, he had been a session bassist for The Monkees and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Taylor played with Canned Heat from 1967 to 1970 (his band nickname was "The Mole"), and appeared with them at various festivals including the Monterey International Pop Festival and Woodstock. The band has paid tribute to Taylor on its Facebook page.

In 1970, when John Mayall moved to Los Angeles, Taylor and guitarist Harvey Mandel quit Canned Heat to join him in the Bluesbreakers. After the Bluesbreakers tours, Taylor played briefly with the Sugarcane Harris Band and, in 1974, Taylor became part of The Hollywood Fats Band, led by Mike "Hollywood Fats" Mann. He rejoined Canned Heat for recording and touring on multiple occasions.

Taylor played on numerous Tom Waits albums and was the bass player in his touring band. He also went on to become a leading exponent and practitioner of the upright acoustic bass in the contemporary blues scene.

In 2014, Taylor was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the Best Instrumentalist – Bass category.

He was the younger brother of Mel Taylor, long-time drummer for The Ventures. Sources: Wikipedia, Facebook, Best Classic Bands