Music News Digest, Nov. 7, 2018

By Kerry Doole

Montreal-based Kandle played her biggest headlining Toronto show last night, drawing a respectable crowd to Lula Lounge. The club's ambience fitted the torch-song meets soul vibe of some of her material, drawn from earlier releases and her new album, Holy Smoke. Her recently-formed band has real chops, and local saxophonist David French guested on a few tunes. One new song, "Every Town," was co-written by Kandle and her dad, 54-40 frontman Neil Osborne.

– The Made in Canada showcase at Australian Music Week takes place Nov. 8 at the Brass Monkey in Cronulla, NSW. Showcasing artists selected by Australian Music Week include: Mo Kenney, Adyn Townes, Hawksley Workman, Random Recipe, Luca Fogale, and Declan O’Donovan (BOW). The showcase is presented by the East Coast Music Association (ECMA), Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA), Canadian Music Week (CMW), and BreakOut West.

– Venerable Vancouver indie label Mint Records is throwing a holiday party at The Astoria on Dec. 1. Artists on its roster performing include Dumb, lié, Faith Healer (solo), Needles//Pins, Woolworm, Energy Slime, Kellarissa, and Necking. Gift bags are promised, and proceeds support Girls Rock Camp Vancouver, Good Night Out Vancouver, and Vancouver Urban Native Youth Association. Advance tix at Red Cat Records and Neptoon Records or online at Brown Paper Tickets.

– On Monday, The Trews released a video for their single "Vintage Love," featuring performance footage from summer Ontario gigs. The track is featured on the band's recent album Civilianaires (Cadence Recordings). The Trews play The Marquee in Halifax on Friday, followed by a Hometown Hockey show in Glace Bay on Nov. 11, then CP Holiday Train dates in December, and a national tour in January.

– Canada’s Music Incubator (CMI) has opened 2019 online registration for their core professional development programs: Artist Entrepreneur (Mar/Aug) and Artist Manager (Oct) in Toronto. Both programs help emerging artists and artist managers across all genres build their businesses and careers through customized mentorship and professional development. Space for both sessions is limited. Apply online. More info here 

– Made in Sauga is a brand new Canadian independent record label. As the name suggests, it is based in Mississauga, ON, and it seeks to support artists from that area. The imprint is founded by Juno-nominated rapper/singer Lincoln, whose new single "Closure" is Made in Sauga's debut release. The label, an extension of Black Box Recordings, will release music from The Allies, and R&B singer/songwriters Emma Lokai and Devaney. Source: NOW

–  Open call auditions for the first international production of the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen are being held in Toronto on Nov. 11, at 9:00 AM at the Courtyard by Marriott. Performances begin March 5 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. The musical won seven 2017 Tony Awards and spawned a hit original Broadway cast recording. A multi-city North American touring production began Sept. 25 in Denver.

–  One of Canada's wealthiest families, the Stronachs, is now embroiled in bitter lawsuits. Patriarch Frank Stronach has launched a $520-million civil suit against his daughter Belinda Stronach and her family, while his son Andy is also suing Belinda. Less reported is the fact that Belinda's son, Frank Walker (from her first marriage to Magna International CEO Donald Walker), is a dance music producer/DJ who recently made the US Billboard charts for the first time, for the track "Heartbreak Back." It debuted at No. 39 on Billboard's Oct. 20 Dance/Mix Show Airplay.

–  Remembrance Day this year has a special resonance, given that this is the centennial year of the end of World War 1. For a fitting musical accompaniment to the day, we suggest Mike Plume's "On Remembrance Day," written by the veteran roots songsmith for his Great Uncle who died in the Battle of Arras in 1918. The tune was released without much fanfare last year, but its sentiments are timeless.

– Rondeau The Musical is an original rock musical written and directed by Toronto music veteran Paul Emery (The Dickens). He is also in the cast, alongside such rockin' pals as Graham Duncan, Gord Cumming (The Lawn), and Frank Nevada. Rondeau is described as "a '70s-style show about teenagers on drugs, played by older people in wigs." Well-received on its debut, it returns to The Rivoli in Toronto, Nov. 16-17. Punk rock trio The Discarded play an opening set.

– Award-winning country swing septet Western Swing Authority released new album Big Deal on Oct. 26. The disc lives up to its title by featuring an impressive guest list of US (Jane Monheit, Ray Benson) and Canadian (George Canyon, Russell DeCarle, Jason McCoy, Danny Michel, Jason Blaine, Carolyn Martin, Johnny  Burke) stars. Well-crafted originals nestle alongside some classic tunes. WSA will also release a holiday single, "Christmas Bonus," on Nov. 12.

On Nov. 9 at This Ain't Hollywood in Hamilton, Lori Yates and her band The Nashville Rejects head a tribute  to The Man In Black, featuring plenty of local talent plus some Toronto imports. Performers at Johnny Cash - The Original Punk includes Danny Marks, Ginger St. James, Laura Cole, Matty Simpson, Tomi Swick, Melissa Marchese, Deeps, Tim Gibbons, CJ Sleez, Katie Bulley, Charissa, Mimi Shaw, and more.

– Toronto modern rock band Lost Cousins has released a new track, "Stay," described as reflecting "adjustment to departure through fragments of memories from a backseat window." The group plays Ottawa's Babylon Nightclub (Nov. 23) and Kingston's Grad Club (Nov. 24).

RIP

Glenn Schwartz, the guitarist in Pacific Gas & Electric, died on Nov. 2 at the age of 77. No cause of death given.

Schwartz formed Pacific Gas & Electric in California. The group released its debut album, Get It On, in 1968, then signed with Columbia Records, who issued their self-titled second LP in 1969. In the spring of 1970, PG&E released their third album, Are You Ready?, and the title track was issued as a single which climbed to No. 14 on the Billboard charts.

Tiring of the rock and roll world, he then left the band, but soon joined a pioneering Gospel rock group All Saved Freak Band, the musical evangelistic arm of an Ohio religious group-turned-cult, the Church of the Risen Christ. Schwartz recorded four albums with them before leaving in 1980.

He regularly played blues gigs in Cleveland, and in 2016 played a set with Joe Walsh and Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys at a Nashville club. Sources: Wikipedia, WKYC.com, Ultimate Classic Rock