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FYI
Obituaries: Royal Canoe Bassist Brendan Berg & Music Journalist Olivia Michalczuk
In its obituary, the Winnipeg Free Press wrote that "the couple are being remembered for their respective creativity, compassion and ability to form deep bonds with those around them."
The paper reported that “Berg joined Royal Canoe in 2010 as a virtuosic bassist and quickly became an integral member of the group. Bandmate Matt Peters recalls that 'We needed someone who could play bass really well, who could also play keyboards, who could put up with all the neurotic energy in our band and Brendan just fit the bill so, so perfectly. He just charmed us from day one.'"
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Another bandmate, Bucky Driedger, told the WFP that “Not only musically, but just in our band organism, he was the one quietly holding it down, steadying us, showing up in really shitty moments with smiles and positive vibes."
Royal Canoe has been a Winnipeg favourite for more than a decade and has played shows with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. In 2014, Royal Canoe received a Juno Award nomination for alternative album of the year for Today We’re Believers, a release that . won best independent album at the Western Canadian Music Awards.
The local favourites have played shows with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, toured with the likes of Alt-J and Bombay Bicycle Club and played major festivals, including Iceland Airwaves, Bonnaroo in Tennessee and Osheaga in Montreal.
Berg collaborated extensively with other artists and bands on the Winnipeg scene, including Tele, Matas Touch, Mason Melle, Reverend Rambler, Begonia, Retro Rhythm Review and many others.
WFP reported that "while her partner was widely known for his onstage career, Michalczuk made waves behind the scenes as an avid concert goer, music journalist and general booster. A jewelry and visual artist, she wrote for The Manitoban and founded Paper Cut Winnipeg — a blog and podcast about the local music scene — with Jared Gauthier.
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"She worked in community development with the Exchange District BIZ, Spence Neighbourhood Association and, most recently, with the Government of Manitoba as a community planner. 'She was essential to the Winnipeg music scene,' Jen Doerksen says via email."
Doerksen and Michalczuk both participated as jurors for the prestigious Polaris Music Prize, and that org expressed its condolences in a statement: "Polaris is incredibly saddened to hear of the tragic passing of juror Olivia Michalczuk and their partner Brendan Berg of the band Royal Canoe. Michalczuk was a former editor at The Manitoban before cofounding the Paper Cut Winnipeg Podcast with Jared Gauthier and was a strong voice in the Polaris community, having served on the jury since 2019. She was a member of the 2022 Polaris Grand Jury who selected Pierre Kwenders' José Louis And The Paradox Of Love that year's winner. Polaris extends our deepest sympathies to both Olivia and Brendan's family, friends and the music lovers they touched with their enthusiasm and care."
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Provincial non-profit org Manitoba Music also paid tribute to the couple, noting that" both have left an immeasurable mark on the music community and have meant so much to so many for their creativity, kindness and generosity.”
Musical peers honoured them on social media. “So sad and sorry to hear this news. Much love to you all,” posted the Sam Roberts Band, while singer-songwriter Dan Mangan called the crash “absolutely tragic and devastating.”
On Facebook, singer-songwriter Scott Nolan posted this: "Sending big love to Royal Canoe and the entire Manitoba music community, we are all struggling with this terrible tragedy. What an inspiration their young lives have been to so many of us, I am in awe of the love and impact they have both had on us. 
."
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Royal Canoe offered this tribute to their bandmate: “Over the last 15 years of cross-country tours, late studio nights – through the high highs and low lows, Brendan’s relentless positivity, big smile, and considerate nature were a stabilizing and inspiring force for us. He was always the first to volunteer his time to pick up the trailer from the shop or load gear after tour. His generosity and selflessness were legendary.”
Peter Verity, an award-winning Canadiana/folk singer-songwriter, died on June 25, at the age of 75.
Verity was born in Toronto and raised in Ottawa. He and his wife and muse Diane moved to Toronto in 1972. His obituary noted that "Peter’s interest in music emerged at a very young age; he taught himself to play guitar, and was soon doing shows at school and writing his own songs. He played with several bands in the 1970’s, including the successful Rolling Stones touring tribute band, The Petts, alongside his close friend Shawn O’Shea.
"In the 1980s and 1990s, Peter worked at the Toronto Sun newspaper, balancing his career with family life, traveling and gardening with Diane and daughter Eva, his passion for the Blue Jays and the Toronto Maple Leafs, and reading about history, philosophy, and physics. But it was through music and performing that he truly expressed himself.
"Peter released a self-titled album with the band Delta Tango in 1995, followed by two solo records, High Flyer (2001) and Sometimes a Journey (2006). His songs are honest and poetic, reflecting his perspective on life and love." More on his discography here.
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Verity's songs earned kudos in some major songwriting contests. In 2003, his tune "North Ontario" was awarded a runner up position (folk category) in the North American John Lennon Songwriting Contest, bringing him a congratulatory call from Yoko Ono. The song was released on Sometimes A Journey.
Songs "Blue As I Can Get" and "The Healing Rain" from that album were also recognized in several song contests, including Billboard and The Great American Song Contest (top 50 Honor Award). His songs have been included many times on CBC playlists as well as folk and college stations across Canada, and have enjoyed airplay in Europe and Australia. Verity also toured extensively through Canada and the U.S.
In 2005 Verity won as Best Folk Artist at the Toronto Independent Music Awards and played the awards ceremony. Nominations that year also included Best Acoustic Male Performer and Best Song. Verity was nominated Best Male Artist in the Ontario Independent Music Awards in 2007, also performing at that awards event.
From 2013 to 2020, Verity made Toronto pub and music venue the Black Swan Tavern his musical home, playing Tuesday nights and building a loyal, intergenerational community of musicians and friends. For the last 12 years, he was also a member of the band The Heymacs, whose videos are enjoyed by millions around the world.
A funeral reception for Verity was held at The Black Swan in Toronto on July 5. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations in his name in support of food security or children in need, or simply asks that you play one of his songs and remember him.
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Learn more about Verity here.
International
Mark Lipsitz, the longtime label manager of U.S. independent imprint Bar/None Records, died on July 5, at age 62.
In a statement on Instagram, the label paid tribute, noting that reported "Mark was a fierce artist advocate and he championed the music he discovered, pushing everyone he knew to be the best musician and the best person they could be. The music industry is losing a coach, an ambassador, and an ally. But Mark created friendships and networks of people that would never thrive as they do without his influence. The work he leaves behind will enrich us all forever.”
In its obituary, Pitchfork called Lipsitz "a passionate figure who largely worked behind the scenes, Lipsitz championed bands like Ivy, Emperor X and the Paranoid Style."
In 1986, Bar/None Records was founded in Hoboken, New Jersey, by Tom Prendergast, a former pirate radio DJ and concert booker. After Prendergast eventually left, his label partner Glenn Morrow Morrow tapped Lipsitz to spearhead Bar/None’s marketing in 2001.
Pitchfork notes that "As the years passed, Lipsitz took on all manner of roles at the label, from suggesting bands worth signing to helping artists navigate the daunting music landscape, as the roster grew to include Big Star’s Alex Chilton, the Feelies, Ezra Furman, Tindersticks, the Front Bottoms, Diners, Pardoner, and dozens more."
"Prior to joining Bar/None, Lipsitz also worked at Razor & Tie with acts like Continental Drifters and Dar Williams, as well as Seed Records via Atlantic and Important Relativity. Lipsitz often took a hands-on approach to working with and promoting bands at each label, with artists routinely speaking fondly of him in interviews over the years regarding his passionate approach to helping them grow."
"One of the most beloved acts that Lipsitz discovered and helped champion to gain more recognition was Ivy, the cult 1990s indie-pop trio featuring the late Adam Schlesinger. Lipsitz took the band under his wing in 1994, helped Schlesinger get Fountains of Wayne signed to Atlantic, and welcomed Ivy back to Bar/None following Schlesinger’s death and the discovery of previously unreleased Ivy music.
Ivy and The Feelies are amongst the many artists who have shared tributes on social media honouring Lipsitz.
Toronto-based record label veteran Jerry Leibowitz (Rykodisc, Radio Starmaker) had a long friendship with Lipsitz and he posted an eloquent tribute on Facebook. It reads, in part, "I’m still reeling after finding out about the passing yesterday of one of my closest friends when I lived in New York - Mark Lipsitz. We met at the end of the '80s and palled around for years into the '90s, both trying to make our way and survive in the independent music business in the city.
"We were both red-headed, the same age, had names that were close to each other and were completely obsessed with music and trying to help bands we loved succeed. I was just in touch with him a few weeks ago after many years of not communicating (no other reason than life) because Bar/None Records (They Might Be Giants, Yo La Tengo, the Embarrassment, the Feelies and so many more) was releasing some Sun Ra lathes I was interested in.
"He told me he was now a co-owner of the label — which was serendipitous as I had worked there years earlier doing marketing and publicity. We spent so much time together going to shows, listening to Funkadelic records and obsessing about bands like Ivy who he had signed early in their career when Adam Schlesinger was in the band — years before he started Fountains of Wayne.
"Mark was extra excited that Bar/None was going to be releasing archival material from Ivy and was his general happy self. Mark, I’ll never forget that Southern lilt in your voice and mischievous smile. You will not be forgotten and your memory will always be a blessing. Sending love out to all his friends and family."
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