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Artist: Mike Plume Band CD Review: 8:30 NEWFOUNDLANDBy: Dan Brisebois Wait a few years, and the title track to his new album might very well be looked at as the quintessential three and a half minutes of Canadiana. But Mike Plume said “8:30 Newfoundland” couldn’t have taken shape, had he not moved to Nashville a …
Goldy McJohn memorial courtesy of Nick Warburton Ambitious, charismatic and dripping in raw talent, Ricky James Matthews (b. James Ambrose Johnson, 1 February, 1948, Buffalo, NY, US; d. 6 August, 2004) didn’t take long to capitalise on his sharp looks, soulful voice and US navy uniform after he landed in Toronto in August 1964. Within …
Formed in Montreal at the tail end of the 1960s, Offenbach was formed around keyboardist and singer Gerry Boulet’s vision of blending French music with operatic rock. The original lineup also consisted of his brother Denis on drums, guitarist Johnny Gravel, Will Lamothe on bass, and Pierre Harel on vocals and keyboards. They went through …
Formed in Toronto in 1980 by Montreal-born singer Graeme Williamson, and guitarists Neil Chapman and Tony Duggan-Smith, The Pukka Orchestra took their name from a Hindu term meaning “first rate” or “genuine,” after Duggan-Smith’s mother complained he wasn’t pursuing a ‘real’ musical career. For the next year and a half they made themselves a permanent …
Most artists would consider half a dozen solo albums, a string of hit singles, and a handful of awards a successful career. Hits like “There’s More Where That Came From,” “Kind of Like It’s Love,” “I Feel A Sin Comin’ On,” “She Ain’t Missin’ Missin’ Me,” and “This Used To Be Our Town” earned Jason …
Sudbury, Ontario natives Mark Corbin and Jim Norris first started playing together while still in high school, and afterwards had formed Taxi. By 1968 the group got enough exposure and good reviews playing the clubs that they moved, trying their luck in Toronto. A name change to The Tote Family saw the release of a …
Hailing from the Cree Nation of Hobbema, Alberta, Shane Yellowbird was born in 1979 and grew up embracing traditional country music and the overall cowboy lifestyle. His father participated in the local area rodeo circuit, and he too got involved in roping and riding at an early age. His foray into music came quite by …
The pride of Saskatoon, The Sheepdogs personify making it on hard work and determination. Often referred to as ‘a talented Nickelback’, they formed in 2006 around guitarists Ewan Currie and Leot Hanson, Ryan Gullen on bass and Sam Corbett on drums. Before long the were playing all the hot spots on the prairies and writing …
The Smalls were formed when Doug Bevans and Corb Lund got together while attending Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton. Bevans was enrolled in graphic design, while Lund was studying music. With both on guitars, the group soon evolved and by 1991 Lund moved over to bass, with fellow students Mike Caldwell on vocals and drummer …
John Hannah memorial Terry Crawford and Rick Johnson began playing together while they were still attending high school in Winnipeg. They formed the first incarnation of Crawford in the early ’70s with Johnson on guitars, Scott Gair on bass, drummer Birch Nero and Tony Ward on keyboards. The lineup changed a few times while they …