2016-08-16 | The Tragically Hip Feel the Canadian Love at Last of 3 Toronto Concerts | “It’s a tough world; it’s a tough gig,” The Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie said as the rock band’s final show of three at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre wound down with “Little Bones.” But the 52-year-old (who has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer) kept the night cheerful, raucous, quirky and intense.
The crowd of 20,000 - a complete sell-out, even behind the stage with standing-room-only sections - soaked up every second of the 26-song set, respectfully not filming the entire thing, as is so commonplace these days. Flashes were quick. People wanted to experience this special and emotional “night in Toronto,” not view it from behind a tiny screen.
The Hip - Downie, guitarists Rob Baker and Paul Langlois; bassist Gord Sinclair; and drummer Johnny Fay -- have a special relationship with Toronto. Mayor John Tory declared Wednesday "The Tragically Hip Day" to coincide with their first date at the Air Canada Centre on this Man Machine Poem Tour (named after their new album), expected to be their last.
Downie has called the city home almost half his life and Fay lives here too, but the band (which formed in Kingston, Ontario, in 1984) built its enormous following in Toronto from the ground up: first in clubs like Larry’s Hideaway and the Horseshoe, on to the bigger Diamond and then three nights at the Concert Hall. One month later, they played three sold-out shows at the 7,000-capacity Ontario Place Forum in ’91 and then eventually on to the legendary Maple Leaf Gardens arena in ’95.
They were the first band to ever play the Air Canada Centre when it opened in 1999, and this night marked the 13th time in total, including a 2004 stop that was recorded live for a DVD called That Night in Toronto -- a title taken from the 1998 song “Bobcaygeon.” Two huge visuals at both entrances to the venue announced “Those Nights in Toronto” and new T-shirts were emblazoned with “That Night in Toronto.”
A video message booth was also set up outside the ACC in order for fans to send well-wishes to Downie or tell personal stories about their connection to the band.
It is hard to explain to people outside the country the absolute love Canada has for The Hip. Their music is an integral part of Canadian culture. Their fans are also, if we may stereotype, quintessentially Canadian, like they just stepped out of a beer commercial. They party-hearty, hoot, holler, high-five, drape arms around each other, hoist beer cups in the air, and sing along to every wonderfully poetic lyric (“I’ll drop a caribou” from 1991’s “Long Time Running” refers to making a 25-cent phone call because of the design on the back); any Canadian reference from lake community Bobcaygeon to the mystery surrounding Toronto Maple Leafs hockey great Bill Barilko gets double-whoops.
The set list for the last ACC show was a non-sequential retrospective that skipped all five albums from the 2000s but kept songs together from each album selection, five in the main set and two in the encores.
They started with four songs from 1989’s Up to Here to kick off the set (including show opener “Blow at High Dough” and follow-up “New Orleans Is Sinking”) then four apiece from their new album, Man Machine Poem, 2012’s Now for Plan A and 1996’s Trouble at the Henhouse, and finally five from 1991’s Road Apples. The first encore consisted of three songs from 1998’s Phantom Power, then a second encore with a pair of songs from 1994’s Day for Night, closing with “Grace, Too.” (See the full set list below.)
There were two brief breaks, both after eight songs, plus another, of course, before the encore, allowing Downie to change into three different colorful metallic leather suits designed by Canadian Izzy Camilleri (David Bowie, Jennifer Lopez) and custom hats by Toronto milliner Karyn Gingras. The singer often wears suits, vests and hats onstage, but these outfits were nothing short of spectacular -- fun and bedazzling, especially against his black-clad bandmates.
Set List for night three at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre:
"Blow at High Dough"
"New Orleans Is Sinking"
"Opiated"
"Boots or Hearts"
"Machine"
"What Blue"
"Ocean Next"
"In a World Possessed by the Human Mind"
Break
"Streets Ahead"
"We Want to Be It"
"Man Machine Poem"
"At Transformation"
"Gift Shop"
"Flamenco"
"Springtime in Vienna"
"Ahead by a Century"
Break
"The Last of the Unplucked Gems"
"Three Pistols"
"Twist My Arm"
"Long Time Running"
"Little Bones"
Encore
"Escape Is At Hand for the Travellin' Man"
"Poets"
"Bobcaygeon"
Encore 2
"Daredevil"
"Grace, Too" Source: BillBoard |
2016-07-27 | Arcade Fire Pays Tribute to David Bowie & Says: "..Trump Will 'F---ing Never, Ever' Be President..." at Panorama 2016 | Canadian indie rock stalwarts Arcade Fire certainly didn’t mince words during their headlining set at the inaugural Panorama festival on New York’s Randall’s Island last night (July 22), using their platform to take a stand against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, as well as other political issues.
After performing 2013’s “Normal Person,” Win Butler paused to offer his thoughts on the recent political upheaval in the United States. “Donald Trump will f—ing never, ever be the President of the f—ing United States of America,” he insisted. “There’s no f—ing way, there’s no f—ing chance.” He concluded, “Black Lives Matter” -- shouting out the activist group currently working against racial discrimination, inequalities in the criminal justice system, and police brutality.
Later on in the set, after performing 2007’s “Keep The Car Running,” Butler added that “there's a lot of f—ing empty patriotic talk right now -- but we have to f—ing stick together man.”
The mood got more somber with the band’s tribute to the late David Bowie -- after showing pictures of Ziggy Stardust across the Jumbotrons early in the set, the band brought up the Preservation Hall Jazz Band towards the end of the night for a Bowie-themed second line, performing “Suffragette City,” “Heroes,” and “Rebel Rebel.”
“Even though he wasn't from here,” Butler told the crowd, “New York was David Bowie’s f—ing city. We met him here -- it hurts every day that he's not here.”
Watch the performance here: Source: BillBoard |
2007-09-19 | Franz Ferdinand record with Girls Aloud | Franz Ferdinand have recorded a track with Girls Aloud.
The unlikely collaboration came about while Franz Ferdinand were recording a cover of David Bowie's "Sound And Vision" for an album celebrating Radio 1's 40th anniversary.
Lead singer Alex Kapranos told The Sun: "I asked Girls Aloud to do the famous 'doo doo doo doo doo doo' backing vocals. They were in the studio working on their own record."
It seems Alex and co may have made some pop buddies: "They're pretty laid back so it was a music marriage made in heaven. We're all independently minded people who want to do things their way. Franz Ferdinand have much more in common with Girls Aloud than certain other bands." Source: Ananova |
2007-09-13 | Klaxons love David Bowie | New ravers Klaxons have spoken about their love for David Bowie.
The Mercury Music Prize winners have cited Bowie and music producer Brian Eno as a big influence on their music. Vocals and bass player Jamie Reynolds described them to NME as, "Everything that we're about."
James Righton also bigged up the Starman to Bowienet saying: "It's that chameleon aspect and the way you can introduce different aspects of styles within your own bracket. You can't ever say what Bowie truly sounds like.
"You couldn't call him indie or rock or dance. He's had so many different periods of experimentation and yet still he's a real pop star with it - that's something special." Source: Ananova |
2004-11-04 | Elton developing US show | Sir Elton John is developing a US comedy series about an ageing rock superstar and the people around him.
Elton said the show, which hasn't been given a name yet, will not be based on him but will be a mix of other rockers such as Mick Jagger, David Bowie and Freddie Mercury.
The 57-year-old singer said: "It's not about me, but about everybody we've encountered over the past 30 years.
"We've met every star and seen every misbehaviour. And it's about the people around the star, who have to put up with them. It's an upmarket 'Spinal Tap.'"
Elton said the rock star's career will span three decades and a song called Him and Us has already been written for the show. It will feature on his 43rd album Peachtree Road.
The idea came to Elton and his business manager Bob Halley three years ago reports ITV.com.
They've since had input from songwriter Bruce Roberts, producer Michael Edelstein and Sex and the City screenwriter Cindy Chupack. Source: Ananova |
2004-07-28 | David Bowie goes on post-op walkabout | David Bowie has been spotted out and about for the first time since undergoing heart surgery last month.
The 57-year-old rock legend tried to hide his identity with a large straw hat as he went shopping near his home in New York's Chinatown yesterday, but appeared happy to chat to some fans including a couple of police officers who recognised him.
Bowie had an emergency angioplasty operation in Germany where he was on tour last month.
He was treated for "an acutely blocked artery," a spokesperson for the singer said. Source: Ananova |
2004-06-14 | Jack White celebrates his best year | Jack White says the last year, despite breaking a finger and his well-publicised brawl with Jason Stollsteimer, was his best to date.
"It's been the best year of my life," he told VH1. "I've gotten the chance to play with or be on the same stage with Bob Dylan, Loretta Lynn, Beck, Jeff Beck, David Bowie, Iggy Pop.
"These are things that would never occur to me that they would ever be possible, let alone have my favourite aspect be acknowledged and able to share that with an audience."
Hightlights had included producing an album for country legend Loretta Lynn to whom he dedicated the White Stripes' White Blood Cells album.
He said: "I couldn't believe they let me do it. We got really, really close to the real Loretta making that record."
Another had been appearing in Hollywood blockbuster Cold Moutain, although White feels his motives have been misinterpreted.
"People misinterpret things like that. Me being in Cold Mountain was because of how much I loved American and Southern American folk music. It wasn't a step in the direction of fame."
And he said: "I hate the word celebrity! Celebrity is very empty It's like all the people talking about Paris Hilton or whatever.
"There's really nothing going on there. I've never wanted that; anything that's happened is sort of a by-product of creativity." Source: Ananova |
2003-07-21 | Robbie headlines charity spectacular | Robbie Williams is to return to the Royal Albert Hall to headline a show for "The Prince Of Wales's" charity.
He features on the bill with Victoria Beckham and Sir Elton John for a fashion and music event for the Prince's Trust.
Liz Hurley will host the event, called Fashion Rocks, on October 15 when 18 of the world's leading fashion houses will work with leading celebrities.
The idea is to fuse catwalk and concert and Robbie will be strutting his stuff for the designers as well as performing.
He last appeared at the venue in October 2001 to premiere tracks from his Swing When You're Winning album and he said at the time it was a dream come true.
The show also prompted a huge number of complaints from viewers when it was shown on BBC1 for its bad language.
It is not yet clear whether Beckham will be singing or simply modelling for the evening. She has previously posed on the catwalk for one of her favourite designers Maria Grachvogel.
Also taking part is Bryan Ferry - and David Bowie will be beamed into the show by satellite.
Top designers taking part include Alexander McQueen, Calvin Klein, Chanel, Chloe, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Julien Macdonald, Matthew Williamson, Stella McCartney and Versace.
Source: Ananova |
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