April 2012

Dean Brody Loves ‘Canadian Girls’

Submitted by cashbox on Fri, 04/20/2012 - 17:44

Submitted by Cashbox Canada

Dean Brody’s single ‘Canadian Girls’ is the first Canadian song to become a # 1 hit at country radio since February 2008. From his new album ‘Dirt’, with the patriotic line ‘true north and national treasure she’d give her life for the red & white’ with the description of ‘irresistible , loveable, and trouble". it is a great anthem for our country.

Dean Brody is focused and fearless. “Without risk there’s no reward,” says Dean Brody. “It’s important to be fearless. You need to be persistent. You can’t give up.”

Brody would know. If there’s one thing the Jaffray, BC born singer/songwriter has proven in his career, it’s that he’s not afraid to pull up stakes and risk everything to chase down his dreams. “My life’s been kind of a trail – it hasn’t been one spot for thirty years – it’s been a bunch of different places, different memories and different friends. It’s about time passing and reminiscing,” Brody says of the album. “Songs about driving, good old times, good old days and growing up.”

A ‘one step forward, two steps back’ story of perseverance, dedication and hope that, even if it’s not the focus of his latest batch of songs, lends depth to his music and lyrics. “We’ve moved so much and done so many crazy things,” Brody says, “but each leap of faith has been about the music, and they’ve all been big ones.”

Dick Clark of American Bandstand Dies of Massive Heart Attack

Submitted by cashbox on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 16:41

Television legend Dick Clark – who for 33 years helmed the groundbreaking TV music show American Bandstand while ringing in countless New Year’s Eves for viewers at home since the 1970s – has died. He was 82.

Clark's agent Paul Shefrin said in statement that the veteran host died this morning following a "massive heart attack."

Celebrated for his youthful appearance and relentlessly upbeat manner, Clark was a TV icon long before the contemporary notion of celebrity took hold. He hosted American Bandstand from 1956 to 1989 making it the must-visit stop on the promotional itinerary for every happening pop musician in its day. More recently, Clark rang in the New Year alongside reality TV host Ryan Seacrest, an obvious chip off the block.

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest was s consistent hit with viewers, commanding such talent as Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber (to name two recent guests) to perform December 31 in Manhattan’s Time Square.

Clark also served as a host to the game show, Pyramid. Like many celebs who flourished in the golden age of television, Clark made his mark early on in radio.

ZEUS: Busting visions

Submitted by cashbox on Fri, 04/13/2012 - 15:18

Arts & Crafts

Ok, so retro-rock’s the current thang, nobody rocks harder than The Sheepdogs or gets down deeper than Alabama Shakes. Still, gotta like what this T.Dot foursome’s doing with their take on it. First off, they have the chops and have been road dogs long enough that the squirrel-ass tightness is a given.

The debut ‘Say Us’ had all that zingy big-hair guitars sound and all the tons ‘o’ drums you could want but it didn’t sound properly gelled. Like it was just a phase they were going through.

With Busting Visions, no question this is where they live, and all the Beatlesque boo birds be darned. Nothing wrong with fooling with the formula if you can come up with such as “Hello Tender Love” and “Messenger’s Way”. So while there’s nothing new here, there’s much that’s strangely familiar and comes wrapped in positive roock’n’roll associations. Even the classic heartbreak rock of “Let It Go, Don’t Let It Go” ends up hurting so good and everywhere, catchy hooks and sweet pop harmonies are scattered like Easter eggs.

Baseline, Rob Drake, Mike O’Brien, Neil Quinn, and Carlin Nicholson have delivered a solid classic-derived album from a band confident enough in their strengths to sidestep cheap irony and get on with the rock’n’roll.

Lenny Stoute

A Tribe Called Red

Submitted by cashbox on Fri, 04/13/2012 - 15:21

Independent

This album, now available as a free download, gets the sound of this gifted trio down just right. While the communal energy of their live gigs cannot be trapped, the recorded format allows for an appreciation of just how diverse a motherlode A Tribe Called Red is mining.

These three Ottawa area First Nations DJs: DJ NDN, DJ Bear Witness and DJ Shug, have been staging their conceptual Electric Pow Wows on a monthly basis for some time. They act as a showcase for Aboriginal DJ talent and what A Tribe Called Red dubs ‘contemporary urban Native culture’.

As laid out on the album, this refers to a sound inclusive of hip hop, Jamaican dance hall, electronica of many hues, new soul and First Nations traditions. That it all hangs together has to do with the drum, the universal sound of heartbeat, as set up in the opener, "Electric Pow Wow Drum", which opens with the familiar "heartbeat" of the Big Drum.

Big respect to this crew for not just sampling the original music piecemeal. Instead it’s presented as is and it’s up to the technology to make the merge happen.

Which happens more often than and not and which makes this, among many other noteworthy things, one helluva great dance party album.

Buddy Black heads up Acoustic Punk showcase

Submitted by cashbox on Fri, 04/13/2012 - 15:23

Photo: Headliner Buddy Black

Toronto’s punk scene is currently enjoying an up tick, which means more shows in more venues. This one has a diff twist to it, offering an evening of Acoustic Punk. Yep, punk tunes stripped down to stompin’ boots and acoustic guitars. It all goes down Thur. April 19 at West End venue The Press Club (850 Dundas St W) and it’s a freebie.

The three-act bill is topped by Buddy Black’s frontman Buddy Black, with High Top Society and Careers In Science in support. Showtime’s 9.30 and y’all should get there soonest, as all three acts are enjoying buzz. Careers In Science is coming off a well-received set at CMW and Black might drop a tune or two from the plenty menacing Witchfinger EP.

Cashbox Canada