Spinner http://www.spinner.com Spinner http://www.spinner.com/media/feedlogo.gif Spinner http://www.spinner.com en-us Copyright 2012 Blogsmith, LLC. The contents of this headlines and excerpts feed are available for limited commercial distribution. You may repost this feed to your site provided you link back to the original story, do not edit the material, and do not remove this copyright notice. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ Bry Webb: Singer Explains Break-Up of Beloved Rock Band the Constantines http://www.spinner.com/2012/02/15/bry-webb-constantines/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/02/15/bry-webb-constantines/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/02/15/bry-webb-constantines/#comments Filed under: , ,


Bry WebbCaitlin Durlak

Usually when a beloved band goes on 'hiatus' it belies conflict between members. But when the Constantines split in 2010 it surprised many -- they had just celebrated 10 years together with a successful tour and were gaining recognition and respect outside their native Canada, not to mention there wasn't a whiff of hostility.

So why did the Ontario blue collar rockers decide to call time out? Frontman and newly minted solo artist Bry Webb hints that the demands of touring pushed him to hit the pause button.

"As much as I absolutely loved the Constantines and playing in that band, I got to be really unhealthy for me, just the way I was singing and stuff," Webb tells Spinner. "I was sick like 80 percent of the time we were on the road, which is just crazy, so I burned out." ]]> bry webbbrywebbConstantinesFeist Drew Berner 2012-02-15T16:30:00 00:00 Bry Webb: Constantines Frontman Credits Feist With Reviving His Music Career http://www.spinner.com/2012/02/02/bry-webb-constantines-feist/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/02/02/bry-webb-constantines-feist/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/02/02/bry-webb-constantines-feist/#comments Filed under: , ,


Bry Webb, FeistCaitlin Durlak | AFP/Getty Images

The Constantines always projected a working-class vibe, but no one could have predicted that, after the band went on extended hiatus in 2010, frontman Bry Webb would nearly give up music completely to join the working class.

After celebrating the Ontario band's 10 anniversary with a series of shows in 2010, the Constantines announced they would be taking time off to focus on other pursuits. While most of the members started up side projects, Webb admits he was burned out on music completely, and so he went to join the lunch pail crowd he spent so many years singing about.

"I worked in construction in Montreal for a while to focus on other things, and then my wife and I found out we were going to have a baby," Webb tells Spinner. "I didn't even really listen to music much, I was listening to talk radio, podcasts and stuff while I was doing construction. I just couldn't think about it."

Webb and his wife decided to pack up and move to Guelph, Ont. -- where the Constantines first began -- and Webb took a job as program coordinator at the local community radio station, calling it "the best job a transitioning ex-professional musician could ask for." He wasn't even thinking about returning to music until he got a message from an old friend. ]]> bry webbbrywebbFeist Drew Berner 2012-02-02T15:30:00 00:00 The Tea Party Frontman Talks 'Temptations' That Tore Band Apart http://www.spinner.com/2011/12/21/the-tea-party/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/12/21/the-tea-party/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/12/21/the-tea-party/#comments Filed under: , ,


The Tea PartyCourtesy of the Tea Party

Getting a band back together after six years apart isn't easy. But for one-time Can-rock staple the Tea Party, their recent reunion involved a lot more than polishing up some tunes from their multi-platinum catalogue and cashing in on nostalgia.

After taking an indefinite hiatus in 2005, the trio reconvened for a handful of shows over the past summer. Things went so well they tackled a Canadian tour this fall -- which, no surprise, coincided with putting their website on the auction block for a $500,000 minimum after the U.S. Tea Party political movement expressed interest in acquiring the domain. But even after spending some quality time together, there's uncertainty about whether they've overcome the personal issues that pushed them apart.

"What was tough was walking into the room [for the first rehearsal]," frontman Jeff Martin explains. "We hadn't seen or spoken to each other in six years, so for all of us it was awkward." ]]> tea partytheteaparty Drew Berner 2011-12-21T14:00:00 00:00 The Tea Party on Auctioning Teaparty.com to Ideological Foes for $500K Minimum http://www.spinner.com/2011/12/09/the-tea-party-website/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/12/09/the-tea-party-website/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/12/09/the-tea-party-website/#comments Filed under: ,


Tea PartyCourtesy of the Tea Party

When Stuart Chatwood, bassist/keyboardist/webmaster for Canadian rockers the Tea Party, registered the band's domain name back in 1993 -- so deep into the past that Google didn't exist -- there's no way he could have foreseen the controversy that now surrounds www.TeaParty.com.

Nowadays sought-after domain names can sell for small fortunes -- and Chatwood and his newly reunited band are sitting on a potential goldmine as America's Tea Party movement tries to acquire the URL. The band's asking price: a minimum bid of US$500,000.

"Since we separated I've had a very successful solo career so I'm quite comfortable financially," frontman Jeff Martin tells Spinner, insisting the decision to sell off the site isn't a cash grab despite, of course, hiring online broker Sedo to field potential offers. ]]> tea party Drew Berner 2011-12-09T16:00:00 00:00 Far From Home: Bands Named After Places They Aren't From http://www.spinner.com/2011/11/17/band-names-geography/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/11/17/band-names-geography/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/11/17/band-names-geography/#comments Filed under: , ,


Of MontrealPolyvinyl

Naming a band is hard work. Pick the wrong one and you might toil in obscurity forever while the right name might net you attention from the right people. So why not take some inspiration from what's around you?

There's plenty to be said for the civic pride of naming your band after your hometown, especially if it evokes something of your music -- say, the jazzy rock of Chicago or the down-home twang of Alabama. But adopting the name of a place you've never even visited? That takes some real imagination and a little bit of guts.

So we did some research to find out why a whole slew of bands -- from Asia and Beirut to Of Montreal and Portugal, The Man -- have done just that. ]]> asiaBayCityRollersbeirutBoardsOfCanadacariboumanitobanazarethOfMontrealPortugalTheManRussianFuturistsYukonBlonde Drew Berner 2011-11-17T13:00:00 00:00 Crystal Castles, Caribou Make ECHO Songwriting Prize Short List http://www.spinner.com/2010/08/31/crystal-castles-caribou-echo-songwriting-prize/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/08/31/crystal-castles-caribou-echo-songwriting-prize/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/08/31/crystal-castles-caribou-echo-songwriting-prize/#comments Filed under: ,


Crystal Castles, Alice GlassRoger Kisby, Getty Images

It may be the time of year when fans of Canadian music turn their attention (and armchair criticism) towards the Polaris Music Prize, but the annual ECHO Songwriting Prize is starting to garner its fair share of attention.

This year, the five songs chosen as finalists are 'Albatross' by the Besnard Lakes, 'Celestica' by Crystal Castles, 'Destroyer' by Young Galaxy, 'Hearts Trompet' by Brasstronaut and 'Odessa' by Caribou. Fans can vote throughout the month of September, and the winner pockets a cool $5,000 for their fine work.

The ECHO prize seems tailor-made for an era where songs are getting more attention than albums among the music-buying public, so expect to hear plenty of amateur and professional critics arguing over the list and the eventual winner in the days and weeks ahead. ]]> besnard lakesbrasstronautcariboucrystal castlesecho prizeecho songwriting prizeechosongwritingprizeyoung galaxy Drew Berner 2010-08-31T09:40:00 00:00 Broken Social Scene, 'All to All' (DJ Mom Jeans Remix) -- Exclusive Download http://www.spinner.com/2010/08/16/broken-social-scene-all-to-all-dj-mom-jeans-remix-song-p/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/08/16/broken-social-scene-all-to-all-dj-mom-jeans-remix-song-p/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/08/16/broken-social-scene-all-to-all-dj-mom-jeans-remix-song-p/#comments Filed under: , ,


As if Broken Social Scene weren't busy enough lately. In the last few months they've released their long-awaited fourth album -- which was subsequently shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize -- played festivals around the world, helmed their own hometown show featuring the reunited Pavement, been featured in a quasi-concert film and contributed to the soundtrack for the highly anticipated film, 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.'

But just in case you forgot about them for a second, the Toronto indie collective have decided to release a series of remixes -- one every Monday -- of their pulsing electronic track, 'All to All.' Last week Pitchfork premiered the first edition, remixed by ex-Death From Above 1979 drummer and sometime-BSS contributor Sebastian Grainger. ]]> Broken Social SceneBrokenSocialScene Drew Berner 2010-08-16T11:00:00 00:00 Osheaga Festival 2010 Pictures http://www.spinner.com/2010/08/03/osheaga-festival-2010-pictures/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/08/03/osheaga-festival-2010-pictures/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/08/03/osheaga-festival-2010-pictures/#comments Filed under:


This year's Osheaga Festival certainly wasn't without its hiccups -- Owen Pallett fled the stage after losing sound in his monitors and technical difficulties delayed sets by Jamie Lidell and Beach House -- but it also had more than its share of magical moments. Montreal-based Arcade Fire's homecoming set was a a rousing success, Weezer showed they know how to rock a crowd, and Pavement and Sonic Youth transported the crowd back to the glory days of alt-rock -- just to name a few of the highlights.

If you missed out on all the incredible action, check out the photo gallery after the jump. ]]> arcade fireArcadeFireBeach HouseBeachHouseJamie LidellJamieLidellosheagaOsheaga FestivalOsheagaFestivalOwen PallettOwenPallettPavementSonic YouthSonicYouthweezer Drew Berner 2010-08-03T12:30:00 00:00 Top 10 Music Video Cameos by Movie and TV Stars Before They Were Famous http://www.spinner.com/2010/07/15/best-cameos-music-videos/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/07/15/best-cameos-music-videos/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/07/15/best-cameos-music-videos/#comments Filed under:


It stands to reason that several big-name film directors, such as David Fincher, Spike Jonze and Gus Van Sant cut their teeth making music videos. What may be less evident is that plenty of small- and big-screen actors started out their careers in videos, too. Whether affording a brief cameo or a full-on starring role, music videos have become a great way for struggling actors to become recognizable faces. In that vein, here are the top 10 music videos featuring movie and TV stars before they were famous.
10
Everclear, 'One Hit Wonder'
Featuring Christina Hendricks
The actress better known as Joan Holloway from 'Mad Men' may have starred in Broken Bells' recent video for 'The Ghost Inside,' but that wasn't her first music
video experience. Back in 1999, she was the lead character in this Everclear's 'One Hit Wonder' video -- a title that, fortunately, one can't apply to Hendricks.

]]> aerosmithAlanis MorissetteAlanisMorissetteannie lennoxAnnieLennoxbeckbruce springsteenBruceSpringsteeneverclearjanet jacksonJanetJacksonpaula abdulPaulaAbdulrolling stonesRollingStonesthe rolling stonesTheRollingStonestom pettytom petty and the heartbreakersTomPettyTomPettyAndTheHeartbreakers Drew Berner 2010-07-15T18:30:00 00:00 Pavement Reunion Tour Lands at Toronto Island Festival http://www.spinner.com/2010/06/20/pavement-reunion-tour-toronto-island-festival/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/06/20/pavement-reunion-tour-toronto-island-festival/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/06/20/pavement-reunion-tour-toronto-island-festival/#comments Filed under: ,


Pavement, Stephen MalkmusReunions are a tricky thing -- after all, bands break up for a reason and those reasons aren't easily forgotten. Pavement's recent reunion has drawn universal approval, but it's easy to see where the cracks used to be.

The lo-fi godfathers followed an all-star cast of festival openers on Toronto Island on Saturday afternoon -- the lineup included concert organizers Broken Social Scene, as well as Band of Horses, Beach House and Timber Timbre -- but after a day of anticipation it was clear who the main draw was.

The hero worship began on stage, where the current indie superstars each mentioned the huge role Pavement played in their lives, musical and otherwise, and radiated out through the audience. Walking through the crowd you could feel the excitement in the air, as die-hard fans of a long-defunct band could barely contain themselves at the promise of seeing Pavement, a group most thought would never share a stage again. ]]> PavementStephen MalkmusStephenMalkmustoronto island festivalTorontoIslandFestival Drew Berner 2010-06-20T14:30:00 00:00 Broken Social Scene Get The Band Back Together at Toronto Island Festival http://www.spinner.com/2010/06/20/broken-social-scene-toronto-island-festival/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/06/20/broken-social-scene-toronto-island-festival/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/06/20/broken-social-scene-toronto-island-festival/#comments Filed under: ,


Broken Social Scene, Kevin Drew, Charles SpearinEven when everything that could possibly go wrong does, Broken Social Scene can still put together the show of a lifetime.

On Saturday afternoon of their self-curated Toronto Island Festival, the band fought through busted amps and glitchy electronics -- not to mention a drum kit that literally had to be tied down -- to deliver the kind of performance most bands can only dream of.

Nowhere but in Toronto would fans get to see the band with its full complement of vocalists, guitarists and peripheral players. It was far from a "get everyone we know on stage and fool around" type of affair -- whether it was former Death From Above 1979 drummer Sebastian Grainger singing harmonies on 'Forced to Love,' Feist dueting with frontman Kevin Drew on '7/4 Shoreline' or Metric's Emily Haines delivering 'Sentimental X's,' each guest brought a welcome magic to the stage. ]]> Broken Social SceneBrokenSocialScenetoronto island concerttoronto island festivalTorontoIslandConcertTorontoIslandFestival Drew Berner 2010-06-20T12:45:00 00:00 Band of Horses Pay Tribute to Pavement at Toronto Island Festival http://www.spinner.com/2010/06/20/band-of-horses-pavement-toronto-island-festiva/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/06/20/band-of-horses-pavement-toronto-island-festiva/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/06/20/band-of-horses-pavement-toronto-island-festiva/#comments Filed under: ,


Band of Horses, Ben BridwellBand of Horses frontman Ben Bridwell just isn't built for hot weather.

"It is hotter than sh-- up here -- we all gon' die!" the bearded singer proclaimed from the stage during their sunny Saturday afternoon slot for the quasi-annual, Broken Social Scene-curated Toronto Island Festival. Bridwell looked ready to melt in the 30-degree-Celsius heat, though his band managed a set as scorching as the mid-afternoon sun.

The band's music is perfectly tuned for a dingy country bar, with its frequent slow tempos and twang to spare, but evidently they've learned a thing or two about how to translate their music for an outdoor stage. ]]> Band of HorsesBandOfHorsestoronto island festivalTorontoIslandFestival Drew Berner 2010-06-20T11:30:00 00:00 Sloan Still Rocking the Stage After 20 Years http://www.spinner.com/2010/06/19/sloan-nxne/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/06/19/sloan-nxne/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/06/19/sloan-nxne/#comments Filed under: ,


Sloan, Chris MurphyThere are at least three things in life that any Canadian rock fan can count on: death, taxes and Sloan.

On Friday night the band showed why they've been one of the country's most beloved bands for nearly 20 years, turning out a seemingly bottomless set of hits at Yonge-Dundas Square during their headlining gig for NXNE.

Sloan are undoubtedly unique in that all members are contributing songwriters and are happy to share the spotlight when the band performs. It's hard to argue that bassist/singer/sometimes drummer Chris Murphy is the face of the band -- his goofy charisma is impossible to ignore even when one of his bandmates is leading a song -- but he traded places with usual drummer Andrew Scott for a few songs, giving the drummer a chance to stretch his legs and sing a few tunes. ]]> NXNESloan Drew Berner 2010-06-19T16:30:00 00:00 Wavves Roll Into Toronto's NXNE Festival http://www.spinner.com/2010/06/19/wavves-nxne/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/06/19/wavves-nxne/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/06/19/wavves-nxne/#comments Filed under: ,


WavvesWavves do two things better than just about any other band playing this year's NXNE: play warp-speed garage punk and push peoples' buttons.

The trio did plenty of both when they took the stage at Toronto's Lee's Palace last night. The first five minutes of their set was almost like frontman Nathan Williams' personal game to see how impatient he could make the crowd before they played a single note.

They "checked" their mics repeatedly, asked for more and more reverb -- for a "lo-fi" band they were remarkably particular about their sound -- and made puns about smoking pot until it threatened to devolve into a repeat of their set at Primavera Sound last year where Williams, then backed by drummer Ryan Ulsh, famously invoked the wrath of the crowd by fussing with the stage sound for 15 minutes, mocking the crowd and only getting through a couple of songs before Ulsh left the stage in frustration.

Williams' new band -- who used to back Jay Reatard -- were initially willing to participate in the shenanigans, but eventually even they just wanted to get on with it. ]]> NXNEWavves Drew Berner 2010-06-19T13:45:00 00:00 Zeus Cover Genesis at Toronto's NXNE Festival http://www.spinner.com/2010/06/18/zeus-genesis-nxne-festival/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/06/18/zeus-genesis-nxne-festival/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/06/18/zeus-genesis-nxne-festival/#comments Filed under: ,


ZeusThere are plenty of band's vying for the title of Toronto's best live act, but for at least one night there's no debating that Zeus owned that crown.

Pick up a copy of their record and they come across as unassuming, though they make catchy, '60s-influenced pop-rock with the best of them. But as they took the stage at Toronto's Rivoli on Thursday night as part of NXNE, they nearly dared the crowd to look away.

All eyes were on the stage as the band tore through crowd favourites like 'How Does it Feel?,' 'Marching Through Your Head' and finale 'You Gotta Teller.' Zeus, who began as the backing band for Broken Social Scene affiliate Jason Collett, have a reputation for being tight, but they loosened up enough to give the set a jammy feel. Members traded instruments, vocal lines and harmonies with ease, while the grins and knowing looks they exchanged showed they loved every minute of it. And their joy was contagious -- for a moment Toronto's usually-reserved music fans could have been mistaken for a gang of teenagers rocking out to 45s in their parents' basement. ]]> nxnezeus Drew Berner 2010-06-18T12:15:00 00:00 Japandroids Play Surprise Show at Dakota Tavern for NXNE http://www.spinner.com/2010/06/18/japandroids-nxne/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/06/18/japandroids-nxne/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/06/18/japandroids-nxne/#comments Filed under: ,


JapandroidsLast night's kinda-sorta-secret NXNE set by Japandroids may be both the first and last time Toronto's Dakota Tavern hosts a mosh pit.

The twang-friendly alt-country bar has seen its fair share of rock shows -- Broken Social Scenesters, many of whom live in the nearby 'hood, have graced its stage in various permutations over the last few years -- but its patrons are generally content to maintain their personal space. But as venues the world over have discovered, when Vancouver's Japandroids hit a stage, any stage, you gotta be ready for anything. ]]> JapandroidsNXNE Drew Berner 2010-06-18T10:37:00 00:00 Noel Gallagher's Virgin Festival Attacker Avoids Jail http://www.spinner.com/2010/04/21/noel-gallagher-virgin-festival-attacker-sentenced/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/04/21/noel-gallagher-virgin-festival-attacker-sentenced/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/04/21/noel-gallagher-virgin-festival-attacker-sentenced/#comments Filed under: ,


Noel Gallagher, OasisA man who assaulted Oasis member Noel Gallagher while the band was performing in Toronto was sentenced to 12 months of house arrest today.

Danny Sullivan, 48, pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm, according to a report in the Globe and Mail.

The charge stems from an incident during the Virgin Festival in September 2008. Sullivan managed to dodge security to gain access to the stage while Oasis was performing, then rushed toward the guitarist and pushed him into a monitor. Gallagher was left with three broken ribs, and the band was forced to cancel a handful of subsequent concerts and promotional appearances.

Sullivan admitted he was drunk during the incident and couldn't remember how he reached the stage. He's not allowed to drink alcohol for the duration of his sentence. ]]> Noel GallagherNoelGallagherOasis Drew Berner 2010-04-21T18:00:00 00:00 Crystal Castles to Release New Song for Record Store Day http://www.spinner.com/2010/03/30/crystal-castles-new-song-record-store-day/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/03/30/crystal-castles-new-song-record-store-day/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/03/30/crystal-castles-new-song-record-store-day/#comments Filed under: ,


Crystal CastlesIf record collectors needed another reason to circle April 17 -- aka Record Store Day -- on their calendars this year, this is it: electro-punk duo Crystal Castles have announced they'll be dropping a super-limited edition 12" that day with a brand new track.

'Doe Deer' clocks in at a lean minute-and-37-seconds, while the three other tracks are mixes of songs recorded in 2004, prior to the band's obsession with 8-bit sounds, and feature actual guitars.

The vinyl-only release is limited to only 500 copies, so be prepared to battle for one of the few your local shop may be stocking. All signs point to a full-length album from the band later this year, as Exclaim! reports they've been recording with UK producer Paul Epworth (Bloc Party, Florence and the Machine), but there's no word on whether 'Doe Deer' will be included, nor has a release date been set.

Whether you manage to get your hands on a copy or not, you may be able to catch the Toronto-based duo of Alice Glass and Ethan Kath performing live as they embark on a series of dates. Most of the performances will be in Europe, but the band will stop in Toronto, New York and Los Angeles before heading across the pond. Dates and details after the jump. ]]> Crystal CastlesCrystalCastles Drew Berner 2010-03-30T18:30:00 00:00 Woodhands, 'Dissembler' - Video Premiere http://www.spinner.com/2010/03/30/woodhands-dissembler-video-premiere/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/03/30/woodhands-dissembler-video-premiere/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/03/30/woodhands-dissembler-video-premiere/#comments Filed under: ,


WoodhandsToronto electro duo Woodhands may be known as party starters -- their live shows are renowned for their tendency to become sweaty dance jams -- but they also have a softer side. Their newest video, for sweet boy-girl track 'Dissembler,' is ample proof that there are plenty of tears to go with the blood and sweat they pour into their music.

The video finds drummer Paul Banwatt and singer/keyboardist Dan Werb -- enmeshed in a love triangle with guest vocalist Maylee Todd. The scenes unfold as a disorienting series of still images mimicking the miscommunication between the pair.

"The split screen work in the video mirrors the way that people's perceptions of a situation can be so different. You can think that she's giving you all the signals... but so can your friend," Werb says. "Maybe you're both right or both wrong -- and that's captured so artfully. The song's so personal watching the video gets me every time." ]]> Woodhands Drew Berner 2010-03-30T14:45:00 00:00 Holy F--- Reveal New Album Details http://www.spinner.com/2010/03/16/holy-fuck-new-album-latin/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/03/16/holy-fuck-new-album-latin/ http://www.spinner.com/2010/03/16/holy-fuck-new-album-latin/#comments Filed under: ,


Holy FuckSome exciting news for the electronic music fans: Toronto quartet Holy F--- will be unleashing their second full length album, called 'Latin,' on May 11.

The band revealed the details of the album on Friday -- on occasionally lewd site Chatroulette.com -- and gave anxious fans a chance to hear first single 'Latin America.' Founding member Graham Walsh is very pleased with the record, but he told Spinner that, after spending the last year putting it together -- he engineered it himself -- he's not stopping to rest now that it's finished.

"It's funny, you have to deliver the record [to the label] so early, so [long] before the release date, that I'm already like, 'I've delivered it and I've had this time off and I'm already starting to work on new ideas,' " Walsh says. "'Let's get this album out, I'm ready to start making the next one. '" ]]> holy fuckHolyFuckSXSW Drew Berner 2010-03-16T17:00:00 00:00