On Stage

Paul Brandt – Spotify Fans First

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How excited was I to attend a special Paul Brandt Spotify Fans First event! Long time readers of this blog probably know of my appreciation for Paul, dating back to the early 2000s. And this very intimate event was an incredible and unique way to experience his music all over again with my mom!

The Woodshed is a recording studio, tucked away in Toronto’s Greektown.

Approximately 30 people attended this 2-hour event. We were treated to photos, autographs, and best of all, GREAT stories. Paul shared details about writing The Journey YYC:  Vol. 1 – life from Calgary to Nashville, his adventure on the Pacific Coast Highway (which is on my bucket list for this summer!), his work with Not In My City, which raises awareness about sexual exploitation and sexual trafficking, as well as warming stories about his family.

To be honest, I have used Spotify since it was first introduced in Canada, and I didn’t realize they offered these unique experiences until I was invited to it.

Thank you to Paul Brandt and Spotify for this remarkable opportunity.

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Watch:

Steve Martin & Martin Short at Casino Rama

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Steve Martin & Martin Short

It’s no secret, I am a huge fan of Steve Martin – not just of his acting, or comedy, but of his writing. When I finished high school, I read “Shopgirl” – a 2000 novella penned by the playwright Martin. Since then, I was hooked. I bought every book, and spent my nights catching up on everything I missed. More recently, I found inspiration in “Born Standing Up,” a very personal memoir released as I was entering my final year of college.

Last weekend, I saw Steve Martin live at Casino Rama with Martin Short. The show titled: An Evening You Will Forget For The Rest Of Your Life With The Steep Canyon Rangers . This was my first time seeing him on stage like that, and after all these years, it seemed worth the wait and the 2 hour drive to Orillia.

The pair chatted on stage, shared memories about fame, fans and films, and spent time showing off solo; Martin Short sprawled across the piano, singing about his family, and struggles: “My rock bottom is still better than your wildest dreams.”  The Hamilton native went on to say, he’s always wanted to perform at Casino Rama, with childhood desires to play cowboys and Indian casino owners.

Steve Martin entered the stage with his banjo, and the Grammy-winning Steep Canyon Rangers (whom I interviewed last year for Talk Radio AM640, click here). He took a moment to recognize the band, literally, before performing a solo. “Now that I’ve introduced the band, I am going to do a solo.”

Fast-forward a bit, and old footage was shared on screen, including Steve Martin’s time as “The Great Flydini,” an amazing illusionist magician on Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

This was their last stop on the tour, and the show lasted for two hours. But before it wrapped up, we got five more minutes of the amigos. Back on stage to meet contract requirements, they jokingly sang.

A special thanks to Casino Rama; I had an evening I surely won’t forget.

Kris Allen at The Rivoli, Toronto

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I try not to get addicted to reality shows. Truth be told, anyone who knows me will tell you: I GET OBSESSED. So, it’s no surprise after I watched the first episode of American Idol, Season 8 … I was hooked. Kris Allen has always been my favourite Idol. There is a certain “earthly” sound and sincerity about his voice. Not to mention, his efforts around the world and his passion for his faith continues to inspire me. I’ve followed Kris’ career since I saw him back in 2009. I’m even guilty of downloading “Brand New Shoes,” his independent album, prior to Idol.

Now imagine my excitement when I heard the news Kris would be in Toronto, performing at the city’s downtown Rivoli. The Out Alive Tour featured New York’s Jillette Johnson – who, without exaggeration, has an outstanding powerhouse voice. She’s not mainstream; I’d classify her more indie, with lyrics that ring of our local Peter Katz.

When this Arkansas native finally hit the stage, he opened with “Out Alive” to a thriving Canadian crowd. Kris sang the favourites, including mine – “No Boundaries” – all while rocking our Canucks flag on his t-shirt. His attempts at pronouncing “Poutine” (with emphasis of the “poo”) were great. And I definitely swooned a bit when he cracked out his ukulele, something he says always gets the same reaction. “It’s so cute, I just wanna hug it,” he joked.


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I won’t elaborate on every detail, of course. This is already bordering on my longest post ever. But I can finish up with saying, what a memorable show. I just want to thank Kris. We’re so happy you came to Toronto for your first Canadian gig! I think the feelings were mutual throughout the crowd; your show was remarkable.


Kris Allen Rivoli Toronto

HitRECord on the road in DC

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I had a pretty cool opportunity to see HitRECord on the Road in DC with Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Looper, Inception, Dark Knight Rises) in Washington, DC this week.

The Washington show featured audience interaction, shorts from his collaborative company, dance-offs and music – high energy throughout. I was pleasantly surprised to see a community of artists, all supporting Joseph and vice versa.

Below are some of the stills and a video I shot at the theatre, which I’ve already shared on HitRECord. I wish I had brought my tripod – a number of my photos came out a bit soft. But I did manage to capture a couple of pretty nice ones.

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This is the finale song JGL sang:

Brutal hearts

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I have diverse taste, including a passionate love for reggae/ska music. One of my favourite bands (ever) has been Canada’s Bedouin Soundclash. During my time as a freelance writer, I got to interview the boys a number of times – most memorable being at a downtown café for the release of their fifth studio album Light the Horizon. 

I wrote a detailed article for my personal site (now retired) and a short feature for 680News. You can read it here! They are a fantastic group of musicians, and more importantly, fantastic people.

The images you see below are oldies, but goodies; lead singer Jay Malinowski energizes a crowd in Kitchener, Ontario.


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