A sampling of links to recent articles/reviews I’ve written for Pitchfork, the A.V. Club, the Globe and Mail, NOW Magazine, and (mostly) for Exclaim! Magazine. (last updated: 11/30/2019).
**For Signal to Noise pieces I’ve written, please visit this page.**
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: November 29, 2019 Published Nov 30, 2019 A President gets ripped, a Tinder idiot is slipped, two ping-pong players are oddly equipped, the origins of a Stephen King manuscript and m…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Will Ferrell & King Princess November 23, 2019 Published Nov 24, 2019 Bouncing back from a rough week for Harry Styles, Saturday Night Live corrected its course and wrote some great stuff for Will Ferrell, who…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: November 22, 2019 Published Nov 23, 2019 The President from Krypton, Brad Pitt is sad to be ripped on, Jon Voight has a medal slipped on, what every airplane TV had flipped on and m…
ReviewsBankruptcy Computers Make the Drinks Published Nov 18, 2019
On one of the most sophisticated rock albums of 2019, Toronto’s Bankruptcy balance weighty subject matter with cool hooks and textured, guit…
FeaturesBonnie “Prince” Billy on Recording Others’ Songs, Mourning David Berman and Long-Awaited ‘I Made a Place’ Published Nov 18, 2019 On the cover of his first album of Bonnie “Prince” Billy originals for Drag City since 2011, Will Oldham acknowledges a curious bit of confu…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Harry StylesNovember 16, 2019 Published Nov 17, 2019
Harry Styles might have been a keen host and musical guest, but he was steering a Titanic-like episode of Saturday Night Live that was confu…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: November 15, 2019 Published Nov 16, 2019 Don Cherry is finally fired for being racist, Disney+ is put through its paces, working through Trump’s various legal cases, gender reveal p…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: November 8, 2019 Published Nov 09, 2019 Chris Evans is strapping, a pop caught napping, the MAGA crew tries rapping, a proposal to cancel clapping and much more from this week in f…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Kristen Stewart & Coldplay November 2, 2019 Published Nov 03, 2019 Aloof yet assured, Kristen Stewart was a game and adept host, while Coldplay were derivative and not good. Here’s everything that happened o…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: November 1, 2019 Published Nov 02, 2019
Pixelatedboat sends up the packet, World Series fans make an anti-Trump racket, an Uber driver can’t hack it, Rage Against the Machine are b…
NewsKids in the Hall Help Raise $30,000 for Ailing Comedian Paul Bellini Published Nov 01, 2019 Kids in the Hall writer and fixture Paul Bellini is still in a Canadian hospital following complications from surgery, but the comedy troupe…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Chance the Rapper October 26, 2019 Published Oct 27, 2019 In a highly entertaining episode, Chance the Rapper did a great job as host and musical guest. Here’s everything that happened on Saturday N…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: October 25, 2019 Published Oct 26, 2019
A patriot will eat your ass, a Brexit deal will never pass, Yoda teaches a drawing class, Jesse Pinkman worries about a new law in Mass. and…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: October 18, 2019 Published Oct 19, 2019
Not knowing enough about “YMCA,” happy Columbus Day, Scott Aukerman’s new neighbour gives it away, Paul Rudd gives photographers a whole new…
ReviewsWilco Ode to Joy Published Oct 14, 2019
“Did you think everything would be okay?” Jeff Tweedy asks incredulously during “Hold Me Anyway,” and the line from one of his most Randy Ne…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: David Harbour & Camila Cabello October 12, 2019 Published Oct 13, 2019 With a solid hosting turn by David Harbour, an elaborate musical performance by Camila Cabello, and two of the show’s strongest remotes in r…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: October 11, 2019 Published Oct 12, 2019
George W. Bush is friends with Ellen DeGeneres, a deal on apples is very generous, many tweets are by degenerates, avocadoes could be more a…
ReviewsGary Gulman Defeats Demons with Hilarity in ‘The Great Depresh’ Directed by Michael Bonfiglio Published Oct 08, 2019
It’s rather shocking, the mental illness and depression that comedian Gary Gulman has been suffering from, particularly over the past two ye…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Phoebe Waller-Bridge & Taylor Swift October 5, 2019 Published Oct 06, 2019 Phoebe Waller-Bridge was a hilarious host and Taylor Swift was her fan-pleasing self on this uneven, weirdly organized but ultimately enjoya…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: October 4, 2019 Published Oct 06, 2019
The pluck of a string, Trump doesn’t regret giving Ukraine a ring, Joker is finally a real thing, political leaders should do more than marc…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Woody Harrelson & Billie Eilish September 28, 2019 Published Sep 29, 2019 With a premium placed on shorter, economical sketches and no Pete Davidson in sight for the whole show, Saturday Night Live began season 45…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: September 27, 2019 Published Sep 28, 2019 The president may be impeached, his wall is easily breached, British climate change efforts are beached, September 21st is reached and much…
FeaturesLauren Lapkus Tries to Explain the Larger ‘Between Two Ferns’ Universe Published Sep 25, 2019 “I never thought about there being a world behind the scenes of this series,” Lauren Lapkus says of Between Two Ferns: The Movie. The po…
ReviewsJosé Contreras At the Slaughterhouse Published Sep 25, 2019
Even when he’s stripping things down with minimal and acoustic instrumentation, José Contreras can’t help but write the most alluring hooks….
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: September 20, 2019 Published Sep 21, 2019 A commemorative Leonard Cohen stamp, Sean Spicer goes camp, Alexa warps a little scamp, George Carlin was a champ, and much more from this w…
ReviewsJFL42 Review: Nick Kroll Sheds His Famous Characters and Reveals Himself Meridian Hall, Toronto, ON, September 20 Published Sep 21, 2019 “I can’t believe he wore blackface,” Nick Kroll said suddenly and out of nowhere, prompting a roar from Canadians who are currently being le…
ReviewsJFL42 Review: ‘Comedy Bang! Bang!’ Conjures Improvised Joy Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Toronto ON, September 20 Published Sep 21, 2019 Capping off a couple of busy days at JFL42, including staging his Threedom podcast with Lauren Lapkus and Paul F. Tompkins, and promoting hi…
Reviews‘Between Two Ferns: The Movie’ Turns Into a Surprising and Heartfelt Road Trip Directed by Scott Aukerman Published Sep 21, 2019 Smartly written and directed with plenty of nods to the Scott Aukerman comedy universe, Between Two Ferns: The Movie is a very funny extende…
ReviewsJFL42 Review: ‘Threedom’ Podcast Tangents Are, in Fact, the Destination Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Toronto, ON, September 19 Published Sep 20, 2019 Improvising geniuses Lauren Lapkus, Paul F. Tompkins and Scott Aukerman staged their Threedom podcast at JFL42, giving listeners pretty much…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: September 13, 2019 Published Sep 14, 2019 When films are Tarantined, a man’s hand should be cleaned, #PresidentPussyAssBitch is queened, new #SNL hires should really be screened, and…
FeaturesIggy Pop Breaks ‘Free’ Published Sep 12, 2019
“I wouldn’t mind if it was a closing chapter,” Iggy Pop says about his haunting new album, the decidedly not-rock Free. The 72-year-old…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: September 6, 2019 Published Sep 07, 2019 The most secret sauce, a rollercoaster cellphone toss, Lizzo says bye like a boss, Anna Kendrick on why ghosting isn’t your loss, and much m…
ReviewsIggy Pop Free Published Sep 06, 2019
Exploring the concept of personal freedom in a manner that’s direct and musically sparse, Iggy Pop is reflective and resolute on his compell…
ReviewsThe Messthetics Anthropocosmic Nest Published Sep 05, 2019
After some serious road work around the world, Washington, DC instrumental trio the Messthetics have outdone their 2018 debut simply by gett…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: August 31, 2019 Published Aug 31, 2019
LD and KD, doggy style in an alley, an answer by Cardi B, it’s good to be able to see, and much more from this week in funny tweets. Augu…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: August 24, 2019 Published Aug 24, 2019
Always replace an empty roll, float in a tent for a long stroll, a chicken sandwich makes you lose control, a less than Grateful soul, and m…
FeaturesI Remember Me and David Berman Published Aug 17, 2019
David Berman cared too much. The esteemed American poet, musician, singer and songwriter ended his own life on August 7, leaving family,…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: August 16, 2019 Published Aug 17, 2019
Miscellaneous Eastern European whites, Amazon bots defend real human rights, a prankster hits new Olympic heights, the way we’re moving fish…
ReviewsFiver Turn ‘Audible Songs From Rockwood’ Into a Theatrical Production Summerworks, Toronto, ON, August 10 Published Aug 11, 2019 Simone Schmidt has transformed their 2017 album, Audible Songs From Rockwood, (released under their Fiver moniker) into a stark, affecting s…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: August 9, 2019 Published Aug 11, 2019
When pudding is VHS storable, a ticklish child is adorable, gun violence isn’t ignorable, Kid Rock is truly horrible and much more from this…
FeaturesComedian Ronny Chieng Goes from ‘The Daily Show’ to Laying Down the Law for Just for Laughs Published Jul 23, 2019
Comedian Ronny Chieng is walking outside, and the hustle and bustle of New York City is coming through loud and clear over the phone. Or…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: July 19, 2019 Published Jul 20, 2019
Getting burned by your mom and dad, a cat thinks Cats looks bad, Rick Astley makes someone sad, Shaq is the weirdest athlete the world has h…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: July 12, 2019 Published Jul 12, 2019
Mourning and marvelling at Kawhi, the Celtics go low and very high, a sawfish seems like a weird guy, Rip Torn says goodbye, and much more f…
ReviewsPurple Mountains Purple Mountains Published Jul 09, 2019
Ten years since retiring Silver Jews and retreating from public life, David Berman has triumphantly returned as Purple Mountains, with a rev…
ReviewsPat Burtscher Patty Cakes Published Jul 08, 2019
Though he downplays his smarts with a dumb guy affectation, Pat Burtscher cannot hide an enlightened perspective on his own life and our sha…
Reviews‘Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am’ Finally Gives a More Complete Picture of an Amazing Life Directed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders Published Jul 08, 2019 After reading Toni Morrison’s groundbreaking 1987 novel Beloved, Oprah Winfrey was so fixated on locating the author to discuss it, she conv…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: July 5, 2019 Published Jul 06, 2019
Some cats do weird things, the end of MAD stings, a subway car pongs and pings, the Knicks don’t want championship rings, and much more from…
ReviewsThe Rolling Stones Burl’s Creek, Oro-Medonte ON, June 29 Published Jun 30, 2019 “It’s buck-a-beer time,” Mick Jagger said at one point. “Thanks to Doug Ford.” And the boos rained down at this local reference. Jagger, per…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: June 28, 2019 Published Jun 29, 2019
The wrong neighbourhood for Robert Crumb, wondering where Marianne Williamson came from, how far Teen Vogue has come, a Juggalo does somethi…
FeaturesDavid Berman Discusses Every Song on Purple Mountains’ Self-Titled New Album Published Jun 27, 2019
Ten years since retiring Silver Jews and retreating from public life, David Berman has triumphantly returned with a fantastic and revealing…
ReviewsShellac The End of Radio Published Jun 24, 2019
A live recording captured inside of a studio makes quite a bit of sense when it comes to Shellac, of North America, and these documents of t…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: June 21, 2019 Published Jun 22, 2019
The NBA Champion Toronto Raptors visit Springfield, Kawhi Leonard’s sense of humour revealed, the gifts that Father’s Day can yield, a suitc…
ReviewsRichard Reed Parry Quiet River of Dust Vol. 2 Published Jun 21, 2019
In a slow-motion zone, the Sadies’ Dallas Good duets with his friend Richard Reed Parry on a song called “In a Moment,” and the harmony is a…
ReviewsBill Callahan Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest Published Jun 17, 2019
To be a fan of Bill Callahan, of late, feels a lot like being on a glorious winning streak. Since retiring his Smog handle in 2007, Callahan…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: June 14, 2019 Published Jun 15, 2019
The Toronto Raptors are world champs, Stephen Malkmus goes after your amps, Rob Delaney imagines Chernobyl revamps, a hopeful suitor risks l…
FeaturesBill Callahan Wanted to Make an Album Encompassing “All of Life” on ‘Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest’ Published Jun 12, 2019 “Don’t you get sick of talking about parenting sometimes?” Bill Callahan asks, and then chuckles. We’re about half an hour into our inte…
Reviews‘The Dead Don’t Die’ Scores Climate Crisis Points via Zombie Calamity Comedy Directed by Jim Jarmusch Published Jun 10, 2019
About three-quarters in to the satiric farce that is Jim Jarmusch’s The Dead Don’t Die, characters played by Danny Glover and Caleb Landry J…
ReviewsBadge Époque Ensemble Badge Époque Ensemble Published Jun 10, 2019
It’s heartening to hear a Toronto band like Badge Époque Ensemble cutting an album that’s just an instant stone cold classic. Led by Max “Tw…
ReviewsTim Heidecker What the Brokenhearted Do… Published Jun 10, 2019
A true blue fan of rock music, Tim Heidecker draws upon some of his influences for this clever, catchy concept record about many of the ways…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: June 7, 2019 Published Jun 08, 2019
Neil Young rides his bike, Richard Dreyfuss tweets a funny psyche, a dish sponge Paul F. Tompkins seems to like, the Toronto Raptors cause a…
ReviewsMavis Staples We Get By Published Jun 04, 2019
Entering her eighth decade as a music icon, Mavis Staples sounds inspired by the songs that her producer Ben Harper composed for this collab…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: May 31, 2019 Published Jun 02, 2019
Drake trashes Draymond Green, the Raptors give Toronto something it’s never seen, how websites work in 2019, what men twitching in their sle…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: May 24, 2019 Published May 25, 2019
Coffee and tea, scrutinizing the Game of Thrones’ finale, Hannibal Buress on Raptors fan hypocrisy, Ben Carson’s power is scary, and much mo…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Paul Rudd & DJ Khaled May 18, 2019 Published May 19, 2019 Paul Rudd delivered another solid, fully committed turn as host and DJ Khaled could only get by with a little help from his friends. Here’s…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: May 17, 2019 Published May 18, 2019
There’s a Game of Thrones petition, American women shouldn’t need permission, Kellen raises suspicion, it’s weird having a Best Buy position…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Emma Thompson & Jonas Brothers Saturday May 11, 2019 Published May 12, 2019 Emma Thompson was a playful and great host, while the Jonas Brothers indulged in nostalgia during their comeback campaign. Here’s everything…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: May 10, 2019 Published May 12, 2019
Game of Thrones fans want a wolf to ride a dragon, a rainbow-making welcome wagon, now that’s a T-shirt cannon, the Met Gala takes over Manh…
ReviewsJosh Gondelman Dancing on a Weeknight Published May 07, 2019
In a Norman Rockwell portrait of Josh Gondelman listening to music, the gramophone would, at a tastefully unobtrusive volume, be spinning Li…
ReviewsI Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson Published May 07, 2019
In a cultural landscape where the relevance of sketch TV ebbs and flows, seemingly and perpetually existing in the shadow of the Saturday Ni…
ReviewsNathan Macintosh To the Point Published May 07, 2019
Canadian expat Nathan Macintosh exhibits his well-written and manically presented jokes on the short, aptly named To the Point. In his o…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Adam Sandler & Shawn Mendes May 4, 2019 Published May 05, 2019 Adam Sandler made his long-awaited, highly anticipated, and ultimately triumphant return to Saturday Night Live, and Shawn Mendes had the au…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: May 3, 2019 Published May 04, 2019
“Weird Al” Yankovic’s Grammy collection swells, that very dark Game of Thrones’ battle for Winterfell, Damian Lillard will see the OKC Thund…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: April 26, 2019 Published Apr 27, 2019
A dog interrogation, an odd dental motivation, a seal/octopus combination, Avengers: Endgame masturbation, and much more from this week in f…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: April 19, 2019 Published Apr 21, 2019
The final season of Game of Thrones has started, you and your milk will have parted, NBA players wonder who farted, Robert Mueller’s depicti…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: April 12, 2019 Published Apr 13, 2019
Dr. Frank-N-Furter brings everyone to their knees, a couple things about bees, the best twitter advice is Ice-T’s, Matt Oswalt’s list of par…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Kit Harington & Sara Bareilles April 6, 2019 Published Apr 07, 2019 Kit Harington was a solid, committed host and Sara Bareilles was a compelling musical guest on a rather enjoyable episode. Here’s everything…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: April 5, 2019 Published Apr 06, 2019
LBJ and KD beatbox, settling parking disputes with scissors, papers, and rocks, why roaches have cocks, Robert Smith is hilarious when he ta…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Sandra Oh & Tame Impala March 30, 2019 Published Mar 31, 2019 Sandra Oh was an exuberant and engaged host, and Tame Impala performed two consistently mid-tempo, ambient songs, on a fairly well-rounded e…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: March 29, 2019 Published Mar 30, 2019
Pete Davidson maybe made some puke, a toboggan scene will make you lose your toque, Quentin Tarantino dresses like a mook, a bikini selfie w…
FeaturesSteve Martin and Martin Short Discuss Working Together, Harvesting Canadian Comics and New Show ‘Now You See Them, Soon You Won’t’ Published Mar 26, 2019
“I’ve been to Hamilton myself,” Steve Martin says on a conference call with Martin Short, when asked about his Ontario connections. “I liked…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Rachel Brosnahan & Greta Van Fleet January 19, 2019 Published Jan 20, 2019
Rachel Brosnahan was an understated but eager host, and Greta Van Fleet lived up to the derision. Here’s everything that happened on Saturda…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: January 18, 2019 Published Jan 19, 2019
The president orders fast food sandwiches, Marie Kondo suggests we put our stuff in ditches, Neal Brennan explains successful comedy pitches…
ReviewsRon Funches Giggle Fit Published Jan 17, 2019
On a new bit called “Funchspiracies,” Ron Funches gleefully reveals his theory about Apple manipulating operating systems on their older mod…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: January 11, 2019 Published Jan 11, 2019
Take a left at butt hole, two cats share a bowl, dog licking and its goal, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s unstoppable roll and much more from th…
FeaturesShellac Are Recording New Songs and Preparing Two Rarities Releases, Steve Albini Reveals Published Jan 11, 2019
This past year marked the 25th anniversary of Shellac, the influential three-piece noise and minimalist rock band from Chicago, consisting o…
ReviewsKevin McDonald Amazes with Fellow ‘Kids in the Hall’ at Toronto Show Rivoli, Toronto ON, January 8 Published Jan 09, 2019
Getting by with a little help from his friends, and his self-effacing charm, Kevin McDonald told us stories about the Kids in the Hall and s…
ReviewsComedians of the World (Canada EN) K. Trevor Wilson, DeAnne Smith, Ivan Decker, Dave Merheje Published Jan 08, 2019
For his English Canadian segment of Netflix’s ambitious Comedians of the World series, K. Trevor Wilson (above), in a somewhat devilish move…
FeaturesHannah Gadsby, ‘Barry’ and ‘Who Is America?’ Top Exclaim!’s 2018 Comedy MVPs Best of 2018 Published Jan 08, 2019
Laughter. Sometimes it occurred over the past 12 months, seemingly despite the state of the world. It was certainly welcomed because of it….
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: January 4, 2019 Published Jan 06, 2019
Marc Maron might be the Counting Crows guy, the smoothest peanut butter money can buy, toilet paper positions you can try, Coachella tests J…
ReviewsJames Hartnett Achieves Rare Feats of Comedy on ‘Get Bent!’ Published Jan 02, 2019 Toronto’s James Hartnett is a gifted and sardonic comedic voice who trades in at least a few distinct personas within the meat-and-bone fram…
ReviewsToronto Comic Sara Hennessey Reveals Her Silly Self on ‘They Know Too Much’ Published Jan 02, 2019
Gifted Canadian comedian Sara Hennessey has been elevating her standup with every show and she was captured in fine form on her latest, exce…
FeaturesThis Funny (Two) Weeks in Funny Tweets: December 28, 2018 Published Dec 28, 2018 A dragon hater gets burned, hair follicles leave Stephen Miller spurned, when Abraham Lincoln’s night out turned, the best words Trump never…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Matt Damon & Miley Cyrus and Mark Ronson December 15, 2018 Published Dec 16, 2018
Matt Damon was an excellent host, and Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus paired up for two cool musical performances, one of which included an unex…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: December 14, 2018 Published Dec 14, 2018 Michael Cohen will be locked up, Sonic is a guilt-ridden little pup, letting Monster Energy Drink breathe a little in your cup, the Oscars c…
FeaturesJeff Tweedy The Exclaim! Questionnaire Published Dec 10, 2018
After his pioneering band Uncle Tupelo broke up suddenly, Jeff Tweedy started Wilco in 1994, cementing his status as one of rock’s most adve…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Jason Momoa & Mumford & Sons December 8, 2018 Published Dec 09, 2018 Jason Momoa was an eager host whose nipples were often exposed, and Mumford & Sons plodded along as aimless musical guests. Here’s everythin…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: December 7, 2018 Published Dec 07, 2018 You shouldn’t put Christmas lights on palm trees, some cheeseburgers seem Siamese, a new Titanic theory if you please, a baby birthed from a…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Claire Foy & Anderson .Paak December 1, 2018 Published Dec 02, 2018 Claire Foy was a great, amenable host and Anderson .Paak was an arrestingly dynamic musical guest. Here’s everything that happened on Saturd…
FeaturesClare Belford, Garrett Jamieson and Pat Burtscher Reflect on 2018 at a Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published Dec 01, 2018 It’s December and 2018 is almost over! It will be remembered as the year that Ariana Grande wrote a song about her most famous ex-boyfriends…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: November 30, 2018 Published Nov 30, 2018 We might be like dinosaurs, Jay Leno’s into denim on all fours, Aquaman receives an up yours, when Robert Mueller rains, he pours and much m…
ReviewsJeff Tweedy WARM Published Nov 29, 2018
Something of a stocktaking connected to his new memoir, WARM is Jeff Tweedy’s first proper solo expression, and playfully and earnestly refl…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: November 23, 2018 Published Nov 23, 2018 Making a statement with pie, forest fires make Trump lie, a bad night to camp out at Best Buy, MJ closes one and also another eye, and much…
ReviewsEmily Heller Pasta Published Nov 19, 2018
After taking a considerable break from standup to pursue writing for television, California-raised comedian Emily Heller has returned with a…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Steve Carell & Ella Mai November 17, 2018 Published Nov 18, 2018 The affable and funny Steve Carell returned for his third hosting turn, and the endearing Ella Mai made her debut with a musically impressiv…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: November 16, 2018 Published Nov 16, 2018 Matt O’Brien drinks 7Up cake, the Notorious R.B.G. barely takes a break, it’s time to hear the man-eating shark’s take, it’s a good thing ap…
FeaturesJeff Tweedy Talks About His New Memoir, New Wilco and Touring with Bob Dylan Published Nov 15, 2018
Jeff Tweedy is in Chicago, gearing up for interviews about his wonderfully revealing new memoir, Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back), and its comp…
ReviewsLet’s Go (So We Can Get Back) By Jeff Tweedy Published Nov 13, 2018
Even in the low-stakes realm of indie rock memoirs, Jeff Tweedy has elevated the form with his remarkably candid and compelling book, Let’s…
ReviewsGuelph Film Festival Review: ‘The Strange Sound of Happiness’ Unearths Mouth-Harp Mysteries Directed by Diego Pascal Panarello Published Nov 12, 2018 In this beautifully made docu-drama, one man’s dream to become a musician is realized via an unlikely instrument. Director Diego Pascal Pana…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Liev Schreiber & Lil Wayne November 10, 2018 Published Nov 11, 2018 Liev Schreiber proved to be an eager yet understated host, and a grateful Lil Wayne returned to form on a strong episode of Saturday Night L…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: November 9, 2018 Published Nov 10, 2018 King of the Hill and the conservative cause, Oswalt takes Coulter to Oz, midterm elections gives the world pause, the Queen biopic has its f…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Jonah Hill & Maggie Rogers November 3, 2018 Published Nov 04, 2018 Jonah Hill was sort of welcomed into the Five-Timers Club while Maggie Rogers struggled to make a good first impression. Here’s everything t…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: November 2, 2018 Published Nov 02, 2018 Halloween and a squirrel, J-Lo barely wears a curl, Halloween and a scary young girl, Jacob Wohl gives self-owning a whirl and much more fro…
FeaturesKyle Brownrigg, Darryl Purvis and Lianne Mauladin Say YESvember at a Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published Oct 30, 2018 Holy moly it’s November! That snuck up on us quickly. Way to be a trooper and move along, 2018. If only other years didn’t spend their time…
ReviewsBeastie Boys Book By Michael Diamond & Adam Horovitz Published Oct 29, 2018 It’s been too long since a generation of fans heard from their cool older brothers in Beastie Boys. In their prime, the Beasties were the ul…
NOW Magazine live review: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds turned Scotiabank Arena into the Horseshoe Concert review: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto: at the soul-stirring final show of their marathon Skeleton Tree tour, the band proved an arena can feel just as intimate as a sweaty bar gig. Published October 29, 2018
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: October 26, 2018 Published Oct 26, 2018
Matt O’Brien was smokin’, Megyn Kelly must be jokin’, Jesse McLaren was likely tokin’, Joel Kim Booster says stop cloakin’, and much more fr…
ReviewsRock Critic Law: 101 Unbreakable Rules for Writing Badly About Music By Michael Azerrad Published Oct 26, 2018
Noted music journalist and author Michael Azerrad read one too many cliché-ridden record reviews and decided, damn it, someone has to do som…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: October 19, 2018 Published Oct 19, 2018
Fun and games at the IHOP, Pete Davidson and Ariana Grande will stop, a shipping charge price drop, DeAnne Smith’s scream of the crop, and m…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Seth Meyers & Paul Simon October 13, 2018 Published Oct 14, 2018 Seth Meyers returned to his old comedy writing stomping grounds for a less-than-well-conceived array of sketches, while Paul Simon sent some…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: October 12, 2018 Published Oct 12, 2018
Shady business at Little Caesars, America’s future’s in the hands of geezers, science says “Don’t bother stocking your freezers,” on Barones…
ReviewsJonathan Richman The Casbah, Hamilton ON, October 11 Published Oct 12, 2018 By Jonathan Richman’s fourth song, “A Penchant for the Stagnant,” he was scanning the Casbah, intent to beam the gleam in his eyes into thos…
ReviewsHits & Misses By Simon Rich Published Oct 11, 2018
Simon Rich is an American humourist who has accomplished a lot in his 34 years, and his confidence springs up from every page of his latest…
ReviewsJoe Strummer Joe Strummer 001 Published Oct 09, 2018
Spurred on by the discovery of a treasure trove of unreleased material from the late Joe Strummer’s personal archive, this box set is a reve…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Awkwafina & Travis Scott October 6, 2018 Published Oct 07, 2018 Living a dream come true, Awkwafina was more than ready to wow the largest audience of her young career, while Travis Scott, appearing in a…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: October 5, 2018 Published Oct 05, 2018
The FBI selectively investigates proof, a man asks another about his boof, a quality Humpty Dumpty spoof, Anne T. Donahue’s timely American…
FeaturesExclaim! Writer Daniel Sylvester, Definition of Knowledge and Rob Bebenek Make Small Towns Proud at a Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published Oct 02, 2018 Growing up in a small town instead of a big city can be difficult, because there aren’t as many people around to crowd you, the air is clean…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Adam Driver & Kanye West September 29, 2018 Published Sep 30, 2018 Adam Driver was an incredibly funny, dedicated host, while Kanye West put in his least-inspiring and most-divisive musical performances and…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: September 28, 2018 Published Sep 29, 2018 Brett Kavanaugh has a cry, a robotic laugh from Kawhi, telling your friends a lie, John Lennon sings one word high, and much more from this…
ReviewsMudhoney Digital Garbage Published Sep 29, 2018
Topical songs can be a tricky proposition for many artists striving to make timeless statements whenever they make a record. After 30 years…
Features‘Saturday Night Live’ Writer Sam Jay Talks Bobby Brown, JAY-Z and Her New Album ‘Donna’s Daughter’ Published Sep 28, 2018 For some of us, contemplating a life where you work as a writer, musician, actor or any kind of job in the public realm of “celebrity” seems…
ReviewsMaria Bamford JFL42, Toronto ON, September 27 Published Sep 28, 2018
Full of energy, but acknowledging at least some frailty these days, Maria Bamford remains a visual and sonic wonder, and her latest hour was…
ReviewsMark Forward JFL42, Toronto ON, September 25 Published Sep 26, 2018
As audience members filed into the main room at Comedy Bar to take their seats, we had no idea what Mark Forward had in store for us. It tur…
ReviewsMarc Evan Jackson & Paul F. Tompkins JFL42, Toronto ON, September 23 Published Sep 24, 2018 This incredible display of improv was both a feat and a treat that ultimately had an appreciative crowd on its feet. Elegantly clad in tuxed…
ReviewsAnthony Atamanuik JFL42, Toronto ON, September 23 Published Sep 24, 2018
The world’s most accurately infuriating Donald Trump impersonator, gifted comedian Anthony Atamanuik did more than a spot-on shtick of the r…
ReviewsSeth Meyers JFL42, Toronto ON, September 22 Published Sep 23, 2018
Returning to headline JFL42 for the first time since 2014, Seth Meyers was hilarious, polished and poised, even when accidentally calling hi…
ReviewsBaroness Von Sketch Show JFL42, Toronto ON, September 22 Published Sep 23, 2018 At JFL42’s ComedyCon to promote their recently launched third season on CBC, the cast of Baroness Von Sketch Show sat together to reflect up…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: September 21, 2018 Published Sep 21, 2018 Willie Nelson gives the finger, Patton Oswalt’s a Star Wars trivia ringer, Nintendo trends because of POTUS’s thinger, Mark Forward prefers…
ReviewsNeal Brennan JFL42, Toronto ON, September 20 Published Sep 21, 2018
“It’s been a while,” Neal Brennan said while scanning his phone for a setlist of bits he could proceed with, just past the halfway point of…
ReviewsJo Firestone / Moses Storm JFL42, Toronto ON, September 20 Published Sep 21, 2018 Engaging in varied forms of crowd work to inform very strong prepared material, Jo Firestone and Moses Storm each put on uniquely interactiv…
FeaturesHannibal Buress Discusses His New Sobriety, Comedy Critics, Making Music and JFL42 Published Sep 20, 2018
The last time Hannibal Buress headlined a JFL42 set at the Sony Centre in Toronto, we loved the show so much, we gave it a perfect score. …
Reviews‘Fahrenheit 11/9’ Review: Michael Moore Takes Aim, But His Targets May Surprise You Directed by Michael Moore Published Sep 19, 2018 Though touted as documentary filmmaker Michael Moore’s repudiation of Donald Trump and all that he and his ilk represent, one of Fahrenheit…
ReviewsRichard Thompson13 Rivers Published Sep 17, 2018
It’s all been rather heartening, this renaissance for Richard Thompson, the highly decorated and acclaimed British singer, guitarist and son…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: September 14, 2018 Published Sep 14, 2018 A tribute to toast, a “tremendously wet” hurricane hits the East coast, Conan O’Brien celebrates 25 years as the best host, Paul McCartney r…
Reviews‘Norm Macdonald Has a Show’ Is a Show Worthy of Norm Macdonald Published Sep 10, 2018 There comes a point midway through David Letterman’s appearance on Norm Macdonald Has a Show when things have gone so ridiculously off the r…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: September 7, 2018 Published Sep 07, 2018 White people burn their shoes, this one guy fends off many chews, an anonymous columnist leaves few clues, a book curiously called Lincoln a…
ReviewsEric Bachmann No Recover Published Sep 05, 2018
Fresh in his fatherhood, Eric Bachmann contemplates the world and the lives we lead with new eyes on No Recover, thinking deeply and deliver…
FeaturesNick Reynoldson, Dena Jackson and Hannah Lawrence Ride for Scarborough at a Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published Sep 03, 2018
How about that Canadian summer, eh? The hottest summer in history! We’re doomed! And fall’s coming. Will it be unusually hot too? Yes it wil…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: August 31, 2018 Published Aug 31, 2018
Marlon Wayans puts Kevin Hart away, no one is happy about the return of Louis C.K., if you welcome Sinbad he’ll overstay, Annie are you ok,…
ReviewsPapa M A Broke Moon Rises Published Aug 17, 2018
Underground music legend David Pajo retains his idiosyncratic penchant for creating guitar-based music that is pensive, visceral and vividly…
ReviewsHurray for the Riff Raff Edmonton Folk Festival, Edmonton AB, August 11 Published Aug 12, 2018 “This is for all the folk-y queers out there,” Alynda Segarra declared before belting out “Hungry Ghost” with Hurray for the Riff Raff, as t…
ReviewsJenn Grant Edmonton Folk Festival, Edmonton AB, August 11 Published Aug 12, 2018 Jenn Grant has always had a coolness within her warm voice, which has given her forays in folk-oriented rock and indie pop a certain edge. I…
ReviewsSidi Touré Edmonton Folk Festival, Edmonton AB, August 11 Published Aug 12, 2018 It seemed that no matter how vibrant and energetic Sidi Touré and his band were, the crowd at his mid-afternoon set were bound to their seat…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: August 10, 2018 Published Aug 10, 2018
Imagine a dog fronting ELO, Alex Jones is told to go, Pineapple Express told Walter White no, you can’t impress a date with Quentin Tarantin…
ReviewsBrad Wenzel Sweet Nothings Published Aug 03, 2018
Now based in Los Angeles, Michigan’s Brad Wenzel is a wry, observational, one-liner comedian whose Sweet Nothings is low-key but immensely e…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: August 3, 2018 Published Aug 03, 2018
A news cycle about Bigfoot’s penis, social media gets between us, Melanie tends to her gardenias, Tom Cruise still peddles his keenness and…
ReviewsJay & Eytan So Busy So Tired Published Aug 02, 2018
If the sketch comedy record is a little uncommon in an age when new standup specials are released every few hours of every single day of eve…
FeaturesJay & Eytan, Heidi Brander and Juliana Rodrigues Celebrate Summer at a Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published Jul 30, 2018 Ah, the summer of 2018. Or, as some who spend their days researching the melting polar ice caps are calling it, “the last summer in the hist…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: July 27, 2018 Published Jul 27, 2018
Someone lost a mango, the American president and his ex-lawyer tango, vampires try to put on a fang show, how low Elon Musk can go, and much…
FeaturesWill Forte Talks Gary Larson, ‘Last Man on Earth’ and Preferring Sketch While Promoting His Standup Show at JFL Published Jul 24, 2018 Will Forte is delighted at the notion that his heroically strange comedy might follow in the tradition of The Far Side, by esteemed cartooni…
FeaturesArchers of Loaf Return! New Music “Is Happening” Says Eric Bachmann Published Jul 23, 2018 Archers of Loaf singer and songwriter Eric Bachmann has revealed that as soon as he can finish writing the songs, a new Archers of Loaf albu…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: July 20, 2018 Published Jul 20, 2018
The American president misspeaks, sometimes your baby leaks, Richard Marx exhibits some cheek, Tom Cruise refuses to creak and much more fro…
FeaturesRobin Williams’ Biographer Dave Itzkoff Talks Writing ‘Robin’ and Revelations About the Comic’s Final Days Published Jul 18, 2018 In the weeks following Robin Williams’ shocking and tragic suicide on August 11, 2014, his family and a mourning public tried to make sense…
FeaturesDavid Cross Discusses Facing Accusations, Being a New Dad and the Cynicism of His ‘Oh Come On’ Tour Published Jul 18, 2018 In February 2017, comedian David Cross and his wife, actress Amber Tamblyn, celebrated the birth of their baby daughter, Marlow Alice. But t…
ReviewsComedians In Cars Getting Coffee Season 10 Published Jul 09, 2018
Moving from Crackle to Netflix, Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee retains its blend of funny people being “themselves” with…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: July 6, 2018 Published Jul 06, 2018
To be terrified by a banana, to be hypocritical about Montana, to be confused by Elton John’s piana, to darkly ponder Toy Story’s vox humana…
NOW Magazine profile: Courtney Barnett misses the Silver Dollar Courtney Barnett interview: With her witty first-person insight into universal themes, the Australian singer/songwriter is an accidental expert on Toronto’s vanishing venues crisis. Published July 4, 2018
FeaturesComedy Records and Exclaim! Showcase Supports the Canadian Association of Stand-Up Comedians Published Jul 02, 2018
It’s time to stand up for standup comedy in Canada. Canada’s only exclusive stand-up and sketch comedy label, Comedy Records, has teamed…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: June 29, 2018 Published Jun 30, 2018
Weird people at restaurants are kicked out, why a ticket attendant might occasionally pout, preventing a grandma from gaining Klout, the int…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: June 22, 2018 Published Jun 23, 2018
Luke Skywalker celebrates his father, JAY-Z and Beyoncé get fans hot and bothered, Maura Quint doesn’t care if you think you caught her, a f…
ReviewsMark Forward Presents… Mark Forward Published Jun 18, 2018
Underappreciated Canadian comedian Mark Forward has produced a remarkably sharp and funny special that captures his impressive range as a wr…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: June 15, 2018 Published Jun 15, 2018
Donald Trump criticizes Justin Trudeau, the North Korean Summit is all for show, what the Worm might possibly know, Hannibal Buress hires a…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: June 8, 2018 Published Jun 09, 2018
Jordan Peterson doesn’t know how things work, Kanye West as a dad is still kind of a jerk, Melania emerges from the murk, the Golden State W…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: June 1, 2018 Published Jun 01, 2018
The NBA Finals fourpeat, ALF oddly entreats, Edgar Allen Poe’s infamous retweet, Roseanne’s remarkably offensive and shocking feat, Drake di…
FeaturesCasey Corbin, Sarah Donaldson and Chris Locke Get Nuts at a Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published Jun 01, 2018 June 7 is the seventh day of the sixth month of the year, which may not be impressive on its face, but if you step back and think about it,…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: May 25, 2018 Published May 25, 2018
Luke Skywalker rolls some stones, gun rights activists practice self-owns, the NFL elicits groans, people scroll through long privacy policy…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Tina Fey & Nicki MinajMay 19, 2018 Published May 20, 2018 Tina Fey celebrated her birthday by coming home and Nicki Minaj proved why she’s still the queen of hip-hop on the crazily star-studded and…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: May 18, 2018 Published May 18, 2018
Tom Wolfe leaves Earth, certain kinds of parties initially hurt, Hari Kondabolu confronts some dude’s blurt, Dr. Strange endures the odd squ…
ReviewsParquet Courts Wide Awake! Published May 17, 2018
At the conclusion of “Total Football,” the captivating introduction to Parquet Courts’ wondrous and outspoken new album, Wide Awake!, there’…
ReviewsStephen Malkmus & the Jicks Sparkle Hard Published May 17, 2018
When Matador Records introduced Sparkle Hard to the world in February, they debuted the single “Middle America,” a jangly, laidback, wordy p…
FeaturesKathy Griffin Talks Roseanne’s New Act, Trump, Kanye and Stevie and Her ‘Laugh Your Head Off’ Canadian Tour Published May 16, 2018 Ahead of the Canadian leg of her hugely successful Laugh Your Head Off World Tour, comedian Kathy Griffin is reflecting on whatever happened…
Features“Fuck Tom Brady!” Parquet Courts Explain ‘Wide Awake!’ Published May 16, 2018 At the very end of “Total Football,” the rollicking first song on Parquet Courts’ wondrous, outspoken new album, Wide Awake!, there’s a lyri…
FeaturesStephen Malkmus and the Jicks Drop ‘Sparkle Hard,’ and Nix a Pavement Reunion: “No, That’s Not Happening” Published May 15, 2018 During a radio interview last year, Pavement’s Spiral Stairs suggested that the band, which reunited for a tour in 2010 after breaking up in…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Amy Schumer & Kacey Musgraves May 12, 2018 Published May 13, 2018 Super game for anything and trusting in the writing, Amy Schumer was an excellent host and Kacey Musgraves was dynamic and alluring on a sur…
ReviewsAli Wong Hard Knock Wife Published May 11, 2018
“Just because you become a parent doesn’t mean you grew up,” Ali Wong says, heavily pregnant for her second consecutive special. The stateme…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: May 11, 2018 Published May 11, 2018
Dogs avoid claws, Divine sees flaws, Grimes gives “Weird Al” pause, AT&T doesn’t have just cause, and much more from this week in funny twe…
ReviewsPaul Simon: The Life By Robert Hilburn Published May 09, 2018
Paul Simon himself has largely avoided publicly conflating his personal life with his six-decade career as a songwriter and musician; in his…
Features‘True North’ Doc Chronicles Rise of Toronto BasketballRaptor Stoudamire and Rapper Kardinal Contribute to Youth-Focused Series Published May 09, 2018
“When I actually got to Toronto, I was only there for a couple of hours, signed my contract, then we got on the bus to go to training camp i…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Donald Glover & Childish Gambino May 5, 2018 Published May 06, 2018 In a glorious turn as both the host and musical guest, Donald Glover was a dynamic, funny and committed performer whose Childish Gambino lef…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: May 4, 2018 Published May 04, 2018
Michelle Wolf lands some sick burns, Rudy Giuliani never learns, a talking dog’s stomach churns, in Toronto, LeBron James spurns, and much m…
FeaturesNoor Kidwai, Camille Cote and D.J. Demers Talk About Other People at a Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published Apr 30, 2018
We’re particularly excited about our May 3 comedy show because it’s going to be our last opportunity for great jokes until “May the Fourth b…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: April 27, 2018 Published Apr 27, 2018
Trump golfs but doesn’t mourn, Hari Kondabolu could toot his own horn, Kanye faces tremendous scorn, a giant hat is worn, Bill Cosby is forl…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: April 20, 2018 Published Apr 20, 2018
Mike Sacks plies, Tony Hawk flies, Barbara Bush dies, Sean Hannity lies, Carrie Fisher complies and much more from this week in funny tweets…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: John Mulaney & Jack White April 14, 2018 Published Apr 15, 2018 Nothing could possibly top John Mulaney’s astonishingly funny monologue, and Jack White made a case for snarly rock’n’roll, on an otherwise…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: April 13, 2018 Published Apr 13, 2018
Normal graduation photos, Trump revisits TPP and the pee pee tape, The Simpsons breaks our hearts, even Germans are frightened of America, …
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Chadwick Boseman & Cardi B April 7, 2018 Published Apr 08, 2018 Chadwick Boseman truly conquered in an earnest, actor-y turn as host and Cardi B’s power as a performer (and an expectant mother, surprise!)…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: April 6, 2018 Published Apr 06, 2018
Choose your career path carefully, an amazing cat joke, Sarah Huckabee Sanders thinks of the children, Sean Hannity battles Jimmy Kimmel, an…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: March 29, 2018 Published Mar 30, 2018
People march for our lives, the president of America is still stormy, “Weird Al” and another tattoo, two Stalin jokes and much more from thi…
Features‘Talking Raptors’ Podcast Crew Barry Taylor, Nick Reynoldson and Monty Scott Hit Threes at a Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published Mar 29, 2018
April showers usually bring May flowers, but here’s hoping they don’t bring the Toronto Raptors those May showers again, because that would…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: March 23, 2018 Published Mar 23, 2018
Canadian comedy loses a legend, a head-banging gone wrong, hair soda pop, a hopeless tattoo, Facebook may never be Liked again, Stormy Danie…
ReviewsMadame Directed by Amanda Sthers Published Mar 20, 2018
Framed as a comedic romp, Amanda Sthers’ Madame is propelled by committed, captivating performances trapped within a less-than-compelling st…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Bill Hader & Arcade Fire March 17, 2018 Published Mar 18, 2018 An excited, grateful, and ingenious Bill Hader returned to the show that made him a star, and Arcade Fire returned to play music, this time…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: March 16, 2018 Published Mar 16, 2018
America’s Education Secretary gets schooled, a small museum problem, Stephen Hawking meets his maker, another Trump divorce accomplished, Le…
ReviewsHot Snakes Jericho Sirens Published Mar 14, 2018
Fourteen years after releasing Audit in Progress, which appeared to be their final album, Hot Snakes have returned with Jericho Sirens, a bl…
FeaturesHot Snakes Reunion Album ‘Jericho Sirens’ Fuelled by 30-Year History That Includes Drive Like Jehu Published Mar 12, 2018
“It’s just a relationship like any other relationship,” Rick Froberg tells Exclaim! about his 30-year friendship with John Reis. “If you hav…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: March 9, 2018 Published Mar 09, 2018
Kids eat the darnedest things, Kobe Bryant and the fish sex movie each nab Oscars, San Nunberg pleads insanity early, McDonald’s takes the W…
ReviewsBruce McCulloch: Tales of Bravery and Stupidity TOSketchfest, Toronto ON, March 6 Published Mar 07, 2018
“By the end, there was weeping,” is not something you’d expect to read about a Bruce McCulloch one-man show. But as the 53- (and-a-half) yea…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Charles Barkley & Migos March 3, 2018 Published Mar 04, 2018 Back from a month-long hiatus, Saturday Night Live welcomed Charles Barkley back for his fourth hosting turn and Migos, who’d only ever perf…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: March 2, 2018 Published Mar 02, 2018
The cat came back, the kids aren’t alt-right, Luke Skywalker scrutinizes some inventory, a Russian haircut, In DK We Trust, and much more fr…
FeaturesPat Thornton, Ryan Belleville and Heather Macdonald Have a Gas at the Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published Feb 26, 2018
Sometimes March is when Easter happens, sometimes it isn’t. Eggs become chocolate. Jesus is a bunny rabbit? It’s a funny month in many ways…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: February 23, 2018 Published Feb 23, 2018 Truly terrible singer Fergie does a truly terrible job singing the national anthem, George Wallace continues to rule Twitter, a horrible Ame…
ReviewsChris Rock Tamborine
Published Feb 20, 2018After taking a clunky, overlong and out of touch set on an arena tour last year, comedy mastermind Chris Rock has refined that material down…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: February 16, 2018 Published Feb 16, 2018 Funny people catch Olympic fever, a cat becomes a skater, the Obamas are painted, America deals with its latest tragic and completely avoida…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: February 9, 2018 Published Feb 09, 2018
Philadelphia wins and loses, strange hair, Quincy Jones sounds off, a bold artistic statement, another rock tee poseur gets called out, Kuma…
FeaturesCadence Weapon Eschews Hipster Fans and Dives Deeper on ‘Cadence Weapon’ Published Feb 09, 2018 “In my previous work, I felt reluctant to talk about racial stuff,” Cadence Weapon admits, sitting in a recording studio in Toronto. “I was…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Natalie Portman & Dua Lipa February 3, 2018 Published Feb 04, 2018 Natalie Portman was game and funny for her first hosting turn in 12 years, while Dua Lipa struggled to make an impression. Ahead of an Olymp…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: February 2, 2018 Published Feb 02, 2018
The best headlines hide under where you’d least expect, the Grammys took place, comedians assess Trump’s last State of the Union, Jr. should…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Will Ferrell & Chris Stapleton January 27, 2018 Published Jan 28, 2018 Will Ferrell made a triumphant return to the show that made him a star, while Chris Stapleton brought out a special guest in an attempt to m…
FeaturesMark DeBonis, Ali Hassan, and Rachelle Lauzon Get Personal at a Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published Jan 27, 2018 With February upon us, we’re planning to make the shortest month of the year the sweetest one too. Canada’s only exclusive standup and s…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: January 26, 2018 Published Jan 26, 2018
Women march and some of their signs are amazing, tracking Ice Cube’s day, cat’s leap, birds cope, Alan Alda needs help Mark, and much more f…
Features‘Another Period’ Is Flawed, Evil and Terrible Fun, Say Natasha Leggero and Riki Lindhome Published Jan 22, 2018
“There are no good people on our show,” Riki Lindhome tells Exclaim! during a conference call with Natasha Leggero, her co-creator and co-st…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Jessica Chastain & Troye Sivan January 20, 2018 Published Jan 21, 2018 Jessica Chastain brought a disciplined actor’s chops to a solid turn hosting an uneven Saturday Night Live, and Troye Sivan made his every m…
ReviewsXylouris White Mother Published Jan 20, 2018
Seeing Giorgos Xylouris and Jim White live, you’re struck by their in-performance cues, which include slight nods or glances from smiling ey…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: January 19, 2018 Published Jan 19, 2018
Kids lose their minds over the darnedest things, a dog says no, math from God, some of these bootleggers make some pretty good stuff, celebr…
FeaturesCadence Weapon Returns, “Bigger and Blacker,” on Self-Titled Album Published Jan 19, 2018 It’s been five years since Cadence Weapon, aka Roland Pemberton, released his most recent album, the relatively sombre Hope in Dirty City. I…
ReviewsCadence Weapon Cadence Weapon Published Jan 17, 2018
An emotive rapper and a particularly thoughtful lyricist, Cadence Weapon is truly fired up on this dynamically produced artistic rebirth. Sw…
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Features
Cadence Weapon Breaks Down His New Album Track by Track Published Jan 16, 2018 On his fourth album, and first in five years, Cadence Weapon is bold and uncompromising in his raps and backed by a wondrous list of hot pro…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Sam Rockwell & Halsey January 13, 2018 Published Jan 14, 2018 On an episode where the sketch sequence seemed to be purposefully reversed (An ad at the end? An obvious 12:55er slated after the monologue?…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: January 12, 2018 Published Jan 12, 2018
President Shithole won’t give us a break, Logan Paul goes down, a cover girl stare, Jake Tapper and Don Lemon step up, Natalie Portman shoot…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: January 5, 2018 Published Jan 05, 2018
A parent contemplates fluicide, start your search engines, a weird year ends, the fall of Logan Paul, an ill president, T-Rex conductin’ tha…
FeaturesCarol Zoccoli, Brett McCrindle and Kenny Robinson Get Trippy at a Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published Jan 01, 2018 Happy New Year! Now that 2017 is behind us, we can finally all laugh again. Canada’s only exclusive stand-up and sketch comedy label, Co…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: December 22, 2017 Published Dec 23, 2017 The net neutrality guy is reversed, milk baths, a scaredy dog and a dog all cleaned up, won’t someone think of the consoles, putting “at cap…
FeaturesThe Year in Comedy MVPs, from Nathan Fielder to Tiffany Haddish Published Dec 19, 2017 Tiffany Haddish From her breakthrough performance in Girls Trip to her overwhelmingly funny standup special, She Ready! From the Hood to Ho…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: December 15, 2017 Published Dec 15, 2017 Comedy tries to have fun with the child-molesting politician, a booing can be so sad, shoot the glass, a Rick and Morty moment, net reversal…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: James Franco & SZA December 9, 2017 Published Dec 10, 2017 After a rough episode last week, James Franco and SZA helmed one of the finest shows of the season. Here’s everything that happened on Satur…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: December 8, 2017 Published Dec 08, 2017 If you’re having balloon problems I feel bad for you son, people leave twitter for a few hours, ACLU just lost itself a customer, Rudolph th…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Saoirse Ronan & U2December 2, 2017 Published Dec 03, 2017 Following a pattern, Saturday Night Live tends to hit a hot streak where its writing and sketches really click for successive episodes, they…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: December 1, 2017 Published Dec 01, 2017 Someone thinks that they’re the person of the year, Atlanta projects a message, who is yada, yada, yada, the Adventures of Max the Cat, you…
FeaturesAndrew Barr, Ana-Marija Stojic and Chantel Marostica Get Serious at a Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published Nov 30, 2017
We decided to give you some early Xmas gifts in the form of three amazing comedians. We accidentally set your gift receipts on fire so it’s…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: November 24, 2017 Published Nov 24, 2017 A cat flees a bear, America gives thanks, the internet (PORN) is under attack, #80 ghosts, owl says hi, give puck a Chance, and much more fr…
ReviewsBon: The Last Highway By Jesse Fink Published Nov 21, 2017
If there’s a single, essential passage in Bon: The Last Highway, Jesse Fink’s compelling and conspiratorial new biography about the final ye…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Chance the Rapper & Eminem November 18, 2017 Published Nov 19, 2017 Aside from a worrisome monologue, Chance the Rapper excelled as a host and Eminem infused contemporary hip-hop with rapping that was actuall…
ReviewsSharon Jones & the Dap-Kings Soul of a Woman Published Nov 17, 2017
The most heartbreaking aspect of this final, posthumously released studio record by Sharon Jones and her integral partners in the Dap-Kings…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: November 17, 2017 Published Nov 17, 2017 Right wingers start smashing things, Lil Donald gets thirsty, Blake Shelton isn’t all that sexy, the Roy Moore situation is still a F-I-A-S-…
FeaturesThe Dap-Kings Go Deep on the Loss of Sharon Jones and Final Album ‘Soul of a Woman’ Published Nov 17, 2017
Gabriel Roth first encountered Sharon Jones about 20 years ago, when he organized a Lee Fields recording session and was expecting a trio of…
ReviewsCUFF.Docs: The Problem With ApuDirected by Michael Melamedoff Published Nov 16, 2017 For New York-bred comedian Hari Kondabolu and millions of other South Asians coming of age in the 1990s, The Simpsons was both a cultural be…
FeaturesJudah Friedlander Discusses Being the World Champion, Political Propaganda, Louis C.K. and His New Netflix Special Published Nov 16, 2017 Throughout the course of his excellent new standup special, America is the Greatest Country in the United States, Judah Friedlander is clad…
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Reviews
Saturday Night Live: Tiffany Haddish & Taylor Swift November 11, 2017 Published Nov 12, 2017 Despite Tiffany Haddish’s championship calibre performance, a weak musical guest and spotty writing made this an uneven SNL. Here’s what hap…
ReviewsJudah FriedlanderAmerica is the Greatest Country in the United States Published Nov 10, 2017 Beautifully and starkly shot, Judah Friedlander’s Netflix offering feels like less of a conventional special and more like a feature film….
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: November 10, 2017 Published Nov 10, 2017 Louis C.K. traumatizes women and shames comedy, voters choose medicine and food, twitter’s storyline adds more characters, an unusual “turno…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: November 3, 2017 Published Nov 03, 2017 Hollywood men get what’s coming, students get really lucky, racists hail potatoes, Trump is the fastest, the World Series kept us up, Hallow…
FeaturesT.J. Miller on His ‘Alternative’ Standup Tour and Leaving ‘Silicon Valley’ for Love (of Comedy) Published Nov 02, 2017
T.J. Miller is basking in the northern glowing sun shining down upon Canada. “I’m in Toronto,” he tells Exclaim! over the phone. “Home o…
Features‘The Beaverton’: Inside the Website and Show That Shakes Up Canadian Satire Published Nov 01, 2017 If you’ve watched episodes of Canada’s most incisive news satire show, The Beaverton, you might have noticed a curious proclamation for a TV…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: October 27, 2017 Published Oct 27, 2017
Playing knife games with grandma, a dog gets a sweater, Bill O’Reilly settled a sexual harassment suit for $32 million but claims he’s innoc…
FeaturesGilson Lubin, Dena Jackson and Sprattacus Shake Hands at a Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published Oct 26, 2017 If you have to start thinking about Christmas the second Halloween is over, you might as well start preparing for our November comedy showca…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: October 20, 2017 Published Oct 20, 2017
Kylo Ren is living on a prayer, Family matters, a message to you Rudy, final Jeopardy, the “F” in KFC might actually stand for “funny,” the…
Photo: Tanja-Tiziana
NOW Magazine – In memoriam: Gord Downie (1964-2017) The Tragically Hip singer, poet and advocate has passed away at age 53 Published October 18, 2017
FeaturesMathematics Explains Why Wu-Tang Dropped the “Clan” for ‘The Saga Continues’ and How He Appreciates Martin Shkreli Published Oct 18, 2017 Wu-Tang Clan producer Mathematics has expressed sympathy for Martin Shkreli, the much-reviled “pharma-bro” who, in 2015, infamously spent $2…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Kumail Nanjiani & P!nk October 14, 2017 Published Oct 15, 2017 A game Kumail Nanjiani couldn’t thrive during a weakly written week at Saturday Night Live, while P!nk put forth a modest bid at reclaiming…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: October 13, 2017 Published Oct 14, 2017
A postcard from the edge, Harvey Weinstein is horrible, Mike Pence is a paid protestor, Big Bird is investigated, Rose McGowan’s account is…
NOW Magazine live review: Propagandhi played mostly new material and triumphed at the Opera House The long-running Manitoba punk band stuck mostly to 2017 album Victory Lap and had nothing to apologize for Published October 12, 2017
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Gal Gadot & Sam Smith October 7, 2017 Published Oct 08, 2017 Gal Gadot carried herself like a true star and Sam Smith was bafflingly bad on Saturday Night Live’s second episode of the season. Here’s ev…
ReviewsRebecca Kohler In Living Kohler Published Oct 06, 2017
Self-proclaimed “word nerd” Rebecca Kohler is truly brilliant on her new record, which shows off her power as both an in-the-moment performe…
ReviewsDana Gould Mr. Funny Man Published Oct 06, 2017
There’s an undeniable power to the subtle genius of Dana Gould’s jokes on his wonderfully clever new standup record. As a rule, Gould’s obse…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: October 6, 2017 Published Oct 06, 2017
Donald Trump is “allegedly” a fucking moron, a revealing close reading of “Monster Mash,” at least two great hotel shower jokes appear, peop…
FeaturesJeff Paul, Jackie Pirico and Nitish Sakhuja Live Their Dreams at a Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published Oct 02, 2017
It’s an especially sweet Canadian Thanksgiving this year, because we all get to jumpstart the long weekend with a night of mirth and merrime…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Ryan Gosling & Jay-Z September 30, 2017 Published Oct 01, 2017 Though usually reserved for weird throwaway ideas, the last half-hour of the season premiere of Saturday Night Live, starring Ryan Gosling a…
ReviewsMike Birbiglia JFL42, Sony Centre, Toronto ON, September 29 Published Sep 30, 2017 A renowned long-form storytelling comedian, Mike Birbiglia went all in for The New One, a sprawling tale about how he and his wife tried to…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: September 29, 2017 Published Sep 29, 2017 The President brings Steph and LeBron together, he tries to help a flag before helping the people of Puerto Rico, a sheepdog fudges his job…
ReviewsChris Locke JFL42, Comedy Bar, Toronto ON, September 27 Published Sep 28, 2017 Hyped up for his hometown headlining show, Chris Locke was a whirling dervish of jokes and ideas at JFL42. He possesses a rare self-consciou…
ReviewsBeth Stelling JFL42, Royal Theatre, Toronto ON, September 27 Published Sep 28, 2017 A gifted comedian, Beth Stelling experimented with a good chunk of new material during her early JFL42 show and the result was an uneven set…
ReviewsAli Siddiq JFL42, Royal Theatre, Toronto, ON, September 26 Published Sep 27, 2017 Somewhere past the mid-point of his searching set, Ali Saddiq said that if a woman doesn’t provide her man with sex, a man will just “take i…
ReviewsHari Kondabolu JFL42, Royal Theatre, Toronto ON, September 26 Published Sep 27, 2017 Strolling out to Fugazi’s “Repeater” blasting out of the PA, Hari Kondabolu sized us up quickly and determined that we’d be with him and his…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: September 22, 2017 Published Sep 23, 2017 Remembering Billy and Brian from the ’90s, J.J. Abrams might be slacking, Jimmy Kimmel stands up, dancing ladies get a Nye-ful, and much mor…
ReviewsGodspeed You! Black Emperor Luciferian Towers Published Sep 22, 2017
Again and again, Godspeed You! Black Emperor conjure a rare sort of glorious joy to push back against a world so susceptible to corruption t…
ReviewsMETZ Strange Peace Published Sep 22, 2017
Though Toronto’s METZ are still generating caterwauling hurricanes of sound, these days, primary lyricist/guitarist/young dad Alex Edkins is…
FeaturesInside the Making of METZ’s ‘Strange Peace’ with Steve Albini Published Sep 20, 2017 Fans clamouring for the new METZ record, Strange Peace, are in for a refreshing treat, as the Toronto noise rock band have taken more chance…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: September 15, 2017 Published Sep 15, 2017 A cop gets told, a selfie with Tammy takes a turn, the pharma bro hits bottom, Ted Cruz likes a porno and much more from this week in funny…
ReviewsLee Ranaldo Electric Trim Published Sep 15, 2017
The fact that Electric Trim is both Lee Ranaldo’s most collaborative and personal solo rock album since Sonic Youth disbanded is striking in…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: September 8, 2017 Published Sep 08, 2017 They say it’s Rakesh’s birthday, climate change deniers can’t deny hurricane season, Donald Trump plots his 2020 run as a Democrat, the thre…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: September 1, 2017 Published Sep 01, 2017 Conor McGregor fights Floyd Mayweather Jr., Taylor Swift fights Kanye West, Donald Trump fights himself, militia men fight spelling, Seth Ro…
FeaturesCourtney Gilmour, Daniel Woodrow and Pat Burtscher Make History at a Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published Sep 01, 2017
Now that school is starting up again, perhaps you should attend our next comedy showcase and teach yourself how to laugh all over again. …
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: August 25, 2017 Published Aug 26, 2017
A sad dispatch from the frontlines, a dog is permitted entry into a grocery store, not everyone cared that much about the solar eclipse, a s…
Features‘Crashing’ Stars Pete Holmes and Artie Lange Discuss Keeping the Comedy Faith and Standup as Salvation Published Aug 14, 2017 Artie Lange walks into the main hall at the Bell House in Brooklyn and, immediately, all eyes are on him. His friend and collaborator Pe…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: August 11, 2017 Published Aug 11, 2017
Weird times for the dog/human dynamic, the ’60s are back, China and Russia come together, Trump’s a chicken, Carl Sagan saw it all and much…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: August 4, 2017 Published Aug 04, 2017
An infamous Charles Bukowski leak, bye bye Mooch, a cat pound, Chris Christie is a nacho man, Cleopatra gets some buzz, here’s your cake or…
FeaturesTim and Eric’s Great Interview Celebrates Awesome Ten Year Anniversary Tour Published Aug 03, 2017 Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim are in the midst of a tour commemorating ten years since the debut of their highly odd TV program, Tim and E…
FeaturesFaisal Butt, Carina Morton and Dan Galea Get Friendly at the Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published Jul 31, 2017 Canadian summer is almost over! Laugh away the pain with us and also three hilarious comedians who know this country all too well. Canad…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: July 28, 2017 Published Jul 28, 2017
A couple of guys were up to some good, the world meets the Mooch, dogs are interesting, Superman will rock you, the White House is the real…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: July 21, 2017 Published Jul 21, 2017
Behold the sea in all its majesty, a papa has the power, OJ’s freedom prompts at least two similar Jimmy Fallon jokes, certain penis-bearing…
FeaturesNatasha Leggero Discusses Teaming Up with Moshe Kasher and Acting Rich as a Defence Mechanism Published Jul 21, 2017
Excellent comedian and Another Period star Natasha Leggero is hitting the road on her “Endless Honeymoon” tour, which includes a stop at Jus…
ReviewsSasheer Zamata Pizza Mind Published Jul 20, 2017
With its mix of music, animation, personal anecdotes, and truly astute social commentary, Pizza Mind shows off Sasheer Zamata’s tremendous g…
FeaturesSasheer Zamata Discusses the Revelations of Her ‘Pizza Mind’ Special, Her Mom’s Secret History and Building Her Empire Published Jul 20, 2017 If you only know Sasheer Zamata from her under-utilized (and now former) role as a Saturday Night Live cast member, you’ll be blown away by…
FeaturesKevin McDonald Talks ‘Kevin McDonald’s Kevin McDonald Show’ and the Star-Studded ‘Take Off, Eh’ Benefit Show Published Jul 19, 2017 When someone finally explained how podcasts worked to Kevin McDonald, he realized he had an opportunity to do something different with them….
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: July 14, 2017 Published Jul 14, 2017
An uppercut from Down Under, Angela Merkel can’t take much more of this, Kid Rock dang diddy dang duh dang duh dang diddy dangs for U.S Sena…
FeaturesComedy Historian Kliph Nesteroff Talks VICELAND Series ‘Funny How?’ Published Jul 10, 2017
After the publication of his remarkable 2015 book, The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels and the History of American Comedy, Kliph Nest…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: July 7, 2017 Published Jul 07, 2017
The beach hits Chris Christie, when cats dream of bike lanes, Trump gets psyched, a giant rubber ducky celebrates Canada for some reason and…
NOW Magazine live review: Bob Dylan showed signs of softening at his Air Canada Centre concert Of course, the American folk music icon did so in his own uncompromising way, while also giving Toronto fans his most inclusive and dynamic set in years Published July 6, 2017
FeaturesTodd Graham, John Cullen and Ben Miner Get Canadian at the Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published Jul 04, 2017 For a limited time, Canada has a summer. What better way to enjoy the great outdoors then by joining us in a basement nightclub to watch som…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: June 30, 2017 Published Jun 30, 2017
A golf winning streak, the media can’t stand up to Trump, Annie Lennox is finally discovered, and much more from this week in funny tweets….
ReviewsJohn Mulaney and Nick Kroll Oh, Hello on Broadway Published Jun 30, 2017
A huge part of Seinfeld lore is that, upon watching the pilot episode with his fellow NBC head honchos, late executive Brandon Tartikoff dis…
NOW Magazine live review: Bono took off his sunglasses at the Toronto stop on U2’s Joshua Tree anniversary tour That was significant for a bunch of reasons Published June 24, 2017
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Features
This Funny Week in Funny Tweets: June 23, 2017 Published Jun 23, 2017
Steven and Elyse Keaton had the same birthday, what’s the deal with Brandon McCarthy, a trough-cam falls from the sky, and much more from th…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: June 16, 2017 Published Jun 16, 2017
Elmo gives no shits, bees strike back at Vox, some men don’t fear the sun, candy confusion and much more from this week in funny tweets. …
ReviewsSarah Silverman A Speck of Dust Published Jun 16, 2017
There’s a joke here that perfectly captures Sarah Silverman’s skill set as one of our most compelling living storytellers and most uncomprom…
NOW Magazine live review: Do Make Say Think inspire awe at the Danforth Music Hall The Toronto post-rockers’ set was fuelled not only by moodiness and hard textures, but also joyous relief
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: June 9, 2017 Published Jun 09, 2017
Remembering an entertaining Chuck, Sadiq Khan outclasses the U.S. president, all hail Lord Buckethead, and much more from this week in funny…
ReviewsMaria Bamford Old Baby Published Jun 09, 2017
If you’re unfamiliar with Maria Bamford, know that writing about her work in an effort to capture what she does is rather difficult. This th…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: June 2, 2017 Published Jun 02, 2017
Wonder Woman makes some silly men wonder, Canadians have a Canadian fight on Canadian twitter, the G7 was a mess because of you-know-who, th…
ReviewsHasan Minhaj Homecoming King Published Jun 02, 2017
It’s striking how much swag Hasan Minhaj has during this thoughtfully crafted, painfully passionate rumination on immigration, racism and he…
FeaturesJohn Mulaney Discusses ‘Oh, Hello’ on Broadway, Nick Kroll’s ‘Big Mouth’ and Doing “More Yelling” on Tour Published May 31, 2017 Back in February, in the midst of movie award season, John Mulaney and Nick Kroll co-hosted the Film Independent Spirit Awards in a tent on…
FeaturesJohn Mulaney Puts Timeless Over Timely Published May 30, 2017
“I don’t know what to think about it,” comedian John Mulaney says when asked about the political climate in America with Donald Trump as Pre…
FeaturesJennifer McAuliffe, Paul Thompson, and Mike Rita Get Soulful at the Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published May 29, 2017 Summer lovin’? More like summer laughin’! (Nice try Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta.) Canada’s only exclusive stand-up and sketch c…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: May 26, 2017 Published May 27, 2017
Beluga whales might be Satan’s helpers, Twin Peaks predicts a dystopian future, Donald Trump’s European Vacation, everyone is in the new Spi…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson & Katy Perry May 20, 2017 Published May 21, 2017 Vanessa Bayer and Bobby Moynihan made their final appearances as strong, utility cast members, as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson had another stro…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: May 19, 2017 Published May 19, 2017
Donald Trump is in the news for some reason, there are three kinds of tweeters, the Emoji Movie might be confusing, and much more from this…
ReviewsNorm Macdonald Hitler’s Dog, Gossip & Trickery Published May 19, 2017
Norm Macdonald once criticized Bill Maher’s hosting chops by comparing him to David Letterman. An important distinction between the two, he…
ReviewsChippy Nonstop The Factory, St. John’s NL, May 13 Published May 14, 2017
Party starter Chippy Nonstop was lost amongst a throng of dancers. They surrounded her in her DJ booth, which was decked out in TV screens t…
ReviewsJake Nicoll The Ship, St. John’s NL, May 13 Published May 14, 2017
Local boy Jake Nicoll is an unassuming pop master who brought his wondrous songs to life with a solid quintet. There’s a sly yet confessiona…
ReviewsPhèdre Factory, St. John’s NL, May 12 Published May 13, 2017
A small gathering at Factory grew increasingly larger and became more animated as Daniel Lee and April Aliermo of Hooded Fang treated Newfou…
ReviewsJaunt Rock House, St. John’s NL, May 12 Published May 13, 2017
Jaunt exhibited such sensitivity as songwriters and musicians onstage, their group hug before the show made total sense. The Toronto quintet…
ReviewsTown House Rock House, St. John’s NL, May 12 Published May 13, 2017
With post-rock ambiance and ever-building rhythmic patterns, Town House perform songs that are equally informed by stillness and motion. The…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: May 12, 2017 Published May 12, 2017
Hollandaise will zest up your ham and banana sandwich, comedians praise France, Trump fires Comey and much more from this week in funny twee…
FeaturesBonnie ‘Prince’ Billy Celebrates Merle Haggard’s Life (Not Death) on ‘Best Troubador’ Published May 12, 2017
When Merle Haggard died in April 2016, Will Oldham was already working on Best Troubador, a new Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy collection of covers t…
ReviewsDave Chappelle The Age of Spin: Live at the Hollywood Palladium Published May 12, 2017 During his first shows in Los Angeles in ten years, Dave Chappelle felt compelled to catch up with his audience by demonstrating how he’s be…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Chris Pine & LCD Soundsystem May 6, 2017 Published May 07, 2017 Chris Pine was dynamic, singing, dancing, and acting his socks off, while LCD Soundsystem were a stoic, stylistic presence on this great epi…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: May 5, 2017 Published May 05, 2017
Linda takes over Bob’s Burgers, Jimmy Kimmel tells a heart-wrenching story, America is not in good shape and much more from this week in fun…
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Features
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy Decries “Disrespectful, Irresponsible” Music Streaming, Calls Spotify “Really Horrible” Published May 05, 2017 Throughout his illustrious run as one of the most prolific and singular artistic forces to have emerged in the past 25 years (as Bonnie ‘Pri…
FeaturesMaz Jobrani Discusses Trump’s First 100 days and Hosting the Ethnic Show at Just For Laughs in Montreal Published May 02, 2017 Maz Jobrani just performed a standup set in Toronto and he doesn’t sound like he’s in a hurry to get back to his home in Los Angeles. “I…
FeaturesRunnin’ at the Mouth’s Aisha Brown, Marito Lopez and Keith Pedro Get Familiar at the Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published May 01, 2017
We’re back and this time we’re bringing a collective. Exclaim! and Canada’s only exclusive standup and sketch comedy label, Comedy Recor…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: April 28, 2017 Published Apr 28, 2017
Reports from Fyre Festival, weird photos on TV, Steph Tolev encounters a pigeon man, and much more from this week in funny tweets. April…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: April 21, 2017 Published Apr 21, 2017
Matt Damon irked Prince, Bill O’Reilly will no longer be doing it live, Donald Trump doesn’t know from patriotism, and much more from this w…
ReviewsLouis C.K.2017 Published Apr 21, 2017
Recorded during Louis C.K.’s recent and staggeringly great live tour, Louis C.K. 2017 is another artful special by a comedian who continues…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Jimmy Fallon & Harry Styles April 15, 2017 Published Apr 16, 2017 Looking tired and uninspired, medium talent Jimmy Fallon hosted a flat, generally unfunny episode of the show that first made him famous. He…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Louis C.K. & the Chainsmokers April 8, 2017 Published Apr 09, 2017 Happy Sunday! Kick back on the perfect sectional and catch up on Louis C.K. and @TheChainsmokers on SNL: https://t.co/nFHv0UsvDW pic.twitt…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: April 7, 2017 Published Apr 07, 2017
Some birds are amusing, the Thermals rock a mumu, James Murphy is caught in a strange pose, Louis CK calls out the President and much more f…
NOW Magazine review: The 2017 Juno Awards succeeded despite Russell Peters The comedian’s pettiness was the worst thing about the telecast. Much better were A Tribe Called Red’s show opener and Feist’s Leonard Cohen tribute Published April 3, 2017
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: March 31, 2017 Published Mar 31, 2017
Trump’s golf game is not up to par, alternate realities are on the menu, Ivanka moves in, and much more from this week in funny tweets. …
FeaturesArthur Simeon, Megan Petit, and Dylan Gott Will Be Perfect Beings at a Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published Mar 31, 2017
Spring is in the air! Also in the air: birds and drones. Look out birds! Oh well, look, another one of our collaborative and very funny come…
FeaturesBob Dylan’s Seven Most Fascinating Covers Published Mar 30, 2017
Music icon Bob Dylan is renowned for his poetic and vivid songwriting, yet at various stages throughout his career, he has put his pen down…
NOW Magazine review: Bob Dylan’s Triplicate is the next piece in the perplexing puzzle that is his recent discography The folk rock legend takes on more classic American songs, a little more obscure this time around and perfectly executed Published March 27, 2017
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: March 24, 2017 Published Mar 24, 2017
George Wallace solves the mystery of pep rallies, Drake chooses life, Trump and the GOP choose death, sexism and golfing, and much more from…
NOW Magazine review: On More Life, Drake borrows heavily from hot sounds and creators from around the world But the Toronto hip-hop superstar also reimagines raw mixtapes as artfully curated playlists Published March 21, 2017
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: March 17, 2017 Published Mar 17, 2017
Kanye and Ellen reimagined, the Los Angeles Times runs a sticky dad joke headline, don’t be afraid Paul McCartney and much more from this we…
NOW Magazine live review: Wilco was a perfect storm of a band at Massey Hall At the first of two Toronto shows, the Chicago sextet made it all right to celebrate something made in America for a few hours Published March 16, 2017
FeaturesWhere I Play Elliott BROOD Published Mar 15, 2017
Elliott BROOD’s current HQ in Hamilton, ON’s Beasley Village has a mysterious past. Now a cozy, somewhat spartan yet fully functional rehear…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Scarlett Johansson & Lorde March 11, 2017 Published Mar 12, 2017 There were some occasional flashes of brilliance in this uneven episode starring Scarlett Johansson and Lorde. Here’s everything happened….
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: March 10, 2017 Published Mar 10, 2017
It’s Beauty and the Beast not Beauty and Steve, the GOP runs over people in wheelchairs with their health plan, Ben Carson seems pretty dim…
NOW Magazine story: A ticket bot speaks A government crackdown on online-concert-ticket resales only scratches the surface Published March 9, 2017
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Octavia Spencer & Father John Misty March 4, 2017 Published Mar 05, 2017 Back after a couple of weeks off, SNL wasn’t rusty per se but Octavia Spencer and Father John Misty were not on the most sturdy of episodes….
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: March 3, 2017 Published Mar 03, 2017
John Mulaney and Nick Kroll kill at the Independent Film Spirit Awards of Latter Day Saints, the Oscars and Donald Trump both lied to us, Ch…
FeaturesAdrienne Fish, Hunter Collins, Bryan O’Gorman Won’t Die at a Comedy Records / Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published Feb 27, 2017 Another one of our stellar comedy showcases in Toronto is upon us. Canada’s only exclusive standup and sketch comedy label, Comedy Recor…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: February 24, 2017 Published Feb 24, 2017 The media ups our prescriptions, Milo Yiannoupolis is rightly destroyed, rich, white people like golfing, Trebek got bars, enter Bannon, and…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: February 17, 2017 Published Feb 17, 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May hates kids, Donald Trump continues to seem like he might be a strange person, comedians weigh in on the G…
FeaturesArcade Fire’s Tim Kingsbury Talks Basia Bulat, Mavis Staples and “Buddy Band” Sam Patch Published Feb 17, 2017
Tim Kingsbury is a member of Arcade Fire and, while they maintain a demanding touring and recording schedule, he still felt compelled to sta…
FeaturesTodd Glass Talks Camping with Zach Galifianakis, ‘Saturday Night Live’ and Canada’s Comedy Rep Published Feb 13, 2017
Esteemed comic Todd Glass is returning to Vancouver in February for a three-night stand at Yuk Yuk’s, February 23 to 25, as part of the JFL…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Alec Baldwin & Ed Sheeran February 11, 2017 Published Feb 12, 2017 A totally solid 17th hosting turn for Alec Baldwin that also enabled Ed Sheeran to show off his club and mainstream radio viability, this wa…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: February 10, 2017 Published Feb 10, 2017 America continues to be completely disgraced by their new president and his administration, Melissa McCarthy pwns Sean Spicer on SNL, you cl…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Kristen Stewart & Alessia Cara February 4, 2017 Published Feb 05, 2017 Despite some human and technological awkwardness, this was an entertaining Saturday Night Live, with a few satisfying surprises, including o…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: February 3, 2017 Published Feb 03, 2017
The United States of America’s status in the world continues to erode under its dangerously strange new regime, a dog show provokes chaos, K…
FeaturesK. Trevor Wilson, Fraser Young, and Jordan Foisy Cook Up Some Funny at the Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published Jan 30, 2017
We keep organizing these showcases for our standup series and you keep packing the room. Thanks! The series continues on Thursday February 2…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: January 27, 2017 Published Jan 27, 2017
People have the power and the signs, Melania lives a sad life, Trump raises his hand, and much more from this week in funny tweets. Janu…
ReviewsLouis CKAir Canada Centre, Toronto ON, January 26 Published Jan 27, 2017
Even if you walked into the Air Canada Centre thinking that Louis C.K. is the greatest standup comedian alive right now, you’d still be unpr…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Aziz Ansari & Big Sean January 21, 2017 Published Jan 22, 2017 Aziz Ansari was a great, committed host who seemed to go mostly off-book in his dialogue and characterizations, while Big Sean didn’t make t…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: January 20, 2017 Published Jan 20, 2017
People made some good jokes but what the fuck, Donald Trump is actually the President of the United States — and much more from this week in…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Felicity Jones and Sturgill Simpson January 14, 2017 Published Jan 15, 2017 Yikes. Back for their first episode of 2017, Saturday Night Live was rough, with many ill-conceived and clumsily concluded sketches for host…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: January 13, 2017 Published Jan 13, 2017
Mexico and the fucken wall, Anne T. Donahue wins Twitter (again), Vermont and the White House each get a little yellow, and much more from t…
FeaturesSteph Tolev, Efthimios Nasiopoulos and Rob Pue Get Social at January’s Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase Published Jan 03, 2017 The Comedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase continues January 5 with an excellent line-up of socially adept comedians. at Wenona Lodge (106…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Casey Affleck & Chance the Rapper December 17, 2016 Published Dec 18, 2016 A sedate, low-key Casey Affleck was actually well-suited to host, as his measured demeanour made him a great straight man, while Chance the…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: December 16, 2016 Published Dec 17, 2016 Might be time to get used to Russian dressing, a Trump cartoon fails to get banned, Keith Olbermann is mad as hell, and much more from this…
MuchMusic’s J.D. Roberts talks to Cyndi Lauper. Christopher Ward’s new book examines the influence of Much on the Canadian music industry.
FeaturesLaugh to Keep From Crying: Samantha Bee, Larry David and Patton Oswalt All Helped Keep Us Sane 2016 in Lists Published Dec 13, 2016 In an absolute shit year for humankind, certain comedians played huge roles in setting the tone and getting us all through it. Larry D…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: John Cena & Maren Morris December 10, 2016 Published Dec 11, 2016 Despite a game and strong host in John Cena, this episode’s quality was varied and full of odd premises that still generated some good jokes…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: December 9, 2016 Published Dec 09, 2016 The world needs a photo of Leonard Cohen playing with a giant dog, The Donald is The Devil, Tom Cruise gets it done, and much more from this…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Emma Stone & Shawn Mendes December 3, 2016 Published Dec 04, 2016 Emma Stone returned as an affable, perfect host and the writers brought their “A” games for the strongest episode of the season so far. Here…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: December 2, 2016 Published Dec 03, 2016 Russell Westbrook scores a rare triple-triple, Donnie takes Mitt to dinner, Trump seems like kind of a jerk, and much more from this week in…
FeaturesComedy Records/Exclaim! Standup Showcase: December 1 Chris Robinson, Mark DeBonis, and Clare Belford Will Not Fall Down Published Nov 26, 2016 Our stand-up series continues with an amazing lineup of award-winning, squash-eating, sure-footed comedians. Canada’s only exclusive sta…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: November 24, 2016 Published Nov 25, 2016 Refreshingly Donald Trump is in the news, Ice-T lays a smack down, people are sadly to make up fresh Nazi jokes, and much more from this wee…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Kristen Wiig & the xx November 19, 2016 Published Nov 20, 2016 Hall of Fame cast member Kristen Wiig didn’t have the strongest hosting turn when she first came back to SNL but, with better writing and so…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: November 18, 2016 Published Nov 19, 2016
Nikki Glaser gets the last laugh, Dr. Ben Carson may have actually taken a hypocritical oath, Kanye West finally ruins Kanye West for everyo…
ReviewsJosh GondelmanComedy Bar, Toronto ON, November 18 Published Nov 19, 2016
With his sunny disposition and cheery manner, Josh Gondelman charmed Toronto with wry, witty, well-crafted jokes that touched a bit upon a g…
NOW Magazine review: >>> Bring your worst, world. We got a new Tribe Called Quest album so we’re good The cameos by Elton John, Anderson .Paak, Kanye and Kendrick Lamar are nice, but it’s the ambitious productions that super-charge this record Published November 15, 2016
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Dave Chappelle & A Tribe Called Quest November 12, 2016 Published Nov 13, 2016
In the closing credits, Dave Chappelle thanked Lorne Michaels for allowing him to host the show and scratch something off his bucket list. F…
NOW Magazine Obit: Leonard Cohen dead at 82 The singer/songwriter and poet was one of Canada’s – and the world’s – most distinctive and timeless artists… Published November 11, 2016
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: November 10, 2016 Published Nov 11, 2016 Fuck everything, and much more from this week in funny tweets. November 5 SIRI, what’s your deal with Brian? pic.twitter.com/G6p9yjyB…
ReviewsSaturday Night Live: Benedict Cumberbatch with Solange November 5, 2016 Published Nov 06, 2016 Back from a week off, Saturday Night Live welcomed Benedict Cumberbatch and Solange for a very funny, well-rounded episode. Though Cumberbat…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: November 4, 2016 Published Nov 05, 2016 America’ shoulders are tense, Halloween denial, Trump can’t read, Tom Scharpling conjures the Bartman during the World Series, we figure out…
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Features
Hari Kondabolu on Trump, His Mom, and Brown People Perceptions Published Nov 03, 2016 When he surveys the political landscape in 2016, Brooklyn-based comedian Hari Kondabolu questions time itself. “I’ve seen films about au…
FeaturesDane Cook Is Secretly Canadian, Hates Comedy Elitism and Can Relate to Amy Schumer Going Through the ‘Spanking Machine’ Published Nov 02, 2016
Dane Cook phoned and I missed his call. “I was ahead of schedule, which is very me,” he says. “I’m always early to a fault.” The Ame…
FeaturesComedy Records / Exclaim! Standup Showcase: November 3 Keith Pedro, Monty Scott and Nick Reynoldson May Wear Pants Published Nov 01, 2016
Canada’s only exclusive stand-up and sketch comedy label, Comedy Records, recently teamed up with Exclaim! to launch the aptly named Comedy…
ReviewsDavid Cross Making America Great Again! Published Nov 01, 2016
David Cross named his most recent standup tour after Donald Trump’s presidential election campaign slogan way back when no one took the ugly…
FeaturesReggie Watts The Exclaim! Questionnaire Published Oct 31, 2016
Known for his deft musicianship and subtle, surreal comedy, Reggie Watts was born to be a bandleader. He holds such a post on the Late Late…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: October 27, 2016 Published Oct 30, 2016
America’s Mayor gets handsy, Dave Itzkoff breaks Halloween down, Mac McCaughan feels President Obama’s pain, Vine gets phased out, and much…
Roy Thomson Hall | Jag Gundu NOW Magazine Live review: Gord Downie’s Secret Path at Roy Thomson Hall was, well, perfect More than a concert, the event was a pointed appeal to Canadians to embrace our sullied history… Published October 22, 2016
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Reviews
Saturday Night Live: Tom Hanks with Lady Gaga October 22, 2016 Published Oct 23, 2016 Saturday Night Live’s fourth straight week in production without a break found the show sharp and in good hands with returning stars, Tom Ha…
ReviewsAparna Nancherla Paul O’Regan Hall, Halifax NS, October 20 Published Oct 21, 2016 “It kind of feels like we’re in a series finale,” Aparna Nancherla said, addressing the U.S. presidential election at the top of her set, th…
ReviewsSara Schaefer Paul O’Regan Hall, Halifax NS, October 20 Published Oct 21, 2016
Visiting Canada from the States, Sara Schaefer felt Canadians’ pain regarding the U.S. election, going so far as to suggest that if the worl…
ReviewsMary Green Paul O’Regan Hall, Halifax NS, October 20 Published Oct 21, 2016
Fredericton NB’s Mary Green didn’t overplay her regional advantage, landing great, self-deprecating jokes about herself and her state of min…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: October 20, 2016 Published Oct 20, 2016
At least two dogs party on, a questionable witness defends the Donald, Jake Tapper’s amazing roll call, 2016 is longer than we think, and mu…
ReviewsEmily Blunt & Bruno Mars Saturday Night Live, October 15, 2016 Published Oct 16, 2016 Saturday Night Live has been on a tear already, with two strong episodes to kick off its 42nd season. How did Emily Blunt and Bruno Mars far…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: October 14, 2016 Published Oct 14, 2016
Something stinks on the moving staircase, Hillary and the Donald rely on each other, Megyn Kelly’s JAWS game’s on fleek, Germans capture Tru…
FeaturesDylan Moran Goes ‘Off the Hook,’ Takes Tour Across Canada Published Oct 11, 2016 Though he now resides in Edinburgh, Scotland, Dylan Moran was raised just outside of Dublin, Ireland, a city best known for him, a long infa…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: October 7, 2016 Published Oct 07, 2016
Michael Moore gets a lemonhead, Trump is really Trump-y, Eminem looks rough, what happened to Samantha Bee in Nevada didn’t stay in Nevada,…
ReviewsAnthony Jeselnik Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto ON, September 30 Published Oct 01, 2016 Having honed this sociopathic, bone-cold persona, Anthony Jeselnik has to have some weird fans. In the case of Jak Knight, who opened the sh…
ReviewsDemetri Martin Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto ON, September 30 Published Oct 01, 2016 Full of new jokes and totally on his game, Demetri Martin barely went 20 seconds between receiving huge laughs for his clever, observational…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: September 30, 2016 Published Sep 30, 2016 Adam McKay offers up a scrumptious 2016 foodie tip, Jerry Springer wins the first presidential debate, Matt supports his brother Patton, pre…
ReviewsKumail Nanjiani Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Toronto ON, September 27 Published Sep 28, 2016 After establishing that some fans in the audience had roots in his hometown of Karachi, Pakistan, Kumail Nanjiani looked into the darkness a…
ReviewsHarmontown Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Toronto ON, September 27 Published Sep 28, 2016 This particular trip to Harmontown was led by a goofy GPS. The live, improvised, freeform discussion and skit podcast helmed by Dan Harmon (…
ReviewsHayden Fédération Ukrainienne, Montreal QC, September 24 Published Sep 25, 2016 Maybe it was a nod to the scrappy, exploratory era that birthed Hayden’s 1996 debut, Everything I Long For, which he was playing front-to-ba…
ReviewsTim Darcy Casa del Popolo, Montreal QC, September 23 Published Sep 24, 2016
Tim Darcy, the charismatic lead singer and lyricist of the great Montreal band Ought, played a rare show with his solo band, debuting songs…
ReviewsTess Roby Casa del Popolo, Montreal QC, September 23 Published Sep 24, 2016
Performing in a two-piece formation with her brother, a guitarist, as both were cast in flickering images by a projectionist, Montreal artis…
ReviewsTamara Sandor Casa del Popolo, Montreal QC, September 23 Published Sep 24, 2016
Leading a scrappy power trio, Tamara Sandor cut a mystical figure. Her voice was breathy, but bold. During a song inspired by a story she re…
ReviewsJef Elise Barbara La Sala Rossa, Montreal QC, September 23 Published Sep 24, 2016
Genre-mashing local darling Jef Elise Barbara commandeered a synthesizer and electronic beats while flanked by a bassist, saxophonist, and b…
ReviewsThe Past Casa del Popolo, Montreal QC, September 23 Published Sep 24, 2016
The Past is one man. A seemingly sad, unassuming man who strums and plucks a classical guitar and sings minimal lyrics rather forcefully. “M…
ReviewsChandra La Sala Rossa, Montreal QC, September 23 Published Sep 24, 2016
Post-punk pioneer Chandra showed up on stage with a band largely made up of young Toronto musicians and proceeded to perform a number of off…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: September 23, 2016 Published Sep 23, 2016
Paul F. Tompkins has had it with arachnids, nostalgia for Air Jordan, a tribute to 9/21, an unfortunate encounter with an ex, and much more…
FeaturesHasan Minhaj Discusses the Trudeau Effect, ‘Daily Show’ critics and Being Middle America’s ‘Homecoming King’ Published Sep 23, 2016
At an airport in Minneapolis, Hasan Minhaj has just ordered a hot coffee and requested a special ingredient: ice cubes. “I know I’m bein…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: September 16, 2016 Published Sep 16, 2016
The GOP suddenly seem interested in women’s healthcare, a sad bird death, Jimmy Fallon continues to kiss up to everyone, and much more from…
ReviewsThe Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years Directed by Ron Howard Published Sep 13, 2016
Many decades before dislikeable people in front of you began recording live concerts using their camera phones, fans brought their clunky ca…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: September 9, 2016 Published Sep 09, 2016
The scary Trump brood, when Abraham ghosted on God, Larry King fools the Donald, and much more from this week in funny tweets. September 3…
A cruel summer for an arts fanatic
Guelph Mercury COLUMNS Aug 25, 2016
ReviewsJim Jefferies Freedumb Published Aug 23, 2016
On his 2014 special, Bare, Jim Jefferies attacked America’s heart-wrenchingly illogical gun control problem with such smart vigour and sharp…
ReviewsTom Papa Live in New York City Published Aug 19, 2016
It’s kind of weird that Tom Papa isn’t a bigger deal. A quick, smart observational comic, ace storyteller, radio and TV host (Boom!), and ac…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: August 18, 2016 Published Aug 19, 2016
Gym lies, Olympic-sized sexism, the Wolf has a baby, WTF Ryan Lochte, and much more from this week in funny tweets. August 12 in furth…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: August 11, 2016 Published Aug 12, 2016
Suicide Squad has hidden treats, Neal Brennan’s inspirational post, CNN continues to hurt America, and much more from this week in funny twe…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: August 4, 2016 Published Aug 05, 2016
Politicians bend the truth in their predictions, chip cards are pulling us apart, Donald Trump isn’t all that bright, and much more from thi…
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Features
This Funny Week in Funny Tweets: July 28, 2016 Published Jul 29, 2016
Some of the funniest people seized upon the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, Donald Trump, and much more from this week in fu…
ReviewsGary Gulman It’s About Time Published Jul 28, 2016
Smart, self-assured, and clearly in command of both his material and the moment, Gary Gulman’s slow-build riffs on everything from phones to…
FeaturesMary Lynn Rajskub Discusses Just For Laughs, ’24,’ Garry Shandling and Donald Trump Published Jul 27, 2016
Mary Lynn Rajskub is a talented comedian and actor who’s best known for her portrayal of data analyst Chloe O’Brian on the iconic Fox drama,…
Highlights from a hot Hillside
Guelph Mercury COLUMNS Jul 26, 2016
ReviewsHari Kondabolu Mainstream American Comic Published Jul 26, 2016
There’s no working comic who can seamlessly blend personal and socio-political comedy as substantively and satisfyingly as Hari Kondabolu. H…
ReviewsDavid Cross Danforth Music Hall, Toronto ON, July 25 Published Jul 26, 2016
David Cross found himself a fabulous hat that exemplifies today’s America. After some pleasantries about his fondness for certain cultur…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: July 21, 2016 Published Jul 22, 2016
Baroness von Sketch show wiggles it for debit, Scott Baio is not really in charge, Billy Eichner conjures the old ‘Gettysburg Address,’ #RNC…
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Features
David Cross on Trump, Brexit and Arrested Development Published Jul 18, 2016
David Cross is on the phone from Stockholm, where he’s touring his new standup show, Making America Great Again!! “That was a terrible m…
ReviewsJim Gaffigan Beyond the Pale Published Jul 18, 2016
Jim Gaffigan is an observational comic who seems to spend most of his time observing food. As he once intimated, he’s obsessed with food and…
In Bad Singer Tim Falconer documents his struggles with amusia, a disorder that affects how someone processes pitch. NEVILLE ELDER/THE GLOBE AND MAIL
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: July 14, 2016 Published Jul 15, 2016
Edmonton’s Erik Fawcett made us laugh at least twice this week, the lives of the Tenors don’t matter as much as they once did, Donald Trump…
FeaturesNikki Glaser Talks ‘Not Safe,’ American Politics and Sexual Liberation Published Jul 11, 2016
Nikki Glaser had a festive, long Independence Day weekend. “It was really good,” she says. “I just got a new dog so I was worried that h…
ReviewsAparna Nancherla Just Putting It Out There Published Jul 08, 2016
Aparna Nancherla is an endearing trickster who sets us up, as much as she might a joke. “I was thinking about this the other day: Don’t you…
ReviewsDeon Cole Cole Blooded Seminar Published Jul 08, 2016
At one point during Deon Cole’s masterful new special, he lists off several musical legends we’ve lost in 2016. He mentions Maurice White, D…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: July 7, 2016 Published Jul 08, 2016
Vic Berger IV discovers another meaning behind getting “slimed,” HelloCVH can’t deal with NYC crabs, Jonny Sun calls us on our packing game,…
ReviewsChelsea Peretti One of the Greats Published Jul 07, 2016
Exclaim! is reviewing every standup comedy special currently available on Netflix Canada, including this one. You can find a complete list o…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: June 30, 2016 Published Jun 30, 2016
Randy Mayem Singer lets British humans have it, Matt Oswalt can’t handle human Jimmy Fallon, @SenseiSmokes questions how relevant the info i…
Weak dollar, oversaturation are threatening our festivals
Guelphlandia OPINION Jun 30, 2016 Guelph Mercury
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: June 23, 2016 Published Jun 24, 2016
Mark Forward explains why making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got, Andy Richter salutes dad’s butts, Cher sticks it t…
ReviewsJay Arner Jay II Published Jun 17, 2016
After journalists seized on a single aspect of the bio for his self-titled debut, the rap on Jay Arner was that he was “shy.” But towards th…
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Features
This Funny Week in Funny Tweets: June 16, 2016 Published Jun 17, 2016
This week, chOOOch has a bad feeling about Chewbacca mom, Tim Heidecker questions Donald Trump, Vic Berger remembers Jeb Bush, and much more…
ReviewsPatton Oswalt Talking For Clapping Published Jun 13, 2016
Exclaim! is reviewing every standup comedy special currently available on Netflix Canada, including this one. You can find a complete list o…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: June 9, 2016 Published Jun 10, 2016
This week, don’t mess with Brian Boone’s logic, Dave Hill maintains his high standards, Emily Faye unforgettably fires shots, 6/9 is commemo…
ReviewsHannibal Buress Comedy Camisado Published Jun 06, 2016
Exclaim! is reviewing every standup comedy special currently available on Netflix Canada, including this one. You can find a complete list o…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: June 3, 2016 Published Jun 03, 2016
This week, Jesse Fernandez is finally defeated by his phone, Nick Wiger ponders parents who let their children play with apes, Anne Franksan…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: May 27, 2016 Published May 27, 2016
This week, the Raptors try to make it home before midnight, the Lonely Island release an amazing new song, Aidy Bryant sends out a cry for h…
Gord Downie and the Guelph I know Guelph Mercury COLUMNS May 24, 2016
ReviewsMichael Ian Black Noted Expert Published May 20, 2016
It often feels as though Michael Ian Black’s genius as a standup flies under the radar. He’s best known for his work as an actor in the surr…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: May 20, 2016 Published May 20, 2016
This week, Steve Martin critiques some photography, Dave Itzkoff finally crafts the perfect Drake meme, the new Ghostbusters movie prompts m…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: May 13, 2016 Published May 13, 2016
This week, we are thankful that a certain Broadway smash doesn’t get the karaoke treatment on TV, we celebrate Mother’s Day, Jon Stewart sur…
ReviewsShotgun Jimmie The Ship, St. John’s NL, May 8 Published May 09, 2016
Very few people get as excited about being in St. John’s as Shotgun Jimmie. In town for days ahead of playing the final set of the sixth ann…
ReviewsSleepy The Ship, St. John’s NL, May 8 Published May 09, 2016
St. John’s band Sleepy bear something of a resemblance to the early post-punk and prog elements of Wintersleep. They’re more full on, with f…
ReviewsPilot to Bombardier The Ship, St. John’s NL, May 8 Published May 09, 2016
After a busy, energy-burning five days packed full of concerts, music crawls, panel talks and record fairs, Pilot to Bombardier’s low-key, l…
ReviewsTrailercamp The Rock House, St. John’s NL, May 7 Published May 08, 2016
There’s a rich vein of punk and post-punk in St. John’s and the band Trailercamp are integral to that legacy. Broken up since 2010, they reu…
ReviewsPsychic Fair The Ship, St. John’s NL, May 7 Published May 08, 2016
By the end of Psychic Fair’s set, vocalist Josh Salter and guitarist Charles Austin were trading solos by tossing the same Stratocaster thro…
ReviewsPunch Table The Ship, St. John’s NL, May 7 Published May 08, 2016
After witnessing so much hometown virtuosity, it was actually refreshing to see a scrappy, fun local band at the Ship. Punch Table features…
ReviewsJulie Doiron Quidi Vidi Village Plantation, St. John’s NL, May 7 Published May 08, 2016
Julie Doiron is fucking hilarious. A record of her between-song spiels should come out someday because these stream-of-self-consciousness ra…
ReviewsCharlotte Day Wilson Quidi Vidi Brewery, St. John’s NL, May 7 Published May 08, 2016
A powerhouse vocalist, Wilson masked herself in waves of reverb and a mix of synthetic and familiar tones for her bleary-eyed, afternoon mus…
ReviewsBraids The Rock House, St. John’s NL, May 6 Published May 07, 2016
There never really was but now there’s definitely no precedent to Braids’ style. They play familiar instruments like guitars and drums, and…
ReviewsWunderstrands The Rock House, St. John’s, NL, May 6 Published May 07, 2016
Featuring four members of hometown heroes Hey Rosetta!, Wunderstrands played a magical set of sombre yet uplifting pop. Led by Mara Pellerin…
ReviewsDame Nature The Rock House, St. John’s NL, May 6 Published May 07, 2016
Lawnya Vawnya is notable for opening its programming up to many up-and-coming local acts and virtually all of them consist of some aces. Dam…
ReviewsWeird Lines The Ship, St. John’s NL, May 5 Published May 06, 2016
Sackville’s Weird Lines are the off-kilter indie rock outlet for songwriters CL McLaughlin and Julie Doiron, and their Lawnya Vawnya set was…
ReviewsBranch Ricky The Ship, St. John’s NL, May 5 Published May 06, 2016
“Who’s on weed tonight?” a foam-and-mesh hat-clad guitarist in Branch Ricky asked twice before the band played what ostensibly sounded like…
ReviewsLady Brett Ashley The Ship, St. John’s NL, May 5 Published May 06, 2016
Hometown band Lady Brett Ashley shift from dark, brooding post-rock to sunny, sophisticated pop with surprising ease. A four-piece with conv…
ReviewsJennifer Castle The Rocket Room, St. John’s NL, May 5 Published May 06, 2016
When Jennifer Castle performs and all is right in space and time, she enters a trance, hypnotizing everyone who witnesses her. Castle is…
ReviewsZachary Lucky The Rocket Room, St. John’s NL, May 5 Published May 06, 2016
Saskatoon’s Zachary Lucky is unapologetically old-school country, armed with a husky, bass-heavy voice and a command of virtually every fo…
ReviewsPeter Willie Youngtree & the Blooms The Rocket Room, St. John’s NL, May 5 Published May 06, 2016
Filling the Rocket Room with a late ’60s Dylan vibe, Youngtree and his band played well-rehearsed, earnest country-folk whose guiding princ…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: May 5, 2016 Published May 05, 2016
This week, some weird foreplay and dating stuff, Larry Wilmore uses a word he can use, Ted Cruz finally understands what losing means, you n…
FeaturesScott Aukerman On the Legacy of ‘Comedy Bang! Bang!’ and New Sidekick “Weird Al” Published May 05, 2016
Scott Aukerman has every right to be overwhelmed by the comedy world he created and oversees. “We just wrapped season five of Comedy Ban…
Features‘Trouble Boys’ Author Bob Mehr Discusses the Replacements’ Difficult Past Published May 03, 2016
Beyond their best albums and the songwriting gifts of Paul Westerberg, the Replacements are fiercely beloved for all the wrong reasons. But…
Nowhere With You is an extensively researched book on the artistic trajectory of Joel Plaskett. FRED LUM/THE GLOBE AND MAIL
Globe and Mail Book Review: Josh O’Kane’s Nowhere With You is a meditation on roots and community Published April 29, 2016
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: April 28, 2016 Published Apr 28, 2016This week, celebrate #LaTinaFeyDay, watch the Trump clan get super deluxed, see a fish get Bel Biv Devoe’d, experience the weirdness of bein…
Protomartyr: Motor City cult faves make time for Royal City
Guelph Mercury COLUMNS Apr 28, 2016
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: April 22, 2016 Published Apr 22, 2016
Some of the funniest people in the world write hilarious tweets and our only job is to collect a bunch of them for your pleasure. So take a…
FeaturesPatton Oswalt Lets Jokes Speak For Themselves on ‘Talking for Clapping’ Special Published Apr 22, 2016
Patton Oswalt has been a standup comedian since he was a teenager and Talking for Clapping (on Netflix starting April 22) marks his seventh…
ReviewsDaniel Tosh People Pleaser Published Apr 19, 2016
Throughout “Eggplant,” from his new standup special People Pleaser, Daniel Tosh discusses the recent public outcry against his material (spe…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: April 16, 2016 Published Apr 16, 2016
Some of the funniest people in the world write hilarious tweets and our only job is to collect a bunch of them for your pleasure. So take a…
ReviewsNikki Glaser Perfect Published Apr 12, 2016
At age 31, Nikki Glaser taped Perfect while still coming to terms with being a full-grown woman and dealing with/fending off all of the exte…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: April 10, 2016 Published Apr 10, 2016
Some of the funniest people in the world write hilarious tweets and our only job is to collect a bunch of them for your pleasure. So take a…
ReviewsHayden Everything I Long For 20 Published Apr 04, 2016
There’s a temporal tussle within Hayden’s impressive debut record, as it plainly oscillates between who he was 20-odd years ago and the arti…
Left to right, Dee Dee, Johnny, Joey and Marky Ramone, of the iconic punk band the Ramones, discussed in Ray Robertson’s new book.
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: April 1, 2016 Published Apr 01, 2016
Some of the funniest people in the world write hilarious tweets and our only job is to collect a bunch of them for your pleasure. So take a…
FeaturesInside Jokes: Josh Gondelman on ‘The Entire Spectrum of Human Potential’ Published Mar 22, 2016
Stand-up comedian, Twitter champion, former preschool teacher, and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver scribe/producer Josh Gondelman is gear…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: March 18, 2016 Published Mar 19, 2016
Some of the funniest people in the world write hilarious tweets and our only job is to collect a bunch of them for your pleasure. So take a…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: March 11, 2016 Published Mar 11, 2016
Some of the funniest people in the world write hilarious tweets and our only job is to collect a bunch of them for your pleasure. So take a…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: March 4, 2016 Published Mar 04, 2016
Some of the funniest people in the world write hilarious tweets and our only job is to collect a bunch of them for your pleasure. So take a…
ReviewsNeil Hamburger / Tim Heidecker Starlight, Waterloo ON, March 3 Published Mar 04, 2016
In the case of Neil Hamburger and Tim Heidecker, the jokes are really themselves a joke. Both personas are critiques of stand-up itself and…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: February 26, 2016 Published Feb 26, 2016
Some of the funniest people in the world write hilarious tweets and our only job is to collect a bunch of them for your pleasure. So take a…
The Age of Aquarius Katie Guelph Tribune
COLUMNS Feb 25, 2016
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: February 19, 2016 Published Feb 19, 2016
Some of the funniest people in the world write hilarious tweets and our only job is to collect a bunch of them for your pleasure. So take a…
FeaturesThis Funny Week in Funny Tweets: February 12, 2016 Published Feb 12, 2016
Some of the funniest people in the world write hilarious tweets and our only job is to collect a bunch of them for your pleasure. So take a…
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Features
This Funny Week in Funny Tweets: February 5, 2016 Published Feb 05, 2016
Some of the funniest people in the world write hilarious tweets and our only job is to collect a bunch of them for your pleasure. So take a…
FeaturesAn Essential Guide to “Weird Al” Yankovic Published Feb 02, 2016
A topical satirist of “Weird Al” Yankovic’s ilk is rare enough, but considering he’s been relevant and popular for almost 40 years, he’s ina…
FeaturesTortoise Get Vocal with ‘The Catastrophist’ Published Feb 01, 2016
The latest album by influential American instrumental band Tortoise is called The Catastrophist, which might trigger thoughts about U.S. pre…
FeaturesThis Funny Week In Funny Tweets: January 29, 2016 Published Jan 29, 2016
Some of the funniest people in the world write hilarious tweets and our only job is to collect a bunch of them for your pleasure. So take a…
ReviewsThe Staple Singers Faith & Grace: A Family Journey 1953-1976 Published Nov 26, 2015
The 80 tracks compiled here exhibit the astonishing breadth and influence of the Staple Singers, a weirdly unsung family of musical innovato…
FeaturesPeter Guralnick on His New Book, Sam Phillips and the Birth of Rock’n’Roll Published Nov 17, 2015
In his compelling, exhaustively researched new book about the extraordinary life of Sam Phillips — the man who started Sun Records and…
ReviewsW/ Bob & David Season 1 Published Nov 13, 2015
Among the most striking things about the return of Bob Odenkirk, David Cross, and the rest of their Mr. Show with Bob and David co-conspirat…
ReviewsIan Karmel 9.2 on Pitchfork Published Nov 13, 2015
Mere inches away from “comedic force of nature” territory, Ian Karmel’s set here is a torrent of pop culture observations that he spins into…
FeaturesEugene Mirman Previews ‘I’m Sorry (You’re Welcome)’ Published Oct 30, 2015
Brooklyn’s Eugene Mirman is a brilliant actor, author, festival organizer and stand-up comedian. He’s a star of the hit animated Fox show Bo…
ReviewsHannibal Buress Sony Centre, Toronto ON, October 3 Published Oct 05, 2015
In what he described as the biggest headlining show he’s ever done outside of his hometown of Chicago, Hannibal Buress rolled into Toronto a…
ReviewsDr. Katz Live (Andy Kindler, Chris Gethard, Sean Cullen, Doug Benson, and Scott Thompson) Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Toronto ON, October 3 Published Oct 04, 2015
Bringing his classic, animated show to life, Jonathan Katz reprised his beloved role of an ineffectual therapist listening to comedians disc…
ReviewsPatton Oswalt Sony Centre, Toronto ON, October 2 Published Oct 03, 2015
There’s a pretty good chance that Aparna Nancherla stole Patton Oswalt’s bottled water last night, which fucked up the space-time continuum…
ReviewsFortune Feimster Rivoli, Toronto ON, October 2 Published Oct 03, 2015
With her actual mother in the audience, Fortune Feimster went ahead and told stories about her family and North Carolina upbringing, as a cl…
ReviewsDave Hill Let Me Turn You On Published Sep 08, 2015
Multi-talented surreal absurdist Dave Hill is a low-key dude who messes with stand-up conventions for his thoroughly entertaining new record…
ReviewsSlim Twig Thank You For Stickin’ With Twig Published Aug 05, 2015
Toronto shape-shifter Slim Twig (aka Max Turnbull) has been creating subversive pop music for more than ten years and, within that time, he’…
FeaturesSlim Twig Is Not A Drug-Addled Pothead Published Aug 03, 2015
Toronto shapeshifter Slim Twig (aka Max Turnbull) has been creating subversive pop music for more than ten years and, within that time, he h…
FeaturesRhys Darby talks ‘X-Files,’ ‘Flight of the Conchords’ and ‘I’m A Fighter Jet!’ Published Jul 20, 2015
Rhys Darby is in Vancouver shooting an episode for the forthcoming reboot of The X-Files. “It’s freaky,” he says over the phone. “It’s The X…
ReviewsNeal Brennan Comedy Bar, Toronto ON, July 18 Published Jul 20, 2015
Compartmentalizing his material into three segments, Neal Brennan’s conceptual one-man-show is an emotional roller coaster that’s totally re…
FeaturesWhere I Play Will Currie and the Country French Published Jul 06, 2015
“Our band isn’t what it was,” Will Currie says, seated behind a Korg SV-1 keyboard in his cozy living room in Waterloo, ON. One of his bandm…
FeaturesJim O’Rourke on Genesis, Prog Rock and ‘Simple Songs’ Published Jun 02, 2015
Jim O’Rourke could talk about Genesis all day long. “My favourite prog rock band was Genesis, and their foundation is the songs,” he tells E…
FeaturesToronto’s JFL42 Comedy Festival Reveals 2015 Lineup Published Jun 02, 2015
Two days before he takes over hosting duties on The Daily Show on September 28, Trevor Noah will be headlining a stand-up show in Toronto, t…
A.V. CLUB INTERVIEW Chad VanGaalen on doing stupid human tricks for David Letterman Published May 19, 2015
ReviewsJim O’Rourke Simple Songs Published May 15, 2015
Long and mostly associated with avant-garde musical experimentation, Jim O’Rourke hasn’t released a rock-songs-with-lyrics-and-singing-based…
FeaturesJust for Laughs Montreal Reveals 2015 Lineup Published May 05, 2015
Just for Laughs has announced the lineup for its 33rd annual comedy festival in Montreal, and fans from across the world are already calcula…
FeaturesGodspeed You! Black Emperor There’s Only Hope Published May 05, 2015
Within a collective dispatch in 2012, Godspeed You! Black Emperor made mention of a possible band mandate: “No singer, no leader, no intervi…
ReviewsJon Mckiel The Ship, St. John’s NL, April 26 Published Apr 27, 2015
All of Lawnya Vawnya came down to this one moment: Jon Mckiel closing out the fest with a set at The Ship. Other fests might not realize it,…
ReviewsGianna Lauren The Ship, St. John’s NL, April 26 Published Apr 27, 2015
Sunday night was sleepy, so Gianna Lauren gave us a stormy dream of a performance. The Halifax artist was backed up by Mauno who, besides We…
ReviewsDoug Paisley Rocket Room, St. John’s NL, April 25 Published Apr 26, 2015
Beyond his fingers flying across a fretboard, Doug Paisley is a no-frills dude on stage. It takes a certain level of confidence and convicti…
ReviewsDark for Dark Rocket Room, St. John’s, April 25 Published Apr 26, 2015
Haunting vocal harmonies and subtly intricate musicianship enable Dark for Dark to stand out from the crowded field of introspective, dark-h…
ReviewsSusie Asado Rocket Room, St. John’s NL, April 25 Published Apr 26, 2015
Berlin’s Josepha Conrad is an artful and arresting performer, songwriter, and singer whose sparse folk arrangements house wordy, fascinating…
ReviewsThe Domestics The Rock House, St. John’s NL, April 24 Published Apr 25, 2015
New parents have to pick their spots. Ian Cornelissen and Sandy May spoke of being distracted by babysitter texts as they tried to concentra…
ReviewsOuroboros The Rock House, St. John’s NL, April 24 Published Apr 25, 2015
Four saxophones and drums shouldn’t have been this entertaining. But with elements of Klezmer, jazz, Afro-funk, and swing, Ouroboros proved…
FeaturesKid In the Hall Scott ThompsonThe Exclaim! Questionnaire Published Apr 24, 2015
A proud son of Brampton, ON, Scott Thompson is an Emmy-nominated actor, writer and comedian who appears on the NBC crime show, Hannibal, and…
ReviewsSuuns The Ship, St. John’s NL, April 23 Published Apr 24, 2015
The hooks are there, but they’re layers deep, below noise and distorted beds of rhythm. The guitars in Suuns are just texture machines that…
ReviewsWalrus The Ship, St. John’s NL, April 23 Published Apr 24, 2015
The city of Halifax seems to send at least one amazing psych-rock band to destroy the Ship and Lawnya Vawnya each year. In 2014, Monomyth ca…
ReviewsMooch The Ship, St. John’s NL, April 23 Published Apr 24, 2015
Somewhere between John Reis’ Drive Like Jehu and Rocket From the Crypt, hometown band Mooch play a kind of mathematical post-punk with unexp…
FeaturesScott Thompson Talks Kids In the Hall Tour, New Material and the Downfall of White Men Published Apr 23, 2015
Though they broke up for a spell between 1995 and 2000, iconic Canadian comedy troupe the Kids in the Hall have otherwise been active since…
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Features
Five Noteworthy Facts You May Not Know About Godspeed You! Black Emperor Published Apr 23, 2015
Within a collective dispatch, Godspeed You! Black Emperor once made mention of a possible band mandate: “no singer, no leader, no interviews…
ReviewsKate McKinnon Randolph Theatre, Toronto ON, March 9 Published Mar 10, 2015
Hot off of appearing in basically every sketch on the most recent episode of Saturday Night Live, Kate McKinnon appeared fresh-faced and exc…
A.V. CLUB INTERVIEW Tim Heidecker on the world of film criticism, real and satirical Published March 9, 2015
ReviewsAdventures in Comedy Tom McCaffrey Published Feb 20, 2015
Stand-up comedians get up on stage and make it all look so effortless, yet as Tom McCaffrey’s new mock/documentary hybrid points out, the ro…
ReviewsKyle Kinane I Liked His Old Stuff Better Published Jan 27, 2015
In February 2014, Kyle Kinane tweeted this: If NWA rapped about hating the post office instead of the police department, I’d be Eazy…
FeaturesBruce McCulloch Talks ‘Young Drunk Punk,’ Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet and Kids In the Hall Published Jan 23, 2015
Things are very busy for Bruce McCulloch. The iconic comedic writer, performer, and director, best known for his role in the Kids in the Hal…
ReviewsNathan Macintosh I Wasn’t Talking Published Jan 23, 2015
Nathan Macintosh bursts into his finely crafted new album condemning his own high-pitched, Disney hamster voice. “You know anytime you hear…
FeaturesComedian Hari Kondabolu Discusses Jian Ghomeshi’s Ego, Weezer’s Decline Published Jan 23, 2015
New York comedian Hari Kondabolu’s busy year promoting his acclaimed stand-up album, Waiting for 2042, (out now via Kill Rock Stars) include…
NewsExclaim!’s 2014 in Lists: Top 5 Comedy Albums Published Dec 15, 2014
Laughter. Where does it come from? In 2014, only these five places. Don’t forget to head over to our 2014 in Lists section to see more…
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Reviews
Joyful Talk Jacuzzi Sunrise, Halifax NS, October 25 Published Oct 27, 2014
At a pop-up show co-organized by Aaron Mangle of Cousins, Jay Crocker and a dude everyone calls Dicey played some inventive, melodic noise-r…
ReviewsJon McKiel The Company House, Halifax NS, October 24 Published Oct 25, 2014
Local hero Jon McKiel had people headbanging in their seats with a powerful blast of punk-infused indie-rock. There’s so much spirit in his…
ReviewsConstruction and Destruction The Company House, Halifax NS, October 24 Published Oct 25, 2014
Construction and Destruction are still fragile masters of a bewildering power, conjuring the witchy side of Black Sabbath and the spooky hef…
ReviewsJon Blair The Company House, Halifax NS, October 24 Published Oct 25, 2014
My god, Toronto’s Jon Blair blew everyone’s minds. On a bill full of standups, he performed a series of genius one-man sketches that left th…
ReviewsAisha Alfa The Company House, Halifax NS, October 24 Published Oct 25, 2014
Toronto-via-Winnipeg’s Aisha Alfa had a really impressive, energetic, and funny standup set, revealing a lot about herself and her single st…
ReviewsGhostface Killah, Raekwon & BADBADNOTGOOD Halifax Forum Multipurpose Room, Halifax NS, October 23 Published Oct 24, 2014
First things first: many people were pissed off because this otherwise stellar set started about an hour and half later than it was supposed…
ReviewsTEEN The Carleton, Halifax NS, October 22 Published Oct 23, 2014
This rather remarkable New York quartet was all over the place, in the best way. Teeny Lieberson (formerly of Here We Go Magic) seemed a bit…
ReviewsJFL42 Seth Meyers Sony Centre, Toronto ON Sept. 27 Published Sep 29, 2014
Though not really lauded as stand-up, Seth Meyers totally owned his early set, pacing the stage like a seasoned pro, armed with some really…
- Hosting the backstage broadcast of the 2014 Polaris Music Prize
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ReviewsJFL42 Lena Dunham Sony Centre, Toronto ON, September 20 Published Sep 21, 2014
At a festival full of top comedians, Lena Dunham’s book reading and Q&A stood out on the schedule because it wasn’t stand-up or sketch and y…
ReviewsJFL42 Mike Lawrence Bad Dog Comedy Theatre, Toronto, ON, September 18 Published Sep 19, 2014
After acknowledging that he’d recently taken his longest-ever break from stand-up (a few weeks) to get married and go on his honeymoon, Mike…
ReviewsJFL42 Dave Attell Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Toronto ON, September 18 Published Sep 19, 2014
“I love Toronto you guys; whenever you guys are done building it, it’s gonna be awesome,” Dave Attell said in the midst of a self-aware, ing…
ReviewsShellac Dude Incredible Published Sep 16, 2014
It’s not surprising that the first Shellac album in seven years is extraordinarily entertaining and mind-blowing, but its concision and more…
ReviewsU2 Songs of Innocence Published Sep 12, 2014
There’s a fine line between desperation and hope and, while they often write anthemic songs about the promise of the human spirit (or someth…
News10 Key Moments in Zunior History Published Sep 11, 2014
A few years after his band the Inbreds broke up, Dave Ullrich emerged as the CEO of Zunior, one of the world’s first digital music delivery…
NewsSteve Albini Breaks Down Shellac’s ‘Dude Incredible’ Track by Track Published Sep 04, 2014
On September 16, Shellac will release Dude Incredible, on Touch and Go. As previously reported, it’s their fifth proper album and first rele…
NewsPUP Talk Upcoming Sophomore Album Published Aug 25, 2014
Toronto punk pop band PUP have been melting the tires off their van, touring non-stop since the release of their 2013 self-titled debut albu…
Features“Weird Al” Yankovic The Exclaim! Questionnaire Published Aug 21, 2014
The most successful, astute, and wickedly funny song parodist of our time, “Weird Al” Yankovic is at the top of his game on his latest and p…
NewsJulie Doiron Talks Reunion with the Wooden Stars Published Aug 19, 2014
The most recent show that Julie Doiron and the Wooden Stars played was opening a New Year’s Day concert organized by the Tragically Hip at t…
ReviewsTony Dekker Tony Dekker Sings 10 Years of Zunior Published Aug 05, 2014
Cover records tend to work best when the material is familiar and the new voice you hear projecting the songs you love is distinctive and au…
ReviewsBear In Heaven Time Is Over One Day Old Published Aug 05, 2014
It’s not clear if the latest Bear in Heaven album is named for the sly joke that the music it contains is playing on us. In some ways, each…
News“Weird Al” Yankovic on Totalitarianism and ‘Mandatory Fun’ Being His Final Album Published Jul 22, 2014
The latest album by “Weird Al” Yankovic is called Mandatory Fun, and its album art and pre-release promo clips all possess a military vibe t…
FeaturesAll Eyes on Monomyth Published Jul 22, 2014
Well before they began collaborating in the psych-pop quartet Monomyth, Josh Salter and Matt Peters played on opposing little league basebal…
ReviewsPS I Love You For Those Who Stay Published Jul 19, 2014
Paul Saulnier can be pretty hard on himself. When he sings, he’s a raw nerve, caterwauling like an electric guitar solo about feeling like a…
ReviewsMonomyth Saturnalia Regalia! Published Jul 19, 2014
The songs on this record are covered in some kind of goo. It’s a sludgy substance that distorts the sweet, multi-voiced pop songs happily bo…
Reviews“Weird Al” YankovicMandatory Fun Published Jul 15, 2014
The master is back. “First things first, Imma craftsman!” Those are “Weird Al’s” first words on Mandatory Fun, as he mimics Iggy Azalea’s ha…
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News
“Weird Al” Yankovic on Arcade Fire, Robin Thicke, Prince and ‘Mandatory Fun’ Published Jul 15, 2014
On his new album Mandatory Fun, “Weird Al” Yankovic does his usual mix of infectious originals and stellar parodies of contemporary Billboar…
ReviewsFriendly Rich Bountiful Published Jun 24, 2014
Songs of unregulated sausage production, Pierre Trudeau’s death train, paprika and a purported ritual involving the King of Zambia’s body la…
Pitchfork: The Pitch; Why Aren’t There More Vinyl Pressing Plants? Published June 9, 2014
NewsJello Biafra Lashes Out at Amnesia Rockfest over Booking “Scam,” Tells Dead Kennedys to “Get Right with Me” Published Jun 16, 2014
Jello Biafra is preparing to bring his Guantanamo School of Medicine band back on the road, returning to Ontario for shows at London’s Call…
FeaturesOught Do Their Home Rock Published May 23, 2014
Montreal post-punk band Ought have only been playing together a couple of years, but they’ve already honed a unique chemistry that shines th…
NewsSteven Lambke Sheds Light on Constantines Reunion and ‘Shine a Light’ Reissue Published May 22, 2014
With the Constantines’ Shine a Light reissue and reunion shows nearing, the band’s Steven Lambke has provided details about the status of bo…
NewsOught Discuss the Organic Home Rock of ‘More Than Any Other Day’ Published Apr 30, 2014
Montreal post-punk band Ought have only been playing music together for a couple of years, but they’ve already honed a unique chemistry that…
ReviewsFucked Up The Rock House, St. John’s NL, April 27 Published Apr 28, 2014
It’s a mistake to underestimate the power of Fucked Up or their ability to galvanize a room. They’d never played St. John’s and, after being…
ReviewsMonsterbator The Rock House, St. John’s NL, April 27 Published Apr 28, 2014
This is what controlled chaos sounds like. If David Yow was dead, his spirit would be housed in the clean-cut frame of Andrew Waterman and h…
ReviewsPet Vet The Rock House, St. John’s NL, April 27 Published Apr 28, 2014
Over the years Lawnya Vawnya has showcased a number of local bands who are masters of brooding post-punk, and Pet Vet are particularly great…
ReviewsDIANA The Rock House, St. John’s NL, April 26 Published Apr 27, 2014
Joseph Shabason received a bag of Smartfood popcorn for his birthday halfway through DIANA’s supercharged set and then the band debuted a dr…
ReviewsGala The Rock House, St. John’s NL, April 26 Published Apr 27, 2014
There are some great musicians and singers in this complex pop band from in town. Aley Waterman is the petite blonde mastermind behind Gala….
ReviewsKelly McMichael and The Gloss The Rock House, St. John’s NL, April 26 Published Apr 27, 2014
Recent Ontario transplant Kelly McMichael has been making dark-edged pop for some time but, with the Gloss, she takes on the role of new wav…
ReviewsSteve Maloney and the Wandering Kind The Rocket Room, St. John’s NL, April 26 Published Apr 27, 2014
Greeted with a hometown hero’s welcome, Steve Maloney, with his scruffy face, oversized sweater and dark Guild, seemed like he might be the…
ReviewsJose Contreras The Rocket Room, St. John’s NL, April 26 Published Apr 27, 2014
Jose Contreras said he was nervous but it never showed. After playing a couple of sets in town in as many days with his iconic band By Divin…
ReviewsFog Lake The Rocket Room, St. John’s NL, April 26 Published Apr 27, 2014
Totally rad, poppy indie-rock from a cool, loud local band. One of the electric guitars was tricked out with some ambient effects, its chimi…
ReviewsBest Fiends Keep Station, St. John’s NL, April 26 Published Apr 27, 2014
The pop music that Halifax is best known for has been getting darker and stranger and heavier for some time now. At a pop-up show in the HQ…
ReviewsThe Soupcans Distortion, St. John’s NL, April 25 Published Apr 26, 2014
An amp blew up. The Soupcans’ set began with burning in the air before the thing got repaired and then the band destroyed other things like…
ReviewsNick Ferrio & His Feelings The Ship, St. John’s NL, April 25 Published Apr 26, 2014
Backed by a pick-up band and hawking his own brand of beard oil, Nick Ferrio played a relatively low-key acoustic set. Weather wreaked havoc…
ReviewsRube & Rake The Ship, St. John’s NL, April 25 Published Apr 26, 2014
Watching young people making old-timey/timeless folk music can be a delicate proposition. Their reverence for tradition might be contrived a…
ReviewsJim Gaffigan Obsessed Published Apr 25, 2014
Arguably the king of mid-life incredulity among stand-ups, Jim Gaffigan is at peak power on Obsessed, an overwhelmingly funny collection of…
ReviewsDavid Heti It was ok, Published Apr 25, 2014
“I’m going to ask you all to please hold your laughter to the end,” David Heti says near the top of his first special. “Because yes, while i…
ReviewsOught More Than Any Other Day Published Apr 25, 2014
Ought is a young punk band based in Montreal that only formed in the last couple of years but have already honed a distinctive and explosive…
ReviewsBy Divine Right The Ship, St. John’s NL, April 24 Published Apr 25, 2014
Who better to bring a mighty love explosion to the Rock than By Divine Right? There is no sunlight in St. John’s, I think ever. Maybe once….
ReviewsMonomyth The Ship, St. John’s NL, April 24 Published Apr 25, 2014
Well, god damn. Halifax four-piece Monomyth played a kick-ass set replete with their shoegaze-y Beach Boys vocal harmonies and rubbery guita…
ReviewsMatthew J Thomson The Ship, St. John’s NL, April 24 Published Apr 25, 2014
Thomson cut a shy figure at the Ship, surrounded by five other players who gave his indie folk a foundation. It’s unusual for a live band to…
ReviewsSnowblink The Rocket Room, St. John’s NL, April 24 Published Apr 25, 2014
“Looking at the hills, I can’t believe there’s winter here,” Daniela Gesundheit told the crowd in St. John’s. “It seems dangerous.” Since be…
ReviewsJon Hynes The Rocket Room, St. John’s NL, April 24 Published Apr 25, 2014
Multi-instrumentalist Jon Hynes has paid dues playing drums with the Hidden Cameras and Gentleman Reg, but he clearly has a deep well of his…
ReviewsPeter Lannon The Rocket Room, St. John’s NL, April 24 Published Apr 25, 2014
After a nerve-ridden, sombre folk song that found Peter Lannon laughing off some bum chords, he and his four-piece band kicked into a pop-ro…
NewsDan Bejar Sheds More Light on New Albums from Destroyer and New Pornographers Published Apr 16, 2014
As we reported back in 2013, Dan Bejar has his sights set on a new album from Destroyer, telling us at the time that he had “big dreams” for…
ReviewsChain and the Gang Minimum Rock N Roll Published Apr 15, 2014
Ian Svenonius and Chain and the Gang return with yet another essential stab at complacent mediocrity on this stirring, timeless-yet-contempo…
ReviewsOFF! Wasted Years Published Apr 04, 2014
Even for OFF!, a band gleefully bobbing within its sardonic sludge of outspoken lyrics, barking vocals and a raucous musical flurry, Wasted…
NewsOFF!’s ‘Wasted Years’ Inspired by Black Flag/FLAG Rift, Keith Morris Says Published Apr 04, 2014
Perhaps adding fuel to the fire, outspoken OFF! singer and songwriter Keith Morris says that some songs from the band’s upcoming album Waste…
FeaturesJohn Carter Cash Lost and Found Published Mar 26, 2014
John Carter Cash is an accomplished American record producer, novelist, children’s author, and musician. He is the only child of the late, l…
NewsMore Unreleased Johnny Cash Material to See the Light of Day, John Carter Cash Promises Published Mar 26, 2014
In the wake of some recent archival projects, the only son of June Carter and Johnny Cash says there’s more unreleased music by his father…
ReviewsTodd Barry The Crowd Work Tour Published Mar 22, 2014
Exclaim! is reviewing every standup comedy special currently available on Netflix Canada, including this one. You can find a complete list o…
ReviewsJohnny Cash Out Among the Stars Published Mar 21, 2014
Beyond being some of Johnny Cash’s most brilliant work, his early ’90s collaborations with Rick Rubin were celebrated for their sparseness a…
ReviewsS.O.A. First Demo 12/29/80 Published Mar 14, 2014
Before he was Rollins, Henry Garfield was a goofy kid in Washington D.C. who went to hardcore shows and roadied for Teen Idles, a band featu…
ReviewsBiblical Monsoon Season Published Mar 07, 2014
Toronto’s Biblical are masters of space and time, a hard rock band with psych undertones who write catchy, enigmatic songs that call back to…
Pitchfork: The Pitch; Inside the Jesus Lizard’s New BOOK
Published March 4, 2014
ReviewsCarla Bozulich Boy Published Mar 04, 2014
Boy is yet another reminder that Carla Bozulich is a treasure, an unbelievably gifted poet with a commanding voice and a vivid vision of lif…
NewsHidden Cameras’ Joel Gibb Reveals Plans for Folk Album Follow-Up to ‘Age’ Published Feb 20, 2014
Though the Hidden Cameras’ latest album Age is still hot off the presses, frontman Joel Gibb says he has almost completed another new Hidden…
FeaturesThee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra Fight the Early Grave Blues Published Feb 11, 2014
On what is arguably their most direct, accessible rock record, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra are no less compromising in their sti…
NewsThee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra Plot Record Store Day 12-Inch and New EP Published Feb 11, 2014
Fans of Montreal’s Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra might still be processing the band’s latest album, Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Ligh…
ReviewsThee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light on Everything Published Jan 21, 2014
On what is arguably their most direct, accessible rock record, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra are no less compromising in their sti…
NewsGodspeed You! Black Emperor’s Efrim Menuck Speaks Out on Controversial Polaris Music Prize Victory Published Jan 15, 2014
Montreal rock experimentalists Godspeed You! Black Emperor have remained mum since their accepting the Polaris Music Prize after they won th…
ReviewsBruce Springsteen High Hopes Published Jan 13, 2014
This is not a Bruce Springsteen album proper, and so it can’t really be judged against any of his previous efforts, except for possibly the…
ReviewsStephen Malkmus and the Jicks Wig Out at Jagbags Published Jan 06, 2014
On Wig Out at Jagbags, it occasionally sounds like Stephen Malkmus — the ageless California-bred/Portland-based former Pavement leader — wro…
NewsExclaim!’s 2013 in Lists: Top 5 Comedy Albums Published Dec 30, 2013
There was lot to laugh about in 2013; it was a strong year for comedy records. Here are five releases guaranteed to tickle your funny bone &…
ReviewsNick Cave and the Bad Seeds Live From KCRW Published Dec 03, 2013
Few who’ve seen them would argue that the Bad Seeds aren’t the most explosive, charismatic live band going, but here they strip down to play…
ReviewsBlack Flag What The… Published Dec 03, 2013
It’s impossible for Black Flag to win this one. There’s too much riding on the legacy the band have built up for this album — their fi…
ReviewsMinutes Roland Published Dec 01, 2013
There’s enough extraordinary rock music on Roland to inspire one to pack the kids and your cat up in the car and move to Kalamazoo, Michigan…
FeaturesEddie Izzard The Exclaim! Questionnaire Published Nov 12, 2013
“I’m doing, I believe, the most extensive world tour of comedy ever,” British comedian/actor Eddie Izzard says. “I’m playing about 27 countr…
ReviewsArcade Fire Reflektor Published Oct 28, 2013
Though the motif of this complex new Arcade Fire record is seemingly centred upon duality (and dancing), Reflektor is far more multilayered,…
ReviewsHalifax Pop Explosion: Todd Barry The Seahorse, Halifax NS, October 25 Published Oct 28, 2013
On a night full of stand-up surprises by fledgling talent, Todd Barry made his Halifax debut by being a total pro. Host Bob Kerr overcame so…
ReviewsThe Bicycles Hell’s Kitchen, Halifax NS, October 25 Published Oct 28, 2013
In the midst of a reunion of sorts, Toronto’s garage-pop savants the Bicycles are playing some amazing shows right now and their return to H…
ReviewsAqua Alta The Marquee, Halifax NS, October 25 Published Oct 28, 2013
Aqua Alta is a cross-generational enterprise that fans following the history of Halifax’s music scene might describe as a supergroup and, in…
ReviewsAl Tuck The Carleton, Halifax NS, October 24 Published Oct 26, 2013
“This is my first one of the day people,” Al Tuck said, motioning to a glass of hard liquor in his hand. “It’s not like everyone says.” Ther…
ReviewsHeather Green The Bus Stop Theatre, Halifax NS, October 24 Published Oct 26, 2013
Backed by a large band of cracker-jack instrumentalists and vocalists, California ex-pat Heather Green has been so embraced by the Halifax m…
ReviewsThe True Love Rules The Bus Stop Theatre, Halifax NS, October 24 Published Oct 26, 2013
Halifax has a reputation for protecting and nurturing their own, particularly if they’re enduring hard times, and such was the case with the…
FeaturesKrist Novoselic Wrestling With a Legacy Published Oct 08, 2013
Krist Novoselic is an American musician. filmmaker, author, columnist and political advocate who has played in bands like Sweet 75, Eyes Adr…
NewsSarah Harmer Talks the “Stop Line 9” Movement, Plots New Album Published Oct 04, 2013
As previously reported, a contingent of great musicians are appearing at an event Sunday (October 6) dubbed “Rock the Line,” a free concert…
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Features
Kumail Nanjiani Don’t Call It A Meltdown Published Oct 03, 2013
Kumail Nanjiani is a very funny person who hails from Karachi, Pakistan, but currently lives somewhere in the vicinity of Los Angeles. He ha…
ReviewsPolvo Siberia Published Sep 30, 2013
On their second LP since reuniting in 2008, Polvo’s off-kilter fury is reined in by repetitive, long-form pieces that range from cool and ma…
ReviewsJFL42 Family Guy Live Sony Centre, Toronto ON, September 28 Published Sep 30, 2013
There’s a cut-away gag towards the end of a recent episode of Family Guy where baby Stewie finds himself at a Kid Rock concert. “Oh my God!”…
ReviewsJFL42 Marc Maron / Andy Kindler Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Toronto ON, September 24 Published Sep 25, 2013
There’s no way a comedy show could get more meta than the open concept “I have no material!” conceit that Marc Maron and Andy Kindler each e…
ReviewsJFL42 Janeane Garafolo Mod Club, Toronto ON, September 20 Published Sep 21, 2013
In the realm of underground comedy, Janeane Garafolo is a legend (early credits include The Ben Stiller Show, The Larry Sanders Show, other…
ReviewsJFL 42 Jerrod Carmichael Comedy Bar, Toronto ON, September 19 Published Sep 21, 2013
Jerrod Carmichael has this deceptively lethargic presence but there’s actually a lot going on within his clear-eyed, thoughtful material. “S…
ReviewsJFL42 Anthony Jeselnik / Kurt Metzger Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Toronto ON, September 19 Published Sep 20, 2013
In a virtuosic display of comic timing, Anthony Jeselnik brought his hyper dry arsenal of offensive one-liners to Toronto and destroyed a ro…
ReviewsBill Callahan Dream River Published Sep 17, 2013
“The only words I said today are ‘beer’ and ‘thank you,'” Bill Callahan intones on “The Sing.” It’s a charming introduction to Dream River,…
ReviewsThe Sadies Internal Sounds Published Sep 16, 2013
Some have called them the world’s greatest rock’n’roll band and the Sadies continue to live up to the hype with Internal Sounds, another ins…
ReviewsSebadoh Defend Yourself Published Sep 16, 2013
It’s been 14 years since Sebadoh last released a full-length and they attack Defend Yourself with great, gritty new songs and refreshing upg…
ReviewsFiver Lost the Plot Published Sep 11, 2013
One of our most compelling and thoughtful narrative voices, Simone Schmidt’s dark-hued solo debut delves dark and deep into death, loss and…
ReviewsObits Bed & Bugs Published Sep 10, 2013
Obits are a killer, surf-y garage rock entity renowned for tightly coiled blasts of observational incredulity. However, for their third full…
NewsThe Sadies Talk the Ins and Outs of ‘Internal Sounds,’ Stream Album on Exclaim.ca Published Sep 09, 2013
Some have called them one of the world’s greatest rock’n’roll bands, and the Sadies continue to live up to the hype with Internal Sounds, an…
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News
Obits Stream ‘Bed & Bugs’ on Exclaim.ca, Offer Track-by-Track Guide Published Sep 03, 2013
Brooklyn-based surf-y garage rock band Obits return with Bed & Bugs, their third album for Sub Pop next Tuesday (September 10), but you can…
NewsThe Sadies and Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet to Play Alice Cooper’s ‘Love It to Death’ in Toronto Published Aug 30, 2013
After blowing people’s minds and faces off at a Hillside Festival workshop this past July, the Sadies and Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet wi…
NewsWatch Dallas Good Join Career Suicide Onstage in Toronto Published Aug 26, 2013
Last night (August 25), Toronto hardcore heroes Career Suicide played a rare live show at Sneaky Dee’s and surprised fans by bringing Dallas…
NewsJames Williamson Talks Iggy and the Stooges’ Enduring Legacy, Issues Riot Fest Challenge to the Replacements Published Aug 23, 2013
Affable guitarist James Williamson says he’s excited about playing in Toronto this Sunday (August 25) for Riot Fest, but he’s a bit puzzled…
NewsJon Wurster Talks Superchunk’s Near Breakup and the Making of ‘I Hate Music’ Published Aug 20, 2013
As Superchunk celebrate today’s release of I Hate Music, their 10th studio album, drummer Jon Wurster reveals that the band seriously consid…
NewsKrist Novoselic and Steve Albini Discuss Nirvana’s ‘In Utero” Reissue Published Aug 16, 2013
In separate conversations yesterday (August 15) about the 20th anniversary edition of Nirvana’s In Utero, bassist Krist Novoselic and record…
NewsThe Blow Talk “Awesome and Weird” New Album, Get Set for ALL CAPS! Fest on Toronto Island Published Aug 09, 2013
Ahead of Kanine Records’ October 1 release of the Blow’s first album in seven years, band founder Khaela Maricich tells Exclaim! that she an…
NewsChad VanGaalen Talks New ‘Tarboz’ Animated Film, Album and SappyFest Tape Published Aug 02, 2013
Sub Pop recording artist Chad VanGaalen says he has a new album finished but has been spending most of his time on Tarboz, an animated film…
A.V. Club NEWS: Members of Arcade Fire, The Sadies collaborating on new material Published July 29, 2013
NewsSloan Reveal Plans for Solo-sided Double Album Published Jul 25, 2013
Following some anniversary celebrations earlier this year, Sloan have divulged details about their in-progress new album, which will come as…
ReviewsKumail Nanjiani Beta Male Published Jul 22, 2013
“Really? Woos for Pakistan?” Kumail Nanjiani asks an audience in Austin, less than a minute into Beta Male. “That’s new.” One of the best st…
ReviewsAndy Kaufman Andy and His Grandmother Published Jul 21, 2013
It probably seemed quaint at the time, Andy Kaufman fooling around with a micro-tape recorder to capture every “slice of life” he deemed wor…
NewsColin Stetson Reveals Involvement in New Arcade Fire Album Published Jul 18, 2013
As Arcade Fire fans now all know, the much-loved Montreal collective will return with a new album on October 29. It’s now general knowledge…
ReviewsJon Spencer Blues Explosion / Tongue FuThis Ain’t Hollywood, Hamilton, ON, July 12 Published Jul 13, 2013
There are certain entities that have a power that’s impossible to ignore. They radiate before you and that’s it, you have no thoughts other…
NewsDavid Yow on the Jesus Lizard’s American Express Ad and the Band’s Future Published Jul 11, 2013
A series of American Express ads starring Carrie Brownstein of Portlandia, Sleater-Kinney and Wild Flag have appeared on TV recently, and a…
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Features
David Yow Scary Not Scary Published Jul 09, 2013
David Yow is a complicated man but here are things that are known about him: He used to live in Texas; he sang in exhilarating, influential…
NewsDavid Yow Goes Behind the Creepy/Classical Influences of His “Terrifying” New Solo LP Published Jun 26, 2013
Best known for fronting demented rock bands like Scratch Acid, the Jesus Lizard and Qui, David Yow is working with the Joyful Noise imprint…
NewsJim Guthrie Releases ‘Takes Time: Instrumentals & Demos’ Published Jun 24, 2013
Earlier this year, Jim Guthrie finally released Takes Time, his first new pop album in 10 years and one that is currently in the running for…
StreamsDerek Christoff (aka D-Sisive) & The Arkeologists ‘the d.ark tape’ (mixtape) Published Jun 24, 2013
Derek Christoff retired his D-Sisive moniker earlier this year, putting his notepad, pen, and mic in storage but now, he’s sort of back with…
ReviewsDavid Yow Tonight You Look Like a Spider Published Jun 21, 2013
Fans of David Yow’s past work in Scratch Acid and the Jesus Lizard are sure to be jarred by this primarily instrumental album of surreal, si…
NewsJon Spencer Reveals Plans for New Blues Explosion EP, Says Heavy Trash Album Underway Published Jun 20, 2013
Speaking before their Sled Island appearance in Calgary today (June 20), Jon Spencer revealed that the Blues Explosion may release some new…
ReviewsKanye West Yeezus Published Jun 17, 2013
You wouldn’t know it to hear Yeezus, but Kanye West is a kept man; he fell in love with Kim Kardashian, they just had a daughter and his non…
News10 Notable Moments in Arts & Crafts’ History Published Jun 07, 2013
Tomorrow (June 8), Arts & Crafts will celebrate its 10th anniversary with the all-day Field Trip festival. We’re taking part in the party, t…
A.V. CLUB Great Job Internet! Watch Steve Albini brew up a “weasel coffee” tutorial Published June 3, 2013
NewsWill Oldham Talks New Soundtrack Work for Aussie Surf Film Published May 29, 2013
The endlessly prolific Bonnie “Prince” Billy (aka Will Oldham), who is due to play the Dawson City Music Festival and Guelph, ON’s Hillside…
NewsDiamond Rings Reveals His Plans for Epic Dance LP Published May 21, 2013
While Diamond Rings’ John O’Regan has recently been opening for OMD and gearing up for festival stops of his own this summer, he’s already w…
NewsCadence Weapon Starts Work on New “Super Rap” LP Published May 16, 2013
It’s only been a year since Cadence Weapon dropped Hope in Dirt City, but as the Canadian rapper tells Exclaim!, he’s already excited about…
NewsMETZ Share Info on New Recording and Video Published May 15, 2013
Since the release of their acclaimed, self-titled debut LP on Sub Pop this past fall, Toronto punk trio METZ have been on a tear, touring ex…
ReviewsAl Tuck Stranger at the Wake Published May 13, 2013
“There is a God, children,” Al Tuck intones in a segmented, a cappella pronouncement that recurs throughout his wildest album ever. It’s a m…
NewsKid Koala Explains His ‘Great Gatsby’ Connection Published May 02, 2013
While artists such as Jay-Z, Beyoncé, the XX and Jack White have received heaps of attention for their contributions to the upcoming The Gre…
NewsThe Lumineers Address Their Detractors: “If There’s Negativity, It Hasn’t Gotten in the Way of What We’re Doing” Published Apr 30, 2013
As the Lumineers gear up for a string of shows in Canada this week, lead singer Wesley Schultz is happy to address questions about why some…
NewsObits Shed Light on New LP; Rick Froberg Challenges John Reis to Write New Hot Snakes Material Published Apr 29, 2013
Word on the street is that Brooklyn’s Obits are hard at work on a new LP, and while they were in St. John’s for the recent Lawnya Vawnya mus…
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Reviews
Kid Koala The Rock House, St. John’s NF, April 21 Published Apr 22, 2013
Who better to close out the third annual Lawnya Vawnya festival than Canada’s jolliest, most remarkable DJ? The kid came out of his corner s…
ReviewsGeorge Nervous Four The Rock House, St. John’s NF, April 21 Published Apr 22, 2013
As Lawnya Vawnya closed things out with one last show, they had an ace up their sleeves with local band George Nervous Four, a hard-edged, m…
ReviewsPhone-It-In Eastern Edge Gallery, St. John’s NF, April 21 Published Apr 22, 2013
At a festival with many cool ideas, Lawnya Vawnya really topped themselves with Phone-It-In. Part of their weekend music crawl across the ci…
ReviewsBloodshot Bill Fogtown Barber and Music Shop, St. John’s NF, April 21 Published Apr 22, 2013
Clippers buzzed and scissors snipped at the Fogtown Barber and Music Shop for Bloodshot Bill’s intimate, surprise Sunday afternoon show. It…
ReviewsObits The Rock House, St. John’s NF, April 20 Published Apr 21, 2013
“This is the drunkest place I’ve ever been in my life,” Rick Froberg said appreciatively of St. John’s, early in Obits’ highly anticipated L…
ReviewsPathological Lovers The Rock House, St. John’s NF, April 20 Published Apr 21, 2013
An assembly of some of the most esteemed musicians in St. John’s, the Pathological Lovers played a set of pop-infused rock with the edges pr…
ReviewsWaterman and Milley The Rock House, St. John’s NF, April 20 Published Apr 21, 2013
One of the best bands in St. John’s is a heavy outfit called Monsterbator and it has spawned a two-piece, edgy, blues-inspired side-project…
ReviewsMark Bragg & the Butchers The Ship, St. John’s NF, April 19 Published Apr 20, 2013
With a refined kind of garage punk power, hometown boys Mark Bragg & the Butchers laid waste to the beginning of Saturday morning with a wil…
ReviewsThe Mouthbreathers The Ship, St. John’s NF, April 19 Published Apr 20, 2013
A clever, explosive pop-punk band from Sackville, NB, the Mouthbreathers put on a spirited, tight show full of charming banter and roaring,…
ReviewsWreckless Eric & Amy Rigby Rocket Room, St. John’s NL, April 19 Published Apr 20, 2013
Upping the age range at Lawnya Vawnya, punk legend Wreckless Eric (Goulden) & Amy Rigby played a strange kind of set, making pointed if pred…
ReviewsKat McLevey Rocket Room, St. John’s NL, April 19 Published Apr 20, 2013
“I don’t normally do this,” 16 year-old Kat McLevey said, switching from one acoustic guitar to another. “But I play in different tunings so…
ReviewsGrey Kingdom Fixed, St. John’s NF, April 19 Published Apr 19, 2013
“Imagine a really white piece of paper with crumpled up Cheetos all over it,” Spencer Burton said in the rambling intro to his last song. “T…
ReviewsLisa Bozikovic Fixed, St. John’s NF, April 19 Published Apr 19, 2013
It turns out that Lisa Bozikovic has many connections to Newfoundland that have inspired her and she paid tribute to this rare bond at her s…
ReviewsYellowteeth Distortion, St. John’s NF, April 18 Published Apr 19, 2013
The current pride of Sackville, NB is this monstrous, quasi-metal quartet who put on a ferocious show at Lawnya Vawnya. “More reverb!” lead…
ReviewsIlia Nicoll The Ship, St. John’s NF, April 18 Published Apr 19, 2013
Local songstress Ilia Nicoll seems like the kind of performer who, on the right night, casts a beguiling spell on her audience and, at the S…
ReviewsJeffrey Lewis Rocket Room, St. John’s NF, April 18 Published Apr 19, 2013
Comical comic genius Jeffrey Lewis had never been to Newfoundland before and, as expected, like a true champion, he left an indelible mark….
ReviewsPaper Beat Scissors Rocket Room, St. John’s NF, April 18 Published Apr 19, 2013
Brit-expat Tim Crabtree calls Canada home these days but, despite appearances, he said he was quite scared to play in St. John’s for Lawnya…
ReviewsLeslie Amminson & Esme Gilbert Rocket Room, St. John’s NF, April 18 Published Apr 19, 2013
This local duo are 16-year-olds who play minimal, mystical folk pop with a certain authority for their innocent age. “One word that was used…
ReviewsCousins Model Citizens, St. John’s NF, April 18 Published Apr 18, 2013
Charming indie-rock two-piece Cousins played an energetic, dynamic set, surrounded by slick clothes at a boutique called Model Citizens for…
ReviewsSlim Twig Model Citizens, St. John’s NF, April 18 Published Apr 18, 2013
The first surprise “pop up show” of Lawnya Vawnya took place at a chic clothing store called Model Citizens. Toronto’s Slim Twig filled the…
ReviewsLeif Vollebekk Guelph Youth Music Centre, Guelph ON, April 7 Published Apr 07, 2013
By the time he wanted one, the GYMC was out of the premium coffee and Leif Vollebekk seemed a tad concerned. Yet he soldiered on, beginning…
ReviewsMarker Starling Guelph Youth Music Centre, Guelph ON, April 7 Published Apr 07, 2013
The artist formerly known as Mantler (apparently jazz artist Michael Mantler threatened legal action?!) put on a sweet soul set at Kazoo!’s…
ReviewsLegato Vipers A.N.A.F., Guelph ON, April 6 Published Apr 07, 2013
One of the most energetic sets at Kazoo! came courtesy of an excellent instrumental quartet who represent a harder-edged side of the Venture…
ReviewsB.A. Johnston Jimmy Jazz, Guelph ON, April 6 Published Apr 07, 2013
Ever the fun maker, B.A. parted the crowd like Moses at the Red Sea, if Moses was appropriately dressed like a yacht captain and brandishing…
ReviewsShotgun Jimmie Jimmy Jazz, Guelph ON, April 6 Published Apr 07, 2013
Loveable Jimmie is always a big draw in Guelph and he was beaming at the crowd tonight, celebrating the release of his new LP, Everything, E…
ReviewsThe Highest Order A.N.A.F., Guelph ON, April 6 Published Apr 07, 2013
With an air of rock star superiority, Simone Schmidt did some swaggering behind her sunglasses and guitar, as the Highest Order celebrated t…
ReviewsBaby Eagle Jimmy Jazz, Guelph ON, April 6 Published Apr 07, 2013
The Baby Eagle landed with a sorta makeshift band featuring Shotgun Jimmie on drums, Daniel Romano on guitar, and Legato Vipers Mike Brooks…
ReviewsThe Skeletones Four A.N.A.F., Guelph ON, April 6 Published Apr 07, 2013
This Toronto-via-Guelph quartet always garner whoops of appreciation for certain instrumental sections of their dizzyingly cool arrangements…
ReviewsSean Nicholas Savage Green Party HQ, Guelph ON, April 6 Published Apr 07, 2013
“That was amazing,” Sean Nicholas Savage said, grinning after his second song. “I just blew myself away! This is a great show.” He began the…
ReviewsNot the Wind Not the Flag Guelph ON, April 6 Published Apr 07, 2013
To walk in on Not the Wind, Not the Flag performing is to come upon a unique spectacle of manipulation, where familiar instruments are trans…
ReviewsDusted Green Party HQ, Guelph ON, April 5 Published Apr 06, 2013
Two of Toronto’s most talented dudes did little to hide their joy about playing Guelph again, almost exactly one year since making their liv…
ReviewsEsther Grey Green Party HQ, Guelph ON, April 5 Published Apr 06, 2013
Local faves Esther Grey continue to feel the love for their quirky brand of distorted pop. After keeping their distance for other bands, the…
ReviewsAbsolutely Free Ebar, Guelph ON, April 4 Published Apr 05, 2013
Based on the shrieks of joy and dancing in the crowd, Absolutely Free are scratching an itch for people who love the hazy grooves of Krautro…
ReviewsOdonis Odonis Ebar, Guelph ON, April 4 Published Apr 05, 2013
In this era that celebrates the post-punk and grunge of the late ’80s and early ’90s, we’re all fortunate to have Odonis Odonis in our midst…
ReviewsDutch Toko Ebar, Guelph ON, April 4 Published Apr 05, 2013
“We’re Dutch Toko, the local band who somehow scammed their way onto this awesome bill,” singer Brian Schirk proclaimed before the band’s th…
ReviewsGordon Monahan Silence, Guelph ON, April 4 Published Apr 05, 2013
Electric Eclectics founder Gordon Monahan presented his “Sauerkraut synthesizers,” in which he electroshocks fruits, vegetables and a jar of…
ReviewsMatt Miller Silence, Guelph ON, April 4 Published Apr 05, 2013
“Sorry, there’s some technical issues,” Matt Miller muttered during an unplanned moment of silence during his improvised set. It’s a somewha…
ReviewsThe Bicycles Ebar, Guelph ON, April 3 Published Apr 04, 2013
Four years since they last played Guelph, the reunited Bicycles were warmly received by an excited crowd. In their heyday, the band’s playfu…
ReviewsGregory Pepper and His Problems Ebar, Guelph ON, April 3 Published Apr 04, 2013
Clad in Canadian tuxedos, Gregory Pepper and his Problems took to the Ebar stage determined to destroy all in their path. Dipping through th…
ReviewsArmy Girls Ebar, Guelph ON, April 3 Published Apr 04, 2013
Night one of Kazoo! Fest 2013 kicked off with a spirited set by Toronto two-piece Army Girls. Driven by Andy Smith’s tight, raucous drumming…
FeaturesTenacious D The Exclaim! Questionnaire Published May 23, 2012
After some licks from critics and fans for their 2006 album and film, The Pick of Destiny, Tenacious D return undaunted and ready to kick so…
FeaturesCadence Weapon Finds His Voices Published May 23, 2012
“I’ve always felt like most rappers are schizophrenic,” Cadence Weapon says, contemplating a question about the dynamic structure of his lon…
NewsGreat Lake Swimmers Set Out to Make That Human Connection Published May 09, 2012
As their profile continues to rise, Toronto’s Great Lake Swimmers are consistently surprised by just who is embracing their music. Over the…
NewsJim Guthrie Helms ‘Indie Game: The Movie’ Soundtrack Published May 02, 2012
As buzz continues to build for the Canadian-made Indie Game: The Movie, Hot Docs Live is bringing the film to 35 Canadian cities for a one-d…
FeaturesCatl. Leave the Herd Published Apr 30, 2012
Watching a great band evolve is fascinating and it’s particularly compelling when it comes to Toronto’s catl, a trio steeped in blues tradit…
FeaturesThe Rooster Published Mar 25, 2012
“Dove, is this the first time you’ve ever seen me play the cello?” Don Kerr asks his eldest son, who’s sprawled on the floor of his dad’s ho…
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Features
Great Lake Swimmers’ New Normal Published Mar 25, 2012
On the evening of February 15, the international viewership of American Idol was exposed to a song called “Your Rocky Spine” by Toronto’s Gr…
NewsLee Ranaldo Talks the Future of Sonic Youth, Upcoming Tour Plans Published Mar 22, 2012
Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo has just released Beyond the Times and the Tides, his first solo album of rock songs since the band formed 30 year…
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Features
Lee Ranaldo Published Mar 20, 2012
Sonic Youth fans clamouring for more than a couple Lee Ranaldo songs per record will be ecstatic about Between the Times and the Tides, a st…
ReviewsLee Ranaldo Between the Times and the Tides Published Mar 20, 2012
Sonic Youth fans clamouring for more than a couple Lee Ranaldo songs per record will be ecstatic about Between the Times and the Tides, a st…
ReviewsBaby Eagle Bone Soldiers Published Mar 06, 2012
There’s such astounding poetry to the punk rock of Steven Lambke that it’s a pity he doesn’t get his due alongside the great songwriters of…
FeaturesBreakglass Studios Published Jan 30, 2012
“A lot of people say they really feel comfortable when they’re working at Breakglass and that’s something we strived to achieve,” Jace Lasek…
FeaturesBob Mould Published Dec 07, 2011
From his earliest days in the influential American punk band Hüsker Dü to his current work as a solo rock artist and a DJ who loves electron…
FeaturesBry Webb’s Baby Boom Published Nov 28, 2011
“I didn’t break up the Constantines because I wanted a solo career,” Bry Webb says in his cosy kitchen in Guelph, ON. “We stopped because I…
NewsKid Koala Sheds More Light on ’12-Bit Blues’ Published Nov 25, 2011
While chatting with CBC Radio 3 this morning (November 25) about his new book Space Cadet, Kid Koala (aka Eric San) revealed some more detai…
ReviewsKanye West & Jay-Z Air Canada Centre, Toronto ON November 23 Published Nov 24, 2011
Without a time machine and some serious reflection, it’s impossible to say if this is the best concert tour in history, but as seasoned conc…
NewsFeist and Bry Webb Find the Good in Each Other Published Nov 21, 2011
When Feist asked Bry Webb to open some upcoming Canadian shows, the invitation didn’t come out of nowhere. The two have been acquaintances f…
ReviewsBry Webb Provider Published Nov 15, 2011
After the end of the Constantines and a self-imposed hiatus, Bry Webb has re-emerged with an inspired new record of stark, intense songs. A…
NewsBry Webb Premieres Two New Songs on Exclaim! TV Published Nov 09, 2011
Former Constantines lead singer Bry Webb has returned to making music after a self-imposed hiatus, and though his new work may be as tense a…
ReviewsAl Tuck Under Your Shadow Published Nov 08, 2011
Living legend Al Tuck is on a prolific tear and there’s a superb quality to the quantity of his output, as evident on this gorgeous, unexpec…
NewsDavid Yow Talks Scratch Acid Reunion Published Nov 03, 2011
If you thought that the re-emergence of influential underground rock unit Scratch Acid also meant that David Yow was returning to music full…
FeaturesWilliam Shatner The Exclaim! Questionnaire Published Oct 24, 2011
William Shatner has done it all, but even at 80 years old, he’s constantly exploring new professional frontiers. Despite all this, there’s n…
ReviewsInterstllr Interstllr Published Oct 24, 2011
On this hypnotic EP, Interstllr consistently sound like they’re scoring an airy dream sequence that’s pleasant enough, but intangible and as…
ReviewsVarious The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams Published Oct 24, 2011
A gaggle of country and folk stars rallied around Bob Dylan for this unique tribute, admirably completing ideas Hank Williams couldn’t get t…
ReviewsMark Bragg Your Kiss Published Oct 18, 2011
Alluring and demented, Mark Bragg and a crackerjack band of fellow Newfoundlanders in St. John’s storm through haunting, off-kilter songs on…
ReviewsSandro Perri Impossible Spaces Published Oct 18, 2011
Idiosyncratic visionary Sandro Perri strikes the dearest conflation of his eclectic interests with Impossible Spaces, an ambitiously bold st…
ReviewsCrooked Fingers Breaks in the Armor Published Oct 11, 2011
Just ahead of the jubilant storm that greeted the return of his influential Archers of Loaf, Eric Bachmann made another lovely Crooked Finge…
NewsIan Blurton Opens Up About the End of C’mon Published Oct 11, 2011
Canadian underground rock icon Ian Blurton understands why fans might be upset that, after nine years of bringing the rock, C’mon are playin…
ReviewsWe’re the Weakerthans We’re from Winnipeg Caelum Vatnsdal Published Oct 04, 2011
Caelum Vatnsdal’s rockumentary about the Weakerthans’ extensive cross-Canada tour in the spring of 2009 is most notable for how completely u…
ReviewsThe Jesus Lizard Club Published Oct 04, 2011
Though it’s impossible to properly convey just how ferocious a live band the Jesus Lizard are, particularly in smaller confines, Club does a…
ReviewsWilco The Whole Love Published Sep 27, 2011
The compelling balancing act between noise-infused abstraction and mindful pop acumen continues for Wilco on The Whole Love, another brillia…
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News
Wilco Talk the Stooges Samples of ‘The Whole Love’ Published Sep 16, 2011
Even though the six men in Wilco are more than adept at conjuring bold textures for their thoughtfully crafted songs, sometimes even they ju…
FeaturesTasseomancy Give Up the Ghost Published Aug 22, 2011
“It’s just a lot of questions and it’s ambiguous because we don’t provide answers,” Romy Lightman says of Ulalume, the gorgeous, eerie new r…
NewsRick Froberg Talks Hot Snakes Reunion Published Aug 17, 2011
Since the long absent Hot Snakes announced their return to the stage late last month, fans have been clamouring for details about the band’s…
NewsThe Burning Hell Robbed of Tour Earnings in Europe Published Jul 12, 2011
Veteran road hogs the Burning Hell have encountered some terrible luck while on tour in Europe and were robbed of 1,500 euros last night (Ju…
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Features“Weird Al” Yankovic Alpocalypse Now… and Then Published Jun 27, 2011
He could’ve been a fad — a one-trick pony whose skilled mockery might get tiresome quickly. But for 30 years, “Weird Al” Yankovic rema…
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NewsJoel Plaskett Looks Back with ‘EMERGENCYs’ and Forward to Next Album Published Jun 22, 2011
Multi-talented singer, songwriter, musician, producer and low-key music mogul Joel Plaskett continues to dig through his vault of long-lost…
ReviewsJoel Plaskett EMERGENCYs, false alarms, shipwrecks, castaways, fragile creatures, special features, demons and demonstrations 1999-2010 Published Jun 14, 2011
Facing up to his mid-30s, Joel Plaskett’s reflective mood is turning up all manner of personal musical treasures, which he’s keen to jettiso…
FeaturesThe Lonely Island Published May 29, 2011
Arguably the hottest comedy team in the world right now, the Lonely Island consists of Saturday Night Live writer/performers, Andy Samberg,…
FeaturesSentimental Snailhouse Published May 29, 2011
When it comes to great pop songwriters, fans of Michael Feuerstack are quick to champion him as a true original. For close to 20 years, he’s…
ReviewsThurston Moore Demolished Thoughts Published May 24, 2011
Collaborating with Beck, Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore presents his loveliest, gentlest songs on Demolished Thoughts. The mystical folk/acous…
ReviewsSloan The Double Cross Published May 10, 2011
The four men in Sloan celebrate their 20th anniversary as a band with an infectious new pop record that fulfils their self-proclaimed “prett…
INTERVIEWS: Marc Maron In a relatively short period, WTF with Marc Maron has become one of the most highly-rated and downloaded podcasts in the world. A well-respected comedian, writer, radio host, and occasional actor for more than 20 years, Maron’s profile has risen significantly since WTF launched as an…
INTERVIEWS: Joe Lally An extraordinarily talented musician now based in Rome, Italy, Joe Lally is best known as the bassist and occasional vocalist in Washington DC’s Fugazi, one of the most significant and powerful bands of the late 20th century. Since Fugazi went on indefinite hiatus in 2003, Lally has kept very busy,…
PUNK REVIEWS: Joe Lally Why Should I Get Used to It Moving out of his native Washington, DC to Italy has enlivened Joe Lally, whose latest solo album features some of the richest grooves and startling playing of any record he’s been a part of. The Fugazi bassist has crafted distinctively bouncy, yet taut, progressions before, but there are songs…
POP & ROCK REVIEWS: Bill Callahan Apocalypse Bill Callahan questions and ponders things like few others, so his take on end times is compelling and noteworthy on Apocalypse. A lyricist of uncommon grace, with an ear for adventurous musical instrumentation and arrangement, Callahan goes somewhat sparse here, at least compared to the…
POP & ROCK REVIEWS: Malajube La Caverne Montreal’s Malajube return with their pop hooks intact, but there’s a softer tone to La Caverne that’s surprising. Like few of their contemporaries, Malajube often soak their records in a particular ambience, with Julien Mineau’s multi-tracked vocals penetrating a murky flood, dreamily…
POP & ROCK REVIEWS: Matters “Get in or Get Out” / “Wild Steps” More than a name change, Matters marks a musical advancement for the band once known as the D’Urbervilles. Much to the group’s dismay, people mispronounced their name so much (i.e., “Doobervilles”) they began to have an identity crisis. At the same time, lead singer John O’Regan transformed himself…
FOLK & COUNTRY REVIEWS: Daniel Romano Sleep Beneath the Willow Former Attack in Black singer and songwriter Daniel Romano continues to expand upon his passion for roots music, upping the classic country ante considerably on his gorgeous new album. There’s quite a distinction between the sound of Romano’s songs here, compared to last year’s Workin’ for the…
INTERVIEWS: Shotgun Jimmie’s Lifetime Channel When Sackville’s Shotgun Jimmie toured Europe last year, it was a dream fulfilled. The underground Canadian indie rocker was pining to go. and beside himself for the opportunity. Once there, he wrote songs towards Transistor Sister, an infectious ode to life’s key moments. “I was…
HIP-HOP REVIEWS: Noah23 Fry Cook on Venus Artful as always, Noah23’s weirdest album yet finds the gifted MC singing more than ever, but any cheeriness is tempered by the gritty beats and dark soundscapes. With his rapid-fire flow and penchant for witty, unpredictable rhymes, Noah has swirled within psychedelia before, spitting out all the…
POP & ROCK REVIEWS: Mountain Goats All Eternals Deck The enigmatic, visceral tone of the Mountain Goats is at its eeriest on the dynamic All Eternals Deck. Long interested in the occult and its purportedly sinister subculture, John Darnielle conjures a shifting landscape where strange things lurk in every nook and cranny. With spirits and…
PUNK REVIEWS: Obits Moody, Standard and Poor When future generations recall this fractured period in human history, hoping to grasp the malaise, frustration and angst pervading our collective psyche, they’ll find its most artful soundtrack rendered by a band from Brooklyn, NY called Obits. Principal lyricist Rick Froberg and Sohrab Habibion…
NEWS: Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle Opens Up About His Novel As fans gear up for the March 29 release of the Mountain Goats’ new album, All Eternals Deck (their first on Merge Records) and their upcoming tour dates across North American and Europe, band leader John Darnielle is still working diligently on another passion project. No, not his other…
INTERVIEWS: The Rural Alberta Advantage Are In Order Nils Edenloff isn’t sure if he’s a gambler. “I took an engineering degree, so not typically,” he laughs, considering the question carefully. “Music has been a risk for me though. I was always afraid to pursue it as a career because, even though I loved it, I didn’t think I’d be able to make a go of…
INTERVIEWS: The Two Koreas Drop Science In the period since the Two Koreas released 2007’s Altruists and finished their explosive new record, Science Island, guitarist Kieran Grant almost died. “I had symptoms that indicated I might have some serious plumbing problems,” he says frankly. “I had a really bad, sudden case of…
FOLK & COUNTRY REVIEWS: Katie Moore Montebello With her heart-melting voice, Montreal’s Katie Moore could rightly be compared to Emmylou Harris and Iris Dement, yet her country music is much closer to the soul, with deep grooves that make Montebello a stirring musical mélange. A critically acclaimed solo artist, Moore is also a key…
NEWS: The Sadies’ Tour in Jeopardy After Dallas Good Breaks Leg in Saskatoon Singer/guitarist Dallas Good of Toronto, ON’s the Sadies remains in a Saskatoon, SK hospital today (February 14) after severely breaking his leg and missing the band’s show at the city’s Broadway Theatre last night. Among other things, this casts doubt on whether the band’s remaining Canadian tour…
FOLK & COUNTRY REVIEWS: Katie Moore Montebello With her heart melting voice, Montreal’s Katie Moore could rightly be compared to Emmylou Harris and Iris Dement, yet her country music is much closer to soul, with deep grooves that make Montebello a stirring musical mélange. A critically acclaimed solo artist, Moore is also a key component…
PUNK REVIEWS: Thank You Golden Worry Somewhere between nihilism and thoughtful order, Baltimore, MD’s Thank You charge at listeners with the gorgeous menace of their fourth release. The three-piece bolster their intricate drums and guitar interplay with intermittent melodic vocals and all manner of organs, wind instruments and…
PUNK REVIEWS: Monotonix Not Yet Completely unhinged live, Tel Aviv’s Monotonix are getting dirtier and more debauched with each new release and Not Yet finds them at their most subversive. Purveyors of hardcore, energetic noise rock, Monotonix get themselves banned from places a lot, usually for inciting riotous behaviour…
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PUNK REVIEWS: Ex Catch My Shoe At various points in their 30-year career, the Ex could easily lay claim to being the most explosive live band in the world and, on this, their 123rd release, new singer Arnold de Boer proves to be a worthy maestro for their brilliant fireworks display. Catch My Shoe arrives after the Dutch…
FOLK & COUNTRY REVIEWS: Tacoma Hellfarm Tragedy Canter Canter Four years since breakthrough effort Orchard Songs, Tacoma Hellfarm Tragedy return, picking up where they left off while taking their evocative sound in unchartered directions. Tacoma Hellfarm Tragedy’s great strength has been writing twangy, riff-oriented tunes with focus, adorned with…
DVD REVIEWS: The Larry Sanders Show: The Complete Series Twelve years since its brilliant series finale, The Larry Sanders Show remains a rare gem in television ― a much imitated, but never duplicated, treasure of unparalleled writing and instinctual acting, as scathingly hilarious as it was revolutionary. Comedian Garry Shandling never…
FOLK & COUNTRY REVIEWS: Frederick Squire March 12 Long a secret weapon within the Maritimes, Fred Squire has been wowing audiences with his intense, endearing one-man show, and March 12 captures his unique energy over some remarkable songs. Beyond his home in Sackville, NB, Squire’s name may resonate with fans of his work in indie rockers…
FOLK & COUNTRY REVIEWS: Bob Dylan The Witmark Demos: 1962-1964 – 2014 The Bootleg Series Vol. 9 The one-man Cultural Revolution that was Bob Dylan in the ’60s changed songwriting forever, sure, but, as The Witmark Demos intimates, he also destroyed Tin Pan Alley by empowering his peers to take ownership of their work, from page to stage. The Bootleg Series has straddled the line…
POP & ROCK REVIEWS: Bruce Springsteen The Promise More than 30 years since one of the strangest periods in his career, the Boss unleashes some incredibly strong, revelatory material completely essential to his development as one of rock’n’roll’s most pivotal artists. After the breakthrough of 1975’s Born to Run, Springsteen ended up in…
POP & ROCK REVIEWS: John Lennon Gimme Some Truth As a reminder of John Lennon’s profound impact on music, his widow, Yoko Ono, has utilized the anniversary year of both his death 30 years past and his birth 70 years ago to compile some of his strongest material over four thematic discs. It can be said that Lennon’s solo work after the Beatles…
HIP HOP REVIEWS: Noah23 Heart of Rock As awe-inspiring as Noah23 can be as an MC, he continues to leave space for other talents to shine on his tracks and, with its dynamic guest list, Heart of Rock has the juice of a gorgeous mixtape. Buck 65 lends a diabolical beat to “Motor Head,” enabling Noah to cut loose on a head-turning…
INTERVIEWS: Sufjan Stevens Spends Time Out of Mind It’s a couple of hours before midnight in mid-October and Sufjan Stevens and his ten-piece band are nearing the end of an exhilarating set at Toronto’s venerable Massey Hall. With its casually elaborate production values, the show is a dizzying feast for the senses. Two drum kits frame a stage…
SPARK: Midlife Juno Anniversary Parties This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Juno Awards and, to celebrate Canadian music from those four decades, they’re planning some pretty big parties. Named for Pierre Juneau, who first managed the Canadian Radio-Television Commission (CRTC), the Junos are an annual awards pageant for major…
NEWS: Sufjan Stevens Discusses His “Mysterious and Debilitating” Health Issues At his recent Massey Hall show in Toronto, Sufjan Stevens said some pretty revealing things onstage. At one point, he thanked the audience for their appreciation of his work and suggested that making the music on his new album, The Age of Adz, got him through a very difficult year. In an interview…
NEWS: Snailhouse Shows Axed over Beach House Name Controversy In perhaps one of the silliest, WTF moves ever, Montreal’s Snailhouse were apparently dropped from opening two Beach House shows in France, because the Beach House camp purportedly didn’t want two bands with “house” in their name on the same bill. The long-standing project of Wooden…
NEWS: Max Weinberg Reveals Real Reason for Split with Conan Iconic drummer/Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band member Max Weinberg has revealed the real reason he stepped down as Conan O’Brien’s band leader: to deal with a heart issue he’s grappled with for the last 26 years. In an interview with Fancast.com for a supplemental piece attached to tonight’s…
INTERVIEWS: Superchunk‘s Jon Wurtser Jon Wurster is a comedic writer and performer on the Best Show on WFMU with Tom Scharpling, and the amazing drummer in Chapel Hill, North Carolina’s Superchunk. For the past 20 years, Superchunk have made a tremendous impact on underground culture with their own impassioned, pop punk output, and…
POP & ROCK REVIEWS: Superchunk Majesty Shredding After a nine-year lay-off, preceded by a departure from their core sound, power pop pioneers Superchunk get back to the rock that made them such an inspiring force throughout the ’90s. The joy in seeing and hearing Superchunk during their prolific first ten years together had much to do with their…
NEWS: Ghost Bees Change Name to Tasseomancy, Release Timber Timbre-produced Single The mystical twin sisters best known as Ghost Bees have changed their name to Tasseomancy and are set to release their first new music in two years. Toronto-via-Halifax siblings Sari and Romy Lightman earned rave reviews for their 2008 debut, also called Tasseomancy, and the freaky folksters have…
MUSIC DVD REVIEWS: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band London Calling Live in Hyde Park In one of the most intimate, least mediated reflections of their power as a live outfit, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band stand tall, conquering the 2009 Hard Rock Calling Festival, as evident in this epic concert film. Shot almost entirely in the daylight, right up to a moody sunset,…
MUSIC DVD REVIEWS: Elvis on Tour Directed by Pierre Adidge & Robert Abel Capturing his humility and bombast, the Golden Globe-winning Elvis on Tour is a remarkably revealing and vibrant look at Elvis Presley on a 15-city U.S. tour in 1972. After busting the shackles of the movie contracts that kept him preoccupied throughout the ’60s, Presley took to live performances…
INTERVIEWS: Minotaurs Make it Funky “This is me, running in the opposite direction of what I was doing before,” Nathan Lawr says emphatically, addressing his ass-shaking, Afrobeat-inspired Minotaurs album, The Thing. The statement is unmistakably clear, rendered confidently by someone with nothing to lose. Over the past decade,…
MUSIC SCHOOL: Eric Chenaux There are many pleasant surprises on Eric Chenaux’s latest album, Warm Weather with Ryan Driver, but the most striking is his use of a nylon-string guitar as his primary instrument for these achingly lovely songs. From his teenaged years in the roaring, legendary post-punk band Phleg Camp (with…
SPARK: Weezer. For her. A prolific, popular group for 16 years, Weezer must be aware that fans cite their 1994 self-titled debut and its 1996 follow-up, Pinkerton, as their best works. The women in Toronto’s Sheezer concur, basing their cover band solely on that era, while gaining approval from Rivers Cuomo himself….
SOUL, FUNK & WORLD REVIEWS: Minotaurs The ThingAfter spending years keeping his true musical passion at bay, Nathan Lawr transcends indie rock for the Afrobeat-inspired funk grooves of The Thing. As a drummer for Royal City, Feist, Jim Guthrie and FemBots, among others, Lawr has exhibited remarkable feel, infusing the most seemingly…
FOLK & COUNTRY REVIEWS: Baby Eagle Dog Weather On this punk-infused folk rock wonder, Steve Lambke assembles a backing band that perfectly complement his heady lyrics and distinctive, like-it-or-lump-it voice. Dog Weather isn’t his first record to feature rock instrumentation, but Lambke has come to imbue Baby Eagle with the manner of a…
NEWS: Constantines Go on Indefinite Hiatus? It’s becoming increasingly clear that Constantines’ recent appearance at the Dawson City Music Festival on July 16 might have served as their last live show and spurt of band activity for the foreseeable future. In a pre-recorded CBC Radio 3 interview with the band airing Thursday morning (August…
NEWS: Julie Doiron Moves to Toronto; Fred Squire Readies Release for Rick White’s Blue Fog Recordings Though she’s a fixture and figurehead in the underground music scene in the Maritimes, Julie Doiron will be closer to the alleged centre of Canada’s music universe when she moves to Toronto later this month. In a recent interview, Doiron reveals that she’ll be leaving Sackville, NB in…
NEWS: Gord Downie Sheds Light on Collaborative Album with the Sadies With the Tragically Hip on hiatus, lead vocalist and lyricist Gord Downie is spending his time touring with his solo project, the Country of Miracles, and their excellent new record, The Grand Bounce. While the album is only the band’s third since they first convened in 2001, it has been…
NEWS: Calexico Contemplate Anti- for Next Album Arizona’s eclectic folk rock powerhouse Calexico are working hard on a new album but, after being left without a label, aren’t yet certain who will release it. Long affiliated with Touch and Go Records offshoot, Quarterstick, Calexico were one of many artists looking for new imprints when Touch…
INTERVIEWS: Unprofessional Versus After re-locating from San Francisco back to his hometown, Versus bandleader Richard Baluyut still hates New York. “I had lived in New York for almost two decades and I couldn’t take it anymore,” he says. “The band would have kept going had I not moved. Now I’ve been back for three years and that…
POP & ROCK REVIEWS: Arcade Fire The Suburbs Crafting their most dynamic album, Arcade Fire explore big concepts from fascinating, impassioned angles, critiquing normalcy on The Suburbs. On Funeral and Neon Bible, the band dealt with alienation and impending doom via songs that were married together, cohering for battle and empowering every…
NEWS: Unicorns’ Alden Penner and Jamie Thompson Reunite as the Hidden Words Ever since underground art rockers the Unicorns called it a day in 2004, fans have been clamouring for the Montreal band to reunite. While members Nick Thorburn and Jamie Thompson continued working together in numerous projects, most consistently in Islands, co-founder Alden Penner has kept a…
INTERVIEWS: LCD Soundsystem New York City’s James Murphy is the mastermind behind the popular and influential electro-punk band, LCD Soundsystem. Over the past two decades, Murphy’s worked as an engineer, producer, and musician, both on his own projects and for many others, including scoring the 2010 Ben Stiller dramedy,…
SPARK: Razing the Bard A trio of Toronto-based comic book artists has launched Kill Shakespeare, a refreshing adaptation of the playwright’s work, which pits a cabal of characters against their creator. Writers Antony Del Col and Conor McCreery cite David Carradine’s enigmatic role in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill as the…
POP & ROCK REVIEWS: Forest City Lovers Carriage Unheralded songsmith Kat Burns has composed her finest work in Forest City Lovers with the engagingly ambitious Carriage, which showcases her alluring voice and a fearless knack for emotive pop hooks. While colleagues like Ohbijou, Basia Bulat and the D’Urbervilles garner a lot of attention, Burns…
MUSIC DVD REVIEWS: Stones in Exile Directed by Stephen Kijak With great candour, the Rolling Stones embrace/deconstruct the myth that is their finest album with the wondrous, insightful film Stones in Exile. Anything about the band’s history overseen by the Stones (particularly the often legacy protecting and a-historical Mick Jagger) is mired in cynicism…
Harmony Korine |
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You Can’t Play There! |
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Gord Downie and The Country of Miracles The Grand Bounce |
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The Acorn No Ghost |
DOOM / D-Sisive – Kool Haus, Toronto, ON, February 25
What the fuck are we doing here? Some semblance of this question was muttered by many of those in attendance, clinging to faith against all odds and reason at DOOM’s inexplicably ill-fated Toronto appearance, which was, well, doomed from the get-go…(read more)
A Silver Mt. Zion Shine a Light  Though often superficially associated with a contrary bleakness, Montreal’s Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra exhibit outright joy in their stirring music. For some, SMZ remain an offshoot of the hugely influential collective, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, where Efrim Menuck, Thierry Amar, and Sophie Trudeau first gained recognition. Godspeed came to epitomize all that was free and unconventional about music making ― from the textured sprawl of the work itself to a vocal cynicism for the music industry, including the press…..Read More |
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Wavelength 500 – Constantines Toronto, ON February 13
Reverent, respectful and spurred by their old friends in Rockets Red Glare, Constantines honoured WL 500 by playing their wildest show in recent memory. The day before, Con Will Kidman entered a hospital with an undisclosed ailment, preventing him from playing. Weirded out, the Cons forged on, with a plan to play pre-Will songs, fatefully blossoming into performing their self-titled, 2001 debut album in its entirety. Inspired by RRG and all that WL meant to the band when they too began some ten years ago, Constantines flailed at their origin songs, roaring lyrics and headbanging like the hungriest band around.
Wavelength 500 – Rockets Red Glare Toronto, ON February 13
One of the most anticipated reunions at WL 500 was a flawless performance by the tightest unit to emerge out of southern Ontario hardcore. With such a mixed crowd, some were surely curiously confused by the huge ovation that greeted guitarist/vocalist Evan Clarke, drummer Gus Weinkauf, and bassist Jeremy Strachan, as they took the stage as RRG for the first time since 2003. For their part, the utilitarian trio played thoughtfully advanced compositions with uncommon precision and vigour. They don’t make punk rock like RRG anymore, and really, no one but this band ever could.
2/5/2010 By Vish Khanna Not surprisingly, one of the hardest working bands in … The group’s Dallas and Travis Good have revealed to Exclaim! that the next…
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Exclaim!
By Vish Khanna Even without its sad epilogue, Don’t You Forget About Me is a poignant testament to the power of the late, beloved writer/director John …
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Aziz Ansari – Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening
Exclaim!
By Vish Khanna From the second he walks on stage, actor/comedian Aziz Ansari is a fiery ball of energy and hooks, approaching stand-up from a surprisingly …
Exclusive: Broken Social Scene Put the Brakes on Tortoise    1/29/2010 While Tortoise are set to leave their Chicago home for a short North American tour next month, the instrumental rock pioneers haven’t made much headway writing new material since the release of last year’s excellent Beacons of Ancestorship, according to bassist/guitarist Doug McCombs. And who do they have to thank for the hold-up? Broken Social Scene. (More after the jump.)… Full Article |
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Stephin Merritt to Do Live Score for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
The Magnetic Fields released Realism, their latest album, this week, but band mastermind Stephin Merritt is still coming up with new conceptual ideas. The latest: A live score for the 1917 silent film version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Rip-roaring undersea adventure and hyper-literate indie pop, together at last!
What I Play – Dallas and Travis Good |
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Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields – It’s Only Time (Exclaim! Timeline)
Exclaim!
By Vish Khanna Whimsical curmudgeon Stephin Merritt is undeniably one of the most …. Merritt wakes his band members up by exclaiming “Indie rocks! …
The Jesus Lizard’s Mac McNeilly
Exclaim! – Toronto,Ontario,Canada
By Vish Khanna For countless fans, the Jesus Lizard are one of the most significant … Mac McNeilly chatted with Exclaim! just prior to their Toronto stop.
| Kevin Breit & Jesse Stewart Exclaim! – Toronto,Ontario,Canada By Vish Khanna Although an unfortunate accident brought them together for Collisions, it was a fateful meeting point for collaborators Kevin Breit and Jesse … |
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Richard Laviolette and the Oil Spills – All of Your Raw Materials |
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Them Crooked Vultures |
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Evangelista – Prince of Truth |
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Etaoin Shrdlu – Mating Calls |
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Bob Dylan – Christmas in the Heart |
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Nirvana – Live at Reading |
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Heavy Trash – Midnight Soul Serenade |
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| Evening Hymns – Spirit Guides Exclaim! By Vish Khanna On his debut record as Evening Hymns, Peterborough, ON’s Jonas Bonnetta harkens back to singer-songwriters of the early ’70s, evenly weaving … See all stories on this topic |
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| David Mott Quintet – Downtown Runout Exclaim! By Vish Khanna Occasionally mellow yet intensely arresting, Downtown Runout features compositions by David Mott, as rendered by a stellar and increasingly … See all stories on this topic |
The Jesus Lizard/Brides – The Phoenix, Toronto, ON 11/12/2009 –
Exclaim! – Toronto,Ontario,Canada
By Vish Khanna In what was simply a haymaker of a show, a young, untested noise rock band impressed an amped-up room that wanted nothing more than to …
Eugene Mirman lives in New York City and is one of the funniest comedians of our times. He’s renowned for two ingenious comedy records, entitled The Absurd Nightclub Comedy of Eugene Mirman and En Garde, Society! and has been a key supporter of his contemporaries with events like Invite Them Up! and the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival….Read More
Sufjan Stevens
Exclaim! – Toronto,Ontario,Canada
By Vish Khanna One of the most celebrated and respected artists in all of contemporary pop music, Sufjan Stevens is a Michigan native who calls Brooklyn, …
Sufjan Stevens’ Inner State
Exclaim! – Toronto,Ontario,Canada
By Vish Khanna Though recently implying that he’s tapped out musically, Sufjan Stevens has never created something as pointedly ambitious as The BQE. …
Do Make Say Think Other Truths
Exclaim! – Toronto,Ontario,Canada
By Vish Khanna Though they’ve never been predictable, twisting and turning down a veering path of whatever post-rock is supposed to be, Do Make Say Think …
Lou Barlow Goodnight Unknown
Exclaim! – Toronto,Ontario,Canada
By Vish Khanna As things have come full circle for Lou Barlow in recent years, it’s fitting that Goodnight Unknown is an alluring pastiche of all the sonic …
One Hundred Dollars My Father’s House |
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Carolyn Mark & NQ Arbuckle Let’s Just Stay Here |
Over the past 20 years, Lou Barlow has been a key member of influential and abrasive underground rock bands like Dinosuar Jr, Sebadoh, and the Folk Implosion. He’s also credited with being one of the leading figures responsible for the pervasiveness, from the early ’90s onward, of emotional home-rock by men….Read More
 With the roar of an appreciative audience behind him, Old Man Luedecke descended the steps of the main stage at Sappyfest IV in Sackville, NB this past August with a look of bemused befuddlement on his face. Judging from past experience at festivals across the country, the scene’s familiar but he still seems overwhelmed…. Read More
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Even as Nick “Diamonds” Thorburn sits idly by, listening to his band-mates in Islands discuss their excellent electro-rock record Vapours, he projects a serene restlessness. Since the 2005 break-up of popular Montreal art-rockers the Unicorns, Thorburn has maintained a hectic schedule….Read More
Vic Chesnutt  A resident of Athens, Georgia, Vic Chesnutt’s ability to overcome a severe disability and write his wondrous songs has been an inspiration to legions of fans and musicians over the past 20 years. He’s composed critically acclaimed records, collaborated with the likes of Michael Stipe, Lambchop, Bill Frisell, Emmylou Harris, and most recently, Elf Power and Jonathan Richman….Read More |
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Joe Pernice  A noted musician from Massachusetts who now calls Toronto home, Joe Pernice has been the central voice in acclaimed indie rock bands like the Scud Mountain Boys, the Pernice Brothers, and Chappaquiddick Skyline among others….Read More |
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Nick Cave  Nick Cave is one of the most respected singers and songwriters in the world, whose storied 30-year career has seen him lead innovative and influential punk-infused rock ‘n’ roll bands like the Birthday Party, the Bad Seeds, and Grinderman, not to mention collaborating with Kylie Minogue and Johnny Cash, among other notable artists….Read More |
Merge Records’ Laura Ballance & Mac McCaughan |
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Failed Musician |
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Spring Breakup
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