So we have done a lot of interviews at andPOP but we are always coming across something new when we interviews musicians, actors, etc. What was the cool thing from this interview? Franz Ferdinand used human bones as instruments on this album. Yes human bones. Definitely unique but if their position on the charts is any indication, it seems to have worked.
Before the event with Jeremy Piven, our editor here at andPOP told me to “hug it out” with the “Entourage” star. Piven didn’t get a hug from me, but it’s okay because he got more than just a hug from someone else (see photo).
On Thursday (June 30), Piven made an appearance at the Rogers Centre in Toronto to become an honourary team member of the Argonauts.
With a wide grin, Piven told reporters he’s a huge sports fan, saying this is “the closest I’ll ever come” to being a football player. A jersey with the actor’s name was presented to him by Quarterback Kerry Joseph, Defensive Tackle Adriano “The Kissing Bandit” Belli and Vice Chair Michael “Pinball” Clemons.
Today was a monumental day in the careers of everyone at andPOP – the day we met Jeremy Piven. I don’t think as a group collectively we all have been so excited to produce an interview. The good news is Jeremy’s a really friendly dude who was very receptive to your friends at andPOP. His movie The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard is hilarious and he even gave us an exclusive into the rest of Season 6 of Entourage. Check back tomorrow night to see the footage. Also check out the restricted trailer for The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard thanks to Funny or Die.
Jenn had the opportunity to take the brand new G-Force video game for a spin on the Xbox 360 in 3D! While enjoying this guinea pig infested preview we spoke with THE G-Force expert about 3D functionality, Jerry Bruckheimer, the plot behind this game and much more.
Taking Control of team lead Darwin and his surveillance spy Mooch, you are the last line of defense against appliances turned evil robots bent on death, destruction and the end of civilization as we know it. Don’t worry, it’s a Disney game / movie… in 3D!
For all the bands out there, here’s a question for you. How do you know when you have been around for a while? The answer? When you recognize kids from 10 years ago who were at your shows that are now doctors and teachers. That’s happening to Taking Back Sunday and they sat down with andPOP to talk about life during the past decade.
So where do great singing careers start? Apparently the Statford, Ontario Idol singing competition. That’s where this YouTube sensation got his start, and is now causing a stir on the music scene. Justin spoke with Jenn on a recent trip to Toronto.
In life (and in the hip-hop industry especially), there’s an unwritten code: as you approach the veteran years of your career, you’re expected to lose a step in your game.
Twista did not get that memo.
In fact, with 18 years of experience in the business so far, the Chicago hip-hop legend doesn’t see a career decline anytime soon. Nope, on the contrary. He says that some of his best work is yet to come.
Think about that for a moment.
This is coming from the guy who’s had two of his past six studio albums go platinum and crack the top ten list on the U.S. Billboard top 200, collaborations with some of the music industry’s finest talent including Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Mariah Carey, T-Pain, Lil Wayne, T.I, and Akon, and not to mention, this is also the former Guinness World Record holder for the fastest rapper in the world.
Yesterday, Our Lady Peace performed at a secret location to launch their latest album, “Burn Burn.” andPOP was part of this exclusive concert where OLP played their latest songs as well as fan favourites from the past.
The event took place at the Sony Soundstage in Toronto and was broadcast live-to-air through 102.1 The Edge and Explore Music.
Throughout the concert, OLP played songs form their new album, including the single “All You Did Was Save My Life” featuring “90210’s” Shenae Grimes in the music video, and “Paper Moon.”
To the excitement of fans, OLP performed “Innocent” and “Somewhere Out There,” off their 2002 album “Gravity,” among other hits. Since only a fraction of their fans were able to see them live in convert, the band answered questions sent to Alan Cross’ Twitter page for those who were unable to attend the event.
So why did they take so long to release another album? OLP vocalist Raine Maida explains.
Holler Wild Rose’s “Our Little Hymnal” is a mainstay of my stereo rotation right now. The band crafts incredibly expansive songs, packed with ambient guitars and delicate melody. There’s a lot of love in this band, and it really comes through in the music. I met up with two of the members during NxNE to speak about their band. If you like what you hear, check out www.myspace.com/hollerwildrose.
Draco Malfoy (or Tom Felton, whatever you prefer) sits down with Jordan to discuss the newest release from the Harry Potter franchise, Harry Potter and the Half-Blooded Prince. Also take note to the cool Harry Potter storefront created in downtown Toronto where we filmed the interview.
“Sometimes you duck under the radar, and sometimes the radar just moves focus. You know the radar in the navy that goes around in a circle and you fade out when the green sweeping thing is not sweeping past you?” explains The Lovely Feathers’ bassist Mark Shortt, of the hiatus following the band’s break-out debut, Hind Hind Legs. “That took three years, that sweep.”
It was an odd time to duck out of the spotlight, when in fact it was burning so brightly it probably singed their eyebrows. The Lovely Feathers were poised as the next big thing from Montreal, a steep reputation to live up to considering the city has churned out Arcade Fire, Wolf Parade, Sam Roberts and Leonard Cohen, if you want to go back that far. They made the watch-lists of Rolling Stone, Spin and Pitchfork almost simultaneously, and logged tour dates with Metric and Tokyo Police Club across North America before headlining their own run. “Wrong Choice” was even featured on a season premier of One Tree Hill.
Then all of the sudden they were gone. Equator Records dissolved and while their labelmates, Islands, were signed to Anti-Records, The Lovely Feathers were left in limbo.
In the meantime, up popped the next-next-big things and for a while, The Lovely Feathers were just another blip on a fairly crowded screen.
If there is one thing the band learned in their time off, it’s that fame is a far cry from success. Incidentally, most of their new album Fantasy of the Lot is loosely based on coming to this realization.
North America audiences are continuing to import British talent in film, on TV and on stage, and one of the newest names is London-based stand-up comic James Mullinger.
“My first gig was in the backroom of a Caribbean bar in East London at the excellent Amused Moose comedy club chain. It’s a great way to prepare for your first gig and for the perils of the open mic circuit. It went brilliantly which set my hopes way too high. The next six gigs I died which was a far more realistic depiction of how that first year would go. But as they say, you learn much more from a bad gig than a great one. I’ve now been going four years and have performed over 500 gigs. It’s the best job in the world.”
One of James’ breakout milestones was being a part of Jimmy Carr’s Comedy Idol. Carr is one of Britain’s biggest comics, and was the first Brit to do a Comedy Central special. He will also be performing again this year at Just For Laughs (hahaha.com) in both Montreal and Toronto.
OK we know what you are thinking, here’s another white kid from the suburbs who thinks he can rap. That’s almost a completely true statement except not only does he think he can rap, a lot of experts think he can too. That’s why after making a friend request on MySpace to Scooter Braun of So So Def Records, he was signed shortly after. Check out the interview and also check out the PSA from andPOP. Please help the children!
The Most Serene Republic are a very unique group. They have a very intelligent approach to music, so it was truly interesting to speak to two of the members during NXNE 2009. I’ve been sold on MSR since 2005′s Underwater Cinematographer, which was preceded by the excellent Phages and followed up last year with Population. On Juy 14th the band is releasing yet another fantastic, diverse, and exciting record called …And The Ever Expanding Universe. For more, check out www.myspace.com/themostserenerepublic.
So where does Kanye look for his opening act while on tour? The answer is Toronto. Melanie was Kanye’s opener during his 2008 European Tour, which is notable because she hadn’t even released an album. Good news though, album is out and the debut single “Give It To Me Right” is climbing the Canadian charts.
The boys from St. Catharines, Ontario are back with their third album “Old Crows / Young Cardinals”. With all their side projects you think their latest attempt would suffer, but good news, it’s awesome! Just check out the charts to see for yourself.
When we walked into this interview, we thought this guy would be touchy feely, based on his music. However a really cool guy who is hilarious. Matt certainly deserves his success he as has been hacking it out for years and now is suddenly getting the respect he deserves. Check out our interview!
At andPOP we don’t generally skew too much into the kid market, but these girls are so huge we couldn’t ignore it. We recently spoke with Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato on the red carpet for the Princess Protection Program. We also convinced a bunch of teen girls that Jordan is Nick Jonas’ stunt double, but that’s a conversation for another time.
What happens when Tony Bennett has a love child with Nirvana? You get Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker. That’s the best way we can describe it. Nice guys and great music and legendary music critic Alan Cross can’t keep singing their praises. Check it out!
Can anybody decipher what Aaron Carter is saying? He seems like a really nice guy but we are lost. Please translate for us in the comment box.
