On the beat

Black Is Back

ROBIN BLACK AND THE IRS: Loveable loudmouth ROBIN BLACK and his band, THE INTERGALACTIC ROCKSTARS, can lay claim to being Canada's best glam-rock band. Yes, that is definitely just a small subculture in the pop world, but it's a highly important one. Black and band are dedicated to putting on a show, and in the age of the dour Creed and co, that is needed now more than ever. Who else but Robin would throw in confetti cannons and pyrotechnics during a short set for a jaded music industry crowd? That was the case at Lee's Palace recently for the CD launch of Planet: Fame, their new CD. There's certainly nothing new about the IRS sound, which mixes '70s British glam in with New York Dolls style punk, but they do it really well. Hook-filled songs like "So Sick Of You" (the first single and video) and "Screwed It Up" are delivered via some sizzling guitar work and Robin's raunchy vocals. Backing vocals from SARAH SLEAN, C.J. SLEEZ and DAMHNAIT DOYLE add to the fun.

JANN ARDEN: Her charming presence as a performer is certainly paying off for JANN. She's currently touring Canada (her "Greatest Hurt" tour) to sold-out concerts in support of her recent Best Of album. A third Toronto date, at the Canon Theatre, has just been added for March 23. She may not have had a hit single in a while, but Jann clearly has a loyal audience. She told this writer once that "my hope is to keep doing this for a long, long time. I think my burnout factor is real slow, and I feel I can carve out a nice living for myself and still be doing it 15 years from now." Let's hope so.

GREG WYARD: After forming THE GREG WYARD BAND in Ottawa in 1996, this singer/songwriter relocated to Toronto in 2000. His gigs here have ranged from opening for STEELY DAN to impressing at a Bluebird North songwriters gig. His second independent CD, Something I Made Up, is a strong collection of nicely crafted and well-played melodic pop-rock songs. Greg's acknowledged influences include CROWDED HOUSE, ODDS and the BEATLES. Log onto www.gregwyard.com for more information.

UPCOMING: Tickets for some high-profile April concerts are already on sale. Songstress NELLY FURTADO has added another date at Massey Hall, April 19. That's just a few days after the Juno Awards, at which Nelly may well add to her trophy collection. She was also nominated for four Grammy Awards recently. After a bit of a career slump, California pop/ska band NO DOUBT have rebounded with their recent Rock Steady album. GWEN STEFANI and the boys check into Kool Haus on April 11. That master of the murder ballad, NICK CAVE brings his BAD SEEDS to town for a Kool Haus gig on April 28. An inspired choice as show opener is fab honky-tonk diva NEKO CASE. The two even share the same initials, and hopefully they'll do a duet together. Heavy metal fans may be making a pilgrimage to Hamilton a couple of times over the next six weeks. Veteran OZZY OSBOURNE checks into Copps Coliseum there on March 10, supported by Canadian bands THE TEA PARTY and PROJECT WYZE.

Publication Date: 2002-03-03
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=1031