Latest news with #McCrea
Calgary Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Concert review: Rain doesn't stop the party as Cake close Calgary Folk Music Festival
The rain returned to Prince's Island Park Sunday evening just as headliners Cake broke into Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle, the 1993 single from the California band that began their journey as unlikely rock stars. Article content Roughly half-a-dozen or more songs into the evening, lead vocalist John McCrea looked out into a sea of bopping, sloshing fans in rain-slicked ponchos and asked 'Is it sorta raining out there?' Article content Article content Three days of wet weather had turned much of Prince's Island Park into a muddy mess on Sunday evening, but it would be hard to find anyone in attendance who wasn't wearing a smile during Cake's set. It might be one of the most entertaining, f finales of any folk festival in recent memory. Thirty years after the band hit the mainstream with its unique brand of 'quirk-rock,' McCrea remains one of the most unusual frontmen since David Byrne. These days, he gives off a vibe that suggests a goofy, near-retirement grade-school science teacher letting his hair down on a field trip. But there is no denying his magnetic appeal. Article content Article content After a comically long and epic intro of piped-in triumphant music, the band appeared on stage and eventually kicked off the set with the clever Frank Sinatra and Sheep Go the Heaven. The latter became the first of many endearingly odd singalongs. It happened again with an extended run through the catchy Sick of You and Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps, their 1996 English-language cover of the Cuban favourite. McCrea even managed to turn the 2024 single Billionaire in Space, the first new music Cake has released in more than seven years, into a singalong despite the fact that it likely has not be widely heard yet. Steve Berlin, saxophonist for one of Saturday night's headliners, Los Lobos, joined the band for their 2007 cover of Black Sabbath's War Pigs and audience enthusiasm hit a frenzied peak when the band played hits such as The Distance and Short Skirt/Long Jacket. On the surface, the band seems like an unlikely stadium act. But those disco bass lines, blasts of trumpet and catchy hooks remain endlessly endearing. Article content Article content It was a nice send-off for audiences after a mucky few days of inclement weather. Article content The festival survived what artistic director Kerry Clarke called 'the soggiest event we've had in years if not decades,' with a sudden thunder storm and downpour halting the music temporarily on the main stage on Saturday. Article content But the show otherwise went on Saturday, with main stage acts Madeleine Peyroux, Le Mamans du Congo X Rrobin, Los Lobos and Steve Earle shaving five to 10 minutes from their sets to accommodate the delay. In the end, the evening came to an end only half-hour after the planned 11:30 p.m. finish. Article content 'We've had bad rain, but probably the worst was 25 years ago where it poured all day,' says Clarke. 'There's always rumours of rain at our festival. In the afternoon the skies open up for half an hour and then it's clear. It's my fault, last year I was complaining about how dry the site was and how there was no grass.'
Calgary Herald
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
CAKE to bring 'more frenetic, louder, messier' show to close Calgary Folk Music Festival
Article content When John McCrea returned to the stage after a lengthy break caused by the pandemic, he felt rare pangs of stage fright. Article content It was a strange development since the lead singer of CAKE has been performing as part of the California band since 1991, often in front of large festival or amphitheatre crowds. Article content 'Weirdly, after playing thousands of shows, I started having a bit of anxiety,' says McCrea, in an interview with Postmedia. 'I think I was just having anxiety about everything, about the world. But getting on the stage when you have anxiety is a tall order.' Article content Article content So, in the tradition of NASCAR races and Nickelback concerts, McCrea began to incorporate the T-shirt cannon into his band's act. Article content Article content 'Having that foil, as it were, this excuse for distance, this powerful T-shirt gun thing that made a nice, satisfying (pop), it actually got me back on stage,' he says. 'I could be playing music, but mostly here's what I'm doing: I'm shooting something into the sky. I guess that explains a lot of the gun-fetish culture. It gives you a reason to exist, I guess, in that moment. I'm not making any pro or con statement. I'm saying I'm playing music, but mainly I've got this physically demonstrative gesture. I can't explain it, but it really helps me.' It should add another layer of colour to CAKE's live show, which will take over the ATB Main Stage Sunday night to close the Calgary Folk Music Festival. Like most artists, McCrea has other ways of dealing with the anxiety the world, and his country in particular, has increasingly brought. At the end of 2024, the band released a single called Billionaire in Space. Initially broadcast as part of Texas Public Radio's Live from the Freight Elevator, the song has a folk-punk flavour and features McCrea's trademark nasally delivery. It's also the band's first new material since 2011's Showroom of Compassion and will be part of an album likely to come out in early 2026. Article content Article content While the title Billionaire in Space may seem on the nose in terms of the point McCrea is trying to make, the song has broader content than simply criticizing Jeff Bezos' and Richard Branson's costly and self-indulgent jaunts into the cosmos. It was inspired by wildfires in 2020. Article content 'We were going through the pandemic and down here on the West Coast, we were covered in smoke for weeks,' he says. 'There was a period of time when we were just buried, and it was very surreal. In the sky, the only colours you could see were brown and orange and grey for weeks, and there was very little difference between day and night, and the air was just toxic. It wasn't just trees of smoke, it was burned-down sporting-goods-store smoke. Anyway, at that same moment, we had two billionaires flying their rockets, orbiting the planet. It was poignant at that moment.' Article content Of course, politically thorny times have tended to produce good music in the past. Article content 'Inspire is a nice word for it, but I think maybe trigger would be a better word,' he says. '… I'm sort of at the mercy of whatever is going on around me in terms of subject matter.' Article content While the new album will have what McCrea refers to as veiled political content, he seems reluctant to pinpoint specific themes or musical direction it may take. Since forming in 1991, CAKE has never followed any rule book, except to offer a droll, dance-ready antidote to the humourless grunge acts that were ruling the music world in the mid-1990s. Article content CAKE became an unlikely platinum-selling group, offering a mix of disco, funk, folk, country and alt-pop — gamely referred to as 'quirk-rock' by some critics — that seemed to arrive fully formed on the band's 1993 self-released debut Motorcade of Generosity and its massive follow-up,1996's Fashion Nugget. Songs such as The Distance and an endearingly deadpan cover of Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive became staples on the radio. Article content Article content The band's early success was with the independent label Capricorn Records, although they did eventually sign with Columbia for a short period. While CAKE did face occasional pressure from label brass, their early success put them in a good place to steer their own ship creatively. Article content 'We released our first album on our own label and we were lucky enough to find distribution and it did pretty OK before we got signed,' he says. 'I'm pretty sure our song (Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle) was on the college-radio charts before we got signed. So they were kind of like, 'We don't know what this is, so let's just let them do whatever the hell this is.' That was cool. Mostly that's what they did. Here and there, they messed with us. A lot of bands, when they sign, it's a very unequal relationship and they can dress them up funny, put them with producers that are wrong for them, etc., etc.' Article content Article content As for the live show, we will presumably see some T-shirt cannon action, but beyond that, the band tends to be unpredictable on stage. CAKE never relies on a setlist for concerts, which should give the Sunday night showcase a sense of spontaneity. Article content 'We do that to stay alive inside and not feel like a machine that is being forced to play a certain song at a certain time,' McCrea says. 'That said, we tend to play songs from all of our albums. Most of the time, we remember to play a song that was popular in a country or a town. We remember to play that song sometimes, and sometimes we don't. But it is a more spontaneous, slightly more frenetic, louder, messier than our studio albums.'
Irish Independent
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Around the Districts: Carnew to Marshalstown-Castledockrell
LOTTO Carnew GAA lotto was not won, numbers were 2, 14, 21 and 25. Lucky dips were Karen Collins and the McCrea family. The next draw is July 28 and the jackpot is €3,300. Askamore Bowls Askamore Bowls are on their summer break till the first Wednesday in September. Watercolour/Drawing classes Watercolour/Drawing classes will be starting on September 8. Spaces are limited. If you are interested in participating, please contact Eilish at 085 2156848. Thank you. Pilates Pilates on Wednesday mornings. Contact Finch at 086 8468165. Get Fit, Feel Great Askamore Fitness is your local boutique gym offering affordable memberships, expert personal training, and fun, friendly fitness classes for all levels. With 24/7 access, you can work out on your own schedule. We also offer fun, effective group classes every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. and 7.45 p.m., and Morning Classes on a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7 a.m. Join our welcoming community and achieve your goals in a supportive, no-pressure environment. Contact Us at 085 7334076. 'The Roaring Twenties by PAM' – A Photographic Exhibition Carnew Heritage Club is delighted to collaborate with Dr Damian Doyle, as he exhibits photographs taken by his grandfather over 100 years ago. Come and explore a captivating collection of photographs that tell stories of another time through the lens. The Exhibition Launch will take place on Thursday, July 31, at 7.30 p.m. in Carnew Community Care. Everyone welcome – bring a friend and spread the word. TOMACORK RAFFLE WINNERS Congratulations to all of the following winners of the raffle held in Tomacork patron on Sunday, a special thanks to all who sold and bought tickets and to all who donated prizes, your support is greatly appreciated, winners were Karen Collins – scarf, Syl McEvoy, Maureen Kavanagh – kettle, Peter from Ryans bread – four mugs, Maud Massey – blender, Arlo Osborne-fairy garden, Lil Hennessy – perfume, Siobhain Eade – throw, The Bothy – pictures, Collette Nugent – scarf, Mark Colin's – sandwich toaster, Tommy Nolan – wine, Thelma OReilly – jewellery, Eilish Cunningham – slipper set, Tommy Keogh – hamper, Michelle Breen Bollard – wine, Zuzanna Keogh – wine, Betty Finn – stove, Eileen Kinsella – lantern, Caroline Byrne, Rathdrum – lantern, thanks to everyone for their support and to everyone who helped on the day, beforehand to get everything ready and afterwards for tidying up. BINGO The next bingo is on Sunday, July 27, at 2 p.m. in Carnew mart. AFTERNOON TEA There will be afternoon tea in Ann Keogh's back garden, Y14 V8N7 on Saturday, July 26, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. all proceeds towards the Christmas lights and all are welcome and bring a friend. RECYCLING There will be no recycling at Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew, on Saturday, August 9, and 16 due to people being on holidays. Carnew Community Care Throughout the month of July, yoga sessions will continue on Monday afternoons, while exercise classes are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 11.30 to 11: 15. Additionally, we will host a mix of music and song on Wednesday afternoons at 1.30 p.m., concluding around 3 p.m., followed by tea and chat. Everyone is welcome to attend any of these events or activities. Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact reception at 053 9426510. FLEADH CHEOIL The 2025 Fleadh Cheoil promises to be bigger and better than 2024, with 650,000 plus visitors to Wexford anticipated during the event. We are seeking 1,000 volunteers to assist us with the smooth running of the Fleadh and with welcoming people to Wexford. Volunteering will be at the heart of the Fleadh Cheoil's success, and volunteers will get to be at the heart of the action during the Fleadh. Volunteers will be required for the following roles. - Events Stewarding - Competitions Stewarding - Street Ambassador Duties - Information and Customer Service Booths. Green Fleadh Duties Volunteers can tell us when applying what day (s) they are available for, can volunteer for as little as one shift, will be provided with health and safety training before the Fleadh, will be entitled to free travel on the park and Rides, will be provided with sandwiches and light refreshments on any day (s) they volunteer, and most importantly will be at the centre of the buzz and craic during the Fleadh. Please visit for further information and access to the volunteer portal. For any queries, please contact volunteer@ or volunteers@ Coolgreany Coolgreany Community Sound. Fundraiser event open to all – Coolgreany Community Sound Meditation, is being held Thursday, July 31, doors open 7.45 p.m. at the May Byrne Community House Y25X592. Limited spaces – please book at 087 7827239. Event minimum donation €10. Proceeds for Community Defibrillator fund. If you wish to donate, but not attend. Revolut 085 8001555. Golden Circle Golden circle are going to St Ann Park and Howth on Saturday, August 9. Bus leaves Tesco at 9 a.m. and a boat trip price €20 for the bus extra for the boat. On August 22 a coffee morning in the old ship with Golden circle and Arklow cancer centre from 10 a.m. to noon. all are welcome. Contact Gertie at 083 4042746. Flowers Well done to Maureen Kelly and her helpers for all the work they have one in the presentation of the beautiful in the lower street and on the bridge, it's a credit to all concerned for how well they look at present. Inch Church A new rector for the local parishes of Inch, Arklow, and Kilbride. Reverned Alaster Doyle will take up duty in those parishes in October and no doubt he will be very welcome to the area. Castletown-Liam Mellows Hatha yoga, mindfulness and meditation under the guidance of Jess. Mondays 7.15 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. Clubhouse in Castletown Call Jess at 083 2031412. Chair aerobics, Wednesday morning 11 a.m. to midday Gentle strength building. Light cardio and lots of fun. Call 874-425500, Circuits, Tuesday and Thursday 8 a.m. and Saturdays 9.30 a.m. all abilities welcome. Gym in Castletown., Activator Pole Walking Thursdays 11 a.m. to midday Poles provided. Ladies competitive Rounders Wednesday 7.30 p.m. and Saturday 1 p.m. For more information on any of the above Call 086 3879321 Or 086 1931324 Or any of the Healthy Club Team. Birthdays Birthday greetings to Chelsea Carter Croghan View, who celebrates her 18th birthday on next Saturday, July 26. Local Notes Please forward all notes for the local Guardian to me by 6 p.m. on Sunday evening by email or phone 087 4605166 or danken9@ Craanford-Monaseed GAA lotto club lotto Jackpot €11,800. Numbers Drawn: 17-22-23-29. No Winner. Lucky Dips: Liz Sheridan, Bob Spenser, Catriona Murray c/o Pat, Niall Berney, Kerrie Daly. Next Week's jackpot is €11,900. Tickets are now also available from Siopa Beag at the community centre Craanford and Londis Gorey. Tickets are available from Cooney Communications, Cooney's Pub Craanford, Donal's in Gorey, Lamberts in Camolin and Jack's Tavern Camolin. You are most welcome to sign up for the year also, thank you for your support always, it is very welcome and appreciated. GAA News Craanford Sports Well done to all involved with Tuairsceart Loch Garman at last weekend's Leinster Fleadh, all roads lead to Wexford town for the all-Ireland Fleadh from third August 10. Under-21 football v Sarsfields was a tough match, hard luck lads. Under-21 QF hurling v Rapps Wednesday, July 30. Great start to LGFA Championship with win over Baile Dubh Tire last weekend, pure grit and determination got ye over the line, well done, next LGFA championship game is Friday, July 25, v Gorey in Craanford. Lads had a poor night against St Anne's in their first football championship game despite a great first half. Next up is Clongeen in Patrick's Park at 2 p.m. on Saturday the 19th. Tickets required as usual. Junior B play Duffry July 18 in Craanford. Intermediate camogie championship also on Saturday the 19th v Castletown at home at 7 p.m. please remember the charge on the gate for this match. Winners of all-Ireland tickets in club draw are. Hurling: one. Thomas Tobin two. Mags Crowley. Football: one. Kevin Hyland two. Aidan Doyle. Check Facebook for updates of matches. If you want to know about upcoming matches each week ahead, contact Elaine and she can add your name to the group. All match details are available on Craanford Fr O'Regan's official Facebook page and Craanford-Monaseed Ladies' Gaelic Football Facebook page. Bingo Bingo in Craanford Community Centre every Friday night at 8 p.m. please come along and support. Church News Congratulations to the family and friends of Ted Victor Beesley, who was baptised in St Patrick's Church, Craanford last Saturday. Craanford Patron will be celebrated in the cemetery, at 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 3. The usual collection to support the upkeep of the cemetery will be taken up as you enter. Your support is greatly appreciated. It has been the custom in this parish to remember loved ones by name at the patron. Should you wish your loved ones mentioned in this way, envelopes to facilitate this are available at the back of the church and may be returned at any time before the patron. It would be helpful if this could be done by the latest on Friday, August 1, so as to facilitate the drawing up of the list. There will be no 10.30 a.m. Mass on Sunday morning, August 3. Adoration Craanford every Monday 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monaseed every Friday 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and. 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Weekend Mass Times Craanford Saturday 6 p.m. Sunday 10.30 a.m. Monaseed Saturday 7.30 p.m. Sunday 9 a.m. Daily Mass Daily Mass Craanford Thursday 6 p.m. Daily Mass Monaseed Friday 9.30 a.m. Anniversaries. Saturday, July 26 Craanford 6 p.m. Ann Bass Saturday, August 2 Craanford 6 p.m. John Wafer. Months Mind. Monaseed 7.30 p.m. Séamus Doyle. Months Mind. Peter O'Donohoe, Knockbrack. Fourth Anniversary. Sunday, August 3 Monaseed 9 a.m. Johanna Gilbert, Knockbrandon. Thank you to all who help with the Craanford church cleaning, if you wish to help out please let us know and we can add your name to the group – 087 2334776. Used stamps for the Missions Again a big thank you to the people in Craanford and Monaseed for their ongoing support for the Missions by putting their stamps in the boxes in the porches in both churches. A reminder to take off the stamps, leaving around 1.5cms around the stamp please, from their envelopes and put them in the box in the church porch. Marshalstown-Castledockrell Paths Anyone visiting or passing by Castledockrell Church in recent weeks would have noticed the new paths into the church. They were needed for many years but were worth waiting for. For the next three months the First Sunday of the month collection will go towards the cost of the paths. This collection which takes place at the church door and was started by the late Canon AG Jones in the 1970s and has helped pay for many items in the church over the years. If you would like to contribute to this collection on any of the months the dates are Sunday, August 3, Sunday, September 7, and Sunday, October 5. The amounts collected will appear in the newsletter each month and if the collection needs to be continued for this project notice of the dates involved will also appear in it. Thank you in advance for your support for this project. Sympathy Sympathy is extended to the family and relatives of the late Ger Bennett and the family and relatives of the late Breda Hynes. May they rest in peace. Monart Fundraiser Parishioners of St Peter's Church, Monart are organising a very unique fundraiser where you have the opportunity to win a signed Leister Rugby Jersey kindly donated by Charlie Tector. There are a limited number of tickets on sale priced at €10 each which can be purchased from any of the Monart parishioners or Rosemary in St Mary's Church. The draw will take place during the Parish Picnic in the grounds of St Peter's Church, Monart on Sunday, July 27. Notes Items should be received by 5 p.m. on Sunday evening at the latest for inclusion in the following week's paper. (Thursday at 5 p.m. prior to public holidays). Items received after these times will be held over to the next edition if it has not already happened. Priest on Duty The Emergency Number to contact Fr Tom, Fr James and Fr Billy is 087 2710478. Mass Times Marshalstown is on Tuesday at 9.30 a.m. and Saturday at 7.30 p.m. (Vigil Mass). Castledockrell is on Thursday at 9.30 a.m. and Sunday at 9.30 a.m. This is followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Changes in weekday Masses will be announced at weekend Masses where possible. Lotto Marshalstown-Castledockrell GAA lotto results for July 17 are jackpot €14,100. No jackpot winner and no match-three winner. Numbers drawn were 4, 12, 15 and 24. Two lucky-dip winners Theresa Frayne and Richard Frayne (Hollow) who wins €50 each. Tickets are available from committee members, Redmond's Scarawalsh, The Hollow and online through clubforce app. Thanks for continued support.
Extra.ie
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
'90s Dublin pop band reunites for upcoming album
Two original members of '90s Dublin pop band SWIM have reunited to record their upcoming album NIGHTSTOCK. After more than three decades apart, vocalist Joe Reilly and composer John McCrea reconnected in 2025 with the intention of creating and releasing new material. According to a statement, Reilly sought freedom to express himself through lyricism while McCrea endeavoured to break from the norm of conventional song structure. NIGHTSTOCK is the product of the duo's new experimental approach to songwriting. The seven tracks on the album were recorded in just a few sessions with Reilly, McCrea and producer Ger McDonnell, whose credits include U2, Dido, Def Leppard and more. 'Tony's House,' the first single from the album, is set to be released this Friday, July 4, with a music video directed by Cork videographer George Hogan. Reilly said the concepts for 'Tony's House' came in a stroke of inspiration while reading an Edward Hopper art book in between recording sessions. 'During the recording sessions for NIGHTSTOCK, the band were experiencing some difficulty with one of the longer pieces on the album and decided to take a break. I was flicking through 'The Paintings of Edward Hopper' and the painting 'Tony's House' in particular caught my imagination,' Reilly said. 'Within half an hour, I had come up with the lyrics for 'Tony's House,' the song. Having shown the lyrics to John, the music was quickly composed, and the accompanying keyboard track was recorded in one take. The vocals were put down in a few passes, and so 'Tony's House' appeared within a matter of hours. Ger then added his usual studio magic, et voilà.' SWIM were first formed in 1988 with their freshman record, Sundrive Road, produced by Steely Dan's Gary Katz. After the release of Sundrive Road, the band toured with the likes of Fleetwood Mac and Cher. They disbanded in 1991 due to band members' reluctance to continue touring. In 2020, Hot Press included SWIM on a list of '90s Irish bands that could have been massive.' The entirety of NIGHTSTOCK will be released August 14 at the Kilkenny Arts Festival. The band currently have no plans to play live.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Insider buying of Canadian oil and gas stocks at 'some of highest levels we've seen' in 5 years: BMO
Insider stock buying among executives at Canadian oil and gas companies is near five-year highs, according to a BMO Capital Markets analyst who tallied up $54 million in open-market purchases in the 90 days since March 1. Canadian oil and gas stocks have been a rollercoaster ride for investors over the past three months. U.S. President Donald Trump's trade tariffs created unprecedented uncertainty for the industry, which relies on America as its top buyer of crude. At the same time, fears of a weaker economy due to global trade are weighing on forecasts for demand. BMO analyst Jeremy McCrea says $54 million in purchases over 90 days represents 'some of the highest levels we've seen over the past five years,' while demonstrating confidence for stocks at current prices. BMO says Canadian oil and gas company insiders purchased $12 million and $20 million worth of stock, respectively, in the same periods in 2024 and 2023. 'Although there are many reasons why insiders sell (tax implications, restricted stock units, etc.), there is one reason they buy,' McCrea wrote in a note to clients on Wednesday. 'That in turn should help build investor confidence, especially as it relates to investing alongside management, and ultimately, reassurance that there are no 'skeletons in the closet.'' He found the largest purchases by CEOs were from the top executives at PrairieSky Royalty ( Whitecap Resources ( and Tourmaline Oil ( 'The CEO of PrairieSky made one of his largest purchases within the sector, buying 72,000 shares or $1.68 million worth of stock at an average price of about $23.40 per share,' McCrea wrote. 'With the stock trading slightly below that price today, it grants investors the rare opportunity to come in alongside the CEO." According to BMO, Tourmaline CEO Mike Rose recently purchased about $2.21 million worth of his company's stock at an average price of about $63, and has been a regular buyer over the last several years. Whitecap CEO Grant B. Fagerheim reportedly added $1.34 million worth of his company's stock in the last week, following the close of the company's merger with Veren. 'This would also be one of the larger quarterly purchases made by Grant Fagerheim in his role as CEO of Whitecap,' McCrea wrote. Fagerheim has been CEO since 2009. In terms of total buying from insiders, BMO says Obsidian Energy ( ($16.8 million), Peyto Exploration & Development ( ($10.1 million), and Strathcona Resources ( ($7.2 million) were the top companies included in its analysis. Jeff Lagerquist is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow him on Twitter @jefflagerquist. Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
