| 2016-08-16 | The Tragically Hip Feel the Canadian Love at Last of 3 Toronto Concerts | “It’s a tough world; it’s a tough gig,” The Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie said as the rock band’s final show of three at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre wound down with “Little Bones.” But the 52-year-old (who has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer) kept the night cheerful, raucous, quirky and intense.
The crowd of 20,000 - a complete sell-out, even behind the stage with standing-room-only sections - soaked up every second of the 26-song set, respectfully not filming the entire thing, as is so commonplace these days. Flashes were quick. People wanted to experience this special and emotional “night in Toronto,” not view it from behind a tiny screen.
The Hip - Downie, guitarists Rob Baker and Paul Langlois; bassist Gord Sinclair; and drummer Johnny Fay -- have a special relationship with Toronto. Mayor John Tory declared Wednesday "The Tragically Hip Day" to coincide with their first date at the Air Canada Centre on this Man Machine Poem Tour (named after their new album), expected to be their last.
Downie has called the city home almost half his life and Fay lives here too, but the band (which formed in Kingston, Ontario, in 1984) built its enormous following in Toronto from the ground up: first in clubs like Larry’s Hideaway and the Horseshoe, on to the bigger Diamond and then three nights at the Concert Hall. One month later, they played three sold-out shows at the 7,000-capacity Ontario Place Forum in ’91 and then eventually on to the legendary Maple Leaf Gardens arena in ’95.
They were the first band to ever play the Air Canada Centre when it opened in 1999, and this night marked the 13th time in total, including a 2004 stop that was recorded live for a DVD called That Night in Toronto -- a title taken from the 1998 song “Bobcaygeon.” Two huge visuals at both entrances to the venue announced “Those Nights in Toronto” and new T-shirts were emblazoned with “That Night in Toronto.”
A video message booth was also set up outside the ACC in order for fans to send well-wishes to Downie or tell personal stories about their connection to the band.
It is hard to explain to people outside the country the absolute love Canada has for The Hip. Their music is an integral part of Canadian culture. Their fans are also, if we may stereotype, quintessentially Canadian, like they just stepped out of a beer commercial. They party-hearty, hoot, holler, high-five, drape arms around each other, hoist beer cups in the air, and sing along to every wonderfully poetic lyric (“I’ll drop a caribou” from 1991’s “Long Time Running” refers to making a 25-cent phone call because of the design on the back); any Canadian reference from lake community Bobcaygeon to the mystery surrounding Toronto Maple Leafs hockey great Bill Barilko gets double-whoops.
The set list for the last ACC show was a non-sequential retrospective that skipped all five albums from the 2000s but kept songs together from each album selection, five in the main set and two in the encores.
They started with four songs from 1989’s Up to Here to kick off the set (including show opener “Blow at High Dough” and follow-up “New Orleans Is Sinking”) then four apiece from their new album, Man Machine Poem, 2012’s Now for Plan A and 1996’s Trouble at the Henhouse, and finally five from 1991’s Road Apples. The first encore consisted of three songs from 1998’s Phantom Power, then a second encore with a pair of songs from 1994’s Day for Night, closing with “Grace, Too.” (See the full set list below.)
There were two brief breaks, both after eight songs, plus another, of course, before the encore, allowing Downie to change into three different colorful metallic leather suits designed by Canadian Izzy Camilleri (David Bowie, Jennifer Lopez) and custom hats by Toronto milliner Karyn Gingras. The singer often wears suits, vests and hats onstage, but these outfits were nothing short of spectacular -- fun and bedazzling, especially against his black-clad bandmates.
Set List for night three at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre:
"Blow at High Dough"
"New Orleans Is Sinking"
"Opiated"
"Boots or Hearts"
"Machine"
"What Blue"
"Ocean Next"
"In a World Possessed by the Human Mind"
Break
"Streets Ahead"
"We Want to Be It"
"Man Machine Poem"
"At Transformation"
"Gift Shop"
"Flamenco"
"Springtime in Vienna"
"Ahead by a Century"
Break
"The Last of the Unplucked Gems"
"Three Pistols"
"Twist My Arm"
"Long Time Running"
"Little Bones"
Encore
"Escape Is At Hand for the Travellin' Man"
"Poets"
"Bobcaygeon"
Encore 2
"Daredevil"
"Grace, Too"
Source: BillBoard |
| 2016-08-16 | French Montana to Launch Las Vegas Residency With TAO Group | French Montana is gearing up for an exclusive Las Vegas residency with the TAO Group this fall.
The Epic Records rapper will perform hits past and present at TAO, LAVO and Marquee. His residency is scheduled to begin Sept. 17 at Marquee Nightclub with later dates yet to be announced.
The hip-hop artist will join the likes of Britney Spears, Rod Stewart and Jennifer Lopez, who occupy the strip with their fan-favorite hits. Montana holds six Hot 100 hits, with features on songs by Drake, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Jeremih, Kodak Black and Rick Ross.
The rapper is expected to drop his upcoming second studio album MC4 this week. The album is a continuation of Montana’s Mac & Cheese series. Tracks from the upcoming sophomore album will be included in Montana’s set during his residency with TAO Group.
Source: BillBoard |
| 2010-07-09 | Lopez axes controversial Cyprus show | 
Jennifer Lopez has withdrawn from a gig in Cyprus after critics slammed her for agreeing to the show on the 36th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of the European island.
The singer was billed to perform at the opening of new hotel complex Cratos Premium in the Turkish Cypriot part of the popular tourist destination on 20 July.
But she's scrapped the show after learning it coincides with a day islanders would rather forget, insisting she would never have agreed to the concert in the first place if she knew about the history and relevance of the date.
A representative tells TMZ.com, "After a full review of the relevant circumstances in Cyprus, it was the decision of management to withdraw from the appearance. This was a team decision that reflects our sensitivity to the political realities of the region."
Previously, officials at the Cyprus Action Network of America started a campaign calling on Lopez to scrap the gig as it falls on the anniversary of the date that Turkish troops invaded the Greek-owned island in 1974.
Source: Ananova |
| 2008-10-08 | J-Lo considers Scientology school | Jennifer Lopez may have only given birth to her twins earlier this year but it seems the yummy mummy is already thinking about their schooling.
The singer says she's considering sending the tots to a Scientology school.
Yes, it's the same religion that other celebs such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta follow.
Even though J-Lo admitted she doesn't follow the religion herself she says she wouldn't mind her children being taught some of its principles.
Speaking to The Daily Beast, she said: "I wouldn't mind. Not at all. Because I know that the technologies that they have are very helpful... It's all about communication."
J-Lo says it's not a fad she's going through and her father has followed the religion for 20 years.
She added: "I do know so many great people who do it, who choose it as a lifestyle and really follow it and it is their religion," she said. "I just wish that people wouldn't judge it without knowing what it is."
Meanwhile, the star has admitted for the first time that she has suffered from a nervous breakdown.
She revealed she reached breaking point during filming of the 2002 thriller Enough, in which she played a battered wife.
"There was a time when I was very overworked and I was doing music and movies and so many things. I was suffering from a lack of sleep. And I did have a kind of nervous breakdown.
I froze up on set. Well, not on a set, but in my trailer. I was like - I don't want to move, I don't want to talk, I don't want to do anything. It was on that movie, Enough. Yeah, I did. I had a nervous breakdown."
Source: Ananova |
| 2008-03-03 | J-Lo names twins | Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony have named their newborn twins.
According to People magazine the babies are called Max and Emme.
The twins were born on February 22 at a Long Island hospital.
The couple married in 2004.
Source: Ananova |
| 2008-01-09 | J-Lo under "pressure" to have baby | Jennifer Lopez says she felt under "massive pressure" from her family to have a baby.
Jennifer, who is reportedly expecting twins - told Cosmopolitan magazine that she has been trying for three years to conceive with husband Marc Anthony.
J-Lo says her mum was very keen on adding to their family.
She said: "When Marc and I first got married, my mother rang me every day asking if there was any news. I come from a Latino family where it's all about children. I'm really happy."
Source: Ananova |
| 2007-12-13 | J-Lo expecting twins? | Jennifer Lopez has fuelled rumours she is expecting twins by buying matching baby suits.
The singer has also left a baby list at an LA shop Petit Tresor.
Two £237 cashmere baby suits are on the list and twin pushchairs.
She has reportedly ordered £19,500 nurseries for each of her three US homes before the spring birth.
Lopez is married to singer Marc Anthony.
Source: Ananova |
| 2007-10-09 | J-Lo defends Britney | Jennifer Lopez has defended Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan by blaming their problems on excessive media attention.
J-Lo says the stars have suffered because they have struggled to cope with their fame.
According to Digitalspy she said: "People wonder why Britney or Lindsay or Paris is acting crazy, but they don't know what it means not to be able to walk outside your house.
"'Oh, but she has millions!' they say, but that doesn't help when you can't...feel good. I feel so bad when I see people going through the beginnings of it. Because it's not fun. You have to learn to navigate it because if you don't, it will eat you up.
"It's a lot of pressure. And you gotta keep grounded and find a way to deal with it and hopefully have love in your life."
The singer revealed she avoid places where she knows the paparazzi will be so she can try to keep her relationship with husband Marc Anthony private.
Source: Intermedia.ru |
| 2005-04-13 | J-Lo loves to clean | Jennifer Lopez has revealed that she loves cleaning her house.
The star admits that whenever she has spare time she likes nothing more than to carry out domestic chores.
She said: "I love to clean up. I can't have a room unclean."
She also says she enjoys cooking for her husband Marc Antony reports Contactmusic.com.
She said: "I made pork chops last night. My favourite food is fried chicken cutlets, and I make those too."
Source: Ananova |
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