Back 1990, The Pixies were an extremely hot commodity. One of their biggest fans was Eddie Vedder, who considered them a major influence, especially with the way singer Black Francis attacked a song.

When Pearl Jam got a deal with Epic Records, he discovered that Pixies drummer David Lovering was married to a publicist at Epic. Eddie contacted David looking for guidance. What did the band need to do? How should they treat the relationship with their label. What did a brand new band have to do to cut through all the noise?

David gave him this advance: “This is something that you love, playing music. Just enjoy yourself.” That seemed to work, didn’t it?

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All through his professional life, David Bowie was a big fan of Bob Dylan. In fact, there’s a song on Bowie’s 1971 album, Hunky Dory, entitled Song for Bob Dylan. There was also a considerable amount of respect coming back from Dylan, too.

In fact, Bowie says he wrote a lot of things with Zimmy, and at one point, there were plans for the two of them to duet on an unnamed song. “We got it in our heads that we could do a duet, like a thing,” says Bowie. It seemed to be a thing one evening, but the morning after, Dylan ghosted Bowie on the idea and it never happened.

You have to wonder what such a recording would have sounded like? I’ll bet that the lyrics would have been great.

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Before Sweden’s Karl Martin Sandberg changed his name to Max Martin and became a writer and producer of number-one pop hits for Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Pink, the Backstreet Boys, and so many others, he was—wait for it—in a hair metal band.

Martin began in music in 1985 while still in high school when he was the lead singer of a glam metal band called It’s Alive. They eventually released a couple of albums and developed a sound that wasn’t unlike what we hear from Faith No More. Unfortunately, things did not go well for It’s Alive. Outside of a bit of a bump in Sweden, the group went nowhere and the band broke up.

Martin moved into writing and producing under the mentorship of a Swedish producer named Denniz Pop. That worked and within a few years, he was cranking out some of the biggest pop songs the planet has ever seen. Talk about a career change, huh?

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Diabetes is one of the most common afflictions found in the general public and there are many different drugs that can be used to treat it. But how about music? Can it be used to stimulate the body’s production of insulin? Apparently so.

Earlier this year, Swiss researchers published an article in the medical journal The Lancet detailing a procedure where insulin-producing cells are implanted in the body and subjected to different triggers from outside. They tried light, temperature, and electric fields. But there’s also another way to stimulate these capsules: music.

By exposing the patient to certain songs, the capsules do their magic, causing them to release insulin within just minutes. They tried all sorts of different tracks, but the one that’s worked the best—at least so far—is We Will Rock You by Queen.

A clinical application is still not feasible—this is just a proof of concept so far—but the results have been promising.

 

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

This week’s Five Songs list features a new material from a couple of greatest hits material and a pretty freaky Blue Velvet trip.

1. Bush, Nowhere to Go But Everywhere
Loaded: The Greatest Hits 1994-2023 (Round Hill Records)
Recommended If You Like: 90s alt-rock

Bush has been around for 31 years and has sold more than 24 million records and Gavin Rossdale has only now decided to release a greatest hits record. (I’m not counting 1997’s Deconstructed because that was a remix album. Besides, that was still more than a quarter-century ago.) The collection features 21 songs, twenty of which are from the band’s career. The twenty-first is this new track.

 

2. Johnny Marr, Somewhere
Spirit Power (BMG)
RIYL: 80s-inspired jangly goodness

Speaking of greatest hits album, ‘tis the season. Such compilations are usually decent stocking stuffers (for those who still buy physical product) and are good for refreshing the public’s mind about an artist’s career. Johnny Marr would like everyone to know that there’s more to him than those Smiths records back in the 80s. This collection features Johnny’s personal favourites from his career along with two brand-new songs. Fork out for the deluxe double CD set and you’ll also get a bunch of never-heard demos.

 

3. The Dirty Nil, The Light, The Void and Everything
Free Rein to Passions (Dine Alone Records)
RIYL: David Lynch’s Blue Velvet

Everyone in Dundas, Ontario’s Dirty Nil is a big fan of the films of David Lynch. They had this idea for a video treatment based on Blue Velvet for years but never really found a use for it. That is, until it came time to release this single from their most recent album. Note that Wade McNeil of Alexisonfire plays the role of Frank. Creepy, this.

 

4. BoyWithUke, Migraine
Lucid Dreams (Mercury Records)
RIYL: Anonymous singers

Who is BoyWithUke? No idea. We know that he was born in Daegu, South Korea (well, maybe), and may or may not currently reside in Boston. Whatever the case, we’ve never seen his face, even when he performs live. He claims he wants people to focus on the music and not his looks. Vanity? Or personal protection? Whatever the case, fans seem to love the mystery. Lucid Dreams, due October 6, is his fourth album (there are also three EPs if you’re interested in going down this rabbit hole.)

 

5. Fur Trade, Monaco
Dark Celebration (Fantasy Records)
RIYL: When long hiatuses finally come to an end.

Remember Victoria, BC’s Hot Hot Heat? They officially split in 2016 but before then, Steve Bays and Parker Bossley formed Fur Trade and released one record, Don’t Get Heavy, in 2013. One song from the album, Same Temptation, was even nominated for a Prism Prize for its music video. Fur Trade is back with their second album after a break of ten years. Let’s see where this takes them.

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If you’re familiar with Green Day’s 2000 album Warning, you may have wondered what’s going on in a song called Blood, Sex, and Booze. Billie Joe Armstrong was inspired by the old Velvet Underground song Venus in Furs which is about a dominatrix and a little S&M.

To add colour to the Green Day track, drummer Tre Cool thought it would be appropriate if a dominatrix friend of his came down to the studio with her collection of whips and chains. To get the necessary sound effects for the song, one of the band’s roadies was tied to a chair in the middle of the studio and subjected to a whipping, which was recorded.

You can hear what’s happening to the guy just before Billie Joe Armstrong’s guitar kicks in. The things people do for employment…

© 2023 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Five tall glass-beaded panels that celebrate Indigenous teachings and the biodiversity of Hamilton now stand overlooking the city’s waterfront.

“All Our Relations” is a public art display at the foot of James Street North that was designed by local Indigenous artist Angela DeMontigny, along with collaborators Paull Rodrigue Glass, Cobalt Connects, Lafontaine Iron Werks Inc. and EXP.

The five 40-foot panels contain thousands of colourful glass beads and were unveiled on Saturday during a ceremony that also acknowledged Sept. 30 as the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.

DeMontigny’s work was selected by a panel of jurors out of two dozen proposals submitted for the West Harbour art installation.

She calls it her “love letter to Mother Earth and to all of creation” and says she hopes the space will become a place that everyone in Hamilton can enjoy.

“We have a dedicated space here – for not only the urban indigenous community in the city to gather and have ceremonies, but for everyone to gather,” said DeMontigny, who is Cree and Métis.

“This project was about participation and community building, and I’m so thankful to all the volunteers who came and put in some beads.”

It took almost 18 months for Paul Rodrigue Glass to create all 7,710 handmade glass beads for the art piece, and dozens of volunteers helped to install the beads throughout this past summer.

The ceremony began with grey skies but the sun gradually emerged, shining through the multi-coloured beads for the crowd of more than a hundred who turned up for Saturday’s ceremony.

One of the speakers at the ceremony was Norma Jacobs, introduced as being of the Wolf Clan in the Cayuga Nation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and a longhouse faith-keeper and an advisor to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Jacobs said events like Saturday’s ceremony highlight how important it is to listen to each other, especially those whose stories haven’t been heard until very recently.

“I was thinking this morning as I sat here, about … the purpose for this gathering — how happy those residential school survivors must be, and those ones who didn’t come home and how happy they must be. They’re mingling amongst the people here, their spirit, and rejoicing because they have that recognition finally how they suffered.”

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

More than 5,000 people flooded downtown Winnipeg Saturday as a sea of orange marched from The Forks to Canada Life Centre to mark the third-annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The federal statutory holiday acknowledges the immediate and generational impact of residential schools, but is not yet recognized as a stat holiday in Manitoba.

Speaking at the Oodena Celebration Circle at The Forks Saturday morning, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Cathy Merrick compelled the crowd to understand and reflect upon the events of the past.

“We talk about truth and reconciliation. It’s been talked about. It’s time to implement and we need to understand what it means,” she said. “And today the government does not understand what reconciliation means to our people.”

Later at Canada Life Centre Pine Creek First Nation Chief Derek Nepinak shared what the day meant to him.

“I’m here today because my mom survived the beatings when she spoke her language at the school. I’m here today because my mom survived the abuse that she experienced in the school, and her mom, and her grandpa, all the way back to the early 1900s,” he told the crowd.

Manitoba NDP leader Wab Kinew addressed the arena crowd, opening with greetings in six Indigenous languages.

“Every time you dance at a powwow, every time you sing, every time you speak your language, you prove that the architects of the residential school era failed in their quest to destroy our cultures,” he said, which was met with roaring applause.

During his remarks at the gathering, Southern Chiefs Organization Grand Chief Jerry Daniels endorsed Wab Kinew to be the next premier, calling the Fort Rouge candidate part of “Team Manitoba.”

Elsewhere, Progressive Conservative party leader Heather Stefanson marked the day at Gambler First Nation in western Manitoba, where she committed to improving services and economic partnerships.

Merrick said she wants to see the day become a statutory holiday in Manitoba, which Kinew committed to if his party is elected the government after the Oct. 3 provincial election.

“A stat holiday would be another step toward reconciliation,” he said.

Contrasting the march and boisterous speeches downtown, a sacred fire burned at Assiniboine Park while groups wearing orange shirts sat quietly to reflect.

“We have rallies, we have marches, we have fires, we meet in the spaces that are sacred. But the fire is the one thing that keeps all people together,” said firekeeper Cree Crowchild.

“The sacred fire allows us to have people come here to be humble and to have humility.”

— with files from the Canadian Press, Katherine Dornian and Arsalan Saeed

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The Western Mustang football team fought their way to a 21-10 road victory over the Windsor Lancers on Saturday afternoon to improve to a perfect 6-0 on the season.

Going into their game the Mustangs and the Lancers accounted for two of the top defences in the Ontario Universities Athletics Association (OUA) and that was on full display all day at Alumni Stadium in Windsor, Ont.

Exactly one offensive touchdown was scored in the game and it didn’t happen until almost halfway through the fourth quarter when Western quarterback Evan Hillock found Seth Robertson for a 30-yard completion and Robertson’s OUA-leading eighth TD of the season.

The touchdown put the Mustangs ahead 15-10. Western only added to their lead from there.

The first half of the game featured a field goal by each team, a conceded safety by Windsor and a 75-yard punt return touchdown by Javonni Cunnigham of the Lancers.

Outside of that there was a whole lot of bending without breaking on the defensive side of the ball.

Mustang kicker Brian Garrity booted four field goals on the afternoon.

Garrity hit from 48 yards twice and from 37 and 18 yards as well. His only miss was strking the right upright on Western’s opening drive of the game.

Hillock finished 21-for-28 on the day and threw for 248 yards.

The third-year pivot now has 16 touchdown passes and just one interception on the season.

Hillock’s ability to get the ball out of his hands quickly was instrumental in avoiding the Lancers pass rush which led the OUA in sacks this year. Hillock was sacked twice on the day.

Mustang running back Keon Edwards rushed for 80 yards on 11 carries

Keanu Yazbeck gained 24 yards on eight rushes.

Western’s Jackson Findlay had a huge statistical day on defence as he intercepted Windsor quarterback Danny Skelton twice and sacked him once.

The Mustangs now enter their bye week and will host U of T on Oct. 14 at Western Alumni Stadium.

Western is the only 6-0 team in the OUA. The only other undefeated team is the Laurier Golden Hawks at 5-0 who had their bye week this week.

Laurier is quarterbacked by Londoner Taylor Elgersma.

The Mustangs and Golden Hawks will meet on the final week of the regular season.

 

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

TORONTO – The playoff waiting game continued for the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon after they dropped a 7-5 decision to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Taylor Walls hit a two-run single off Jordan Hicks in the 10th inning to silence the sellout crowd of 42,097 at Rogers Centre. Tampa Bay added another run on Junior Caminero’s infield single.

Chris Devenski (6-4) gave up an RBI double to Bo Bichette in the bottom half of the inning before getting Kevin Kiermaier on a groundout to end it.

The loss kept Toronto’s magic number at one and could make for a nervous regular-season finale on Sunday.

The Blue Jays (89-72) are still a good bet to reach the post-season.

Toronto can secure a spot later Saturday if the Texas Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners.

The Blue Jays will get another win-and-you’re-in opportunity against the Rays in the regular-season finale and other results Sunday could also fall Toronto’s way.

But the anxiety will only rise from here as Toronto looks to make its third wild-card appearance in the last four years.

Harold Ramirez homered for the Rays (98-63), who outhit Toronto 14-7.

Daulton Varsho homered and drove in three runs for the Blue Jays. Starter Hyun Jin Ryu lasted only three innings.

If the Blue Jays make the post-season, they would open the best-of-three series Tuesday at Minnesota or Tampa Bay.

The Rays, meanwhile, are in playoff tune-up mode after securing the first of three American League wild-card spots earlier in the week.

Tampa Bay gave opener Shawn Armstrong the start and six relievers made appearances on a bullpen day.

Chances are still good these teams will meet next week at Tropicana Field. The Rangers, Mariners and Houston Astros were still in the mix for AL playoff spots entering play later Saturday.

The East Division champion Baltimore Orioles have secured the top seed in the AL and the Central champion Minnesota Twins will be seeded third.

Toronto’s Kevin Gausman will likely start Sunday’s series finale.

The Rays struck first on Saturday under blue skies and bright sunshine.

Randy Arozarena just missed a home run with a one-out double in the first inning off Ryu. Isaac Paredes drove in Arozarena to open the scoring.

Ryu wasn’t particularly sharp over his three-inning appearance but he managed to avoid giving up a big frame.

Tampa Bay added another run in the third when Josh Lowe doubled to bring home Ramirez.

Varsho answered in the bottom half with a no-doubt solo shot. His 20th homer of the season landed in the 200 level just inside the right-field foul screen.

He drove in two more runs in Toronto’s three-run fourth inning.

Trevor Richards gave up a two-run homer to Ramirez in the fifth that tied the game.

The Rays threatened in the sixth with runners on the corners but Erik Swanson got Arozarena to hit into a double-play.

Yimi Garcia worked a clean seventh inning for Toronto. Jordan Romano of Markham, Ont., — normally used in a closing role — gave up a two-out double in the eighth before getting Walls on a flyout.

Hicks (3-9) also pitched the ninth inning.

Toronto’s George Springer hit a two-out double in the ninth but was stranded when Cavan Biggio lined out.

The Blue Jays have been swept in the wild-card round in two of the last three years. Toronto didn’t make the playoffs in 2021.

The Blue Jays’ last playoff victory came in 2016 when they reached the American League Championship Series for a second straight year.

Toronto won World Series titles in 1992 and 1993.

DIVISION RIVALS

The Blue Jays will get a chance to win a season series over the Rays for the first time since 2017 with a victory on Sunday.

The teams have split their 12 head-to-head meetings so far. The Blue Jays had a 10-9 mark against the Rays six years ago.

COMING UP

The Rays have yet to confirm their starter for Sunday afternoon.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 30, 2023.

Follow @GregoryStrongCP on X.

© 2023 The Canadian Press