Michael Hollett

Live review: Neil Young gets star studded birthday celebration show worthy of the man himself » NEXT Magazine Canada’s music stars deliver spectacular show that highlights all sides of Young’s sound

Neil Young 80th birthday celebration @masseyhall.bsky.social saw some of Canada’s best musicians showcase all sides of their hero’s songbook. Check out my 5-N @nextmagazine here: nextmag.ca/live-review-...

Neil Young 80th Birthday celebration @masseyhall.bsky.social is killing it. Great pacing, great song selection, great artists. great show. @nextmagazine.bsky.social review coming soon.

Canadian Progressives should learn from Mamdani victory that people are ready for bold ideas. Time to start running to win rather than not to lose. Reaching for the mushy middle mobilizes no one. Time for real change.

So King Donald ordered @markcarneyforpm.bsky.social to spend more on the military — and he did, at the expense of many programs Canadians cherish. So much for Elbows Up. Well, our banker PM wont have to issue another apology to the American King for this compliant budget. Off your knees Mark.

Get ready to see another Canadian tradition as @mark-carney.bsky.social does classic Liberal move as he releases an austerity budget as Liberals, as always, will have campaigned Left and govern Right. Why do we fall for this scam every election as Liberals play Progressives for suckers yet again.

Somebody’s got to lose but it sure was a fun ride!

Watching even some progressives warming up to disastrous Premier @fordnation.bsky.social for his “tough guy” stance with King DT should remind the Left to stop playing it safe. People like passion, commitment and feistiness. No more tip toeing and soft pedaling. Passionate Progressive power please.

Ethan Hawke and Richard Linklater tell NEXT what drew them to songwriter’s tragic tale » NEXT Magazine Hawke gives brilliant performance as doomed lyricist Lorenz Hart in “Blue Moon”

Had a cool conversation with Ethan Hawke, Richard Linklater and Bobby Cannavale about their new film "Blue Moon" where Hawke plays doomed songwriter Lorenz Hart. Check out my @nextmagazine.bsky.social here: nextmag.ca/ethan-hawke-...

King Donald’s recent use of tariffs against Canada and Ontario just underlines US as unreliable trading partner and should hasten our process of building new trading relationships. We get the message loud and clear. Buh bye.

Review: David Byrne's joyful extravaganza is one of best concerts of the year » NEXT Magazine Inventive production, commitment to spreading happiness, fill Massey with good vibes

Loved David Byrne @masseyhall.bsky.social. A night of joy and invention. My 5-N review from @nextmagazine.bsky.social nextmag.ca/review-david...

Jeremy Allen White tells NEXT he’s excited to show Bruce Springsteen’s creative process » NEXT Magazine Asbury Park’s Stone Pony proves perfect setting to discuss ‘Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere’

Had a great chat with Jeremy Allen White about his new film "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere" for @nextmagazine.bsky.social in the perfect setting, The Stone Pony club in Asbury Park, NJ. Also spoke with writer/director Scoot Cooper. Check out the story here: nextmag.ca/jeremy-allen...

@nextmagazine review coming but quick hit, David Byrne at @masseyhall.bsky.social is superb. A celebration of joy. Two shows left. Go. 5-Ns of course.

Starting to listen to @northbymichael.bsky.social band applications, great part of job since 1995. Applications up 100 per cent. Remembering reaching into stacks of mail bags to fish out tapes in 90s. Hearing local band Len’s “Steal My Sunshine” for first time. Thought, promising. Now ubiquitous.

So impressed with my Billboard Canada colleagues and their spectacular Women In Music celebration Wednesday night at Rebel. Superb broadcast level production, massive positive vibe, inspiring night for all who attended. So much talent in this country.

Just did sit down interview with @jeremyallenwhitebr.bsky.social and director Scott Cooper about their excellent new film “Deliver Me From Nowhere”. Cool to do it at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, The Boss’s favourite. @nextmagazine.bsky.social feature coming soon.

Whoops thanks

Greetings from Asbury Park — working on something big.

First-time director Scarlett Johansson says she loves life on the set » NEXT Magazine Making ‘Eleanor the Great’ helps blockbuster actor better understand her own history

Really enjoyed speaking wth Scarlett Johansson about her directorial debut helming the excellent new film "Eleanor the Great", Check out my @nextmagazine.bsky.social feature here. nextmag.ca/first-time-d...

Review: Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest one of the year’s best films » NEXT Magazine ‘One Battle After Another’ features great performances and fast pacing despite massive runtime

Absolutely loved Paul Thomas Anderson's latest, "One Battle After Another". Superb filmmaking that justifies its massive run time of almost three hours. My 5-N @nextmagazine.bsky.social review here: nextmag.ca/review-phill...

They're turning people away at packed Toronto launch event for @avilewis.ca for NDP leader campaign tonight at Tranzac club. Very encouraging. I've known and respected Avi for decades and he would make an excellent prime minister. An accomplished communicator with exciting ideas, how's his French?

Ashamed to see my country follow Trump and America down road of authoritarianism by banning Kneecap. How about REALLY banning weapons sales to Israel and letting free speech thrive in Canada. Let Kneecap speak.

Review: Yves Jarvis picks up Polaris Prize at show featuring great talent, deadly pacing » NEXT Magazine Annual awards show and concert provides stellar showcase of Canadian musical talent, regardless of sales

Yves Jarvis picked up top prize @polarismusicprize Tuesday night at @masseyhall in a show with great music and terrible pacing despite a great host @haviahmighty. As Polaris reaches out to become a public celebration, it must tighten up the pacing. My 4-N review here: nextmag.ca/review-yves-...

Time to cancel Disney+. Dark days in America. This is what fascism looks like.

Can’t wait to finish the so-far-disappointing new series The Paper so I can cancel atrocious Slack-TV. So many ads may as well be broadcast. Horrible service.

Review: Lady Gaga delivers flame and fun-filled, dance-powered musical mayhem » NEXT Magazine Popstar unleashes massive, show-stopping spectacle in love-in with her fans

Lady Gaga's's first of three nights @scotiabank-arena.bsky.social was a flame and fun-filled dance party packed with jaw-dropping spectacle. Check out my 4-N @nextmagazine.bsky.social review here: nextmag.ca/review-lady-...

Review: Latest ‘Spinal Tap’ gets bogged down by celebrity cameos » NEXT Magazine “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues” more a six than an 11

Wanted to love the new Spinal Tap, I could watch Christopher Guest as Nigel Tufnel endlessly but sequel "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues" relies too much on stunt-casting cameos and not enough Tap idiocy. My 3-N @nextmagazine.bsky.social review nextmag.ca/review-lates...

Taking a one night break from TIFFing for first of three nights of Lady Gaga — though she’s pretty cinematic herself. Review tomorrow @nextmagazine.bsky.social

As John Tory contemplates rising from the political dead a reminder he took $100k a year from Rogers while mayor yet he couldn’t get WiFi on subway. Olivia Chow not on payroll of said company got Rogers and others to supply subway six weeks after election. And where is Smart Track? Chow gets it done

Conflicted @tiffnet.bsky.social, want to see more stuff, interview more people but also am eager to write up what I already have. Best problem. Will do both of course.

TIFF reviews: ‘Nirvana the Band the Show the Movie’ bound to be a festival hit » NEXT Magazine Hilarious rockumentary captures hopeless-dreamer energy perfectly

@nextmagazine.bsky.social’s first @tiffnet.bsky.social rave review, 5-Ns for hilarious faux rockumentary “Nirvana the Band the Show the Movie” from “ Blackberry” writer director Matt Johnson and co-writer/actor Jay McCarrol. My review here. nextmag.ca/tiff-reviews...