Latest news with #JeffTweedy
CBC
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
How Regina musician Andy Shauf developed such a devout fan base
Social Sharing Over the past decade, Andy Shauf has emerged as one of Canada's most celebrated singer-songwriters. The Saskatchewan musician has earned multiple Juno Award nominations, and endorsements from the likes of Barack Obama and Wilco's Jeff Tweedy. As Shauf gets set to release the second album from his band Foxwarren, journalist and podcaster Vish Khanna joins host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to explain how this lowkey musician has developed a fervent fanbase, and how this new record pushes his artistry into new territory. We've included some highlights below, edited for length and clarity. For the full discussion, listen and follow Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud on your favourite podcast player. WATCH | Today's episode on YouTube (this segment begins at 16:22): Elamin: When we think about the singer-songwriter realm, it's a crowded field. It's a crowded field just generally in music right now. What do you think sets Andy Shauf apart from everybody else? Vish: I think there's a few things going on with Andy. First of all, he creates these very orchestral pop soundtracks for his songs. He plays virtually every instrument himself. He's exacting — by his own admission, a bit of a control freak in the studio — and so he likes to do everything himself where possible. And then the songs themselves, or the albums I should say, often have a conceptual framework. The songs are interconnected. They are narrative-based. I think Andy's a really wonderful storyteller. He attacks every album as though it's like a film or a book, and the songs end up feeling like scenes or chapters. I think his dedication to his craft and wanting to be better, and exhibit this ambition, but actually pull it off — I think those are things that are real hallmarks, and some of the reasons why he stands out. Elamin: Yeah, it's one thing for a songwriter to aim to do that. It's another for a songswriter to actually accomplish it…. His album The Party, that's the album that landed on the Polaris Music Prize short list. That song alone generated more than 35 million plays for Andy on Spotify. It's kind of this slow, patient song that sort of feels like a lot of the antithesis of what pop music is right now. Vish, when you think about this song and think about Andy's career, how do you think he's managed to thrive in an environment that is so TikTok-driven, in a way? Vish: I mean, he's authentic, and I think people really pick up on that. He's not social media-shy, necessarily; he's not a Luddite. But I think he often lets the work speak for itself. And I think his fan base is really engaged with him. There's something about Andy. He's very charming. He's very self-effacing. As I said earlier, his storytelling is so riveting that you feel compelled to check out everything he's doing, and also look for little clues and try to figure out, what's he up to?... I think he's very confident, but he's also very unassuming. He's very self-critical. You want to root for him as a fan. Like, he seems very human. I mean, he does do fun things. He handed over the keys to his Instagram to somebody in his orbit, recently…. It's not him. And they're kind of silly. I can't even explain them. They're abstract, and silly and meta…. They're often signed like, "not Andy." You know what I mean? So he's on socials, but I think really the work is what's resonating with people, which is refreshing. It's not about gimmickry. He's just really great at what he does, and people respond to that. Elamin: First of all, the only other fan base that I know of who follows an artist's work and they listen to the music and go, "What are they up to? They're up to something" — that's Taylor Swift, buddy. That's the relationship that you're describing, which is to say, like, living in the work, but maybe in a slightly different kind of dimension. Vish: Well, there's also Beyoncé, the Beyhive, you know? And I will tell you, I engage with Andy's work in public, and I often hear about it from people. More than almost any guest on my own podcast, when Andy's on, I hear — good or bad. People want to tell me what they think. And I think that is also a marker of people's real fanaticism, but also just they love him. They actually love him, and they don't want to see him wronged.
Chicago Tribune
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
What to do in Chicago: Jeff Tweedy in concert, Mike Epps comedy tour and skating at Thalia Hall
Thalia Hall Skate Night: Get your skates on, as Thalia Hall transforms into a roller rink. Hosted by 'Smooth Goddess' Myesha McCaskill, the night promises great grooves and a wide-open wood floor. 6-10 p.m. April 20 at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St.; tickets $25 (ages 12+) at Jeff Tweedy: You can't live in this city and not know who Jeff Tweedy is. But just in case, the founding member of both Wilco and Uncle Tupelo, and producer, author and longtime Chicago fixture will perform his annual benefit shows this weekend. If you'd prefer to see him play with Wilco, you'll have to wait until Aug. 10 at the Salt Shed; those tickets go on sale this weekend, too. 7:30 p.m. April 18-19 at The Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave.; tickets $100 at Caleb Hearon: The comedian and actor who launched his career at the iO Theater will perform a live installment of his 'So True' podcast. Last year, Variety reported that Lilly Wachowski would direct 'Trash Mountain,' a movie starring and co-written by Hearon about a young, gay Chicago man returning home to Missouri following his father's death. Can't make it this weekend? Hearon will be back at The Hideout in June. 7 p.m. April 18 at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.; tickets at We Them One's Comedy Tour: Check out this lineup: Comedian and actor Mike Epps hosts a night of stand-up featuring Kountry Wayne, Lil Duval, Tony Roberts, Karlous Miller, HaHa Davis and Bubba Dubb. 8 p.m. April 19 at Wintrust Arena, 200 E. Cermak Road; tickets from $65.50 at 'Alton Brown Live — Last Bite': Get ready to dig into Alton Brown's 'culinary variety show.' The TV personality, cookbook author and science geek promises cooking hacks and food songs during what's been billed his 'Farewell Tour — Maybe?' 3 p.m. April 19 at CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St.; tickets from $26.50 at Kelli O'Hara: The Tony Award-winning actress will perform American Songbook classics and Broadway faves. Expect personal stories as well as highlights from the musical productions in which the soprano has appeared. 7:30 p.m. April 18 and 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. April 19 at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.; tickets from $89 at Kassa Overall: Need an endorsement? Consider what fellow jazz drummer Terri Lyne Carrington wrote of Kassa Overall in the New York Times: 'Kassa is a pre-eminent style bender and blender, successfully juxtaposing genres through his production expertise and use of melodic and harmonic forms that deftly integrate the new with the old.' Go see for yourself. 8 p.m. April 18 at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston; tickets $16-$28 at David M. Rubenstein and Walter Isaacson: As the current occupant of the White House attempts to remake the executive branch, the Chicago Humanities Festival hosts a discussion between best-selling authors David M. Rubenstein and Walter Isaacson on the American presidency. Given the deep experience both guests have in chronicling the lives of leaders, it should be an incisive conversation. 7 p.m. April 21 at Francis W. Parker School, 330 W. Webster Ave. (entrance at 2233 N. Clark St.); tickets $20-$55 at 'Making New Gods': Sci-fi and fantasy readers take note — N.K. Jemisin, Nnedi Okorafor, Nghi Vo and Matthew Kirby will chat about religion and the role of the spiritual in world-building. The panel discussion kicks off the American Writers Museum's new exhibit, 'American Prophets: Writers, Religion and Culture.' 5:15 p.m. April 22 at Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St.; more details on the free event at Henhouse Prowlers: The four members of the Henhouse Prowlers are not just about concerts, they're about evangelizing for bluegrass music across the globe; their nonprofit is called the Bluegrass Ambassadors. They're celebrating an album release show at the Old Town School of Folk Music for 'Unravel,' out April 18. 8 p.m. April 19 in Maurer Hall at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave.; tickets $35 at 773.728.6000 and
