Browsing Tag

award shows

Behind The Band: Familiar Strangers

After studying at different Canadian universities, Ryan Peters, Josh Gladstone and Daniel Draper are reuniting to perform old favourites at an acoustic show. To call Sunday night a reunion would be an understatement because some of their high school friends haven’t seen each other in over four years. The low-key concert (promoted through a Facebook event) will offer a chance for Familiar Strangers’ fans to reconnect over drinks at an uptown bar in Toronto.

In honour of #FlashbackFriday, here are some exclusive insights about Familiar Strangers’ music and the band’s aspirations. Consider this a commercial-free digital spin-off of E! True Hollywood Story and enjoy.

Ryan (piano and vocals) plans to become a teacher, so he’s studying education at U of T and Daniel (guitar) is travelling for eight months before moving to Calgary for a consulting job. Meanwhile, Josh (guitar, cello, recorder and oboe) is a Project Specialist in Bell’s rotational program for new graduates.

Ryan Peters (2011)

Ryan Peters (2011)

Daniel Draper (2011)

Daniel Draper (2011)

Daniel Draper & Josh Gladstone (2006)

Daniel Draper & Josh Gladstone (2006)

Growing up, they enjoyed playing music at summer camp. “We wrote a couple Familiar Strangers songs by the campfire,” explains Josh. Likewise, Daniel’s counsellors influenced his taste in music and they introduced him to some of the tracks he plays on repeat today.

In high school, they liked listening to Billy Joel, Dave Matthews Band and John Mayer. Back in the day, Daniel sent Ryan music via MSN Messenger, but now that’s merely something they’re nostalgic about. Ryan mainly listens to Top 40 and show tunes, “as nerdy as that makes me.” Josh discovers new music through  streaming apps like 8tracks, as well as satellite radio. If you subscribe to SiriusXM, Josh recommends listening to The Pulse and The Blend. He’s also a huge fan of Mumford and Sons. “Opening for Mumford and Sons in front of a big crowd at the Molson Amphitheatre is the dream.”

If their dreams come true, then Familiar Strangers’ music will be featured on primetime TV. Ryan believes their “music would take any HBO show to the next level.” If a Game of Thrones producer includes their music in an upcoming episode, “it would be the greatest thing ever,” adds Josh.

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January 17, 2014 by

Stephen Colbert’s 3 Favourite Things

There is “so much [comedic] talent out there and not enough time to show it all,” Sandra Bullock astutely said during the People’s Choice Awards. The award-winning star of The Heat and Gravity took home four trophies on Wednesday night, while I sat at home wishing I had her brown wavy locks.

Kat Dennings, my other favourite brunette Hollywood star, dazzled in her role as co-host. When she quoted fans’ tweets and introduced which song Beth Behrs would sing next, she quickly made that segment a highlight of the 40th People’s Choice Awards. I promised my Facebook friends that I won’t blog more about the dance move Miley popularized last year, so let’s just say Beth’s rendition of Wrecking Ball was epic. Matt LeBlanc joked about singing a song too, but claimed that he couldn’t due to time constraints. The former Friends star then announced that The Big Bang Theory (the show with a Barenaked Ladies theme song) was named Favourite Network TV Comedy.

Kaley Cuoco AKA television’s sweetest newlywed accepted the award for Favourite Comedic TV Actress. She started the year with a bang by wearing a pink Vera Wang dress to her wedding, which she decorated with an upside-down cake hanging from a chandelier. Watching her in the opening sequence on the set of 2 Broke Girls was amusing. Remember, stars are just like us. They’re busy people who care about loyalty programs at Jamba Juice.

Whereas Justin Timberlake spoke about his team in the context of how they’re obligated to deal with his neuroses, Jennifer Hudson brought her sister into the spotlight to emphasize the importance of teamwork and family. “My mother always taught us that without family, you have nothing,” she said. Cover girl material right there. Sponsorship-related pun intended. 

Photo: Billboard

Photo: Billboard

Surprisingly, last night marked the first time Britney Spears won her a People’s Choice Award. Britney celebrated her prize and comeback in a dress that screamed Las Vegas style and reminded me how much I want to return to the west coast.

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January 9, 2014 by

Less Than Impressed: Award Shows

Sometime after the People’s Choice broadcast and my simultaneous live tweeting session ended, I realized watching the awards show was a waste of time. I hadn’t voted in any of the categories this year. In fact, I waited until the day of to even look at the nominees list. All I knew was that this was going to be a buzz worthy televised event, so I had better watch to stay in the know.

After the credits rolled, however, my response could be summarized as indifference.

There’s usually one winner at each award show, typically a young Hollywood star, who mentions how they’d watched the show growing up and could then only dream about attending, let alone winning and now voila, here they are; it’s so incredible, they boast. I’ve let my dreams of becoming famous on the silver screen subside, with little to no expectations of ever performing or working in a role constituting its own category amongst the likes of Best Performing Actress. Entertainment PR professionals are recognized at less glamorous events, with ironically less publicity.

If it weren’t for the social component of watching the Golden Globes with a group of film-obsessed writers and fans, I wouldn’t have been much more entertained than I was the Wednesday night prior.

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January 30, 2012 by

Toddler Drops The King’s Speech Oscar

The trouble with Oscar statues is that they aren’t packaged the same way Mattel and Hot Wheels toys are – there is no explicit age warning.

As seen in the clip, 15-month-old Lara Egan, the daughter of The King’s Speech’s co-producer, Simon Egan, lost her grip of her father’s Oscar at a celebration on Feb 28, the day after the highly anticipated awards ceremony.

“Like everyone else I was celebrating off in one corner of the garden with some friends when I saw my daughter looking very cute with the Oscar having her picture taken,” Simon recalls.

Immediately after the award fell out of her hands, Simon heard it hit the concrete.

Shortly after contacting the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Academy replaced Simon’s damaged Oscar with a brand new one.

“I had no idea that they had an ‘Oscar Hospital’ on standby,” he told the press.

Thanks to the Academy’s quick response however, Simon no longer needs to worry about how a damaged award will look on his mantelpiece.

March 8, 2011 by

Cher Makes Music History

As the only musician with #1 hits on the Billboard charts in the last six decades, Cher clearly knows what she’s doing. Her most recent hit, “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me”, from Burlesque, won a Golden Globe for best original song on Sunday.

Regardless of what Ricky Gervais thinks, Cher is an incredible performer. Seeing her the night before my last birthday made it a magical and memorable evening.

Whether they’re songs suitable for a couple’s first dance at a wedding, breakup, or something sassier for the dance club, I hope she continues recording more hits.

The plot may be thin, but Burlesque offers a great opportunity to see her if you can’t make it to Las Vegas. With supporting performances by The OC’s Peter Gallagher and Twilight’s Cam Gigandet, as well as the always entertaining Stanley Tucci, be sure to check it out if your’re a fan of Christina or Cher. The movie will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on March 1.

January 19, 2011 by