Back when Pearl Jam was at their height, they had the clout to do anything they wanted. Anything.

On September 26, 2000, the band released 25 double CD live albums—what they referred to as “official bootlegs”—featuring performances from virtually every show they played on European tour in support of their Binaural album. Of those 25, five immediately made the top 200 album chart. This was the first time any act ever saw more than two new albums show up on the chart in the same week.

Two other sets just missed the cut. Had they made the charts that week, Pearl Jam would have joined The Beatles, The Monkees, and U2 as the only acts to that point with seven albums on the charts at the same time.

This was decades before Taylor Swift came along.

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

A question from new parents: “Should I expose my baby to live music?” The answer is “yes.”

A recent study at the University of Toronto revealed that infants have longer attention spans when experiencing live music. Sure, you might want to give them an iPad to stare at, but that apparently doesn’t work as well as live music. Videos don’t captivate them a whole lot but live music elicits physiological changes like a synchronization of heart rate to the music.

The final conclusion? “Findings suggest that performer–audience interactions and social context play an important role in facilitating attention and coordinating emotional responses to musical performances early in life.”

The big caveat? Volume. The live music cannot be too loud for those delicate little ears.

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

The Flaming Lips are certainly unconventional and experimental. One of their weird projects was a very, very long song called “7 skies H3” which, in its original form, ran for 24 hours.

It consisted of several separate pieces, each running anywhere from 25 minutes to seven hours. If that wasn’t enough, just 13 copies were released on flash drives that were encased in actual human skulls. They went on the market (appropriately) on Halloween 2011 and cost $5,000. And yes, they sold them all. If you can’t find your own copy—imagine that—they also set up a website with the song on a continuous loop.

And if you would rather have a physical copy, there is an edited version that runs 50 minutes and was released for Record Store Day 2014.

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

Back in the 1930s during the Great Depression, there was a phenomenon known as the dance marathon. Basically, couples would take up a challenge to see who could remain dancing longer than anyone else. They were held in ballrooms and auditoriums and could continue for not just hours, but days and even weeks.

Spectators paid to watch, too. The longer the marathon went on, the higher the admission price. Couples had to stay in motion continuously resulting in blisters, injuries, and collapse from exhaustion.

Why would anyone subject themselves to such a thing? Like I said, it was during the Depression. Many people signed up for these marathons because it meant food, shelter, and a place to sleep, even if it was just a few minutes an hour. Those who won were given a cash prize. Hey, the Depression was rough. People were willing to do anything to survive.

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

Some recommendations can be quirky things. U2 on a flatbed truck in Las Vegas? A member of Spinal Tap going off on the Barbie phenomenon? And is emo really back? These things and more with this week’s Five Songs.

1. U2, Atomic City
Single (Universal)
Recommended If You Like: Whatever U2 is up to these days

This Friday, U2 will open their residency at the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas. Fans had been expecting some kind of new music ahead of this—hey, it’s just the kind of thing U2 tends to do—so “Atomic City” debuted as part of a pop-up thing on the back of a flatbed trailer on Freemont Street. Bono described the song as being the spirit of late-70s post-punk. And yes, that’s is Larry Mullen playing drums. He won’t be at the Sphere shows because he’s still having post-op therapy on his back, but it was nice to see him with the rest of the band.

2. Lowest of the Low, Hey Kid (You Got Soul!)
Single (Independent)
RIYL: 90s memories

Just as U2 is preparing for their Sphere gigs, there’s a documentary on Lowest of the Low entitled Subversive: The History of Lowest of the Low that has started having screenings. (Yes, I’m in it.) It’s nice that there’s a new LoTW single to go along with that. You’ll definitely feel the need to skank along with this.

3. Derek Smalls, Must Crush Barbie
Single (Bottomland Productions/Immortal Records)
RIYL: Barbie hate

I didn’t see this one coming. Spinal Tap bassist Smalls has decided that enough is enough with the whole Barbie phenomenon and wants to eviscerate it with a song that he describes as “an excoriating attack on the pink sensation … that advocate of everything pink and fluffy, Barbie. The self-described embodiment of lukewarm water reaches boiling point with Smalls’ first track in five years.” The bio goes on for quite a bit, too. No word on the status of David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tuffnel, or which drummer died during the sessions. (Yes, yes, it’s actually Harry Shearer, but just go with it, okay?)

4. The Moss, The Place That Makes You Happy
Single (Hollywood Records)
RIYL: Feel-good songs

Coming out of Salt Lake City, The Moss is a four-piece that specializes in straight-ahead anthemic and poppy guitar rock (for this song, anyway) and has the slightest bit of country twang to it. A number of publications have tagged them as a band to watch.

5. Taking Back Sunday, S’Old
152 (Fantasy Records)
RIYL: The current emo revival

There’s no question that after hiding its bedroom for the last decade or so, emo has returned, let by some of the stars of the early aughts including My Chemical Romance, Thirty Seconds to Mars, and now Taking Back Sunday. We shouldn’t be surprised, really. Emo goes well with a tough economy and lots of political uncertainty. And yes, emo is definitely a nostalgic sound, but the times are right for this revival. This TBS record—their eighth and first since 2016—will be out October 27. Oh, and the title of the album comes from a section of a road between Highpoint, Chapel Hill, and Raleigh where the band and their friends would meet up as teenagers.

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

All the original Ramones are no longer with us. While Dee Dee died of a heroin overdose, his three bandmates suffered from different forms of cancer. Joey died of lymphoma. Johnny? Prostate cancer. Tommy suffered from bile duct cancer. Coincidence? Maybe not.

Some suspect these cancers are the result of the conditions of a loft on East 2^nd Street where the Ramones rehearsed and printed t-shirts. It was the former home of a plastic flower factory and some believe that the toxic residue left over from the chemicals used in their manufacture. They permeated the entire building.

Oh, and one more thing: Arturo Vega, the Ramones’ art director and the guy who designed and pressed up all those t-shirts in that loft? He also died of cancer.

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

Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit are being brought in after a police chase in Guelph resulted in a fatal crash.

At around 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning, Guelph Police Service were called to do a well-being check of a man who was also the subject of an arrest warrant.

Officers were able to locate the man who was driving a pick-up truck in the area of Victoria Street and York Road.

SIU investigators say the man fled after being spotted by police. A police chase ensued which ended with the pick-up striking two civilian vehicles at Victoria and Clair Road.

They say the pick-up truck then rolled over several times.

The lone occupant in the pick-up was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

No other information is being released at this time.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or have security or dashcam video should contact the SIU at 1-800-787-8529.

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

Toronto FC put on another toothless display on the road Sunday, soundly beaten 3-0 by New York City FC in an MLS game originally slated to kick off 17 1/2 hours earlier.

The loss officially eliminated Toronto (4-16-10) from playoff contention, although any such hope had disappeared months ago. TFC has failed to make the playoffs the last three years after making the MLS Cup final three times between 2016 and 2019, lifting the trophy in 2017.

Andrés Perea opened the scoring in the 18th minute for New York, which had a penalty saved by Toronto ‘keeper Luka Gavran in his MLS debut. Andres Jasson doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time and Julián Fernández upped the lead to 3-0 in the 54th.

New York could have added to its lead but was wasteful at times with Gavran stepping up on others.

The win moved New York (8-10-13) above the playoff line in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of D.C. United. Toronto remains mired in 15th and last place.

NYCFC is now unbeaten in its last five games (3-0-2) after winning just two of its previous 21 outings (2-11-8) in all competitions. That slide started with a 1-0 loss in Toronto on April 29.

The game was originally scheduled for Saturday evening but was pushed back a day because of a water main break at the Red Bull Arena. NYCFC normally plays at Yankee Stadium but has to shift operations when the baseball team is in town.

The Yankees were also forced to postpone their game Saturday game with the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks, citing “the forecast of sustained inclement weather” due to Tropical Storm Ophelia. The baseball game was rescheduled for Monday at Yankee Stadium.

Toronto has had little luck of late at Red Bull Arena, thumped 5-0 there in July by NYCFC in Leagues Cup play in July.

Coming off a 4-0 midweek loss at Inter Miami, Toronto has won just one of its last 17 games (1-13-3) in all competitions.

Toronto is now winless in 19 straight road games (0-15-4) in all competitions. Its last away goal was scored by Deandre Kerr in a 2-1 loss June 24 at the New England Revolution.

TFC has been outscored 19-0 in the six road matches since, a goalless drought away from home that stretches 619 minutes.

TFC is the only team in the league yet to win on the road this season (0-11-4). Its last win away from BMO Field was Aug. 27, 2022, in Charlotte.

NYCFC struck quickly in the rain, with Toronto’s defence found wanting after Talles Magno pounced on a poor pass by Toronto midfielder Alonso Coello. The Brazilian found Uruguayan designated player Santi Rodriguez, whose cross was headed home by Perea in the second minute.

Gavran was left rooted to the spot as the NYCFC attackers were allowed to operate in space.

It was the first goal in NYCFC colours for Perea, a U.S. international midfielder who is on loan from the Philadelphia Union.

Video review triggered a New York penalty when Toronto centre back Shane O’Neill, who was falling at the time, was called for handball in blocking a shot by Algerian forward Mounsef Bakrar. But the six-foot-six Gavran got a foot to Bakrar’s 39th-minute penalty attempt.

Jasson made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time, pivoting to fire a low shot into the corner of the goal for his third of the season. Toronto had six players plus Gavran in the penalty box but was unable to close down the NYCFC attackers.

Themi Antonoglou replaced Toronto fullback Raoul Petretta at halftime and was victimized nine minutes later when Fernández outpaced him before finding the corner for his first MLS goal.

Jonathan Osorio managed Toronto’s first shot on target in the 38th minute but the ball went right at goalkeeper Matt Freese. The NYCFC goalkeeper was called into action in the 70th minute, parrying a hard shot from Antonoglou.

Toronto now has four regular-season games remaining. Former Canada coach John Herdman, who takes over the team on Oct. 1, will be in charge for the final three.

Italian star Lorenzo Insigne, listed as questionable with a lower body injury, did not dress. A team spokeswoman said the former Napoli captain was being held out as a precaution after feeling soreness/tightness following the midweek 4-0 loss at Inter Miami.

Captain Michael Bradley returned to his accustomed midfield position with O’Neill slotting into centre back.

Gavran, Toronto’s second-round pick (31st overall) in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, started in goal with Tomas Romero on the bench, Romero has been filling in with starter Sean Johnson and Greg Ranjitsingh both out injured but interim coach Terry Dunfield had said he was considering giving the 23-year-old from Hamilton a chance.

Toronto midfielder Brandon Servania, who left the loss to Miami with a lower body injury, did not dress.

NYCFC was without injured midfielders Maxi Moralez,  Alfredo Morales and Keaton Parks and the suspended Richard Ledezma.

Champion in 2021, NYCFC has struggled this year after the departure of top talent like Taty Castellanos, Nicolas Acevedo, Alexander Callens, Anton Tinnerholm, Brazil’s Heber and goalkeeper Johnson (who signed with Toronto as a free agent).

© 2023 The Canadian Press

A group of Brescia University College students in London, Ont., are planning a protest after it was announced the school would be merging with Western University.

Officials at Brescia, Canada’s only women’s university college, say the school will wind down its operations beginning May 2024.

The announcement was made Thursday and caused shock among faculty, staff and students, including first year political science student Alex Wild, who describes Brescia as a safe space for women.

“For first year students like me, Brescia said, ‘This is going to be a great experience for you guys, you’ll love it here for the next four years,'” she told 980 CFPL. “To find out that’s not true and that this will be my one and only year at Brescia, it’s been shocking and disheartening.”

Wild is one of the roughly 20 students who’ve come together to organize a protest against the merger. It’s set for Wednesday afternoon at the bottom of the Brescia Hill.

In addition, the group is also planning to start a letter-writing campaign and pass out petitions.

“We won’t go down without a fight. Brescia taught us to be empowered, strong women and we’re going to use those skills to fight for our school,” she said.

One of the protest attendees is Heather Kirk, the vice president of the Brescia Faculty Association, a French professor and a Brescia alumna.

“I’ll be there with them on Wednesday afternoon and I’ll have a flag and my Brescia shirt on,” she said.

Kirk told 980 CFPL she’s still processing the merge and worried about what this means for her and her colleagues’ jobs.

“Although we’ve been given promises and guarantees that full-time staff and faculty will be offered employment at Western, nothing of that is legally binding yet, so we don’t know what our offers of employment will look like,” she explained.

Kirk says she’s considered the possibility of losing her job due to the lack of openings at Western’s French department.

“They have someone who already does my job. They don’t need two of us,” she said. “I’m worried about redundancy, the quality of my professional life but also losing that really special relationship I have with my students.”

Even though she supports the protest, Kirk says she’s unsure if any action will lead to a reversal of the merge due to Brescia’s debt, a lack of alumnae donations and no possibility for recruitment for the next school year.

“I don’t know what this will bring about, but I think the visibilities and collective condemnation of this decision are so important. We talk to our students about speaking to power and this is what they’re doing,” she said. “The most positive result would be saving Brescia, (but) the most realistic consequence is getting more guarantees from Western about the safety of our students.”

Wild shares those thoughts.

“Hopefully we can come to a legacy agreement and first years like me can complete the rest of their undergrad at Brescia,” she said. “If not, then trying to create safe spaces at Western for women, trying to just do anything we can to uphold the legacy of Brescia and create that feeling even if it is at Western.”

Wild emphasized the protest will be peaceful and not targeted towards Western.

“We value and respect Western. We just want the university experience we were promised. We want that safe space, the small class sizes, the manageable campus and the opportunities for female leaders,” said Wild.

“We need transparency, truth and a very clear path forward that protects our students,” Kirk added.

The protest is scheduled for Wed. Sept. 27, 2023, from 12-4 p.m. at the bottom of the Brescia Hill located at Brescia Drive and Western Road.

Meanwhile, Western’s affiliated university college Huron University College has released a statement, saying it will not follow Brescia’s footsteps.

“I want to state, unequivocally, that Huron will not be merging or otherwise renouncing our autonomy,” said Barry Craig, Huron’s president. “We have been around for 160 years and it is my hope that we will be around for 160 more.”

Western’s other affiliated university college, King’s University College, has not issued a statement regarding Brescia’s merge with Western.

— with files from 980 CFPL’s Amy Simon

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

Beginning Monday, work will be underway to improve the intersection in Kelowna of Airport Way and Innovation Drive/Pier Mac Way.

The work will run from Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

According to the City of Kelowna, the intersection is being upgraded to an all-way stop controlled intersection to safely accommodate the continued traffic growth in the area.

There will be lane closures throughout construction, and intermittent single lane alternating traffic is expected.

Work may occur outside of the noted hours to minimize impacts and to limit active construction time in the area.

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