David McPherson

Waterloo

Storyteller. Author. THE LEGENDARY HORSESHOE TAVERN & MASSEY HALL @dundurnpress https://t.co/v42IPd4WmE Words https://t.co/yGVDFGLEcU @globeandmail

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Articles

This new institute is tackling Canada’s growing vision crisis head-on

3 weeks ago | theglobeandmail.com | David McPherson
Ode to a Hardcore Troubadour

1 month ago | davidmcpherson.substack.com | David McPherson

Steve Earle is one of my favourite songwriters. I’ve been lucky to interview him several times over the years and even met him backstage before his solo show at Massey Hall in 2023 when he graciously signed my book; he ended this memorable concert with a nod to Gordon Lightfoot joined by opener Ron Sexsmith. Besides crafting storied songs and melodies, the artist is a renaissance man. He has penned novels, short stories, and acted on TV and on the stage.
Going Coastal with Neil Young

1 month ago | open.substack.com | David McPherson

Just this week, Neil Young, in this open letter on his websiteendorsed Mark Carney. Neil wrote, “I’m with you,” and explained why he believes this Canadian politician and former governor of the Bank of Canada is best equipped to lead his country of birth in the economic fight against the country he has long called home.
Inside the new children’s hospice that will bring comfort to Hamilton families

1 month ago | theglobeandmail.com | David McPherson
Reviews: 4 new books explore Canadian contributions to rock ‘n’ roll

2 months ago | thespec.com | David McPherson

Peter Goddard; edited by J.A. WainwrightHouse of Anansi, 352 pages, $26.99When Peter Goddard died in 2022, the loss reverberated throughout the Canadian music world. The journalist and critic’s byline was ubiquitous throughout the country before finding a home in the pages of the Star for more than 30 years. Goddard left a legacy that offers lessons for any aspiring music writer on capturing the zeitgeist and placing your subject into the broader cultural context.
An Ode to a Lost Venue

2 months ago | davidmcpherson.substack.com | David McPherson |Shain Shapiro

I woke up yesterday to read that one of my all-time favourite music venues—The Dakota Tavern—is turning from a place of late-night communions between like-minded souls, fuelled by music, to yet another sports bar. I guess that’s better than another condo … for now. Toronto musician Derek Downham offered this heartfelt ode via Facebook, announcing this sad news, with the photo below of the interior under construction; the tributes and comments kept coming throughout the day.
The future of school construction starts in Scarborough

2 months ago | theglobeandmail.com | David McPherson
Revisiting a pair of conversations with a Sonic Genius and Fighter for the Spirit

2 months ago | davidmcpherson.substack.com | David McPherson

In my music journalist career, I’m often asked to name the best interview that I’ve had. The answer is always Daniel Lanois. I’ve chatted with the sonic genius—and fighter for the spirit—on several occasions over the last 20 years. It’s always an enlightening experience.
From Heartache to Happiness: Juno Nominee Sebastian Gaskin’s Six Year Journey to 'LOVECHILD'

2 months ago | amplify.nmc.ca | David McPherson

Making art takes time. Unlike nine-to-fivers — whose work is often measured in hours and products produced — an artist’s work is never-ending. The final product is a culmination of a life lived. Time, for creatives, is not linear. This apocryphal Pablo Picasso story illustrates the difference. Picasso was sitting at a Paris cafe one morning when a woman approached and asked him to sketch something on a napkin. The famed painter obliged, but before returning the napkin, asked for a large sum of money.
Montreal welcomes new life-sciences hub

Mar 4, 2025 | theglobeandmail.com | David McPherson