Michael Barclay

Toronto

Journalist at Freelance

Writer at That Night in Toronto

I write best-sellers about Canadian music. Employable. Subscribe: [email protected] Mastodon: @[email protected]

Articles

Back from the brink

11 hours ago | michaelbarclay.substack.com | Michael Barclay

Canadian federal election is this coming Monday. Take nothing for granted—even if the party leaders are. Tamara Lindeman of the Weather Station is not. So, yes to all of this:Also this, where she digs deeper on strategy. Paul Wells notes how all the leaders seem terrified of the media—unless the interviewers are know-nothing Americans. That said, being who I am, I very much enjoyed Nardwuar the Human Serviette talking to both Carney and Singh.
That Night in Toronto

2 days ago | michaelbarclay.substack.com | Michael Barclay

This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please turn on JavaScript or unblock scripts
Change of Heart, alive in 2025

2 days ago | michaelbarclay.substack.com | Michael Barclay

Something I never thought I’d say in 2025: there’s a new Change of Heart album and it’s amazing. Not only that, but In the Wreckage features every former member of the band—including percussionist Michael Armstrong, who died four months after recording began. Which is all the more reason to celebrate those who remain, to make the most of the days we have while we can.
A Rabbi's Easter Sermon

5 days ago | pjmedia.com | Michael Barclay

Happy Easter! May this special holiday bring blessings to revive the spirit of every person and of the world. That’s right, a rabbi is wishing everyone a Happy Easter. Because we all need it now more than ever. And I’m not talking about any part of the Easter holiday that involves rabbits, chocolate, or colored eggs. When I speak of Easter, I am referring to the religious holiday that traces the last days of the life of Jesus, his torture, his crucifixion, and his resurrection.
Country and old men

1 week ago | michaelbarclay.substack.com | Michael Barclay |Will Hermes

Holy Thursday!This week: two old dudes with parallel careers in the same genre, both born in 1955 on either side of the border by a Great Lake; one just turned 70, the other will later this year. (Thirty Tigers)Gary Louris has led the Jayhawks for the past 40 years (or rather, he joined the band in 1985, which Mark Olson started the year before; Olson left in 1995). So… why a solo album? His two other solo records featured full-band arrangements.
Missing in Miss America

1 week ago | michaelbarclay.substack.com | Michael Barclay

Legendary producer/writer Joe Boyd (Nick Drake, Pink Floyd, Fairport Convention) was in Toronto this weekend to promote his epic and excellent new book, And the Roots of Rhythm Remain (wrote about it here). Coincidentally, the launch was held at the Rivoli: the Queen Street club that opened in 1982 with a logo designed by Mary Margaret O’Hara—and Joe Boyd played a big role in O’Hara’s one major album, 1988’s Miss America.
A Passover Message for Everyone

1 week ago | pjmedia.com | Michael Barclay

Approximately 3,500 years ago today, the Hebrews were scared and hopeful. Scared of the promise of the Egyptians to slaughter all of their firstborn children. Terrified of what would happen to them if they put blood on their doorposts, and the potential retribution that the Egyptians would inflict for that act of revolution. And yet these same Hebrew slaves were hopeful. After seeing the many miracles of the plagues, the Hebrews wanted to have faith.
Book 'em, Boyd-o

2 weeks ago | michaelbarclay.substack.com | Michael Barclay

Never-Ending Present readers: There’s a tribute to the Tragically Hip that I played a small part in curating for organizers Elliott Lefko and Stephen Stanley, taking place at the Garrison on May 9. It follows the same format as the Replacements tribute Lefko and Stanley staged last year: a house band with guest singers, admission is non-perishable food for the Daily Bread Food Bank, and all done in honour of the late Dave Bookman.
Clem Burke's beat

2 weeks ago | michaelbarclay.substack.com | Michael Barclay

Clem Burke, the 70-year-old drummer in Blondie, died of cancer this week. The NYT obit is here. There’s a great 2022 interview with him for Tidal here. There aren’t many drummers of the new wave era who are almost as well known as their band’s singer. In fact, are there any?
The Beth of times

3 weeks ago | michaelbarclay.substack.com | Michael Barclay |Justin Ling

In the category of “tell me something I not only know inherently but experience daily” and also the category of “why are all my media/arts friends becoming therapists?” this New York Times article about Get Xers’ midlife career crises is more than obvious, but also a very good snapshot. Listen to this while reading it:And so: onwards to Portishead. (Domino)Beth Gibbons has always thought Beth Gibbons is none of your business.

Contact details

Emails

[email protected]

Socials & Sites

Try JournoFinder For Free

Search and contact over 1M+ journalist profiles, browse 100M+ articles, and unlock powerful PR tools.

Start Your 7-Day Free Trial →

X (formerly Twitter)

Followers: 3K
Tweets: 17K
DMs Open: Yes

No Tweets found.