Historic Cassidy Inn Disappears in Ring of Fire

The historic Cassidy Inn, where Clark Kent / Superman (Henry Cavill) was bussing as Allison Crowe performed "Ring of Fire" in a bar scene for the 2013 Hollywood blockbuster, "Man of Steel", has played its final note in a blaze. The entire building is now ash following a July 4th inferno.

Cassidy Inn inferno, July 4, 2016 - Nick Boyle Photography

The Cassidy, located just south of Nanaimo, BC, Canada was originally a coal miner's hotel, and, in later years, a biker bar, and, lastly, a movie set. Photos and more history of the building and MoS can be found in Allison's "Man of Steel" gallery @ https://www.facebook.com/23720081675/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10151670513006676

Hollywood movie director Zack Snyder talks about filming an scene in the historic Cassidy Inn with musician Allison Crowe – for “Man of Steel”, the 2013 reboot of the Superman film franchise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKhcg6tLYLY

Last night, July 4th, the Cassidy, a coal-miner’s residence and biker bar before it became an Hollywood movie set, vanished in a giant ring of fire. Word on this news story is @ http://www.cheknews.ca/fire-damages-cassidy-inn-195684

Home Studio Hazards

The many dangers of the kitchen recording studio. (crockpot not included) - tweets @Allison_Crowe



(the cat in black is Johnny Cash)

Lights, Cameras... Cassidy

“Man of Steel” director Zack Snyder discusses action of the newest Superman movie shot inside the historic Cassidy Inn pub on Vancouver Island, BC. Allison Crowe, in a role very familiar to the Canadian musician, appears in this scene with Henry Cavill (Clark Kent / Superman), Ian Tracey (Ludlow), Carmen Lavigne (Chrissy), Howard Siegel (Weaver) and other members of the cast – actors whom it was a delight to meet and an honour to work alongside. Same goes for the privilege of working with the film’s amazing crew and production team - a stellar family of professionals united in creativity.

The Blu-Ray edition of “Man of Steel” released in late 2013, includes a feature called “Journey of Discovery”. Zack Snyder and many of the people involved walk us through the making of MoS from pretty much every angle. It’s extraordinary, and, rather than taking away from the movie magic – the explanations of how the science fiction epic comes together leave you more enthralled. It’s super – and fun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKhcg6tLYLY

Fun Universe Brings Allison Crowe’s Music Home this Holiday Season

How does one of the world’s great musical voices, and most independent artists on the planet, land amidst a face-off between man and Superman in an Hollywood blockbuster?

“I’m a big Johnny Cash fan. And I’m a big Allison Crowe fan. So the combination to me seemed like an awesome opportunity if we could make it happen,” explains “Man of Steel” Director Zack Snyder. “Allison and I had talked about trying to get some of her music in one of my movies whenever we could – and I thought, well, if I just put her in the film then there’s no way that it won’t work. So, that’s where you get Allison from.”

The film-maker, along with his stellar cast and crew, deliver insights into the production of this epic science fiction adventure, in “Journey of Discovery”, a just-released special feature of MoS in Blu-ray edition.

“(Zack) keeps trying to get me into movies and it’s amazing,” responds Crowe in the feature. “I first kinda met Zack over the internet about songs online... I think about four or five years ago the first one would have been the ‘Watchmen’ and he was looking to do ‘Hallelujah’. And then the second one we were looking at another song for ‘Sucker Punch’ and so now we have Johnny Cash’s ‘Ring of Fire’ and the altercation ensues…”

Allison Crowe with Zack Snyder on "Man of Steel" set - photo courtesy Clay Enos / Warner Bros.

The movie itself reveals how all the pieces fit – and it’s an exhilarating ride and humbling experience for the Canadian singer-songwriter. And it’s all inspiring.

“In an entertainment world that increasingly genuflects at the altar of instant fame, Crowe seems an anomaly, building her career slowly and carefully,” commented Times Colonist newspaper scribe Adrian Chamberlain some years back. Fine-tuned at the keyboard in arts reportage, (and an r’n’b combo), the writer noted how the “Nanaimo songbird seems uninterested in celebrity and its trappings”.

The universe is ever-expanding for the now Corner Brook, Newfoundland-based, Vancouver Island-born, Crowe, still her goals and values are constant. "Soulful. Alive. Joyous. Grievous. Real, true, music is what I want to make," she’s said. More than a dozen years along the road less-traveled, she succeeds like no one else.

From attending the red-carpet premiere and festivities of “Man of Steel” this Summer, she traveled from New York City to Cow Head, NL to musically direct the hit stage show “Newfoundland Vinyl”, a production of Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival. Her LP/album of the same name, joins her latest, “Heavy Graces” among 2013’s best new releases. Crowe’s third album out this year, “Songbook”, is an oeuvre-spanning 22-song compilation.

People everywhere can enjoy the music – and folks in Allison Crowe’s hometowns can join in “Tidings”, a celebration of music for the season and all-time, happening:

Nov. 30 – Arts and Culture Centre, Corner Brook, NL

Dec. 7 – Fairfield United Church, Victoria, BC – to aid Artemis Place and HepCBC

Dec. 12 – Real Food, Old City Quarter, Nanaimo, BC – Community Sing-along to aid Haven Society

Dec. 14 – St. Andrew’s United Church, Nanaimo, BC – with guests: Chelsea Peckett; Daniel Knapp; Melissa Kahan; Taylor Johnstone; Raymond Salgado; & Josh Holloway - to aid Woodlands Secondary Band and Basketball

Concert and community sing-along details coming soon.

Up, Up and Away... Man of Steel flies into home theatres

Allison Crowe has a cameo in "Man of Steel" - the highly-imaginative, epic science fiction adventure featuring Superman.

In this Hollywood blockbuster, directed by Zack Snyder, Allison appears as a singer/musician in Cassidy's Bar where Clark Kent is working incognito. She performs "Ring of Fire", a song penned by June Carter and Merle Kilgore and made legendary by Johnny Cash.

The movie, a tremendous international hit, is out now on DVD and BluRay.

"Newfoundland Vinyl" Revolution at GMTF - July 12 - August 30

The hit stage show that's inspired Allison Crowe's newest album, (and vice-versa), opens tonight at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival in lovely Cow Head, NL. Written and Directed by Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador's Artistic Director Jeffrey Pitcher - with Musical Direction from Allison Crowe - 'Newfoundland Vinyl: The Flip Side" plays from July 12 through August 30, 2013.

For insight into this creative revolution, CBC Radio's Weekend Arts Magazine, with Host and Producer, Angela Antle, announces that Allison Crowe's coming up this weekend on "Liner Notes" - which you can catch on air, and online @ http://www.cbc.ca/wam/liner-notes/2013/07/12/wam-july-13-14-liner-notes---allison-crowe

Here on the west coast of the country, we've barely had opportunity to chat with the amazing artist since she returned to Corner Brook, Canada from New York City and the red carpet premiere of "Man of Steel" - the Zack Snyder-directed Superman epic in which she appears performing "Ring of Fire", a song made famous by another iconoclast, Johnny Cash. In between the intensive rehearsals, she has tweeted a little - so we know for certain: "The NL Vinyl band is awesome" - and Allison is "So proud of everyone involved! :)"

Mussel boil beach fire - Cow Head, NL - Canada's Gros Morne National Park

The theatrical and musical cast that, starting tonight, is bound to delight music-and-fun-loving audiences all Summer comprises: Jennifer Furlong, Elena Claire Hewlett, Brad LeRiche, Amelia Manuel, Marquita Walsh - and, as the two Eds, Adam Brake and Stuart Simpson.

On the production side, making it all happen, are: Stage Manager, Courtney Harris; Set Designer, Derek Butt; Costume Designer, Lindsay Code; Original Sound Designer, Dirk Ave; Sound Coordinator, Ryan Borshuk; Lighting Designer, Johnny Cann; Tech Director/Crew Chief, Lisa Lahue; Head Scenic Painter/Asst. Carpenter; Natalie Tsang; Asst. Stage Manager, Stefanie Power; plus Production Assistants Dustin Payne and Jerry Combdon.

Direct from GMTF's 2013 Program, here's what's in the grooves:

DIRECTOR'S NOTES

How could we resist? While putting together last year's show of hits of the 1960's, 70's and 80's by Newfoundland's biggest recording stars we quickly realized there were enough hits for two shows, or three or four! An added fascination for me is what drove our singer/songwriters from Newfoundland to Toronto in the 60's in the first place? Was it fame and fortune? Was it about finding an audience in Toronto? Or was it something inherent as an artist being born and raised on an island that inspires him/her to test the waters in foreign lands? I believe those questions are answered in the song writing. So sit back, relax and listen to the songs that Allison chose tonight - I believe they reveal a whole lot about who and what were in the 60's. It's also particularly rewarding to have Allison Crowe, one of the most compelling and talented singer/songwriters in Canada working and living here on the west coast of Newfoundland. This is very much her show - her sound! Let's spin a few! ~ Jeff (Pitcher)

MUSICAL DIRECTOR'S NOTES

I am SO excited to be able to work again in beautiful Cow Head, NL this summer at the GMTF with TNL - I love it here, and I can't wait to get started! (I'm also admittedly pretty pumped for Lobster Festival.) My task this year was to find another great batch of songs, from or made popular in Newfoundland and Labrador, for this, newest incarnation of Newfoundland Vinyl - The Flip Side. And find those songs I did! There is an overwhelming abundance of beautiful music and wildly-talented musicians in Newfoundland and Labrador, and we are lucky to be able to hear them together. Interpreted tonight by some incredible and talented musicians and actors, each song has its own story to tell, heart to break, laugh to incite, thought to spur, and memory to recall - so please, enjoy the music and feel free to sing along! ~ Allison (Crowe)


And, of course, what happens on stage is possible thanks to the efforts of the stellar TNL/GMTF Front of House staff: incl. Kristi Caines, Tiffany Payne; FOH Manager, Ruth Payne; Box Office Manager, Dawn Payne; Head Usher, Deanna Hutchings; Box Office Attendants, Jodi Payne and Savannah Smith; and Ushers, Shellden Biggin and Vanessa Brown - together with volunteers incl.: Claudine Brown; Nancy Brown; Rachel Hutchings; Bill Payne; Freeman Payne; Loretta Payne; Marjorie Payne; Norma Payne; and Peggy Wheeler.

Overseeing the hugely successful annual festival be: TNL's General Manager, Gaylene Buckle; Production/Company Manager, Denise Dolliver; Artistic Associate, Sara...h McDonald; Assistant Administrator, Natasha Butt; and Financial Admin., Cynthia Harris.

For ticket info and other details on "Newfoundland Vinyl: The Flip Side" and all the great shows happening this Summer at Gros Morne Theatre Festival - visit TNL's official website @ theatrenewfoundland.com/gmtf.html  +  telephone (709) 243-2899 or toll-free 1-877-243-2899.

Slainte mhaith!!

Allison Crowe's Synchronous Orbit with "Man of Steel"

Allison Crowe returns to Canada from the World Premiere screening of "Man of Steel" in New York City. Alongside the thrills of walking the red carpet at NYC's Lincoln Center, the musician is proud and humbled to have a cameo in the artistic and commercial hit cinematic reframing of the Superman myth.

Frank Zappa famously commented: "It isn't necessary to imagine the world ending in fire or ice. There are two other possibilities: one is paperwork, and the other is nostalgia." On this, the 75th anniversary of the birth of Clark Kent / Superman, MoS film-makers - which includes Hollywood auteur Zack Snyder and writers David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan - have soared past the potential of "Death by Nostalgia" by delivering into today's world the most super of all comic book heroes - portrayed by island of Jersey-born Henry Cavill. Helming the film's music is maestro Hans Zimmer.

Allison Crowe appears in the film very much as she does in concert - a troubadour of fiery spirit and true passion. Her cameo, performing the iconic Johnny Cash tune, "Ring of Fire", is result of a day of filming at the Cassidy Inn - an historic miners-to-bikers bar located on Vancouver Island, just about ten minutes drive south of where Crowe's born.

A relationship begun in 2008, between the bi-coastal artist, who is at home in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, and her birthplace, Nanaimo, British Columbia, and the dynamic movie duo of Director Zack Snyder and Producer Debbie Snyder, is cherished by the independent Canuck.

Celebrating the experience of "Man of Steel", released this month by Warner Bros. studio and its partners, Allison Crowe's own label, Rubenesque Records Ltd., has compiled "Songbook" - an oeuvre-spanning, 22 track, collection representing each album+ release from Crowe's dozen+ years of recording as one of the great singer-songwriters, interpreters and live performers in popular music.

Canadian musician celebrates connection with celluloid heroics of Superman

Bird on a Wire - encore

Alighting in time for July 1 Canada Day and July 4 Independence Day celebrations is the newest recording from Allison Crowe - a cover of "Bird on the Wire".

This Leonard Cohen classic has been covered by Jennifer Warnes (on 1987’s “Famous Blue Raincoat” collection AKA “Jenny Sings Lenny”), as well as by Johnny Cash, Judy Collins, Joe Cocker, Bob Benvenuti, Katey Sagal (for the US tv program “Sons of Anarchy”), Tim Hardin, The Neville Brothers… in total, more than 140 recording artists since its release on Cohen’s 1969 album “Songs from a Room”.

Nearly a decade ago, Crowe's singular cover of another Leonard Cohen masterwork, "Hallelujah", had the rare distinction of twice being featured by UK trade Journal "Record of the Day" - before becoming a world-wide favourite. Now, her version of "Bird on a Wire" receives encore coverage from DrHGuy, AKA Allan Showalter, the erudite and entertaining blogger behind the web's go-to sites for "a pastiche of posts with song, dance, snappy chatter, and notes on prose, poesy, love, lust, life, & Leonard Cohen".

Allison Crowe pre-concert at Evangelische Osterkirche, Berlin, Germany - Billie Woods foto


Says the good Doctor:

"Allison Crowe's cover of Leonard Cohen's classic 'Bird On The Wire' is mournful and, true to the lyrics of the song, conscientiously abjures cheap conventional sentiment or ginning up the type of pseudo-consolation that relies on false promises of living happily ever after, e.g., that irreparable conflicts will somehow be resolved, emotional damages repaired, or the pain of personal loss alleviated. Yet, Crowe's voice and phrasing convey such empathy and intimacy that solace and succor are nonetheless granted through grace."

It's a great cover of a great song."

This holiday week Allison Crowe is busy rehearsing the cast of "Newfoundland Vinyl". She's Music Director of this play - a rollicking ride through popular music's coming of age in Canada's most eastern province, the island of Newfoundland. Written and directed by Jeff Pitcher, the show debuts at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival this July 13.

Bird on a Wire

Allison Crowe sings to be free. Herewith, Leonard Cohen's "Bird on the Wire".