Stuart Henderson

Stuart Henderson, PhD, is a Toronto-based cultural critic. He is the author of Making the Scene: Yorkville and Hip Toronto in the 1960s (University of Toronto Press, 2011). All of this is fun, but he'd rather be camping. Twitter: @henderstu

Recent

Interviews

"Crumbs on the Trail": A Conversation with Nora Guthrie About Her Father, Woody Guthrie

With a newly uncovered collection of songs Woody Guthrie recorded for the government, his daughter Nora talks about who he really was, what she learns from the scholars that come in, and how Woody could write five songs a day.

Music

Dwight Yoakam: 21st Century Hits – Best of 2000-2012

There's no reason not to pick this one up if you’re looking for a tight compilation of recent music from one of the greats. As a document of a transitional period in Yoakam’s lengthy career, it works well.

Reviews

All Our Happy Days Are Stupid: 24 October 2013 - Toronto

Sheila Heti (author of the brilliant, convention-defying novel How Should a Person Be) wrote a play over a decade ago, but no one could figure out how to stage it. Until now.

Music

"All of Its Variety and Splendor": Van Dyke Parks on Harry Nilsson

Harry Nilsson was one pop music's greatest enigmas, a genius wrapped in his own vices. The legendary Van Dyke Parks talks to PopMatters about his old friend and collaborator.

Reviews

Na Na Na, You’re Gonna Have a Good Time with 'Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids'

During the tumultuous '60s, the playful, silly, but ultimately lesson-based adventures of the "Cosby Kids" proved funny to adults but even funnier to inner city children who could readily identify with these archetypal misfits.

Music

Natalie Maines: Mother

These diverse songs allow Maines to showcase her uncanny knack for delivering a wealth of emotional information without over-playing her hand.

Music

Daniel Romano Plays a Royal Medley (Video) (PopMatters Premiere)

Check out this exclusive short film by the terrific filmmakers at Southern Souls capturing country troubadour Daniel Romano playing two songs from Come Cry With Me.

Events

The Annual Conference of the Popular Culture Association (2013)

This conference is largely about intellectual engagement with “hobbies”. But, importantly, it is designed to offer a space in which the meaning(s) of such “hobbies” can be taken seriously.

Music

George Jones: The Complete United Artists Solo Singles

This uneven collection presents all 16 singles (and their B-sides) Jones released in a highly creative period between 1962 and 1966.

Music

Program - "Waiting" (video) (PopMatters Premiere)

Toronto's buzzy Volcano Playground have renamed themselves Program, and have offered PopMatters readers an exclusive look at the brand new (amazing) video for their lead single "Waiting".

Music

Down the Road to Massey Hall: A Conversation with Whitehorse

Doucet and McClelland open up about their life on the road, the commanding influence of Neil Young, their upcoming gig at Toronto’s Massey Hall, and breaking the "cardinal rule" of the music biz: starting a band with your life-partner.

Music

Daniel Romano: Come Cry With Me

Daniel Romano is the best singer-songwriter in country music today, and I’ll stand on Justin Townes Earle’s coffee table in my Blundstones and scream it at him. But I bet he'd agree.

Reviews

'Grateful Dead: Dead Ahead & Ticket To New Year's': Exciting Live, Yet Lousy Showmen

Divorced from the energy of the room, the careening tidal wave of dancing heads surrounding you while the band plunged into another extended jam, the visual experience of the band onstage is remarkably flat.

Reviews

Blue Rodeo: 1 February 2013 - Toronto

If you can imagine Paul Westerberg and Rodney Crowell starting a band, something approaching Blue Rodeo is probably what you’d end up with.

Music

When It Comes to Love: A Conversation with Lori Nuic

The two-time winner of Best Pop Artist at the Toronto Independent Music Awards, alternative soul singer Lori Nuic is a rising star.

Music

The Best Canadian Albums of 2012

From extraordinary singer-songwriters to blistering punk, experimental electronica to shimmery pop, this list demonstrates something of the breadth of talent, and the range of possibilities being explored in Canadian music today.

Reviews

'American Experience: The Presidents' Is a Sweeping Overview from the Very Top, Down

We don’t get hagiography here, but we also don't have to suffer bland mudslinging from those who have little to say in favour of men in power. This is to the very great credit of the series.

Reviews

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Features

Five Women Who Fought the Patriarchy

'Tiger King' and the Post-Truth Culture War

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PM Picks

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With a newly uncovered collection of songs Woody Guthrie recorded for the government, his daughter Nora talks about who he really was, what she learns from the scholars that come in, and how Woody could write five songs a day.

There's no reason not to pick this one up if you’re looking for a tight compilation of recent music from one of the greats. As a document of a transitional period in Yoakam’s lengthy career, it works well.

Sheila Heti (author of the brilliant, convention-defying novel How Should a Person Be) wrote a play over a decade ago, but no one could figure out how to stage it. Until now.

PopMatters talks with Brendan Canning, the co-founder of Broken Social Scene, about his gorgeous, intimate solo record You Gots 2 Chill.

Harry Nilsson was one pop music's greatest enigmas, a genius wrapped in his own vices. The legendary Van Dyke Parks talks to PopMatters about his old friend and collaborator.

During the tumultuous '60s, the playful, silly, but ultimately lesson-based adventures of the "Cosby Kids" proved funny to adults but even funnier to inner city children who could readily identify with these archetypal misfits.

These diverse songs allow Maines to showcase her uncanny knack for delivering a wealth of emotional information without over-playing her hand.

Check out this exclusive short film by the terrific filmmakers at Southern Souls capturing country troubadour Daniel Romano playing two songs from Come Cry With Me.

This conference is largely about intellectual engagement with “hobbies”. But, importantly, it is designed to offer a space in which the meaning(s) of such “hobbies” can be taken seriously.

This uneven collection presents all 16 singles (and their B-sides) Jones released in a highly creative period between 1962 and 1966.

Toronto's buzzy Volcano Playground have renamed themselves Program, and have offered PopMatters readers an exclusive look at the brand new (amazing) video for their lead single "Waiting".

Download a new song by the Mickey Hart Band and help raise money for people affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Doucet and McClelland open up about their life on the road, the commanding influence of Neil Young, their upcoming gig at Toronto’s Massey Hall, and breaking the "cardinal rule" of the music biz: starting a band with your life-partner.

Daniel Romano is the best singer-songwriter in country music today, and I’ll stand on Justin Townes Earle’s coffee table in my Blundstones and scream it at him. But I bet he'd agree.

Divorced from the energy of the room, the careening tidal wave of dancing heads surrounding you while the band plunged into another extended jam, the visual experience of the band onstage is remarkably flat.

If you can imagine Paul Westerberg and Rodney Crowell starting a band, something approaching Blue Rodeo is probably what you’d end up with.

The two-time winner of Best Pop Artist at the Toronto Independent Music Awards, alternative soul singer Lori Nuic is a rising star.

From extraordinary singer-songwriters to blistering punk, experimental electronica to shimmery pop, this list demonstrates something of the breadth of talent, and the range of possibilities being explored in Canadian music today.

We don’t get hagiography here, but we also don't have to suffer bland mudslinging from those who have little to say in favour of men in power. This is to the very great credit of the series.