MARIA KASSTAN @ CALIFORNIA PUB (TORONTO) - JUL. 7

It’ll be a full moon eclipse over Kasstan in California Tues. July 7

Whatever your religious or scientific beliefs, like most people you probably acknowledge that a full moon has a way of affecting human behaviour, made up mostly as water as we are. So the full moon lunar eclipse in the constellation of Capricorn the night of Tues. July 7 may well make for an even more powerfully emotional rendition of the music of songwriter Maria Kasstan when she does the showcase set for Week 29 of my Tuesday open stage at California Pub.

Not that Kasstan needs any help creating a powerful reaction in listeners to her earthy, pithy and often plaintive songs about love, life and loss. Her debut album, Love Songs For The Homeless Guy, was inspired by the unfortunate death of her husband Jim Calvert, who, while far from homeless, had his death treated that way after suffering a sudden heart attack in October 2004 in front of Toronto Metropolitan Police headquarters on College St. while out for a walk, casually dressed and without any ID, during a stay at a nearby hotel during a conference. (Just recently, in fact, Kasstan and a few friends gathered for their annual “memorial” of Jim’s birthday outside the police hq to honour Jim and to point out that police have still not explained their actions the day he died –because they treated him as “a deceased street person” it was a long time before the family was notified.)

It was only after Jim’s death and the way he was treated that she was inspired to return to songwriting after a decades-long sabbatical. So, as in the ancient mythology of Capricornus, the constellation in which this night’s full moon eclipse will take place, Maria has taken the broken goat’s horn and turned it into the fabled “horn of plenty” insofar as her music is concerned. The full moon ritual associated with this night’s event is also “making your dreams come true” –very much a Capricornian quality, as my brother’s musical successes also adduce. There are many powerful songs on Maria’s album, including one that I regularly play at my events, “Ordinary Day” (which I believe should be a timeless hit), that tug at the heartstrings but also several that elicit wistful smiles as she recounts the pleasures and agonies of a fairly typical marriage of two former hippies who found themselves parents and did their best. The last time she came out to visit my open stage, however, she also unveiled several new tunes, so I expect that her feature set, which will start around 10:30, will contain a mix of the songs she’s known for and newer material.

The open stage at the club at 914 Pape Ave. on the corner of Mortimer (look for the orange patio wall!) begins at 9 p.m. and as usual I’ll have three mics set up, the new 61-keys polyphonic, touch-sensitive Yamaha keyboard and the excellent house guitar (the latter provided courtesy of Long & McQuade Musical Instruments) for players to borrow and I’ll be spinning tracks from Canadian and local singer-songwriters and bands between live acts.

Stuart Wilson of www.bigfix-music.com will be on hand as usual, offering the best recording deal anywhere: it’s free to get recorded, he’ll send you a mp3 sample and if you like what you hear and want to buy the set it’s just $1.00 per minute!

Last week was a record-setting night with nearly 80 people on hand (performers and audience) to Celebrate the California Day holiday till midnight and then the advent of Canada Day till the wee hours.

Here’s who played: Roger Zuraw (our stage-setter doing his usual reliably enchanting opening set); Paul Nash (doing fine covers, including a Lightfoot song); Ben Iscoe (a standup comedian making his debut here); Makeda Taylor (sensitive, philosophical and strong originals, also a debut); Alan Moffat (who brought the whole clan with him this time!); newcomer Toz (earnestly melodic); Kody & Leo (once again bringing some Asian vibe to classic Pop tunes and with their entourage in tow); Zachary Stevens (some great Country tunes this time); Jack (back for just his second-ever live performance, this time joined by lady friend Daniella singing on a Cohen tune); Karen Lee Wilde (dynamic Rock/Pop originals); Brian G & Gina (as always a solid melodic combo); Edo (who was joined by wife Jane singing backups for a Cohen tune); Trevor Jones (who had Mark Sepic up doing harp accompaniment); Teresa Greenwood (making her debut here doing some solid Pop covers and inspiring Karen Lee Wilde and Trevor Jones to do backup percussion and harmonies).

On the mp3 player I spun songs by: Shari Lynn; Shawn Sage; Diana Z; Flickershow; Maria Kasstan; Peter Verity; Marshall Dane; and Tracy K.

BTW, if you want to see pics of some of the performers mentioned in this note, you can join our Gary 17’s Acoustic Open Stage group on Facebook and dial in!

Do also check out the menu at California —the food is home-made by Danny and Jeanette and they’re family-sized portions too. There are several draughts on tap and a fully stocked liquor and wine bar. And of course, the patio will be open and there’s a big retractable awning if it rains on our parade.

Getting to California is a breeze —and there’s a small parking lot for five or six vehicles behind it, while street parking is free after 9 p.m. on both sides of Pape. Several buses run by frequently, including the Mortimer bus (#62) between Broadview and Main stations and, north from Pape Station, the Thorncliffe Park (#81) and Don Mills (#25) buses —and after 1 a.m. the Don Mills 303 bus runs all night between Steeles and Queen and stops on Pape right out front of the club’s entrance at 914 Pape Avenue on the corner of Pape and Mortimer a few blocks north of Danforth Ave., Toronto, ON


Gary 17
Publisher & Editor, to-nite magazine Tel: 416-424-1743
now available weekly via email as jpg attachments!

Hear my radio show, Open Season, at www.radiothatdoesntsuck.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Gary17 -songs on My Band tab

Check out my Sonic Bids EPK at http://www.sonicbids.com/epk/epk.asp?epk_id=202800

Now hosting Tues. open stage 9-2 @ California Pub, 914 Pape Ave. @ Mortimer, Toronto, ON

-------------------------------------------