Stony Plain Records Newsletter #40 - May 14/07
In this issue...• •
Four great new releases from Stony Plain • • Rave reviews for "Naughty Bawdy & Blue"• Harry Manx & Kevin Breit: We Get Letters• Corb Lund set to play UK's Glastonbury Festival • Ian Tyson to receive honorary Doctorate of Letters degree• Duke Robillard news file • Blind Pig artists play north of the border• Keeping in touch with Stony Plain
Busier than a single-armed wallpaper hanger, that's the story at Stony Plain these days. For starters, how about all these wonderful new releases? Please read on.
HOLGER PETERSEN
Stony Plain Head Wheel and President
Four great new releases from Stony Plain
MARIA MULDAUR: "NAUGHTY, BAWDY & BLUE" (SPCD-1319)
Already released in Canada, and due May 15 in the rest of the world.
The third in Maria's wonderful exploration of classic blues material. With Jim Dapogny's Chicago Jazz Band in rip-roaring support, she explores classic black blues from the '20s, 30s and 40s when Mamie Smith, Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Alberta Hunter were superstars and their songs titillated, shocked, and amused their audiences. Bonnie Raitt joins in on a Sippie Wallace classic, "Separation Blues."
DUKE ROBILLARD: "WORLD FULL OF BLUES" (SPCD-1323)
Released May 15 in Canada, June 26 in the rest of the world.
This is another special album of soulful blues from Duke Robillard, who has contributed so much fine music to the Stony Plain catalogue ever since "Duke's Blues" (SPCD-1195) was released in 1994. This is one for blues guitar fans all over the world. As if one CD isn't enough, this contains a free bonus CD with 11 more tracks of great music - well over two hours of great music for the price of a single CD. As our ads say: All killer, no filler!
HARRY MANX & KEVIN BREIT: "IN GOOD WE TRUST" (SPCD-1320)
Released in Canada April 10, due May 15 in the US and the rest of the world.
Harry Manx plays the blues with a south Asian accent; Kevin Breit is one of the most in-demand session players anywhere - and after CDs and world tours with the likes of Cassandra Wilson and Norah Jones, is anyone surprised? This unique pairing of two remarkable guitarists features original material, a surprising Bruce Springsteen cover and a traditional song, "Death Have Mercy."
VALDY & GARY FJELLGAARD: "CONTENDERS TWO: STILL IN THE RUNNING" (SPCD-1321)
Released in Canada April 24
Seven years ago, these two veterans of Canada's long-running folk and country music scenes got together for some laid-back, easy-going, tuneful recording. The result, "Contenders" (SPCD-1262), was a surprise best-seller, and the follow-up is every bit as good - simple, strong and sincere songs, shot through with the truth. This release is a must for folk and country fans and radio people.
Rave reviews for "Naughty Bawdy & Blue"
"Maria Muldaur's newest CD on Stony Plain honors the memories and music of groundbreaking blues women Ma Rainey, Victoria Spivey, Sippie Wallace, Bessie Smith, and Alberta Hunter. 'Naughty, Bawdy & Blue' features a dozen songs straight from the urban parlors, backrooms and bordellos of the 20's, 30's and 40s, and offers a more polished sound than these blues women's more rough-hewn Mississippi Delta contemporaries.
Maria's got James Dapogny's Chicago Jazz Band on most of 'Naughty, Bawdy & Blue;' Dapogny, a Professor of Music at the University of Michigan, is a world-renown musicologist and authority on ragtime and Jelly Roll Morton. That expertise shines through on this CD, and it's a reunion of sorts: James and his band backed Sippie Wallace, along with Bonnie Raitt, on Wallace's 1982 W.C. Handy-award winning Atlantic release, 'Sippie.' On 'Naughty, Bawdy & Blue' Bonnie joins Maria on a soulful version of Wallace's 'Separation Blues.'
'Naughty, Bawdy & Blue' is another solid example of Maria's tireless quest to keep the music of early blues women current: Both 'Richland Woman Blues' (2001) and her tribute to Memphis Minnie, 'Sweet Lovin' Ol' Soul' (2005), earned W.C. Handy and Grammy nominations."
- Eric Steiner, Editor, Washington Blues Society's Bluesletter
"After 45 years of exploring nearly every corner of American roots music, Maria Muldaur has come full circle, returning to the blues - and the blues singers - that pulled her into the music in the first place.
Muldaur gets some help on the new record from fellow blues archivist Bonnie Raitt, who teams up with her on Sippie Wallace's 'Separation Blues.' Wallace influenced both Muldaur's and Raitt's careers during the early 70s." - Will Stewart, Ann Arbor News
Harry Manx & Kevin Breit: We Get Letters
Stony Plain and Newsletter editor Richard Flohil recently presented Harry Manx and Kevin Breit in concert at Hugh's Room, the city's pre-eminent acoustic music venue. Wrote Mark Neveu, a southern Ontario music presenter and enthusiast:
"Thank you for being able to present one of the most unforgettable and amazing concerts. Even though I've been fortunate enough to present Harry about six times in my former little listening room Readers (in Dunnville, Ontario) and having seen him at least a dozen times at various venues here and there, last Friday's spectacular concert certainly goes down in my book as one of the absolute best ones, period.
The pairing of Kevin's playing (how can we say it: Eccentric? intergalactic?) alongside Harry's warm and spiritual vocals and tones, all from a magic place where the Mississippi meets the Ganges, was simply perfect.
Thanks again. I Iook forward to seeing them this summer somewhere on the festival circuit."
Corb Lund set to play UK's Glastonbury Festival
Corb Lund and his band, The Hurtin' Albertans, will perform at this year's Glastonbury Festival on Sunday, June 24th. Held in south-west England, Glastonbury is the largest annual outdoor music and performing arts festival in the world - and this year's festival sold out almost instantly, with more than 100,000 tickets snapped up the day of sale.
On the other side of the Atlantic, Corb Lund has been deeply involved in a special set to air on "Great American Country TV" as a part of "The Edge of Country" series. The show will be seen on Saturday, June 30th @ 1:00 pm EST, and on Monday, July 2nd @ 1:00 pm EST.
After a three month spell to continue working on songs for his next Stony Plain CD, Corb played dates in Colorado, Texas, Arizona and California in April, and more shows have been set in Texas and Tennessee starting May 26. Then he's heading off to the UK; In addition to the Glastonbury gig, Corb and the band play shows in Glasgow, Leicester, Leeds, Chichester and London.
Meanwhile pre-production has started on the new recording - with Nashville's Harry Stinson once again producing. Sessions for the new CD will begin at the end of this month.
Ian Tyson to receive honorary Doctorate of Letters degree
Ian Tyson will receive an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree at a Convocation ceremony at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC, on June 7.
A Stony Plain artist since 1988, Tyson has released a dozen CDs on the label. Along the way, in a career that began in the early 60s, he has hosted a long-running TV show, earned numerous awards (most importantly, the Order of Canada), and he continues to tour in Canada and the US.
"Ian Tyson is an icon in Canadian music," said Thompson River University President and Vice-chancellor Roger Burnsley. "We will be very proud to have him as an alumnus."
Watch for a long-in-the-works Ian Tyson tribute album, due in July.
Duke Robillard news file
Excellence in the Arts
On June 2, Duke Robillard will receive the 2007 Rhode Island Pell Award for Excellence in the Arts, which recognizes artistic excellence in Robillard's home state and on the national level. Additional award winners honoured that night will include Academy Award-winning actress Olympia Dukakis. Previous Pell honorees include actors Jason Robards, Robert Redford, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis, as well as Stephen Sondheim and Beverly Sills from the music world.
On the festival circuit Duke will be performing at numerous blues festivals this summer. Among them:
June 3 - Mike Arnone's Crawfish Festival, Augusta NJ
August 8 - Mont Tremblant Blues Festival, Mont Tremblant QC
August 18 - Madison Ribberfest, Madison IN
August 19 - White Mountain Blues Festival, North Conway NH
August 25 - Calgary International Blues Festival, Calgary AB
September 9 - KSDS Ocean Beach Jazz Festival, Ocean Beach CA
Top 10 with a bullet
Duke's video, "Duke Robillard and Friends Live at the Blackstone Theatre", is #10 on the Real Blues magazine's list of best blues, soul and gospel DVDs released in the last 12 months.
Blind Pig artists play north of the border
Stony Plain is the Canadian distributor for Blind Pig's excellent catalogue of contemporary blues artists - and there's plenty of touring activity north of the border.
Big Bill Morganfield is playing dates later this month in Ontario and Quebec. This man's not to be missed; the spirit, legacy, talent and charisma of his father, Muddy Waters, is intact.
May 24 - The Casbah, Hamilton, ON
May 25 - Legion 560, Kingston, ON
May 26 - Silver Dollar, Toronto, ON
May 27 - Bub's Bar & Grill, Cobourg, ON
May 28 - Centre D'Art, La Chapelle, PQ
May 30 - Café Campus, Montreal, PQ
May 31 - The Rainbow Bistro, Ottawa, ON
Other Blind Pig artists are on the Canadian festival circuit.
Elvin Bishop will play the Labatt Blues Festival in Edmonton, AB, on August 24. Otis Clay and James Cotton will both play the Burnaby Blues Festival in BC on August 12. Norton Buffalo will play July 11 at the Ottawa Bluesfest (and comes back to Canada for some rare appearances with guitarist Roy Rogers in November in Calgary and Edmonton.
Keeping in touch with Stony Plain
REACH OUT TO STONY PLAIN
Check the new Stony Plain website to buy music, check the back catalogue, get bio information on our artists, and read news from past newsletters: www.stonyplainrecords.com
Snail-mail goes to P.O. Box 861, Edmonton, AB, T5J 2L8, Canada
Phone: (780) 468-6423
FAX: (780) 465-8941.
Write to Stony Plain's head man, Holger Petersen, via e-mail at holger@stonyplainrecords.com.
The new man in our too-busy stock room is Peter Chapman. Mail orders, web enquiries, occasional coffee making - this guy does it all!
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Thank you from Too Slim and the Taildraggers
Greetings!
Summertime is almost here!
Too Slim and the Taildraggers look forward to seeing all of you at the upcoming shows. Please take a look at the tour schedule, so you don't miss out. There are festivals, indoor and outdoor events, boat cruises, all sorts of new and different dates coming up. Too Slim will be playing in Canada, Norway, Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Washington, California, Utah Pennsylvania, Nevada, Colorado, just to mention a few... more dates will be posted, so check back often. See you at the rock show!
click here for the schedule
Thank you! We appreciate your support.
People like you make all the difference to Too Slim and the Taildraggers.
Nancy Langford
Too Slim and the Taildraggers
www.tooslim.org
Greetings!
Summertime is almost here!
Too Slim and the Taildraggers look forward to seeing all of you at the upcoming shows. Please take a look at the tour schedule, so you don't miss out. There are festivals, indoor and outdoor events, boat cruises, all sorts of new and different dates coming up. Too Slim will be playing in Canada, Norway, Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Washington, California, Utah Pennsylvania, Nevada, Colorado, just to mention a few... more dates will be posted, so check back often. See you at the rock show!
click here for the schedule
Thank you! We appreciate your support.
People like you make all the difference to Too Slim and the Taildraggers.
Nancy Langford
Too Slim and the Taildraggers
www.tooslim.org
Blues Element comin' at ya...
Sunday, May 20 - 9 p.m.
The Press Club
850 Dundas St. W.
Toronto, ON
Tuesday, May 29 - 10 p.m.
Grossman's Tavern
379 Spadina Ave.
Toronto, ON
and.....check it out online at
www.blueselement.com or
www.myspace.com/blueselement
Sunday, May 20 - 9 p.m.
The Press Club
850 Dundas St. W.
Toronto, ON
Tuesday, May 29 - 10 p.m.
Grossman's Tavern
379 Spadina Ave.
Toronto, ON
and.....check it out online at
www.blueselement.com or
www.myspace.com/blueselement
Schedule for SpringRise Celebration tonight at Renaissance
It may not feel a lot like Spring outside tonight, but inside the Renaissance Café at 1938 Danforth Ave. (block-and-a-half west of Woodbine subway station), Toronto, ON, it’ll be warm and sprouting lots of new life musically and socially.
Here’s the schedule (slightly revised from previous ones because one of the members of Booster hurt their hand and can’t perform) for tonight’s SpringRise Celebration XXVIII show, which starts at 8 p.m. and for which cover is just $5.
8:00 Gary 17 Country Blues/Pop
8:15 Liana Di Marco Folk Rock
8:30 Linda Saslove Folk
8:45 Gord Wilks Folk Rock
9:00 The Nationals Double slide Blues
9:25 Paul Richard Protest/Folk Rock
9:40 Trevor Jones Reggae/Pop
9:55 Wildsmith Pop Rock
10:10 Monster Beach Hard Pop
10:35 Richard Wlodarski spoken word
10:45 Brian Pickard Pop Rock
11:00 Nichola Vaughan Pop Rock
11:15 Box Full Of Cash Country/Rock/Blues
11:40 Kim Doolittle Country/Pop
11:55 MOesch Folk Rock
12:10 Frank Wilks Pop Rock
12:25 Max Brand Maximum R&B
12:35 Fidget Punk Rock
1:00 Damon Hines Pop Rock/Jazz
1:15 Free-for-all, open stage artists
See ya tonight! –Gary 17
Gary 17
Publisher & Editor, to-nite magazine
Join our Yahoo Groups website at: http://to-nite.bigsmokemusic.com
(also accessible at http://tinyurl.com/4naan )
and read all the stories in the current and recent issues.
Telephone: Weekdays till 7: 416-833-5219; after 7 & wknds: 647-886-4820
It may not feel a lot like Spring outside tonight, but inside the Renaissance Café at 1938 Danforth Ave. (block-and-a-half west of Woodbine subway station), Toronto, ON, it’ll be warm and sprouting lots of new life musically and socially.
Here’s the schedule (slightly revised from previous ones because one of the members of Booster hurt their hand and can’t perform) for tonight’s SpringRise Celebration XXVIII show, which starts at 8 p.m. and for which cover is just $5.
8:00 Gary 17 Country Blues/Pop
8:15 Liana Di Marco Folk Rock
8:30 Linda Saslove Folk
8:45 Gord Wilks Folk Rock
9:00 The Nationals Double slide Blues
9:25 Paul Richard Protest/Folk Rock
9:40 Trevor Jones Reggae/Pop
9:55 Wildsmith Pop Rock
10:10 Monster Beach Hard Pop
10:35 Richard Wlodarski spoken word
10:45 Brian Pickard Pop Rock
11:00 Nichola Vaughan Pop Rock
11:15 Box Full Of Cash Country/Rock/Blues
11:40 Kim Doolittle Country/Pop
11:55 MOesch Folk Rock
12:10 Frank Wilks Pop Rock
12:25 Max Brand Maximum R&B
12:35 Fidget Punk Rock
1:00 Damon Hines Pop Rock/Jazz
1:15 Free-for-all, open stage artists
See ya tonight! –Gary 17
Gary 17
Publisher & Editor, to-nite magazine
Join our Yahoo Groups website at: http://to-nite.bigsmokemusic.com
(also accessible at http://tinyurl.com/4naan )
and read all the stories in the current and recent issues.
Telephone: Weekdays till 7: 416-833-5219; after 7 & wknds: 647-886-4820
jamesstreetmusic presents "It was 40 Years Ago Today" - June 1-2/07
[Message forwarded by www.thezine.ca]
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
NIAGARA FALLS EPILEPSY BENEFIT SEEKING BANDS/SOLO ARTISTS
M. Morningstar is putting on a benefit show for epilepsy at the Victoria Inn (the old Caverly Hotel) in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on Saturday, May 26th.
Three bands have canceled out, so the host is looking for entertainment for that night. Unfortunately it sounds as if there won't be a vocal PA there - all the bands are bringing their own gear, but hopefully someone will allow the add-on groups to use their stuff.
If anyone is interested in playing, or knows someone interested in playing, please contact M. Morningstar at 905-933-1554. Bear in mind that this is a benefit show. Some bands have already asked to be paid - that is just NOT right! This is one of those times that you can give something back to the community out of the goodness of your heart.
Thanks for your time,
Marty Murray
M. Morningstar is putting on a benefit show for epilepsy at the Victoria Inn (the old Caverly Hotel) in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on Saturday, May 26th.
Three bands have canceled out, so the host is looking for entertainment for that night. Unfortunately it sounds as if there won't be a vocal PA there - all the bands are bringing their own gear, but hopefully someone will allow the add-on groups to use their stuff.
If anyone is interested in playing, or knows someone interested in playing, please contact M. Morningstar at 905-933-1554. Bear in mind that this is a benefit show. Some bands have already asked to be paid - that is just NOT right! This is one of those times that you can give something back to the community out of the goodness of your heart.
Thanks for your time,
Marty Murray
George Olliver & Gangbuster
George Olliver & Gangbuster are looking forward to turning on the steam at this great little niteclub/restaurant called Whiskey John's this Fri., May 18, in Oshawa, ON, in the Island Plaza at King & Stevenson right across from the OC Centre, (905) 571-4533.
Come casual and bring your dancing shoes because George will be turning it on, featuring. Tony Padalino (keys) and Peter Mueller (gultar) from Canadian Idol. Of course, George will be cranking up the energy, so don't miss this performance in his home area of Durham Region.
Showtime - 9:30 pm
God Bless,
Hunter Hughes
Whitby, ON
www.georgeolliver.com
CLASSIC JAZZ VOCALIST ROBIN GREGORY
Classic jazz vocalist ROBIN GREGORY appearing with her trio -
BLISS RODRIGUEZ, Piano
OLLEN ERICH HUNT, Bass
JIMMY ROBINSON, Drums
at
ANNA’S JAZZ ISLAND
2120 ALLSTON WAY
BERKELEY, CA
(half-block east of Shattuck Avenue and downtown Berkeley BART)
SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2007
8:00PM – 12 MIDNIGHT
COVER CHARGE: $7.00
TELEPHONE: (510) 841-JAZZ
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
to-nite magazine's "SpringRise " at Renaissance Café - Thurs., May 17
This year's "Springrise" festival offers a highly diverse lineup. Acoustic Folk, Roots and Folk Rock acts will be prominent among the performers at my upcoming SpringRise XXVIII Celebration concert at Renaissance Café in Toronto, Ontario, on Thursday, May 17, starting at 8 p.m.
The concert, for which cover is just $5, will offer an extraordinary variety of acts that includes singer-songwriters, duos and bands playing everything from Blues to Punk and what’s in between!
I’ll be hosting and spinning tracks between live sets and there’s also an open-stage component for unexpected special guests!
The lineup will include:
Kim Doolittle (Country/Blues);
The Nationals (double-slide Blues);
Fidget (fem-Punk);
Pop/Folk Rock songwriters Frank Wilks, Gord Wilks, Liana, Damon Hines, Linda Saslove, MOesch, Paul Richards, Brian Pickard and Nichola Vaughan; Rock/Blues combos and solos such as David Wildsmith Band, Monster Beach, Country/Rock tyros Box Full Of Cash, Booster and Max Brand; Reggae songwriter Trevor Jones; Rootsy picker Terry Hart; and the poet Richard Wlodarski.
Other acts are still being confirmed. I’ll send an update later this week or check my to-nite website (http://to-nite.bigsmokemusic.com) for lineup updates.
Renaissance is located at 1938 Danforth Ave., a block-and-a-half west of Woodbine subway station in Toronto, and offers a great variety of imported and local microbrews on tap and in bottles, plus a full selection of spirits and excellent, nourishing food and desserts. Kids are welcome 'til 11 p.m.
Gary 17
Publisher & Editor, to-nite magazine
Join our Yahoo Groups website at: http://to-nite.bigsmokemusic.com
(also accessible at http://tinyurl.com/4naan ) and read all the stories in the current and recent issues.
Telephone: Weekdays till 7: 416-833-5219; after 7 & wknds: 647-886-4820
This year's "Springrise" festival offers a highly diverse lineup. Acoustic Folk, Roots and Folk Rock acts will be prominent among the performers at my upcoming SpringRise XXVIII Celebration concert at Renaissance Café in Toronto, Ontario, on Thursday, May 17, starting at 8 p.m.
The concert, for which cover is just $5, will offer an extraordinary variety of acts that includes singer-songwriters, duos and bands playing everything from Blues to Punk and what’s in between!
I’ll be hosting and spinning tracks between live sets and there’s also an open-stage component for unexpected special guests!
The lineup will include:
Kim Doolittle (Country/Blues);
The Nationals (double-slide Blues);
Fidget (fem-Punk);
Pop/Folk Rock songwriters Frank Wilks, Gord Wilks, Liana, Damon Hines, Linda Saslove, MOesch, Paul Richards, Brian Pickard and Nichola Vaughan; Rock/Blues combos and solos such as David Wildsmith Band, Monster Beach, Country/Rock tyros Box Full Of Cash, Booster and Max Brand; Reggae songwriter Trevor Jones; Rootsy picker Terry Hart; and the poet Richard Wlodarski.
Other acts are still being confirmed. I’ll send an update later this week or check my to-nite website (http://to-nite.bigsmokemusic.com) for lineup updates.
Renaissance is located at 1938 Danforth Ave., a block-and-a-half west of Woodbine subway station in Toronto, and offers a great variety of imported and local microbrews on tap and in bottles, plus a full selection of spirits and excellent, nourishing food and desserts. Kids are welcome 'til 11 p.m.
Gary 17
Publisher & Editor, to-nite magazine
Join our Yahoo Groups website at: http://to-nite.bigsmokemusic.com
(also accessible at http://tinyurl.com/4naan ) and read all the stories in the current and recent issues.
Telephone: Weekdays till 7: 416-833-5219; after 7 & wknds: 647-886-4820
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Saturday, May 12, in Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL)
What: Penner Mackay, Doug Miller & Steve Goldberger
Where: On the sidewalk in front of Ten Thousand Villages store.
Corner of Queen & Victoria in NOTL
When: SATURDAY, MAY 12 - 12 noon - 2 p.m.
As part of the Fair Trade Day celebrations, we'll be doing our annual acoustic jam out on the street using many of the rhythm instruments and flutes that are sold in the store.
NIAGARA RHYTHM SECTION'S SATURDAY NIGHT MUSIC IMPROV
This week's featured guests:
SATURDAY, MAY 12 - MARTIN AUCOIN & PAUL MARTIN
The Anchorage
186 Ricardo St.
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905-468-2141
Every Saturday night - 10:00 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. - no cover
This week we welcome back our friends, Martin Aucoin & Paul Martin.
"Man, he can outright play" is what you hear about Martin Aucoin. He doesn’t just play, he lets you hear what he’s saying. Martin has played keyboards in numerous bands around Toronto, including with Johnny Max Band, Morgan Davis and Jack DeKeyzer, before moving to Nashville in 1990. He then toured with BJ Thomas for a year and a half. He also played on recording sessions for George Strait, Garth Brooks, Confederate Railroad and John Michael Montgomery. He has played live with Larry Carlton, Tony Joe White, Bo Diddley, Ricky Van Shelton, Alan Jackson, Alex Harvey, The Drifters, Mark O'Connor, as well as having a 4-year gig at the Grand Ole Opry with Jimmy C. Newman, the great Cajun singer. Also he's currently the keyboard player for The Wilkinsons. Despite all that, he's a real down-to-earth guy and we always have a ball whenever he comes to Niagara.
As an added bonus, we've also got Paul Martin, known for his work in the The Blushing Brides, Angel Marr Band, Tripminer, The Dylan Tree, Tom Waits Appreciation Congregation, etc. He was here a few months ago and he wowed us with his superb guitar playing, great singing and a huge library of classic rock tunes you forgot you ever knew. [And he's an excellent visual artist, too! - DW]
What: Penner Mackay, Doug Miller & Steve Goldberger
Where: On the sidewalk in front of Ten Thousand Villages store.
Corner of Queen & Victoria in NOTL
When: SATURDAY, MAY 12 - 12 noon - 2 p.m.
As part of the Fair Trade Day celebrations, we'll be doing our annual acoustic jam out on the street using many of the rhythm instruments and flutes that are sold in the store.
NIAGARA RHYTHM SECTION'S SATURDAY NIGHT MUSIC IMPROV
This week's featured guests:
SATURDAY, MAY 12 - MARTIN AUCOIN & PAUL MARTIN
The Anchorage
186 Ricardo St.
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905-468-2141
Every Saturday night - 10:00 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. - no cover
This week we welcome back our friends, Martin Aucoin & Paul Martin.
"Man, he can outright play" is what you hear about Martin Aucoin. He doesn’t just play, he lets you hear what he’s saying. Martin has played keyboards in numerous bands around Toronto, including with Johnny Max Band, Morgan Davis and Jack DeKeyzer, before moving to Nashville in 1990. He then toured with BJ Thomas for a year and a half. He also played on recording sessions for George Strait, Garth Brooks, Confederate Railroad and John Michael Montgomery. He has played live with Larry Carlton, Tony Joe White, Bo Diddley, Ricky Van Shelton, Alan Jackson, Alex Harvey, The Drifters, Mark O'Connor, as well as having a 4-year gig at the Grand Ole Opry with Jimmy C. Newman, the great Cajun singer. Also he's currently the keyboard player for The Wilkinsons. Despite all that, he's a real down-to-earth guy and we always have a ball whenever he comes to Niagara.
As an added bonus, we've also got Paul Martin, known for his work in the The Blushing Brides, Angel Marr Band, Tripminer, The Dylan Tree, Tom Waits Appreciation Congregation, etc. He was here a few months ago and he wowed us with his superb guitar playing, great singing and a huge library of classic rock tunes you forgot you ever knew. [And he's an excellent visual artist, too! - DW]
Visible World Films has released “Down in the Woods”, a DVD about the life and music of Alabama bluesman Willie King. The film takes viewers on a journey into Willie’s world - a backwood, juke-joint musician who lives and breathes the blues every moment of his life. The DVD contains a 63-minute documentary and 40 minutes of live music. The DVD is available at Willie King’s website. In addition, a DVD Release concert will be held at Jupiter Bar & Grill in Tuscaloosa, Ala. on May 11th and at Willie King’s 10th Annual Freedom Creek Festival May 25th and 26th. Dutch filmmakers Saskia Rietmeijer and Bart Drolenga of Visible World Films came to America with the intention of producing a documentary about African American arts and culture in the deep South. When they met Willie, they decided instead to devote their efforts to creating a DVD about Willie's life and times.The DVD is a fascinating collage of Willie King's life and many activities, illuminated with searing live performances and interviews with his family and friends. It enables the viewer to experience something of what it is like to be a modern bluesman living in the Alabama Black Belt, "down in the woods.."Born on a cotton plantation in 1943 the son of poor sharecroppers, Willie was drawn to the blues at an early age. He made his first guitar out of bailing wire when he was seven and has been playing ever since. Cotton picker, moon shiner, juke joint owner, civil rights activist and social worker – Willie has done them all and now is one of the most popular blues musicians around. He plays big stages and festivals but always returns to his beloved Old Memphis, a small and mostly African-American community in rural Alabama where he lives in an old trailer and preaches the blues at house parties and in ramshackle juke joints. Willie spends much of his time supporting his local community and teaching young people the traditional culture and survival skills passed on to him from his people’s share cropping and slave ancestors.Willie King is one of the true innovators of the blues in the tradition of Howlin’ Wolf and John Lee Hooker. His music is powerful – an exciting, danceable mix of rural blues, soul and boogie, all in his own distinctive style. King’s lyrics are often political, fighting racism and a voice for poor blacks in the South. He preaches a message of peace, togetherness and social justice for all people around the world.
* BLUES *
Cara Smith
Program Director
Alabama Blues Project
(205) 752-6263
Freedom Creek Festival 2007 - Old Memphis, Alabama - May 25-26/07
FRIDAY from 4 pm to late, featuring Terry "Harmonica" Bean and Kent Duchaine plus Alabama blues talent Taylor Moore, The Old Memphis Kings, Grapevine, Robert, Alex, Rick Castillo, Whiteboy Corduroy and more!
SATURDAY from 11am, featuring legendary bluesmen Paul Oscher, T-Model Ford, Willie King and the Liberators PLUS MUDCAT, "Birmingham" George Conner, Jesse Daniels, Rev. Little, Julian Conner, Alabama blues women Caroline Shines, Debbie Bond and Sweet Claudette, plus The Project, Todd Johnson, Jock Webb, Pat Moss, and more!
This festival is made possible by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Alabama State Council on the Arts, Music Maker Foundation, Southern Arts Federations, Black Belt Community Foundation and other generous individuals, with assistance from the Alabama Blues Project.
Randy Oxford Band to Release Memphis to Motown
The Randy Oxford Band will be celebrating the release of their long awaited new CD, Memphis to Motown, on May 26 at Jazzbones in Tacoma, WA.
This will be an evening of multiple bands, dance routines, clowns, jugglers, surprise guests and more. The evening starts at 8 p.m. with the very popular Jude Dugan Band, featuring 18-year-old guitar sensation Ian Crawford.
After Jude Dugan, the Randy Oxford Band will play a set with selections from their new CD. Then a new and exciting band in town called Interstate Soul Code will make their NW debut followed once again by the Randy Oxford Band to close out the night.
All of this in one evening for only $10 in advance or $12 at the door.
Come take a ride with Randy Oxford and his award-winning band from "Memphis to Motown". This will be an evening of NW entertainment to remember for a long, long time. Reservations are strongly advised.
More info at www.jazzbones.com or www.randyoxford.com.
The Randy Oxford Band will be celebrating the release of their long awaited new CD, Memphis to Motown, on May 26 at Jazzbones in Tacoma, WA.
This will be an evening of multiple bands, dance routines, clowns, jugglers, surprise guests and more. The evening starts at 8 p.m. with the very popular Jude Dugan Band, featuring 18-year-old guitar sensation Ian Crawford.
After Jude Dugan, the Randy Oxford Band will play a set with selections from their new CD. Then a new and exciting band in town called Interstate Soul Code will make their NW debut followed once again by the Randy Oxford Band to close out the night.
All of this in one evening for only $10 in advance or $12 at the door.
Come take a ride with Randy Oxford and his award-winning band from "Memphis to Motown". This will be an evening of NW entertainment to remember for a long, long time. Reservations are strongly advised.
More info at www.jazzbones.com or www.randyoxford.com.
Mark Sepic @ California Pub and Grill (Toronto) - May 11/07
Hi, folks.
On Friday, May 11, from 9 pm - 1 a.m., I'll be playing solo at the newly refurbished California Pub and Grill (919 Pape Avenue @ Mortimer, north of Danforth Avenue, Toronto, 416-461-1251). The new owners have basically re-built the place and quite beautifully. Gone are the pool tables, tough-guy sports bar vibe, etc. Come help them wear it in gracefully!
peace,
Mark
www.marksepic.com
Hi, folks.
On Friday, May 11, from 9 pm - 1 a.m., I'll be playing solo at the newly refurbished California Pub and Grill (919 Pape Avenue @ Mortimer, north of Danforth Avenue, Toronto, 416-461-1251). The new owners have basically re-built the place and quite beautifully. Gone are the pool tables, tough-guy sports bar vibe, etc. Come help them wear it in gracefully!
peace,
Mark
www.marksepic.com
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Downchild @ Barrymore's - Ottawa, ON - May 26/07
Brand-New CD, Downchild - Live at the Palais Royale
Donnie Walsh - Performing at (Jeff) Healey's Club - Dec. 2006
(Photo by D.M. Wells)
Downchild
(www.downchild.com)
Becki Sue & her Big Rockin' Daddies! will be at The Untapped Blues Festival http://www.untappedblues.com/ this Saturday, May 12, in Kennewick, Washington. The show starts at noon and we go on at 4 p.m.
Becki Sue & her Big Rockin' Daddies! won five "BB" Awards (actually six, counting Jeff Settle's award) at The Washington Blues Society's 2007 "Best of the Blues" Awards Show at The Triple Door in Seattle on Sunday, May 6. Congratulations to ALL of the nominees and winners!
Best BLUES Band - (two in a row)
Becki Sue - best female vocalist AND performer of the year
Les White - best bass (two in a row)
Tom Boyle - best electric guitar (three in a row)
Jeff Settle (graphic artist) - best blues image for the "Becki on Bass" logo used on our "Beale Street or Bust" fundraiser t-shirts and other products.
For the full scoop on the WBS "BB's" and Becki Sue & her BRD's, please check out these two links. These are stories that were done for the Seattle Times by their prestigious jazz/blues staff writer, Paul deBarros. In chronological order:
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=jazz04&date=20070504
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/artsentertainment/2003697268_blues08.html
Please be sure and keep your ears and eyes open for our new CD, BIG CITY BLUES, which will be released soon. The new CD will feature four original tunes and some nationally known surprise guest artists!
www.bigrockindaddies.com
Becki Sue & her Big Rockin' Daddies! won five "BB" Awards (actually six, counting Jeff Settle's award) at The Washington Blues Society's 2007 "Best of the Blues" Awards Show at The Triple Door in Seattle on Sunday, May 6. Congratulations to ALL of the nominees and winners!
Best BLUES Band - (two in a row)
Becki Sue - best female vocalist AND performer of the year
Les White - best bass (two in a row)
Tom Boyle - best electric guitar (three in a row)
Jeff Settle (graphic artist) - best blues image for the "Becki on Bass" logo used on our "Beale Street or Bust" fundraiser t-shirts and other products.
For the full scoop on the WBS "BB's" and Becki Sue & her BRD's, please check out these two links. These are stories that were done for the Seattle Times by their prestigious jazz/blues staff writer, Paul deBarros. In chronological order:
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=jazz04&date=20070504
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/artsentertainment/2003697268_blues08.html
Please be sure and keep your ears and eyes open for our new CD, BIG CITY BLUES, which will be released soon. The new CD will feature four original tunes and some nationally known surprise guest artists!
www.bigrockindaddies.com
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
2007 Fresh Fish Award for Emerging Writers
Sponsored by Brian O'Dea and administered by the Writers' Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Writers' Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador (WANL) is now calling for submissions to one of the country's most lucrative literary awards for unpublished writers. Dubbed the "Fresh Fish Award for Emerging Writers" by its sponsor, Newfoundland-born author Brian O'Dea, the prize is valued at $5,000. The Fresh Fish Award is intended to serve as an incentive for emerging writers in Newfoundland and Labrador by providing them with financial support, recognition, and professional editing services for a book-length manuscript in any genre.
The winning author will receive a cash prize of $4,000 and the editing services of a professional editor valued at up to $1,000 (and a tax-deductible receipt for those services). The winning author will also have her or his name inscribed on a brass plaque and receive a miniature sculpture in the style of "Man Nailed to a Fish" by sculptor Jim Maunder.
Rules of Eligibility
Writers must be registered members of WANL with a completed, unpublished manuscript in any genre. Writers may join WANL at the time of submission.
Writers must have lived in Newfoundland and Labrador for at least three of the previous five calendar years, in any combination of 36 of the last 60 months.
Writers are permitted to submit only one entry per year, in any genre.
Writers with a published book in any genre or a book accepted for publication at the time of submission are NOT eligible.
The Fresh Fish Award will accept a manuscript that has been submitted once before. Entry forms for resubmitted manuscripts must identify the manuscript as such, and the year it was first entered. Do not submit the same manuscript more than twice to the Fresh Fish Award.
Submission Guidelines
Each manuscript must be typed, double-spaced, and submitted in triplicate. No handwritten manuscripts will be accepted. Pages must be numbered and may be copied double-sided. Ensure that your name appears on the title page only. To have the manuscript returned, include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Send entries, postmarked no later than June 15, 2007, to:
The Writers Alliance
PO Box 2681
St John's, NL A1C 6K1
Or hand deliver to:
155 Water Street
St John's, NL
Call Shoshanna at (709) 739-5215 for more information.
www.writersalliance.nf.ca
Sponsored by Brian O'Dea and administered by the Writers' Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Writers' Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador (WANL) is now calling for submissions to one of the country's most lucrative literary awards for unpublished writers. Dubbed the "Fresh Fish Award for Emerging Writers" by its sponsor, Newfoundland-born author Brian O'Dea, the prize is valued at $5,000. The Fresh Fish Award is intended to serve as an incentive for emerging writers in Newfoundland and Labrador by providing them with financial support, recognition, and professional editing services for a book-length manuscript in any genre.
The winning author will receive a cash prize of $4,000 and the editing services of a professional editor valued at up to $1,000 (and a tax-deductible receipt for those services). The winning author will also have her or his name inscribed on a brass plaque and receive a miniature sculpture in the style of "Man Nailed to a Fish" by sculptor Jim Maunder.
Rules of Eligibility
Writers must be registered members of WANL with a completed, unpublished manuscript in any genre. Writers may join WANL at the time of submission.
Writers must have lived in Newfoundland and Labrador for at least three of the previous five calendar years, in any combination of 36 of the last 60 months.
Writers are permitted to submit only one entry per year, in any genre.
Writers with a published book in any genre or a book accepted for publication at the time of submission are NOT eligible.
The Fresh Fish Award will accept a manuscript that has been submitted once before. Entry forms for resubmitted manuscripts must identify the manuscript as such, and the year it was first entered. Do not submit the same manuscript more than twice to the Fresh Fish Award.
Submission Guidelines
Each manuscript must be typed, double-spaced, and submitted in triplicate. No handwritten manuscripts will be accepted. Pages must be numbered and may be copied double-sided. Ensure that your name appears on the title page only. To have the manuscript returned, include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Send entries, postmarked no later than June 15, 2007, to:
The Writers Alliance
PO Box 2681
St John's, NL A1C 6K1
Or hand deliver to:
155 Water Street
St John's, NL
Call Shoshanna at (709) 739-5215 for more information.
www.writersalliance.nf.ca
BRENT OLIVER PRESENTS (BOP) - May 8/07
Two big shows this week - Teenage Head & Joel Plaskett
It’s a big week in Edmonton for live music, and there are still some tickets left for these very special BOP events.
Thursday, May 10
Legendary Canadian (Hamilton) Punk Rockers Teenage Head w/ The Mark Birtles Project & The B-Movies
Starlite Room
Doors at 8 p.m., 19+
Tickets available at Blackbyrd, Listen, Freecloud & Ticketmaster
Saturday, May 12
BOP and JCL Productions presentsJoel Plaskett Emergencyw/ Peter ElkasThe Starlite Room Doors at 8pm, No Minors, Members & guests Tickets available at Listen, Blackbyrd, Megatunes & Ticketmaster
Get your tickets now!
Destroyer, June 29
- On Sale Thursday, May 10, at 10 a.m.
Just announced!
Friday, June 29
Brent Oliver Presents Merge Recording artists Destroyer w/ The Hylozoists & Ohbijou
Starlite Room
Doors at 8 p.m., 19+
Tickets on sale Thursday, May 10, at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster, Blackbyrd, Freecloud & Listen
2006 marked the return of Vancouver ’s Dan Bejar with his seventh full-length release under the moniker, Destroyer. If there has been any precedent set or pattern developed over the previous six recordings in the Destroyer canon, it’s that Bejar holds little regard for convention or expectations. Never one to rest on laurels, each successive Destroyer release always explores new sonic territories and ideas.
Upcoming BOP events
Thursday, May 17
Subterranean Sound & BOP present Z-Trip w/ Degree, Shortround & Echo and Sweetz
Starlite Room
Doors at 9 p.m., 19+
Tickets at Listen, Treehouse, Foosh, Colourblind, Soular, Blackbyrd & Ticketmaster
Saturday, June 9
Starlite Room & Brent Oliver presents Choke
THE FAREWELL SHOW w/ Ghosts of Modern Man, Fractal Pattern, E-Twon Beatdown & Hills Have Eyes
Saturday, June 9
Starlite Room
Doors at 8 p.m., 19+
Tickets at Blackbyrd, Freecloud, Listen & Ticketmaster
Sunday, June 24
Brent Oliver Presents K recording artist from Olympia, WA, Calvin Johnson (Beat Happening, Dub Narcotic Sound System, Halo Benders) & JagJaguar artist from NB Julie Doiron w/ Field & Stream
Listen Records
10649 124 Street
Edmonton, AB
All Ages, Early show
Doors at 6 p.m., Show at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets at Listen & Blackbyrd
Friday, June 29
Brent Oliver Presents Merge Recording artists Destroyer w/ The Hylozoists & Ohbijou
Starlite Room
Doors at 8 p.m., 19+
Tickets on sale Thursday, May 10, at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster, Blackbyrd, Freecloud & Listen
www.brentoliver.com
Two big shows this week - Teenage Head & Joel Plaskett
It’s a big week in Edmonton for live music, and there are still some tickets left for these very special BOP events.
Thursday, May 10
Legendary Canadian (Hamilton) Punk Rockers Teenage Head w/ The Mark Birtles Project & The B-Movies
Starlite Room
Doors at 8 p.m., 19+
Tickets available at Blackbyrd, Listen, Freecloud & Ticketmaster
Saturday, May 12
BOP and JCL Productions presentsJoel Plaskett Emergencyw/ Peter ElkasThe Starlite Room Doors at 8pm, No Minors, Members & guests Tickets available at Listen, Blackbyrd, Megatunes & Ticketmaster
Get your tickets now!
Destroyer, June 29
- On Sale Thursday, May 10, at 10 a.m.
Just announced!
Friday, June 29
Brent Oliver Presents Merge Recording artists Destroyer w/ The Hylozoists & Ohbijou
Starlite Room
Doors at 8 p.m., 19+
Tickets on sale Thursday, May 10, at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster, Blackbyrd, Freecloud & Listen
2006 marked the return of Vancouver ’s Dan Bejar with his seventh full-length release under the moniker, Destroyer. If there has been any precedent set or pattern developed over the previous six recordings in the Destroyer canon, it’s that Bejar holds little regard for convention or expectations. Never one to rest on laurels, each successive Destroyer release always explores new sonic territories and ideas.
Upcoming BOP events
Thursday, May 17
Subterranean Sound & BOP present Z-Trip w/ Degree, Shortround & Echo and Sweetz
Starlite Room
Doors at 9 p.m., 19+
Tickets at Listen, Treehouse, Foosh, Colourblind, Soular, Blackbyrd & Ticketmaster
Saturday, June 9
Starlite Room & Brent Oliver presents Choke
THE FAREWELL SHOW w/ Ghosts of Modern Man, Fractal Pattern, E-Twon Beatdown & Hills Have Eyes
Saturday, June 9
Starlite Room
Doors at 8 p.m., 19+
Tickets at Blackbyrd, Freecloud, Listen & Ticketmaster
Sunday, June 24
Brent Oliver Presents K recording artist from Olympia, WA, Calvin Johnson (Beat Happening, Dub Narcotic Sound System, Halo Benders) & JagJaguar artist from NB Julie Doiron w/ Field & Stream
Listen Records
10649 124 Street
Edmonton, AB
All Ages, Early show
Doors at 6 p.m., Show at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets at Listen & Blackbyrd
Friday, June 29
Brent Oliver Presents Merge Recording artists Destroyer w/ The Hylozoists & Ohbijou
Starlite Room
Doors at 8 p.m., 19+
Tickets on sale Thursday, May 10, at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster, Blackbyrd, Freecloud & Listen
www.brentoliver.com
Community-Media.com
NEXT WEEK!
Book now!
May Workshops:
How To Start a Non-Profit Group
Wednesday, May 16th, 2007
7 to 9 pm $35.00 + GST
This workshop is geared towards individuals or groups who are interested in establishing a non-profit corporation. It is primarily intended to provide an overview of the process of getting a new group off the ground successfully. Although we will touch on legal issues, this is not primarily a discussion of non-profit or charitable law.
Details and registration are at:
www.community-media.com/Start_A_Non_Profit_Group.html
Successful Grantwriting
Thursday, May 17th, 2007
10 AM to 4 PM
$99.00 + GST (includes lunch)
This very popular workshop is geared towards individuals who are new to grantwriting, for individual projects or small non-profit organizations. The day will include both lectures and hands-on group activities. At the end of the workshop, participants will have enough knowledge to complete a typical funding application such as the Ontario Trillium Foundation application. A workbook will be included. Details and registration are at:
www.community-media.com/Successful_Grantwriting.html
Media Relations 101
Friday, May 25th, 2007
10 AM to 4 PM
$99.00 + GST (includes lunch)
This very popular workshop is geared towards individuals who are new to grantwriting, for individual projects or for small non-profit organizations. The day will include both lectures and hands-on group activities. At the end of the workshop, participants will have enough knowledge to complete a typical funding application such as the Ontario Trillium Foundation application. A workbook will be included. Details and registration are at:
www.community-media.com/Media_Relations_101.html
All workshops will take place at:
The Factory
Hamilton Media Arts Centre
126 James Street North
Hamilton, ON
www.hamiltonmediaarts.org
Pre-registration is required at:
www.community-media.com/CM_Workshop_Form.html
Your registration is confirmed only when payment has been received. All workshops are subject to cancellation. Call us at 289-439-2841 or e-mail info@community-media.com.
NEXT WEEK!
Book now!
May Workshops:
How To Start a Non-Profit Group
Wednesday, May 16th, 2007
7 to 9 pm $35.00 + GST
This workshop is geared towards individuals or groups who are interested in establishing a non-profit corporation. It is primarily intended to provide an overview of the process of getting a new group off the ground successfully. Although we will touch on legal issues, this is not primarily a discussion of non-profit or charitable law.
Details and registration are at:
www.community-media.com/Start_A_Non_Profit_Group.html
Successful Grantwriting
Thursday, May 17th, 2007
10 AM to 4 PM
$99.00 + GST (includes lunch)
This very popular workshop is geared towards individuals who are new to grantwriting, for individual projects or small non-profit organizations. The day will include both lectures and hands-on group activities. At the end of the workshop, participants will have enough knowledge to complete a typical funding application such as the Ontario Trillium Foundation application. A workbook will be included. Details and registration are at:
www.community-media.com/Successful_Grantwriting.html
Media Relations 101
Friday, May 25th, 2007
10 AM to 4 PM
$99.00 + GST (includes lunch)
This very popular workshop is geared towards individuals who are new to grantwriting, for individual projects or for small non-profit organizations. The day will include both lectures and hands-on group activities. At the end of the workshop, participants will have enough knowledge to complete a typical funding application such as the Ontario Trillium Foundation application. A workbook will be included. Details and registration are at:
www.community-media.com/Media_Relations_101.html
All workshops will take place at:
The Factory
Hamilton Media Arts Centre
126 James Street North
Hamilton, ON
www.hamiltonmediaarts.org
Pre-registration is required at:
www.community-media.com/CM_Workshop_Form.html
Your registration is confirmed only when payment has been received. All workshops are subject to cancellation. Call us at 289-439-2841 or e-mail info@community-media.com.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Let's Get Nervous - Jack Pedler (2007 release)
(CD Review by D.M. Wells)
There’s something admirably warped about Hamilton (Ontario) music icon Jack Pedler.
When he’s not making a musical mockery of ho-hum drummers when performing live, he’s a man on a political mission. Fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately) for those “bears of very little brain”, this otherwise complacent, sober man channels his political dissension into his madcap songwriting capabilities. His previous recordings (Fairyland It Ain’t, D.T. Delinquent, etc.) are uniquely bizarre and Let’s Get Nervous is no exception.
Reverting back to his high-speed rock’n’roll roots (with Coyote Shivers, Teenage Head and many, many others), Jack has dispensed with grand production here. Pared down to a basic but hardly novice trio, this collection of musical zingers is meant to shake the foundations of ever-increasing social apathy, heavily injected with Jack’s incorrigible sense of humour.
We are introduced to his new persona – a ’50s-era radio DJ/lush - by the haphazard twisting of an analog dial that picks up a station ID clip of “Wonderful J-A-C-K – JACK!”. The gruffly-slurring host bellows, “Moms, dads, boys and girls, the cartoons are coming your way”, followed by some Warner Brothers-like sound effects on the cheekily entitled “Diesel Drivin’ Dyke”. It features a hard-core dizzying guitar lead from the now sadly departed Byng Bell (christened Mark Severn), supported with a pulsing electric bass by the cardiac-challenging Neil Nickafor and Jack’s precision-controlled assault on the drum kit. Dave Pedler, Jack’s brother, provided the lyrics for this one, as well as “Third World Home”.
Jack gets his point across without being overly articulate on dragged-out headnodders “Up on Down Street” and “Toxin Town” (“Ooh, what’s that smell? …it’s a helluva lot worse than a halitosis vapour; light up your smoke and don’t you forget, there ain’t no fine to pay in good old high-falutin’ toxin town”). Old-school music fans will no doubt wax nostalgic over the preceding four-second “boo-boo” of a stylus screeching across the groove-worn surface of a vinyl record.
The strains of symphonic harps serve as a musical backdrop for a satirical “Commercial Break” enticing the listeners to “Look at this – just in time for doomsday. Look at this delicious carvial [neurotoxic] mushroom cloud ice cream cake. Isn’t it colourful? And, boy, is it tasty! Thanks for shopping at Carvia.” [I'm just speculating on this, as no liner notes were provided. DW]
“Mapled Red & White” abandons a brief, vaguely “21st Century Schizoid Man”-like guitar intro by zipping into a punky-spunky paroxysm with almost incoherent lyrics. It fizzles out beautifully with a marching drum and melody along the lines of “The Ants Go Marching One By One (hurrah, hurrah)” and seamlessly flowing into “You’re On the Air” (which features Jack on hilarious vocals, keyboards, bass, percussion and guitars).
“Third World Home” is a rip-roaring, tongue-in-cheek tribute that any and all intellectual citizens of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, would consider an appropriate municipal anthem. It’s probably my favourite track, but I’m undecided about that.
The severely inebriated radio host character ends the CD by taking a “Closing Call” – a profanity-laced dialogue then ensues with a disgruntled listener that just about made me wet my pants from laughing so hard. Only Jack Pedler could get away with this anarchical middle finger at CRTC regulations – f’n priceless, eh?
Mark Severn’s dazzling dexterity on guitar and warm personality will be greatly missed for years to come. I’m very glad that producer Georgie Fab, Jack Pedler, Dave Pedler and Neil Nickafor (also a member of the Friends of Richard Newell Committee) were able to work with him on Let's Get Nervous, one of his final recordings. David Wildsmith or Mike Chiarot’s websites contain more of Mark’s swansongs (which also feature Jack Pedler on drums).
When he’s not making a musical mockery of ho-hum drummers when performing live, he’s a man on a political mission. Fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately) for those “bears of very little brain”, this otherwise complacent, sober man channels his political dissension into his madcap songwriting capabilities. His previous recordings (Fairyland It Ain’t, D.T. Delinquent, etc.) are uniquely bizarre and Let’s Get Nervous is no exception.
Reverting back to his high-speed rock’n’roll roots (with Coyote Shivers, Teenage Head and many, many others), Jack has dispensed with grand production here. Pared down to a basic but hardly novice trio, this collection of musical zingers is meant to shake the foundations of ever-increasing social apathy, heavily injected with Jack’s incorrigible sense of humour.
We are introduced to his new persona – a ’50s-era radio DJ/lush - by the haphazard twisting of an analog dial that picks up a station ID clip of “Wonderful J-A-C-K – JACK!”. The gruffly-slurring host bellows, “Moms, dads, boys and girls, the cartoons are coming your way”, followed by some Warner Brothers-like sound effects on the cheekily entitled “Diesel Drivin’ Dyke”. It features a hard-core dizzying guitar lead from the now sadly departed Byng Bell (christened Mark Severn), supported with a pulsing electric bass by the cardiac-challenging Neil Nickafor and Jack’s precision-controlled assault on the drum kit. Dave Pedler, Jack’s brother, provided the lyrics for this one, as well as “Third World Home”.
Jack gets his point across without being overly articulate on dragged-out headnodders “Up on Down Street” and “Toxin Town” (“Ooh, what’s that smell? …it’s a helluva lot worse than a halitosis vapour; light up your smoke and don’t you forget, there ain’t no fine to pay in good old high-falutin’ toxin town”). Old-school music fans will no doubt wax nostalgic over the preceding four-second “boo-boo” of a stylus screeching across the groove-worn surface of a vinyl record.
The strains of symphonic harps serve as a musical backdrop for a satirical “Commercial Break” enticing the listeners to “Look at this – just in time for doomsday. Look at this delicious carvial [neurotoxic] mushroom cloud ice cream cake. Isn’t it colourful? And, boy, is it tasty! Thanks for shopping at Carvia.” [I'm just speculating on this, as no liner notes were provided. DW]
“Mapled Red & White” abandons a brief, vaguely “21st Century Schizoid Man”-like guitar intro by zipping into a punky-spunky paroxysm with almost incoherent lyrics. It fizzles out beautifully with a marching drum and melody along the lines of “The Ants Go Marching One By One (hurrah, hurrah)” and seamlessly flowing into “You’re On the Air” (which features Jack on hilarious vocals, keyboards, bass, percussion and guitars).
“Third World Home” is a rip-roaring, tongue-in-cheek tribute that any and all intellectual citizens of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, would consider an appropriate municipal anthem. It’s probably my favourite track, but I’m undecided about that.
The severely inebriated radio host character ends the CD by taking a “Closing Call” – a profanity-laced dialogue then ensues with a disgruntled listener that just about made me wet my pants from laughing so hard. Only Jack Pedler could get away with this anarchical middle finger at CRTC regulations – f’n priceless, eh?
Mark Severn’s dazzling dexterity on guitar and warm personality will be greatly missed for years to come. I’m very glad that producer Georgie Fab, Jack Pedler, Dave Pedler and Neil Nickafor (also a member of the Friends of Richard Newell Committee) were able to work with him on Let's Get Nervous, one of his final recordings. David Wildsmith or Mike Chiarot’s websites contain more of Mark’s swansongs (which also feature Jack Pedler on drums).
Check out Let's Get Nervous and other great music at:
Crossroads Band at the Central Club - Kirkland, WA - May 6
Sunday, May 6th, Crossroads will rock one of the last true old school bars - The Central Club - 124 Kirkland Avenue, Kirkland, WA, 425-827-0808. Please join us. This club knows how to get down. We hope to see ya! 8 pm - midnight.
http://www.crossroadsblues.net/
John Lee
seattleblues@comcast.net
Sunday, May 6th, Crossroads will rock one of the last true old school bars - The Central Club - 124 Kirkland Avenue, Kirkland, WA, 425-827-0808. Please join us. This club knows how to get down. We hope to see ya! 8 pm - midnight.
http://www.crossroadsblues.net/
John Lee
seattleblues@comcast.net
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Marty Murray @ Sandstone Grillhouse - Niagara Falls - May 5
Just a note to let everyone know that I got a last-minute gig and will be playing at the "new After Hours," The Sandstone Grillhouse & Lounge, this Saturday night, May 5, starting at 10 pm.
It is directly across the street from the old After Hours, on Victoria Ave in Niagara Falls (Ontario), in the old Tony's Place. The new signage isn't up yet. It's beautiful inside, however, so come check out the new bar and I hear the food is terrific.
Marty
Just a note to let everyone know that I got a last-minute gig and will be playing at the "new After Hours," The Sandstone Grillhouse & Lounge, this Saturday night, May 5, starting at 10 pm.
It is directly across the street from the old After Hours, on Victoria Ave in Niagara Falls (Ontario), in the old Tony's Place. The new signage isn't up yet. It's beautiful inside, however, so come check out the new bar and I hear the food is terrific.
Marty
Paul Green & Curley Cooke @ Bad Albert's in Ballard, WA - May 5
Hi, All
Curley Cooke and I play will be playing acoustic blues at Bad Albert's in Ballard, WA, from 8:30 pm to 11 pm.
Check out www.paulgreenblues.com for details and full schedule. Thanks.
Paul Green
Hi, All
Curley Cooke and I play will be playing acoustic blues at Bad Albert's in Ballard, WA, from 8:30 pm to 11 pm.
Check out www.paulgreenblues.com for details and full schedule. Thanks.
Paul Green
Richard Flohil & Associates
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2007
Contact: Richard Flohil (416) 351-1323
STONY PLAIN PRESENTS DUKE ROBILLARD'S WORLD FULL OF BLUES - AN "ALL KILLER, NO FILLER" SPECIALLY PRICED 2-CD SET DUE IN CANADA MAY 15. U.S. RELEASE SET FOR JUNE 26.
Stony Plain Records has announced a May 15 release date for Duke Robillard's World Full of Blues, the latest CD from the legendary Grammy-nominated blues and roots music guitarist. The two-disc set is being retailed at a special single CD list price and contains almost two hours of music from one of the genre's most honored musicians.
A frequent visitor to Canada - and signed worldwide to the Edmonton-based Stony Plain label for more than a decade - Duke Robillard is one of this era's most acclaimed guitar players. He's won four W.C. Handy Awards as "Blues Guitarist of the Year" and received a Grammy Award nomination for his 2006 Stony Plain release, Guitar Groove-A-Rama. A tough road warrior, Robillard will tour extensively to support the new release.
Canadian shows on his schedule include the Rainbow in Ottawa (May 18) and le Zaricot in Sainte-Hyacinthe, Quebec, the following day. He'll return to Quebec for the Mont Tremblant International Blues Festival in early July and will play the Calgary International Blues Festival in August.
On June 2, he will receive the 2007 Rhode Island Pell Award for Excellence in the Arts, which recognizes artistic excellence in Robillard's home state and on the national level. Additional award winners honoured that night will include Academy Award-winning actress Olympia Dukakis. Previous Pell honorees include actors Jason Robards, Robert Redford, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis, as well as Stephen Sondheim and Beverly Sills from the music world.
In addition to his Grammy nomination, 2006 also saw Duke Robillard playing guitar on Tom Waits' national tour, as well as touring to support his own album. Over the years, Duke has recorded with Bob Dylan, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Ruth Brown, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Jay McShann, Herb Ellis, Jimmy Witherspoon and many others, including the legendary Roomful of Blues, which he founded at the age of 17; he has recorded and/or produced well over a dozen CDs for Stony Plain.
"When I conceived of this project and convinced Stony Plain to let me record a double-disc CD, my intention was to record a set of music that touched upon nearly all the areas of blues and blues related music that make up my sound", writes Duke Robillard in the album liner notes.
"Now, with a double CD and over 115 minutes of music, I feel like I have made a definitive statement that's true to what I'm about."
Indeed, Duke Robillard's World Full of Blues salutes gut-bucket blues, swing, funk, soul and gospel, among other genres, on a musical tour with stops in Memphis, New Orleans, Texas, Mississippi and a host of other signposts along the blues highway. In addition to a number of original tunes, he gives his guitar imprint to songs by blues icons Memphis Slim, Jimmy Reed, T-Bone Walker and Bo Diddley, as well as more recent heroes such as Booker T. and the MGs, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and Eric Bibb.
On Duke Robillard's World Full of Blues, he's backed by a number of players from his regular recording and touring lineups, including Mark Teixeira on drums, John Packer on bass, Doug James on sax, Marty Ballou on bass, Bruce Bears on keyboards and "Sax" Gordon Beadle on sax.
Special guests include "Sugar" Ray Norcia on harmonica and Al Basile on cornet, among many others. Stony Plain Records are distributed in Canada by Warner Music Canada and in the United States by Navarre.
-30-
For more information, contact
Holger Petersen
Stony Plain Records
(780) 468-6423
holger@stonyplainrecords.com
Richard Flohil
Richard Flohil & Associates
(416) 351-1323
rflohil@sympatico.ca
US queries to
Mark Pucci Media
Mark Pucci
(770) 804-9555
Websites:
www.dukerobillard.com
www.stonyplainrecords.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2007
Contact: Richard Flohil (416) 351-1323
STONY PLAIN PRESENTS DUKE ROBILLARD'S WORLD FULL OF BLUES - AN "ALL KILLER, NO FILLER" SPECIALLY PRICED 2-CD SET DUE IN CANADA MAY 15. U.S. RELEASE SET FOR JUNE 26.
Stony Plain Records has announced a May 15 release date for Duke Robillard's World Full of Blues, the latest CD from the legendary Grammy-nominated blues and roots music guitarist. The two-disc set is being retailed at a special single CD list price and contains almost two hours of music from one of the genre's most honored musicians.
A frequent visitor to Canada - and signed worldwide to the Edmonton-based Stony Plain label for more than a decade - Duke Robillard is one of this era's most acclaimed guitar players. He's won four W.C. Handy Awards as "Blues Guitarist of the Year" and received a Grammy Award nomination for his 2006 Stony Plain release, Guitar Groove-A-Rama. A tough road warrior, Robillard will tour extensively to support the new release.
Canadian shows on his schedule include the Rainbow in Ottawa (May 18) and le Zaricot in Sainte-Hyacinthe, Quebec, the following day. He'll return to Quebec for the Mont Tremblant International Blues Festival in early July and will play the Calgary International Blues Festival in August.
On June 2, he will receive the 2007 Rhode Island Pell Award for Excellence in the Arts, which recognizes artistic excellence in Robillard's home state and on the national level. Additional award winners honoured that night will include Academy Award-winning actress Olympia Dukakis. Previous Pell honorees include actors Jason Robards, Robert Redford, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis, as well as Stephen Sondheim and Beverly Sills from the music world.
In addition to his Grammy nomination, 2006 also saw Duke Robillard playing guitar on Tom Waits' national tour, as well as touring to support his own album. Over the years, Duke has recorded with Bob Dylan, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Ruth Brown, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Jay McShann, Herb Ellis, Jimmy Witherspoon and many others, including the legendary Roomful of Blues, which he founded at the age of 17; he has recorded and/or produced well over a dozen CDs for Stony Plain.
"When I conceived of this project and convinced Stony Plain to let me record a double-disc CD, my intention was to record a set of music that touched upon nearly all the areas of blues and blues related music that make up my sound", writes Duke Robillard in the album liner notes.
"Now, with a double CD and over 115 minutes of music, I feel like I have made a definitive statement that's true to what I'm about."
Indeed, Duke Robillard's World Full of Blues salutes gut-bucket blues, swing, funk, soul and gospel, among other genres, on a musical tour with stops in Memphis, New Orleans, Texas, Mississippi and a host of other signposts along the blues highway. In addition to a number of original tunes, he gives his guitar imprint to songs by blues icons Memphis Slim, Jimmy Reed, T-Bone Walker and Bo Diddley, as well as more recent heroes such as Booker T. and the MGs, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and Eric Bibb.
On Duke Robillard's World Full of Blues, he's backed by a number of players from his regular recording and touring lineups, including Mark Teixeira on drums, John Packer on bass, Doug James on sax, Marty Ballou on bass, Bruce Bears on keyboards and "Sax" Gordon Beadle on sax.
Special guests include "Sugar" Ray Norcia on harmonica and Al Basile on cornet, among many others. Stony Plain Records are distributed in Canada by Warner Music Canada and in the United States by Navarre.
-30-
For more information, contact
Holger Petersen
Stony Plain Records
(780) 468-6423
holger@stonyplainrecords.com
Richard Flohil
Richard Flohil & Associates
(416) 351-1323
rflohil@sympatico.ca
US queries to
Mark Pucci Media
Mark Pucci
(770) 804-9555
Websites:
www.dukerobillard.com
www.stonyplainrecords.com
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Higher Octane - Classic Rock'n'Roll - Boston Manor - May 12/07
Howdy, Folks.
We'll be Rockin' n' Rollin' at the Boston Manor next Saturday, May 12.
We'll begin our set some time after 8:30 p.m., which is perfect for all you early risers and hope that you can all join us. The Boston Manor is a great place where fun can be had by all. They have an excellent menu with a wide variety of choices, tons of pool tables, a beautiful bar inside a large area to roam around in...and, of course, we'll be their entertainment on that particular evening.
To get there, simply go to Appleby Line from the QEW, go South on Appleby Line from the QEW. Second set of lights is Fairview St. You will then see a plaza on your right. They are located within that plaza, just a few feet away from the McDonald's restaurant.
There is a $5 cover charge at the door, although it's peanuts considering the entertainment, the venue's atmosphere and its surroundings. So, keep us in mind and we hope to see you there for some good ole' times !!! YEEEE HAAAAA !!!
Git R Done,
Mike
We'll be Rockin' n' Rollin' at the Boston Manor next Saturday, May 12.
We'll begin our set some time after 8:30 p.m., which is perfect for all you early risers and hope that you can all join us. The Boston Manor is a great place where fun can be had by all. They have an excellent menu with a wide variety of choices, tons of pool tables, a beautiful bar inside a large area to roam around in...and, of course, we'll be their entertainment on that particular evening.
To get there, simply go to Appleby Line from the QEW, go South on Appleby Line from the QEW. Second set of lights is Fairview St. You will then see a plaza on your right. They are located within that plaza, just a few feet away from the McDonald's restaurant.
There is a $5 cover charge at the door, although it's peanuts considering the entertainment, the venue's atmosphere and its surroundings. So, keep us in mind and we hope to see you there for some good ole' times !!! YEEEE HAAAAA !!!
Git R Done,
Mike
Media Information - For Immediate Release
SHAKURA S'AIDA CELEBRATES THE RELEASE OF DEBUT CD, BLUEPRINT
Toronto launch concert at Live @ The Courthouse set for May 15/07
An active member of the Toronto music scene for over 20 years, it's taken that long for Brooklyn-born singer Shakura S'Aida to create a long-awaited debut blues recording, Blueprint. She'll launch the 11-track CD at a special concert at Toronto's new jazz venue, Live @ The Courthouse, on Tuesday, May 15.
Raised in half a dozen US cities and in Switzerland, the multi-lingual Shakura S'Aida (pronounced "shah-koo-rah sigh-ee-da") relishes Toronto's wide-ranging music community. In addition to solo work with her own band, she's a regular member of Bill King's Saturday Night Fish Fry Band and was lead singer with the 13-piece world music band, Kaleefah.
Having performed on stages around the world and nominated twice for Maple Blues Awards as "Female Vocalist of the Year", S'Aida is a powerful performer who has appeared with legendary artists including Ruth Brown and organist Jimmy Smith; she's also played at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theatre. She recently performed a duo performance with Grammy-winning New Orleans musician and actor Chris Thomas King (Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou) for a CBC recording and toured with Dawn Tyler Watson, Angel Forrest, Suzie Vinnick and Lulu Hugues in Quebec and the United States as a member of Les Grandes Dames du Blues.
Inspired by classic blues and soul artists, she describes her debut CD as a blueprint of a musical journey combining elements of jazz, blues and gritty soul. Blueprint is distributed in Canada by Vancouver-based Festival Distribution and produced by James Bryan, a member of Philosopher Kings and currently guitarist for Nelly Furtado.
Who: Powerful vocalist Shakura S'Aida
What: CD release party for her debut recording "Blueprint"
Where: Live @ The Courthouse (56 Adelaide Street, Toronto - 416-214-9379)
When: Tuesday, May 15; three sets, starting at 8:00 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.)
Tickets: $10 at the door
Websites:
www.shakurasaida.comwww.richardflohil.com
www.festival.bc.ca
For media information, interviews and photographs, please contact:
Richard Flohil or Sarah French
Tel: 416-351-1323, Fax: 416-351-1095
Email: sarahfrench.rflohil@sympatico.ca
Richard Flohil & Associates
60 McGill St.
Toronto, ON M5B 1H2
PH: 416 351 1323
FAX: 416 351-1095
E-MAIL: sarahfrench.rflohil@sympatico.ca
Website: www.richardflohil.com
Working with Stony Plain Records, Downchild, Jeff Healey, Martyn Joseph, Treasa Levasseur, Loreena McKennitt, Porkbelly Futures, Roxanne Potvin, Paul Reddick, Justin Rutledge, Serena Ryder, Christine Tier, and some 20 Hugh's Room, Roadhouse and Rivoli concerts each year ... Editor and writer, Applaud! Canadian Music on the World Stage.
SHAKURA S'AIDA CELEBRATES THE RELEASE OF DEBUT CD, BLUEPRINT
Toronto launch concert at Live @ The Courthouse set for May 15/07
An active member of the Toronto music scene for over 20 years, it's taken that long for Brooklyn-born singer Shakura S'Aida to create a long-awaited debut blues recording, Blueprint. She'll launch the 11-track CD at a special concert at Toronto's new jazz venue, Live @ The Courthouse, on Tuesday, May 15.
Raised in half a dozen US cities and in Switzerland, the multi-lingual Shakura S'Aida (pronounced "shah-koo-rah sigh-ee-da") relishes Toronto's wide-ranging music community. In addition to solo work with her own band, she's a regular member of Bill King's Saturday Night Fish Fry Band and was lead singer with the 13-piece world music band, Kaleefah.
Having performed on stages around the world and nominated twice for Maple Blues Awards as "Female Vocalist of the Year", S'Aida is a powerful performer who has appeared with legendary artists including Ruth Brown and organist Jimmy Smith; she's also played at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theatre. She recently performed a duo performance with Grammy-winning New Orleans musician and actor Chris Thomas King (Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou) for a CBC recording and toured with Dawn Tyler Watson, Angel Forrest, Suzie Vinnick and Lulu Hugues in Quebec and the United States as a member of Les Grandes Dames du Blues.
Inspired by classic blues and soul artists, she describes her debut CD as a blueprint of a musical journey combining elements of jazz, blues and gritty soul. Blueprint is distributed in Canada by Vancouver-based Festival Distribution and produced by James Bryan, a member of Philosopher Kings and currently guitarist for Nelly Furtado.
Who: Powerful vocalist Shakura S'Aida
What: CD release party for her debut recording "Blueprint"
Where: Live @ The Courthouse (56 Adelaide Street, Toronto - 416-214-9379)
When: Tuesday, May 15; three sets, starting at 8:00 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.)
Tickets: $10 at the door
Websites:
www.shakurasaida.comwww.richardflohil.com
www.festival.bc.ca
For media information, interviews and photographs, please contact:
Richard Flohil or Sarah French
Tel: 416-351-1323, Fax: 416-351-1095
Email: sarahfrench.rflohil@sympatico.ca
Richard Flohil & Associates
60 McGill St.
Toronto, ON M5B 1H2
PH: 416 351 1323
FAX: 416 351-1095
E-MAIL: sarahfrench.rflohil@sympatico.ca
Website: www.richardflohil.com
Working with Stony Plain Records, Downchild, Jeff Healey, Martyn Joseph, Treasa Levasseur, Loreena McKennitt, Porkbelly Futures, Roxanne Potvin, Paul Reddick, Justin Rutledge, Serena Ryder, Christine Tier, and some 20 Hugh's Room, Roadhouse and Rivoli concerts each year ... Editor and writer, Applaud! Canadian Music on the World Stage.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Bassist Neil Nickafor does Elvis @ Dofasco Centre - May 4/07
Neil Nickafor (on the left) and Mike Eastman @ G.P. Grumpy's - 2006
Hi, kids.
Just a note to remind you of my Elvis tribute gig with "Steve Kabakos & the TVB Ensemble" this Friday, May 4, at the Dofasco Centre for the Arts, 190 King William St, Hamilton, Ontario.
This is a 13-piece unit with 3 horns, 5 backup vocalists and 4-piece rhythm section, although this time the 4 male vocalists will not be there, but instead replaced by 4 female vocalists... hmmm... should be interesting!
Tickets are $30 & $40 available at the box office.
Proceeds go to McMaster Children's Hospital.
tx, hope to see you there!
Neil Nickafor
p.s. here's a link with some info:
http://www.hamiltonmountainnews.com/hmn/news/news_774188.html
--------still have a pulse--------Neil
905.387.1990
email: njnitro@mountaincable.net
www: http://home.mountaincable.net/~njnitro/
Neil Nickafor (on the left) and Mike Eastman @ G.P. Grumpy's - 2006Hi, kids.
Just a note to remind you of my Elvis tribute gig with "Steve Kabakos & the TVB Ensemble" this Friday, May 4, at the Dofasco Centre for the Arts, 190 King William St, Hamilton, Ontario.
This is a 13-piece unit with 3 horns, 5 backup vocalists and 4-piece rhythm section, although this time the 4 male vocalists will not be there, but instead replaced by 4 female vocalists... hmmm... should be interesting!
Tickets are $30 & $40 available at the box office.
Proceeds go to McMaster Children's Hospital.
tx, hope to see you there!
Neil Nickafor
p.s. here's a link with some info:
http://www.hamiltonmountainnews.com/hmn/news/news_774188.html
--------still have a pulse--------Neil
905.387.1990
email: njnitro@mountaincable.net
www: http://home.mountaincable.net/~njnitro/
Michael Pickett - Upcoming Gigs
Mother Earth Productions Presents
2x JUNO nominee
Multi Award Recipient - EMI Recording Artist
MICHAEL PICKETT
* unplugged / no borders *
FRIDAY, MAY 4 - 8:30 pm
Cafe Rhythm 'n Books
1 Cameron St. W.
Cannington, ON Canada
Info/Tickets: 705.432.8407
Info/Tickets: 705.432.8407
Also available at the door.
"Pickett's performances are compelling and brilliant - an eclectic and captivating storyteller - Delta Blues, Country, Folk, Americana - a songwriter with a deep moral conscience." Gritz Magazine (Alabama, USA)
His unique fusion of sensibilities, driven by his thumping Delta guitar rhythms, muscular harmonica and gravel and chains voice is, at once, traditional and relevant. Pickett effectively deconstructs and reconstructs those seminal Blues, writing songs that are authentic both in substance and performance and revealing a profound understanding of where this music comes from and why it stands the test of time.He has shared the stage with Big Mama Thornton, John Lee Hooker, James Cotton, Jeff Healey, Bo Diddley, Koko Taylor, Downchild Blues Band, John Hammond, Matt 'Guitar' Murphy, Doug Kershaw, Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith, Snooky Pryor, Sunnyland Slim, Lazy Lester, Tom Rush, Josh White Jr., Rory Block, Matt Minglewood, T.Graham Brown, Kentucky Headhunters, Hubert Sumlin, Taj Mahal, Muddy Waters, Son Seals, Big Bill Morganfield, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, Jon Cleary, Tea Party, Gary Nicholson, Whitey Johnson, The Players, Fortunate Sons, Colin Linden, Brian Stoltz, George Porter Jr., Rev. Billy C. Wirtz, The Nighthawks, Lee Oskar, Jerry Portnoy, Watermelon Slim, and more...
"One of the finest harmonica players of all time." Lee Oskar
"I had a vision that he was gonna be one of the best. In my book he is." Hubert Sumlin
"An artist who breathes new life into the Blues with energy and charisma." Downeast (USA)
"His [songs] transcend the urban Blues idiom." Billboard
"He's got it folks! A real student of the Blues." Sing Out! (USA)
"One of Canada's top acoustic Blues artists." Blues Revue (USA)
"Gives good chase to John Hammond on guitar and leaves him behind on harp!" Blues Matters! (UK)
"Occupying center stage is Pickett whose talents on harmonica and resophonic guitar shine throughout." Performing Songwriter (USA)
Coming Up in June: Barrie Jazz & Blues Festival
Mother Earth Management
Toronto, ON Canada
1.866.890.9591 toll free
Shane Bernier - an extraordinary child
Birthday Cards for Shane Bernier
Hi, all.
Just thought I'd pass this along. You may have heard about it in the news. It's about a little boy from Lancaster, Ontario, who has leukemia. He wants to break the Guiness World Record by receiving the most birthday cards. [He's aiming for 350 MILLION and currently has a bit more than 125,000 - he needs a LOT of help, but he's very determined!]
His birthday is May 30, 2007, and he'll be 8 years old.
So, if you'd like to help him break that record, here is his address:
Shane Bernier
PO Box 484
Lancaster, ON K0C 1N0
If you'd like to read a little more about him, here's his link:
www.shaneswish.com
Thanks!
Lexi
P.S. Please pass this along to others who may like to help.
[Note from blogstress: Shane's story was previously published in accredited Canadian daily newspapers. Let's all help out this brave little child, so he can feel he has accomplished something in his life. Financial donations can also be sent to the Canadian Cancer Society.]
Hi, all.
Just thought I'd pass this along. You may have heard about it in the news. It's about a little boy from Lancaster, Ontario, who has leukemia. He wants to break the Guiness World Record by receiving the most birthday cards. [He's aiming for 350 MILLION and currently has a bit more than 125,000 - he needs a LOT of help, but he's very determined!]
His birthday is May 30, 2007, and he'll be 8 years old.
So, if you'd like to help him break that record, here is his address:
Shane Bernier
PO Box 484
Lancaster, ON K0C 1N0
If you'd like to read a little more about him, here's his link:
www.shaneswish.com
Thanks!
Lexi
P.S. Please pass this along to others who may like to help.
[Note from blogstress: Shane's story was previously published in accredited Canadian daily newspapers. Let's all help out this brave little child, so he can feel he has accomplished something in his life. Financial donations can also be sent to the Canadian Cancer Society.]
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
www.mariahawkins.ca (currently under construction)
Stay posted to her website for an upcoming fundraiser notice.
May 2007 Line-up @ The Rainbow (www.therainbow.ca)
May 3 •Morgan Davis
May 4 •Wicked Grin + Beau Kavanaugh & The Broken Hearted
May 10-12 •CD Release - The Hammerheads (www.thehammerheads.com)
May 18 •Duke Robillard
May 26 •Moetown
May 31 •Big Bill Morganfield
Keep watching here for more great upcoming performances.
Check out our 20th Anniversary Party photos, thanks to Scotty Doubt
May 3 •Morgan Davis
May 4 •Wicked Grin + Beau Kavanaugh & The Broken Hearted
May 10-12 •CD Release - The Hammerheads (www.thehammerheads.com)
May 18 •Duke Robillard
May 26 •Moetown
May 31 •Big Bill Morganfield
Keep watching here for more great upcoming performances.
Check out our 20th Anniversary Party photos, thanks to Scotty Doubt
Niagara Rhythm Section (NRS) - May 4 @ Butler's Sports Bar (NOTL)
What: THE NIAGARA RHYTHM SECTION
Where: BUTLER'S SPORTS BAR
284 MARY ST., Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
905-468-0049
When: FRIDAY, MAY 4TH - 10PM -1AM
We're playing at the Sports Bar again this Friday night. The Niagara Rhythm Section consists of me (Steve Goldberger) on bass, Dave Norris on drums, Penner MacKay on percussion & Steve Grisbrook on guitar. We'll be rockin' out with our usual eclectic madness.
On Saturday we're back home:
What: Niagara Rhythm Section's Saturday Night Musical Improv
Where: The Anchorage,
186 Ricardo St., Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL), ON
905-468-2141
When: Every Saturday night - 10:00pm - 12:30am- no cover
This week's featured guest:
SAT., MAY 5TH - LANCE ANDERSON & NEIL CHAPMAN
It's been a while since Lance Anderson has been down to NOTL and we look forward to a another great night featuring his blend of zydeco, blues, boogies and stomps. A noted session keyboardist, composer/arranger & record producer/label owner, Lance's credentials are pretty amazing. He always puts on an fabulous high energy show with his dexterous keyboard playing and authentic squeeze-box work.for more on Lance:
www.makeitrealrecords.com/Pages/Shorthanded.htm
I'm also looking forward to checking out the Anchorage's new menu. Yum yum!
Other upcoming dates of note:
May 18th - NRS @ The Sports Bar
May 19th - The Niagara Rhythm Section with Neil Chapman
(in concert at VIRGILSTOCK 2007 - 7 pm, Virgil Arena)
For more info: www.stevegoldberger.com/virgilstock0001.pdf
www.virgilstampede.com/images/virgilstock2007-poster.jpg
Sept 15th - Drums Along the Niagara -
www.drumsalongtheniagara.com
More musical improv coming up @ The Anchorage, 186 Ricardo St., 905-468-2141
Now in our 3rd year, The Niagara Rhythm Section (Goldberger, Grisbrook, Norris & MacKay) with special guests:
May 12 - Martin Aucoin & Paul Martin (Classic rock and roll)
May 19 - Neil Chapman (amazing guitarist/personality)
May 26 - Eric Mahar & Herb Nelson (Fringe Locals reunion!)
June 2 - Denis Keldie (legendary keyboard man)
June 9 - Bruce Jones (original Brazilian funk)
June 16 - Maria Aurigema (rockin' guitarist from Buffalo)
June 23 - John Dickie (another great singer/personality)
June 30 - Gayle Ackroyd & Ed Kopala (country soul & blues)
July 9 - Steve Grisbrook's birthday bash with Herb Nelson on keys
July 14 - Bruce Longman (eclectic roots & roll)
We hope you can make it out to a show sometime.
Steve Goldberger
www.stevegoldberger.com
What: THE NIAGARA RHYTHM SECTION
Where: BUTLER'S SPORTS BAR
284 MARY ST., Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
905-468-0049
When: FRIDAY, MAY 4TH - 10PM -1AM
We're playing at the Sports Bar again this Friday night. The Niagara Rhythm Section consists of me (Steve Goldberger) on bass, Dave Norris on drums, Penner MacKay on percussion & Steve Grisbrook on guitar. We'll be rockin' out with our usual eclectic madness.
On Saturday we're back home:
What: Niagara Rhythm Section's Saturday Night Musical Improv
Where: The Anchorage,
186 Ricardo St., Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL), ON
905-468-2141
When: Every Saturday night - 10:00pm - 12:30am- no cover
This week's featured guest:
SAT., MAY 5TH - LANCE ANDERSON & NEIL CHAPMAN
It's been a while since Lance Anderson has been down to NOTL and we look forward to a another great night featuring his blend of zydeco, blues, boogies and stomps. A noted session keyboardist, composer/arranger & record producer/label owner, Lance's credentials are pretty amazing. He always puts on an fabulous high energy show with his dexterous keyboard playing and authentic squeeze-box work.for more on Lance:
www.makeitrealrecords.com/Pages/Shorthanded.htm
I'm also looking forward to checking out the Anchorage's new menu. Yum yum!
Other upcoming dates of note:
May 18th - NRS @ The Sports Bar
May 19th - The Niagara Rhythm Section with Neil Chapman
(in concert at VIRGILSTOCK 2007 - 7 pm, Virgil Arena)
For more info: www.stevegoldberger.com/virgilstock0001.pdf
www.virgilstampede.com/images/virgilstock2007-poster.jpg
Sept 15th - Drums Along the Niagara -
www.drumsalongtheniagara.com
More musical improv coming up @ The Anchorage, 186 Ricardo St., 905-468-2141
Now in our 3rd year, The Niagara Rhythm Section (Goldberger, Grisbrook, Norris & MacKay) with special guests:
May 12 - Martin Aucoin & Paul Martin (Classic rock and roll)
May 19 - Neil Chapman (amazing guitarist/personality)
May 26 - Eric Mahar & Herb Nelson (Fringe Locals reunion!)
June 2 - Denis Keldie (legendary keyboard man)
June 9 - Bruce Jones (original Brazilian funk)
June 16 - Maria Aurigema (rockin' guitarist from Buffalo)
June 23 - John Dickie (another great singer/personality)
June 30 - Gayle Ackroyd & Ed Kopala (country soul & blues)
July 9 - Steve Grisbrook's birthday bash with Herb Nelson on keys
July 14 - Bruce Longman (eclectic roots & roll)
We hope you can make it out to a show sometime.
Steve Goldberger
www.stevegoldberger.com
TOO SLIM AND THE TAILDRAGGERS - THE FORTUNE TELLER
(CD Review by D.M. Wells)
Some people might get bored eating at the same restaurant, despite its delicious and diverse menu, but Too Slim and The Taildraggers’ reliable musical offerings have always appealed to me, without exception, and in whichever genre they explore.
Prolific composer/vocalist/bluesharpist/guitarist (slide, acoustic and electric) Tim “Too Slim” Langford strikes me as a sort of mystic southern U.S. cowpoke, even though his real roots are in Spokane, Washington. That being said, he’s equally at home rockin’ your plimsoul as he is when playing country blues.
Longtime drummer John “Midnight” Cage has stepped out on this recording, replaced here by the equally adept and perky Zach T. Cooper. Solid bassist Dave Nordstrom, who replaced Tom “The Stomp” Brimm a couple of CDs ago, completes Tim’s core playing team.
Prolific composer/vocalist/bluesharpist/guitarist (slide, acoustic and electric) Tim “Too Slim” Langford strikes me as a sort of mystic southern U.S. cowpoke, even though his real roots are in Spokane, Washington. That being said, he’s equally at home rockin’ your plimsoul as he is when playing country blues.
Longtime drummer John “Midnight” Cage has stepped out on this recording, replaced here by the equally adept and perky Zach T. Cooper. Solid bassist Dave Nordstrom, who replaced Tom “The Stomp” Brimm a couple of CDs ago, completes Tim’s core playing team.
Bonus instrumentation comes courtesy of guests Oleg Schramm on accordion and keyboards, and Robert Greenidge adds a Latino flavour with steel drums. Lauren Evans and Amanda Tsubo add pleasing and non-intrusive backing vocals, and D. Cernile (one of the five co-producers, including Tim’s wife, Nancy Langford) also provides guitar and percussion.
Tim’s tendency to absorb and meld his varied musical influences into a style of his own should garner him appreciation from fans of the Arc Angels, the Allman Brothers, ZZ Top, David Lindley, Creedence Clearwater Revival, T-Rex, Tom Petty, Frank Zappa, Junkhouse, Bad Company and Ray Bonneville, all wonderful recording artists in their own right (and very sadly missed, in some cases).
The Taildraggers’ super-forte lies in Mr. Langford’s introspective and comprehensive lyrics. Although his vocals have always been strong and masculine, he’s a masterful storyteller, creating vivid portraits of a motley crew of characters – the fortuneteller, the unremorseful snake oil seller, the pacifist-turned-vigilante, the guilty heartbreaker, the frustrated dreamer, the grateful gigolo, the sexy lover, the voodoo queen, givers and takers, and the lonely and the lonesome.
Veering away from the blues-rock anthem feel of the album is “Mexico”, a happy-go-lucky, enchanting holiday song featuring the above-mentioned steel drums, coupled with Tim’s trademark sassy slide guitar work. “Baby Likes to Ride” is another of those sexy tracks that first endeared me to them, but “Potent 8” (from King Size Troublemakers) remains my favourite score in that regard.
Another example of standout musical fare is the “Lonesome Alone” ballad, gently strummed on acoustic guitar with subtle accompaniment on accordion (which could easily be substituted with a harmonica). It recites a classic lovers’ conflict, “I’d rather be lonesome alone than lonesome with the one I love”, but with a plea to reach out and communicate rather than call it quits - very memorable.
“Cowboy Boot” and “The Fortune Teller” are already receiving airplay on KKZX 98.9 FM in Spokane, but the hard-driving “Big Guns”, “She Give Me Money” or “Spell on Me” would probably be even better received on a mainstream classic rock station. Still, each and every track on The Fortune Teller (or any other of the Taildraggers' numerous recordings) would blow a hole in most other “new classic rock” songs I’ve heard lately.
Tim’s tendency to absorb and meld his varied musical influences into a style of his own should garner him appreciation from fans of the Arc Angels, the Allman Brothers, ZZ Top, David Lindley, Creedence Clearwater Revival, T-Rex, Tom Petty, Frank Zappa, Junkhouse, Bad Company and Ray Bonneville, all wonderful recording artists in their own right (and very sadly missed, in some cases).
The Taildraggers’ super-forte lies in Mr. Langford’s introspective and comprehensive lyrics. Although his vocals have always been strong and masculine, he’s a masterful storyteller, creating vivid portraits of a motley crew of characters – the fortuneteller, the unremorseful snake oil seller, the pacifist-turned-vigilante, the guilty heartbreaker, the frustrated dreamer, the grateful gigolo, the sexy lover, the voodoo queen, givers and takers, and the lonely and the lonesome.
Veering away from the blues-rock anthem feel of the album is “Mexico”, a happy-go-lucky, enchanting holiday song featuring the above-mentioned steel drums, coupled with Tim’s trademark sassy slide guitar work. “Baby Likes to Ride” is another of those sexy tracks that first endeared me to them, but “Potent 8” (from King Size Troublemakers) remains my favourite score in that regard.
Another example of standout musical fare is the “Lonesome Alone” ballad, gently strummed on acoustic guitar with subtle accompaniment on accordion (which could easily be substituted with a harmonica). It recites a classic lovers’ conflict, “I’d rather be lonesome alone than lonesome with the one I love”, but with a plea to reach out and communicate rather than call it quits - very memorable.
“Cowboy Boot” and “The Fortune Teller” are already receiving airplay on KKZX 98.9 FM in Spokane, but the hard-driving “Big Guns”, “She Give Me Money” or “Spell on Me” would probably be even better received on a mainstream classic rock station. Still, each and every track on The Fortune Teller (or any other of the Taildraggers' numerous recordings) would blow a hole in most other “new classic rock” songs I’ve heard lately.
How many more awards does a band have to win to get international recognition for their talent?
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