With this year’s 50^th anniversary of “The Summer Of Love” (though really, all three of the final summers of the 1960s have been denoted as that at various times—it was in 1969, after all, that the seminally iconic Woodstock Festival took place) commemorative and whimsical shows in the vein of the great Rock/Pop music of the industry’s heyday abound.

But for the eponymous leader of The David Love Band every summer can be described that way.  As it’s been noted before, to have a great 1960s dance party “all you need is Love” whether as a solo artist with a guitar, as part of a double-guitar duo or fronting the trio that appears for the “Sixties Dance Party” today at Timothy’s Pub in Etobicoke from 5-9.

As I’ve written many, many times before, this outfit, which sees Love on lead vocals but playing bass (unlike his former longstanding role with Carpet Frogs and performing with luminaries such as Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman, or as part of the Classic Albums Live troupe), is one of the most entertaining you’ll ever find if you’re a fan of the good ol’ stuff.

On guitar is a fretman with at least as much and arguably even more six-string acumen than Love: Darrell McNeill, who also fronts his own indie band Fifteen Stone when he’s not part of this trio, which has become a staple in the Boomer-friendly room at 344 Brown’s Line.

The DLB, which also features thundering Kevin Mulligan on drums (yes, he can do “Wipeout”!) appears in a wide range of rooms and at special events, delighting those who actually remember (if dimly) the original Summers of Love (and still know the words to most of the songs on the charts at the time) along with others who’ve heard about the magic and want to get a taste as to what it was really like.

Their repertoire ranges across a wide spectrum of the hits of the day, with a special emphasis on dance-friendly numbers that usually pack the area in front of the stage no matter where they perform.  Interestingly, the Beatles’ song “All You Need is Love” was at #5 (and rising) on the CHUM Top 50 chart on July 24, 1967, with “Pleasant Valley Sunday” by The Monkees at #1 and also in the Top ten tunes by The Hollies “Carrie Anne”, “Silence Is Golden” by Tremeloes, “Light My Fire” by The Doors, “White Rabbit” from Grace Slick’s Jefferson Airplane and Procol Harum’s “Whiter Shade of Pale”.  DLB can do several of those tunes plus many others from that year’s chart, so you can’t get much more authentically ‘60s than that.

For those who want to make a full day of time-travelling to a time that now seems like a halcyon period (despite the fact that social unrest, including violent race riots and anti-war protests against the Viet Nam conflict were rife across North America and society was being ripped asunder by a “generation gap” of unprecedented severity) there’s also a Summer of Love 50^th Anniversary celebration party happening earlier in the day in west TO at Cadillac Lounge.

Jimi Hendrix did not appear on the CHUM Top 50 in ’67, but as part of the 12-6 extravaganza in the room at 1296 Queen St. West local Blues guitar legend Tony “Wild T” Springer will perform material from the two albums Jimi released that year: Bold As Love and the now legendary Are You Experienced.  The mini-festival also seeks to recreate the ‘60s vibe with poetry readings featuring Robert Priest and Karen Mulhallen; face-painting and “interactive painting”; an archival photos exhibit, a dj spinning classics from the era and a special ‘60s menu.  What, no tie-dye workshop, lol?  Admission is free.  (“Steal This Festival!”)

Later on, if you’re still out in Etobicoke when the Love show wraps at Timothy’s, you might want to share a hug and groovy vibes with Southside Johnny’s jam host Rebecca Matiesen, who this summer is coming up on ten years in that role there.  The 10-2 Sunday jam in the room at 3653 Lake Shore Blvd. W. a little east of Brown’s Line is one of the most diverse and entertaining around, a magnet for players from west TO, Mississauga and other western regions, including many young bands angling to get a showcase gig there.

And if you really want to stay with the ‘60s spirit there’s a special edition of another weekly jam downtown that you need to know about.  Although the regular host for the Sunday jams at Grossman’s Tavern, Bill Hedefine (who carries on with weekly guest players despite the deaths of his bassist Paul McNamara nine years ago and Blues guitar tyro Brian Cober this past December) has been involved with the G-man Sunday jams stretching back well into the 1980s, he is off today.

(In the summer of 1967 I would have given you odds that Hedefine, who was part of a park-lounging group of longhairs in our hometown, wouldn’t live to see the next decade.  Yet despite his adventurous youth the iron hippie continues to thrive living a “Cornflakes and Ice Cream” lifestyle.  That historic tune by Lords of London, btw, which was destined to make the group the first Canadian act to score a #1 CHUM hit the following month, made its debut on the July 24 chart, at #34.)

Filling in as hosts for Hedefine and guests tonight is a band inspired by Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead and which should make this evening’s 10-2 edition of the event in the room at 370 Spadina Ave. particularly interesting.  Caution Jam is essentially a Dead-style jam band from the get-go to the tear down and in the past at least they used to include psychedelic light shows, hemp merchant tables and other such paraphernalia as part of their gigs, populating rooms with barefoot dancers and clothing in a scintillating array of colours and styles.  They’re also frequently joined by innovative acclaimed harp veteran Carlos del Junco at their shows.

Ah, the summer of Love … pleasant memories, sweet dreams, hopeful energies and tight jeans … it was a good time to be young.  And today, at least, it could be quite a good time to be old too.

SHOW LISTINGS for Sunday, July 23, 2021

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ON AIR / ONLINE

*3-5am> The Rock-A-Round with Slim Tim @ www.rockabilly-radio.net ~ Rockabilly tracks (from UK, repeat of Fri show, also runs Wednesdays 6-8am)

5-8> “Across The Universe” with Ken Stowar on CIUT 89.5 FM

*6, 7, 10 & 11am; 5 & 7 pm> “Sunday Morning Soul” with Johnny Max @ www.sundaymorningsoul.com ~Blues

9am> “The Hoose Radio Show” Wee Dan Hoose @  http://www.bluesandrootsradio.com/ ~ artist interviews and tracks

416 – TORONTO CENTRAL

11am-2pm> Freileche Klezmer Band for Jewish brunch buffet @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. ; $5 (music only)

*11am-2> The Mercenaries @ Drake One Fifty, 150 York St. ~retro Rock/Soul

noon-3> Excelsior Dixieland Jazz Band @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz

1> Annex Academy monthly student showcase @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. ~eclectic

2> Youth Day with various performers @ Yonge-Dundas Square, 1 Dundas St. E.,

2:30-7> Iva; Sina Bathaie; Old Cabin; Ryan McNally @ Harbourfront Centre, TO Central, 231 Queen’s Quay W.,

3-5> Michael Laderoute with Rob Fenton @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. ~original Roots

3:30-6:30> Dr. Nick& The Rollercoasters @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Blues; $

*4-7> Taxi Chain @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St. TO ~Celtic Rock fusion; 0$

4> Luan Phung Group @ Poetry Jazz Café, 224 Augusta Ave. ~Classical; $

*4:30-8> New Orleans Connection All Stars & guests @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave. ~New Orleans Jazz

4:30-7:30> Ambiance @ The Local Gest, 424 Parliament St. ~Jazz

5> Steve-Paul Sims with guests Dave Lang, Ed Michael Roth & Sarah Greene @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. ~Roots/Pop

6> Song Studio showcase @ C’est What, 69 Front St. E. ~eclectic; 0$

6-7:30> Kat Leonard @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~Jazz; $10/pwyc

*6-9> open mic with Eddy Culjak @ Fox & Fiddle Wellesley, 27 Wellesley St.

*7-1> Freefall Sundays open stage (2 songs each -signup @ 7 or pre-sign online) @ The Supermarket, 268 Augusta St.

7-9:30> Hannah Barstow Trio @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $

7-9:30> John Alcorn and Alex Samaras @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. ~Jazz; $

*7-10> Brooke Blackburn @ Nawlins, 299 King St. W. TO ~Blues/Jazz/R&B

7:30> Gathering Sparks with Eve Goldberg & Jane Lewis @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. ~Roots; $

*8> jam/open mic with backline & host band Meg and the Scene @ The Antler Room, 146 Front St. W.

*8> open mic with Carlos @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St.

*8-12> The Honour Roll with REMY trio @ May Café, 876 Dundas St. W. ~freestyle Hip Hop; 0$

8-10> Back To Mono @ Trinity Common, 303 Augusta Ave.

8> Ultimate Painting @ Velvet Underground, 508 Queen St. W.

8> TV Sets; Lev Snowe; Ivory Waves @ Handlebar, 159 Augusta Ave. TO ~indie; $

9> Ava Noir; Betsy Swoom; DD Starr, more for Toronto Burlesque Festival after-party @ Cherry Cola’s, 200 Bathurst St.

9:30> Ted Ludwig @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $

*10> Horshack feat. Chris Caddell @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. ~Bluesy contemporary & classic Rock

10> Sal Indigo @ Amsterdam Bicycle Club, 54 The Esplanade

10> Conor Gains Band @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~original Blues

10-2> Jeff Eager & Paige Armstrong @ The Hideout, 423 College St. ~eclectic indie

**10> Blues jam with guest host band Caution Jam @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave.

416 – TORONTO EAST

11am-2pm> Zan Khan for Jazz brunch @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. ~Jazz; 0$

2-4> Music In the Park with Old Man Flanagan’s Ghost @ Kew Gardens, 2075 Queen St. E.

*3-6> open mic with Nicola Vaughan @ Hirut, 2050 Danforth Ave.

4> Brian Blain @ Castro’s Lounge, 2116 Queen St. E. ~acoustic Blues

*4:30-8:30> Rock/Blues jam with William A. Miller’s Black Bear All-Stars @ Black Bear Pub, 1125 O’Connor Drive

7-11> Gary Cain Band @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave ~R&B/Blues; 0$

*9-1> jam with the Stir It Up Band featuring David Macmichael @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave.

416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE

5-9> Sixties Dance Party with  David Love Band also featuring Darrell McNeill @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line ~Pop Rock

*10-2> 1 jam with Rebecca Matiesen & Phoenix @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH

*7-11> open jam with host Gtar Live @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave.

416 – TORONTO WEST

**11-2> live Jazz brunch @ DeSoto’s, 1079 St. Clair Ave. W.

*noon-3> Julian Fauth & Ken Yoshioka @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W. ~Blues

* noon-3> The Cosmotones @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~Bluegrass

Noon-6> “Summer of Love 50^th Anniversary Show” with Tony Wild T Springer; The Psychedelic Slime; Karen Mulhallen & Robert Priest; more @ Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen St. W. ~eclectic indie; 0$

Noon-6> BIG on Bloor Festival with various acts and attractions, Bloor Street West between Dufferin St. and Lansdowne Ave; 0$

1-4> Taylor Abrahamsen @ Opticianado, 2919 Dundas St. W.

4:30> The Hi Players Rocking Blues Band @ Duffy’s Tavern, 1238 Bloor St. W. ~Blues/R&B

**5-8> John Borra & Sam Ferrara w. guest @ The Communist’s Daughter, 1149 Dundas St. W. ~Country

5-7> Press Gang Mutiny @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave. ~sea songs

5-8> Levi Collins Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Jazz

6> Monk’s Music @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. ~vibraphone Jazz; pwyc

8-10> Michel DeQuevedo @ The Painte Lady, 218 Ossington Ave. ~original Rock/Pop; $

8:30> Sigrun Stella; Michael Delauro & The Smokey Mesquite @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W. ~songwriters; $

8:30> Parc-X Trio @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. ~Jazz; pwyc

9-12:30> The Ole Fashion @ Opera Bob’s, 1112 Dundas St. W. ~oldtime Country

9-1> Robert Lee Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Jazz

9> Collette Savard @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave. ~songwriter

*10> The Mercenaries @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~retro Rock/Soul; $10

10:30> Luke Vajsar @ Ciros Restaurant, 1316 Bloor St. W. ~Jazz

519

10:30-4> Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival with Youth Jazz Choir; Joni Nehrita; Robi Botos & Paul Novotny; Brass Transit @ Waterloo City Hall, 100 Regina St. S., Waterloo ~Jazz/R&B; 0$

*3-7> acoustic open mic with Scott Rhodes @ The Pick and Shovel, 30 Water St., Cambridge

3-8> Schneider Creek Porch Party with various acoustic acts on Peter Street (at the creek), Kitchener

4> Monster Jam with John McKinley @ The Boathouse, 97 Jubilee Drive, Kitchener

*9-1> jam @ Ivy Arms Pub, 201 Main Street E., Milton

9:30> Romeo Sex Fighter @ Duke of Wellington, 33 Erb St. W. Waterloo

*10-2> open mic with Nathan Coles @ Jimmy Jazz, 52 Macdonnell St., Guelph

705

1-4> Nate Douglas @ Huron Club, 94 Pine St., Collingwood ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

2-5> Gunslingers @ Riverside Grill (Holiday Inn), 150 George St., Peterborough

3> Tammy J Wilde Band @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

10> Sean Burns @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St., W., Peterborough

905 EAST

*3-6> Chris Stapley & Earl Johnson @ Ridges Pub, 776 Liverpool Rd., Pickering ~acoustic Blues/Rock

*3:30-7:30> Jon McCann & JD Bass host jam @ West Shore, 893 Bayly Ave., Pickering

4> Durham Jazz Junior @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa ~Jazz

6-10> open jam with Juggernaut @ The Edge Lounge, 250 Bayly St. W., Ajax

*8> Gibran & Matt “Smokey” Wildfong @ Harwood Blues, 7 Harwood Ave., Ajax ~Blues

*10> Another Round @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~Pop Rock

905 NORTH

*1:30-4:30> Blaine Burnie, Mark Thackway & friends @ Coach House Pub, 3 Felcher Boulevard, Stouffville ~acoustic Roots

*3-7> open stage with Kevin Ker @ The Earl Of Whitchurch, 6204 Main St., Stouffville

*3-7> Daniel Davies Band hosts jam @ C.J. Barley’s, 213 The Queensway S., Keswick

*5> open mic with Crosstown Band @ Time Out, 68 Main St., Georgetown

5> Bryan Thevanayagam Duo @ Copper Kettle, 517 Main St., Georgetown ~Jazz; $

*5:30-9:30> open jam with host band Faces For Radio & guest @ Crown and Anchor Pub, 389 Main St. N., Brampton

*6-9:30> The Andy Earle Trio @ Big Daddy’s Newmarket, 446 Davis Drive, Newmarket ~Blues

*7-10> Lynn McDonald @ Jester’s Court, 279 Queen St., Port Perry ~Pop/Jazz

*8> acoustic open mic with Kat Vhonda @ Wild Wing Newmarket, 340 Eagle Street, Newmarket

905 SOUTH

2-6> Bay City Blues Band & guest Rick Taylor @ Bay City Music Hall, 50 Leander Drive, Hamilton ~Blues; $7

2-5> Alfie Smith @ Lou Dawgs Hamilton, 116 George St., Hamilton ~Blues

*3> Brother Tom Finochio hosts kitchen party jam @ Rebel’s Rock, 537 King St. E., Hamilton

*4> open mic with Neon Moon @ Moose Lodge, 1860 Barton St., Hamilton

4:30-7:30> JP Riemens @ Cat ‘N’ Fiddle, 174 John St. S., Hamilton

*7> open mic @ The Wee Dram, 1831 Main St. W., Hamilton

*7-11> open Country jam with Robert Tyler @ Gladstone Tavern, 1385 Main St. E., Hamilton

*7:30-11:30> open jam hosted by Troy Harmer & The Persuaders @ The Brown Barrel, 1515 Upper Ottawa St., Hamilton

8> The Matinee @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton ~original Rock/Pop from Vancouver; $10

8> Alyssa Giammaria @ The Pearl Company, 16 Steven St., Hamilton

9-12> Adam Ostrosser & guest @ Cat ‘N’ Fiddle, 174 John St. S., Hamilton

9> The Cockney Rejects; Brass; The Strike @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton ~original Rock/Pop; $

?*10> open mic with Kim Koren @ West End Pub, 151 Emerson St., Hamilton

10> Chris Chambers @ Augusta House, Hamilton, 17 Augusta St.

905 WEST

2-6> Tracey Gallant @ Carrigan Arms, 2025 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington ~Country

*3-6> Chris Partland @ Cuchulainn’s Irish Pub, 158 Queen St. S., Streetsville-Mississauga ~Pop Rock

3:30> James Anthony @ Abbey Arms, 481 North Service Rd., Oakville ~Blues

4-7> Glenn Groves @ The Purple Heather, 3600 Dundas St. W., Burlington ~Country

*4:30-8> Chuck Jackson’s All Stars @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Blues

**7-11> The Nomads with guest @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock

*8> open mic night with house band featuring Mike Shotton, Tim & Dave Johns @ Black Swan Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington

9-1> Derek Lathrop Duo @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Top 40 covers

*10:30> Adam Cooke & The Adams Family @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington

LISTINGS KEY

Listings are organized by area in which the shows occur and within each area field shows are listed chronologically.

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. (Double asterisk indicates repeating event with different hosts/guest/etc.). Events preceded by question mark (?) usually take place but have not been confirmed. Admission prices followed by a slash and minus (/-) after the amount indicates door charge with availability of cheaper rates for some purchases. /+ indicates stated price is minimum.

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