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She’s been nominated for three Juno Awards, played keys and sang as a member of David Bowie’s band, hosted a music radio show, acted in a movie and received a phone call from space from astronaut/musician Chris Hadfield, but Emm Gryner still refers to herself as a “small-town girl from Ontario.”

(She made the self-reference in an interview with a Toronto Star reporter in January about Bowie’s death. “He was just a really good human being.  If a small-town girl from Ontario could find some connection with him, that speaks a lot about who he was,” she was quoted as saying.)

The Sarnia-area born Pop singer-songwriter and leader of Folk trio Trent Severn has released ten albums (two of them nominated for “Best Pop Album” Junos) and in 2013 collaborated with Hadfield on his viral internet video version of Bowie’s “Space Oddity” that was filmed in part aboard the International Space Station.  He actually called the band from the station during one of their concerts, making them “the first band to receive a phone call from space” according to promo for an album release show she’s doing tonight.

U2 leader Bono named her song “Almighty Love” one of six tunes he wishes he’d written, while Bowie called her one of his two favourite Canadian acts, and Nellie Furtado said Emm’s Science Fair album is on her “desert island” list.  At the outset of her career her “Wisdom Bus” song won a nationwide songwriting contest in 1995 that proved to be her breakout moment.

In addition to spending a couple of years with Bowie’s band while living in the U.S. at the dawn of the current century, she also did a stint as the host of CBC radio’s “Under The Covers” and had a leading role in the 2008 movie “One Week”.  Focused and independent-minded, she also runs her own record label, Dead Daisy Records, which she started after winning the Standard Broadcasting-sponsored songwriting contest.  And she’s a mom of two kids to boot!

Gryner first came to my attention (through to-nite/Moon writer/photographer Mary Armstrong) shortly after she moved to TO in 1996 and released her Original Leap Year debut album on her new label.  I highly praised the disc (now an out-of-print rarity) in a review [“Lilting voice of Emm Gryner entrances all through the year”] in my to-nite #083, November 6-19, 1996.  [Paid subscribers who are also registered as website members can read it as a jpg scan in our Vault section].

“It’s the enchanting voice of this young performer,” I wrote, “that, even more than some very poignant and thought-provoking lyrics with music to match, stays in the memory long after the album ends and keeps you coming back for another play.”

Already, at just 21 years of age, I noted 20 years ago, her song lyrics were “surprisingly mature for one of such tender years” who appeared to be “on a voyage of discovery” that “happily, it’s a pure pleasure sharing.”

Twenty years and ten albums later, tonight she holds what she’s calling the official cd release for a new album, 21CB, as part of a double-bill at Hugh’s Room at 2261 Dundas St. W. along with another dynamic female songwriter, Sarah Smith, with whom she’s currently on tour.

While it’s proved impossible to find any details about the new disc, either on her website or various other online platforms with which she’s associated, it’s a safe bet that patrons who pay the $30 cover for the 8:30 p.m. show are in for a treat.

As I wrote in 1996: “Hearing Gryner live … is both more and less satisfying. What you lose in the accompaniments and effects of the album you gain from the visceral pleasure of the shivers up your spin her ethereal and enchanting voice unfailingly produce.”

This evening you can get both!

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Wednesday, April 20, 2022

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.

Names of subscribers appear in bold and underlined and, where applicable, include a live link to their websites. Advertisers’ listings are in larger, highlighted type, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

416 – Toronto Central

5> Gordon Shawcross @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St. TO

*5:30> Kama House Band @ Kama, 214 King St. W., TO ~Jazz

6-8> Gigi & Friends @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $10

6> Sarah Jan Scouten @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6:30> Bugaloo Squad @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

*7> Jim Heineman Trio @ Nawlins, 299 King St. W., TO ~Jazz

*7-10> Blues jam with Mark Stafford & Ken Yoshioka @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St., TO North

7> Bernie Senensky Organ Trio @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. TO ~R&B/Jazz; $10

7:30> No Angels Dancing with Allison Cameron and Stephen Parkinson @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO

*7:30> Jeff Willingham @ Lou Dawgs Ryerson, 76 Gerrard St. E., TO ~acoustic Pop

**8-12> Girls Night Out Jazz singers’ jam with Lisa Particelli, Peter Hill et al @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO

8> Polica; Mothxr @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W., TO ~$21.50

**8 (7 p.m. sign-up)> open stage with 9 p.m. feature by Max Layton @ Fat Albert’s, 25 Cecil St. (Steelworkers Hall), TO ~Roots

8-1> open jam with Wednesday’s Child feat. Johnny Bootz Hutt @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave., TO

8-11:30> Morgan Childs Quartet @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~Jazz; $

9> The Massey Hall Band @ Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W., TO ~18-piece eclectic Pop Roots cover; $10

8:30> Kalyssa; Asha Diaz; Carmen Toth; Century; Skitso Frenic; J-Terror; Adrian Sawyer for Raw Dog networking party @ Studio Bar, 824 Dundas St. W., TO ~indie; no cover

8:30> Sue & Dwight’s Folk Revival with Michelle Rumball & Tony Laviola @ Free Times Cafe, 320 College St., TO ~Folk singalong; $

9> Rocky & The Goldstein @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

9> The Digs @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Funk/Jazz/neo-Soul; $

*9 (signup at 8:30)> open mic with Alan Carter @ Lowdown, 276 Augusta Ave., TO

*9-2> What’s Poppin’ indie jam @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St., TO

9> Hollowphonic; New Row; Field Study; Mad City; The Focklers @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; $5

9:30> Andrew McAnsh @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

10> The Sinners Choir @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

10> Lara Swankey; Patrick O’Reilly; Christine Duncan @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO

*10-2> Blues-Rock jam with Bruce Domoney @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave. TO

10> Hot Fiyah @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. TO ~Funk; $10

10:30> The Undercovers @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

416 – Toronto East

*7:30-10:30> The BTBs @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz

7:30> open mic night @ Royal Canadian Legion Branch 22, 1240 Woodbine Ave., TO East

*8> acoustic open mic with Phill Hood @ An Sibin Pub, 709 Queen St. E., TO East

8:30-10:30> Mediterranean Stars featuring Ed Roth on accordion @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~Gypsy Jazz/Baltic Folk

*9:30> open stage with Nicola Vaughan @ Black Swan (downstairs), 154 Danforth Ave., TO East

416 – Toronto Etobicoke

8> Reel Wolf album release @ The Rockpile, 5555 Dundas St. W., Etobicoke

8-1> Three Dads @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~vintage Pop; $

9> Space Jazz jam with guitarist Youngchan Na & band with weekly guest tba @ Placebo Space, 2877 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke ~Jazz ; $10/pwyc

416 – Toronto West

5-8> Rick Maltese’s Three in One @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

**8-10:30> Hump Night Blues with Dave McManus & Cleave Anderson + special guests Paul “Storm” Polisano  + George Baumann on sax @ On Cue Billiards, 349 Jane St., TO West ~Blues

*8> MFA open mic @ Remix Lounge, 1305 Dundas St. W., TO West

8:30> Cola Heads @ Smiling Buddha, 961 College St., TO West

8:30> Fried Bananas host 4/20 party @ Fat City Blues, 890 College St., TO West ~Rock/Soul revival

8:30> Emm Gryner album release; Sarah Smith @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Pop Rock songwriters; $30

9-12> Blues Night with Julian Fauth & guests @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~original Juno-winning Blues

9> Hervana @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West ~female acoustic Nirvana tribute playing Unplugged In New York; $12

9> The Mayhemingways @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Roots-Rock duo

8:30> Graham & Kompany; Ten Meter Band;  @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~

10> Heavyweights Brass Band; Park Eddy @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~ R&B/Country; $10

*10> Kristine Schmitt & The Lonesome Ace Stringband @ The Hole In The Wall, 2867 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Pop

519

7:30> Phillip Sayce @ Maxwell’s, 35 University Ave. E., Waterloo ~Blues; $20

9> The Phil & John Show feat. Phil Naro @ Molly Bloom’s Waterloo, 170 University Ave., Waterloo ~acoustic Pop Rock

705

*7-11> open jam with The Freacon Band @ The Beacon, 146 45th St., Wasaga Beach ~ Blues, Jazz; $5

7:30> Christine Attrill @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

8> Craig Smith @ The Huron Club, 94 Pine St., Collingwood

905 East

8-11> Robin Pokorny with Howard Ross & Dave Restivo @ Old Flame Brewing Co., 135 Perry St., Port Perry ~Blues

8> Bruce Gorrie @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

*8-11> open mic @ Frank’s Pasta, 426 King St. E., Cobourg

*10> Two For The Show @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~Pop Rock

905 North

*7> open mic night with Tanya Joy Senior @ Col. McGrady’s Pub, 44 Brock St. W., Uxbridge

*7-close> open mic with Kevin Ker @ The Mill, 139 Mill St., Unionville

*8:45> open mic jam with Matt Zady @ Magnums, 21 McMurchy Ave. N., Brampton

*9-1> open mic jam with Whiskey Birds @ Sweetz Lounge, 5289 Hwy 7, Woodbridge-Vaughan

*9:30> open mic with The Villagers @ Main’s Mansion, 144 Main St., Markham

*10-2> jam night with Switchbeat Trio @ Maguires, 284 Queen St. E., Brampton

905 South

*7> open mic night @ Donnelley’s Pub, 54 Front St., Thorold ~Blues

**8-1> Boogie N Blues jam with Blaine Bomberry @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton

8> Terrie Petrie & band hosts Country Wednesdays @ Pub Fiction, 1242 Garner Rd. W., Ancaster ~Country

*8:30> Something Country @ The Endzone, 1900 King St. E., Hamilton ~Country

9> Ride The Tiger @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton ~Soul-Rock

9> The Last Vegas; The Saigon Hookers @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton ~$

905 West

8-1> Crooked Brothers @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~Winnipeg Folk-Rock; $7

*8:30> The Carson Freeman Diversion @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock

9-1> Jeremy & Jenn @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop; $

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