\ ETOBICOKE \

A band that features a veteran of the Rock ‘n’ Roll scene with an international reputation and a singer whose profile is growing higher with every passing month, Rock Gods have all the right ingredients for the scene at Etobicoke’s Southside Johnny’s, where they appear tonight.

The club at 3653 Lake Shore Blvd. W. near Brown’s Line loves hard Rock and dancing and this four-piece, with Earl Johnson of MOXY fame on the six-strings and James Alcock of AC/DC tribute Hell N Back and Van Halen salute Best of Both Worlds delivers just that kind of excitement.  Veterans Ron McLeod on drums and Carlo Pontone on bass provide the floor for these two showcase headliners to do their thing.

That thing is basically a tribute to the Rock icons who formed the gritty non-Grunge backbone of 80s fist-pumping/leg-stomping music, from AC/DC and Van Halen through Guns ‘N’ Roses, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Ronny James Dio and many more of that ilk. You can catch a taste in their online vid of “Come On Feel The Noise”.

Johnson seems to be enjoying a bit of a career resurgence these days, as he’s also part of several other combos in the same genre and much in demand as a featured guest or fill-in whenever he’s not otherwised engaged.  Alcock, meanwhile, who only started singing professionally a few years ago after a lifetime as a fan, is engaged in a career emergence, being highly touted for his work performing the Van Halen and AC/DC cover tunes in the tributes he’s part of, and also occasionally guesting with other outfits.

As always at Southside there’s no cover and the show gets underway between 10 and 10:30. The beautiful “sunset patio” with a great view of the open western sky over Etobicoke is open for drinks and food till 11 and the grub here is home-made hearty and affordable.  Drink prices are still among the best bargain in the area despite the fact that this is most certainly not a dive but a very comfy, lively and welcoming neighbourhood bar that you can comfortably bring your lover to or maybe meet a new one if you’re without.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

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Friday, July 14, 2021 SHOWS OF INTEREST BY GENRE

OPEN MICS / JAMS

*3-7> acoustic jam with John Hutt @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave., TO Central

*8-11:30> open stage with Lil Steve Piette Band @ Toronto Island Marina, Centre Island, TO Central

9:30-1:30> Blues jam with Mike Sedgewick Band @ Salt Dog, 1980 Queen St. E., TO East

*9:30> open mic @ Big Daddy’s, 460 Elgin Mills Rd., E, Richmond Hill

ROOTS / ROOTS-ROCK & RELATED

*5-7> The Friends of Hugh Oliver @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. ~Folk

8:30-10:30> Gerard & Sleets with special guest Kevin Jollimore of Sin City Boys final performance of acoustic originals @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St. ~Roots Rock with heart; 0$

8:30> Melanie Peterson @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO Central ~Roots-Rock; $

BLUES / FUNK / SOUL / R&B

6-10> Chris Murphy Band with James Anthony @ Riverside Grill (Holiday Inn), 150 George St., Peterborough ~Blues/R&B; $10

9:30> Lady Kane @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St., TO North ~Funk/Soul/R&B; $10

9:45> Dee Dee & The Dirty Martinis @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO Central ~60s R&B 7-piece; $

10> “Café Bluenote” featuring George Olliver & Jay Douglas Whistler’s Grille, TO East, 995 Broadview Ave. ~Blues revue/Toronto Sound; $15

10> Dave Murphy Band @ Orbit Room, 480 College St., TO Central ~Rock/Funk/R&B; $

10:30> Chloe Watkinson’s Park Eddy @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO Central ~Blues/R&B; 0$

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL / HARD ROCK

8-11:45> Swichbeat @ Harbour Street Fish Bar, 10 Keith Ave., Collingwood ~Rock/Top 40 covers

9> The Substitutes @ Drums N Flats, 1980 Avenue Rd., TO North ~Rock/Top 40; 0$

9:30> I Will Be King featuring Elana Harte & members of Stiletto Flats @ The Duke Live, 1225 Queen St. E. ~tribute to David Bowie; $10

9:30> Greg Wyard @ Stone Cottage Pub, 3750 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock

9:30> Marc Joseph Band @ The Edge, 250 Bayly St., Ajax ~Rock/Top 40 covers; $5

10-2> Rock Gods featuring Earl Johnson on guitar & James Alcock on vocals @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke ~classic Rock; 0$

POP / ALT-POP/ ART-ROCK

7-9> Casual Fridays Band @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Pop covers & originals; 0$

9> Oakland Stroke @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line ~tribute to Tower of Power; $15

9:30> David Macmichael & The $5 Tall Boys @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~alt Pop originals and covers; 0$

10-2> Stone The Radio @ The Hideout, 423 College St., TO Central

COUNTRY & NEW COUNTRY / ALT-COUNTRY

9> Steel City @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country-Rock

9:30> James Cameron Band @ Stampede Corral, 248 Stirling Ave. S., Kitchener ~Country

10> Jamie Lynn Reed Band @ Boots & Bourbon Saloon, 725 Queen St. E., TO East ~Country-Rock/original Country

JAZZ

*4-6> Hogtown Syncopators @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO Central ~Jazz; $

5-8> Didi Mau Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

6-8> Denielle Bassels @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO Central ~tribute to Nina Simone -Jazz; $10-20/pwyc

6:30> Artie Roth @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO Central ~Jazz; $

9> Sean Bellaviti Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Latin Jazz

9:45> Dave Young Quintet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO Central ~Jazz; $

PUNK/GRUNGE

9> Teenage Head @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO Central ~Punk icons; $

KARAOKE

*8-12> Karaoke with Rob MacArthur & Lorraine @ Royal Canadian Legion #322, 112 Hunt St., Ajax

Copyright 2017 by Gary “17” Webb-Proctor & TorontoMoon.ca