\ TO EAST/SCARBOROUGH \

When you’re a hard working Pop Rock band there’s nothing quite so enjoyable as being in a room full of people who know you and will appreciate your style and talent, so long as you’re giving them what they already expect and love from your performance.

Three such bands that always reliably satisfy both their followers and create new fans are in action tonight in TO’s East York and Scarborough areas, doing shows where they’ve already played with great results or close to where they live and have scads of friends.

Though based in TO’s west end and downtown areas, Kevin Jollimore and his Sin City Boys have developed a strong east-end following over the past several years, including recent appearances at Linsmore Tavern, Eton House and at Dora Keogh that have all delivered the usual SCB result: crowds dancing wherever they can in the room while bar servers strive to keep up with the business. Their blend of Buddy Holly/Rolling Stones-style vintage Pop Rock with a Tex-Mex groove that also infuses their originals, proves an irresistible magnet to the dance floor.

With no cover for tonight’s 9:30ish show at Dora (141 Danforth Ave) and the mild weather projected to continue a bit longer, this is a show you’ll want to arrive at early if you want a seat —not that you’ll actually be using it much!

For his part, Jollimore will be hustling to get there after wrapping his weekly edition of the Kensington Kitchen Party acoustic event that he anchors every Friday afternoon 5-8 at Graffiti’s in Kensington Market, where he and SCB are also an established monthly feature.

Likewise the David Love Band, while its members hail from Brampton and it performs all across the GTA at top clubs, has also established a following in East York with its now several shows at Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave. a few steps from Greenwood subway station.  They bring a crowd of Boomers and hook in stray Millennials with their ability to not only deliver the best of melodic Rock from the 60s, but to weave a vibe of it that feels authentic.

With the incredible versatility of both eponymous singer/bassist David Love (some will also recognize his name from Carpet Frogs, Love & LeBlanc or his role with Classic Albums Live) and hugely energetic and sonically faithful guitar of Darrell McNeill, drummer Kevin Mulligan has his work cut out for him, but actually plays an integral part in their ability to recreate the 60s headspace —say it with me: “Wipeout!”  They’re now a regular part of the Linsmore rotation, and begin tonight’s edition at 9:30 with a nominal $5 cover charge at the door.

Up in northwest Scarborough, meanwhile, longtime Beaches/Scarborough Pop Rock icon Frank Wilks and his Freedom Express band is showcasing at McGradie’s at 2167 Victoria Park at Ellesmere Ave.  Wilks, who’s not only a songwriter (with a recently released new album) and multi-instrumentalist, is also a playwright and longtime area jam host with tons of musical friends and fans in the ‘hood.  He’s also a master of covers of Neil Young and similar artists’ catalogues and is savvy enough to read audiences’ moods and anticipate them.

Since it appears he’s no longer hosting the Tuesday jam at The Duke Live, tonight’s show may also be a chance for those who miss him there to catch up with this ebullient, high-minded and thoroughly delightful composer and performer. There’s no cover, the show starts at 10 and will go late.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Friday, April 01, 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, are underlined and, where applicable, include a live link to their websites. Advertisers’ listings are in larger type, highlighted, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

416 - Toronto Central

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

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

*5-8> Kensington Kitchen Party with host Kevin Jollimore of Sin City Boys, Kim Cadilla on bass & guest musicians @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO ~Pop Rock with heart

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

5-11> Jealous Gods; Prophets; Weston; Outsider; Throne To The Wolves; Die Hexe; more  @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St., TO ~original Rock; $10

*5:30> Jazz Generation; Melissa Smeets @ Imperial Pub, 54 Dundas St. E., TO ~Jazz

6-9> Hold The Bus 1^st Friday with Kevin Jeffrey & Malcom Gould + guests Rob Murphy & Joe Freedman @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO ~Roots/Country/Pop

6-8> Sinners Choir @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Country/Roots; $10/pwyc

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

7:30> Starfires @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

8> George Pliakes birthday bash featuring Guitar G Dance Band @ Harbour Square Bar Lounge, 10^th floor 11 Harbour Square, TO ~vintage dance Rock; no cover (free parking!)

8> Patrick Brealey @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen Street West, TO ~Country

*8:30-12:30> All Star Band feat. Joe Bowden & Brooke Blackburn @ Nawlin’s, 299 King St. W. TO ~Blues

8:30> Intronaut; Scale The Summit; North @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W., TO ~$15

9> Jessica Speziale; Jacquelyn Tober & The Rose County Ramblers; Brooklyn Doran; The Dreadful Starlings featuring Iliya Vee @ Cameron House (rear), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~indie

9> Soundtrack Of The City Festival with Focused; Honey Beard; The High Streets; The Quickshifters; Jim Dan Dee @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; $10/$15/$25

9-3> Soundtrack Of The City Festival with FXRRVST; Beyond The Mountain; Borel; Mattie Leon; Jess Spagnolo Music @ The Paddock, 178 Bathurst St., TO ~indie; $10/$15/$25

9> The Gavin & John Show @ Drums N Flats, 1980 Avenue Rd., TO North

9> Meanwood; The Count Ferrara; more @ The Silver Dollar, 486 Spadina Ave., TO ~indie; $

9> Alex Beraldo @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St., TO

9> Time Giant Farewell Show with Honeyrunners; Ballroom Babies @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~original Rock; $10

9-12> Jay Pollock @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO ~indie Pop

9-11:30> Sheila Jordan @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~Jazz; $

9:30> Soundtrack Of The City Festival with Chico Dusty; BS101; Social Hysteria; Radio Free Universe; Grand Line @ Cherry Cola’s, 200 Bathurst St. TO ~indie; $10/$15/$25

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

9:45> Kelly Jefferson Quartet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

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

10> Shawn Brady & Hervé Bassett @ P.J. O’Brien’s, 39 Colborne St., TO ~acoustic Pop Rock

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

10> Kayla Howran @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen Street West, TO ~Coutnry

10> Ali Berkok and guests @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10> The Wrong Kids @ Bier Markt Esplanade, 58 The Esplanade, TO

10> The Better Half @ Bier Markt King, 600 King St., West, TO ~Pop Rock

10:30> Combo Royale @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO ~Blues

10:30> Beth Moore @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO ~songwriter

10:30> The Reid Henry Band @ Fionn MacCool’s Esplanade, 70 The Esplanade ~Pop Rock

416 - Toronto East

5-7> The Straight 8s @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East

*9> open mic with Matt & Mike @ The Grover Pub, 676 Kingston Rd., TO East

9:30> The David Love Band also featuring Darrell McNeill @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~melodic 60s Pop Rock; $5

9:30> The Sin City Boys featuring Kevin Jollimore @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Rock/Tex Mex covers & originals; no cover

*9:30> The Oh Chays @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Folk-Soul duo

10:30> Nice Boys @ Bier Markt Don Mills, 7 O’Neill Rd., TO East ~Pop Rock

416 – Toronto Etobicoke

7:30> Canadian Jazz Quartet @ Old Mill Inn, 21 Old Mill Rd., Etobicoke ~Jazz; min table charge

8> The Dio Years with Darren James Smith + guests Cameltoe @ The Rockpile, 5555 Dundas St. W., Etobicoke ~Rock tribute; $

8-2> Brenden Varty Quartet @ Placebo Space, 2877 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke

9> Eddy Moon The Silverbirds @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd., Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9:30> Fleetwood Mac Mania @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Fleetwood Mac tribute; $

10-2> Bare Rump @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South ~AC/DC tribute

10> Southbound Soul @ Bier Markt Etobicoke, 199 North Queen St., Etobicoke ~Pop Rock

416 – Toronto Scarborough

9:30> Robbie & Matt @ Stone Cottage Pub, 3750 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock

10> Frank Wilks & Freedom Express @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave., Scarborough ~Rock/Top 40 covers & originals

416 - Toronto West

5-8> The Spirit of Jazz featuring Nina Richmond @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

5-7> Winona Wilde @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Blues/Country

7-9> Pow Wows; By Divine Right @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO W. ~$10

7:30> Andrew Grady Duo @ Brazen Head Pub, 165 East Liberty St., TO West ~Pop Rock

7:30> Jim Heineman Trio @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W., TO West ~World Jazz

8:30> Ken Whiteley album release for Freedom Blues with all-star guests @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Roots/Blues; $22.50

8:30> Torero; Kolapore @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West

9-1> The Pearl Motel @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

9> Volk; Ax Minster @ The Tennessee, 1554 Queen St. W., TO West

9> Union Duke; Alex Mason @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W., TO West ~$15

9> Matty Powell @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West

9> Wi-Fi Password @ Holy Oak Café, 1241 Bloor St. W., TO West

9:30> Arthur Renwick @ Amico’s Pizza, 1648 Queen St. W., TO West ~Roots/Blues songwriter

9:30> Freeman Dre & The Kitchen Party @ Fat City Blues, 890 College St., TO West ~original Roots-Rock; $

10-2> The Double Cuts @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO W. ~Western Swing; $10

10> Soulsonic @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West

10> Yani Borrell @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Cuban Salsa; $15

519

8> Jessie Treneer @ Fionn MacCool’s Kitchener, 4287 King St. E., Kitchener ~Pop

9:30> Wasted Measures @ Fionn MacCool’s Orangeville, 75 Fourth Ave., Orangeville ~Pop

705

5-7> Chester Babcock @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

5:30> Rick & Gailie @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

7> Clairvoyant; Cleopatrick; C. Clarkin & The Presidents; Jesse Foster @ The Spill, 414 George St. N., Peterborough ~indie; $5

8-11:45> Groove Project @ Harbour Street Fish Bar, 10 Keith Ave., Collingwood ~Rock/Funk/Soul

9> Christina Leroux & Ryan Ciccotelli @ The Huron Club, 94 Pine St., Collingwood

9:30> The Human Rights @ Red Dog Tavern, 189 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

9:30> The Unmistakable 80s @ Sticky Fingers Dunlop, 150 Dunlop St. W., Barrie

10> Broken Harmony @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

905 East

9> Darren Hancock @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country

9> The Professors of Funk @ The Moustache Club, 15 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

*9:30> Karaoke with Rob MacArthur & Lorraine @ Royal Canadian Legion #322, 112 Hunt St., Ajax

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

10> Deuce @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~Pop Rock

10-2> Juggernaut featuring Tracey Gallant @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 36 Kingston Rd., E., Ajax ~Pop Rock/Top 40

10-2> Two For The Show @ Whisky John’s, 843 King St. W., Oshawa

905 North

8> George Olliver with James Anthony Band @ Spot One, 289 Rutherford Rd. S., Brampton ~R&B/Blues-Rock icon; no cover

9> Ron Fleming Duo @ King Richard’s Pub, 15570 Yonge St., Aurora ~Pop Rock

9:30> Justin Time @ Jake’s Boathouse Brampton, 59 First Gulf Rd., Brampton ~Pop Rock

9:30> Bad To The Bone @ Oscar’s Roadhouse, 1785 Queen St. E., Brampton ~George Thoroughgood tribute

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

10> Happy Pants @ Aw Shucks, 15230 Yonge St., Aurora ~Pop Rock

905 – South

6:30> Ferguson Young with Liam McGlashon @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton

8> Worst Pop Band Ever with guest Sophia Perlman @ Artword Artbar, 15 Colbourne St., Hamilton ~Jazz; $10

8> The Chasers @ Pub Fiction, 1242 Garner Rd. W., Ancaster

8> Billy Moon; Hiroshima Hearts; Laika @ @ Homegrown Hamilton, 27 King William St. Hamilton ~indie; $10/pwyc

9> Justin Sawicki @ Coach & Lantern, 384 Wilson St E., Hamilton

9> Unseen Strangers record release party @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton ~indie; $15

9> 16^th Anniversary Party @ Rebel’s Rock, 537 King St. E., Hamilton

9> Toadhouse: Out of Hibernation; Must Stash Hat; The Human Race @ The Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton ~indie; $

9:15> The Old Winos & guest tba @ The Old Winery Restaurant, 2228 Niagara Stone Rd., Niagara-On-The-Lake

9:30> Martian Rebel; The Polar Bear Is Mine; Done For Pleasure; Cash in Kings @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton ~indie Rock; $

9:30> Freedom Train @ Stonewalls Hamilton, 339 York Blvd., Hamilton ~Rock/Top 40

10> Neon Moon @ The Wellington House, 222 Cannon St., Hamilton ~Rock

10> The Bryce Moor Band @ Doc Magilligan’s Irish Pub, 6400 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls

905 West

*5> Adam Ostrosser & Joel Guenther @ Carrigan Arms, 2025 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington ~Pop

*6-9> Krista Blondin @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop/Jazz/Blues

8> Big Phat @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~edgy Fuzzed-out Rock/Blues; $10

9> Twist & The Nightaways @ Fionn MacCool’s Burlington, 2331 Appleby Line, Burlington ~Pop

9:30> Kenny V @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9:30> Elyse Saunders @ The Franklin House, 263 Queen St. S., Streetsville ~Pop Rock

9:30> Dirt Dogs @ Boston Manor, 4460 Fairview Ave., Burlington ~Rock/Top 40

9:30> Shotton-Martin @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington ~Pop Rock

10-2> The Dreamboats @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock

10> Lindsay Brohan @ Bier Markt Mississauga, 55 City Centre Drive, Mississauga ~Pop Rock

10:15> Christian James Band @ Failte, 201 City Centre Dr., Mississauga ~Pop Rock

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