Hopefully Tommy’s birthday at new Scarborough music room leads to happy returns

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I was recently told by karaoke host Niko Love about a new room offering entertainment in the St. Clair Ave./Kennedy Road area of Scarborough that I believe may be the very place where one of the burb’s most ubiquitous acts, Tommy Rocker’s Classic Rock Show, is appearing tonight.

I sort of hope it’s not the same room (Niko never actually named the place), because the k-host reported to me a week after telling me about it (and saying he thought it might be a place I could do an open stage) that the owner had shorted him on the agreed-upon payment for his first show. I’d hate to see something like that happen to hard working and good-natured Tommy, who tonight celebrates the beginning of another trip around the sun with a birthday bash in the Fox & Crown at 646 Danforth Road.

From what I can see on Google maps, the fair-sized room appears to be the former Phoenicia Lounge situated in a small strip plaza on the southwest corner of Danforth Road and St. Clair Ave. East, a stone’s throw (put that rock down Nicholas!) east of Kennedy.

Perhaps in any case —if this even is the same place Niko was talking about— the problem was based on a misunderstanding of some sort and certainly if a big turnout was promised and didn’t materialize one can see that the story may well have two sides.

But with Tommy bringing in a strong lineup of players (Kerry Kalli on guitar, Jenn LadyEvil on bass, Brian Selby on drums) and an expected throng of special guests (pretty much any Scarborough musician who isn’t working elsewhere) likely to be on hand and to get up to do a tune with the band, there shouldn’t be any difficulty with making the club owner happy tonight.

In true Rock ‘n’ Roll fashion, Tommy won’t just be celebrating tonight, either. He’s also got a Saturday night show at another Scarborough music room: McGradie’s (which normally has karaoke those nights, unless something’s changed) at Victoria Park and Ellesmere, plus he’s planning to return to the Fox & Crown on Sunday for a 6-10 jam night hosted by Kalli and Evil.

If everything works out well tonight, it sounds like this could be the latest candidate to be the new Scarborough hot spot. Moon readers will be among the first to know!

-Gary 17, www.torontomoon.ca

LISTINGS for Friday, August 15, 2021:

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. (Double asterisk indicates repeating event with different hosts/guest/etc.). 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, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

*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 & guest musicians @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO ~Pop Rock with heart

*5-7> open mic with The Foolish Things @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~original Pop

*5-7> Ronnie Hayward Trio @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E.. TO E. ~Blues/Roots

5-8> Whitney Ross Barris Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

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

6> David Celia @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Roots-Pop

6:30> Lester McLean Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

**6:30> Parkside Drive; Kat House (outside for Buskerfest Musicfest) @ Lake Affect, 1 Port St., Port Credit

7:30> Dust: The Quietest Big Band In The Known World @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Jazz

8> Rich Forty Unplugged @ Tranzac Club (Tiki Room), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

8> Lisa Smith’s Powerhaus @ Centro Pizza, 3406 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Rock

8> Luke & The Apostles @ Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen St. W., TO West ~TO Rock icons; $20

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

*8-1> karaoke @ RCL #312, 112 Hunt St., Ajax

8> Brock Zeman @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~Ottawa songwriter; $10

8:30> Richard Kahl & Friends @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~Roots

8:30> Kinky Friedman @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO W. ~sarcastic Roots-Rock activist; $35/-

9> Mark T Band @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jerry Garcia tribute; $5 adv/$10 door

9-1> Fraser Melvin Blues Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

9> Lucas Stagg Band @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Country Rock

9-1> Tony Springer @ Monarchs Pub in Eaton Chelsea Hotel, 33 Gerrard St. W., TO ~electric Blues

9> Earztravaganza showcase with The Modern Hearts; The Nursery; The Creekside Strays; Social Strife @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W., TO ~Indie; $5

9> The Double Cuts @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO W. ~Country

9-1> Double Shot with Frank Cosentino & Earl Johnson @ Legends On The Queensway, 1184 The Queensway, Etobicoke South ~guitar Blues

9> Richard Henderson Band @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd., Etobicoke South

9-1> The Storm @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St., Oshawa

9> Colin Amey Band @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country

9-1> Beetroots @ Oscar’s Roadhouse, 1785 Queen St. E., Brampton ~Top 40/Rock

*9:30> David Macmichael & Chris Mills @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~alt Pop originals and covers

9:30-2> Tommy Rocker’s Classic Rock Show celebrating Tommy’s birthday @ Fox & Crown, 646 Danforth Road, Scarborough ~Rock

9:30> Jeff G & The Four Heads @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave., Scarb. ~classic Rock/Top 40

9:30> Covered In Paint @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9:30> The Police @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Blvd., TO North

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

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

9:30> Vintage 45s @ Jake’s Boathouse Brampton, 59 First Gulf Rd., Brampton ~Pop Rock

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

9:30> Michael Zane @ Shakers, 580 Kerr St., Oakville

9:30> Ric Jacobs @ Gator Ted’s, 1505 Guelph Line, Burlington

9:30> Retro Rocket @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington

9:30> Ribin Hawkin Band @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

9:45> Jeremy Pelt with Johnny Griffith Quintet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

9:45> Robin Banks @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues

10-2> Groove Marmalade @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South ~Rock

10-2> Laura Hubert Band feat. Peter Hill @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO ~ Pop Jazz with punch 

10> tba @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen Street West, TO

10> The Shakedown Combo with special guests Buzz Deluxe @ El Mocambo, 464 Spadina Ave., TO ~Nova Scotia Rockers; $10

10> Sean Mayes @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10-1> Gypsy Rebels @ Bar Radio, 615 College St., TO ~Gypsy Jazz; pwyc

10-2> Spit Fire Kings @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 36 Kingston Rd., E., Ajax ~Pop Rock/Top 40

10-2> She Plus 3 @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop ROck

10> Whitney Paget & Friends @ The Red Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

10:30> The Royal Streets; Day Drunk; Texas King @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

10:30> Whiskey Rose with special guests The Lizards + Den Of Thieves @ Rockpile East, 2787 Eglinton Ave. E., Scarborough ~Thin Lizzy tribute; $10

**11-1> Acoustic Affect with Alexander Quail, Carter Benkhe & guests Justin Time Band @ Lake Affect, 1 Port St., Port Credit

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