Reilly helps McGradie’s celebrate eight years of live Scarborough music tonight

\SCARBOROUGH\

Since changing its name slightly (and presumably the owner) eight years ago, not much else at McGradie’s Pub on Victoria Park Ave. at Ellesmere Rd. in Scarborough (formerly O’Grady’s for many years) is any different than it was when I first went there just about six years ago.

That initial visit was to be, along with my fellow member of The Forecasters duo Rob Minderman, the feature act at a Sunday jam then being run by J.C. Mellencamp tribute singer and wild man Andy O’Connor.

While Andy has long since left that role, the Sunday jam, hosted by Dan Walek for at least the past five years, endures, as does a Mon. open stage and a variety of bands every Friday night.

A large number of Scarborough musicians have thusly received employment via this down-to-earth, friendly bar with a rockin’ patio and pretty decent food —probably none so much as singer Al Reilly, who has, as I’ve told you previously, turned the room into a kind of personal party room by staging many special events there with his Catalyst band over the past few years.

Birthdays, anniversaries, wakes, memorials —you name it, Al has put on a show at McGradie’s to turn the event into a larger-than-life celebration with rockin’ music, a cavalcade of guest performers and a full house of patrons.

Now tonight he honours the room itself as owner Sam and staff celebrate the 8^th anniversary of the club, with Reilly doing the honours fronting his band and featuring members of the group Chasing Shadows —along with, you can certainly expect, the usual plethora of special guest talents taking to the stage area for a song or two.

There’s no cover and show in the room at 2167 Victoria Park gets underway at 10 and will run late.

-Gary 17, www.torontomoon.ca

LISTINGS for Friday, August 22, 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 (and 6)> The Mudmen @ CNE Midway Stage, Canadian National Exhibition Grounds, Lakeshore Blvd. West, TO ~Rock

*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> acoustic after-work session with tba @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO

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

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

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

6> Big Rude Jake @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Blues/Jazz

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

7:30> Right Rounders @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~old-time

7:30 (and 11)> Destroyer @ CNE Midway Stage, Canadian National Exhibition Grounds, Lakeshore Blvd., TO West ~KISS tribute

7:30> Platinum Blonde (with Dwayne Gretzky opening) @ CNE Bandshell, Canadian National Exhibition Grounds, Lakeshore Blvd., TO West ~Can Rock icons

7:45-9> Jacqui Brown @ Aspetta Café, 207 Augusta Ave., TO ~solo acoustic

8> Kelsey McNulty @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen Street West, TO

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

8> GCDC @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~big band Rock; $10

8:30> Khash & Yars @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~indie

9> Must Stash Hat @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~indie-Rock

9> Tommy Rocker’s Classic Rock Show @ Centro Pizza, 3406 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~classic Rock

9-1> Tiffany Hanus Jazz Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

9> George Westerholm @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Country Rock

9-1> Caution Jam @ Monarchs Pub in Eaton Chelsea Hotel, 33 Gerrard St. W., TO ~Grateful Dead-style jam band

9-1> Freedom Train @ Legends On The Queensway, 1184 The Queensway, Etobicoke South ~Rock; $5

9> One King @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd., Etobicoke South ~Rock

**9-1> Acoustic Affect with Alexander Quail, Carter Benkhe & guests Leslie Hudson & Lorne Allen @ Lake Affect, 1 Port St., Port Credit

9-1> PRJ Blues @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St., Oshawa ~Blues

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

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

*9:30> Tom Rich @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~alt Pop originals and covers

9:30> Marshall Dane @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Country Pop

9:30> Orangeman @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Blvd., TO North ~Rock/ Top 40

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

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

9:30> Chase N Diesel @ Blarney’s Gate, 1151 Dundas St. W., Mississauga

9:30> Clean SL8 @ 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> Hot Buttered Soul @ Gator Ted’s, 1505 Guelph Line, Burlington ~R&B/Soul

9:30> James Anthony Band hosts fundraiser for cancer fight, with multiple acts @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington

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

9:45> Eric St. Laurent Trio @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

9:45> The Dirty Martinis feat. Mary Mckay @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues

10-2> The Rockets @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South ~classic Rock

10> Al Reilly’s Catalyst & members of Chasing Shadows for McGradie’s 8^th anniversary party @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave., Scarborough ~classic Rock/Top 40

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

10> John Borra & Sam Ferrara @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen Street West, TO ~Rockabilly

10-2> The Royal Crowns @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO W. ~Rockabilly

10> Victor Bateman Trio @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Jazz

10-1> Jack Marks @ Bar Radio, 615 College St., TO ~Roots

10-2> Code Green @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 36 Kingston Rd., E., Ajax ~Rock/Blues

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

10> Jill Stavely; Dog Is Blue @ The Red Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

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

10:30> Dirty Pioneers @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington ~Pop Rock

Copyright © 2014 Toronto Moon Magazine. All Rights Reserved