While it may be too much to suggest that any one or two artists really symbolize and entire era or genre of music, it’s surely not an overstatement to suggest that singer George Olliver and guitarist Mike McKenna are about as close as you’ll get to capturing the era in which the “Toronto Sound” mix of Rock, Blues, R&B (and something else undefinable but special) had its genesis.
Forming their still powerful performance prowess in the crucible of clubs on Yonge Street and in Yorkville Village in the 1960s, these two veteran icons of the TO music scene have not only withstood the test of time, they’re continuing to add to their legacies.
Today the two lions of the scene team up as part of the latest installment of the “Hoser Blues Night” series being staged by SongTown’s Pete Otis from 4-8:30 at Black Swan Tavern in TO East. They’ll be backed by the all-star calibre series house band that includes veterans Tom Robertson on second guitar, Hap Roderman on bass and Rob Kirkpatrick on the kit.
I’m not going to go into a any details about either of these living legends, because I’ve already written extensively about both: McKenna in connection with numerous shows staged by SongTown (most recently his 70th birthday party last year) and Olliver in a similar vein including the Honouring Our Own concert in 2013 to celebrate his 50+ years in the biz. Search either name on our website and there’s a lot of rich TO musical history to learn.
Admission for the show in the room at 154 Danforth Ave. is just $10 and the night also includes sets by Otis and his band as well as by drummer/songwriter Pat Little.
-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca
SHOW LISTINGS for Sunday, March 05, 2022
For KEY to listings codes and schemata see note at end of shows list.
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ON AIR / ONLINE
*3-5am> The Rock-A-Round with Slim Tim @ www.rockabilly-radio.net ~ Rockabilly tracks (from UK, repeat of Fri show, also runs Wednesdays 6-8am)
*6, 7, 10 & 11am; 5 & 7 pm> “Sunday Morning Soul” with Johnny Max @ www.sundaymorningsoul.com ~Blues
9am> “The Hoose Radio Show” Wee Dan Hoose @ http://www.bluesandrootsradio.com/ ~ artist interviews and tracks
416 – TORONTO CENTRAL
11am-2pm> The Horables for Jewish brunch buffet @ Free Times Café, 320 College St.
*11am-2> The Mercenaries @ Drake One Fifty, 150 York St. ~retro Rock/Soul
12am-2pm> Robert Scott @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. ~piano Jazz; $5
noon-3> Excelsior Dixieland Jazz Band @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz
2> Fern Lindzon @ Royal Conservatory of Music, 273 Bloor St. W. ~Jazz; 0$
3> Peter Longworth; Sir Andras Schiff @ Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. ~piano; $
3:30-6:30> Red Hot Ramble @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $ 
4> The Shevenko Choir @ @ Trinity St. Paul’s Centre, 487 Bloor St. W. ~choral singers; $
*4-7> Michael Brennan @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St. TO ~East Coast Rock/Blues Roots
4> Jon Foster Group @ Poetry Jazz Café, 224 Augusta Ave. ~Jazz
*4:30-8> New Orleans Connection All Stars & guests @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave. ~New Orleans Jazz
4:30-7:30> Sherie Marshall & Mike Cado @ The Local Gest, 424 Parliament St. ~Jazz
5> Monk’s Music @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. ~Jazz
6-7:30> Jacob McInnis @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~Cabaret; $10/pwyc
*6-9> open mic with Eddy Culjak @ Fox & Fiddle Wellesley, 27 Wellesley St.
*7-1> Freefall Sundays open stage (2 songs each -signup @ 7 or pre-sign online) @ The Supermarket, 268 Augusta St.
7-9:30> Bossa Duo @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~$
*7-10> Brooke Blackburn @ Nawlins, 299 King St. W. TO ~Blues/Jazz/R&B
7> Los Campesinos; Crying @ Velvet Underground, 508 Queen St. W.
7> Nikki Lane; Brent Cobb; Jonathan Tyler @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W. ~touring band; $20-$60
7:30> Harrington @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave.
8> Kevin Abstract @ Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W.; $
8> The Doublecuts @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~alt-Country
8> various artists showcase @ Poetry Jazz Café, 224 Augusta Ave.
*8> jam/open mic with backline & host band Meg and the Scene @ The Antler Room, 146 Front St. W.
*8> open mic with Kyle @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St.
*8-12> The Honour Roll with REMY trio @ May Café, 876 Dundas St. W. ~freestyle Hip Hop; 0$
8> The Radio Dept @ Mod Club, 722 College St.
8-10> Marlon Chaplin @ Trinity Common, 303 Augusta Ave.
8:30-10> Eliza Blue Musselwhite @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~Cabaret; $10/pwyc
9:30> Samuel Bonnet Trio @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $
*10> Horshack feat. Chris Caddell @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. ~Bluesy contemporary & classic Rock
10> Woodchoppers Association @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave.
10> New Grease Revival @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~Country
**10> Blues jam with guest hosts The Dog Walkers @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave.
416 – TORONTO EAST
**2-5> Beverley Taft Duo @ Morgan’s, 1282 Danforth Ave. ~Jazz; 0$
*3-6> open mic with Nicola Vaughan @ Hirut, 2050 Danforth Ave.
4> SongTown presents Mike McKenna’s Hoser Blues Night 6 with special guest George Olliver & sets by Pete Otis; Pat Little @ Black Swan Tavern, 154 Danforth Ave. ~Blues; $10
4> iSpy @ Castro’s Lounge, 2116 Queen St. E.
*4:30-8:30> Rock/Blues jam with William A. Miller’s Black Bear All-Stars @ Black Bear Pub, 1125 O’Connor Drive
4:30-8:30> jam with The Two Fours @ The Peppery Cat, 1953 Queen St. E.
5-7> Cadre @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. ~Roots-Rock; 0$
6:30> Marc Maron @ The Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave. ~$57.75
7-11> Jerome Tucker Band @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave ~R&B/Blues; 0$
*9-1> jam with the Stir It Up Band featuring David Macmichael @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave.
4-8> BG Rhythm Section featuring Gary Kendall + guests Steve Grisbrook & Jenie Thai @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd. ~Blues/R&B
5-9> Lost Patients @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line ~Pop Rock
*10-2> jam with Rebecca Matiesen & Phoenix @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lake Shore Blvd. W.
416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH
*2-6> Dan Walek hosts acoustic jam @ Norm’s Place, 3439 St. Clair Ave. E.
*6-10> jam with Ron McLeod & Supernatural @ Tara Inn, 2365 Kingston Rd.
*7-11> open jam with host Gtar Live @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave.
416 – TORONTO WEST
**11-2> live Jazz brunch @ DeSoto’s, 1079 St. Clair Ave. W.
11-1:30> Jorge Maza & Pancho Galván @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W. ~Latin Jazz brunch
*noon-3> Julian Fauth & Ken Yoshioka @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W. ~Blues
* noon-3> The Cosmotones @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~Bluegrass
*1> The Hurtful Two plus One @ Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen St. W. ~Country
4> Chris Staig & The Marquee Players @ Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen St. W. ~Roots-Rock
**5-8> John Borra & Sam Ferrara w. guest @ The Communist’s Daughter, 1149 Dundas St. W. ~Country
5-8> Adam Shier & Ivan Rosenberg @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave. ~old-time Country Roots
5-8> Trevor Cape & The Field + guests @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~originals & Grateful Dead tunes
6> Laura Cole; The Devin Cuddy Band; more for “SHINE 2017” @ @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W. ~bursary awards show; $25
6> Alex Lakusta @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. ~Jazz; pwyc
7> Another Bloody Folk Club @ Yellow Griffin Pub, 2202 Bloor St. W. ~traditional English Folk
8:30> Baby Dee; Transcombobulation @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W. ~avant garde Pop; $15
8:30> Pat Smith’s Montreal Connection @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. ~Jazz; pwyc
9-1> Evan Deslaunier Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Jazz
9> Everlovin’ Jugband @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave. ~old-time jugband music
*10> The Mercenaries @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~retro Rock/Soul; $10
10:30> Luke Vajsar @ Motel Bar, 1235 Queen St. W. ~Jazz
519
*3-7> acoustic open mic with Scott Rhodes @ The Pick and Shovel, 30 Water St., Cambridge
4> Mike McDonalds hosts jam @ The Boathouse, 97 Jubilee Drive, Kitchener ~
7:30> Cold Shoulder; Discoverson @ Maxwell’s Music House, 220 King St. N., Waterloo ~indie; $10
9> Chris Hierlihy & Doran Lee @ The Cornerstone, 1 Wyndham St. N., Guelph
*9-1> jam @ Ivy Arms Pub, 201 Main Street E., Milton
9:30> Romeo Sex Fighter @ Duke of Wellington, 33 Erb St. W. Waterloo
*10-2> open mic with Nathan Coles @ Jimmy Jazz, 52 Macdonnell St., Guelph
705
2-5> Joe Huron Trio with guest tba @ Sticky Fingers Dunlop, 150 Dunlop St. W., Barrie ~Jazz
3> Bluegrass Menagerie feat. Mathew Fines @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough
905 EAST
*3-6> Chris Stapley & Earl Johnson @ Ridges Pub, 776 Liverpool Rd., Pickering ~acoustic Blues/Rock
*3:30-7:30> Jon McCann & JD Bass host jam @ West Shore, 893 Bayly Ave., Pickering
6-10> open jam with Juggernaut @ The Edge Lounge, 250 Bayly St. W., Ajax
*8> Gibran & Matt “Smokey” Wildfong @ Harwood Blues, 7 Harwood Ave., Ajax ~Blues
*8:30-12:30> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ Pearson Pub, 101 Mary St. W. Whitby
*10> Another Round @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~Pop Rock
905 NORTH
**Noon> Nate Douglas & guest @ Huron Club, 94 Pine St., Collingwood
**1-3> Joe & Frank with guest performer @ Lake Simcoe Arms, 21089 Dalton Rd., Jackson’s Point ~Jazz
*1:30-4:30> Blaine Burnie, Mark Thackway & friends @ Coach House Pub, 3 Felcher Boulevard, Stouffville ~acoustic Roots
*3-7> open stage with Kevin Ker @ The Earl Of Whitchurch, 6204 Main St., Stouffville
*3-7> Daniel Davies Band hosts jam @ C.J. Barley’s, 213 The Queensway S., Keswick
*5> open mic with Crosstown Band @ Time Out, 68 Main St., Georgetown
*5:30-9:30> open jam with host band Faces For Radio & guest @ Crown and Anchor Pub, 389 Main St. N., Brampton
*6-9:30> The Andy Earle Trio @ Big Daddy’s Newmarket, 446 Davis Drive, Newmarket ~Blues
*8> acoustic open mic with Kat Vhonda @ Wild Wing Newmarket, 340 Eagle Street, Newmarket
905 SOUTH
2-6> Bay City Blues Band & guest Robin Banks @ Bay City Music Hall, 50 Leander Drive, Hamilton ~Blues; $7
*3> Brother Tom Finochio hosts kitchen party jam @ Rebel’s Rock, 537 King St. E., Hamilton
*4> open mic with Neon Moon @ Moose Lodge, 1860 Barton St., Hamilton
4:30-7:30> Sarah Church @ Cat ‘N’ Fiddle, 174 John St. S., Hamilton
*7> open mic @ The Wee Dram, 1831 Main St. W., Hamilton
*7-11> open Country jam with Robert Tyler @ Gladstone Tavern, 1385 Main St. E., Hamilton
*7:30-11:30> open jam hosted by Troy Harmer & The Persuaders @ The Brown Barrel, 1515 Upper Ottawa St., Hamilton
9> Iskwe; Familiar Wild; more @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton ~$10
9-12> Adam Ostrosser & guest @ Cat ‘N’ Fiddle, 174 John St. S., Hamilton
*10> open mic with Kim Koren @ West End Pub, 151 Emerson St., Hamilton
10:30> Chris Chambers Group @ Gallagher’s Bar, 69 Augusta St., Hamilton
905 WEST
2-6> Darren Hancock @ Carrigan Arms, 2025 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington ~Country
*3-6> Chris Partland @ Cuchulainn’s Irish Pub, 158 Queen St. S., Streetsville-Mississauga ~Pop Rock
3:30> James Anthony @ Abbey Arms, 481 North Service Rd., Oakville ~Blues
4-7> Glenn Groves @ The Purple Heather, 3600 Dundas St. W., Burlington ~Country
*4:30-8> Chuck Jackson’s All Stars @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Blues
**5:30-8:30> The Stew @ Mulligan’s, 2458 Dundas St. W., Mississauga ~R&B/Rock
6> The Meltdown; more @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~$5
**7-11> The Nomads @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock
*8> open mic night with house band featuring Mike Shotton, Tim & Dave Johns @ Black Swan Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington
*9-1>Dan Ford @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~$
*10:30> Adam Cooke & The Adams Family @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington
LISTINGS KEY
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.
-Copyright © 2017 by Gary “17” Webb-Proctor & TorontoMoon,ca. All Rights Reserved
