\ TO CENTRAL \

I haven’t written much about LMT Connection over the past few years, but that’s certainly not because the band is not deserving of all kinds of press attention and acclaim but simply because I haven’t had occasion to see their show in some time.  One piece in which I mentioned them almost three years ago now only really touched on this power trio’s awesome range of prowess on R&B, Soul and Funk classics as well as several originals the group has penned.

But a description I wrote way back in 2000 in reviewing their 1999 album Outta Control in my to-nite magazine, still applies today from all I’ve heard and seen and been told:

“LMT is an organic unit that feeds upon its audience as much as its co-dependent groove freak fans rely upon the band to be transported to magical musical places that elevate the spirit. By the end of the show, if not way before, you simply surrender to their intoxicatingly exciting and satisfying musical brew.”

Frontman Leroy Emmanuel, who started performing with legends at a young age growing up in the U.S., is a veritable tornado of guitar and vocal energy while frenetic “Hard Hittin’” Mark Rogers, a supremely gifted veteran skinsbeater/percussionist, and “Big Bad” John Irvine on bass combine to hold down (barely) this force of nature’s charismatic, galvanizing presence.  In fact, rather than containing Leroy’s passion and verve, they ably enhance and feed it.  This combo truly does stake out new frontiers of Funk.

Leroy, in addition to being a hugely talented musician, is also, while chaste as far as I know and believe, definitely a ladies’ man whom women far less than half his age find stimulating to the point of dervish dancing arousal!  The group’s weekly Wednesday show at Orbit Room is, in fact, disproportionately populated by women of all ages trying to catch Leroy’s eye and showing their moves on the club’s wooden dance floor.

Speaking of Leroy’s age, tonight in the second-floor club at 580 College St. at Clinton should be even more dynamic than usual as Leroy celebrates turning 71 years young.  And in his case, it really is 71 years young —this group of full-time players keeps up a busy schedule of appearances, including a weekly show at Doc Magilligan’s in Niagara Region, while weekends are usually booked solid playing clubs, many corporate events and festivals both in Ontario and across Canada and the U.S.  In order to do all that, he stays in shape.

Even though the group hails from Niagara Region, Orbit Room remains their “home” gig —they’ve been appearing there for just over 19 years now; in fact their first Wednesday show in Orbit was January 7, 2022 according to to-nite archives and there’s precious few weeks since they haven’t done the gig.  The night of Wednesday, January 5, 1999, for example, they made the trek from Niagara and were there ready to roll despite an unprecedently huge snowfall clogging highways and transit (that was the year Mel Lastman called in the army) and caused the club’s roof to partly collapse and start leaking!

For tonight’s event I’d expect there’ll also be several celebrity guests, as the band often includes guest players anyways (it also does some gigs as a larger 5-piece or bigger combo) and when this group invites other artists up to share the stage it truly is special —there are few if any Jazz and R&B singers and players of stature in the GTA who don’t know and admire Leroy and I’d expect more than a few of them will be on hand tonight.

I’m not sure if cover here is still just $10 or if it may have been raised a little since I last visited but whatever it is, pay it gladly.  And consider bringing extra to grab one of the group’s several discs, including a new one, Funk Is The Final Frontier, released just this year.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Wednesday, April 12, 2022

For KEY to listings codes and schemata see note at end of shows list.

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ON AIR / ONLINE

*6-8pm> The Rock-A-Round with Slim Tim @ www.rockabilly-radio.net ~ Rockabilly tracks (from UK, repeat show from previous Friday)

416 – TORONTO CENTRAL

5> Gordon Shawcross & Burke Carroll @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St.

*5:30> Kama House Band @ Kama, 214 King St. W. ~Jazz

6-8> Centennial College student showcase @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~Jazz; $10-20/pwyc

6> Hey Stella @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~Rockabilly/Country/Roots-Rock

6:30> Justin Gray Trio @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $

*7> Jim Heineman Trio @ Nawlins, 299 King St. W. ~Jazz

7> Songwriters Association of Canada Toronto Regional Writers group open stage with feature by Rob Laidlaw & Barbara Lynn Doran @ Free Times Cafe, 320 College St.; 0$

7> Comhaltas Irish Slow Session @ Tranzac Club (Tiki Room), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO ~folk dancing

7> Jerry Leger; The Skydiggers @ Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton St. ~indie; $

*7-10> Blues jam with Mark Stafford & Ken Yoshioka @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St.

7:30> David Clayton-Thomas; Barbra Lica; Bill McBirnie; Steven Page; The Jazz.FM91 Youth Big Band @ Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. ~Jazz Pop Canada 150 concert; $

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

**8-12> Girls Night Out Jazz singers’ jam with Lisa Particelli, Peter Hill et al @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~$10-20/pwyc

**8 (7 p.m. sign-up)> open stage with 9 p.m. with feature by Linda Stitt @ Fat Albert’s, 25 Cecil St. (Steelworkers Hall) ~songwriters

8> Petit Biscuit @ Velvet Underground, 508 Queen St. W.

8> Quinn Mills; Noah Mroueh; Wet Bandits; Eric Comier @ Silver Dollar, 486 Spadina Ave. ~indie; $

8> Toronto Symphony Orchestra with Lucas Debargue @ Roy Thompson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. ~Classical; $

8> The Bronx; Dave Hause & The Mermaid @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W. ~contemporary original; $

8:30> Dirty Inputs; Dreamsstate vs Heiki @ Handlebar, 159 Augusta Ave. ~ambient sound/noise

9> The Digs @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E. ~Funk/Jazz/neo-Soul; $

*9-12> open mic with T.C. Folkpunk @ Libertarian House, 235 Queen St. E.

9> The Dreamboats @ Cameron House (rear), 408 Queen St. W. ~50s Rock ‘n’ Roll; 0$

9> Do It For The Gram @ Set on King, 333 King St. W. ~indie

9> The Dirty B-Sides jam @ Studio Bar, 824 Dundas St. W. ~Freestyle/Hip Hop; 0$

*9-2> What’s Poppin’ indie jam @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St.

9> Rival Town; The Matinee Groove; Hidden Stash Band @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W. ~indie; $5

*9:30> After Funk @ Nightowl Toronto, 647 College St. ~Funk; 0$

*9:30-2> The All Nighters open jam @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave.

9:30> Matt Marantz & Trio de Janiero @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Latin Jazz; $

10> The Sinners Choir @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~Rockabilly/Country/Roots-Rock

10> Ken Aldcroft @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO

*10-2> Blues-Rock jam with Al Webster Band @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave. TO

*10:30> The LMT Connection celebrating Leroy Emmanuel’s 71^st birthday @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. TO ~Funk/R&B; $10

416 – TORONTO EAST

*7:30-10:30> The BTBs @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. ~Jazz; 0$

8> “Improvised Creations” @ The Only Café, 972 Danforth Ave.

8:30-10:30> Gypsy Rebels @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E. ~Gypsy Jazz

9> karaoke with Vance McCullough @ Firkin On Danforth, 2057 Danforth Ave.

*9:30> open stage with Nicola Vaughan @ Black Swan (downstairs), 154 Danforth Ave.

416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE

7:30> Havana Nights @ Old Mill, 21 Old Mill Rd. (Home Smith Bar, minimum table charge) ~Jazz

8-1> Alessia Cohle @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line

*9-1> open mic with Daniel Gagnon @ The Old Sod, 2936 Bloor St. W.

9-12> Space Jazz jam with singer Meagan Luchko & guitarist Kevin Bolger & band with guest Larnell Lewis @ Placebo Space, 2877 Lake Shore Blvd. W. ~Jazz; $5/pwyc

416 – TORONTO WEST

5-8> Mr. Rick @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Rootsy Blues

6-9> The Layrite Boys @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~Bluegrass; $10

6-10> Seneca students showcase @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave. ~young songwriters

*6:30-9> Carl Bray & guest @ Fat City Blues, 890 College St. ~solo piano

8> Bing and Ruth @ The Great Hall, 1078 Queen St. W. ~contemporary original; $

8> Evolfo; Yeomans; Passport Radio; Wine Lips @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. ~indie; $5

*8> MFA open mic @ Remix Lounge, 1305 Dundas St. W.

8> Tyson Cody Band; Chris Duncan @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W. ~indie; $?

*8-11> Fraser/Daley @ Inter Steer, 357 Roncesvalles Ave. ~original Rootsy Blues

**8:30-10:30> Hump Night Blues with Dave McManus, George Baumann, Cleave Anderson + special guest tba @ On Cue Billiards, 349 Jane St. ~Blues

8:30> The Rough & Tumble; Abigail Lapell; Winnie Brave @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W. ~songwriters; $15

**9-12> Blues Night with Julian Fauth & guests @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~original Juno-winning Blues

9> Peter Boyd & The Mutant Mariachis @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. ~songwriter; pwyc

9> Kye Marshall & Dan Ionescu @ Mezzetta, 681 St. Clair Ave. W. ~Jazz

9> Diamond Joes @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave.

*9:30> Spy vs Sly vs Spy @ Reposado, 136 Ossington Ave. ~Jazz; 0$

10> Dead Flowers @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~Rock/Top 40 covers; $10

*10> Tanya Philipovich & Lucas Stagg @ The Hole In The Wall, 2867 Dundas St. W. ~original Roots/Blues

*10:30> Luke Vajsar @ Motel Bar, 1235 Queen St. W. ~Jazz

519

8am-1pm> buskers @ Cambridge Farmers’ Market, 40 Dickson St., Cambridge

*6-8:30> ukulele jam @ Idea Exchange, 5 Tannery St. E., Cambridge

7> Madison Ing @ Arena Bar & Grill, 96 Gordon St., Guelph

7:30> Celtic Session @ Penny Whistle, 2 Quebec St., Guelph

8-12> Song Circle acoustic jam @ Anaf Club 344, 32 Gordon St., Guelph

8> Matt Weidinger Band @ Lancaster Smokehouse, 574 Lancaster St. W., Kitchener

8> Whitehorse @ Starlight Waterloo, 47 King St. N., Waterloo ~contemporary original; $35

8> The Age of Electric; Breaching Vista @ Maxwell’s, 220 King St. N., Waterloo ~contemporary original; $20

*8:30-11:30> The Gaes @ Churchill Arms, 355 Erb St. W., Waterloo ~Celtic

*9> jam with Mike Meacher & Nathan Bulla @ Argyle Arms, 210 King St. E., Cambridge

10> Scott Cairns @ Doogie & Pablo’s, 37 Wyndham St. N., Guelph

*10> Mike Todd @ The Duke, 33 Erb St., Waterloo

705

*7-11> open jam with The Freacon Band @ The Beacon, 146 45th St., Wasaga Beach ~ Blues, Jazz; $5

8-12> Trent University student bands @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

*9-12:30> Josh Morgan & Mike Francis @ Donaleigh’s Irish Public House, 28 Dunlop St. E., Barrie ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

9> Incredible Woman; Stunspore; Deathsticks @ The Spill, 414 George St. N., Peterborough ~Metal/Grunge/Hard-core; $

10> Daniel Whitener; Bethany Brown @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

905 EAST

7> Buttercup @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

8> open stage and karaoke with Eddy Culjak @ Boston Pizza, 20 Taunton Rd., Whitby

8-12> open mic night @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 32 Kingston Rd. E. Ajax

*8-11> open mic @ Frank’s Pasta, 426 King St. E., Cobourg

*8-10:30> open mic jam with Marty Hepburn @ Ganaraska Hotel, 30 Ontario St., Port Hope

8> Ascot Royals; Crown Lands; Blue Stones; Youngblood @ The Moustache Club, 15 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa ~indie; $12

*10> Two For The Show @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~Pop Rock

*10> Emerson Ireland hosts open mic jam @ The Gryphon Pub, 114 Dundas St. E., Whitby

905 NORTH

*7> open mic night with Tanya Joy Senior @ Col. McGrady’s Pub, 44 Brock St. W., Uxbridge

?*7> open mic with Matt Whittmann @ Red Door Gallery, 69 Main St. S., Georgetown

*8-12> open mic with Kevin Ker @ Unionville Arms, 189 Main St., Unionville

8> acoustic jam with Frank Logue @ Shepherd’s Crook, 86 Main St. S., Georgetown

*8:45> open mic jam with Matt Zady @ Magnums, 21 McMurchy Ave. N., Brampton

*9-1> open mic jam with Whiskey Birds @ Sweetz Lounge, 5289 Hwy 7, Woodbridge-Vaughan

*9:30> open mic with The Villagers @ Main’s Mansion, 144 Main St., Markham

*10-2> jam night with Switchbeat Trio @ Maguires, 284 Queen St. E., Brampton

905 SOUTH

7:30> open mic with Keith Toms @ Staircase Bistro, 27 Dundurn St. N., Hamilton

*7:30> open mic with Brant Parker @ Donnelley’s Pub, 54 Front St., Thorold ~eclectic

**8-1> Boogie N Blues jam with Ian Andrews & Friends @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton

*8> Brad James @ Thirsty Cactus, 2 King St. E., Dundas ~Country

8> Terrie Petrie & band hosts Country Wednesdays @ Pub Fiction, 1242 Garner Rd. W., Ancaster ~Country

*8:30> Something Country @ The Endzone, 1900 King St. E., Hamilton ~Country

9> Singalong with Judy Marsales @ Coach & Lantern, 384 Wilson St E., Hamilton ~Rock/Top 40

9> open mic @ Lou Dawg’s, 116 George St., Hamilton

9> Math Club; Klarka Weinwurm; Gareth Inster @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton ~indie; $8

9> Pat Maloney and Local Haunts @ Zyla’s, 299 James St. N., Hamilton ~original Pop; pwyc

*10> Jazz jam @ Cat N Fiddle Hamilton, 174 John St., S., Hamilton

10:30> Adam Cooke & Adam Ostrosser @ Gallagher’s Bar, 69 Augusta St., Hamilton

905 WEST

*4:30> Adam Cooke @ SB Prime, 380 Brant St., Burlington

*7> open mic with Gillian Nicola @ Copper Kettle Waterdown, 312 Dundas St. E., Waterdown

*8> open mic with Jim Italiano @ Club 54, 3345 Harvester Rd., Burlington

8> jam with The Grindstones @ American House, 324 Dundas St. E., Waterdown

*8:30> The Carson Freeman Diversion @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock

9-1> Kevin Reid and the Dedbeats @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop; $

*9> open mic with Michael Zane @ Shakers Oakville, 589 Kerr St., Oakville

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 Gary “17” Webb-Proctor & TorontoMoon.ca. All Rights Reserved