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Songsmiths now have a monthly “PD Night” in Oakville

/// Like the term “songwright” which my longtime buddy Rob Minderman and I started using in referring to songwriters some 20 or so years ago, “songsmith” fulfills a similar function: elevating the activity of creating tunes to be on a par with that of millwrights or blacksmiths; it’s a way, I suppose, of helping the general public to realize that welding words, rhythms and melodies together isn’t just an avocation that people dabble at but actually a craft/art/occupation that takes years of study and honing to perfect.

(I always chuckle in remembering the anecdote a fellow songwriter once shared with me, which sort of captures the dilemma that creators of chords and choruses often face: he played one of his songs at an open stage, he told me, and was later asked by one of the patrons: “Was that a real song or one you made up?” Quod erat demonstratum.)

Moonshine Café owner John Marlatt understands about stuff like that. A songwriter himself, he’s also the host to hundreds of nights of original live music, many of which are jams or open stages that attract practitioners of the arcane art of hatching harmonies and developing ditties much like moonshine of a different kind brings out werewolves and hillbillies. So he’s using the title “Songsmith’s” (the unnecessary and completely ungrammatical apostrophe is his –and he’s welcome to it; but that’s the spelling he’s been going with so I use it just this once) to describe a new monthly series in which a couple of melody manufacturers are showcased followed by an open stage with an emphasis on original music. Being as how songwriting is now a profession rather than a hobby, you could look at it as kind of songwrangler’s Professional Development Day event.

Tonight’s edition of the series (there’s probably a $5 or so cover charge but the club’s website doesn’t specify) includes a tunesmith I had the pleasure to hear at the same club a little over two years ago when visiting for a show Brian Gladstone was hosting.  Reverend Max Woolaver is a very compelling songwriter with a sense of humour and a strong instrumental gift to help him craft songs that delight as well as feed the brain. I actually shot a video of him that night (Dec. 10, 2011) and it appears on my MoonTV channel on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KktYoTWOusI. In this clip he’s doing a cover of Lennon’s “Christmas” song, accompanied by the artist known simply as Phonogarde –it’ll also give you a sense of what the room is like.

Tonight Max will share the spotlight with an artist I don’t know, Neil MacNaughton —but if he’s good enough for John Marlatt I’d lay money that he’ll impress you too. Show starts at 8:30 and John always has the outdoor BBQ cooking burgers (on Kerr Street, in the heart of downtown Oakville, if you please!) if you fancy a bite while you’re there. -Gary 17, www.torontomoon.ca

LISTINGS:

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. 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 and include a live link to their websites where applicable. Advertisers’ listings are in larger type, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

5-8> Jim Aymar & Friends including Peter Mathieson, Brian Gladstone, Dean Cavill, Orit Shimoni, Courtney Bruneau @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Roots

6> Zachary Lucky @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6> Wayne Neon @ Crescent Town Restaurant, 17 The Market Place, TO East ~Jazz

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

*7-11> open jam with Wayne Buttery Band @ The Beacon, 146 45th St., Wasaga Beach

7> Wolfgang Brothers @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

*7:30-10:30> Peter Griffin & BTBs @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz

7:30-12> open mic (singup starts at 7) @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 32 Kingston Rd. E. Ajax

8> Fabiano Credidio, Mike Scarlett & Chris Trapper @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO

*8-12> Girls Night Out Jazz singers jam with Lisa Particelli, Peter Hill et al @ Chalkers, 247 Marlee Ave., TO North-West

**8> open stage with 9 p.m. feature by Madame X @ Fat Albert’s, 25 Cecil St. (Steelworkers Hall), TO ~Roots

*8-1> open jam with Wednesday’s Child feat. Johnny Bootz Hutt @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave., TO

8> Michael Danckert Quartette @ Monarchs Pub (Eaton Chelsea Hotel), 33 Gerrard St. W., TO ~Jazz

*8-11> Fraser-Daley @ Inter Steer, 357 Roncesvalles Ave. TO West ~Roots/Blues

8-1> Kristen Hawley Duo @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock

8-1> Reverend Max Woolaver; Neil MacNaughton + open stage @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~Roots

*8-12> all-ages jam with The Brand New Low @ Sixth Line Pub, 1500 Sixth Line, Oakville

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

8:30> Best Poet of The Month with host Howard Wayne Isenberg @ Free Times Cafe, 320 College St., TO ~spoken word

8:30> Luke McMaster @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Blue-eyed Soul/Motown; $25/-

*8:30> Crazy Strings host High Lonesome Wednesdays with opening acoustic act @ Silver Dollar 486 Spadina Ave., TO ~Bluegrass

*8:30> open mic with Jenn Fiorentino @ Earl Of Whitchurch, 6204 Main St., Stouffville

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

*9> open jam with Tommy Rocker’s Classic Rock show featuring Jim Cornell & members of Still Sunday @ The Loaded Dog, 1921 Lawrence St. E., Scarborough

9-12> Blues Night with Julian Fauth & guests @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~original Jun0-winning Blues

9> Mr. Rick’s Café Americana @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Rootsabilly

9> Wayne Cass’s Funk-Jazz-Blues-Rock jam featuring Great Bob Scott, Richard Underhill & Mike Pellarin @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~as eclectic as it gets

9> Greg McEvoy with Rachel Cardiello @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West

*9?> jam with Michael Zane @ Shakers, 580 Kerr St., Oakville

*9-12> jam with Damage Control @ St. Louis Bar & Grill Ajax, 11 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax

9> Frank Z @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa ~Blues

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

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

9:30> Eli Bennett Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

*9:30-2> jam with Live Animals @ The Unicorn, 175 Eglinton Ave. E., TO North

10-12> Mike Butler Band @ Rock ‘N Horse Saloon, 250 Adelaide St. W., TO ~original Country; $5

10> Animal Parts with Sky Wallace @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

*10-2> Blues-Rock jam with Bruce Domoney @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave. TO

*10-2> Paul & Curtis @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop

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

*10:30> The LMT Connection @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. TO ~Funk/R&B; $10

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