\ TO CENTRAL \

A band which I’ve not yet seen live —but whose name I’ve been typing regularly for a couple of years since I started listing shows at TO’s high-end Blues-Jazz basement headquarters, Reservoir Lounge— Dee Dee and The Dirty Martinis is billed as an early 1960′s R&B seven-piece “drenched in the sounds of deep southern-fried Soul and the hip hop songs of Motown,” according to its website.

Incorporating early Motown greats and R&B classics reflecting the JFK “Camelot” years of the early 1960s, the band is fronted by singer Dee Dee, “a foxy powerhouse with the voice of an angel and the soul of a sinner,” the promo goes on.  And based on the video I’ve watched of her in action live, that’s pretty bang on.

Young but with an Aretha-like old-soul voice, Dee Dee delivers an authentic mix of Funk and Blues from the era with “a seductive spell from the stage to her audience with a sensational delivery,” the club’s website also agrees.

“As you are in the ambiance of our bar lounge and hear Dee Dee & The Dirty Martinis, you feel the era when John Kennedy was President and Ray Charles was the King of R&B. As the next style of sound following the Swing era, the original generation of R&B music is now reincarnated [in] the first R&B act performing regularly at The Reservoir Lounge,” it adds, noting “that says a world about Dee Dee.”

Indeed. To endure on the roster at this discerning talent-rich room at 52 Wellington Street East (at Church St.) that spawned careers for both Alex Pangman and Tyler Yarema, you need to be able to make an audience part of the show.  And that she certainly does in the vid of “Higher and Higher”, which appears to have been recorded live in the room, as well as on others on the band’s site.  The group, which also benefits muchly from its two horns, guitar and keys and a dynamic rhythm section, quite literally raises the patrons up on out of their chairs with its music.

I’m not sure how the cover/music charge system at Reservoir works these days nor what to expect from its kitchen.  But normally shows start around 9:45 here and I assume still run till late when the audience merits it.  If you’re feeling like something lively and restorative, this could be just the ticket.

-Gary17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Friday, August 12, 2021

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.

Names of subscribers appear in bold, are underlined and, where applicable, include a live link to their websites. Advertisers’ listings are in larger type, highlighted, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

416 – TORONTO CENTRAL

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

*5-7> The Friends of Hugh Oliver @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Folk

*5:30> Jazz Generation; Melissa Smeets @ Imperial Pub, 54 Dundas St. E., TO ~Jazz

5:30> The Scuffed Souls; Sam Sundar-Singh; Rob McLay @ The Central, 603 Markham St., TO ~originals

5:30-8> Pablo & Matchezzes @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO

6> David Celia @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Pop Rock songwriter

6-8> Aaron De Sousa @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $10-20/pwyc

6:30> Chris Gale Four @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

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

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

*8:30-12:30> All Star Band feat. Joe Bowden & Brooke Blackburn @ Nawlin’s, 299 King St. W. TO ~Blues

9> On Topic Trio @ May Café, 876 Dundas St. W., TO

9> Lisa Marie Kruchak; Adam Traversy; Christina Miter @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO

9> songwriters showcase @ Cameron House (rear), 408 Queen St. W., TO

9> Tommy Youngsteen @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~Tom Petty tribute; $12

9> Hilario Duran Trio feat. Phil Dwyer @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~Jazz; $

9> Goodbomb Co; Tamas & The Pals @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St., TO ~indie

9:30> Tuesday Heartbreak @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Rd., TO North

9:30> Moonwalks @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St., TO North ~Funk/Soul/R&B; $10

9:45> Benny Sharoni Quartet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Boston Jazz; $

9:45> Dee Dee & The Dirty Martinis @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~60s R&B 7-piece; $

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

10> Melvin-Cloacino Blues Band @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen Street West, TO ~Blues

10> Gadadu @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~NYC Chamber Pop-Soul

10> Lindsay Brohan @ Bier Markt Esplanade, 58 The Esplanade, TO ~Pop Rock

10> Moscow Noir ep release @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W., TO ~original; $19

10> Boom! @ Bier Markt King, 600 King St., West, TO ~Pop Rock

10:30> Tom Robertson @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO

10:30> Music City North showcase with tba @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

416 - TORONTO EAST

5-7> The Straight 8s @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East

9> Soul Mates feat. Sue Martin @ Leaside Pub, 190 Laird Drive, TO East ~Pop Rock covers

9> open mic with Matt & Mike @ The Grover Pub, 676 Kingston Rd., TO East

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

*9:30> Felix and the Cats @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~alt Pop originals and cover Pop Rock/Blues

9:30> jam with Billy Zee & band @ The Peppery Cat, 1953 Queen St. E., TO East

9:30> Punk Rock tribute party with tributes to CBGB, The Jam & Blondie @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Punk/New Wave tributes; $10

10:30> Shyann @ Bier Markt Don Mills, 7 O’Neill Rd., TO East ~Pop Rock

416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE

7:30> Alexis Baro Quartet @ Old Mill Inn, 21 Old Mill Rd., Etobicoke ~Jazz; min table charge

9> G-String @ Maple Leaf House, 2749 Lake Shore Boulevard West, Etobicoke ~Rock/Top 40/Blues

9:30> Takin’ It TO The Streets @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Doobie Brothers tribute; $

9:30> Taxi @ Refinery Public House, 3039 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke ~Rock/Funk/Pop

10-2> Switchbeat @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South ~classic Rock

10> Pop Agenda @ Bier Markt Etobicoke, 199 North Queen St., Etobicoke ~Pop Rock

416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH

9> Rock Hard Classics @ Karla’s Roadhouse, 4630 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~classic Rock

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

10> Al Reilly’s Catalyst @ The Newfoundlander, 472 Danforth Rd., Scarborough ~classic Rock

10> The Dirty Rottens featuring Anthony Cee @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave., Scarborough ~classic Rock/Top 40

416 - TORONTO WEST

5-7> Angie Hilts @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~art Folk

5-8> Christopher Simmons Duo @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

6:30> VC2 cello duo with guests Chris Whitley & Aysel Taghi-Zada @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West ~Classical/Jazz; $15

7> Ora Cogan @ Holy Oak Café, 1241 Bloor St. W., TO West ~

7:30> Kat Vhonda Duo @ Brazen Head Pub, 165 East Liberty St., TO West ~Pop Rock

7:30> Bossa Tres @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Latin Jazz; no cover

8:30> Alfie Zappacosta @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Canadian Pop icon; $45

8:30> Jiants album release show @ Smiling Buddha, 961 College St., TO West ~indie; $

9-1> Capital Focus Jazz & Blues Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

9-1> Voodoo Walters & The Rhythm Method @ Axis Gallery & Grill, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Blues

9> Bard From The Club; The Responsables @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W., TO West ~indie/Blues; $10

9> Jimmy Byron @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Pop Rock

9:30> Nico Henderson @ Amico’s Pizza, 1648 Queen St. W., TO West ~Blues songwriter; no cover

10> Jeff Beadle @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West ~original Pop; $10

10-2> F. Scott and the Nighthawks @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO W. ~Country; $

10> Roberto Linares Brown @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Cuban Salsa; $15

10> Binary Funk @ 3030 Dundas West, 3030 Dundas St. W., TO West ~no cover

519

8> Organized Chaos @ Fionn MacCool’s Kitchener, 4287 King St. E., Kitchener ~Pop

705

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

8-11:45> Erinz Fire @ Harbour Street Fish Bar, 10 Keith Ave., Collingwood

8:30> Soulshine @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

9> Luke Martin @ The Huron Club, 94 Pine St., Collingwood

9> Tylean; Compactor; Meowlinda; Oblique; GothGirl vs Paulabulus @ The Spill, 414 George St. N., Peterborough ~indie Rock

9:30> James Anthony Band with Roly Platt @ Sticky Fingers Dunlop, 150 Dunlop St. W., Barrie ~Blues

10> I Dunno @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

905 EAST

8-12> Karaoke with Rob MacArthur & Lorraine @ Royal Canadian Legion #322, 112 Hunt St., Ajax

9-1> Garden Street Blues @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa ~Blues

9> The Hazytones; Cleopatrick; Beyond The Wall @ The Atria, 59 King St. E., Oshawa ~indie

905 NORTH

8> BACA featuring Elana Harte @ Crosscurrents Caledon, 8 Nancy St., Bolton ~acoustic retro Rock

8:30> Neil Chapman @ Lake Simcoe Arms, 21089 Dalton Rd., Jackson’s Point

9:30> Cocked and Loaded featuring James Alcock @ Spot One, 289 Rutherford Rd. S., Brampton ~hard Rock/Metal covers; no cover

9:30> Groove Marmalade @ 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

10> Happy Pants @ Aw Shucks, 15230 Yonge St., Aurora ~Pop Rock

905 – SOUTH

6:30> Ferguson Young with Liam McGlashon @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton

8> James Italiano Band @ Pub Fiction, 1242 Garner Rd. W., Ancaster ~Rock/Top 40

9> Marty McFly; Osito for Beats & Visions Artcrawl afterparty @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton

9:15> The Old Winos & guest tba @ The Old Winery Restaurant, 2228 Niagara Stone Rd., Niagara-On-The-Lake

9:30> Wayne Janus @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton ~indie; $

9:30> Dean Depencier @ Stonewalls Hamilton, 339 York Blvd., Hamilton

9:30> The Associates @ Doc Magilligan’s Irish Pub, 6400 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls

905 WEST

*5> Adam Ostrosser & Joel Guenther @ Carrigan Arms, 2025 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington ~Pop

*6-9> Sil Simone & Rebelljo @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Blues/Rock/Pop

8-11:30> The Ballroom Babies @ The Purple Heather, 3600 Dundas St. W., Burlington

9> Ragwax @ Fionn MacCool’s Burlington, 2331 Appleby Line, Burlington ~Pop

9:30> Glenn Groves @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Honky Tonk Country new & old

9:30> RENO @ Cuchulainn’s Irish Pub, 158 Queen St. S., Streetsville-Mississauga ~Pop Rock

9:30> Freedom Train @ Gator Ted’s, 1505 Guelph Line, Burlington ~Pop Rock

9:30> Big City Band @ Boston Manor, 4460 Fairview Ave., Burlington ~Rock; $

9:30> Treble Men @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington ~Pop Rock

9:30-11:30> Time Bomb Trio @ The Purple Heather, 3600 Dundas St. W., Burlington ~Pop Rock

10-2> Hot House @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Top 40; $

10> Blush @ Bier Markt Mississauga, 55 City Centre Drive, Mississauga ~Pop Rock

10:15> Love Supreme @ Failte, 201 City Centre Dr., Mississauga ~Pop Rock

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

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