\ TO UPTOWN \

It’s hard for me to believe that it’s been, as I write this, a month now since I attended a gathering at Scruffy’s Murphy’s on Eglinton Ave. held to celebrate the life of my ol’ buddy Adrian “Tex Chainsaw” Egan, about whose passing and influence I wrote at the time.

This was a remarkable occasion in many respects, first and foremost because it was suffused with a sense of surreality, since I don’t think anyone there could quite believe that Tex wouldn’t at some point walk through the door to join in the fun.  And there was a lot of that, as Adrian himself might have prescribed and organized: his longtime buddy “Spike” commented as he left that “my sides hurt —I thought I was going to a memorial and I ended up at Yuk Yuks!”

And of course there was also live music, even though the bar had a goodly number of patrons on hand to watch the big finale Euro Tournament soccer match being televised there.  Take-charge musician and tech Shawn Hackett had a small system in his vehicle and without even asking permission proceeded to set it up in the club’s small performance area “because I can.”

Along with Denis Martel and, to wrap things up later on Adrian’s nephew, Brady O’Sullivan, the stage was graced by multi-talented Jeff Lazare and two other performers among the uptown “boys club” of musicians who used to perform frequently in the area in various configurations: John Bouvette and Michael Danckert.

John is struggling with vision issues so rarely performs any more (though you couldn’t have told that by the stirring mini-set he did) but Danckert, like High Rollers front man and sought-after accompanist Martel, is still going strong playing a diverse range of rooms all over the city.

It’d been a few years since I’d seen Michael on stage and I hardly recognized the smooth, polished backup singing crooner who did so with the others this day on “If I Fell” and “Nowhere Man” —before having to leave earlyish to do a gig he’d previously contracted to play elsewhere in the city.  I always think of Michael as the shaggy-haired, leather jacket and jeans-clad Rock and Blues performer I knew on the uptown scene in the ‘90s and early millennium, but clearly he’s expanded his look and presumably his repertoire to accommodate a variety of audiences —as nearly every performer who wants to work at it full time has had to these days, I suppose.

I’m not sure whether or not he has a regular Rock band going any more but I do know, since I list many of his shows, that he’s been doing a lot of acoustic covers duo work with fellow journeyman guitarist-singer Bob Strome over the past year or two.  I’m also not at all sure whether Strome will be joining him for the early 7 p.m. show he’s doing tonight up near his old uptown stomping grounds.

Located at 1980 Avenue Road, well north of Lawrence Avenue and the Bedford Park area, the Drums and Flats room is out of the mainstream music action by quite a bit, though the acclaimed Left Bank restaurant is across the street up the way a block and there’s also a Firkin pub facing it.  While it has had music on weekends occasionally, these days the venue seems resigned to Thursdays only most weeks and I have no idea what sort of performance area is offered inside.

Nevertheless, whether he has a fancy stage or has to clear tables out of the way, is bolstered by accompaniment or is carrying the show load by his lonesome, you can’t go too far wrong with Danckert given his mastery of Pop Rock covers and, as I’ve written previously, that delightful store of BritPop style originals.

SHOW LISTINGS for Thursday, August 11, 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 and underlined and, where applicable, include a live link to their websites or event page. Advertisers’ listings are in larger type and highlighted, include a live link to their website and also have a copy of the ad included in listings.

ONLINE / ON AIR

9-10am> “The Bill King Show” with host Bill King & guests @ CIUT 89.5 FM ~Blues/Jazz

416 – TORONTO CENTRAL

6> Corin Raymond @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~original Country/Roots

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

6:30> Jeff McLeod Organ Trio @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

7> Michael Danckert @ Drums N Flats, 1980 Avenue Rd., TO North ~Pop Rock

*7> open mic with Derek Mok @ Kensington Lodge, 21 Kensington Ave., TO

7:30> Hicks and Dawe Trio @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO ~Canadiana neo-Roots

*7:30-9:30> Bluegrass Thursdays with Houndstooth @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

*8-1> open mic with Alicia Porter @ The Local Gest, 424 Parliament St., TO

8> Gareth Bush @ Dominion Pub, 500 Queen St. E., TO ~cover Pop Rock

*8-12> Joe Bowden @ Nawlin’s, 299 King St. W. TO ~Blues

8:30> Handsome & Gretyl; Glendenan & Glendonwynne @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. TO ~acoustic Pop; $6

8:30-10> Natasha Buckeridge & Kevin Wong @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $10-20/pwyc

8:30> Capital Focus Jazz Band @ May Café, 876 Dundas St. W., TO ~Jazz; $8

9-2> Eyes of Giants album release; guests The Lifts; Rulers Of The Moon @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St., TO ~indie; $12

9> tba for Indie Night @ Lou Dawgs, 76 Gerrard St. E., TO

9-11:30> Jill Peacock @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~Jazz; $15

9> Carrine; Glass Hand; Branch Dubois @ The Central, 603 Markham St., TO ~indie

9> Barlow; Tomi Swick; Grace; Blackdog Ballroom @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; $10

*9-1> Blackburn @ Jo Mamas, 317 King St. W., TO ~Blues

9> Carlos Morgan & The Flow @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St., TO North ~Funk/R&B; $5

*9:30> jam with host band The Regulators @ College St. Bar, 574 College St., TO

9:30> Benny Sharoni Quartet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Boston Jazz; $

*9:45> Mary McKay @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues; $

10> Lily Frost @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~original Jazz/Blues/Roots

10> The Responsables @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO ~Blues

10> Collette Savard Band @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10> Kori Hall @ Bier Markt Esplanade, 58 The Esplanade, TO ~Pop Rock

10> Boris performing its Pink album; guests Comet Control  @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W., TO ~original Rock; $21.50

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

10> Hot Fiyah @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~Funk/R&B; $

10:30> Daylight 4 Deadeyes @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

416 – TORONTO EAST

7-9> The Horables @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Klezmer/Django Jazz; Polka; no cover

8> Music City North showcase with Carmen “Social Toth” Potion; Edward Sayers @ Wayla Bar, 996 Queen St. E., TO East ~songwriters; $6

8-12> Ten Cent Millionaires @ Black Bear Pub, 1125 O’Connor Drive, TO East ~Rock

*8:30-10:30> Jerry Leger & The Situation @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~Folk-Rock/Country

9> Russ Macklem Quintet hosts Jazz jam @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~no cover

9> Dan Kosub Duo @ Murphy’s Law, 1702 Queen St. E., TO East ~Pop Rock

*9:30> open jam with host Kar Wong @ Sportsters, 1430 Danforth Ave., TO East

*10-2> karaoke with Shane Taylor @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East

*10-1> open jam with host Michael Villamor @ Breakwall, 1910 Queen St. E.

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

416 - TORONTO ETOBICOKE

9> Kimberley Wetmore Band @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock

*9:30-2> Skip Tracer @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd., Etobicoke South ~Rock/Pop

416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH

7-11> jam night @ The Birchmount, 462 Birchmount Rd., Scarborough

9:30> High Rollers @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock

416 – TORONTO WEST

5-8> Michael Bell solo @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

8> Heavy Static & guests @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W., TO West

8:30> Qristina and Quinn Bachand Band @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~original Folk; $25

8:30> Aniqa Dear; Secret Sign; Native Other; The Girl @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West ~Indie; $10

9> Bossa Tres @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St., TO West ~Latin Jazz

*9-12> open mic night @ DeSoto’s, 1079 St. Clair Ave. W., TO West

*9-1:30> open stage with Jay Pennell @ Dave’s On St. Clair, 730 St. Clair West, TO West ~eclectic

9-12> Abbey Sholzberg Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

9> The Weber Brothers; Hungry Lake @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W., TO West ~original Blues; $5

9> Pins and Needles; girlongirl; Dorothea Paas @ Smiling Buddha, 961 College St., TO West ~indie

9> Ill Vibe @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West

9> Roger Roger and Miss Kitty @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Folk Roots songwriters

9> Tequila House Band; The No. 5 Forever And Ever And Ever and Ever @ Holy Oak Café, 1241 Bloor St. W., TO West

10> Henry Wagons @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West

519

*7:30-12> open mic with K.M. Smith @ Molly Bloom’s Guelph, 91 Wyndham St. N., Guelph

7:30> John McKinnon @ Fionn MacCool’s Orangeville, 75 Fourth Ave., Orangeville ~Pop Rock

8> open mic night @ M&M Bar, 475 Main St., Cambridge

8> James Murray @ Fionn MacCool’s Kitchener, 4287 King St. E., Kitchener ~Pop Rock

*8-11> open mic with Sandy MacDonald @ Williamsburg Arms, 1187 Fischer Hallman Rd., Kitchener

705

7-11> Gerry Markman @ Harbour Street Fish Bar, 10 Keith Ave., Collingwood ~Blues

*7:30> Rob Phillips Jazz/Blues Trio and Marsala Likianchuk @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

*8> The Joe Huron Trio @ Sticky Fingers, 199 Essa Rd., Barrie ~Jazz/Blues

8> Frank Deresti Duo @ The Huron Club, 94 Pine St., Collingwood

*9> jam with Ted Rusk @ The Sauble Dunes, 11 Southampton Parkway, Sauble Beach

9> Mike Biggar; Bill Wood @ The Spill, 414 George St. N., Peterborough

9:30> Deep Cedar; Hillary Dumoulin @ Red Dog Tavern, 189 Hunter St. W., Peterborough ~indie

10> Jordan Faye @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

905 - EAST

*5-8> Nelson Denis @ Frank’s Pasta, 42 King Street E., Cobourg ~eclectic mix (Folk, Jazz, soft Rock, Latin)

6> Blues jam @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

8:30> Quincy Bullen & Mellow Dee @ Rum Diaries (patio), 368 Bayly St. W., Ajax ~acoustic Jazz & Soul

8-12> George Craig & guest Ty Lorette @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 32 Kingston Rd. E. Ajax ~acoustic Pop

*?> jam with Darren Smith & Shayne Thomas @ The Corner Pocket, 45 Prince St., Oshawa

*9> jam @ The Wee Pub, 371 Wilson Rd. South, Oshawa

*9:30> jam with Billick @ Harp & Crown, 300 Kingston Rd., Pickering

*10> Karaoke with Rob MacArthur @ St. Louis Ajax, 11 Harwood Ave., Ajax

905 – NORTH

*6:30-10:30> jam with Faces for Radio @ Coasters, 55 Rutherford Rd. S., Brampton

7-9> David Love Band also featuring Darrell McNeill for Thursday Night Concert Series @ Gage Park, 45 Main St. N., Brampton

*7:30-11:30> jam with house band @ 52^nd St. Tap & Grill, 30 Kennedy Rd., S., Brampton

*8-11> Jam with Jayme Lynn Reed @ Offsides Sports Bar, 200 Simcoe Ave., Keswick

9> open mic (signup starts at 8:30) @ The Barrel, 2180 Steeles Ave. W. Vaughan

905 – SOUTH

*9> LMT Connection @ Doc Magilligan’s Irish Pub, 6400 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls ~R&B/Funk

8> Rough Francis; The Great Machine @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton ~original second generation proto-Punk

*9> open mic night with rotating hosts @ Coach & Lantern, 384 Wilson St E., Hamilton

9> The Hollowbodies; Parts & Service; Lucid Lee & Little Child @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton ~indie; no cover

10> Strummers Union @ The Pheasant Plucker, 20 Augusta St., Hamilton

905 – WEST

*6-9> Ric Jacobs @ Ivy Bar, 3330 South Service Rd., Burlington

*7-11> James Anthony Band & guest Jay Douglas @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington ~Blues

*8-12> jam hosted by The Personics @ Carrigan Arms, 2025 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington

*8> Salsa band @ The Franklin House, 263 Queen St. S., Streetsville ~Latin

*8> Celtic Night @ Fionn MacCool’s Burlington, 2331 Appleby Line

8:30> Torrance Mooradian @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St. Oakville ~eclectic originals & covers; $5

9-1> Freedom Train @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop

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

*9:30> jam with Jack B Nimble @ Abbey Road Pub, 3200 Erin Mills Parkway, Mississauga

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

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