By Mike Beggs, Special to TorontoMoon.ca
\ PORT CREDIT-MISSISSAUGA \
Not every sit-down acoustic duo can handle a request for Def Leppard’s “Last Bite”. But that the Phil & John Show pair can do so speaks to the talents of Phil Naro (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), and John Rogers (lead guitar, vocals) who hold down Tuesday nights weekly at the swank Shore Grill & Grotto in Port Credit.
None of this is a secret. For more than 20 years now, the Phil & John Show has been “the gold standard” (in one fellow musician’s words) on the Toronto covers circuit.
I can’t rave much more about these two, but their presentation is so professional yet laid back that it’s easy to take them for granted. Every time in you hear something you won’t get anywhere else —be it Naro soaring through the upper registers of Supertramp’s “Even In The Quietest Moments” or Rogers laying down a solo instrumental version of Queen’s exhaustive “Bohemian Rhapsody”.
Naro is best described by critic Mark Gabrich as “some kind of vocalizing alien sent to take over the world.” The Rochester native (but long-time Torontonian) has put his four-octave range to work with the likes of Peter Criss (ex-KISS), Lou Gramm (Foreigner) and Julian Lennon, and can often be heard fronting for Q107’s Classic Albums Live series.
Phil has, long ago, made such diverse covers as Led Zeppelin’s “Rock ‘N Roll” and Elvin Bishop’s “Fooled Around and Fell In Love” his own (and about the only singer I see out there who compares is Freedom Train wunderkind Carl Jennings).\
Rogers provides all of the solos and guitar fills known to man, while holding up the bottom end of the harmonies and turning some fine lead vocals of his own on something like The Stones’ “Dead Flowers” or Tom Petty’s “You Don’t Know How It Feels”.
Phil & John keep up a 100-plus gig a year pace, have really good Supertramp AND Electric Light Orchestra tributes on the go, and are still keeping us waiting on the follow-up to their 2006 album Cover Art.
They also attend to their own side projects. The Emmy-award-winning Naro fronts the superior Led Zep tribute Ozone Baby, and has his hands in several original projects (mostly notably the Prog-sounding Druckfarben). Based out of Hamilton, Rogers still does the occasional big show with Brighton Rock, the Juno-nominated Glam/Rock band with which he played keyboards with back in the ‘80’s!
Pub owner Maureen O’Neill-Pikul made the right move snapping up Phil & John as part of her “live music seven nights a week policy”, several years back. They’ve helped make Shore one of the prime venues on the buzzing “Harbour Strip”, carrying on where she left off with the now-defunct The Harp just three doors down for more than 20 years.
Tonight’s free show starts in the supper hour (6:30), meaning you can nosh from the diverse Shore menu, take in some great tunes, and still make it home in time for Seinfeld reruns.
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SHOW LISTINGS for Tuesday, October 16, 2021
Listings are organized by area in which the shows occur and within each area field shows are listed chronologically. For KEY to listings codes and schemata see note at end of shows list.
Names of subscribers appear in bold, are underlined and, where applicable, include a live link to their websites.
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ON AIR/ONLINE
4-6pm> Blues Blast w Ken Wallis @ 101.5 FM or 1015thehawk.ca
**7-8> “Songtalk Radio” songwriters interviews/chat with weekly guest @ CJRU 1280AM Toronto and online
7-9> “Unsung and On The Side” with Carolyn Fe on www.Rock-FM.ca
7-10> Bluesday On Tuesday @ CKUW 95.9 FM www.ckuw.ca/listen
10-11> “Howl” with hosts Nancy Bullis & Valentino Assenza on CIUT 89.5FM & online ~profiles of and interviews with poets and songwriters
416 – TORONTO CENTRAL -Broadview/Bayview to Ossington
6> Scott Cook and the Backroads Scholars @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~Roots-Rock
6> open mic with host band Unbuttoned @ Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas St. E.
6:30-8:30> Chris Platt Trio @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $pwyc
*6:30-9:30> Stacie McGregor @ N’awlin’s, 299 King St. W. ~Jazz piano
7> Jessie J; Ro James; Kiana Ledé @ Rebel, 11 Polson St. ~contemporary original; $
7> Ezra Jordan; John Farrios; The Free Label @ Supermarket, 268 Augusta Ave. ~indie; $
7-11> Alex Stringer Band @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave. ~Rock/Top 40 covers; $0
7> The Early November; The Dangerous Summer; Jetty Bones; save face @ Hard Luck Bar, 772 Dundas St. W. ~Metal/Grunge/Hard-core; $
7:30> Alex Wong; Megan Slankard @ Tranzac Club (Tiki Room), 292 Brunswick St.
7:30> Bob Cohen’s Three Ring Circus @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick St. ~Roots-Rock
7:30-11> The Darcys + screening of “Beetlejuice” @ Royal Cinema, 608 College St. ~indie band + movie of their choice; $0
7:30> Florence and The Machine @ Scotiabank Arena / Air Canada Centre, 40 Bay St. ~contemporary original; $
*7:45-12> acoustic open mic @ Cavern Bar, 76 Church St.
8> Jill Barber; Justin Nozuka @ Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. ~contemporary original; $
8> The Real Blockhead; Arms and Sleepers; YPPAH @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W. ~contemporary original; $
*8-2> Indie Week showcase launch with Twin Flames; The Redhill Valleys; Benjamin M. Doerksen; Urvah Khan; Leo Vance; Phantom Atlantic; The Crooked; Blackie Jackett Jr @ The Hideout, 423 College St. ~eclectic indie; $15
8> Michael Bridge (recording release for Overture) @ Massey College Junior Common Room, 4 Devonshire Place (U of T campus) ~Classical; $0
8> Young Rising Sons; Featurette opens @ Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W. ~indie; $
8-10:30> Ori Dagan & Nathan Hiltz with special guest John MacMurchy @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. ~Jazz tribute to Lester Young; $
8> Art Bar poetry & open stage @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. ~spoken word
8> Hey Stella @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~Country/Roots-Rock/Rockabilly
8> Fat Nick @ Velvet Underground, 508 Queen St. W. ~contemporary original; $
8> Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra @ Toronto Centre For The Arts, 5040 Yonge St. ~Classical/Vivaldi; $
8:30> Joey Landreth @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W. ~indie; $
8:30-11:30> “Irie Tuesdays” open mic for singers, rappers & poets @ Harlem Underground, 745 Queen St. W.
*8:45> Tyler Yarema & His Rhythm @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E. ~Jazz/Blues; $
9-11> The Soul Maitre Ds & guest Lily Mason @ Amsterdam Bicycle Club, 54 The Esplanade ~songwriters; $0
*9> game.set.trap @ Poetry Jazz Café, 224 Augusta Ave. ~Trap Jazz
9> open mic @ Drom Taberna, 458 Queen St. W.
9> Pictorial Candi; Linda Fox; The Naive @ Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton St. ~eclectic indie; $10
9:30> Hearts & Minds @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Chicago Jazz; $
*10-2> The Sattalites @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. ~original & cover Reggae/Funk; $
10> Ken McDonald, Karl Silveira, Harley Card, Brandon Wall Group @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick St. ~Jazz
10> Sinners Choir @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~Blues/R&B
416 - TORONTO EAST -Broadview/Bayview to Victoria Park
*6-9> Julian Fauth solo @ Sauce, 1376 Danforth Ave. ~original Blues piano
7-10> Craig Robertson Band @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. ~songwriter; 0$
7> Sofi Tucker @ The Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave. ~contemporary original; $
7-10> Greg Pilo and guests PJ Perry on sax, Reg Schwager, Neil Swainson @ Salty Dog, 1980 Queen St. E. ~mainstream Jazz; $0
7:30> Fraser Melvin with John Bjarnason and Dave Morrison @ The Duke Live, 1225 Queen St. E. ~Blues/R&B; $10
**8-11> open stage hosted by Kyle Duffin @ The Old Nick, 123 Danforth Ave.
8-11> Empty Case of Blue; Toil & Trouble; Urbana Piqua @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave. ~indie; 0$
*8-11> Traditional Irish music @ Ceili Cottage, 1301 Queen St. E.
8> Lloyd Spiegel (recording release for Back Roads) @ Sellers & Newel, 672 College St. ~songwriter; $
8:30-10:30> 501 Band @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E.
*9> open mic with host Asha Diaz @ Groove Bar, 1952 Danforth Ave.
*9:30> Peter Verity @ Black Swan, 154 Danforth Ave. ~Folk Roots
*6-10> The Irish Guys @ The Irish Shebeen, 5555 Eglinton Ave. W. ~acoustic Pop covers & originals
*7-10> Bob DeAngelis @ Pulcinella, 3687 Lake Shore Blvd. W. ~Jazz
7:30-10:30> Danny McErlain @ Old Mill (Home Smith Bar), 21 Old Mill Rd. ~piano/vocal Pop/Jazz; minimum food/beverage order $20
8> XPrime @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line ~Rock
*8:30-12:30> Groovestone @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lake Shore Blvd. W., ~classic & contemporary Rock/Soul; $0
416 – TORONTO WEST -Ossington to Etobicoke
6-8> Probably Poetry Collective with Lou Campbell, Laura Gallagher-Doucette and Dylan Tate-Howarth, Katherine Crone, Luke Gallagher, Amelia Hankins, Esmé Hogeveen, Michal Stein, Anne White, Fan Wu.@ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W. ~spoken word; $10
6-9> Lonesome Ace Stringband @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~Country/Roots-Rock/Rockabilly
7-9> eclectic open mic @ Wise Bar, 1007 Bloor St. W.
7> Soft Machine 50th anniversary @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. ~70s Jazz-Rock fusion; $
7:30> Marc Toth @ Gallery 345, 345 Sorauren Ave. ~Classical pianist; $
8-10:30> Tuesday duos with Peter Hill on keys & guest Chris Banks on bass @ La Rev, 2848 Dundas St. W. ~Jazz/Blues; 0$
8-11> Devin Loran @ Alchemy, 890 College St.
8> Lake Visions; Picastro; The Pinc Lincolns @ The Baby G, 1608 Dundas St. W. ~indie; $10
8:30> re.verse @ Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St. W. ~contemporary original; $
9> Modern Desert; House of Knock; Devlin Lewis @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. ~indie; pwyc
9> Anni Sumi; Madeleine Roger; Steven Foster Trio @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W. ~songwriters; $12
9> Fred Spek’s Camp Combo @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Roots-Rock
10> Moontricks; IMUR; Lava Lava @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~eclectic indie; $10
519 EAST -Guelph & K-W and vicinity
2-5> Will Stroet @ River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich St., Guelph ~children’s music; $
6> open mic @ Manhattan’s Guelph, 951 Gordon St., Guelph
*6-8:30> Ukulele jam & workshop @ Idea Exchange Galt, Queen’s Square at 1 North Square, Cambridge
*6> open mic @ The Ridge Social Eatery, 3215 Roseville Rd., Ayr
6:30-8> Ukulele jam & workshop @ Idea Exchange Preston, 435 King St. E., Cambridge
*7-11> Waterloo Wellington Bluegrass Association holds Bluegrass jam @ Galt Legion RCL #121, 4 Veterans Way, Cambridge
7> Dear Rouge; Modern Space; Ellevator @ Maxwell’s Music House, 220 King St. N., Waterloo ~contemporary original; $
7:30> Daniel Champagne @ Silence, 46 Essex Street, Guelph
8> open stage @ Grand River Hotel, 1102 King St. E., Cambridge
8> jam with John McKinley Band @ Lana’s Lounge, 220 King St. N., Waterloo
8> acoustic song circle jam with host Terry Golletz @ Café Crêperie, 40 Mill St. W., Elora
8:30> open mic jam with Kent McMillan & Enio @ Sip Club, 91 Wyndham St. N., Guelph
10> Chalkline @ Duke of Wellington, 33 Erb St. W., Waterloo
705
7> open mic with Randy Hill @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough
*8> open mic night with Matt Diamond @ Red Dog Tavern, 189 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
8> Merkules; Caspian; Evil Ebeneezer; Lil Windex; more @ The Venue, 286 George St. N., Peterborough ~eclectic indie; $35
*9-12> open mic with host Art Lajambe @ Southside Pizzeria, 25 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough
9> Sarah Siddiqui; Emma Cook @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough ~Blues/R&B; $10
905 EAST -Pickering to Cobourg
*6:30-11> The Woodshed jam with Don Niblett & Frank Zochodne @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa
*7:30> Don Owen & Bruce Longman @ Arthur’s Pub, 930 Burnham St., Cobourg ~tribute to The Beatles
*8:30-12:30> open mic @ The Pearson Pub, 101 Mary St. W., Whitby
9> Ray Darren @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country Rock
*9-1> open mic with Justin Cooper @ Fox & The Goose, 799 Park St. S., Oshawa
*9-1> open acoustic jam @ The General, 21 Celina St., Oshawa
*10> open mic with Josh Beaven @ The Atria, 59 King St. E., Oshawa
905 NORTH
*8> open mic @ The Tickled Toad, 330 Steeles Ave. W., Thornhill
*8-11> jam with Matthew Kane & The Brews Brothers @ The Crown, 9580 Yonge St., Richmond Hill
*8:30-12:30> open mic with host Steffi Postol Goodfield @ Falcon & Firkin, 10300 Yonge St., Richmond Hill
*9> open mic with Manny D, Andy Earle & Dave Breckels @ Big Chris BBQ, 17380 Yonge St., Newmarket
905 SOUTH -Hamilton & vicinity
7> songwriters open stage with Deeps/Dave Pomfret @ Lukaya Café, 592 Upper Wellington St., Hamilton
7:30-11> Ten Foot Pole @ Club Absinthe, 38 King William St., Hamilton ~contemporary original; $15
8> Art D’Ecco; Calcedon; more @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton ~indie; $
8> Japandroids @ The Studio, 10 MacNab St., Hamilton ~contemporary original; $
*8:30-12> Traditional Irish jam @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton
*8> Chris Clause @ Thirsty Cactus, 2 King St. E., Dundas ~acoustic
*9:30> Ten Gallon Cat @ Cat ‘n’ Fiddle, 174 John St. S., Hamilton ~Country?
10> jam night @ Lazy Flamingo, 19 Hess. St. S., Hamilton
905 WEST -south Peel, Halton
*6:30-10:30> The Phil & John Show @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit-Mississauga ~acoustic Pop covers & originals; $0
*7> Rob Reed @ Max Resto Lounge, 102-2180 Itabashi Way, Burlington ~smooth Rock/Pop
*7> open mic with Chris Partland @ Fionn MacCool’s Burlington, 2331 Appleby Line, Burlington ~songwriters
*8> open stage (signup at 7:30) with host Neil McNaughton @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville; $2
9> open mic with Chuck Coles @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington
*9:30> open mic with Matt Zaddy @ Cuchulainn’s Irish Pub, 158 Queen St. S., Streetsville-Mississauga
LISTINGS KEY
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 purchasers eg. students, members, seniors, etc.). /+ indicates stated price is minimum.
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