\ TO DOWNTOWN \

Although I’ve sort of lost touch over the years with talented Blues-Rock singer-guitarist and Pop songwriter Michael Danckert, whom I’ve been writing about off and on for nearly 25 years now, I certainly remain a fan of his music.

As I detailed in an article here three years ago, I met him soon after starting the progenitor publication to TorontoMoon.ca in 1992, when he was actually best known for his ability to sing and make faces like Mick Jagger and play guitar like Keith Richards.

But upon the release, over a dozen years ago now, of the originals album Sea of Time (a marvelous homage to 60s Brit-Pop songwriting, as its name suggests, recorded with longtime musical partner and equally gifted artist Glenn Levine and others in a band they called The Spivs) I realized he also has serious songwriting chops.

Yet from what I’ve observed through compiling listings over the years, Danckert instead has tended to stick mostly with performing cover Pop Rock/Blues, even despite being featured on the strength of his originals at Winterfolk Festival and doing occasional appearances in rooms that cater more to songwriting than musical wallpaper.  Teamed up with fellow talents like Bob Strome and Tim Bovaconti, in bands like 3 Chords & The Truth as well in his eponymous group and doing duos and trios, he certainly can deliver an ace performance in that realm.  But I would only really go out of my way to see him if he’s sharing some of his original stuff.

Tonight he’s in a venue that can easily handle either and both dimensions, as he returns to Grossman’s Tavern on Spadina Ave. near College St., where anything could be possible.  While calling itself “Toronto’s Home Of The Blues,” G-man is famous for regularly accommodating acts performing many other genres too, including Country, Rock, Ska, Roots, Pop, Jazz and Dixieland/Cajun styles.

Since Danckert unfortunately doesn’t take this publication seriously enough to have a supporting subscription (despite my 24 years of writing about and promoting him —when you Image search his name on Google it’s a photo I took and published here that comes up first) I really don’t know what he might have in mind for tonight’s show.

Maybe he’ll corral Levine and Pat Rush and re-unite The Spivs (now THAT would be something!) or perhaps present a workaday Blues-Rock covers show heavy on Stones material or —as he’s certainly more than capable of doing— something altogether different.

There’s no cover to find out and the show in the room at 279 Spadina Ave. should get started around 10:30 but go late.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Tuesday, April 26, 2022

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.). 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 highlighted type, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

416 – Toronto Central

6> Sarah Jan Scouten @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6-7:30> Aaron De Sousa @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~ indie; $10

6:30> Melissa Lauren Quartet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

*6:30-9:30> Stacie McGregor @ Nawlin’s, 299 King St. W. TO ~Jazz piano

7> Toronto Regional Songwriters Group open mic @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~no cover

7> comedy jam @ Cameron House (rear), 408 Queen St. W., TO

7:30> Michael Keith @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick St., TO ~eclectic Blues/World songwriter

8> Toronto Folksingers Club @ Tranzac Club (Tiki Room), 292 Brunswick St., TO ~Folk

8-9:30> Ben Anthony & Tatyana D’Voce @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~ indie; $10

*8:45> Tyler Yarema & His Rhythm @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues; $

9> The Middle Coast; Honey Beard; The Lifers; The Better Lates @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; no cover

*9> Chris Caddell Blues Band @ Lou Dawgs, 598 King St. W., TO ~Blues

9:30> Michael Danckert @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO ~Pop Rock covers & originals

*9:30> open mic @ The Paddock, 178 Bathurst St., TO

**9:30> Jazz jam hosted by Chris Gale @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

*10-2> The Sattalites @ Orbit Room, 580 College St., TO ~original & cover Reggae/Funk; $

10> Nick Fraser @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick St., TO

*10> The Hit Pickers @ Cloak & Dagger, 294 College St., TO

10> The Sinners Choir @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Country

10> The Koopa Troop @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~ indie; $10

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

416 – Toronto East

*6-9> Julian Fauth solo @ Sauce, 1376 Danforth Ave., TO East ~original Blues piano

7-9> MendaROSE @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~eclectic Roots-Pop covers & originals

8> FingerStyleGuitar.ca open stage @ Hirut, 2050 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Roots

8> Dickie and the Boys; The Unlikely Story; Jimmy Pearson @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~indie; no cover

8:30-10:30> WE-B3 @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East

*9-1> jam with Paul Storm and The Hog Town Torpedoes OR City Choir @ The Duke Live, 1225 Queen St. E., TO East

*9> open mic with host Asha Diaz @ Groove Bar, 1952 Danforth Ave., TO East

*9:30> Peter Verity @ Black Swan, 154 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Folk Roots

**9:30-12> open stage hosted by Jay Pennell or Kyle Duffin @ The Old Nick, 123 Danforth Ave., TO East

416 – Toronto Etobicoke

*8> open mic with Steve Herman and Scott Deathe @ Refinery Public House, 3039 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke

416 – Toronto Scarborough

*9:30> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ The Fossil & Haggis, 790 Military Trail, Scarborough

416 – Toronto West

5-8> Kevin Bolger Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

*8-11> Freeman Dre & The Kitchen Party @ The Inter Steer, 357 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~acoustic Folk-Rock originals & covers

8> DoVira; Zephyr; ZARI @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West ~Old & New World Jazz/World Fusion; $10

8:30> Andrew Collins Trio @ Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen St. W., TO West ~acoustic Pop

*8:30> Andrew Collins Trio @ Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen St. W., TO West ~original acoustic Pop

9-11:30> piano/horn duo night with Peter Hill on keys & guest Shawn Nykwist on sax @ La Rev, 2848 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Jazz/Blues

9> Emily Raquel; Mercy Flight; Costume Party @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W., TO West ~indie; pwyc

9> Jordan Faye and the Grey Owls @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Bluegrass with a twist

9> Kalya Ramu Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

9> The Arc Sound; Baa; Yawd Sylvester @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~; $

**9:30> jam with Derek Downham or Cody McMillan @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO West ~eclectic

10> Black Cloud; Ed Munstay; Gusty Winds; Hush Pup @ Smiling Buddha, 961 College St., TO West ~indie

705

7> open mic with Randy Hill @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

905 EAST

*6:30-11> The Woodshed jam with Don Niblett & Frank Zochodne @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

9> The Dukes @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country Rock

*10> open mic with Josh Beaven @ The Atria, 59 King St. E., Oshawa

905 NORTH

7-10> open song circle with Patti McLaughlin @ Aw Shucks, 15474 Yonge St., Aurora

*8> open mic @ The Tickled Toad, 330 Steeles Ave. W., 905 North

*8-11> jam with Matthew Kane & The Brews Brothers @ The Crown, 9580 Yonge St., Richmond Hill

*8:30-12:30> open mic @ 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

*8> Blues & Jazz jam hosted by Wayne Janus & The Syncopaths @ Rebel’s Rock, 537 King St. E., Hamilton

*9> open stage @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton

*9:30-1> Traditional Irish jam @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton

905 WEST

*8> The Phil & John Show feat. Phil Naro @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~acoustic Pop Rock

*8-12> Groovestone @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Funk; $

*8> open stage (signup at 7:30) with host Neil McNaughton @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville; $2

*8:45> open mic with Matt Zadkovich @ Cuchulainn’s Irish Pub, 158 Queen St. S., Streetsville-Mississauga

*10> Chuck Coles of The Organ Thieves and Creepshow hosts open mic @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington

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