\ ETOBICOKE \
He was born John McAneny, but as anyone who’s heard him perform live or one of several albums he’s released will aver, the stage name by which Johnny Max is known across the GTA and beyond is a far more appropriate moniker for this R&B/Blues whirlwind of a talent.
A dynamic, physically explosive singer who entertains, involves and captures the hearts as well as the ears of audiences, Johnny does indeed take performance to the max every time he takes to the stage. His albums have been impressive too, securing him at least one Juno nomination and countless rave reviews.
In addition to impressive performance chops he’s also developed a strong reputation as a microphone personality through his weekly “Sunday Morning Soul” Blues radio show [see our listings for any Sunday mornings in the ON AIR/ONLINE section], plus emceeing at festivals and special events and has also been known to conduct “Music Trivia” nights that at one time were all the rage in Port Credit and may still be happening somewhere.
He has been featured in my publications many times over the years, including fourteen years ago when we did a cover story in to-nite #255 for the release of his In The Doghouse … Again second album at Timothy’s Pub in Etobicoke in May of 2002. Blues reviewer Gary Tate wrote an insightful article about that release and Max’s talent, which paid TorontoMoon.ca subscribers who are registered as website members can read in the enhanced jpg files of the pages posted in our Vault section.
Tonight Johnny’s right back in the very same bar —on a stage much upgraded since those halcyon days— to release yet another disc, his seventh, entitled Roadhouse Soul. It’s a good fit for the event, because although the room in some ways is a little too chic (and pricey) to qualify as a real roadhouse, it has a down-to-earth quality that arises from its Alderwood/Long Branch area clientele and owners and is a prime destination room for live music west of Roncesvalles Avenue.
This is also the area where Max got his start in the late 90s —in this club, at Southside Johnny’s (when it was still called JR’s) and at a couple of rooms in Mississauga, though it was actually in a much seedier place in the Mimico area on Lake Shore that I first saw him perform. So ya, while Johnny may be out of the Doghouse these days (literally, because that album is long since sold out —a collector’s item) he has no intention of leaving behind his roadhouse roots any time soon, it would seem.
Whether tonight he’ll be using his Johnny Max Band, or the larger Johnny Max Bigger Band or smaller Johnny Max and The Heart Attacks combo (there are no such details on his or the club’s website or Facebook event) you can be sure the show will pack the room from start to finish.
Whether he’ll be using his Johnny Max Band, or the larger Johnny Max Bigger Band or smaller Johnny Max and The Heart Attacks combo (there are no show details on his website or Facebook event) you can be sure the show will pack the room from start to finish.
Things kick off in the pub at 344 Brown’s Line at 8 p.m. and these days there’s usually a small cover charge there (sorry, also no details) but of course you’ll likely also want to bring enough shekels to also pick up a copy of the new album if you don’t already have one.
-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca
SHOW LISTINGS for Thursday, March 23, 2022
For KEY to listings codes and schemata see note at end of shows list.
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ONLINE / ON AIR
Midnight to midnight: Epidemic Music Group’s Longest Concert Guinness World Record Attempt @ Earl of Whitchurch, Stouffville & online live on YouTube 24 hours a day till 7pm April 2. For artist lineup see listings in 905 North.
9-10am> “The Bill King Show” with host Bill King & guests @ CIUT 89.5 FM ~Blues/Jazz
Noon-2> Blues on Rock Radio UK with Carolyn Fe
416 – TORONTO CENTRAL
*5-8> Danny Blue @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave. ~acoustic Pop
6-8> Jessica Lalonde with Peter Hill on keys @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~original & cover Jazz; $10-20/pwyc
6> Arianna Gillis @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~songwriter
6-8> Robert Scott @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. ~solo piano Jazz; $
6:30> Kevin Quain @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~moody Blues; $
7> Bebe Rexha; Spencer Ludwig @ Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St. ~contemporary original; $
*7> open mic with Derek Mok @ Kensington Lodge, 21 Kensington Ave.
7> Sammy Duke ep release for Glass Demons; opening set by AHI @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. TO ~songwriter; $15 includes cd
*7:30-9:30> Bluegrass Thursdays with Houndstooth @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave.
7:30> Tafelmusik Baroque Orechestra with Karina Gauvin & Rodolfo Richter @ Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. ~Baroque Classical; $
*7:30> Sarah Jordan & Matt G @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St. ~acoustic Top 40
8-1> 4th Thursday jam featuring Kevin Jeffrey, Diane Baker Mason, Wayne Neon Smith & Nicola Vaughan @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave.
*8-12> Joe Bowden @ Nawlin’s, 299 King St. W. TO ~Blues
8> Franco De Vita with 20 accompanying performers @ Sony Centre for the Performing Aerts, 1 Front St. E. ~retrospective and new album songs; $59+
8> Island Shivers album release with guests Harmony Love; Ben Rubin; more @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W. ~indie; $10
8:30-12:30> Animatist album release; guests Shipley Hollow; Darboi; Bards From The Club @ Silver Dollar 486 Spadina Ave. ~indie; $
*8:30> Organic Groove open mic with host Dylan Hennessy @ Cannabis Culture, 461 Church St.
9> Chris Lord Ideal @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave. ~original Blues
9> Stoker; The Savilles; Heated Mansion @ Cameron House (rear), 408 Queen St. W. ~indie; $
9> Holt Stuart-Hitchcox Group @ Poetry Jazz Café, 224 Augusta Ave. ~Jazz-Rock fusion
9-11:30> Duchess @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. ~Jazz; $
9> Mr. Pharmacist; The Dead Souls; The Screwed @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W. ~tributes; $10
*9-1> Blackburn @ Jo Mamas, 317 King St. W. ~Blues
9> The Collective @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~R&B; $10
9> V for Mania; Ghost Town Architects; The Marrows @ Stop, Drop & Roll, 300 College St. ~indie; $5 
*9:30> jam with host band The Regulators @ College St. Bar, 574 College St.
9:30> Robb Cappalletto Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $
*9:45> Stacey Kaniuk @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E. ~Jazz/Blues; $
10> Hugh Wilson; opening solo set by David Macmichael @ Amsterdam Bicycle Club, 54 The Esplanade Central ~indie alt-Pop
10> The Diamond Joes @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W.
10> Dan Pencer @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave.
9> Mobina Galore; Serenity Now; SOF; Liver @ Bovine Sex Club, 542 Queen St. W. ~indie; $10
*10:30> Mike Barnes @ Pauper’s Pub, 539 Bloor St. W. ~acoustic Pop
416 – TORONTO EAST
7-9> Clela Errington & Kevin Neal @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. ~songwriter; 0$
**7:30-11:30> M-Factor Redux with host Elana Harte & special guests Murray Powell; Gabrie @ Eton House, 710 Danforth Ave. ~songwriters; 0$
*8:30-10:30> Jerry Leger & The Situation @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E. ~Folk-Rock/Country
8:30> Micah & Ever The Bridesmaid @ The Peppery Cat, 1953 Queen St. E. ~Blues-Rock
7> “Phoenix Rising” fundraiser for fire victims Kristy & Riley with Jerome Tucker Band; Gary Edward Allen; Trixi Jones; Tape Eagles; Fraz Milne Electrical Band & host Drew Chale @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave. ~eclectic; pwyc
*9:30> open jam with host Kar Wong @ Sportsters, 1430 Danforth Ave.
*10-2> karaoke with Shane Taylor @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave.
*10-1> open jam with host Michael Villamor @ Breakwall, 1910 Queen St. E.
7:30> Bernie Senensky Trio @ Old Mill Inn, 21 Old Mill Rd. ~Jazz; min table charge
*9> jam night with host band The James Green Electric @ Schuey’s, 1130 Martin Grove Rd.
9> Johnny Max Band album release for Roadhouse Soul @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line ~original R&B
9:30> Bryan Tyrell @ The Old Sod, 2936 Bloor St. W. ~Pop
*10-2> Skip Tracer @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. ~Rock/Pop
416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH
8-12> jam night with Camel Joe @ The Birchmount, 462 Birchmount Rd.
9:30> BK Smith Ice @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd. ~Pop Rock
416 – TORONTO WEST
5-8> The Misunderstandings @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Jazz
6> Joanne Morra @ Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. ~Jazz
*6:30-9> Carl Bray & guest @ Fat City Blues, 890 College St. ~solo piano
6:30-10:30> Aveva Dese @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W. ~original Ethiopian-Israeli World music; $22
7> Alive/Alone; In Spirit; Focus Fire; Franki The Pig; Matt Dell @ Smiling Buddha Stage 1, 961 College St. ~indie; $10
7-9> Jully Black; Justin Rutledge; Sarah MacDougall; David Leask; Andrea England for “Four Chords & The Truth” session @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~songwriters in the round; $
8> The Calrizians; Nichol Robertson @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. ~Honkytonk/Country
8> Steve Ketchen & The Parkdale Rebels @ Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen St. W. ~Country Rock
8> Stefan Jurewicz & Friends @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W.
*8> open mic @ Axis Gallery & Grill, 3048 Dundas St. W.
**8> The Soul Maître D’s with guest @ The Archtop Café, 2312 Bloor St. W. ~acoustic Pop
8:30> All Day Breakfast ep release for All The Rage @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave. ~indie; $
8:30> Delta Will; Illitry; Drago Dit Dragon @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W. ~indie; $15
9> Mermaid & The Bear; Kalyna Rakel @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. ~Roots originals; pwyc
*9-12> open mic night with Anthony Abbatangeli @ DeSoto’s, 1079 St. Clair Ave. W.
*9> open mic with Phil Hood @ The Roncy, 390 Roncesvalles Ave.
*9-1:30> open stage with Jay Pennell @ Dave’s On St. Clair, 730 St. Clair West ~eclectic
9> Sisters Euclid @ 3030 Dundas West, 3030 Dundas St. W. ~original Jazz/Country/Rock fusion; $
9-12> Ilios Sterannis Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Jazz
9> Steed @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Folk/Roots
9:30> The Reposadists Quartet @ Reposado, 136 Ossington Ave. ~Jazz
10> Zeppelinesque @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~Led Zeppelin tunes; $10
10> The Mercenaries @ Fat City Blues, 890 College St. ~Retro Rock/Soul
10> Cody McMillan @ The Hole In The Wall, 2867 Dundas St. W.
11> The Digs @ Drake Hotel Lounge, 1150 Queen St. W. ~groove Rock; 0$
519
*6-10> Lucas Stagg @ Argyle Arms, 210 King St. E., Cambridge ~Roots-Rock
*7:30-12> open mic with K.M. Smith @ Molly Bloom’s Guelph, 91 Wyndham St. N., Guelph
7:30-10> jam night @ RCL #126 Preston Legion, 334 Westminster Dr. N., Cambridge
7:30> John McKinnon @ Fionn MacCool’s Orangeville, 75 Fourth Ave., Orangeville ~Pop Rock
*8> open mic with Mandippal @ Fionn MacCool’s Guelph, 494 Edinburgh Rd., S., Guelph
8> Glenn Miller Orchestra @ River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich St., Guelph ~classic oldies Pop; $49/-
8> Daniel Champagne; Moonlight Flood @ Silence, 46 Essex St., Guelph ~contemporary original; $10/pwyc
8> open mic night @ M&M Bar, 475 Main St., Cambridge
8> Chadley Chase & Andre Besel @ Grand River Hotel, 1102 King St. E., Cambridge ~Country
8> Virginia to Vegas; Repartee @ Maxwell’s, 35 University Ave. E., Waterloo ~indie; $15
*8> Jazz/Blues jam @ Hep Cats, 42 Erb St. E., Waterloo
*8-11> open mic with Sandy MacDonald @ Williamsburg Arms, 1187 Fischer Hallman Rd., Kitchener
8> Nick Mercuri @ Churchill Arms, 355 Erb St. W., Waterloo ~Blues
*8:30> acoustic jam hosted by Simon Heras @ Kiwi Gastropub, 47 Dickson St., Cambridge
*8:30-12:30> acoustic jam with Dennis Napper & Joe Lopez @ Fiddle & Firkin, 707 King St. E., Cambridge
8:30> open mic with James Kuttelwascher @ Fionn MacCool’s Kitchener, 4287 King St. E., Kitchener
9> Future Peers; Sun Moon; Star Rocket; Joel Saunders @ E-Bar, 41 Quebec St., Guelph ~indie; $
9> Algernon Friolet and Jessie T. @ The Boathouse, 97 Jubilee Drive, Kitchener
9:30> Brad James Band @ Stampede Ranch, 226 Woodlawn Rd. W., Guelph ~Country
*9:30> acoustic act @ The Black Badger, 55 Water St., Cambridge ~acoustic
9:30> James Cameron @ Stampede Corral, 248 Stirling Ave. S., Kitchener ~Country
*10-2> Mike Something @ Royal Electric, 52 Macdonell St., Guelph ~acoustic Pop
*10> Happy Pappy @ The Duke, 33 Erb St., Waterloo
705
**7-11> Tamica Herod & The Harbour Street Band with guest @ 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> March poetry slam & open mic @ The Spill, 414 George St. N., Peterborough ~spoken word
8> Auburn Falling @ The Huron Club, 94 Pine St., Collingwood
*9> jam with Ted Rusk @ The Sauble Dunes, 11 Southampton Parkway, Sauble Beach
9:30> Connor Clarkin @ Red Dog Tavern, 189 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
10> The Rifle and the Writer @ 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)
6-10> Randy Liepsig @ Fionn MacCool’s Oshawa, 214 Ritson Rd., Oshawa ~Rock/Top 40 covers
8-11> Mellow Dee @ Rum Diaries, 368 Bayly St. W., Ajax ~groove/Soul
*?> jam with Darren Smith & Shayne Thomas @ The Corner Pocket, 45 Prince St., Oshawa
*9> jam @ The Wee Pub, 371 Wilson Rd. South, Oshawa
9> Blues jam @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa
9> Critical Hit; cigar Hurt Babies; Twin Rivals; Holy Grinder @ The Atria, 59 King St. E., Oshawa ~indie; $
9> Downturns; River Groves; Headwirl; Justin Dileo @ Moustache Club, 15 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa ~indie; $7
*9-2> open mic with Rich With Sin @ Gravity Lounge, 45 Prince St., 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
12:01am-midnight and all day Thursday and beyond till April 2> Epidemic Music Group’s Longest Concert Guinness World Record Attempt with various acts for 24 hours @ Earl of Whitchurch, 6204 Main Street, Stouffville:
Day 6, Thurs. March 23, benefitting Anti Violence Youth featuring
6AM Melanie J.Hebert
7AM Ryan Bonner
8AM Russell Jackson-Wyatt
9AM Mark Crawford
10AM Des McCann
11AM Angele Menard
12PM One In The Chamber
1PM Brian Jantzi & The Lost Mariachis also featuring Harpin’ Norm Lucien
2PM Albert Street Four
3PM Sue & Dwight
4PM Jarrod Stafford
5PM The Bogert Street Basement Band
6PM Deanna Drudge
7PM Amber Crump
8PM The Honeyrunners
9PM Melissa Lemme
10PM Goodnight Sunrise
11PM Daniel Greer
Day 7, Fri. March 24 benefitting Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Foundation with
12AM In Arrears Band
1AM Locust Hill
2AM Russ Robson
3AM Alex Powell
4AM Dal Hotel
5AM Richard Malouin
6AM Dan McKenna
7AM Brian O’Sullivan
8AM Therapy Seekers
9AM Mark Crawford
10AM Arlene Paculan
11AM Alex Purcell
*6:30-10:30> jam with Faces for Radio @ Coasters, 55 Rutherford Rd. S., Brampton
*6:30-10> Johnny Cadillac @ Spot One, 289 Rutherford Rd. S., Brampton
7> Abigail Lapell @ Uncorked On Main, 72 Main St. S., Georgetown
7:30-11> All-ages student jam night @ Spot One, 289 Rutherford Rd. S., Brampton
*7:30-11:30> jam with house band @ 52nd St. Tap & Grill, 30 Kennedy Rd., S., Brampton
7:30> “13” The Musical @ Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, 10268 Yonge St., Richmond Hill ~musical theatre; $30+
*8> open mic @ The Duchess of Markham, 53 Main St. N., Markham
*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
*9> open mic with The Almost Cool Band @ St. George Pub, 7 Main St. N., Georgetown
*10:30> jam with Gary White & Friends @ Bryden’s, 270 Main St. E., Milton
905 SOUTH
7> Nero’s Fiddle @ Rebel’s Rock, 537 King St. E., Hamilton ~$2
8> Wake Island; Inside Touch; Sad Sorcerer @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton ~indie; $
8> Hisaka; George Koller @ Artword Artbar, 15 Colbourne St., Hamilton ~Jazz; 15
8:30> Chris Chambers @ Lou Dawg’s Hamilton, 116 George St., Hamilton
*9> LMT Connection @ Doc Magilligan’s Irish Pub, 6400 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls ~R&B/Funk
*9> jam with Hank & The Boys @ Tartan Toorie, 969 Fennell Ave. E., Hamilton
*9> open mic night with rotating hosts @ Coach & Lantern, 384 Wilson St E., Ancaster
9> Golden Horseshoe Revival @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton ~Bluegrass; $10
*9:30> Rock jam @ Gladstone Tavern, 1385 Main St. E., Hamilton
9:30> acoustic open stage with Daryl Gray @ The George Hamilton, 1115 Fennell Ave., Hamilton
9:30> Chris Caddell & Friends @ Gallagher’s Bar, 69 Augusta St., Hamilton ~Blues-Rock
10> Strummers Union @ The Pheasant Plucker, 20 Augusta St., Hamilton
10> The Pistolettes featuring Ginger St. James & Mary Simon @ Cat N Fiddle Hamilton, 174 John St., S., Hamilton
905 WEST
*6-9> Ric Jacobs @ Ivy Bar, 3330 South Service Rd., Burlington
*7> Fraser/Daley @ Anchor Bar Burlington, 2000 Appleby Line, Burlington ~original Rootsy Blues
7> Joel Guenther & Friends @ Black Bull Burlington, 1124 Guelph Line, Burlington
7> Scott Whittington @ Max Resto Lounge, 2180 Itabashi Way, Burlington
*7-10> Clarke County @ Montana’s BBQ Mississauga, 5031 Hurontario St., Mississauga ~Country
*7-11> James Anthony Band @ The Purple Heather, 3600 Dundas St. W., Burlington
*7:30> Bluegrass jam @ RCL #551 Waterdown, 79 Hamilton St. N., Waterdown
8> KenMacMillan @ Bronte Sports Kitchen, 2544 Speers Rd., Oakville
*8-12> jam hosted by The Personics @ Carrigan Arms, 2025 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington
*8> Celtic Night @ Fionn MacCool’s Burlington, 2331 Appleby Line
8:30> John Marlatt acoustic album release for Old Dog @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St. Oakville ~songwriter; $
9-1> Freedom Train @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop
9:30> Jeff Eager @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Top 40 covers
*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
*10:30> The Killin’ Time Duo @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington ~Pop Rock
LISTINGS KEY
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.
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