\ TO WEST \

We’ve written several times over the past twenty or so years about politically savage songwriter Kyp Harness and his unflinchingly trenchant songs pillorying the established order, so learning that tonight he’s releasing a new album of originals, Stoplight Moon, definitely caught my notice.

When I first heard him in the early 90s I was immediately reminded of early Bob Dylan and of the late Phil Ochs —not just by the unerringly pithy and penetrating lyrics but because his vocal style is similarly as atonally irony-infused, with songs more like poetry than Pop. His guitar playing also somewhat mirrors that approach: mostly fairly basic chords, earnestly delivered, working like an engine to carry the words, in the tradition of all the great protest songwriters.

I became a fan from the first time I heard Harness and I’m not alone in my high regard for his talent either. Three years ago this week a number of established local artists gathered to pay tribute to the balladeer, doing a concert of his songs for no other reason than that they admire them.

For while his musicality may be somewhat basic, it’s effective, as I noted a year ago when I wrote that “his deftness with lyrics, including an ability to come up with clever and pithy rhymes, makes his scathing observations feel like evil nursery rhyme singalongs that get you nodding your head.” In their own strange way, these songs are catchy —and they stay with you.

I’ve always been surprised that Harness is not better known by the public, but maybe that’s because he’s tended to be somewhat reclusive, seemingly reflecting a desire to eschew the superficiality of what passes for “fame” these days.

Like the songwriters who did the tribute concert, however, other discerning critics have nevertheless also found him and hailed Harness as “a Toronto version of Lucinda Williams or a Nick Cave” (CBC), as writing “a canon of songs that cover the heart and the heart attack” (Bob Wiseman), as “great” by Daniel Lanois and “a national treasure” by Exclaim Magazine. The Globe and Mail perhaps best summed up his talent: “a radar-evading singer-songwriter who packs more fine lines into four minutes than Shakespeare and Ron Sexsmith combined.”

Since it’s lyrics that lie at the heart of his songs it’s not surprising that Harness has also turned his hand to the written word, penning satire for local publications, authoring two tomes of film analysis, and getting his debut novel, “Wigford Rememberies”, published in a couple of months.

While one could never predict what Harness is likely to express next, his publicist suggests that the new disc, his thirteenth album, is somewhat less acidic than his most recent release, 2014’s Armageddon Blues, which was a masterwork of political provocation. The new album, by contrast, sees Harness “stretch back into the familial, the personal and love territories,” the event press release says.

Despite that, having seen the video for one of the new tunes that’s posted on his website (“All I Need,” a surprisingly sentimental love song that nevertheless displays his characteristic disdain for “the in-crowd” and the “secret handshake” needed for commercial success) I can safely reassure you that Harness is a long way from mellowing out, even if the focus, on the surface, is a little less politically lasered.

Tonight’s early evening release show with a talented backing band (John Critchley —who also produced the new recording— along with Burke Carroll, Shelley Coopersmith, Paul Kolinski, Shelby Lamb, Tania Gill and Blake Howard) also features opening act Erika Werry and The Alphabet. It takes place from 7 -9 at Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. at Dundas St. West. Admission is $10 or an extra fin also gets you a copy of the album.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Thursday, March 24, 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.). 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.

416 - TORONTO CENTRAL

6> Jacob Henley @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6-8> Brough-Davis Trio @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $10/pwyc

6:30> Kevin Quain @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

6:30> Geography Lounge @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

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

7> Viva Cabaret Yura @ Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W., TO ~$20

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

8-10:30> Tony Quarrington @ Sellers and Newel Books, 672 College St., TO ~eclectic Roots/Jazz songwriter; $15

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

8> Nathan Da Silva @ Dominion Pub, 500 Queen St. E., TO ~cover Pop Rock

8> Field Study @ Cameron House (rear), 408 Queen St. W., TO

8> Danckert & Rivers with special guest Fritz Hinz of Helix @ Drums N Flats, 1980 Avenue Rd., TO North

8> Strictly Sabbath; Be’Elzeboptet; On The Verge; Goatbox Rebels @ Cherry Cola’s, 200 Bathurst St., TO ~classic Rock; $

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

Ory Tracy; Phillip Brown; Jack Walker @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO ~songwtiers;

8:30> Franc’open mic @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. TO ~en français

9:30> Oxford Blue @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO ~pwyc

8:30-11:30> Colin Hunter and The Anthony Terpstra Quintet @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~Jazz; $

8:30-1:30> DMA’s (Aussie) with Fires; The Last Honest Fool @ Silver Dollar 486 Spadina Ave., TO

9-12> Missy Bauman Beatles Tribute @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St., TO ~indie

9> Lamb Lion; Cat And The Queen; Dead Century; Chuckie Campbell @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~$6

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

9> Carlos Morgan @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St., TO North ~Rock/Top 40; $5

9> Nathan DaSilva @ Dominion Pub, 500 Queen St. East, TO

9:45> Tony Manaco Organ Trio (Ohio) @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

*9:45> Stacey Kaniuk @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~songwriter-pianist; $

10> Shawn Brady & Herve Basset @ Hemingways, 142 Cumberland St., TO ~Pop Rock duo

10> Ferraro @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

10> Motown @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St., TO ~$5 after 11:30

10> The Damned Neighbour @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO ~

10> Bluegrass jam with Dave Lang and pals @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10> Indie Thursdays with Sticks @ Bier Markt Esplanade, 58 The Esplanade, TO ~indie percussionist

10> The Zola’s; Grounders @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W., TO ~$15

10> Indie Thursday with Grump @ Bier Markt King, 600 King St., West, TO

10> Chris Caddell @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~

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

416 - TORONTO EAST

7-9> Dan Walsh @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Bluesy Roots songwriter

7> Genuwine with Témi, Allie and Délon Om @ The Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave., TO East

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

9> Sick Kid’s Rockathon Charity with Jules; Lucy; The Exit 27 Band; Seed Of Nature; Infinity @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~$5+ donation

9> James Sheehan @ Murphy’s Law, 1702 Queen St. E., TO East ~Pop Rock

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

416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE

7:30> Brigham Phillips Trio @ Old Mill Inn, 21 Old Mill Rd., Etobicoke ~Jazz; min table charge

9> Al Reilly’s Catalyst also featuring Anthony Cee; Cheap Trick tribute; Blizzard of Oz @ The Rockpile, 5555 Dundas St. W., Etobicoke ~classic Rock; $

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

*8> acoustic jam with The Tall Boyz featuring Tommy Rocker @ Al Mac’s, 2459 Kingston Rd., Scarborough

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

416 - TORONTO WEST

5-8> Cat Bernardi Quartet @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

7-9> Kyp Harness album release for Stoplight Moon; with guest Erika Werry & The Alphabet @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~original Roots-Rock protest; $10/$15

7> Rosy Cervantes; La Sana Rabia for “Singing For Love” benefit for children who have lived with violence @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W., TO West ~$15

7> SOMOS @ Smiling Buddha, 961 College St., TO West

*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> Root Down Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West

9> Gualberto @ The Tennessee, 1554 Queen St. W., TO West

9> Os Tropies @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West ~psychedelic Brazilian Rock $10

9> Steph Copeland; Lora Bidner; Beth Moore @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~indie; $

9> Whiskey Epiphany @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Roots-Rock

9> Ryan VanDrie; Kismet; Marshall Jacklin @ Folly Brewpub, 928 College St., TO West

9> Fiver; Trevor Turple; Ian Russell @ Holy Oak Café, 1241 Bloor St. W., TO West ~indie

9:30> The Mercenaries @ Fat City Blues, 890 College St., TO West ~retro Soul-Rock; $

10> The Millwinders @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~$

10> Yasgurs Farm @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W., TO West ~12-piece Soul/Funk/Jazz-Rock $15

519

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

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

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

705

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

8> Derek McLean @ The Huron Club, 94 Pine St., Collingwood

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

8> Poetry slam with Raissa Simon @ The Spill, 414 George St. N., Peterborough

10> Vacant Music Showcase with Wayne Kennedy @ 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)

8-11> Mellowdee & AJ @ Rum Diaries, 368 Bayly St. W., Ajax

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

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

*9-1> Juggernaut Jam Band @ Tap and Tankard, 224 Brock Rd. S., Whitby ~Rock/Blues

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

10> Barley & Hopps @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~Pop

905 - NORTH

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

9> Steve Peconi @ Fionn MacCool’s Newmarket, 17315 Leslie St., Newmarket ~Pop Rock

905 - SOUTH

*8> open mic (signup at 7) with Dave Gould @ Homegrown Hamilton, 27 King William St. Hamilton

8> Jordan John @ Pub Fiction, 1242 Garner Rd. W., Hamilton ~Soul/R&B/Funk

8> Learie McNiccols “Big Dance, Little Stage” @ Artword Artbar, 15 Colbourne St., Hamilton ~contemporary dance works with several artists

8:30> CFMU Fundraiser with Blunt Chunks; Jerkagram; Sensei; Emay; Haolin Munk; Pucumber Sassquash Family Band; Nick Persons @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton*9> Saucy Jack @ Doc Magilligan’s Irish Pub, 6400 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls

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

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

905 WEST

*6-9> Michael Keys & George Baumann @ Black Bull Burlington, 1124 Guelph Line, Burlington ~easy listening Swing/Boogie Woogie

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

*7-11> James Anthony Band with guest Chuck Jackson @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington

8-12> Freedom Train @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop

8> Death Valley Daze with Wendell Ferguson guesting @ Mulligan’s, 2458 Dundas St. W., Mississauga ~Country

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

8:30> Johnathan Byrd & The Pickup Cowboys @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St. Oakville ~songwriter; $10

8:30> Brendon Gomez @ Fionn MacCool’s Britannia, 825 Britannia Rd. W., Streetsville Mississauga ~Pop Rock

*8:45> open mic with Matt Zady @ Failte, 201 City Centre Dr., Mississauga

9> Dan Acoustic @ Fionn MacCool’s Clarkson, 970 Southdown Rd., Mississauga ~Pop Rock

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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