\TO CENTRAL \

Despite his background as founding member of one of Canada’s badass iconic Rock ‘n’ Roll bands, The Blushing Brides, if you first meet James Green between sets he comes across as a personable, even affable fellow who only stands out from the crowd because of his rather dramatic dreadlocks and a certain knowing, experienced look in his eye as he takes in the scene.

But that relaxed demeanour quickly gets sloughed off once he’s got a guitar in his hand and is on stage.  From that point on until he finishes the set with his James Green Electric band, he’s a fiery, almost savage six-stringer who is soon drenched in sweat from the pouring forth of heart and soul through the music.

As we told you earlier this year, since recently moving to Toronto from the Montreal area last year, Green has steadily grown his profile on the local scene.  Some who’ve been around will know his name from his claim to fame days with the Brides, but they and others newly encountering him will remember him in future for what he delivers fronting his own combo.

With a rhythm section that has a pedigree in the same league as his own (Sascha Tukatsch on the kits, Stan Miczek on bass —both veterans/current members of way too many awesome bands to list here) Green and the guys don’t simply tear through a wide range of Blues, Blues-Rock and Southern Rock tunes like “Crossroads”, “Stone Free”, “All Along The Watchtower” and “Born on the Bayou” —they cut them a new one!

During the set I enjoyed at Linsmore Tavern in January, the songs were delivered with respect and a feeling of authenticity, infused with new life but still carrying all the heft of the originals.  Since then Green has played a slew more local clubs, and tonight the trio makes a showcasing debut that sort of stands out as a moment where things go up yet another notch.

Starting at 9:30 p.m. the trio takes to the stage at what is the only surviving TO room that can lay credible claim to being “Toronto’s Home of The Blues”: Grossman’s Tavern at 379 Spadina Ave. a little south of College Street in the Chinatown/Kensington Market area.

Except for special events there’s never a cover charge at G-man —even with all the renovations to the bathrooms and other amenities there in recent years.  Expect its legendary patio (oh if those railings could speak!) to be open to let locals and tourists alike share the experience of being in one of the few remaining areas of the city that, while it’s “Toronto The Good” safe and welcoming, also still has “Big Smoke” grit and edge.  And you couldn’t ask for a much better soundtrack for that mix than this act.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Wednesday, August 02, 2021

For KEY to listings codes and schemata see note at end of shows list.

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ON AIR / ONLINE

*6-8pm> The Rock-A-Round with Slim Tim @ www.rockabilly-radio.net ~ Rockabilly tracks (from UK, repeat show from previous Friday)

416 – TORONTO CENTRAL

6-8> Mimi Snider with Nathan Hiltz & Babi Mendes @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~Jazz; $10-20/pwyc

6> Golden Country Classics @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~Country

6> Lifehouse; Switchfood; Brynn Elliott @ Rebel, 11 Polson St.

6-8> Robert Scott @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. ~Jazz piano; $

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

*7> Jim Heineman Trio @ Nawlins, 299 King St. W. ~Jazz

7> Uke Can Sing ukulele workshop with K Funk & Lady Ree @ Corktown Common, 155 Bayveiw Ave.

*7-10> Blues jam with Mark Stafford & Ken Yoshioka @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St.

7:30> Troubleshooting & guests @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO ~Jazz

7:30> Chris Webby; Justina Valentine; White Plague @ Plein Air Garden (Artists’ Garden Co-operative), 345 Balliol St. ~songwriters; $

**8-12> Girls Night Out Jazz singers’ jam with Lisa Particelli, Peter Hill et al @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~$10-20/pwyc

8> Layrite Boys @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~Bluegrass

*8> John Bellisario hosts weekly Jazz jam @ The Music Box, 3434 Bathurst St.

8> Xochik @ Free Times Cafe, 320 College St. ~songwriter; pwyc

8:30> Jupiter Hollow; more with host Scott Penfold @ Cherry Cola’s, 200 Bathurst St. ~Metal/Grunge/Hard-core; $5

8:30> open mic @ H Bar, 859 Queen St. W.

9> The Digs @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E. ~Funk/Jazz/neo-Soul; $

*9 (signup at 8:30)> open mic with Alan Carter @ Lowdown, 276 Augusta Ave.

9> Alchemy @ Poetry Jazz Café, 224 Augusta Ave. ~Jazz

9> Dog Party; Ghosted; Revisionist; Sneez Attack @ Bovine Sex Club, 542 Queen St. W. ~indie; $

*9-2> What’s Poppin’ indie jam @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St.

9-1> open mic with hosts Aberdeen Alley Cats @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave.

9> All My Friends @ May Café, 876 Dundas St. W.

9:30-2> James Green Electric Trio @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave. TO

*9:30-2> The All Nighters open jam @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave.

9:30> FORQ @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~NYC Jazz; $

10> Yonge Kings @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W.

10> Ghostlight @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave. TO

10-2> The Sons of Jameson @ The Hideout, 423 College St. ~indie

*10:30> The LMT Connection @ Orbit Room, 580 College St. TO ~Funk/R&B; $10

416 – TORONTO EAST

*7:30-10:30> The BTBs @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. ~Jazz; 0$

8> acoustic jam with Gary LaRocca @ The Only Café, 972 Danforth Ave.

8-12> Bob Pelletier; Michael Sheen Cuddy; Sal Indigo @ Salty Dog, 1980 Queen St. E. ~songwriters

8:30-10:30> Civil Wray @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E. ~original Rock/Pop

9> to learn who played here in April check out their website calendar! @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave.

*9:30> open stage with Nicola Vaughan @ Black Swan Tavern (downstairs), 154 Danforth Ave.

416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE

8-1> Marshall Dane @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line  ~Rock/Top 40 covers

*9-1> open mic with Daniel Gagnon @ The Old Sod, 2936 Bloor St. W.

9-12> Space Jazz jam with singer Meagan Luchko & guitarist Kevin Bolger & band with weekly guest @ Placebo Space, 2877 Lake Shore Blvd. W. ~Jazz; $5/pwyc

416 – TORONTO WEST

5-8> Rob Davis Blues Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Jazz

*6:30-9> Carl Bray & guest @ Fat City Blues, 890 College St. ~solo piano

7> Confabulation’s “Strange Luck” tales of twists of fate @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W.  ~spoken word; $10

7-9> open mic with host Elspeth Tremblay @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W.

8> The Coe Hill Girls;  BackTrack featuring Marty Zatzman (at 9:30) @ Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen St. W. ~big horns Jazzy Soul/R&B; 0$

8> Mappe Of @ Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St. W. ~experimental Folk

8> Tonemirror; Nylon Otters; Filthy Gorgeous; Claivoyant @ Smiling Buddha (lower), 961 College St. ~indie; $

8> Frankie The Pig @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W.

8> Jesse Thomas; Sword & Seed @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W.  ~indie; $8

*8> MFA open mic @ Remix Lounge, 1305 Dundas St. W.

*8-11> Fraser/Daley @ Inter Steer, 357 Roncesvalles Ave. ~original Rootsy Blues

8:30> Teegan Johnston; FOONYAP; Alder & Ash @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave. ~songwriters; $10

**9-12> Blues Night with Julian Fauth & guests @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~original Juno-winning Blues

9> N//K; birdboy; Little Kid; Childs; Smiling Buddha @ Smiling Buddha (upper), 961 College St. ~indie; $

9> Mick McKenzie Band @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~~Rock/Top 40 covers; $10

9> Berman Billings Duo @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave.

*9:30> Spy vs Spy vs Spy @ Reposado, 136 Ossington Ave. ~Jazz; 0$

*10> Tanya Philipovich & Lucas Stagg @ The Hole In The Wall, 2867 Dundas St. W. ~original Roots/Blues

*10:30> Luke Vajsar @ Motel Bar, 1235 Queen St. W. ~Jazz

519

*8am-1pm> buskers @ Cambridge Farmers’ Market, 40 Dickson St., Cambridge

*6-9> Dano & Jaye @ Ray’s Bistro, 1475 Queen St. W., Alton ~smooth Pop/Jazz

7:30> Celtic Session @ Penny Whistle, 2 Quebec St., Guelph

8-12> acoustic jam @ Anaf Club 344, 32 Gordon St., Guelph

8> jam night with Ian Taylor @ Pops & Ruby’s Tap & Grill, 200 Preston Pkwy., Cambridge

8> John Lee & The Hookers hosts Blues jam @ Rhapsody Barrel Bar, 179 King St. W., Kitchener

8> Matt Weidinger Band @ Lancaster Smokehouse, 574 Lancaster St. W., Kitchener

*8-11> A New Ground @ Churchill Arms, 355 Erb St. W., Waterloo ~Celtic

8:30> Benny G @ Red Brick Café, 8 Douglas St., Guelph; pwyc

9> Tim Louis @ Kiwi Gastropub, 47 Dickson St., Cambridge

*10> Mike Todd @ The Duke, 33 Erb St., Waterloo

705

7> Our Lady Peace; River Town Saints; more for Peterborough Musicfest @ Del Crary Park, 92 George St. N., Peterborough

*7-11> open jam with The Freacon Band @ The Beacon, 146 45th St., Wasaga Beach ~ Blues, Jazz; $5

7> open mic with Nicholas and Friends @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

8> RocknRolla @ The Spill, 414 George St. N., Peterborough ~classic Rock

*8> open stage @ Dobro Restaurant, 287 George St. N., Peterborough

*8-11> Michael Bell @ The Lounge By Lignum, 442 George St. N., Peterborough

*9-12:30> Josh Morgan & Mike Francis @ Donaleigh’s Irish Public House, 28 Dunlop St. E., Barrie ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

9> Cody Watkins @ McThirsty’s Pin, 166 Charlotte St., Peterborough

10> Bryan McPherson; The Muddy Hack; The Garbage Hack @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough ~$8/pwyc

905 EAST

7> Linda Wright @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

*8> open stage and karaoke with Eddy Culjak @ Boston Pizza, 20 Taunton Rd., Whitby

*8-11> open mic @ Frank’s Pasta, 426 King St. E., Cobourg

*8-10:30> open mic jam with Marty Hepburn @ Ganaraska Hotel, 30 Ontario St., Port Hope

9> open mic @ The Moustache Club, 15 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

*10> Two For The Show @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~Pop Rock

*10> Emerson Ireland hosts open mic jam @ The Gryphon Pub, 114 Dundas St. E., Whitby

905 NORTH

*6-9> Tone Dogs @ Symposium Café, Georgetown, 235 Guelph St. ~Blues-Rock

*7> open mic night with Tanya Joy Senior @ Col. McGrady’s Pub, 44 Brock St. W., Uxbridge

*8-12> open mic with Kevin Ker @ Unionville Arms, 189 Main St., Unionville

8-12> jam with Rebelljo Band featuring Dave Girdlestone of Soul Funkshun on guitar @ Fionn MacCool’s Brampton, 11 Ray Lawson Blvd. Brampton

8> acoustic jam with Frank Logue @ Shepherd’s Crook, 86 Main St. S., Georgetown

*8:30-12:30> Jared Christopher Stafford @ Falcon & Firkin, 10300 Yonge St., Richmond Hill ~acoustic Pop covers & originals

*8:45> open mic jam with Matt Zady @ Magnums, 21 McMurchy Ave. N., Brampton

*9-1> open mic jam with Whiskey Birds @ Sweetz Lounge, 5289 Hwy 7, Woodbridge-Vaughan

*10-2> jam night with Switchbeat Trio @ Maguires, 284 Queen St. E., Brampton

905 SOUTH

12-1> Kyle Pacey Trio @ Gore Park, King St. E. at John St. S., Hamilton

7:30> open mic with Keith Toms @ Staircase Bistro, 27 Dundurn St. N., Hamilton

*7:30> open mic with Brant Parker @ Donnelley’s Pub, 54 Front St., Thorold ~eclectic

**8-1> Boogie N Blues jam with Ian Andrews & Friends @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton

8> Soul Daddy @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton ‑~Funk/R&B/Soul

8> Ambassadors of Rock ‘n’ Roll @ Rebel’s Rock, 537 King St. E., Hamilton ~Rock/Top 40 covers; $2

*8> Brad James @ Thirsty Cactus, 2 King St. E., Dundas ~Country

8> Terrie Petrie & band hosts Country Wednesdays @ Pub Fiction, 1242 Garner Rd. W., Ancaster ~Country

*8:30> Something Country @ The Endzone, 1900 King St. E., Hamilton ~Country

9> Singalong with Judy Marsales @ Coach & Lantern, 384 Wilson St E., Hamilton ~Rock/Top 40

9> open mic @ Gladstone Tavern, 1385 Main St. E., Hamilton

*9> open mic with Alfie Smith @ L’Etranger on James, 109 James St. N., Hamilton

*10> Jazz jam @ Cat N Fiddle Hamilton, 174 John St., S., Hamilton

10:30> Adam Cooke & Adam Ostrosser @ Gallagher’s Bar, 69 Augusta St., Hamilton

905 WEST

*4:30> Adam Cooke @ SB Prime, 380 Brant St., Burlington

*6-10> open mic with host Dan Walek @ Lucy’s Seafood Kitchen, 6905 Millcreek Dr., Mississauga

7> open mic with Gillian Nicola @ Copper Kettle Waterdown, 312 Dundas St. E., Waterdown

7> Rob Reed @ Max Resto Lounge, 2180 Itabashi Way, Burlington

8> jam with The Grindstones @ American House, 324 Dundas St. E., Waterdown

*8:30> The Carson Freeman Diversion with guest Tyler Yarema @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Jazz

9-1> Kevin Reid and the Dedbeats @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop; $

9-1> jam night @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville

*9> open mic with Michael Zane @ Shakers Oakville, 589 Kerr St., Oakville

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.

Copyright © 2017 Gary “17” Webb-Proctor & TorontoMoon.ca. All Rights Reserved