\ TORONTO WEST \

For some reason the Fates have decided that I should revisit some of my past this week, it seems.

[Maybe it has something to do with my attempt to get the Musical Legacies Online Museum project off the ground —so far there’s seemed to be no interest, but I do believe that’s going to change soon as I continue to pursue that vision throughout March.]

Yesterday I told you about my earliest excursions out into Durham Region 15 years ago. And it seems that tonight I’m once again being invited to time travel back a decade and a half as I recall some of the experiences and stories that arose out a friendly neighbourhood eatery at 1554 Queen West in the heart of Parkdale back before it was yet truly hip to hang out there.

I’m talking about the ol’ Tennessee Tavern, which for a while, starting in the early spring of 2000, began bringing in bands to liven things up. Owner Angelo was offering live shows three nights a week at one point, including features by stellar acts like the Paul James Band.

For a time there I was visiting the place at least once a week. The food was awesome, prices great and the stage setup gradually evolved to become pretty decent.

It was a fairly short-lived burst of fun, however, and music was canned after a year or so. By 2004, when new smoking rules went into effect Angelo had had enough and sold the club, leading to the birth of Mitzi’s Sister, which remained there for about ten years, and offered some great music before closing a year or so ago.

So guess what the new owners (I’m assuming they’re new, but there’s no phone number listed on their Facebook page to call them at to ask) of the place decided to call it? Tennessee!

 

And live music is definitely on the menu at “Tennessee.2” it would appear. There’s a fundraiser concert happening Saturday and tonight there’s a multi-act showcase of local indie talents that includes two acts I’m already a big fan of.

I’m not sure of the order of the acts for the 9 p.m. show, but it appears it will be kicked off by indie Pop outfit Giraffe, followed by captivating duo NorthStar featuring Nelson Sobral & Shikha Sehgal, then Iliya Vee’s awesome indie Pop band The Dreadful Starlings and wrapped by 5-piece Rock outfit Subject To Change.

 

NorthStar won my heart when I heard them at an open stage a year ago —Sehgal’s sultry, innovative vocals on classic tunes plus her hypnotic originals are entrancing and Sobral’s guitar keeps you spinning along with them. The Starlings like bright shiny things —like Vee’s Pop songs that burst and bop but carry messages you need to hear.

No mention is made of a cover on the show’s event page but I’d imagine you’d be expected to chip in something to keep these deserving talents able to eat and afford a beer or two.

Tomorrow’s blast from the past: the return of Dee Flat to Scarborough!

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Friday, March 06, 2022:

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

*3-7> acoustic jam with John Hutt @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave., TO

*4-6> Hogtown Syncopators featuring Terra Hazelton @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

*5-8> Kensington Kitchen Party with host Kevin Jollimore of Sin City Boys & guest musicians @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO ~Pop Rock with heart

*5-7> open mic with The Foolish Things @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~original Pop

5-7> The Straight 8s @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East

5-8> Fraser Melvin Blues Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Blues

5:30> Rick & Gailie @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

6> David Celia @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Pop

*6-9> Hailee Rose Duo @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~acoustic Pop Rock

6:30> Lester McLean Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

6:30> Ryerson Community Theatre Showcase @ Tranzac Club (Main Hall), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

8> Patrick Brealey @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen Street West, TO

8-12> Ugly Horse @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St., Oshawa

8:30> Chris Blachford & Nicole Dionne; Yolanda Ho; Brydan Smith @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~songwriters; $6

8:30> Anthony Gomes @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Blues

8:30> Stickmen @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

8:30> David Celia solo @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~indie Pop; $10

9> Dunn featuring Dee Flat @ West Hill Tavern, 155 St. Paul Crescent, St. Catharines ~Rock/Top 40

9> Giraffe, NorthStar featuring Nelson Sobral & Shikha Sehgal; The Dreadful Starlings featuring Iliya Vee; Subject To Change @ Tennessee,, 1554 Queen St. West, TO West ~indie Pop Rock

9-1> Fraser Melvin Blues Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Blues

Q> Want to know who was playing at Dora Keogh in January? Check out their website!

9> The Tonkas @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Rock ‘n’ Roll

9> Flashback @ Eton House, 710 Danforth Ave., TO East ~70s & 80s Pop Rock

9> The Twangsters @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd., Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9> G String @ Maple Leaf House, 2749 Lakeshore Boulevard East, Etobicoke ~Rock/Top 40/Blues

9> Jevon Rudder @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country

9> Pat Hewitt @ Blarney’s Gate, 1151 Dundas St. W., Mississauga ~Rock/Pop

9-1> Escape @ Oscar’s Roadhouse, 1785 Queen St. E., Brampton ~Top 40/Rock

9> Connie Scriver Band @ King Richard’s Pub, 15570 Yonge St., Aurora ~Pop Rock

9:30> Subsolo @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~$4

*9:30> David Macmichael & Dean McKinnon @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~alt Pop originals and covers

9:30> The David Love Band also featuring Darrell McNeill @ The Endzone, 1900 King St. E., Hamilton ~melodic 60s Pop Rock

9:30> Tommy Rocker Classic Rock Band @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave., Scarborough ~classic Rock/Top 40

9:30> Kimberley & Co. featuring Dave Girdlestone of Soul Funshun @ Gator Ted’s, 1505 Guelph Line, Burlington ~Pop Rock

9:30> 24^th Street Wailers @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Blues; $5

9:30-12:30> Biopic; Snaggle; Cityscape @ Cameron House (rear), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~indie

9:30> Never Mind @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Rd., TO North; $

9:30> Nine Times Band @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St., TO North ~Funk/Soul/R&B; $10

9:30> Greg Williams Band @ The Duke Live, 1225 Queen St. E., TO East ~Pop Rock

9:30> City Soul @ Stone Cottage Pub, 3750 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock

9:30> Kenny V @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9:30> Orangeman @ Jake’s Boathouse Brampton, 59 First Gulf Rd., Brampton ~Pop Rock

*9:30> open mic @ Big Daddy’s, 460 Elgin Mills Rd., E, Richmond Hill

9:30> Miltown Rats @ Shakers, 580 Kerr St., Oakville ~Pop Rock

9:30> Rocket 88 @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington ~R&B/Rock/Blues

9:45> Joe Harrison Quartet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~NYC Jazz Jazz

9:45> Dee Dee & The Dirty Martinis @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues

10-2> Cameltoe @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South ~classic Rock

10> karaoke with Randy Petrie @ Kramers, 1915 Yonge St., TO North

10> Dave Murphy Band @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~Rock/Funk/R&B

10> Kayla Howran @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen Street West, TO ~Country

10-2> Doghouse Rose @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO W.

10> Alun Piggins @ The Press Club, 850 Dundas St. W., TO ~Roots-Rock

10> Mark Fedak & guests @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10-2> Skip Tracer @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock/Top 40; $

10-2> Mena Hardy @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 36 Kingston Rd., E., Ajax ~Southern Rock

10-2> GODDO with openers Aerosol X @ Whisky John’s, 843 King St. W., Oshawa ~Can Rock icons; $20+

10> Manitoba Hal @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough ~ukulele Blues

10:30> Ruby’s Revenge @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

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