Kings and Crowns each offer shows worthy of royalty tonight
\ TO WEST / OAKVILLE \
When your line of work is emceeing a concert that includes performances by a raft of talented musicians and gifted writers, many of whom you’re already a fan, in a room laden with visual stimulation from displays by several local artists, you don’t feel too hard done by “having to work” on your birthday, as I will be doing tonight when I host and organize an open stage for the Holiday Arts Festival show [see previous story] taking place at TO’s Black Swan Tavern.
Still, part of me wishes I were free to celebrate by exploring the scene this evening, since two bands that always make anyone in their audiences feel they’re having a royally good time, utilizing two very different styles of music, will be taking to the stage in two very different clubs tonight.
I’ve seen both The Royal Crowns and The Kings perform live and while the one offers up a Rockabilly/a la Elvis-style of vintage-Rock and Country and the other a CanRock heritage and ongoing Pop Rock puissance second to none, both excel exquisitely at what they do.
It’s actually been a few years since I’ve caught drummer-singer/celebrity bartender Teddy Fury and his RC combo when they did a show at The Horseshoe for one of the Elvis nights. But I have no doubt they’ll bring that same high-energy magic to Dakota Tavern (which is kind of the “new Horseshoe” on the downtown club scene anyways, in my regard) tonight starting at 10. (There’s also a very lively open act 7-9 featuring unpredictable genre-smasher Ronley Teper and Her Lipliners, btw.) Cover at the club on Ossington Ave. at Dundas St. W. is $10 for the feature, uncertain for the openers.
I’d need a driver to take me to the other regal occasion that interests me tonight —but would happily engage one if I weren’t already committed elsewhere. I did just that to spend an entire evening in one place a year ago this month when The Kings did a rare club performance for the 10th anniversary highlight concert at Southside Johnny’s in Etobicoke and it’s a night that will live in happy memory for a long time.
Tonight the Hamilton-based groove group that brought us “Switchin’ To Glide/The Beat Goes On” in the 70s and that continues to write killer, catchy, dance-friendly Rock [still with Mr. Zero and David Diamond at the fore —check out their website!] will be, somewhat surprisingly to me, jamming their high-energy show into the cozy confines of the Moonshine Café in Oakville.
I can’t say enough about how much I love this band and especially the material that they’ve released in this century, starting with the brilliant Because Of You album that contains several songs that easily would have hit the Top Ten if the world were still driven by hit-radio instead of bean-counting robot-hatchers intent on creating so many new musical genres (in order to artificially create more “number ones”) that nobody has any clue about what’s any good anymore.
(Hey, I’m 64 now —I’m officially allowed an occasional rant about the “good ol’ days”!)
Moonshine (which also has an afternoon open stage most Saturdays if you’re already in the area of Kerr St. in the burg’s downtown area close to the lake), while known more for its Roots music, actually does bring in a wide range of musical acts in keeping with owner John Marlatt’s own eclectic taste. But The Kings? This is a full-on Rock ‘n’ Roll dance party people —and the cover is just $10!
Our show at the Swan starts at 7 (doors at 6) and while there won’t be time for me to get to either of these other magnificent presentations (since the open stage I’ll be hosting after the scheduled acts finish at 10:30ish could go late), if you have a speedy vehicle and a yen for great entertainment you could actually come by and say hi to me and the gang, zip out to Moonshine for a raft of great songs and be back at Dakota for the final set no problem! It’s the sort of thing I’ve been known to do in my time —anyone else out there got the cojones to make that circuit? I’ll expect a full report if you do!
-Gary 64, www.torontomoon.ca
SHOW LISTINGS for Saturday, November 22, 2021:
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, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.
*8:30-9:30 am> “Radio Kids” radio show with host Misty Blue @ chmr.ca ~children’s music
*9:30-10:30 am> “St. John’s Infirmary” radio show with host Misty Blue @ chmr.ca ~Folk/Blues/Soul/R&B
*12-3> Julian Fauth’s Blues Brunch @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Blues
*12-3> Danny Marks & friends @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz
12:30-2:30> Melanie Peterson @ Humble Beginnings, 3109 Dundas St. W., TO West ~acoustic Pop
1-4> Songbird Sessions with host Mary Stewart & Jason Ball; Lacey Wilson; tba @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~songwriters in the round
*2-5> Dr. B’s Acoustic Medicine Show open stage with host Brian Gladstone @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. TO ~Roots; pwyc
*2-6> open mic @ MacKenzie’s High Park, 1982 Bloor St. W., TO West
**2-6> Reba’s open mic with host tba @ MacKenzie’s Annex, 469 Bloor St. W., TO
*2-6> jam w. Tom Finocchio @ Sam’s Place, Barton-Chestnut Sts., Hamilton
**2-6> Saturday Blues Sermon with James Anthony & special guest Bill Pawley @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington ~Blues
*3-6> Danny B’s House Party Band feat. Michael Keys on piano @ Blue Goose, 1 Blue Goose St., Etobicoke South ~R&B/Pop
*3-7> jam with Michelle Deneault & Redder @ Port Credit Legion, 35 Front St., Port Credit
3> Ever Lovin’ Jug Band @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO ~jug band music; $
3> Sue & Dwight @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Folk
3> Jamzac @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO
*3-7> open stage jam @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville; $2
3:30> Laura Hubert Band feat. Peter Hill on keys @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz-Pop with punch
*3:30-6> Johnny Wright @ Outriggers, 2232 Queen St. E., TO East ~R&B
*3:30-6:30> Climax Jazz Band @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Road, TO North ~Jazz; $
3:30> Joel Haynes Quartet @ The Pilot, 22 Cumberland St., TO ~Jazz
*4-8> The Bear Band & guests @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W. Etobicoke South ~Rock-R&B
*4-7:30> Ronnie Hayward Trio @ McQueen’s, 993 Queen St. E., TO E. ~Blues/Roots
*4-8> The Meteors with guest Marshall Dane @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Blues/Rock/R&B
4-7> Jeff Oussoren @ Bar Radio, 615 College St., TO
4-8> Elyse Saunders & James Burton @ Lake Affect, 1 Port St., Port Credit
*4> Susan Latimer @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St., Oshawa ~Roots songwriter
*4:30-6:30> Big Rude Jake @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~Blues/Roots
**5-8> Bill Heffernan & Friends featuring guests Grier Coppins (of Taxi Chain) & The Highland Brothers @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. TO West –Rootsy Pop
5-8> David Meenan @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Irish Roots
5> Rick & Gailie @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough
6-1> Holiday Arts Festival of Music, Words & Art hosted by Gary 17 & featuring performances by Pete Otis; Mike Bar; Harpin’ Norm Lucien; Nicole Coward; many more + poetry readings, art displays @ Black Swan Tavern, 154 Danforth Ave., TO East; $5
6-8> Jean on Gene @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO
6:30> Scott B. Sympathy @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Rootsabilly
7-9> C & C Surf Factory + Ronley Teper’s Lipliners @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~indie
7> The Bacchus Collective @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~ Jazz
8> Mike Hines & Friends @ The Feathers, 962 Kingston Rd., TO East ~Pop
8> Whitney Rose @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO
8> Sandro Perry @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO
8> Go Freddy Go @ Eton House, 710 Danforth Ave., TO East ~vintage Rock ‘n’ Roll
8-12> Kim Erin Band @ Lake Affect, 1 Port St., Port Credit
8-12> The Kings @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~Can-Rock icons; $10
8-10> Nika Klimash @ The Red Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
8:30> Stan Rogers tribute (night 2 of 2) with Paul Mills; Dave Gunning; Dan McKinnon; Ariel Rogers; Crabree & Mills; Beth Rogers; Ian Robb @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Roots; $27.50
*9-1> karaoke with Rob MacArthur @ Tudor Rose, 700 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax
9-1> Fraser Daley @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd., Scarborough ~acoustic Roots-Blues
9-1> Jazz Forge @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~ Jazz
9> tba @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West
9> Sarah MacRae @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO ~songwriter; $
9> Molly’s Chamber @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd., Etobicoke South ~Rock/Pop
9> Steel City @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country
9-1> Eric Lambier @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa ~Elton John style Blues/Pop
**9> Niagara Rhythm Section @ The Old Winery, 2228 Niagara Stone Rd., Niagara-On-The-Lake ~R&B/Blues
9:30> Crush @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Bon Jovi tribute; $7 adv., $15 door
9:30-11:30> Bill Wood & The Woodies @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~original Roots-Rock feat. Chris Bennett
*9:30-2> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ Winners, 2181 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough
9:30> Danny’s 11 @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Road, TO North
9:30> aBabe Music presents Winnie Brave; TCB; Splice’t @ The Paddock, 178 Bathurst St., TO ~indie; $5
9:30> Lady Kane @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St., TO North ~Funk/Soul/R&B
9:30> Kenny V @ Stone Cottage Pub, 3750 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock
9:30> United Soul Nations @ Timothy’s Pub 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock/Top 40
9:30> Ernie G @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock/Top 40
9:30> Silk Tonic @ Jake’s Boathouse Brampton, 59 First Gulf Rd., Brampton ~Pop Rock
9:30> BNL Duo featuring Kevin & Miguel @ Sixth Line Pub, 1500 Sixth Line, Oakville
9:30> Rhythm Works @ Gator Ted’s, 1505 Guelph Line, Burlington
9:30> Rob Phillips Band @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough
9:45> Ross Woolridge Sextet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Artie Shaw/Gramercy tribute
*9:45> Tyler Yarema & His Rhythm @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues
10-2> Mena Hardy Band @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W. Etobicoke South ~Southern Rock
10> The LMT Connection @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~Funk/Soul/R&B
10> Park Eddy @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO ~Rock/Soul
10> David Baxter @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Rootsabilly
10-2> The Royal Crowns @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West
10-2> Tavares Quintet @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 36 Kingston Rd. E., Ajax ~Pop Rock
10-2> Hot Rocks @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Stones tribute; $
10:30> Big Otter Creek @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Country
10:30> Toney Deaf @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington ~Pop Rock
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