Memorial for enigmatic musician Garry O’Keefe this afternoon

\ TORONTO EAST \

I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one on the east-Toronto music scene who felt like he never really knew guitarist, singer and songwriter Garry O’Keefe all that well. And when he passed away on August 26 at 60 years of age, what few details were available even weeks later were sketchy and obtained from unreliable sources.

A fixture at various east TO clubs over the past 20 or so years that I’m aware of, and longtime musical partner of Roots songwriter John Wilks (with whom he co-authored many tunes), O’Keefe seemed to wear a kind of protective armour around him in the fringed leather or battered denim jackets and Stetson hat that, along with his neatly-brushed long, white hair, were his visual trademark.

Not that he was unfriendly, but his sometimes dour countenance —so remarkably contradicted by supple, almost magical mastery of the guitar fretboard and beautiful Pop and Country harmonies—seemed to suggest he didn’t suffer fools gladly and maybe I was just never sure I’d pass the test.

Garry was always pleasant to me and provided me, along with countless others, with many, many hours of solidly rich musical entertainment. He came out to several of my open stages with John and occasionally did solo numbers. The last time I saw him was last year when he was performing solo in an empty room next to the washrooms in the basement of the Grover Exchange on Kingston Road while a Beaches Blues show was taking place on the main floor. Unperturbed by the imbalance of attention, he simply gave me a little nod as he continued to make fine tuneage, oblivious to the lack of audience.

Perhaps we’ll find out more about the man inside the leather armour today at a 3-9 memorial show (the follow-up to an earlier one elsewhere last Sunday) at Melange eatery at 172 Main St. at the corner of Gerrard St. E. near the Danforth GO and Main St. subway stations.

-Gary 17, www.torontomoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Sunday, September 21, 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.

11-2> Brickhouse Trio @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. TO East ~Jazz

11am-2pm> Kiki’s Klezmeer Trio for Jazz Brunch @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO

*11am-3pm> Rockabilly Brunch with The Cosmotones @ Dominion On Queen, 500 Queen St. E., TO ~Rockabilly

*12-3> Julian Fauth’s Blues Brunch @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Blues

noon> Excelsior Dixieland Jazz Band @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

1> Quebecois Jam @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

1-4:30> York Region Fingerstyle Guitar Association open mic @ The Cornerhouse, 6403 Main St., Stouffville

*2-5> acoustic jam with host Bill Black @ The Working Dog Saloon, 3676 St. Clair Ave. E., Scarborough

*3-6> open mic with Nicola Vaughan @ Hirut, 2050 Danforth Ave., TO East

3-9> Celebration of Life for Garry O’Keefe with various musicians, photos, etc. @ Melange, 172 Main St., TO East

3-Alaniaris @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Jazz

*3-7> open mic @ Moskito + Bite, 423 College St. TO

3> Jack de Keyzer album release for Voodoo Boogie @ Monarchs Pub, Eaton Chelsea Hotel, 33 Gerrard St. W., TO ~Blues; $25

3> Woodhead, Cohen & Wilde @ C’est What, 69 Front St. E., TO ~Roots; $

*3-6> Michael Brennan @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St. TO ~East Coast Rock/Blues Roots

*3-7> jam at CJ Barleys, 213 The Queensway, Keswick

3> Mercey Steelwood @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

3:30-6:30> Dr. Nick & The Rollercoasters @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

*4-8> Michael Theodore 4-piece @ The Irish Shebeen, 5555 Eglinton Ave. W., Etobicoke North ~Pop

4-8> Phil & John featuring Phil Naro @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd., Etobicoke South

4-7> Trent Severn @ Castro’s Lounge, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East

*4:30-8> New Orleans Connection All Stars & guests @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO ~New Orleans Jazz

4> tba @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa ~Jazz

*4:30-8> Chuck Jackson’s All Stars @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Blues

*5-9> All ages open jam with Juggernaut Jam Band featuring Andy Narsingh & guest Nicholas Walsh of Famous Underground @ West Shore Bar & Grill, 877 Bayly St., Pickering

5-9> David Love Band also featuring Darrell McNeill @ Lake Affect, 1 Port St., Port Credit ~60s Pop Rock

**5-8> John Borra & Sam Ferrara w. guest @ The Communist’s Daughter, 1149 Dundas St. W. TO West ~Country

*5-9> Robbie Lane & The Disciples @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Road, TO North ~vintage Rock/R&B; $10

5> Danny B Blues Band @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke ~Blues

5-9> The Telstars RocknRoll Band @ Legends On The Queensway, 1184 The Queensway, Etobicoke South ~vintage Rock/R&B; $5

5-8> Sarah Jane Scouten @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West

5> Monk’s Music @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

5-8> Peter Kauffman Jazz Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

**5-8> The Stew @ Mulligan’s, 2458 Dundas St. W., Mississauga ~R&B/Rock

*5:30-8> TBA @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave, TO East ~electric guitar Blues

*6-10> jam with Kerry Kalli & Jenn LadyEvil & Tommy Rocker @ Fox & Crown, 646 Danforth Rd., Scarborough

*7-1> open stage with hosts Steve York & Tony Rabalao (2 songs each -signup @ 7 or pre-sign online) @ The Supermarket, 268 Augusta St., TO

*7-11> Karaoke with Rob MacArthur @ The Edge, 250 Bayly St. W., Ajax

7-10> Magical Evening with Canadian Authors featuring various poets reading original material and passages from the work of Nik Beat @ Windup Bird Café, 382 College St., TO ~spoken word

7> Pat Temple @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

*7-9:30> Hat & Beard @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~tribute to Thelonius Monk

*7-11> open jam @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave., Scarborough

**7-11> The Nomads @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit

7> jam @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville;

*7> open jam @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington

*7> open mic with Randy Hill @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

7:30> The Boxcar Boys @ Tranzac Club (Main Hall), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

7:30> Diane Roblin Presents feat. Heather Segger; Howard Spring; Bob Vepaziani @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

8> Zack Werner’s Canadian Idol School Showcase with various performers @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~$5

*8:30-12:30> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ Gryphon Pub, 114 Dundas St. E., Whitby

9-1> Brown-Talksy Jazz Quintet @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

9> Los Cabelleros del Son @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Cuban traditional

9-1> Sean Pinchin @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Blues

9> tba @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa ~Jazz

*9-1> jam with Mike Roland and Lenny Vaccari @ Stewart Maguires Landing, 15 Allan Dr., Bolton

*9-1> jam @ Ivy Arms Pub, 201 Main Street East, Milton

*9:30-1> jam with the Stir It Up Band featuring Bryan Van Dusen & David Macmichael @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East

*9:30-1:30> jam with Rebecca Matiesen & Phoenix @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South

9:45> Jay Boehmer Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

*10> Horshack feat. Chris Caddell @ Orbit Room, 580 College St., TO ~Bluesy contemporary & classic Rock

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

10> The Mercenaries @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~big brass Funk

*10> open mic/jam hosted by Phill Hood (with backline avail.) @ The Cage 292, 292 College St., TO

10> The Doublecuts @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Country Swing

**10> Blues jam with Brian Cober, Bill Hedefine & guest bassist @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO

*10> jam with Groovestone feat. Dale Harrison @ Scruffy Murphy’s Uptown, 150 Eglinton Ave. E., TO North

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

*10:30> The Bleeding Idahos @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington ~contemporary & classic Pop Rock

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