\ TO WEST \
It’s been about four or five years since I last visited small but notable food and music hangout Mezzrow’s in the heart of Parkdale, but on that occasion, as every time previously, I had a thoroughly enjoyable time with the artistic crowd and staff that populate the place and give it a unique charm.
Although the room apparently still only offers music rather sporadically —or if it does present shows with any regularity certainly does a good job of keeping it a secret— it has been doing so in one form or another since soon after it opened its doors 21 years ago, way before it was considered cool to be located on the now hip Queen Street “West West” strip.
When the room opened at 1546 Queen West, that strip between Roncesvalles and Lansdowne was, in fact, regarded as downright dangerous by many folks. But local artists and musicians (some of whom were the very people we were being warned about!) who had gravitated there to find affordable rents, knew better than that —as I had also already learned.
Mezzrow’s has never really been a music bar actually, although some pretty impressive performers have done their thing there over the years. I first became aware of it a few months after it opened —it first appeared on the west-end Club Map that was a feature of my to-nite magazine in Issue #055 in September of ’95, a few months after it opened— and for some time afterwards there were no music shows listed on our calendar. There were already then a lot of other very happening live music rooms nearby —places like Club OV’s, Links (now Cadillac Lounge), Rhinos (then a music room), The Gate, The Drake and two rooms at Bronco’s in the original Gladstone Hotel, so Mezzrow’s appeared to be designed more as a hangout for the players before and after work than as a performance space. Gatherings of that crowd on the back patio and late night sessions inside are the stuff of legends.
Mezzrow’s is a place that is the actual quintessence of cool —because it doesn’t act like it knows it’s cool, or at least certainly didn’t in the years that formed its personality. It was one of the very first little oases for the artsy crowd in the midst of a neighbourhood very much seen as the home of the downtrodden, but it never had that sort of snobbish vibe associated with so many “nice” places that open in “undesirable” areas hoping to “gentrify” them.
The live music that Mezzrow’s does offer has always embodied that locally connected attitude as well. Many of the talents who were regulars in the very beginning —people like Jazz singer Laura Hubert, keyboardists Peter Hill and Rich Roxborough, bagpipes/guitarist songwriter Grier Coppins and winds/brass blower Jim Bish— still perform there at least occasionally and notably have also consciously chosen career paths that keep them in touch with their roots and fans in the ‘hood.
Roxborough will definitely be there tonight sitting in with The Nomads, the Rock/Pop band featuring singer-guitarist Tony Paglia that will be presiding over the celebration of the milestone starting at 7 p.m. I’d expect Hubert and Hill to likely make an appearance as well and who knows who else will end up finding their way there to toast a place that, despite a relative dearth of live music, has been a key part of the Parkdale music community for a generation now.
-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca
SHOW LISTINGS for Thursday, May 19, 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.
ON AIR/ONLINE
10am> Kirk Felix live on Daytime TV with Kevin Jeffrey on bass, Darlene Sacks on cajon & Tom Gannon Hamilton on fiddle @ Rogers TV 10 (Richmond Hill) ~original Roots
416 – TORONTO CENTRAL
6> Corin Raymond @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Country/Roots Pop songwriter
6-8> Janet Whiteway @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $10/pwyc
6:30> Kevin Quain @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~moody Blues
*7> open mic with Derek Mok @ Kensington Lodge, 21 Kensington Ave., TO
*7:30-9:30> Bluegrass Thursdays with Houndstooth @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO
7:30> Franc’open mic @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. TO ~no cover
8> Shawn Brady & Herve Basset @ P.J. O’Brien, 39 Colborne St., TO ~acoustic Pop
*8-1> open mic with Alicia Porter @ The Local Gest, 424 Parliament St., TO
8> Eric & Carl @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO
8> Synsonic Duo @ Dominion Pub, 500 Queen St. E., TO ~cover Pop Rock
*8-12> Joe Bowden @ Nawlin’s, 299 King St. W. TO ~Blues
8:30-12:30> Kind Congo Powers @ Silver Dollar 486 Spadina Ave., TO ~indie; $
9-12> Hamish Patterson Band @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St., TO ~indie
8:30-11:30> Colin Hunter and The Anthony Terpstra Seventet @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~crooner Jazz; $
9> Terra; The Idahos; Chuckline Rider; FWNB; The Bandicoots @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; $5
*9-1> Blackburn @ Jo Mamas, 317 King St. W., TO ~Blues
9> Carlos Morgan & The Flow @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St., TO North ~Funk/R&B; $5
*9:30> jam with host band The Regulators @ College St. Bar, 574 College St., TO
9:30> Dixie Chicken @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~Little Feat tribute; $
9:30> Chicago’s Hans Luchs Trio @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $
*9:45> Mary McKay @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues; $
10> Long Range Hustle @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO
10> Chris Lord Ideal @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO ~Blues
10> Monk’s Music @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO
10> Mercuri Project @ Bier Markt Esplanade, 58 The Esplanade, TO ~Pop Rock
10> Astral Bell; CapitalC; Left By Snakes; West Coast Grey @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W., TO ~original Rock; $7
10> Island Riot @ Bier Markt King, 600 King St., West, TO ~Pop Rock
10:30> Scully & The Crossbones @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock
416 – TORONTO EAST
7-9> Geary Street Groove Band @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~instrumental Afro-Funk/Soul; no cover
8> Russ Macklem’s Quartet hosts Jazz jam @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East
*8:30-10:30> Jerry Leger & The Situation @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~Folk-Rock/Country
9> The Fabulous Rave featuring Tony Oldland on guitar @ Black Bear Pub, 1125 O’Connor Drive, TO East ~vintage 50s Rock/Jazz classics
*9:30> open jam @ Sportsters, 1430 Danforth Ave., TO East
*10-2> karaoke with Shane Taylor @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East
10:30> Grump @ Bier Markt Don Mills, 7 O’Neill Rd., TO East ~Pop Rock
416 - TORONTO ETOBICOKE
7:30> Amanda Tosoff Trio @ Old Mill Inn, 21 Old Mill Rd., Etobicoke ~Jazz; min table charge
9> Oakland Stroke @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Tower of Power tribute; $10
9> Morning Fame @ The Rockpile, 5555 Dundas St. W., Etobicoke ~$
*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
9:30> Fat Tony @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock
416 – TORONTO WEST
5-8> Concord Jazz Quintet @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz
7> Mezzrow’s 21st anniversary celebration with The Nomads; Rich Roxborough; more @ Mezzrow’s, 1546 Queen St. W., TO West ~eclectic; no cover
7-9> Kacy & Clayton with Yarrow and Shuyler @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~$10
7:30> Marisa De Oliveira @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W., TO West ~ Bossa Nova Jazz; $10
8:30> NEema album release; opener by Abigail Rachel Lapell @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~original Folk; $25
9> Vokurka Trio @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St., TO West ~virtuoso violinist; pwyc
*9-12> open mic night @ DeSoto’s, 1079 St. Clair Ave. W., TO West
9> Kirt Godwin @ The Roncy, 390 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~acoustic solo
*9-1:30> open stage with Jay Pennell @ Dave’s On St. Clair, 730 St. Clair West, TO West ~eclectic
9-12> Hello Darlings @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz
9> Sister Hyde; Moon Monger; Sleeping Lies; Al Reilly’s Catalyst @ The Tennessee, 1554 Queen St. W., TO West ~classic Rock
9> Bluegrass Double Feature with John Showman @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W., TO West
9> Special Costello; Lido Pimienta; Budi @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West ~$10
9> Peach Kelli Pop; Twist; Bueller @ Smiling Buddha, 961 College St., TO West ~indie
9> Angela Saini; The Responsables @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~indie Pop; $
9> Bonfire; Moonbaby; James Windsor @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West
9:30> The Mercenaries @ Fat City Blues, 890 College St., TO West ~retro Soul-Rock; $
10> Sun Parlour Players @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West
10> The St. Royals & guests @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Soul/Funk/R&B; $6
519
*7:30-12> open mic with K.M. Smith @ Molly Bloom’s Guelph, 91 Wyndham St. N., Guelph
7:30> Patrick Clarke @ Fionn MacCool’s Orangeville, 75 Fourth Ave., Orangeville ~Pop Rock
8> open mic night @ M&M Bar, 475 Main St., Cambridge
8> open mic with James Ketts @ Fionn MacCool’s Kitchener, 4287 King St. E., Kitchener ~Pop Rock
*8-11> open mic with Sandy MacDonald @ Williamsburg Arms, 1187 Fischer Hallman Rd., Kitchener
705
7-11> Jay Douglas @ Harbour Street Fish Bar, 10 Keith Ave., Collingwood ~Blues/R&B/Soul
*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
10> The Distillery; Emily Burgess; Brandon Humphrey @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough ~indie
905 - EAST
*5-8> Nelson Denis @ Frank’s Pasta, 42 King Street E., Cobourg ~eclectic mix (Folk, Jazz, soft Rock, Latin)
8-11> Fridaee @ 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
9> Joanne @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa
*9:30> jam with Billick @ Harp & Crown, 300 Kingston Rd., Pickering
*10> Karaoke with Rob MacArthur @ St. Louis Ajax, 11 Harwood Ave., Ajax
*10-1> open mic with Cheryl Styles @ Down Omer, 522 Ritson Rd., S., Oshawa
10> Bruce Longman & Friends @ 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
*7:30-11:30> jam with house band @ 52nd St. Tap & Grill, 30 Kennedy 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> Bianca Rollo @ Fionn MacCool’s Newmarket, 17315 Leslie St., Newmarket ~Pop Rock
905 – SOUTH
7-9> Hamilton Poetry Centre open reading @ Artword Artbar, 15 Colbourne St., Hamilton
*8> open mic (signup at 7) with Dave Gould @ Homegrown Hamilton, 27 King William St. Hamilton
8> Psychic Mirrors @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton
*9> LMT Connection @ Doc Magilligan’s Irish Pub, 6400 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls ~R&B/Funk
*9> open mic night with rotating hosts @ Coach & Lantern, 384 Wilson St E., Hamilton
9> Wheeler Pedler Fab open mic @ The Wellington Arms. 222 Cannon St. E., Hamilton
10> Strummers Union @ The Pheasant Plucker, 20 Augusta St., Hamilton
905 – WEST
*6-9> Ric Jacobs @ Ivy Bar, 3330 South Service Rd., Burlington
*7-11> James Anthony Band & guest Danny B @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington ~Blues
*8-12> jam hosted by The Personics @ Carrigan Arms, 2025 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington
*8> Salsa band @ The Franklin House, 263 Queen St. S., Streetsville ~Latin
*8> Celtic Night @ Fionn MacCool’s Burlington, 2331 Appleby Line
8:30> John Marlatt & Friends with Brian MacMillan, Adam Izsak, Mark Manteye & The Newbs @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St. Oakville ~$5
9> Brendon Gomez @ Fionn MacCool’s Clarkson, 970 Southdown Rd., Mississauga ~Pop Rock
9-1> Freedom Train @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop
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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