By Mike Beggs for TorontoMoon.ca
\ TO WEST \
On The Perlich Post’s web site, there’s a great pic’ of songwriter Steve Poltz eagerly flipping through vinyl in a Toronto record store. And that’s all you need to know about this self-described “washed-up Punk/dead ringer for a folksinger” who closes out a two-night stand at Dakota Tavern tonight. At 59, he’s still doing 200 —usually sold out— solo gigs a year, spanning the globe like ABC’s “Wide World of Sports”.
Here’s a fearless performer —coming up with a tune about hot dogs off the cuff one minute, then sharing inner most feelings about his sister’s cancer condition the next.
He leads the audience through some exhausting highs and lows, between ballads like “Everything About You” (the prettiest meditation on a girl ever), larks like the new “Ballin’ On A Wednesday”, and a cover of the Richard Thompson gem “1952 Vincent Black Lightning” (which requires no small dexterity to pick).
For the uninitiated, “Poltzy” was born and raised a Haligonian, until the day his dad declared “Enough” of Canadian winters, loaded up the truck and moved the family to Palm Springs. A Poli Sci grad from U San Diego, he fronted campus favourites The Rugburns for a decade, known for such titles as “SkyfuckinglineofToronto”. Then came his three-year shack-up with Jewel, which yielded a co-write of her monster international hit “You Were Meant For Me” followed by his lauded 1998 major label debut “One Left Shoe” on Mercury Records.
The now-Stetsoned Poltz was named San Diego’s “Most Influential Artist of the Nineties,” but has since diverted down an indie path for a dozen albums, featuring his, “rockin’ countrified Folk slices of sardonic Americana”.
He recently moved to Nashville, and recorded the new disc Shine On with producer Will Kimbrough (Rodney Crowell, Emmy Lou Harris). The result is further lunacy such as “The Windows Of Halifax” (where said windows talk to each other), and “Fistfight At A Vegan Brunch” balanced out by the title track’s wish for humanity.
While having bought a house in Music City with his girlfriend Sharon, the long-time sober, yoga-practising Poltz seems content crisscrossing North America in his van, gigging, writing tunes, and marveling over the world’s minutiae. Over the years, he has shared bills with many of your Dylans, and Cougar Mellencamps. But fuck the namedropping. He’s a tragicomedian of the highest order —and one of the headliners at Mariposa this summer.
So tonight’s $30 at the door represents solid value. And the show is being presented in the convenient 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. early slot in the room at 249 Ossington Ave.,
-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca
[email protected] * [email protected]
SHOW LISTINGS for Thursday, May 09, 2022
Listings are organized by area in which the shows occur and within each area field shows are listed chronologically. For KEY to listings codes and schemata see note at end of shows list.
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ONLINE / ON AIR
9-10am> “The Bill King Show” with host Bill King & guests @ CIUT 89.5 FM or online anytime at https://www.mixcloud.com/
Noon-2> Blues on Rock Radio UK with Carolyn Fe
1> “Liquid Lunch” with Hugh Reilly @ www.thatchannel.com ~songwriter interviews & performances
3-7> Julian Taylor hosts @ 106.5 ELMNT FM in Toronto & www.elemntfm.ca ~eclectic music 25% indigenous, 35% CanCon
8> Ken Wallis show with tracks and interviews @ www.bluesandrootsradio.com
10> “Under The Radar” with Stevie Connor @ www.BluesandRootsRadio.com
416 – TORONTO CENTRAL – Broadview/Bayview to Ossington
4-8> Danny Blue; Rob Minderman @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave. ~songwriters; $0
5> Ekkagaro @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick St. ~Blues harmonica
*5-9> open jam @ Steve’s Music, 415 Queen St. W.
6> David Baxter @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W. ~original Country/alt-Country
6-1> Jessie T; Jayde; Kelley Hunt; Dylan Wallace; Augusta Ray; Charissa; Abby J Hall@ 120 Diner, 120 Church St. ~eclectic indie; $10-20/pwyc
6-9> Tony Paglia @ Tundra Restaurant in Hilton Hotel, 145 Richmond St. W. ~smooth Rock/Pop
6:30> Kevin Quain @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~moody Blues; $
*6:30-9:30> Serge Nikol & Etrick Lyons @ Casa Fuego, 230 Adelaide St. W. ~Jazz
*7> Alan Hetherington & Marco Tulio Costa @ Lisbon By Night, 802 Dundas St. W. ~Brazilian music
7> Kongos; Gabrielle Shonk; The Darcys; Parker Bossley; The Man Who @ Mod Club, 722 College St. ~contemporary original; $10
7-10> open mic @ Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas St. E.
7> Kevin Garrett; Teen; Clavvs @ Radio/Adelaide Hall, 250 Adelaide St. W. ~contemporary original; $10
7> The Gazette @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 190 Princes’ Blvd. ~contemporary original; $
*7:30-9:30> Bluegrass Thursdays with Houndstooth @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave.
7:30> Blanks; The Fame; Gone Sugar Die; The Death Set; The King Khan & BBQ Show @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W. ~indie; $10?
7:30> Blanks; The Fame; Gone Sugar Die; The Death Set; The King Khan & BBQ Show @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W. ~indie; $10?
7:30> Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra @ Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. ~Classical; $
8> Blisk; Okan; Dovira; Dagadana; Big Smoke Brass @ Drom Taberna, 458 Queen St. W. ~eclectic indie; $10
*8-12> Joe Bowden’s Nothin’ But The Blues @ N’awlin’s, 299 King St. W. ~Blues
8-12> Hooded Fang; Luge; Body Lens; Nikkie Fierce @ Monarch Tavern, 12 Clinton St. ~eclectic indie; $10
8> Black Mountain; more @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W. ~contemporary original; $
8> Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass;’ Christine Jakel; Matt Zaddy; Cal Trask; Little Coyote; Black Note Graffiti @ Cameron House (rear), 408 Queen St. W. ~eclectic indie; $10
8> Rogue Tenant; Alister Johnson Band; Tush; The Soul Motivators; The Brooks @ Supermarket, 268 August Ave. ~eclectic indie; $10
8> Sweet and Lowdown; The Castor Troys; Hatakaze; Morfeo; Material Girls; The High Dials @ Bovine Sex Club, 542 Queen St. W. ~eclectic indie; $10
8> Dre Ngozi; Awwz; Nino Brown; Ribamba @ Velvet Underground, 508 Queen St. W. ~contemporary original; $10
8> Lee Watson; Natalie Lynn; Kalle Mattson; Jim Bryson; Royal Castles; Oh Geronimo @ Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W. ~indie; $10
8-12> Marie Barron; Pickford; Kaygeni; Nicole Jaskot @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St. ~indie; $
8:30> Chihiro & The Classy Notes @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. ~acoustic Pop covers & originals
8:30> James Barker Band; Emily Reid @ Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St. ~contemporary original; $
9> Chris Lord Band featuring Rob Minderman @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave. ~original Blues; $0
8> Brighter Green; Dizzy Mystics; Anela & The Early Hours; SUNDIVER; Her Brothers; The 427’s @ Cherry Cola’s, 200 Bathurst St. ~eclectic indie; $10
9> Jim Junior; Maddee; Birthday Boy @ Handlebar, 159 Augusta Ave. ~electronica/experimental sounds; $
9> Harlequin Gold; Kind Cardiac @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W.
9-11:30> Armenia Meets Cuba @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. ~~Worldbeat Jazz; $
*9-1> Blackburn @ Jo Mamas, 317 King St. W. ~Blues
9:30> Kirk MacDonald Quartet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $
*9:45> Stacey Kaniuk @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E. ~Jazz/Blues/Pop; $
10> Don River Blues Band @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave. ~Blues-Rock; $0
10> Collette Savard and The Savants @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave.
*10> open mic with Donavon Lenabat & Jamie Bird @ Scalywags, 11 St. Clair Ave. W.
10:30> Jordan John Band @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. ~Funk/R&B/Soul; $
416 – TORONTO EAST – Broadview/Bayview to Victoria Park
7-9:30> John Wayne Swingtet featuring Abbey Sholzberg on bass @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. ~Gypsy Jazz; 0$
7-9> open mic with Holly Clausius @ Grinder Coffee, 1021 Gerrard St. E.
*7-9> Wordspeak Jam Slam with Carolyn Thompson @ Vocal Euphoria, 10 Dawes Rd. ~spoken word open mic/instruction; $
7> The Dandy Warhols; Cosmonauts @ The Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave. ~contemporary original; $
7:30> IAMX @ Opera House, 735 Queen St. E.
8> “Bright Light Big City” @ Hirut Café, 2050 Danforth Ave. ~spoken word poetry readings
8-10> Jazz open stage with Artie Roth & Steve Koven @ Sauce, 1376 Danforth Ave.
8> Red Clay Rebels @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave.
*8:30-10:30> Craig Robertson @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E. ~Roots-Rock
*9-12> open mic/jam @ The Rusty Nail, 2200 Danforth Ave.
9> open mic with Brad Cooper @ Originals, 1660 Bayview Ave.
9:30> open mic with Noble @ Caribbean Sunset, 753 Queen St. E.
*9:30> open jam with host Kar Wong @ Sportsters, 1430 Danforth Ave.
*10-2> karaoke with Shane Taylor @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave.
416 - TORONTO ETOBICOKE
*6-10> Danny Mann @ The Irish Shebeen, 5555 Eglinton Ave. ~acoustic Pop covers & originals
7:30> Worst Pop Band Ever @ Old Mill Inn (Home Smith Bar), 21 Old Mill Rd. ~Jazz; ; $0 (min table charge)
8> Kimberley Wetmore Band @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line ~Blues/R&B/Rock
8> Sandman & friends @ The Rockpile, 5555 Dundas St. W. ~tribute to Metallica; $0
9:30> Bryan Tyrell @ The Old Sod, 2936 Bloor St. W. ~Pop
*10-2> Skip Tracer @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. ~Rock/Pop
416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH
9:30> Harvest featuring Dan Walek @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd. ~Rock/Top 40 covers
416 – TORONTO WEST – Ossington to Etobicoke
6-9> Steve Poltz (album release for Shine) @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~songwriter; $
6 (2nd show at 9)> Jadea Kelly (recording release for MWI ep ) @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W.
6> The Sonny Balcones @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. ~Jazz; pwyc
7> Carlos Morgan @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W. ~Blues/R&B
7> Blankscreen; Sorry; Living Hour; Art D’Ecco; Absolutely Free; Sauna @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. ~contemporary original; $
7> Bright Light Social Hour; Walker Lukens@ The Great Hall, 1087 Queen St. W. ~indie; $10
8> Julia Cleveland @ Bluebird Bar, 2072 Dundas St. W. ~songwriters
7> Bex and The Disappointment; Carbonated; Paper Parachutes; Gelax @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W. ~eclectic indie; $
8-1> April Aileen; Michelle Claveri; David Chiupka; 0Stella; Andrews Cassara @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave. ~eclectic indie; $10
8:15> Blues jam with Paul Jones @ Café Embargo, 1521 Queen St. W.
8:30> Martyn Joseph @ Hugh’s Room Live, 2261 Dundas St. W. ~songwriter; $30
9> Jadea Kelly (recording release for MWI ep ) @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W.
9> The Black Fever; The Bae Beach Club; Autopilot; Wild Mercury @ The Baby G, 1608 Dundas St. W.
*9-12> open mic night with Anthony Abbatangeli @ DeSoto’s, 1079 St. Clair Ave. W.
*9-1:30> open stage with Jay Pennell @ Dave’s On St. Clair, 730 St. Clair West ~eclectic
9> Alluvial Plain @ 3030 Dundas West, 3030 Dundas St. W. ~original Jazz; $
9> Kalyna Rakel @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave. ~songwriter
9> Témi, Dep BCS and Kiana@ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W. ~Latin; $15-20
9:30> Bossa Tres @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. ~Jazz; pwyc
10> Little Magic Sam @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave. ~Blues-Rock
10> Alain Richer @ Alchemy, 890 College St. ~Jazz
x
519 EAST -Guelph, K-W & vicinity
6-9> Anthony Schmanthony @ Sip Club, 91 Wyndham St. N., Guelph ~acoustic Pop covers & originals
6-10> Robert Lee Duo @ Manhattan’s, 941 Gordon St., Guelph ~original Jazz
6> Dave Menard @ Strykerz Kitchen, 120 Ottawa St. N., Kitchener
*6> acoustic jam with Dave Pike @ TWB Co-operative Brewing, 300 Mill St., Kitchener
*7> open stage with Paul and Sue @ Commercial Tavern, off Notre Dame Dr. South, Maryhill-Breslau
*7-9> jam nite @ The Edge Wine Bar, 205467 County Rd. 109, Orangeville
7:30> Eddyevvy @ Silence, 46 Essex St., Guelph ~original Rock/Pop; $
*7:30-12> open mic with K.M. Smith @ Molly Bloom’s Guelph, 91 Wyndham St. N., Guelph
7:30> Marc Jordan @ River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich St., Guelph
*8-12> open mic with Mike Meacher & Vic Freitas @ Rhythm & Brews Brewing Co., 1000 Bishop St. N., Cambridge
8> Craig McNair @ Rhapsody Barrel Bar, 179 King St. W., Kitchener
*9> Brendan O’Halloran @ Taphouse/Trappers Alley, 98 Macdonnell St., Guelph ~acoustic Pop covers & original
9> Dav Dickenson @ Black Wolf Smokehouse, 139 Broadway Ave., Orangeville ~songwriter
9:30> Jeff Holdridge @ McCabe’s Irish Pub, 9 Wyndham St. N., Guelph ~acoustic Pop covers & originals
9:30> Elyse Saunders @ The Stampede Ranch, 226 Woodlawn Rd. W., Guelph ~Country
*10-2> Mike Something @ Royal Electric, 52 Macdonell St., Guelph ~acoustic Pop
*10> Happy Pappy @ The Duke, 33 Erb St., Waterloo
705
5-9> Barry McMullen @ Chemong Lodge, 764 Hunter St., Bridgenorth-Selwyn ~smooth Rock/Pop
7> open mic with Karl @ Barnstormer Brewing, 384 Yonge St., Barrie
7> open mic @ Pappas Billiards, 407 George St. N., Peterborough
7> open mic @ Champs Sports Bar, 203 Simcoe St., Peterborough
*7:30> Rob Phillips Jazz/Blues Trio and Marsala Lukianchuk @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough
7:30> Erin McCallum Band @ Harbour Street Fish Bar, 10 Keith Ave., Collingwood ~Blues; $5
7:30> Grraham Playford @ The Huron Club, 94 Pine St., Collingwood
8> open mic with Jacques Graveline @ Dreams of Beans, 138 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
9> Adam Gontier of Three Days Grace and Saint Asonia acoustic show @ Red Dog Tavern, 189 Hunter St. W., Peterborough ~acoustic Pop covers & originals; $15
*9> JJ Thompson/Tony Silvestri & Greg Caven @ McThirsty’s Pint, 166 Charlotte St., Peterborough
9> Moon Tan w/ Goodnight Sunrise, Antixx, and Merin @ Simco Ptbo, 172 Simcoe St., Peterborough~eclectic indie; $10
*9-12> open ic @ Moody’s, 3 Tupper St., Millbrook
10> open mic with Gerald Vanhalteren @ The Coach & Horses, 16 York St., Lindsay
905 EAST – Pickering-Cobourg
*6-10> Sticks & Tones @ Fionn MacCool’s Oshawa, 214 Ritson Rd., Oshawa ~Rock/Top 40 covers
6> Beacon Seasons for Mental Health fundraiser @ Cork & Bean, 8 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa
*7> open mic with Colin Campbell @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa
7-10> open mic @ Cocoa & Joe Café, 44 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa
8-12> open jam with rotating hosts @ West Shore Bar & Grill, 877 Bayly St., Pickering
*8-11> Rocky Dean Records’ open mic with hosts Brian Pisani & Matt Meraw @ Manantler Craft Brewing Co., 182 Wellington St., Bowmanville
*8-11> open mic night @ George & Orange Taproom, 67 Orange St., Cobourg
8:30> Mellow Dee & guest @ Rum Diaries, 368 Bayly St. W., Ajax ~soft groove Pop/R&B
9> Deuce @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~acoustic Pop covers & originals duo
*11> jam @ The Players Bench, 1330 Ritson Rd., Oshawa
905 NORTH-EAST – east of Hwy #400
*6:45-11> Marshall Dane @ The Scruffy Duck, 357 Main St., Schomberg ~original Country/alt-Country; $?
*7-10> Kenny V @ Marlowe Restaurant, 155 York Boulevard, Richmond Hill ~acoustic Pop covers & originals
*7-10> Dino Stakos @ Father’s Moustache Grill, 15570 Yonge St., Aurora ~acoustic Pop covers & originals
8> jam with host Paul Burdon @ Big Daddy’s [no address contained on event page or poster and no comments allowed on event, so fuck’em I’m not bothering to include it here -fucking idiot organizer!], Newmarket
*8-11> Jam with Jayme Lynn Reed @ Offsides Sports Bar, 200 Simcoe Ave., Keswick
905 NORTH-WEST – west of Hwy #400
*6:30-10:30> jam with Faces for Radio @ Coasters, 55 Rutherford Rd. S., Brampton
7:30-11> jam night @ Spot 1, 289 Rutherford Rd. S., Brampton
*7:30-11:30> jam with house band @ 52nd St. Tap & Grill, 30 Kennedy Rd., S., Brampton
8> jam with Linda Nusca Albertyn @ Sammy’s Grill, 15 Allan Drive, Bolton
*8-11:30> open jam with hosts Ramblin’ Soul @ Stratengers Casual Dining, 212 Queen St. S., Bolton
*10:30> jam with Gary White & Friends @ Bryden’s, 270 Main St. E., Milton
905 SOUTH –Hamilton & vicinity
7:30> Darby Mills Project; Killer Dwarfs @ The Studio, 10 MacNab St. S., Hamilton ~contemporary original; $
8> Joel Cumby (recording release for rp) @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton ~songwriter; $
8> Joe Bass; The Do-Gooders; Tim Collins @ Artword Art Bar, 15 Colbourne St., Hamilton ~songwriters; $
8> Doghouse Rose; Rocket & The Renegades @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton ~contemporary Rock; $
*8-10> Josh Coulter @ Judge and Jester, 17 Main St. E., Grimsby
8:30> Chris Chambers @ Lou Dawg’s Hamilton, 116 George St., Hamilton
9> open jam with Tim Ninehouse and Mr. Jay @ George Hamilton Restaurant, 152 King St. W., Hamilton,
*9> open mic night with rotating hosts @ Coach & Lantern, 384 Wilson St E., Ancaster
10> Corey Mercer @ The Pheasant Plucker, 20 Augusta St., Hamilton ~acoustic Pop covers & originals
10> Matthew King @ Cat N Fiddle Hamilton, 174 John St., S., Hamilton
905 WEST –south Peel & Halton
6:30> Kent MacMillan @ Bronte Sports Kitchen, 2544 Speers Rd., Oakville
6:30> Rob Reed @ Cucci Ristorante, 119 Jones St., Bronte
*6:30> Bluegrass jam @ RCL #551 Waterdown, 79 Hamilton St. N., Waterdown
*7-11:30> Tyler Yarema @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit-Mississauga ~Blues/Jazz
7> Chris Ayries @ Max Resto Lounge, 2180 Itabashi Way, Burlington
8> Screeched Inn @ The Brogue Inn, 136 Lakeshore E., Port Credit-Mississauga ~traditional Roots-Rock/Irish
*8-12> jam hosted by The Personics @ Carrigan Arms, 2025 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington
9> Dave McEathron @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St. Oakville; $10
9:30> Chris Partland @ Cuchulainn’s Irish Pub, 158 Queen St. S., Streetsville-Mississauga ~Pop Rock
LISTINGS KEY
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 purchasers (eg. seniors, students, members, etc.) /+ indicates stated price is minimum.
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