Talk about your Throwback Thursday!

The “Throwback Thursday” profile pic fad on Facebook has been growing in popularity in recent months, but tonight it feels to me like the concept has been appropriated by a couple of TO clubs that are featuring performers I haven’t heard of appearing in local clubs in years.

For a long time several years ago Soul/R&B combo Planet Earth, fronted by often irascible but undeniably talented (and he knows it) singer Ron Littlejohn, was the weekly Thursday feature at sonic temple Orbit Room on College St., a spit east of Clinton. They often had full houses at those stellar shows —in addition to a superior lineup of backing musicians, the little guy in front (no big mystery about the origin of his family surname) had an uncanny ability to channel black Soul singers; you’d never guess he was white from simply hearing one of their various recorded albums.  But after several years of this the group just seemed to disappear —not only from the club but from terra firma entirely. Tonight however, they return. I doubt it’s a “Black History Month” thing, but it could be historic. 10ish start; cover of probably $10.

 

Not too far away from Orbit Room, at funky Painted Lady on Ossington, meanwhile, another fellow with an often testy disposition is staging a show that includes a former TO staple who has never left the biz but has been absent from TO stages since moving to Hamilton well over a decade ago.  Lori Yates, generally and rightly regarded as one of the founders of the alt-Country genre, will be among an impressive array of talents who will be part of “Flohill’s Playhouse” being hosted by the veteran publicist whose words never fail to make others look great but ironically sometimes lead to him being regarded more as a Dick than a Richard. The show also includes performances by Angie Gunn and Russell De Carle. Starting at 9, no info is given about what the cover might be, but probably well worth it at any reasonable price.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Thursday, February 05, 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 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.

*5-8> Kirsten Jones @ Richtree Restaurant, Eaton Centre (14 Queen St. West), TO ~Country originals & Pop covers

5-8> Joanne Morra & The France St. Jazz Ensemble @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

*5-8> Nelson Denis @ Frank’s Pasta, 42 King Street E., Cobourg ~eclectic mix (Folk, Jazz, soft Rock, Latin)

6> Corin Raymond @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Roots-Pop

6:30> Worst Pop Band Ever @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~moody Blues

7-9> Sean Bourke @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~songwriter

7> Alex Pangman @ The Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues

*7> open mic with Derek Mok @ Kensington Lodge, 21 Kensington Ave., TO

7> Elmer Ferrer Band @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock

*7-10> Zone Music Youth jam with hosts Chasing Shadows @ West Shore Bar & Grill, 877 Bayly St., Pickering

7:30> Mega City Swing Band @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Road, TO North ~Swing

*7:30-9:30> Bluegrass Thursdays with Houndstooth @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

*7:30-12> open mic with K.M. Smith @ Molly Bloom’s Guelph, 91 Wyndham St. N., Guelph

*8-11> Tinderbox Thursdays open stage with Michael Keith @ La Revolucion, 2848 Dundas St. W., TO West ~eclectic

8> Masters In The Round hosted by Boris Buhot and featuring Mark Sepic; Joanne Shaw; Susan Latimer @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa ~songwriters; pwyc

*8-10:30> Jerry Leger & The Situation @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~Folk-Rock/Country

8-12> R&B/Blues @ Nawlin’s, 299 King St. W. TO

8> In Between Sounds @ The Only Café, 972 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Psych Soundscapes

8-12> The Tonkas @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Blues-Rock

8-12> Gabe Salem @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 32 Kingston Rd. E. Ajax ~Pop

*8-12> open mic & jam @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington

*8-12> jam hosted by The Personics @ Carrigan Arms, 2025 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington

*8-11> open mic with Sandy MacDonald @ Williamsburg Arms, 1187 Fischer Hallman Rd., Kitchener

8:30> Bekah vs Missy; These Lights @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. TO ~songwriters; pwyc

8:30> Grady Kelneck @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St. Oakville ~songwriter; $5/pwyc

9> Tim Bradford @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~original Country

*9> Tommy Rocker’s Classic Rock Band  & John Robbie host jam @ Centro Pizza, 3406 Kingston Rd., Scarborough

*9> jam with Ted Rusk @ The Sauble Dunes, 11 Southampton Parkway, Sauble Beach

*9-1:30> open stage with Jay Pennell @ Dave’s On St. Clair, 730 St. Clair West, TO West ~eclectic

9-12> Melanie Brulee Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

*9-1> Blackburn @ Jo Mamas, 317 King St. W., TO ~Blues

9> Flohill’s Playhouse with Angie Gunn; Lori Yates; Russell De Carle; @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~eclectic

9> David Celia @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~indie Pop

9-12> Kirt Godwin @ The Roncy, 390 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~acoustic South/Motown/Rock

9> Mark Braithwaite  @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St., TO North ~Funk/Soul/R&B

9-1> The Swingin’ Blackjacks @ Monarchs Pub (Eaton Chelsea Hotel), 33 Gerrard St. W., TO ~Rockabilly

9> Sarah Burton & The Ole Fashioned @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~Country

*9> jam @ The Wee Pub, 371 Wilson Rd. South, Oshawa

*9:30-2> Skip Tracer @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd., Etobicoke South ~Rock/Pop

*9:30> karaoke with Shane Taylor @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East

9:30> Matt Wilson Quartet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

9:30> Cottage Brew @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock

9:30> Quincy LePalm @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO ~original Roots; pwyc

9:30> Glenn Groves @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock

*9:30> jam with Billick @ Harp & Crown, 300 Kingston Rd., Pickering

*9:30> jam with Jack B Nimble @ Abbey Road Pub, 3200 Erin Mills Parkway, Mississauga

*9:45> Mary Mckay @ The Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues

10> Ferraro; Alright Alright @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

10> Will Melille @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Bluegrass/Pop

10> Planet Earth @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~R&B/Soul

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

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