With a versatile and high energy singer in former AC/DC tribute band frontman James Alcock and the sizzling six-string work of Andrew J. Walsh, Rockin’ A Hard Place is a band of veterans who are finding a second life tearing up stages across the GTA these days since coming together last summer.

The group now hosts a new weekly jam Wednesday nights in Brampton’s premier live music venue, Oscar’s Roadhouse on Queen St. West. They also regularly play venues in Scarborough and Durham Region, as well as rooms further north of the city.

Tonight they’re back to shake it up at Etobicoke’s primo Rock ‘n’ Roll venue, Southside Johnny’s on Lakeshore Blvd. W. near Brown’s Line, where when I saw them there they had the crowd on its feet and fist-pumping or dancing through most of the last two sets, helping to open the door to the room for other east end bands like Tommy Rocker’s Classic Rock Show and Al Reilly’s Catalyst. 10 p.m. start, no cover.

LISTINGS:

noon> free Jazz show with tba @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

*4-6> Hogtown Syncopators @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

*5-8> Kensington Kitchen Party with host Kevin Jollimore of Sin City Boys & guest musicians @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO ~Pop Rock with heart

*5-7> open mic with The Foolish Things @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~original Pop

*5-7> Ronnie Hayward Trio @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E.. TO E. ~Blues/Roots

5-8> Elizabeth Martins Jazz Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO W. ~Jazz

6> Jay Swinnerton @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6:30> Sara Dell @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

7> SongTown & Sheila Horne present SpringFest Words, Music & Art festival (upstairs) feat.Pete Otis; Boris Buhot; Brian Gladstone; Harpin’ Norm Lucien; Glen Hornblast; James Sloan & more + open mic hosted by Peter Verity (downstairs) @ Black Swan Tavern, 154 Danforth Ave., TO East ~eclectic music, spoken word & art; $5 or pwyc

7:30> Bill Heffernan presents Sean Tyrrell @ Magic Oven Keele, 347 Keele St., TO W. ~Roots Pop

7:30> EAR-CAM @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

*8-1> karaoke @ RCL #312, 112 Hunt St., Ajax

8> Iain Leslie Band & birthday bash @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~$5

8> Sean Conway @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen Street West, TO

8:30> Ian Tamblyn @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~Can-Folk icon; $12

8:30> “Smooth Sweet Sounds Of The ‘70s” with Jory Nash, Treasa Levasseur & more @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO W. ~Pop; $27

9> Jack Marks & Lost Wages @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO E. ~Rock 

9-1> Jason Raso Jazz Quartet @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO W. ~Jazz

9-1> Pat Rush Band @ Monarchs Pub in Eaton Chelsea Hotel, 33 Gerrard St. W., TO ~classic Rock/Blues

9-1> Shitkicker feat. Johnny Bootz @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave., TO ~Rock

9-1> PRJ @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St., Oshawa ~Blues

9> The Dreadful Starlings @ Not My Dog, 1510 Queen St. W. ~indie Pop

9> Steel City @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country

*9-1> Frank Cosentino Band @ Karla’s Roadhouse, 4630 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~rockin’ Blues

9-1> Beetroots @ Oscar’s Roadhouse, 1785 Queen St. E., Bramp. ~Top 40/Rock

9-1> Michael White’s Animal House @ Legends On The Queensway, 1184 The Queensway, Etobicoke South ~classic Rock; $5

*9:30> David Macmichael & Chris Mills @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO E. ~alt Pop originals and covers

9:30> James Clark Institute Duo @ The Press Club, 850 Dundas St. W., TO ~indie Roots Pop

9:30> Dunn featuring Dee Flat @ Moe’s, 190 Main St. E., Port Colborne ~Rock/Pop

9:30> Julie McClean’s Midnight Jewel @ Aw Shucks, 1579 Yonge St., Aurora ~Rock/Top 40

9:30> Smoke In The Cockpit @ The Harp, 55 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock/Top 40 ~Pop/Top 40

9:30> Skip Tracer @ Gator Ted’s, 1505 Guelph Line, Burlington ~Rock/Top 40

9:30> George Olliver & Gangbuster @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etob. S. ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9:30> Little Heathens @ Shakers, 580 Kerr St., Oakville ~Rock

9:30?> Handsome Dan @ Gladstone Tavern, 1385 Main St. E., Hamilton

9:30> Fat Tony @ Stone Cottage Pub, 3750 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock

9:30> Grindstone Blues Band @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington

9:45> Mark Eisenman Quintet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

10-2> Rockin’ A Hard Place featuring Andrew J. Walsh @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South ~classic Rock

10> Nick Teehan @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen Street West, TO

10-2> The Mercenaries @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO W.

10> Evil Elvis; Christian D & The Hangovers @ Cherry Cola’s, 200 Bathurst St., TO ~modern Rock

10> The Ryan Driver Quartet @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Jazz

10> Steve Fever Duo @ The Queen’s Legs, 286 Eglinton Ave. W., TO North ~pretty Punk

10> Frankie Foo & The Yoyo Smugglers @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO ~Ska/R&B

10-2> Andy Earle @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 36 Kingston Rd., E., Ajax ~Pop Rock/Top 40

10-2> Basia Lyjak @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop

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

10:30> Ramblin’ Band @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington ~Pop Rock

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