“Elvis” George Pliakes may look a bit like Elvis and he may be able to channel the long-departed icon when called upon to do so, but the east-end based entertainer has a lot more going for him than that. George is a truly engaging performer who is more than willing to share the spotlight and demonstrates that the last Sunday of each month when he hosts a 3:30-7:30 jam at Eton House on Danforth near Pape. Today should see a cavalcade of performers as the regulars come out to toast George on the occasion of making it around the sun another time. No cover.

Just about three years ago now I had the opportunity to attend a night of stellar live R&B/Pop Rock/Reggae performances at an event that was set up to honour veteran uber-entertainer Jay Douglas. As always, even as star-packed as the roster was, it was the honouree who captured the ears, hearts and attention of the packed theatre’s attendees. Over the past 20 years I’ve seen him do the same to disparate audiences, whether with a full-on horn band or a tidy little four-piece, on patios in Etobicoke, roadhouses in North York and at galas and countless bars across the GTA. And to paraphrase “Pinball Wizard”, I’ve “never seen him fail.” This afternoon he brings his combo into Legends On The Queensway (the old Club OV’s/Hollywood/Brawley near Islington) for the  5-9 matinée show. Today the club lives up to its name and at just $5 cover to see the show, it’s the bargain of the week. -Gary 17

LISTINGS:

11-2> Zum Zum @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. TO E. ~Jazz

11am-2pm> The Yiddish Swingtet 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> Blues Brunch @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO W.

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

**1-5> Open Folk open stage with Doc Higgins & feature K. Lynn Kirby @ 1 Wallace Drive, Barrie & live online @ http://justin.tv/openfolk

1> Build To Suit @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

2> Mike Mazzei @ Full Of Beans, 1348 Dundas St. W., TO W. ~Roots Pop originals

2> Ken Whiteley’s Sunday Gospel Matinee @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO W. ~Gospel; $22.50

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

*2-5> tba @ Morgan’s, 1282 Danforth Ave., TO E. ~Jazz

*3-7> Pat Perez & John Dickie band feat. Mike Sloski, Ian Desouza & Norman Brown @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave, TO E. ~R&B

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

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

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

3> Greenway Blvd. feat. Rob Greenway @ C’est What, 69 Front St. E., TO

3:30-7:30> “Elvis George” Pliakes birthday jam party @ Eton House, 710 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Rock/R&B/Pop

3:30-6:30> Freeway Dixieland Jazz Band @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

4-7> Howard Willett Trio feat. Dave McManus @ Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen St. W., Toronto West ~Blues/R&B

4-8> Rebelljo Band featuring guests Liberty Silver & Dave Girdlestone of Soul Funkshun @ Bay Leaf, 168 Queen St. S., Streetsville ~Rock/Jazz

*4-8> Michael Theodore 4-piece @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke ~Pop

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

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

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

5-9> Jay Douglas @ Legends On The Queensway, 1184 The Queensway, Etobicoke S. ~Reggae/Soul/R&B/Blues

5-8> The Living Daylights @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO W. ~old time Country string band

5-8> John Wayne Swingtet @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO W. ~Jazz

**5-8> The Stew with guest tba @ Mulligan’s, 2458 Dundas St. W., Mississauga

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

7> Pearl Motel @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. TO E. ~indie

6> Kristine Schmitt & Her Special Powers @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

*7-9:30> Richard Whiteman Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

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

*7-1> open stage (2 songs each -signup @ 7 or pre-sign online) @ The Supermarket, 268 Augusta St., TO

**7-11> The Nomads with special guest tba @ The Harp, 55 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit

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

7:30> University of Toronto Grad Ensemble @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

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

8:30> Bianca @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO W. ~original poetic Jazz; $30

9> Josh Gordon Trio with Patrick McPhail & Chris Craig of The Blazers @ Duffy’s Tavern, 1238 Bloor St. W., TO W. ~Blues/Rock

8:30LAST SUNDAY> Trace Minerals feat. Jeff Oussoren & Cam de Laat @ Not My Dog, 1510 Queen St. W., TO West ~indie

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

8> Noad @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~pwyc

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

9> Grant & Josh @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

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

9> Young Running @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO W. ~indie Folk

*9:30-2> jam with the Stir It Up Band featuring Bryan Van Dusen & David Macmichael @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. TO E.

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

9:45> Aimee Butcher @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

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

10> Steve Ward Presents @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10> The Beauties @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO W. ~indie Pop; $

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

10> The Double Cuts @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Western 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> Sean Pinchin’s Blues ‘n’ Beers @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Blues

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

*10:30> Phil & John Show feat. Phil Naro @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington ~contemporary & classic Pop Rock

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