Great talent, it’s a shame about her name

>>> I’m a big fan of the music of stunningly attractive and exquisitely talented Folk songwriter Nicole Coward. Her debut album from 2012, Why Don’t You Care, contains more gems than just the title track, which has become her signature tune but is just one of many fine pieces on the disc. But I can’t for the life of me figure out why she’s chosen to go with the stage name “Songbird”, which lately she’s been trying to establish. Not that she’s not a songbird of sorts, even if one might imagine a more delicately constructed creature than this toweringly tall woman (6-feet plus) with an arrestingly interesting face and captivating smile.

But “songbird” is either an adjectival noun or nounal adjective that has been, is now being and will in the future be applied to a whole lot of female artists. (See the Songbird Series listed for Moonshine Café earlier this week, not to mention the monthly Songbird Sessions at Relish, for just two examples.)  So when you tell someone you’re “going to hear Songbird perform” what’s the most likely reaction you’ll get? I’d predict: “Which songbird?”

To try to incorporate such a public domain adjective as a sobriquet for oneself comes across as pretentious and overly ambitious and, frankly, is somewhat offputting. Besides which, she’s already got a great name and if some might joke about her being related to the famous playwright Noel Coward, what exactly is wrong with that? It’s unique and certainly an easy name to remember.  I know eventually she’s going to abandon the misguided notion of using this silly alias and hopefully that’ll be sooner rather than later because it actually makes her less distinctive and will only hold her back, which would be a shame.

You can tell her I said so if you stop by the new Humble Beginnings coffee emporium on Dundas St. West in the Junction area this afternoon 12:30-2:30, when she’s the feature attraction at an artist series she created and has been promoting over the past few months. Bring some extra dough —you’re going to want a copy of her album. -Gary 17, www.torontomoon.ca

LISTINGS:

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. 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 include a live link to their websites where applicable. Advertisers’ listings are in larger type, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

*12-3> Danny Marks @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~eclectic Jazz/Blues/Rock

12:30-2:30> Nicole Coward @ Humble Beginnings, 3109 Dundas St. W., TO West ~acoustic Roots

1-4> open mic with host Jim Amar @ Full Of Beans, 1348 Dundas St. W., TO West

*2> Saturday Sessions @ The Swan open mic with Brian Gladstone @ Black Swan, 154 Danforth Ave., TO East

*2-6> jam w. Tom Finocchio @ Sam’s Place, Barton-Chestnut Sts., Hamilton

**2-6> Saturday Blues Sermon with James Anthony & special guest Al Lerman @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington ~Blues

*3-6> Danny B’s House Party Band feat. Michael Keys on piano @ Blue Goose, 1 Blue Goose St., Etobicoke South ~R&B/Pop

*3-7> jam with Michelle Deneault & Redder @ Port Credit Legion, 35 Front St., Port Credit

*3-6> jam @ Sauce, 1376 Danforth Ave., TO East

3> Lotus Wight @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO ~traditional Jazz; $5

*3-7> open stage jam @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville

*3:30-6> Johnny Wright @ Outriggers, 2232 Queen St. E., TO East ~R&B

*3:30-6:30> Climax Jazz Band @ Seven44, 744 Bayview Ave., TO North ~Jazz; $

3:30> Dan White Sextet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Ohio Jazz

3:30> Norman Marshall Villeneuve’s Jazz Message @ The Pilot, 22 Cumberland St., TO ~Jazz

*4-8> The Bear Band & guests @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W. Etobicoke South ~Rock-R&B

4-7> Laura Hubert Band feat. Peter Hill @ Inter Steer, 361 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Pop Jazz with punch

*4-7:30> Ronnie Hayward Trio @ McQueen’s, 993 Queen St. E., TO E. ~Blues/Roots

*4-8> The Meteors with special guest @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Blues/Rock/R&B

*4> PRJ @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St., Oshawa ~Blues

5-8> Bill Heffernan & Friends with guests Steve Paul Simms & Friends @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. TO West –Rootsy Pop

5-8> Arthur Renwick @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Rootsy Pop

5> Rick & Gailie @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

6-8> Big Tobacco & The Pickers @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~old Country made new

6:30> Scott B. Sympathy @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

7> Nick Teehan Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~ Jazz

7> Nags Players present “Maggie’s Getting Married” @ Tranzac Lounge (Main Hall), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~theatre; $

8-10:30> Woodshed open mic with hosts Linda Lavender & David Shilman & feature by Hannah Naiman @ Lazy Daisy Café, 1515 Gerrard St. E., TO East

8-11> Trace Minerals @ Not My Dog, 1510 Queen St. W., TO West ~indie

8-12> Annette Haas @ Ember Hot Stove, 3039 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South ~

8-12> Al Lerman solo @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~Blues resonator guitar & harp songwriter; $10

8:30> “Highway 61 Revisited” with Kevin Breit, Jason Fowler, Carlos del Junco, Ariana Gillis, Treasa Levasseur, more @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO W. ~Dylan tribute; $27.50/-

8:30> Chris Birkett @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. TO ~eclectic engineer/songwriter; $10

9-1> Plaza Ratz feat. Kevin Huckell @ Tara Inn, 2365 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Rock

*9-close> jam with Tommy Rocker’s Classic Rock Show  @ Liverpool Arms, 776 Liverpool Rd., Pickering

*9-1> karaoke with Rob MacArthur @ Tudor Rose, 700 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax

9-12> Reid Pickering & Chris Bennett with guests Lawrie Ingles & Blair Packham @ The Feathers, 962 Kingston Rd., TO East ~songwriters

9-1> The Telstars @ Eton House, 710 Danforth Ave. TO East ~vintage Rock ‘n’ Roll

9-1> Sweet Derrick Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~ Blues

9> Jimmy Byron @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Rock ‘n’ Roll

9> Affinity; The Lipstick Junkies @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

9-1> Colin Amey @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd., Scarborough ~Pop/soft Rock

9> James Anthony with special guest Donnie Meeker @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd., Etobicoke South ~Blues-Rock

9> Snakebite Band @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country

9-1> L.A.I. @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

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

9> Yeah Yeah Yeah @ Sgt. Pepper’s Whitby, 30 Taunton Rd. E., Whitby ~Beatles songs singalong & screen show

9> Chelsea Crites @ Thirsty Golfer, 101 Broadway St., Tillsonburg ~Country

9:30> The Merves @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~tribute to Joan Jett & The Ramones; $15/-

**9:30-11:30> Elana Harte @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. TO East ~ songwriter

*9:30-2> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ Winners, 2181 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough

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

9:30> Piper Hayes & guests @ Café Pamenar, 307 Augusta Ave., TO ~songwriter

9:30> Slow Poke @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Blvd., TO North

9:30> The Kat Kings @ Axis Grill, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Billy Bop Blues

9:30> Lost Boys @ Timothy’s Pub 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9:30> Sonny Boy Mick @ The Harp, 55 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9:30> Groove Hammer @ Sixth Line Pub, 1500 Sixth Line, Oakville

9:30> Pat Hewitt @ Gator Ted’s, 1505 Guelph Line, Burlington

9:30> Off The Wall @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

9:45> Bob Brough Quartet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

10-2> Paul James Band @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W. Etobicoke South ~Rockabilly icon

10> Jam Doctors feat. Andrew J. Walsh @ Karla’s Roadhouse, 4630 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~classic Rock

10-2> Kimberley Wetmore Band feat. Dave Girdlestone of Soul Funkshun @ Stonewalls, 339 York Blvd., Hamilton ~Rock/R&B/Blues

10-2> Midnight Jewel feat. Julie McClean & Brian Potts @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 36 Kingston Rd. E., Ajax ~Pop Rock

10> Ride The Tiger @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~Funk/Soul

10> Mayhemingways @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

10> Prince Enoki @ Tranzac Club  (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10> Jlatte; Li’l Blues Pill @ The Duke Live, 1225 Queen St. E., TO East ~Blues

10-2> Hot Wax Meltdown @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West

10-2> Connie Scriver Band @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Top 40

10:30> The Dirty Pioneers @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington ~Pop Rock

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