Between a quirky Pop & a hard Rock place

/// I’ve always had very eclectic musical tastes and I hope that this is reflected in the coverage of the GTA live music scene that I present every day in this publication. People often ask me how I decide which clubs and shows to feature and that is actually a pretty good question –one I ask myself frequently! Sometimes in deciding it’s not just a matter of choosing between particular artists or venues but between very different genres, each with their own appeal. And sometimes I just decide to combine the disparate styles into one evening.

Tonight, for example, there are a couple of shows that interest me, one by quirky genius Roots-Pop songwriter Soozi Schlanger and another being staged by diehards Rockin’ A Hard Place, who grab you by the short and curlies and don’t let go.

These are big shows for both acts. Soozi (whom many will know from her long and ongoing affiliation at the core of the Swamparella Cajun-billy band) is trying to get her solo career happening and her debut Soozimusic album is an intimate tour de force of elemental, inventive song adventures that not only have lyrics of great substance but are also quite interesting musically. Accompanied by uber-talented accompanist Tony Quarrington, she’ll share songs from that disc plus newer stuff at her 8 p.m. show at classy Musideum at 401 Richmond St. W. downtown. Cover is $20. If it’s half as engaging as the performance I saw her put on last month at Free Times, it’s worth that or more.

RAHP is at suitably rough-around-the-edges The Duke Live (at 1225 Queen St. East near Carlaw) celebrating a year to the day when it performed its first gig. That’s not a long time but the way cover bands shift around and disintegrate these days, it’s not a bad start either. And this group, which features lead singer James Alcock (well known to lifer Rock fans as the vocalist for the Powerage AC/DC tribute group) along with savvy veteran six-stringer Andrew J. Walsh, should have many more anniversaries to celebrate if they stay healthy and engaged in the project. There’s no cover and the show gets started sometime around 10 p.m.

With the weather finally starting to actually occasionally resemble Spring it’s becoming increasingly possible to actually take in more than one show in a night. And if, like me, you have extremely eclectic tastes, there’s a pretty good spectrum of choices available tonight.

-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> Rye & Fairy Tales @ Humble Beginnings, 3109 Dundas St. W., TO West ~acoustic Roots/Blues/Pop

1-4> open mic with host Jim McDonald @ 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 Terry Blankley @ 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> Saturday Songwriters’ Circus with Amy Campbell & Friends @ Tranzac Club (Tiki Room), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

3> Lotus Wight @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO

*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> Swing Shift Big Band @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Swing Jazz

3:30> David French Quartet @ 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 Marshall Dane @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Blues/Rock/R&B

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

5-8> Bill Heffernan & Friends with guests Michelle Rumball’s Beauty Salon @ 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> Colonel Tom @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6:30> Joe Hall @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~songwriter

7-9> Erika Werry & The Alphabet @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~indie Roots

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

7:30> The Boxcar Boys @ Tranzac Club (Main Hall), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

7:30> Mike Burns & John McGouran @ The Cornerhouse on Main, 6403 Main St., Stouffville ~acoustic Pop

8> Soozi Schlanger with Tony Quarrington @ Musideum, 401 Richmond St. W., TO ~quirky Roots Pop originals; $20

8> C&C Surf Factory @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

8> Nelson Sobral & Friends @ Kensington Lodge, 21 Kensington Ave., TO ~Pop Rock originals and covers

8-12> Chris Smith @ Ember Hot Stove, 3039 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South ~acoustic Pop

8> The Wonder of Elvis with The KFC Combo; Irene Torres; Sarah Butler @ The Riverview Room, 35 Front St. N., Port Credit ~Elvis tribute; $30/-

8-12> Trish Kerr & The Divas @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~Rootsy original Pop; $10

8:30> Luke & The Apostles @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO W. ~iconic Toronto Sound Rock; $23.50/-

8:30> May Day celebration @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. TO ~

9> Whatever Sticks featuring Susan Martin @ Lion On The Beach, 1958 Queen St. E., TO East ~Pop 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

9-1> Brownman Akoustic Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~ Jazz

9> Trish Noonan @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave., TO East

9> Chris Staig & The Marquee Players @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~indie Pop Rock

9-1> Fraser-Daly @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd., Scarborough ~Rootsy Blues

9> James Anthony with special guest Terry Blankley @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd., Etobicoke South ~Blues/R&B

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

9> Rebelljo Trio @ The Crown & Lion, 7985 Financial Drive, Brampton ~Rock/R&B/Blues

9> Niagara Rhythm Section with guest Lance Anderson @ The Old Winery, 2228 Niagara Stone Rd., Niagara-On-The-Lake ~R&B/Blues

9:30> We Walk The Line @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Johnny Cash tribute

**9:30-11:30> Music Of The Mediterranean Stars @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. TO East

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

9:30> Bad Dog @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Blvd., TO North ~Rock/Top 40

9:30> Heart and Soul @ Stone Cottage Pub, 3750 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock

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

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

9:30> Justin Time feat. James L. Burton @ Sixth Line Pub, 1500 Sixth Line, Oakville ~Pop Rock

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

9:45> Soul Stew @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Soul/R&B

10-2> Captain Snorkel @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W. Etobicoke South ~Rock/Top 40/R&B

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

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

10> Sandro Perri @ Tranzac Club  (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10> Rockin’ A Hard Place featuring Andrew J. Walsh & James Alcock @ The Duke Live, 1225 Queen St. E., TO East ~classic Rock

10-2> The Royal Crowns @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~Rockabilly

10> MOXY @ Rockpile East, 2878 Eglinton Ave. E., Scarborough ~CanRock icons

10-2> Tamin’ Thunder @ The Edge, 250 Bayly Ave. W., Ajax ~Rock/R&B/Dance

10-2> Project 360 @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Top 40

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

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

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