Danger Bees seem unlikely to become extinct anytime soon

Scientists and environmentalists have been telling us for a while now that something is threatening the honeybee population with extinction –an eventuality that would have catastrophic consequences for the human race, since the little winged workers play a vital role in the production of so much of the plant life we take for granted, including most of our food crops.

 

But while honeybees may be up against the wall –and African “killer” bees may well be about to be (or should be) targeted for obliteration if they don’t slow down their swarming insurgency into North America– there is one species of Bees which, ironically, seems to be doing just fine thank you very much, despite a name and recent history that could indicate otherwise.

The Danger Bees, a musical alt-Pop species of musician, native to Nova Scotia, that has had many challenges since relocation to Toronto several years ago, is possibly poised once again to take flight after enduring the prospect of colony collapse in early January of 2013. That happened because one of its main members, Ed Kramer, left the group following a show at the Horseshoe Tavern that happened right on the heels of their release of a new album.

Things seemed to get a bit dizzy in the hive for a while after that and management issues also made the honeycomb of complications more complex.  But by last fall the band had regrouped and emerged with a new lineup that of course still included queen bee (or maybe that should be king bee) David Macmichael as well as soldier bee guitarist Josh Gillard (the original pair who started the band back in Nova Scotia). The revamped combo went on to put on a stellar show at The Horsehoe in late September.

Since then, however, there have been various additional challenges. But, with a steadfast focus on the main prize, frontman Macmichael, who may feign ingenuousness but is actually a pretty savvy young man, has nevertheless kept the group buzzing on a bee-line to the next level: recording some new tunes.

The result of all that flitting and buzzing is a new short album (I guess the technical term is “ep”, meaning originally “extended play” –though that seems rather ludicrous considering that the media format is actually a mini-album, not an extended-anything) being released tonight at Bovine Sex Club in TO. As if he also regards the shorthand “ep” as a bit of a joke, Macmichael has titled this new release My Other E.P. is a Ferrari, which I think is a brilliant title for what I would lay money on being yet another brilliant recording product from this brilliant young and resilient, industrious songwriter.

I haven’t heard any of the tracks from the new release, which gets unveiled starting at 9 p.m. in the club at 542 Queen St. W. just east of Bathurst, and I won’t be able to be there tonight to hear the live renditions or pick up my copy of the disc. But I can pretty much guarantee that if you are, and if you don’t mind catchy, sarcasm-and-irony-laden alt-Pop tunes that are very likely to mutate into earworms, you too might become an addict to the intoxicating royal jelly produced by these Danger Bees.

-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.

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*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> Sam Broverman Jazz Duo with Peter Hill on keys @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~

5:30> Rick & Gailie @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

6> David Celia @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Roots-Pop

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

7-9> Asher Millers’ party with The Whole Entire Universe & Junior Felix; $5 @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West

7:30> Dust: The Quietest Big Band in the Known World @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

7:30> HELLYEAH; Crawl; Persist @ The Opera House, 735 Queen St. E., TO East ~hard Rock/Metal; $23.50/+

8> Patrick Brealey @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen Street West, TO

8> Puppy Love @ Tranzac Club (Main Hall), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

8> Jessica Speziale; Illiya Vee; more @ The Duke Live, 1225 Queen St. E., TO East ~indie Pop

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

8> The Weber Brothers album release @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~Country Blues tyros; $15

8:30> Boris Buhot/United Truce; 9:30> LTD with Boris Buhot on bass @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St., Oshawa ~alt-Blues/Grunge

8:30> Saphire Empire; Shadrack Jackman; Bry Scott-Grimes @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~Fusion R&B/Jazz/Blues’ $10

8:30> Craig Cardiff @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~songwriter; $22.50/-

9> Frankie Foo & The Yo Yo Smugglers @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Ska/Pop

9> David Macmichael & The Danger Bees ep release for My other E.P. is a Ferrari @ Bovine Sex Club, 542 Queen St. W., TO ~original indie alt-Pop

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

9-1> Danny Marks Band @ Monarchs Pub in Eaton Chelsea Hotel, 33 Gerrard St. W., TO ~Rock/Pop/Country/Jazz

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

9-1> Bad To The Bone @ Legends On The Queensway, 1184 The Queensway, Etobicoke South ~Thorogood & more; $5

9> The Kat Kings @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd., Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock

9> The Twangsters @ Sgt. Pepper’s Aurora, 115 First Commerce Dr., Aurora

9> Darren Hancock @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country

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

*9:30> I Hate Todd feat. Nelson Sobral @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~alt Pop/art Rock originals

9:30> Colleen & The Bleeding Hearts with many special guests celebrating the life of Robbie “The Blues Butcher” Belmore @ Black Swan, 154 Danforth Ave., TO East ~eclectic

9:30> Rockin’ A Hard Place featuring Andrew J. Walsh & James Alcock @ Spot One, 289 Rutherford Rd. S., Brampton ~classic Rock

9:30> Shane Scott Blues Band @ The Loaded Dog, 1921 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarb. ~Blues/R&B

9:30> Harvest Moon @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etob. S. ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9:30> Al Reilly’s Catalyst @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Blvd., TO North ~classic Rock

9:30> Midnight Jewel feat. Brian Potts on bass @ Irish Times, 1400 Bayly St., Pickering ~Pop Rock

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

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

9:30> The Nomads @ Jake’s Boathouse Brampton, 59 First Gulf Rd., Brampton ~Pop Rock

9:30> Paul & Curtis @ Shakers, 580 Kerr St., Oakville ~

9:30> Shake Street @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington

9:30> Princess & The Pocket Kings with Bridget Foley @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

9:45> Side B Band feat. Robi Botos @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

10-2> The Government @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South ~classic Rock

10> Laura Hubert Band featuring Peter Hill @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave. ~Pop Jazz with punch

10> Dave Murphy Band @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~

10> Freeman Dre & The Kitchen Party @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen Street West, TO

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

10> The Real Ponchos, with Emily Jill West & Snoqualmie @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10-2> Christopher Charles & The Chronicles @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~

10> Ocean’s Blazer; Stephen Lewis; The Lipstick Junkies @ The Red Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

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

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

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