Mike Daley showing his own stuff at Monarchs Pub tonight

/TORONTO/

You have to a pretty decent musician to get uber-bassist Alec Fraser to be your accompanist for a gig, let alone form a duo with you and record two albums. So even if you’re not familiar with the talents of guitarist Mike Daley (best known of late as half of the Fraser-Daley duo that’s been doing a weekly Wednesday night show at Inter Steer on Roncesvalles Ave. for a little over six years now) you’d have to figure he’s got some pretty good chops.

I also know that to be true because I’ve seen the duo perform and they are absolutely spellbinding, delivering sophisticated yet accessible Rootsy Blues music.

I’ve known Alec for over 20 years, having written about him initially when he was part of the Danny Marks-fronted house band for the Stormy Monday jams at the old Albert’s Hall in the early 90s. As I told you recently, Fraser is now also back playing with Marks, appearing every Tuesday night at Gate 403, also on Roncesvalles Ave., which I guess leaves Daley open to explore other avenues. And tonight he’s doing just that, as he’s in the spotlight for a show at Monarchs Pub in the Eaton Chelsea Hotel, which each Tuesday presents a Roots/Indie songwriter either solo or with their band.

I’m not sure who, if anyone, will be accompanying Daley tonight, but I can predict that this will be a virtuoso performance. Daley is actually a musicologist with a Phd. From York University and as well as electric and acoustic guitar, he also plays lap steel and banjo.

Daley also does solo and band freelance gigs and has played, recorded and toured with groups fronted by the likes of the late Jeff Healey (in both his Blues-Rock and his Jazz band), Blues divas Rita Chiarelli and Suzie Vinnick and Country Pop artist Justin Rutledge, among many others

(As I told you on the occasion of the 5^th anniversary of the Fraser-Daley duo’s Wed. night shows at Inter Steer back in Feb. of last year, Fraser and Daley actually met through Daley’s role in Jeff Healey bands, and, with Daley having free time after Healey entered the final stages of his illness, started their weekly series as an experiment shortly before he passed away.)

Tonight’s show in the very showcase-friendly lounge in the hotel at 33 Gerrard St. W. at Yonge starts at 8 p.m. and there’s no cover.

-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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*5-8> Piano Jazz @ Sauce, 1376 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz

5-8> David Rubel @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

6> Joel Johnson @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6:30> Alison Au Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

*6:30-11> The Woodshed jam with Don Niblett & Frank Zochodne @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

7> Karaoke with host Rob MacArthur @ Ajax Legion (RCL 322), 112 Hunt St., Ajax

7> Wylie Harold @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

7:30-9:30> Craig Robertson @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. TO East ~songwriter

7:30> Angie Gunn @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick St., TO

*8-12> Phil & John Show feat. Phil Naro @ The Harp, 55 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock

*8> David Baxter & Friends @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Rootsy Pop/Blues

8-12> Mike Daley (of Fraser-Daley) @ Monarchs Pub in Eaton Chelsea Hotel, 33 Gerrard St. W., TO ~Jazz/Rock/Blues

*8> open stage with host Iain Leslie @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville; $2

8> Shai Peer’s Magic Tuesday @ The Red Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough ~Blues/eclectic

8:30> Charlie A’Court, with opening set by Kev Corbett @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Roots/Soul songwriter; $20/-

*8:30> Django Jam @ Dominion On Queen, 500 Queen St. E., TO ~Django Jazz

8:30> Jakey Jives @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~singer-songwriter

*8:45> Tyler Yarema & His Rhythm @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues

**9> open mic with host Jody Ferrer & 10 p.m. feature by Alissa Vox Raw @ Groove Bar, 1952 Danforth Ave., TO East

9> Danny Marks & Alec Fraser Blues Night @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Blues

*9> open mic with host Nikki Lemonbeat @ Kitch, 229 Geary Ave., TO West

9> Bryce Jardine @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~

9> The Treasures @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West; $10

9> Ababe Music presents Ania Ziemerska; Joni NehRita; Menage; Emmy Rouge @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~indie showcase

*9:30> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ The Fossil & Haggis, 790 Military Trail, Scarborough

*9:30> Peter Verity @ Black Swan, 154 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Folk Roots

9:30> Nicola Vaughan hosts jam @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO

*9:30-12> open stage hosted by Jennifer Brewer @ The Old Nick, 123 Danforth Ave., TO East

9:30> Dr. Nick & The Rollercoasters @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Blues

*9:30> jam with Derek Downham @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO West ~eclectic

9:30> Ray Darren @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country Rock

*10-2> The Sattalites @ Orbit Room, 580 College St., TO ~orig. & cover Reggae/Funk

10> Ken McDonald Quartet + guests @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick St., TO ~Jazz

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

*10-11> Nik Beat’s Howl radio show @ CIUT 89.5 FM, ~spoken word & music

*10-2> Marshall Dane Trio @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~New Country/Pop

10:30> The World Is Yours Unplugged @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

*10:30> blueVenus with Luke Roberts @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E.. TO East ~original Pop

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