/ETOBICOKE SOUTH/

That David Love is one of the most talented guitar players in the GTA (and a pretty damn good singer too) is pretty much not up for argument. There’s a reason why Randy Bachman regards him as a go-to guy for studio recording, why he was part of Burton Cummings’s band for some time and why he’s a mainstay part of the Craig Martin’s Classic Albums Live touring ensemble that reproduces great discs note for note in cities across North America.

But these days you’re as likely to find the former longtime member of Carpet Frogs on stages with a bass strapped on as holding a six-string. For while he still plays acoustic guitar as part of his popular Love & LeBlanc 60s Pop duo with Roger LeBlanc, in his own David Love Band he’s part of the rhythm section –although he still provides lead vocals.

The reason, he told me one time, can be explained in two words: Darrell McNeill. A comparatively low-profile guitarist who hails from the original version of the band Fifteen Stone, he provides the vast array of guitar sounds that are required to emulate the diverse melodic material from the 1960s that is the Love band’s stock in trade.

Convincingly reproducing the vibe and sounds of groups as varied as The Kinks, The Beatles, The Animals, Sly Stone, Smokey Robinson, Mandala, and so many more (when these guys do “Crimson and Clover” you’ll swear you’re actually still back in 1967 having an LSD hallucination that you’re an older person living in the future) is not for the faint of heart or light of talent. But these guys, with only drummer Kevin Mulligan to give them the big bottom, are more than up to the task.

That’s why I was eager to help get them to do a show at one of my longtime favourite GTA bars, Southside Johnny’s in Etobicoke, in February. As I told eponymous club owner John Theodore at the time, I felt they were exactly the right band to replace The Remnants, a group that’d become part of the lively room’s staple roster and which I’d introduced there about five years ago, but that had split up last year.

I don’t think I was too far off the mark because tonight the DLB returns to Southside, at 3652 Lakeshore Blvd. W. a little east of Brown’s Line, for the second of what I am certain will be a long run of gigs there.

If you haven’t been to SSJ yet then you should know that there’s no point in making plans to go somewhere else later –I’ve done that many a time and can tell you from the voice of experience that this room has a magnetic pull on you that will make it hard to leave until they reluctantly have to kick you out at closing. Tasty, generous-portioned and inexpensive food, good-looking servers whom Johnny has trained to be efficient, a large selection of draughts, a great and comfy décor and, of course, excellent bands on a real stage area with lighting, all combine to weave a spell. Oh, and did I mention the large, lively patio at the side where guys and girls in summer attire display their tans?

The show starts about 10 and if the Stanley Cup hockey game is still going then you can keep up with the action on the giant wall-screen (intelligently located off to the site of the bands’ area) one of six 40” screens or a plethora of smaller high-quality screens located all over the bar (but none interfering with the live shows.) No cover but do go there hungry and I’d advise arriving early to get a choice seat for this show.

-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.

11> Social Potion feat. Carmen Toth @ Rouge Valley Conservation Centre, 1749 Meadowvale Rd., Scarborough ~original Pop Rock

11:30 a.m. – midnight> Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival at various venues with various artists, Orangeville

*12-3> Julian Fauth’s Blues Brunch @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Blues

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

12:30-2:30> Dave Martin @ Humble Beginnings, 3109 Dundas St. W., TO West ~acoustic Roots/Blues/Pop

1-4> Shawn Brady & Hervé Basset @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~Pop Rock

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

1:30-4:30> Words & Music with hosts Linda Stitt & Peter Solmes & guests @ Portobello, 995 Bay St. TO ~eclectic original mix

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

**2-6> Saturday Blues Sermon with James Anthony & special guests Sweet Claudette, Jack Civeletto, April Mazzon & Harmonica Shah for USA Blues Hall of Fame Day @ 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

3-6> Senensky/Riley B3 Trio @ Orbit Room, 580 College St., TO ~R&B/Jazz; $

3> The Hot Five Jazzmakers @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO ~traditional Jazz; $5

*3-7> open stage jam @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville; $2

*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> Chris Hunt Tentet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

3:30> Colleen Allen 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

4-8> Kat House with special guest Dave Girdlestone of Soul Funkshun on guitar @ Lake Affect, 1 Port St. E., Port Credit

4-7> Taxi Chain @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO ~Celtic Rock Fusion

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

4> Chris Staig @ Bar Radio, 615 College St., TO ~Roots; pwyc

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

4> Cadillac Ranch @ Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen St. W., TO West ~Country/Rockabilly

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

*4:30-6:30> Big Rude Jake @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E.. TO E. ~Blues/Roots

5-8> Bill Heffernan 4-piece band with Dave McManus, Bob McNiven, Howard Willet @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. TO West –Rootsy Pop

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

5-9> Morgan Davis Band album release & birthday celebration @ Monarchs Pub in Eaton Chelsea Hotel, 33 Gerrard St. W., TO ~Blues

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

6-8> Rattlesnake Choir @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6-9> Fern Lindzon Trio @ Chalker’s Pub, 247 Marlee Ave., TO North ~Jazz; $10

7> Sharron Katz birthday party @ Hirut with Myke Mazzei, Nicola Vaughan, Brian Pickard; more @ Hirut, 2050 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Roots-Pop

7-9> Shred Kelly @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West

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

7:30> Abigail Lapell with special guest Tamara Sandor @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

7:30> “Orange Is The New Burgundy” @ Tranzac Club (Main Hall), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~theatre

**8> Gary 17’s acoustic showcase & open stage with 9:30 feature by Gary 17 @ King’s Belly, 429 Donlands Ave., TO East

8> Old Man Flanagan’s Ghost @ The Feathers, 962 Kingston Rd., TO East ~Roots

8> Mudpunch @ The Only Café, 972 Danforth Ave., TO East ~

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

8> Bon Jovi Forever @ Rockpile East, 2787 Eglinton Ave. E., Scarborough ~Bon Jovi tribute

8-12> Alfie Smith @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~Blues; $10

8:30> Skydiggers (2^nd of 2 nights) @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~$32/-

8:30> Michael Lake album launch @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. TO ~St. John’s expatriate songwriter; $20

8:30> Sweet Alibi @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO $0

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

9> The Ditch Horses feat. Reid Pickering @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St. ~original Country

9-11> Don Francks Trio feat. Tony Quarrington @ Toni Bulloni, 156 Cumberland St., TO ~Jazz singer

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

9-1> Voodoo Kings @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd., Scarborough ~ Pop  Rock

9-1> Eliza Pop Jazz Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~ Jazz

9-1> The Key Frames @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West

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

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

9-1> Fallen Ashtray @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa ~Blues

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

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

9:30> Trainwreck @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Party Rock; $5 

**9:30-11:30> Rae Corcoran; Danny & Mabel @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~original Pop

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

9:30> Shikha & Nelson Sobral of Melting Pot; JJ and The Pillars @ The Press Club, 850 Dundas St. W., TO ~indie Pop

9:30> Soul Funskun featuring Dave Girdlestone on guitar @ Sixth Line Pub, 1500 Sixth Line, Oakville ~Funk/Soul

9:30 Redbrick @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO W. ~Pop Rock covers  & originals

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

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

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

9:30> Itchy & Scratchy @ Jake’s Boathouse Brampton, 59 First Gulf Rd., Brampton ~Pop Rock

9:30> Stone Blue @ Gator Ted’s, 1505 Guelph Line, Burlington

9:30> Chelsea Bennett Band @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

9:45> Marito Marquez Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

9:45> Diane Simone & The Seaton Street Blues Band @ Imperial Pub, 54 Dundas St. E., TO  ~Jazz

*9:45> Tyler Yarema & His Rhythm @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues

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

10> Rockin’ A Hard Place featuring Andrew J. Walsh & James Alcock @ Top Spot Pub, 87 High St., Sutton West ~classic Rock

10> Midnight Jewel feat. Brian Potts on bass @ Aw Shucks, 15230 Yonge St., Aurora ~Pop Rock

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

10> The Doublecuts @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Western Swing

10> Greyhound Riders with special guests @ Tranzac Club  (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10-1> Freeman Dre & The Kitchen Party @ Bar Radio, 615 College St., TO ~Roots-Rock; pwyc

10-2> Code Green @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 36 Kingston Rd. E., Ajax ~Rock/Blues/R&B

10-2> Wheat Kings @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Hip tribute

10> Winnie Brave; Carling Stephen @ The Red Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough ~

10:> Bernadette & The Collective; The World Is Yours @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

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

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