Tasmanian Pop star Rod Fritz in TO to do shows with rocker Al Reilly

\TORONTO EAST/SCARBOROUGH\

It’s a long way from Tasmania, off the coast of Australia, to Toronto, and songwriter Rod Fritz, who’s in town this week through the weekend to do shows here, took a leisurely route to get here.

The Pop songwriter whose material, as you can hear on his Reverbnation page, has a lush, very well produced and radio-ready feel, actually started off in California, where he has longtime connections from his living there previously.

After doing a series of shows in the sun a week or so ago Fritz bought himself a car, according to Scarborough pal, Rock singer Al Reilly, who helped set up and shares the bill with him on the TO shows. Before and after his sold-out concert in Denver, as he headed towards TO he would stop at bars and coffee shops along the way to play gigs wherever he could convince the owners to let him set up.

Some of his tunes display a strikingly critical attitude towards modern humanity (maybe that’s why he moved to Tasmania!) but the easy irony of the lyrics (rather than bashing us over the head he allows the listener to simply get the picture he paints with his words) and the catchiness of the 80s style music makes it easy to find yourself bopping along with social critiques on tunes like “All In Front Of You”.

However, moralists might indeed regard him as a true “Tasmanian Devil” after listening to his scatological “FU” tune —in which, after what initially sounds like a tender emo love ballad, he lets an ex-lover know how he really feels— and after hearing his paean to god’s gift to humanity, “Green Grass”.

Last night he and Al were featured at Zena’s Diner in Scarborough and tonight the pair come into Linsmore Tavern in East York at 1298 Danforth Ave. for a 8-12 show. Friday Rod joins Al’s Catalyst band for a classic Rock show at Centro Pizza, 3406 Kingston Rd., in Scarborough, performing between band sets.

This guy has come a long way in hopes of gaining new fans and you likely won’t get a chance to hear him again in person for a long time. And based on everything I’ve heard of his tunes and learned about him, catching at least one of his shows would definitely be a good idea.

-Gary 17, www.torontomoon.ca

LISTINGS:

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. (Double asterisk indicates repeating event with different hosts/guest/etc.). 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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TDJF = Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival; cover charge/pass entry for most shows except where specified otherwise by $0 in listing.

2> TDJF: Big Band Slam @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

*5-8> Jerry Leger & The Situation @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E.. TO East ~Folk-Rock/Country

5-8> Sam Broverman Duo @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

5> TDJF: Bill Smith @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

*5-8> Nelson Denis @ Frank’s Pasta, 42 King Street E., Cobourg ~eclectic mix (Folk, Jazz, soft Rock, Latin)

6> TDJF: Gary LaRocca @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~instrumental guitar; $0

6> Corin Raymond @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Roots-Pop

7-9> TDJF: Liane Fainsinger @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz; $0

7> Carissa Kimbell @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues

9> Kerry Leger @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~Roots-Pop

7> TDJF: Maylee Todd @ Shops at Don Mills (City Cadillac Stage, Town Square), 1090 Don Mills Rd., TO East ~Jazz; $0

7> Shugga @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Funk

7:30> Roger Zuraw & friends @ Second Cup Islington, 1050 Islington Ave., Etobicoke South ~Roots originals

7:30> Talent/Dance Night with Nancy Love @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Ave., TO North

*7:30-9:30> Bluegrass Thursdays with Houndstooth @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

*7:30> open stage with Rob Phillips and Chelsey Benett Band @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough ~Jazz Blues

*7:30-12> open mic with K.M. Smith @ Molly Bloom’s Guelph, 91 Wyndham St. N., Guelph

*8-12> jam with Tommy Rocker Band @ Karla’s Roadhouse, 4630 Kingston Rd., Scarborough

8-10> TDJF: Eric St. Laurent Trio @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~Jazz

8> TDJF: Joe LaBarbera @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~LA Jazz

8> Ariana Gillis Band @ F’Coffee, 641 Queen St. E., TO East ~indie Roots Pop; $15

8-12> David Leask @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 32 Kingston Rd. E. Ajax ~Pop

*8-12> open mic & jam @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington

*8-11:30> Christopher Plock & Stevie G @ Mulligan’s Pub, 2458 Dundas St. W., Mississauga ~Blues/Jazz/R&B

*8-11> open mic with Sandy MacDonald @ Williamsburg Arms, 1187 Fischer Hallman Rd., Kitchener

8> Jerome Godboo with Conor Gains @ Gator’s Tail, 975 Franklin Blvd., Cambridge ~Blues

8:30> George Lake Big Band tribute to Stan Kenton @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Swing Jazz; $25/-

8:30> Jorge & Yuri Lopez @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St. Oakville ~Latin; $10

9> Rod Fritz & Al Reilly @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~ original Pop from Tasmania

9> David Grunsky & friends including Nicole Dunn (jam) @ Melange, 172 Main St., TO East ~Rock/Blues

*9> jam with Ted Rusk @ The Sauble Dunes, 11 Southampton Parkway, Sauble Beach

*9-1:30> open stage with Jay Pennell @ Dave’s On St. Clair, 730 St. Clair West, TO West ~eclectic

9-12> Cyndi Carleton Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz/Swing

9> Mike Celia & Sean Pinchin @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Roots-Rock

9-1> Jack de Keyzer Band @ Monarchs Pub (Eaton Chelsea Hotel), 33 Gerrard St. W., TO ~Blues

9> Marshall Dane @ Legends On The Queensway, 1184 The Queensway, Etobicoke South ~Country

9> Kayla Howran @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~Country

*9> jam @ The Wee Pub, 371 Wilson Rd. South, Oshawa

9> Rishing Low @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

*9-2> karaoke with Joe @ Tudor Rose, 700 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax

*9:30-2> Skip Tracer @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd., Etobicoke South ~Rock/Pop

*9:30> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ Coyote Jack’s, 64 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax

*9:30> karaoke with Kiki @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East

9:30> Tom Barlow @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd., Scarb. ~Pop Rock

9:30> The Annex Rivals; Lake Country VHS @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO

*9:30> jam with Jack B Nimble @ Abbey Road Pub, 3200 Erin Mills Parkway, Mississauga

*9:45> Mary Mckay @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues

10-1> Soozi Schlanger solo @ Bar Radio, 615 College St., TO ~original Roots Pop with a twist

10> Harvey Card & Matt Newton @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10> J. Swinnteron @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Roots-Rock

10> TDJF: Dennis Mackrel Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~NY Jazz

10-12> TDJF: Heavyweights Brass Band @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~Jazz

midnight-4am> TDJF: Soul Sonic featuring DJNV @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave., TO West ~Jazz

10> Ginger St. James with Doghouse Rose @ Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen St. W., TO West ~Rockabilly/Cabaret

10> Pretzel Logic @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~Steely Dan tribute

10> The Tonkas @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Blues

*10> Salt & Pepper karaoke with Josh & Danish @ St. Louis Ajax. 11 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax

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

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