140720Su
No itch for change after 7 years of Rebecca’s jam at Southside
\ETOBICOKE SOUTH\
It’s hard for me to believe that it’s been seven years since Southside Johnny’s owner John Theodore and I were discussing what to do about the Sunday night jam in the club at 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. West a bit east of Brown’s Line in Etobicoke’s Long Branch area.
The event, which started shortly after he opened the club 10-1/2 years ago, had been struggling and he was trying to find a host with enough talent to fill in the gaps if there was a shortage of guest players and enough versatility and crowd appeal to keep things fresh week after week.
Rebecca Matiesen -Gary 17
Eventually he decided to give sexy, saucy and effervescent Rebecca Matiesen a try-out with her then new Phoenix ensemble. She hasn’t missed a Sunday since!
I’ve been out to this event many times during the past seven years and while everything has its high and low tides this event has endured because it attracts a wide range of players of varying styles and Rebecca’s band has enough versatility to back just about anyone.
In addition to her own vocal talent, Rebecca sets up a keyboard and often chips in with some numbers on it or allows jammers to have a go if they choose.
She’s also generous with the mic, letting various performers get up to sing with her and inviting full bands to come out and show what they’ve got in hopes of getting a gig there.
With Theodore usually on hand for at least part of every Sunday night, several groups who’ve first come to his attention at the event have gone on to score gigs on a Friday or Saturday on the well-appointed stage.
Tonight should be lively indeed and of course there’ll be a free buffet, cake and all kinds of giveaways and surprises.
Jam starts at 9:30 and runs till whenever —usually right up to last call— but I’d advise arriving early if you want to play or hope to get a seat. If you can’t find one inside there’s always the spacious and relaxing patio outside, where alcohol is permitted up till 11 p.m. but where you can enjoy the summer breezes till the wee hours of the morning.
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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11am-2pm> Beyond The Pale for Jazz Brunch @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~
*11am-3pm> Rockabilly Brunch with The Cosmotones @ Dominion On Queen, 500 Queen St. E., TO ~Rockabilly
*12-3> Julian Fauth’s Blues Brunch @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Blues
noon> Excelsior Dixieland Jazz Band @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz
1> Quebecois Jam @ Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave., TO
2> The Magic Hour Band @ Full Of Beans, 1348 Dundas St. W., TO West ~big band standards
2> Gear Rock Camp@ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville
*2-5> acoustic jam with host Bill Black @ The Working Dog Saloon, 3676 St. Clair Ave. E., Scarborough
*3-6> open mic with Nicola Vaughan @ Hirut, 2050 Danforth Ave., TO East
3-5> Alaniaris @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~original Roots
*3-7> open mic @ Moskito + Bite, 423 College St. TO
*3-6> Michael Brennan @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St. TO ~East Coast Rock/Blues Roots
*3-7> jam at CJ Barleys, 213 The Queensway, Keswick
3> Edward and the White House @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough
3:30-6:30> Dr. Nick & The Rollercoaters @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz
*4-7> open jam with Mike Murphy @ The Brigadoon, 1109 Victoria Park Ave., Scarborough
*4-8> Lost Patients @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke ~Pop
4-8> One King @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd., Etobicoke South
4> Gypsy Rebels @ Castro’s Lounge, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East
*4:30-8> New Orleans Connection All Stars & guests @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO ~New Orleans Jazz
4> Michael Bell @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa
*4:30-8> Chuck Jackson’s All Stars @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Blues
*5-9> All ages open jam with Juggernaut Jam Band featuring Andy Narsingh @ West Shore Bar & Grill, 877 Bayly St., Pickering
**5-8> John Borra & Sam Ferrara w. guest @ The Communist’s Daughter, 1149 Dundas St. W. TO West ~Country
*5-9> Robbie Lane & The Disciples @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Blvd., TO North
5-9> Motown Mania @ Legends On The Queensway, 1184 The Queensway, Etobicoke South ~Rock/R&B faves
5-8> tba @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~old time Country
5> Monk’s Music @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO
5-8> Joanne Morra & The France St. Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz
5-9> Freedom Train @ Lake Affect, 1 Port St., Port Credit
**5-8> The Stew with guest tba @ Mulligan’s, 2458 Dundas St. W., Mississauga
*5:30-8> Sam Taylor & The East End Love @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave, TO East ~R&B
*7-1> open stage with hosts Steve York & Tony Rabalao (2 songs each -signup @ 7 or pre-sign online) @ The Supermarket, 268 Augusta St., TO
*7-11> Karaoke with Rob MacArthur @ The Edge, 250 Bayly St. W., Ajax
7> Tranzac Summer Feast @ Tranzac Club (Main Hall), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO
7> SongStudio with Blair Packham & Friends @ C’est What, 69 Front St. E., TO
*7-9:30> Tara Kannangara @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz
*7-11> open jam @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave., Scarborough
**7-11> The Nomads @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit
7> jam with host Buddy Love Band @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville
*7> open jam @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington
7:30> Diane Roblin Presents featuring Chris Adiaanse, Paul Newman & guests @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO
8> Gordon’s Acoustic Living Room @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~Roots-Pop
*8:30-12:30> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ Gryphon Pub, 114 Dundas St. E., Whitby
9-1> Brown-Talsky Jazz Quartet @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz
9> Los Cabelleros del Son @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Cuban traditional
9> The Mercenaries @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West
*9-1> jam with Mike Roland and Lenny Vaccari @ Stewart Maguires Landing, 15 Allan Dr., Bolton
*9-1> jam @ Ivy Arms Pub, 201 Main Street East, Milton
*9:30-1> jam with the Stir It Up Band featuring Bryan Van Dusen & David Macmichael @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East
*9:30-1:30> Celebration of 7th Year of Jam with Rebecca Matiesen & Phoenix @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South
9:30> Nick Scott Group @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz
*10> Horshack feat. Chris Caddell @ Orbit Room, 580 College St., TO ~Bluesy contemporary & classic Rock
10> Makeshift Island @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO
*10> open mic/jam hosted by Phill Hood (with backline avail.) @ The Cage 292, 292 College St., TO
**10> Blues jam with Brian Cober, Bill Hedefine & guest bassist @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO
*10> jam with Groovestone feat. Dale Harrison @ Scruffy Murphy’s Uptown, 150 Eglinton Ave. E., TO North
10> Sean Pinchin’s Blues ‘n’ Beers @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Blues
10:30> Geoff Willingham Acoustic @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock
*10:30> The Bleeding Idahos @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington ~contemporary & classic Pop Rock
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