Fathead proclaims it’s ‘Fatter Than Ever’ with new album

\TORONTO WEST\

After 22 years together and, with tonight’s official release of their latest disc, nine albums in their discography —two of which have won Juno awards as Blues Album Of The Year— you might think people may start to take TO Blues icons Fathead for granted. That would be a mistake.

This superstar ensemble —about which a Toronto Star reviewer commented “if the Blues were a sports league, Fathead would be the equivalent of an all-star team,” — continues to find fresh ways to present its unique blend of guitar-harp Blues.

Fronted by multiple Maple Blues Award winning singer John Mays, who comes by his southern soul sound honestly, having been raised in Georgia and being part of James Brown’s band. Musical mainspring and multi-instrumentalist Al Lerman contributes vocals too, along with some of the hottest Blues sax and harmonica playing you’ll ever hear. Bassist Bob “Omar” Tunnoch is an acknowledged master whose roots stretch back to iconic TO bands like Whiskey Howl and Wooden Teeth, while drummer Bucky Berger is held in no less esteem and is much in demand when he has time off from his main gig.

Somewhere along the line original and longtime Fathead guitar ace Teddy Leonard parted ways with the band (I’m not sure when and why exactly and the group’s website doesn’t say) but his replacement, Papa John King, has an impressive resumé and no one seems to be complaining about the change.

It’s rare to see the group doing a club appearance in the summer, because they’ve been one of the darlings of Canadian and U.S. festival circuit for the genre for years. But tonight the 5-piece unveils its latest album, Fatter Than Ever, with a show at TO’s Hugh’s Room at 2261  Dundas St. West near Bloor West.

Cover is just $25 (less in advance) and the show starts at 8:30.

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

12-3> Chris Kettlewell & Friends @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

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

1-4> Full Count Blues Band featuring Howard Ross; Sab; Tony Springer; Robin Hawkins & The Royals; more for Hawkfest @ Stoney Lake, Peterborough County ~Blues/Rockabilly

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

2-6> Higher Ground @ Boston Pizza, 284 Toronto St. S., Uxbridge ~Celtic Pop with many guest fiddlers

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

**2-6> Saturday Blues Sermon with James Anthony & special guest Donna Robins @ 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

3-4> The Jessica Stuart Few with guest Wendy Stuart @ Harborfront Redpath Stage, 235 Queens Quay W., TO ~original koto music

3> Jamzac @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

3> Saturday Songwriters’ Circus with Amy Campbell @ Tranzac Club (Tiki Room), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

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

*3:30-6:30> Climax Jazz Band @ Seven44, 744 Bayview Ave., TO North ~Jazz; $

3:30> The Mississauga Big Band Jazz Ensemble @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

3:30> Bernie Senensky 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

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

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

4-8> 24^th Street Wailers @ Lake Affect, 1 Port St., Port Credit

*4> Susan Latimer @ 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> Christine Axiz Quartet @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. TO West –Jazz

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

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

6-9> Clela Errington @ The Mill Restaurant, 123 Water St. W., Brockville ~original & cover Folk

6-8> The Sudden Valley Boys @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

6:30> Scott B Sympathy @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Roots

7-10> Chris Cuddy Acoustic Unit for Fiddle Fest 2014 @ Boston Pizza, 284 Toronto St. S., Uxbridge ~acoustic Pop

7:30> The Bacchus Collective @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~ Jazz

8> David Leask @ The Feathers, 962 Kingston Rd., TO East ~songwriter

8> Trinity Mphoeng @ Musideum, 401 Richmond St. W., TO ~Worldbeat; $20

8-12> Kevin Breit & Mark Lalama Duo @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville ~Fusion Rock-Jazz; $15

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

8:30> Fahead album release for Fatter Than Ever @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO W. ~Blues; $25/-

8:30> Deep Thoughts ep release @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. TO ~Hip Hop; $10

8:30> The Divines @ Cork Hall LIVE, 362 King St. W., Kitchener; $10+

9-1> The David Love Band feat. Darrell McNeill  @ Lake Affect, 1 Port St., Port Credit ~melodic 60s Pop Rock

9-close> Tommy Rocker’s Classic Rock Show  @ Centro Pizza, 3406 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~classic Rock

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

9-1> Stevie Gee @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd., Scarborough ~acoustic Pop/soft Rock

9-1> Six Points Jazz Orchestra @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~ Jazz

9> Party Donkeys @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave., TO East ~

9> Everlovin’ Jug Band @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~20s Jug music

9-1> jam night @ NTB Lounge, 2878 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock/Top 40

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

9-1> Kevin McKendrick Band @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

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

9:30> STPX @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Stone Temple Pilots tribute; $5 adv., $10 door

9:30-11:30> Jesse Laine Band @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~original Pop/Jazz

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

9:30> Al Reilly’s Catalyst @ West Shore Bar & Grill, 877 Bayly St., Pickering ~classic Rock

9:30> James Clark Institute with guest Maria Ryan @ Schnitzel’s, 158 Pitt St., Cornwall ~indie Pop

9:30> Dunn featuring Dee Daffern @ Blue Lagoon, 6769 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls ~Rock/Pop/R&B

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

9:30> Marc Joseph Band @ Stone Cottage Pub, 3750 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock

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

9:30> Peter Lafferty @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9:30> toynia bosch with terry finn band @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

9:45> Bruce Cassidy’s Hotfoot Orchestra @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

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

10-2> Kat House @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W. Etobicoke South ~Rock/Top 40

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

10> Combo Royale & Whitebrow @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Roots

10> Mike Gennaro @ Tranzac Club  (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10-1> Mike Nagoda @ Bar Radio, 615 College St., TO ~Blues; pwyc

10-2> Hot Wax Meltdown @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~classic Pop Rock; $10

10-2> Belik @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax (patio), 36 Kingston Rd. E., Ajax ~Pop Rock

10-2> Paul Stevens & Curtis Freeman @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Top 40

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

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