Scene and Heard with Will McGuirk

GIggsy281108

Our kids are quiet down in Hogtown this weekend...some big shows abound such as the two night BSS show at the Sound Academy... reports from last night say it was BORING!!! and them kids don't know how to dance....
better bet is Catl and Bradley Boy at the Dakota. $5... two sets each...and as the 'Kota is the hippest joint in town it wouldn't surprise me if some of the BSS showed up.

Celtic Tenors are in the Regent tonight, Hello Beautiful play a home for a rest gig at Johnny B's tomorrow, Thornley is there Sunday.

Kites, Gay Fog,  Patrick Dorie and the Heenan & Cheng Experience play the Atria Saturday..

but the gig of the year is the Constantines at the Montreal House in P'terboro'...road trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time to switch to PLAN B

Because everyone in Oshawa is over the age of 50...

 

... The City in all its wisdom has booked David Wilcox for its New Years Eve bash at the GM Centre. Count me out of this countdown please.

New Show New Drummer

Artist Stewart Jones (responsible for album art for Sarah Harmer and Cuff The Duke) has another exhibition scheduled. He will be showing at 129 Ossington in Toronto. Called WinterChills it also features work by Joseph Samson, Peter Rotter, Stephen Noble, Rob Coxford and Laurie Decamillis.

Forest City Lovers have announced on their MySpace that drummer Christian Ingelevics has joined the band on a permanent basis. Prepare to rock on...

Platinum Blonde bassist dies

Canadian Rock loses another as bassist Kenny MacLean is found dead in his studio.
Stories here.

5440....the age range of fans?

Went to see 5440 last night at the Regent. They played two sets...I could only stay for the first...They began slightly late as they were watching the Grey Cup in the bus... it was..pleasant...a tad nostagic...and the crowd was old...actually there weren't that many in the house.. 200 maybe. It made the room seem bare and cold but the band was fun... and still political, offering a few thoughts on Barack Obama and World Vision... its been a while since Ive seen them...they haven't changed much...good or bad I guess depends on your point of view...

Whole lotta love for Great Big Sea

At Hillside this year Hawksley Workman closed the Friday night and he brought with him an arsenal of classic rockisms...he was cock of the rock that evening. I'm curious if he brought some of that strutting and preening to his production work with Great Big Sea because judging by their show last night at the GM Centre which was all fat bottomed end and soaring vocals they must have been listening to a whole lotta Zeppelin recently. The little Celtic band that could has morphed into The Who...well a kinder gentler Newfie Who... Whofies.
The place was sold out to the door hinges and the crowd in fine voice as the boyos took them through a series of sing alongs which included Brian Adams Summer of 69 and Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody... may as well have been in Wembley at that point...it was wicked and those kats do know how to entertain.
If the Regent is Oshawa's living room then the GM Centre was the city's kitchen party. GBS split the night into two full sets covering the hits and a lot of material from the new record Favour's Fortune. The single Hard Case was particularly strong. They showed their versatility as mult-instrumentalists switching to mandolins, flutes, accordions, bodhran and a range of guitars throughout the night and covering sea shantys, ballads, punked up traditional and radio rock. The harmonies were as strong and clear as a Welsh Mining choir.
The drummer Kris MacFarlane was "forced" to do his own bit front and centre, an idea that has roots in the sessions that GBS grew up with. He was left alone to pick out Bruce Cockburn's Lovers In A Dangerous Time.
After playing for almost two and a half hours the band did two encores including the folk ballad Gallows Pole (another hint as to the band's recent listening habits?) and I may add that if there is such a thing as an economic downturn there was little sign of it last night as the beer stands did brisk business. I may also add that Newfoundlanders are well accustomed to hard times and we can learn a lot from last night. When times are tough its family, friends, music and a bit of the drink that gets one through.

The above video is from a gig in New York.

Speaking Frankly about the AGO

And I know its totally of topic for this blog but I've been waiting for the realisation of Frank Gehry's vision ever since my son and I went to the preliminary exhibition of models and drawings, plans and sketches. I've yet to visit the building which is open now to the public but I have been reading the reports and reviews and looking at loads of photo blogs on it...
However one thing has yet to be commented on... and its the staircase on the back wall.  The staircase which protrudes from the AGO and wraps itself back in looks like an odd addition, something last minute tacked on...but viewed from a distance its real purpose becomes obvious. It is there not to enhance the art gallery but the Grange which sits below it. The staircase acts as a plume of smoke spiralling up from the building...its sits over one of its chimneys.. and its creates the feeling of life in the old house...something which Gehry who grew up in the area would have witnessed.

Giggsy 201108

Well this is a crazy weekend for the Rock in the ol' town...tons of stuff...like tons...
Great Big Sea are in at the GM Centre (wonder how much longer it will be called that?) on Saturday. I asked singer Alan Doyle if his co-writer on the new record Fortune's Favour, our own Jeen O'Brien will join them onstage and he is optimistic. That would be sweet. On Sunday at the Regent its 54 40.

So tonight... Janetville Doug is hosting the JP FItzpatrick Open Mic and Heather Luckhart continues her open mic run at Isabellas downtown. Up at the University it's Booze 'n Trees with the Micronite Filters, the Stables and Jackie Game. Dave Statham with the Brian Rose Band is in Chicago's.

Friday the foreshortened St. Alvia will bring their rock steady stylings to the Groove Lounge while the elegant and eloquent Bradley Boy has a record release party at Isabellas. This one is lickeered plus Les Penner will have an exhibition of his photography.

Saturday at the Regent its a mini- Jazz Festival with Jaymz Bee & The Royal Jelly Orchestra, Only Way Back have a CD release party of their own at Johnny B's with the Organ Thieves and Bury The Bully.

Some Hogtown shows of note...the Stables are in the Dakota Saturday and Sunbear plays the Not My Dog. Graphic rockers Hail The Villain play a free gig Tuesday at the Black Betty. But the big big show is Broken Social Scene at the Sound Academy next Thursday and Friday. Food drive in effect.
And of course a heads up for next weekend...the 35/115 shall be gridlock with all of the D-Rockers heading up to P'terboro' to see the Constantines play the Montreal House.

Also Against The Grain have announced that melange rockers the Johnstones (of Ajax) bring their Chilli Perrs/Moxy Fruvous vibe to the Mod Club.

Waking Eyes Cure Gravity

These bad ass kats sent out a note for y'all....
"We are playing a Surprise gig with The Waking Eyes tomorrow night @ The Elmocambo in Toronto! We go on @ 9:30 sharp".