Guitar Licks

Guitars, tips and great music discussions




You are here: Home / Archives for Culture / Canadian

Mason Dixon Band at Toronto Ribfest 2011

by

In one of my previous posts I told you all about our adventures to The Toronto Ribfest in Centennial Park in Etobicoke and the great food there but I forgot to tell you about this great band that we stumbled upon while waiting in line for some of Bob’s Bloomin’ onions.

The band was called the Mason Dixon band and they were the perfect band to showcase at a venue like this. The singer also said that this was their 8th straight year playing this venue and I’ll soon show you why.

So while waiting in line we heard a band warming up on stage doing a sound check. The guitars sounded great, the drum kit sounded small, (but a talented guy like Domenic or Julian Pavine, on a small kit can make people’s head turn) was ok, then came the sound of a keyboard in Hammond B3 mode. To me one of the greatest sounds that you can hear while a band is warming up is the sound of this thing, it makes the hair on my arms stand up! Then the band started playing.

First tune they performed that afternoon was Kansas Carry On My Wayward Son. The vocals were great, the band was tight, the smell of charcoal ribs, a light breeze blowing through my hair, a perfect sky and with these guys wailing away in the background, priceless!

They then performed a great version of Foreplay/Long Time by Boston, Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac), School (Supertramp) Thinkin’ Of You (Harlequin). The highlight for some people was trying to figure out that this annenna thing was that the lead guitar player/backup singer was playing. This instrument is called the

Then as we were exiting the park we where showered with Raise A Little Hell from Trooper, while watching people walking in, lip singing to the song, what a great way to leave this years event! Wish you we there.

Keep on Jammin’




Toronto Ribfest at Centennial Park

by

My wife and I went to witness one of the many great summer festivals that Toronto has to offer this past Saturday, it’s called Toronto Ribfest.

There are actually several Ribfests during the summer months. The one we went to yesterday was located in Etobicoke’s Centennial Park. We’ve been there before mostly for the food but this year ran into this great band playing on the Rotary stage, but first to the fine local cuisine!

First we picked up some Origional (Yes that’s how they spelled it right on the tin mug that came with it) Pappy’s Old Fashion Soda Pop. It was way too watered down for the price of $7.00. Tip: if you do get one, make sure to completely pull down on the tap until you see the colour of your drink otherwise you end up with a bad mixture. The mug does have a cool Army or Klondike gold rush appearance to it. Then it was off to Camp 31 BBQ to get us 2 Full Racks of Ribs with 2 orders of beans and coleslaw. Cost $48.00.

Just before leaving the Ribfest, we finally decided to get a taste of Bob’s Bloomin’ Onions. Cost $9.00. They get a huge onion and make it look like a flower. Then they dip it in batter then deep fry it and serve it with a Ranch Dressing sauce.

Blooming Onion

The parking as usual was crazy, for a more pleasant exit from the parking lot, ask the cop or attendant whee they want you to exit, it will definitely help with your blood pressure.

I’m sorry if I grossed out any vegans out there.

Keep on Jammin’

So AUX TV can’t play more video’s?

by

So the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) is up to their old crazy ways are they? These people … have to be smokin’ something else other then tobacco. Please just read the below caption.

Three months after the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission told MuchMusic it can’t air fewer music videos than it already does, the same federal agency has denied a request to play more of them on a cable music channel that’s become a launching pad for dozens of independent Canadian artists. Vancouver Sun

This story was in the Vancouver Sun on February 15, 2011. How does a decision like this happen. Who actually calls it? What was their reasoning behind it?

I like watching Aux TV. The amount of indie acts are great and I think this kind of platform is desperately deeded around here. I’ve been watching AUX TV since Oct 2009 and although I’m not a huge dedicated fan, I like the change it brings to my TV entertainment.

Can someone out there tell me how/why the CRTC came to this conclusion?

Keep on Jammin’

Nash the Slash and Iggy Pop interview

by

Here is a rare video of Nash the Slash and Iggy Pop interviewing themselves after a concert in Calgary Alberta sometime in 1982. I think it was 1982 because Nash was on a North American tour with Iggy Pop from February-April in 1982.

They just appear to be having a great time in each others presence. I’m not sure what they’re getting at or if there is any purpose to the interview but it sure is entertaining at times! In one section someone alludes to the fact that it is being shot in a local TV studio somewhere in Calgary.If anyone out there knows more about the video please tell me, I’d love to find out.

Nash can’t remember, but he thinks there are serious stories to be told here, but..he…can’t…. remember. Jim…..Help!!! Just kidding. Iggy and Nash remember everything that happened over the entire six week tour, but they refuse to incriminate each other.
Nash the Slash’s Gravesite

At one point in the video, they show us some of the finer points of yoga and stretching. Come to think of it, they may have been the forerunners of the 20 Minute Workout video’s? Remember that show?

The video is very poor and grainy at times, I’ll warn you now.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGZnP_oNVko

A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of meeting the man, without the bandages, at a local patio. It was so cool to finally meet a boyhood legend that it left me speechless … yes speechless!

Keep on Jammin’

The King of Country Guitars

by

The Cantos Music Foundation, which is located in Calgary, has a one of a kind multi-instrument in it’s collection. It’s a five-neck guitar from Saskatchewan country music legend Steve Puto. He lent it to the society a number of years ago.

It belongs to Saskatchewan country music legend Steve Puto, who lent it to the organization several years ago.
Steve says that he brought it when I was performing at some local jamborees. Saying that it’s conversational piece is an understatement.

According to the CBC, the guitar luthier’s name is Dick Thomas. He made this work of functioning art when he was employed by Country King guitars.

Steve Puto's five neck guitar for Country King guitars

When I saw this creation my first instinct was to find out more about it. If it was right in front of me, I’d be compelled to pick it up and play it, well wouldn’t you?! Steve Puto use to host the popular Saskatoon TV show The Lonesome Steve Show, aired every Saturday in Saskatoon in the mid-’70s.

The instrument has five necks that include a mandolin, a banjo, a six-string guitar, a bass and a fiddle. “And lest we forget, mounted to the fiddle is a harmonica,” Moffat said, the head conservator at Cantos. He says that the instrument isn’t in good enough shape to play anymore. “But I think we could definitely bring it back to life. It’s a great example of innovation, experimentation.”

Steve purchased this distinctive looking guitar for about $400.00 (CAN) from a buddy of his music store in 1973.
He still plays today and runs a ranch in Saskatoon.

“I’m celebrating my 65th year in country music,” said Puto, who is planning to take his old five-neck out of the Cantos collection so he can play it at jamborees this summer. CBC

I can only imagine that Cantos is praying that he returns this one back to their medley of musical instruments. To read the original article in it’s entirety check out this link. If you ever go to the Cantos Music Foundation in Calgary you should look for this beauty.

Keep on Jammin’

Suzy-Qew and the Steelstring Safari band

by

An old friend of mine, Suzy-Qew, is a great Indie songwriter. She and her band are called Steelstring Safari.

She was influenced by early guitar playing that she was exposed to during her youth. Ah the old St. Pius elementary school days. Now a days she creates her own unique style from whatever comes into her head and performs mostly for personal enjoyment. If she likes it, she records it.

Her music is currently being showcased on a site called Reverb Nation.

I hope that you could listen to her music and tell us here what style of music you think she is playing!

Here’s what I think of some of the songs on Steelstring Safari’s current album:

  • For Real is a nice catchy tune. I like the bass runs played on the keyboard. Very functional with a bit of airy feeling to it, nice!
  • Another song, Faster, is a tune that is very dreamlike to me. She provides some light U2 overtones and the keyboards are not overstated at all. I never knew that she was into techno! I think it’s beautiful. The video that she has produced herself is very indie in nature and shows her true colours.
  • In Time – Sounds like a classic song just waiting to happen! It creeps up on you without realizing it. I LOVE the acoustic guitar at the very beginning. It resembles the tone of my very first guitar, thanks for the flashback SusieQ! Very simple and straight forward. In Time has both a raw and full sound. Throughout the song they are married into a perfect union of the heart. I never knew Suzy-Qew was that good!
  • Things Have Got To Change. At the beginning I thought that I was listening to a Scott Merritt album. I can’t exactly put my finger on it though. The way she creates this tune makes you sit back and take the whole song apart and that forces you to think about it, which is really what music is suppose to do. I LOVE the Portishead feel on the electric guitar. The background voice going through a mega phone effect is haunting as well. The guitar solo has that surf/garage band sound like a rough Trevor von Drat mixed in with yet again another Scott Merritt influence thrown in for good measure!
  • I Miss You Friend – really good popish tune for sure! I’d like to see Susan Aglukark singing background on this, it would be very distinctive. Not that the band’s background vocals are anything to sneeze at;)
  • Smile has that country feel to it. I’m not really into country except Waylon Jennings and his ilk. I honestly like it!
  • Alone is one of those songs that you can’t help but get caught up in. It seems to come across as fabulous dinner music that everyone loves to listen to. I really LOVE that style that Suzy-Qew’s providing us here! Go Suzy-Qew go!

So check out her site and tell me what you think.

Keep on Jammin’

The days before digital music

by

I remember that good old days before digital music came our way. Listening to music that was on vinyl was more of a religious experience.

Do you remember rummaging through albums in your favorite music store? Flipping from one section to another. Noticing the old one that you already have in your collection at home. Having flashbacks of when you first took the plastic off it, putting it on your turntable and in the back of your mind noticing that you should change your stylist soon?

Now you gently cue up the turntable arm/needle over the part of the record that gives you a couple of seconds to first gently place the cover on it, then grab the album cover and open it up to where the lyrics are. It was like performing a holy sacrament.

Just a side note here: did anyone out there have a scratch on one of their favourite platters of vinyl that skipped during a small portion of a song? The only way to rectify it was to put a penny on the arm and hope for the best. Think of it as an early version of a software patch?!

If your record cover was quite old, it may of had a distinctive scent that reminded you of some special event that took place while listening to it. Mine mostly smelled of spilled beer, ha! Also some of the art work on them were really … well works of art! What was your favorite album cover? I had too many to chose from.

Speaking of works of art, my buddy Jon had this great album from Leon Redbone. I remember hearing it tons of time at his place when he was married. We thought that it was a master piece … but his ex-wife not so much! One day when Jon was practicing with his band, she went ahead and turned it into a popcorn bowl! Does this look familiar Pinhead (you know I love ya brother!)?

I still have this one moment that will etched into my mind forever. When I was in elementary school, we started this Kiss tribute band called Deuce. Kiss had just released this one song Beth, that was on their classic vinyl 1976 record called Destroyer. This tune was played on the piano though and I had only goofed around on this instrument from time to time. That day this song kept playing in my mind over and over again. I just sat there in my desk in a dream state. I could only imagine the keyboard, trying to figure it out in my little brain.

I then literally ran home to the piano and attempted to play it. I was able to get only 1/4 of the way through the song despite working on it all night long. The following day I told my mom that I was sick and that I had to stay home. Sure enough she bought it and I was able to finish figuring it out. The day that I returned to school I played it on the school piano to my buddy’s amazement.

I still get excited about figuring out a song that I have on new CD or one that I’ve found on Youtube but it’s still not the same as the old vinyl record! I’m lost for words on this topic.

Now a days it’s not quite the same. Sure you can go to a record/CD store and peruse through their collections. Talk to others close by about certain bands or other related things but it’s not the same. Most people out there today are just too self absorbed in their own world to even bother … well maybe not everyone, I’ll talk to anybody.

Today the many ways we have to access our favorite music seems sterile to me. You first turn on your computer, go to a site, do a search and then quickly download your favorite tunes. iTunes or iPods, what is your preferred choice of downloading?

Most people I know just get a single tune from a band and that’s it. The old way you were forced to get the entire album and be exposed to some songs that you don’t like at first. After listening to those ones a couple of times, some actually grow on you to become great tunes! Remember all those B side songs?

So am I being too overly dramatic here or do I have a point?

Keep on Jammin’

RUSH enters 2010 Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame

by

RUSH will be inducted to this years 6th Annual Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

rush

The event will be taking place on March 28 at The Toronto Centre for the Arts. Also included in this years inductees is Robert Charlebois.

RUSH declined playing for the event despite the Hall of Fame’s insistence. They instead wanted to follow proper protocol having other acts pay tribute to them by performing their own unique take on some of the RUSH’s most popular songs. Man this is gonna be a great show!

Rush, all the worlds a stageFirst up will be Hamilton folk/roots musician Jacob Moon, at Rush’s invitation, will perform his solo acoustic version of “Subdivisions,” which has gone viral on YouTube.

Then there’s St. Catharine’s own rockers Alexisonfire. They will do their interpretation of Tom Sawyer and last but not least California bass virtuoso and Geddy Lee protege Les Claypool, will do his rendition of The Spirit of Radio.

There will be another tribute to the band by way of a Documentary. It will highlight the rise of RUSH’s past 40 years as Canada’s most celebrated band! it will be by filmmakers Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn titled RUSH: Beyond The Lighted Stage. The premiere will take place at this years Hot Docs Festival from April 29 through to May 9 (see www.hotdocs.ca/festival).

So hats off to the old boys because it’s about time!

Hey RUSH, Keep on Jammin’

Orillia’s Old Town Fries by Bob May and Lynne Kirkby

by

Old Town Fries in Orillia Ontario are the best fries in the land! An old friend of the family opened up this great Chip Wagon in the Town of Orillia that reminds me of Brantford’s own famous chips called Stan’s Chip Wagon! The owners were 2 nice guys called George and Stan. I never did get their last names, sorry bout that guys.

Oldtownfriesinorillia

Bob is one of those hard working nice guys that you just love to see succeed in no matter what they are doing! Bob and his partner Lynne Kirkby seem to be the perfect working couple.

My wife and I went up to check out their Old Town Fries and we loved their culinary delights! A mutual friend called Jerry says that Bob’s Dogs are the best thing on the menu and it’s hard to argue that one. Also did I say that Bob is a fabulous guitar player?

OLD TOWN FRIES, in the City of Orillia, is as their slogan says “more than just fries”. What better addition to your meal of fresh cut fries than a quarter pound of pure beef hamburger, half pound Big Dog hotdog (or little dog for the smaller appetite), five perfect slices of Peameal bacon, mild sausage, or crispy chicken served on a bun, or hot Buffalo wings all dressed the way you like them. Is your mouth salivating?

Their Chip wagon in the parking lot beside Trombly’s Tackle Box 595 West St. S. in Orillia. So if your ever up in the Orillia ask the locals for directions and I am more then sure everyone knows the way to the Old Town Fires! Tell bob and Lynne that I sent ya!

Keep on Jammin’

Lee’s Palace on Bloor St. West in Toronto

by

Lee’s palace is a fabulous place to see a band. The history of the bands that have played there is long and legendary! It is Toronto’s premier alternative Rock venue.

The first floor is where the bands play and the top floor, called the Dance Cave, is where … well all the dancing goes on!

The list of past performers are a who’s who of international Alternative Rock bands. My favorites that have graced us with their musical presence were Shuffle Demons, Nirvana, Grapes Of Wrath, Tragically Hip, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Pursuit Of Happiness, Forgotten Rebels, Scott Merritt (a good old Brantford boy), The Lemonheads, Crash Vegas, Gaye Bikers on Acid, Goo Goo Dolls, The Tea Party, I Mother Earth, The Headstones (Hugh Dillion), Smashing Pumpkins, Spin Doctors (guitarist is from Toronto), The Rembrandts, Blind Melon, Philosopher Kings, Ed The Sock (he is a real sock!), Collective Soul, Oasis, Big Sugar, Toad The Wet Sprocket, Better Than Ezra, Alanis Morissette, The Presidents of The United States of America, Great Big Sea, even Yoko Ono played there in 1996 (with her and John Lennon’s son Sean in the backup band Ima!). As a side note: the best band that I ever saw there was called Needy Fingers, with world renown bassist Todd Williams! Cerafim, now called Counterpoint, performed there as well! Now that is an impressive line up!

The venue known as Lee’s palace has been open since 1985, It is located at located at 529 Bloor St. W. Toronto in The Annex section of the city. I have been in this place so many times that I can’t remember. Maybe it had something to do with earlier visits to Ye Olde Brunswick House only a hop, skip and a stagger away! Anyways, I just love that place!

The hall itself originally was opened in 1919 under the name of Allen’s Bloor Theatre. Part of the Allen’s theatre company that was started off by it’s owners in Brantford Ontario. Across the street is another great hall called The Bloor. Check out the video if your into local history.

So who else out there had a good time in this Toronto Landmark that they can remember! Go ahead, test out your old grey matter and write back here soon!

Lee’s Palace, Keep on Jammin’

Meta

Archives

Pages

Tags

Acoustic amp band bands Brantford Bruce Cockburn Canada Canadian concert Entertainment fender funny General guitar Guitar Equipment guitarist guitar player guitars Home house Humor humour instrument jammin jazz John Mayer keyboard Live Music musician Musicians play playing Progressive Rock Pylis rock RUSH Songs to play sound strings Technology Toronto tour Video YES