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Centennial Stage construction at the CNE

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I was watching a news story a couple of months ago about vintage videos, both from private and official video collections, from some of the past CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) years. The people who run the CNE thought that they had something special here and they wanted to share it with the rest of the world. They weren’t quite to sure how to achieve this, but they eventually decided to put it up on Youtube so that everyone could enjoy the CNE archive films.

I just watched quite a few of the CNE videos and I have to say that some of these clips brought back a flood of fantastic memories of past visits to CNE or The EX as most of us locals call it.

My favorite video of the entire collection was the one that showed the making of the main portable stage at Exhibition Stadium. Up until watching the video that I have, BTW included at the end of this post, I never knew the actual name of this stage. They call it the Centennial Stage.

This stage supported some of the greatest acts of the 20th century! The Who, Pick Floyd, The Police, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, John Cougar Mellencamp (ha, I finally had the chance to say his old name out loud!) and Simon and Garfunkel just to name a few. The best show that I have witnessed there, from a pure sound point of view, was Pick Floyd in 1987? They went all quadraphonic on us at that show, very trippy!!!

So I hope that the video below brings back some great memories for you if you had the chance to visit this stage or the Toronto CNE in the past.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f34Wd1VLDwg

Keep on Jammin’




Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2009 Concert

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This years 25th anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concerts was one of those shows that you wish that you had taken in! Both shows this year took place on Oct 29-30 at Madison Square Garden in New York city.

For Thursday’s show, the line up and set list was unreal! On Friday the line up was just as impressive!

There were far too many acts for me to single out which one that really got my attention but the best act that I saw on line was Stevie Wonder and Jeff Beck playing superstition! God those boys still ROCK!

If most of you like myself, who were not one of the many lucky ones in attendance at either show, it will on HBO U.S. in between Nov. 30, 2009 – Jan. 03, 2010 and HBO Canada in between Nov. 9th to Dec. 30th 2009 in HD. I just programed my PVR right now!

So did anyone out there check out either show in New York?

Keep on jammin’

NUANCE Soundscape Sundays

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Hole shit it’s that time again kidz and I just about forgot! Tonight is NUANCE Soundscape Sundays!
It’s a celebration of everything progressive and art rock all in one location and at the fabulous price of $5 admission!

For more info. please go to the NUANCE Soundscape Sundays site for further info.! Hope to see ya there! Wilton, I hope to see ya …

Keep on Jammin’ Wilton and friends!!!

The band Peeler is coming to Toronto Aug. 21-22/09

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I first ran into Craig when he was doing a solo gig way back in Oct. 2007 at the Arlington Hotel’s Capron’s Cavern, in Paris Ontario. The occasion was a good friends 50th birthday party. Some how my buddies wife got a hold of him and he played there that night for the event. I brought along my guitar and they wanted me to play a couple of songs, so why not get up and play!

Anyway, playing that night Craig and I did a few tunes together and it was just the perfect little gig! We both connected flawlessly and it was brilliant. I know Craig, I’m still trying to get that night’s video that was taken!
In all honesty Craig, I was drawn to your Vox Tonelab LE system! I did a couple of small set’s throughout the night to give the man a break.

This modern rocker’s bio is neat to read! His style is straight forward and he doesn’t disappoint! To get a good idea of his musical format, his interview at the NOW lounge is a nice example of the guitarist background and where he is going.

So I just want to bring Peeler into your musical experience for those unlucky ones who have not been exposed to playing. So come on out to see this guys show at Casey’s, 123 Front St W, in Toronto Aug. 21-22 to see what I mean! I know I’ll be there! I’ll be the guy with the oversize BIC lighter waving in the air.

Keep on Jammin’ Peeler!

Glastonbury Festival

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The Glastonbury Festival is something I’ve never heard of before.

This sounds like one of the best musical weekends one could ever imagine!

It started in 1970 and hasn’t looked back. In 1971 the lineup was Hawkwind, Traffic, Melanie, David Bowie, Joan Baez and Fairport Convention. Attendance: estimated at 12,000. Price: free. At the 1982 show the acts were Van Morrison, Judie Tzuke, Jackson Browne, Roy Harper, Richie Havens. Attendance: 25,000. Tickets: £8. Then in 1985 Echo & The Bunnymen, Aswad, Joe Cocker, Style Council and The Boomtown Rats. Attendance was 40,000,Tickets: £16. Now that’s not a bad line up!

They even made a documentary called Glastonbury Fayre (1972). Watching the trailer looks like it was going to be one of those weekends, don’t ya know, nudge, nudge, wink, wink?! The band Fairport Convention looked great. These guys are still around believe it or not.

Has any of my readers here been to this festival? I’d love to know if it’s well worth the price to get there?!

Keep on Jammin’

Buffalo Auditorium’s last stand

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The Buffalo Auditorium was just a beautiful building. They are demolishing it and making it into a parking lot! As in Joni Mitchel’s song, They paved paradise and put up a parking lot. The pictures says it all.

Some many unforgettable events were held there. I know you just have to ask Chris Noto about it and he’ll have tons of stories for you! Sorry about your loss there buddy!

Many sports teams called it their home.

Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League, the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League, the Buffalo Braves of the National Basketball Association, the Buffalo Stallions of the Major Soccer League, the Buffalo Bandits of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League, the Buffalo Blizzard of the second National Professional Soccer League, and the Buffalo Stampede of Roller Hockey International. It also held a number an NCAA basketball games, as well as numerous entertainment events, such as concerts, the Ringling Brothers circus, Disney on Ice, and other things of that nature.

It held some fabulous other shows as well. The Aud. held shows by major acts such as The Grateful Dead. Some say the grand old lady helped produce the bands greatest shows ever! The Who, The Stones, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Neil Young and David Bowie are just a few of the greatest bands to play within it’s walls.

So here is a final salute to the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium “The Aud” and let us keep her in out hearts!

Has anyone here been lucky enough to have graced her hallowed walls? If so, what did you see there and do you have some stories about her?!

Keep on Jammin’

Checking out concerts live in your living room

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Imagine checking out a fabulous concert of your favorite act! The vibe during the show is just infectious. Just lining up at the gate to get in can get your heart a pumping! Finally after getting in, your bumping into people racing to grab a light refreshing liquid beverage(or in my case many!), listening to other music lovers talking about previous shows or the band in general.

That’s what I love about the concert experience! Now imagine being at a great gig, only that it’s at home and on your TV/computer screen?!

Well that’s what this classical company is introducing to us. I’m not sure, but I’d give it a go, just for the hell of it.

The company, called Berliner Philharmoniker, is providing LIVE CONCERTS, via live audio-video streams through the internet. Mind you, they also provide the avid classical lover past shows as well.

Would you subscribe to something like this? I’d love to find out what you all think about this new experience.

Keep on Jammin’

Don Kirshners Rock concert

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Don Kirshners’ Rock concert brought us the best that Rock & Roll had to offer. It was the best and most viewed music show on television during my youth … and we thank you for it Don, wherever you are these days. This music variety show premiered on September 29, 1973 and sadly ended on January 1, 1981.

I can vividly remember staying home and watching this show countless nights, seeing musical giants strutting the stage! My mind would wander, imagining myself performing with these greats. I thought about how in the hell, what did these guys do to make the guitar sound like that? Did they sell their souls to the devil for unearthly musical powers?

At the time, Don Kirshners Rock concert was a land that I wanted to go to and be part of some how, some way. I now realize that this show helped me to become hooked on guitar playing.

The shows that really were embedded in my mind were Black Sabbath, Frank MarinoPoco, Brownsville Station , Kool and the Gang (as a young guitar player, these guys were out of sight man!), and John Klemmer (I distinctly remember this being my first exposure to jazz guitar playing).

Here is just a PARTIAL list of the musical who’s who of Rock, that played on the show, as well as helped forge my R & R experience for years to come!

Bad Company, Badfinger, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Black Sabbath, Brownsville Station, Joan Baez, Pat Benatar, Black Oak Arkansas, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Blue Öyster Cult, David Bowie, The Byrds, Harry Chapin, Cheap Trick, Jim Croce, Devo (one of my favorites!), The Doobie Brothers, Eagles
Earth, Wind & Fire, Edgar Winter Group, Electric Light Orchestra, Fleetwood Mac, Foghat, Golden Earring, The Guess Who, The Hollies, James Gang (the guy who lived down the street played in this band, Domenic Triano), Billy Joel, Johnny Winter, Kansas, B.B. King, Kiss, Mahogany Rush, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, Frank Marino, Don McLean, Ted Nugent, New York Dolls, Billy Preston, Prince & The Revolution, Ramones (the ultimate wedding band, imagine the version of the bird dance!), Lou Rawls
The Rolling Stones, Todd Rundgren, Rush (my home town band from Toronto), Santana, Seals and Crofts, Sly & the Family Stone, The Stampeders, (love these guys!), Steely Dan, Steve Miller Band, UFO, Uriah Heep, War, Weather Report, and T.Rex. Holly shit batman, what a partial list that was!

I ask people at work if they remember anything about this show and most of the time I get these blank stares looking back at me. Is it just me, or was this show one of the greatest shows to watch as a kid?

God bless Don Kirshner, where ever you are!

Keep on Jammin’ Don

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