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The Grand Old Danforth Music Hall

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The Danforth Music Hall is quite the fixture in my neighbourhood. It’s been around since the 1919 and originally called “Allen’s Danforth theatre”.

It had it’s hey day back when Vaudeville acts where all the rage! It changed it’s concept and purpose a number of times and eventually was called the “Century” but kept it’s distinctive beauty intact.

They’ve just renovated this gem on “The Danforth“, known by the locals, and is fully up and running. They have underwent extensive renovations from top to bottom that reflects it original Grandeur. New state of the art sound/lighting system, new seats that are wider (now that’s worth it weight in gold in itself), updated lobby/washrooms and bar area!

This is the kind of jewel that you pass everyday and say to yourself, ” I gotta get in there some day!”. Well, hopefully I will not have to wait that long.

I just went to their site and found a treasure trove of musical talent that is just screaming out to me to go see! Besides, there is tons of parking and seconds away from the subway.

These are a few of my choices that have caught my eye!

Rick Wakeman, the man is a musical genius and machine when it comes to the keyboard (Tony, you gotta see this guy to believe him)

Stephan Stills, now this is a guy you want to go camping with, imagine the sing songs around the fire! (Stevie my favorite brother-in-law, keep this date open)

Rickie Lee Jones, she would be a nice addition to one of my backyard parties. (Jon, will we see you there?)

Just to name a few! My eyes are on Rick Wakeman.

Their site is easy to navigate plus there are some video’s of the artists in their “Events” section, just in case you want to refresh your memory of who they are.

So if your in my neck of the woods, check out this Grand Old Lady and hope to see you there on Aug. 17th/07 when Mr. Wakeman is playing.

Keep on Jammin’




The Perfectionist

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This is another song from Saga that we played in Pylis. The song starts up with an acoustic guitar that then goes into an electric. My Gibson RD Artist fulfilled that dual roll quite admirably I must say.

It wasn’t until recently that I re-visited this song on my Larrivee L-03 acoustic.

The lyrics were just fascinating to listen to and the guitar forms are much more complex then I remembered. As you may or may not know, I’m not a lyricist by any stretch of the imagination. I just pay attention to the level of difficulty of the guitar, the overall structure and emotion that a song provides.

Later on I will start teaching people how I “interpret” how a song is played. So check out this song, and try to pick out all of the guitar progressions and remember them when I start video taping my version.

Keep on Jammin’

Boston Foreplay Keyboard Intro

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Just a short post. If you’re like me and you’d love to learn the whole song or even a small part of this song, here it is. Enjoy!

For those of you who are not familiar with the band or this song that they play here is their version of how to play this tune live!

Keep on Jammin’


Part one of trying to win Max Webster Tickets

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Well faithful readers, I am very desperate to get tickets for the super-Canadian Music Event of this millennium!

I decided to go down to Q-107 at the Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Toronto and attempt to obtain some tickets to this cherished show.

I put on my jacket, picked up my guitar and made a sign. I was determined to grovel and beg Kim Mitchel, the D.J. and Mr. Max himself, to give my wife and I tickets to the show!

I finally arrived in front of the street level Q-107 booth with guitar and sign in hand. I just set up my sign, took out my faithful Larrivee L-03 and with Kim Mitchell’s back against the booths window, knocked on the window. He turned around and at first glance he must of thought that I was one of those “more then a little misunderstood” street people.

He then glanced down at my sign and started to laugh! He then started to say, through the glass, “I have no tickets for you.” He then opened a side door and said that the office was now closed, and he said that they should have more on hand”. I then asked him if I could come down this Wednesday and play the song “On the Road” for him and hopefully get some tickets for my effort. He said sure, but said “You would/may have to play it on the air.” I said I’d do anything for tickets.

So please listen for me to be playing LIVE at Q-107 online and click on the “Listen Live” button. I will also try to tape it and put it on another post. Hopefully, if this happens it will be around 6 pm EST.

The pictures should say it all.

Just before I left!

Begging for max webster tickets 3

When I got back from the mighty “Q”

Begging for max webster tickets 2

Keep on Jammin’, cause you never know when you might win some tickets to the original MAX WEBSTER!!!

Oh Damn I wish I wrote that tune, oh hi Kim

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Now this is a song that I wish that I could have played live, back in the day, let alone write it!

Every single time I hear this song on Q-107 or on my CD home/car stereo, my mind conjures up these feelings as a young impressionable guitar player back in Brantford.

I was being influenced by jazz and free jazz that allowed my mind wonder off into another realm. You know how they say that classical music lets your mind work on different levels simultaneously, Max Webster‘s unique arrangements, work in this fashion as well.

So here’s to Max Webster!

BTW, if you are part of the Max Webster never have seen them live club , PLEASE go out and see them for probably the very last time this Thursday, May 24, at the Docks. This is a Q-107 30th Anniversary Event. Honestly, do your Rockin’ Roll Canadian Duty!

Keep on Jammin’

Stevie Ray Vaughan – RIP

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To this day I still remember the moment when I happened to stumble upon the guitar icon just my mistake playing live in 1982.

It was during the summer at the annual music event called Chicago Fest at Soldiers Field. I was there with my brother in law.

The event was both inside and outside of the stadium. Inside I saw “Chicago” and the “Beach Boys” while outside there were beer pavilions that highlighted different styles of music.

My brother in law went to the bathroom and I was told to sit down at the edge of the Budweiser Pavilion. There was the song below playing and I looked up to see this trio playing this song about 150 feet away. They looked like some back woods band playing in the big city for their first time. Their attitude was bluesy and Rock & Roll epitomized to a “T”.

The drummer was on this small set, the bass player looked like the average guy that you might bump into on the street but the guitar player was a hold out from the 60’s. They were very tight and looked quite at home in their element on stage. The guitar player was the one who stood out like nothing that I have ever witnessed live before.

He had this great looking beat up old battered 1959 Fender Strat with a big rimmed hat with these fairly big silver Texas round things on it. His hands were just mesmerizing to look at. The sound was very southern. He even played part of the solo with his teeth. Up to that point in my life, I had never seen anyone play like this except Mr. Hendrix on old video footage.

I just sat there for a short period of time before I went up a little further. I was just in awe of this guy playing guitar. I also couldn’t believe that the crowd was so small for the talent that was in front of us, but what a huge win for the ones who were there.

I later found out who it was and he had just came back from recording the “Let’s Dance” album with David Bowie. He turned down the opportunity to tour with him to pursue his own tour with his band. This must have been a big ballsie move in Bowie’s eye’s to pull something like this off. Imagine the exposure that he would have gotten from touring with Bowie! Anyways, it was a concert that I will forever cherish.

So Mr Stevie Ray Vaughan (October 3, 1954 – August 27, 1990), R.I.P.

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Keep on Jammin’ Stevie

HitFlip UK – Swap media products with others

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I just visited a great site called Hitflip Uk where residents of the UK can swap media related products with other members of the HitFlip site.

Want to exchange games, music CDs, DVDs, books and audiobooks that you don’t use anymore for similar items that you can use? Just sign up for a Hitflip account and start listing the items you’d like to swap.

Of course if I set up an account on HitFlip I’d be busy looking for great music cds and music related DVDs. We have a great collection already, but hey, we could always use more.

Check out the HitFlip UK Blog to learn a bit more about this company that recently changed it’s name from Swopex. There’s also a great demo of how the site works and plenty of FAQ’s to get you started and answer any questions you might have on the main site.

Disco is

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Gotcha thinkin’ you dancing fool!!!

BTW,are there 2 bass players in this, or is it just an illusion from the short exposure to disco tunes during my formative musical years? See, my brother Tim always told me that this shit would rot my brain even if exposed in short bursts! Always listen to your brother, always!

Keep on ah …

The sweetest guitar solo ever

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Does any guitar player out there have a favorite guitar solo? Well I certainly do, it’s the one from the Rolling Stones, “Heart Breaker”, from their 1973, “Goats Head Soup” album.

This master guitar solo is played by a fellow not a full member of the group but player in the band, named Mick Taylor. This kaleidoscope of a mental voyage into another world of colorful and emotional notes, is the only lead that I have refused to figure out because some times things are made not to be reproduced but to be enjoyed and just put you in a certain mind set. I know that this sounds so unlike me but, somehow this solo just gets to me like no other.

When I listen to it, it just stops me in my tracks and I have to give Mick Taylor my complete and undivided attention. I just can’t think of any other way to describe it. I respect it like no other. It honestly freaks me out how the boys just blend off into the background and let him have full and total control of a song at that point. I still to this day don’t know how he pulled this one off being in a band with such head strong musicians!

He just squeezes and milks the hell out of his guitar and flies to such lofty heights then effortlessly soars down to earth and swoops up your emotions and takes them off to another dimension that we are afraid, but yet happy to just be brought there for such a short period of time! Then back to reality with the boys blowing the doors off the joint and do what they do best, straight forward Rock & Roll. No, I haven’t just had a huge flash back to the summer of love right in front of you, honestly!

This is a song that I will not figure out on principle. I had to give it a shot one time when I was with a student, who was my boss one time at Mr. Case in Toronto.

The Harp Guitar

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This instrument, the Harp Guitar, is the sweetest and most challenging one to perfect. Some of the great musicians to play this instrument have been Robbie Robertson, Steve Howe, Pat Metheny just to name a few.

The Harp Guitar is considered beautiful to the eyes and ears. Even Gibson was a Guitar Harp producer. We have a great Canadian woman who creates these missing links to the musical past and she is, Linda Manzer.

I have chosen Michael Hedges to illustrate this to you today. Unfortunately, like all the great ones, he is no longer with us. He was only 43 when he pasted away from a car crash.

The Guitar Harp has the appearance of a mythical instrument from the days of Robbin Hood, the Lutes of 1265 C.E. (C.E. = Common Era, used to be called A.D.) or the Baroque period. An ageless instrument at that!

I have never seen one up close but if I could be alone with one for a moment or so, I would try to decode this thing once and for all. I have tried my luck on a Lute and it was really fun to play. I love the sound and the action on the Lute. The neck is wide and the length is short, which makes it easier to play in my eyes. I suggest that if the opportunity presents itself, you should take full advantage of the moment to broaden your musical horizons.

Keep on Jammin’, (even Harp style)

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