Outside, it was chilly. The rain came and went like an unwanted vagrant who has pressed his luck panhandling once too often … Inside – the House of Jazz welcomed one and all with it’ s fiery ambiance. A band of bluesmen providing the engine for a warm evening’s jaunt. Drinks were flowing as smiles accompanied the delicious food. Ladies and Gentlemen … I give … Continue reading Carolyn Fe Blues Collective at the House of Jazz
‘Sweet hot chocolate and one hand in my pocket …’ These are some of the lyrics included in Brie Nielson’s ‘ Happy Song’, a tune which is a small part of a bigger ‘ Picture Show’. An album which will be officially launched on October 4 at Sala Rossa – 4848 blvd St. Laurent in Montreal. Alannis Morisette had one hand in her pocket while … Continue reading Brie Neilson – A Happy Song at the ‘Picture Show’
When Steve Hill was a lad, he discovered the blues much the same way many people do. Through the music and words of others… “Everytime I would hear guys like Jimmy Page talk about music, they would always be talking about people like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Robert Johnson. This is how I learned the blues, by listening to my heroes’ heroes.” For Steve … Continue reading Steve Hill; Back Where he Started
Juno Award winner David Usher is releasing his eighth studio solo album; ‘Songs From The Last Day On Earth’. The album will be released on October 2nd through MapleMusic Recordings. Rice Paper / Partir Ailleur, is the first.single to be released and is currently circulating on radio. A video for the song was shot by award winning Quebec short film director Arnaud Brisebois. According to … Continue reading David Usher; Songs from the Last Day on Earth
It seems nowadays – everyone does a duet together … From Amy Winehouse and Tony Bennett to Carlos Santana and Rob ( whatever happened to him?) Thomas. Yes – the unlikeliest of pairs unite. Was it Michael Jackson who started the trend when he hooked up with ex- Beatle Paul McCartney to sing ‘ Say, Say , Say‘? Or – maybe it was Stevie Wonder … Continue reading Top Ten Duets You Will Never See
Last year, Rick Gunn was diagnosed with stage three myltiple myeloma. Previous to this, he had gone to the hospital many times, over a period of many months, suffering from extreme back pain. On each occasion, he was given painkillers and sent on his way. At one point – he was forcibly removed from a hospital and told that it was not a hotel. Finally, … Continue reading Rick Gunn – A Battler
There are so many things that this musical mother of two teenagers would like to do. ” When I retire, I would like to paint, renovate my house, sew and cook. Meantime, I run like the devil, booking all my gigs, with a little help from my number one fan and manager.” Biz Oliver, a singer who does a more than fitting tribute to Janis … Continue reading Just Who is Biz Oliver?
Photos courtesy of Jim, Ritchie and David Henman. Continue reading April Wine – Through the Years in Photos
According to Wayne Cullen – being a member of the Dudes was a very heady experience to be involved with … “I was the youngest in the group (Brian Greenway a year or two older, I think). One thing after another added to the giddiness we eluded. The amount of press we received, The Phonograph Record article that Gary Sperrazza wrote that producer Mark Spector … Continue reading All the Young Dudes; Part Five
Wayne Cullen – one of the drummers in the 70’s band; ‘The Dudes’ – continues the saga of the demise of a band. A fate which should never have happened … Cullen’s band – Bacchus, reached it’s demise around the same time Wayne’s favourite group, The Wackers, played their final gig. Cullen approached Bacchus’ booking agent (who also booked the Wackers) and asked for Bob Segarini’s … Continue reading All the Young Dudes; Part Four
Before disbanding in the fall of ’73, AW took the summer off for everyone to clear their heads. The band had toured almost non-stop since fall ’70. ” I went camping and fishing with Claire ( my wife) for a few weeks and when I got back I was contacted by a band from California called “The Wackers“. They were living and working out of … Continue reading Ritchie Henman; The Beginning and End of the Dudes
Wayne Cullen, one of two – yes, two drummers in The Dudes, recounts how he came to be in the greatest band that never was … The greatest live band out of Montreal in the 1970’s and how the record company which was supposed to help the band obtain stardom – did the polar opposite. The Dudes’ story is a sad one as the band … Continue reading All the Young Dudes; Part Three
Rick Keene Music Scene 