It did not take long … Within moments of Jesse Cook taking the stage, an obvious affection spilled through the seats of Salle Wilfred Pelletier and inflicted the stage with an amorous disease. Getting sick never seemed so much fun. Cook was in Montreal last Friday on the coat tails of his latest album – The Blue Guitar Sessions. An album which Cook elegantly described … Continue reading Concert Review – Jesse Cook
When a seventy year old man is able to lift people from their seats – over and over and over again … A flip of the fedora in his direction is not just necessary – it is required. Gilberto Passos Gil Moreira, born in 1942, is the man responsible for a love – in at Theatre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts last night. Who knew … Continue reading Gilberto Gil; A Brazilian Mick Jagger?
Sometimes, poems are written in the dark … Thoughts and feelings piercing the blackness like a knife profound with emotion. Last night at Place Des Arts – Susie Arioli and her excellent group of musicians delivered lines on a platter spun with golden oldies. The patrons or as the English say; the punters – recipients of a catalog smitten by the Great America Songbook. Who … Continue reading Susie Arioli; Concert Review
Techno – pulsating, dance – rave type of music is an acquired taste. Especially if ‘Disco Duck‘ was considered dance music when a listener was thirteen going on thirty. Misstress Barbara; former DJ – turned – songwriter / producer / singer, comandeered her computer to Club Soda on Friday night to instill her techno music to anyone who was in attendance. This was her first … Continue reading Misstress Barbara – Concert Review
David Usher performed at Club Soda on Thursday night. The former front man for Moist brought his solo act and a new album along for the ride. ‘Songs from the Last Day on Earth‘ is Usher’s eighth solo album since his former band left the scene in 1997. There is not a big difference between the sounds now and then except for Usher’s softness shining … Continue reading David Usher – Moist for a Few …
‘The guy in the hat. Call the guy in the hat…!’ That’s all I knew about Sagapool previous to their show Wednesday night at L’ Astral on Ste.Catherine Street in Montreal. Now – much is known… Guilliaume Bourque ( the guy with the hat), clarinet player and co-founder – explains the feeling when the band discovered they had won the Felix award for best instrumental group in … Continue reading Sagapool – Not your Father’s Folk Music
A record collection contains many gems. The Dave Clarke Five, the Kinks, the Monkees, the Who, the Stones and the Beatles. Six groups which make up a good contigent of the British Invasion. Now – if it were possible to sit and listen to all these bands plus a few more in one night – LIVE, would a music fan sit at home? Of course … Continue reading The Hi – Fins; Everyone’s Cup of Tea
The scene …? Brutopia. The place …? Downtown Montreal. The feeling in the air …? General malaise and spookiness. The reason …? Hallowe’en! A shiek on drums, a nun on bass, a conehead on guitar, a giant – sized man of Haitian descent on vocals and a straight – unabashed Mexican on the congas … The name of the band? Kebeko … The type of … Continue reading Rick’s Rockin’ Hallowe’en Bash (or How I Met Mick Jagger )
Not sure what happened last night … Air Supply played before an almost sold out crowd at Metropolis and it wasn’t pretty. Sure, some of the mostly forty ( + ) year old women in attendance were pretty. Sure some of the mostly twenty (+) year old barmaids were pretty – heck, even one bouncer was kinda cute .. Following that – pure ugliness; musically. … Continue reading Air Supply; Making ‘Money’ Out of Nothing at All …
Are stories your thing …? If so – a Zachary Richard concert is the place to be. Historically, musically and most importantly; emotionally. Last night at L’Astral, as part of the Jazz All Year Long series, M. Richard of New Yorek, Louisiana – utilized numerous skills to pulverize a sold out crowd into submission. A happy submission … ‘Le Fou ‘ is Richard’s 20th studio … Continue reading Zachary Richard ; Zydeco comes Home
Last year, there was a duel at L’Astral Theater on Ste. Catherine St. East. A venue on the cusp of downtown Montreal. In the right corner, wearing a brown top and jeans – Dawn Tyler Watson. A woman who posesses the voice of an angel. Vocal chords blessed from deep within … On the left, bearded and loaded with guitar fingers talented beyond comprehension – … Continue reading Thrill Me Up; Dawn Tyler Watson and Paul Deslauriers both Nominated for A Maple Blues Award!
Suddenly – it was 1988. Just like that, Colin James transported a mostly middle-aged audience to the days when mortgages were something their parents understood … It was as effortless for the current British Columbian native as his guitar playing. Times may have changed yet James remains the same – physically and musically. ” It’s great to be back in Montreal!” Shouted James a quarter … Continue reading Colin James in Concert
Rick Keene Music Scene 