Hier soir – a la Maison du Jazz, there were two pianos … Not one, not three – two. A pair of grand pianos taking center stage in the house that George Durst built. All week long, an event titled Piano Cameleons is taking place. An event hosted by John Roney and Matt Herskowitz which will offer a fresh take on old favorites. Special guests scheduled … Continue reading Top Ten Oddest Things Overheard at The House of Jazz
One of the hottest flames to rise out of Montreal’s musical blaze, The In & Outs, a high voltage, electrifying experience have announced the following show dates in Vermont along with taking coincidence of their newly released album ‘Zero Gravity’ and acrobatics of their new music video ‘There We Go’ to a new level as they will be performing a flying high set for the grand opening of Montreal rock climbing … Continue reading The Ins & Outs; Ups and Downs … Sept. 21
Grace Potter and her band of merry Nocturnals appeared at the Virgin Mobile Corona Theater on Thursday night … Or did they? It was the second appearance by the Vermont -based group in seven months at the very same venue. Maybe they should have waited. Or – stayed home. Grace herself – one of the most talented and energetic female singers to come out of … Continue reading Grace Potter; Sagging a Bit …
Once Gino Vannelli‘s mini-tour is finished, a tour where the final stop in Canada is Montreal’s Rialto Theater – it is off to Los Angeles to continue a new part of his career. Fitting because L.A. is where it all started … ” I can’t really say much about it …” Explains Gino. ” It is still under production and negotiations. I am not at liberty … Continue reading Gino Vannelli; All Those Nights in Montreal.Part Three
Gino Vannelli had a lot of ambition as a young man growing up in Montreal. According to him – you have to have that fire to succeed. “I was filled with fire as a kid. I moved to New York when I was young and signed a record deal by the time I was twenty-one, which was fairly young for even today’s standards. None of … Continue reading Gino Vannelli; All Those Nights in Montreal. Part Two
Hometown boy turned man; Gino Vannelli, is coming back to Montreal in November … What else is new? The man who started his musical career as a drummer in Montreal and a current resident of Portland,Oregon – often comes home. He frequently visits his Mom and was most recently in Ste. Agathe to play a festival. He was also in Montreal scouting out the location … Continue reading Gino Vannelli – All Those Nights in Montreal …
What’s a bass player – without a bass? A bass player of course. But not just any bass player. The musician in question who landed in Montreal just hours before his show at the Rialto Theater, sans bass, was former ( and current?) Stray Cat Lee Rocker … “I am a little nervous …” Said Rocker moments before he took the stage following a great … Continue reading Lee Rocker – Strays From the Cats …
Double Concept Productions once again presents the Annual Red Hot & Blue (RHB) Rockabilly Weekend, now in its ninth year, from August 29th to September 1st, 2013. Held for the first time at the lavish Rialto Theatre, Stray Cat Lee Rocker opens the festival as part of a double bill also featuring the superb Long Island-based The Lustre Kings, rockabilly queen Wanda Jackson’s back-up band at … Continue reading 9th Red Hot & Blue Rockabilly Weekend at The Rialto
In a Quebec market which is bogged down in radio politics, One Road, after almost an entire year of charting and obtaining radio airplay everywhere in Canada – still cannot get their ‘Southern Rock‘ sound on the radio in Quebec ( k103.7fm excluded). “To say that our sound is ‘too country’ for a rock station and then play Lynyrd Skynyrd and even Mumford and Sons – … Continue reading One Road or Une Rue …?
How can you not like a guy who wants to burn down a Walmart …? This is the legacy and mindset which Steve Earle – composer of ‘Copperhead Road‘ and ‘ Guitar Town‘, carried into Montreal last night at The Virgin Corona Theater. An arsenal of soul-defining songs? Not the only baggage which arrived on stage in the form of a fifty-eight year old Texan. … Continue reading Steve Earle; The Voice of Reason …
Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone … – Bill Withers The above lyrics could not be more suited when a summation of the 34th Annual Montreal International Jazz Festival is complete. Musically and weather – wise … Mother Nature appeared to be somewhat undecided with her decision to join the festivities. For many tourists and locals – a moot point. The sights and sounds of … Continue reading The 34th Edition of The Montreal International Jazz Festival – Part One
Friday night at Cabaret Mille End – Pat Travers brought his high caliber guitar chops to Montreal. It was the first time in almost twenty years the songwriter of ‘Crash and Burn’ flicked his pick to a Montreal audience. One can only wonder why it took so long …? Travers – a transplanted Canadian. An Ottawa – raised son who has been living in Orlando, … Continue reading Concert Review; Pat Travers
Rick Keene Music Scene 