It is a ‘Natural Fact’. Steve Strongman’s 2013 was a tremendous success! One Juno and three Maple Blues Awards later; Strongman passed ‘hump-day in his musical career . Natural Fact was Steve’s fourth album and an acoustic goldmine of Blues’ tunes. Fast forward to May 13th 2014. ‘Let Me Prove It To You’ now becomes his latest album and not the follow up most of … Continue reading Juno Award Winner Steve Strongman ‘Proves it To Us’ ….
Montreal’s The Cranes are on their way … Where? The fabled Osheaga Festival if they have it their way. The Tragically Hip, Zeppelin, Sabbath – influenced boys just need a little love from the hometown crowd. They are The Habs of music … Please listen as lead singer Rich Leduc explains everything needed to know about The Cranes. After that – listen yourself. It does … Continue reading The Cranes … Osheaga – Here we Come!
On May 9th at Club Soda – Kim Mitchell is bringing history to the stage. Long before many Canadian artists were introducing a certain ‘sense of ‘Canadian – isms’ to the world; Mitchell had already been there – done that! Wearing thrift store clothes and injecting humor through music -one of Mitchell’s fortes. No wonder The Barenaked Ladies’ Ed Robertson was such a fan … … Continue reading Kim Mitchell – Hangin’ Out; Part Two
Obviously – I cannot be everywhere. If that were the case, my shoe bill would be sky high! Seriously folks – it is difficult enough to choose ten shows as the best in Montreal during the course of a year. If I could be everywhere, the list would consist of the top one hundred. I would be deaf and broke. Thankfully, I am not deaf. Realistically … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene – Top Ten Concerts of 2013
Imagine laying by the ocean on a warm summer day. The mist – soothing the aches caused by the immense heat of the sun … Think of a child appearing with a toothless grin amid the staunchest boors at a dinner party from Hell. Place the pair of scenarios together like two wine glasses connecting in front of a fire on a cold winter’s eve. This … Continue reading Bonnie Raitt; A Flower in the Mud
Inevitably – age catches up to everyone. Rock n’ Rollers are no exception. Lou Reed is the latest victim of a combination of age / sickness. Who is next? McCartney? Ringo? Jagger? Richards? ( never mind the latter – the Stones’ guitarist’s shelf life has long since passed and his existence is questionable …) The common denominator within the names above is simple… Legendary. What … Continue reading Who was Lou Reed?
Lawrence Gowan aka Gowan – is a ‘Scot‘ at heart …. Born in Scotland and transplanted to Ontario ( Scarborough) as a child, the writer of one of the best Canadian ballads of all time ( Criminal Mind), is a man well-traveled. Whether mixing his first album in England at the very same place Lennon recorded Imagine or jamming’ with the likes of Jerry Lee … Continue reading Lawrence Gowan; ‘ I Would Have Been an Astronaut …’
Joe Satriani is coming to Montreal on the 9th of October to Theatre St. Denis. Has there been a better guitar player to come through these parts in the past ten years? Few and far between … Satriani picked up the guitar when he was fourteen. Inspired by the likes of Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix – Joe began a foray into music which … Continue reading Joe Satriani Interview
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 …
‘ I just thought that every Father did what my Father did …” Says Edward Ellington Jr. ” It was only years later, I realized the magnitude of what my father accomplished. For a long time, I thought he was a travelling salesman.” Edward Ellington Jr. and his sister April, are the duo responsible for The Savoy Ellingtons. A group that has been together for twenty … Continue reading The Ellingtons; The Kids are Alright …
Yes boys and girls – brace yourselves … On Aug.10th at Maddie’ Place, on the South Shore of Montreal and almost in the heart of Kanawake, the boys of summer will be arriving! What’s that you say? Baseball is coming back to our fair city? Isn’t Tim Raines a little overweight for that type of thing? No – silly rabbits … Tricks are for hookers! … Continue reading Top Ten Signs The Beach Boys Are Coming!
Underground Piano Legend Connie Crothers continues her creative tear with Live At the Freight; a Thrilling Duo Encounter With Tenor Saxophonist Jessica Jones The history of jazz is replete with visionary improvisers possessing wholly original sounds who have gone largely unsung by the music’s mainstream chroniclers. Pianist Connie Crothers, a brilliant player championed by jazz giants such as Lennie Tristano, Max Roach and Jemeel Moondoc, … Continue reading Connie Crothers; A Hidden Legend
Rick Keene Music Scene 