\ SCARBOROUGH \

I have written so much so many times about Rock singer Al Reilly and his high-energy classic Rock band Catalyst that it seems pointless to repeat all the stuff I’ve mentioned in the past about how this diminutive dynamo combines incredible energy and a great deal of versatility to put on an interesting and powerful show every single time he takes to the stage, either with his group, as part of a duo or as a guest singer.

There’s a reason I put Al on the cover of the hard copy edition of the Scarborough Moon Magazine offshoot of Toronto Moon that I produced back in 2012 and which ended up leading to the creation of the Facebook group of the same name.  This guy has not only rocked that local scene since moving there from Brampton and getting back into regular performing seven years ago, he also supports fellow musicians by attending their shows, making him these days a kind of a Rock ‘n’ Roll godfather to players in the area.

Nor has he let a couple of serious medical setbacks stop him.  When he was hospitalized after suffering an apparent stroke in July of 2013 he was back on stage within two weeks and doing two nights of shows!  Even after he injured his foot on the ice a couple of winters ago he continued to get out to shows using a cane and, of course, the support of his lovely and dynamic wife Brenda Elaine, with whom he has had an enduring romance and who’s been a big part of boosting his career over the years.

So when Reilly celebrates his 60th birthday in Scarborough, as he does starting at 10:15 tonight (billing it as Al’s Very ‘Sexy’ Birthday party!) at a bar which is always packed when he appears there, and which is sort of a “home” room for him, McGradie’s Pub at Victoria Park and Ellesmere Rd., it’s always a mega-party that gives people a reason to get back out to the bars after the holidays.

Of course in the past year Al has also made big inroads on the other side of town, appearing with his band at various Etobicoke clubs and, since September of 2015, hosting the hugely successful weekly Monday night jam at The Rockpile at 5555 Dundas St. West near The East Mall.

So it only makes sense that after tonight’s show he’ll be holding a second birthday party out there, appearing at Rockpile tomorrow night with the band as part of an interesting-sounding multi-act showcase headlined by the Strictly Sabbath all-Ozzy/Sabbath group, which is doing a tribute to the 1997 Sabbath reunion tour.

And just because Al and the rest of us have learned to our sorrow that these days we have to party while we still can, don’t be at all surprised if Reilly’s Monday Rockpile jam this coming January 9 ends up completing the trifecta by being yet another stellar party too!

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Friday, January 05, 2022

Listings are organized by area in which the shows occur and within each area field shows are listed chronologically.

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. (Double asterisk indicates repeating event with different hosts/guest/etc.). Events preceded by question mark (?) usually take place but have not been confirmed. Admission prices followed by a slash and minus (/-) after the amount indicates door charge with availability of cheaper rates for some purchases. /+ indicates stated price is minimum.

Names of subscribers appear in bold, are underlined and, where applicable, include a live link to their websites. Advertisers’ listings are in larger type, highlighted, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

416 – TORONTO CENTRAL

*3-7> acoustic jam with John Hutt @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave., TO

*4-6> Hogtown Syncopators @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

*5-7> The Friends of Hugh Oliver @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Folk

*5:30-8> Pablo plays with Matchezzes @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO

6-9> First Fridays with Hold The Bus featuring Kevin Jeffrey & guest singer Rebecca Camptbell @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO ~classic Rock and Roll/Rockabilly

6> David Celia @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Pop songwriter

6-10> Sleepfirst; New Union; Arcane Ghosts; Honeymoon Bay; Sight By City @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St., TO ~indie

6-8> Hisaka with Mark Kieswetter @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $10-20/pwyc

6:30> The Jivebombers @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

7:30> Starfires @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

8> Patrick Brealey @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen Street West, TO ~Country

8> Emma Cava @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~songwriter; $12

8> Cedarstrip Rocketship ep release for Mountie Quarters with guests Anna Mērnieks; Brent Jackson; Darrel Golden @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO

8:30> Partner; The Seams; Lonely Parade; Veins @ The Silver Dollar, 486 Spadina Ave., TO ~indie; $

*8:30-12:30> All Star Band feat. Joe Bowden & Brooke Blackburn @ Nawlin’s, 299 King St. W. TO ~Blues

8:30> Moneen; The Fullblast @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W., TO ~original Rock; $

8:30> Noah Moses; The Redwood Trio @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St., TO

9> Dead Porn Stars; Thunder Monk; WLMRT; Pilcrow @ Stop, Drop & Roll, 300 College St., TO ~hard Rock/Grunge/Punk; $10

9> Metronome Chomsky @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO

9-11> Ilana Waldston @ Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle UofT, TO ~Jazz

9> Tijuana Jesus; Lush Buffalo; Nuffsaid; Texas Dirty @ Bovine Sex Club, 542 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; $7

9> Barry Lyndon and The Prussian Army @ Cameron House (rear), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~indie

9> Simcoe; Lese Majesty; Closesly; Mad City; Gladheart @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; $7

9-11:30> Ron Davis @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~Jazz; $20

9:30> Lady Kane @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St., TO North ~Funk/Soul/R&B; $10

9:45> Dave Young Quintet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

9:45> Dee Dee & The Dirty Martinis @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~60s R&B 7-piece; $

10> Donkey featuring Alex Radeff @ The Queen’s Legs, 286 Eglinton Ave., TO North ~cover & original Pop Rock; 0$

10> Dave Murphy Band @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~Rock/Funk/R&B; $

10> Thugli @ The Hoxton, 69 Bathurst St., TO

10> Samantha Martin @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen Street West, TO ~Country/Blues?

10> Big Monday @ Cloak & Dagger, 394 College St., TO ~Bluegrass

10> Nick MacLean Quartet @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Jazz

10> Blush @ Bier Markt King, 600 King St., West, TO ~Pop Rock

10> Combo Royale @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO

416 - TORONTO EAST

*5-7> The Straight 8s @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~rootsy Rockabilly

7-9> Marion Law @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~songwriter; 0$

8:30> “In The Round” songwriters circle with Arlene Paculan; Nicola Vaughan; Boris Buhot @ Hirut, 2050 Danforth Ave., TO East ~songwriters; pwyc

*9> open mic with Matt & Mike @ The Grover Pub, 676 Kingston Rd., TO East

9> Thelonius Hank @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Country

9:30> Glendale One @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~early Beatles covers; 0$

9:30> The James Green Electric @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Blues/Rock; $5

9:30> Greg Wyard @ Stone Lion, 1958 Queen St. E., TO East ~Pop Rock

10:30> The Better Half @ Bier Markt Don Mills, 7 O’Neill Rd., TO East ~Pop Rock

416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE

7:30> Canadian Jazz Quartet @ Old Mill Inn, 21 Old Mill Rd., Etobicoke ~Jazz; min table charge

7:30> Drone Wolf; Overman; Empty Threat; El Kabong; Disposable Heroes @ The Rockpile, 5555 Dundas St. W., Etobicoke ~Heavy Metal/ Metallica covers; $10

8-2> Kirk MacDonald Quintet @ Placebo Space, 2877 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke ~Jazz; $10

9> Mike Macaven @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd., Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9:30> Big In Japan @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock/Top 40; $

10-2> Tamin’ Thunder @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South ~Rock/Dance/R&B; 0$

10> The Heat @ Bier Markt Etobicoke, 199 North Queen St., Etobicoke ~Pop Rock

416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH

*9> West Hill Rockers featuring Tommy Rocker host jam with @ Karla’s Roadhouse, 4640 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~0$

10:15> Al Reilly’s Catalyst celebrating Al’s “very sexy birthday” @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave., Scarborough ~classic Rock/Top 40

416 - TORONTO WEST

5-7> Carver Baronda @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Roots

5-8> Peter Kauffman Jazz Trio @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

7> “Long Winter” concert with Jessica Moss; Jan Han; The Magic; M.I. Blues; Nautiluss; Queen of Swords; Tough Age; WHIMM @ Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W., TO West ~indie; $10

7:30> Ernest Cervini Trio @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Jazz; 0$

8> Bruno Capinan @ Small World Music Center, 180 Shaw St., TO West ~World music songwriter; $10

8> Elixir Baroque Ensemble @ Gallery 345, 345 Sorauren Ave., TO West ~Classical; $10-$20

8:30> “Sweet Baby James” concert with Julian Taylor, Chole Charles, Darcy Windover, Kristen Violet May, Mark Sepic, Jenie Thai; more, with house band @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~ tribute to James Taylor; $30

8:30> Long Range Hustle @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West

8:30> Geenhouse; Drive; Post; Cameron Brown Band @ The Baby G, 1608 Dundas St. W., TO West ~original Rock; $8

9-1> The Pearl Motel @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~

9> The Blue Demons; Hang Ten Gallon Hats @ Cadillac Lounge, 1296 Queen St. W., TO West

9> Fire The Neighbours; Quarter Heads; Tripper Gore @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W., TO West ~indie; $5

9> Matty Powell @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~songwriter

9:30> Blues & Troubles @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Blues

9:30-12:30> Orit Shimoni @ Dave’s On St. Clair, 730 St. Clair West, TO West ~Jazz

9:30> The Kat Kings @ Fat City Blues, 890 College St., TO West ~rockin’ Roots/Blues

10-2> The Weber Brothers @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~Blues

10> Charangón del Norte @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Cuban Salsa; $15

519

6:30-8:30> Cameron & MacNeil @ Grand River Brewing, 295 Ainslie St., Cambridge ~Folk Rock duo

8> Odd Years @ Cornerstone, 1 Wyndham St. N., Guelph ~cover & original Pop

9> Bo Welland; The Thick; The Corks @ Van Gogh’s Ear Guelph, 10 Wyndham St. N., Guelph ~indie; $5

*9-2> jam night @ The Cave, 105 Shade St., Cambridge

9> Dave Menard @ The Rabbid Fox, 56 Beech Ave., Cambridge

9> Hanorah @ The Boathouse, 97 Jubilee Drive, Kitchener ~alt-Soul songwriter; $5

9> Must Stash Hat @ Bobby O’Brien’s, 125 King St. W., Kitchener ~indie

9> Jack Sith @ Brando’s Beach House, 135 Market St., Brantford ~rockin’ Blues

10> Run With The Kittens @ Jimmy Jazz, 52 Macdonell St., Guelph ~original Pop

10> Slick Brothers @ Zander’s, 190 King George Rd., Brantford

705

5> Rick & Gailie @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

8:30> Classic Collections @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

9> The Honeyrunners @ The Huron Club, 94 Pine St., Collingwood ~original Pop

905 EAST

*8-12> Karaoke with Rob MacArthur & Lorraine @ Royal Canadian Legion #322, 112 Hunt St., Ajax

9-1> Peterkin Band @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa ~Blues/Rock

9> Ben Hudson @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country

9> The Professors of Funk @ The Moustache Club, 15 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa ~Funk/Motown; $10

9:30> Marc Joseph Band @ The Edge, 250 Bayly St., Ajax ~Pop Rock

10> Deuce @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~Pop Rock

10-2> “Battle Of The Bands” with various acts @ Ganaraska Hotel, 30 Ontario St., Port Hope

905 NORTH

8:30> Ragwax @ Lake Simcoe Arms, 21089 Dalton Rd., Jackson’s Point

9-12:30> Paul Storm Band @ Uncorked On Main, 72 Main St. S., Georgetown ~Blues

9:30> Switchbeat @ Jake’s Boathouse Brampton, 59 First Gulf Rd., Brampton ~Pop Rock

9:30> Dufferin County Line @ Oscar’s Roadhouse, 1785 Queen St. E., Brampton ~Country Rock

*9:30> open mic @ Big Daddy’s, 460 Elgin Mills Rd., E, Richmond Hill

10> Midnight Jewel featuring Brian Potts on bass @ Aw Shucks, 15230 Yonge St., Aurora ~Pop Rock/R&B covers

10> Faces For Radio @ St. George Pub, 7 Main St. N., Georgetown ~Rock/Pop covers

905 SOUTH

6:30> East Coast Kitchen Party @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton

8> Undercover Band @ Pub Fiction, 1242 Garner Rd. W., Ancaster ~Rock/Top 40

9> Mr. Pharmacist; The Dead Souls @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton ~tributes to The Fall, Dead Souls; $10

9> Hideaways; Auckland; Texas King; Free Love @ The Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton ~contemporary Pop covers & originals; $10

9:15> The Old Winos & guest tba @ The Old Winery Restaurant, 2228 Niagara Stone Rd., Niagara-On-The-Lake

9:30> Diesel Dog @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton ~indie; $

9:30> Mike Williams Band @ Stonewalls Hamilton, 339 York Blvd., Hamilton

9:30> Orangeman @ Doc Magilligan’s Irish Pub, 6400 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls ~cover Rock/Pop

905 WEST

*5> Adam Ostrosser & Joel Guenther @ Carrigan Arms, 2025 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington ~Pop

*6-9> Mike Cohen @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock

9:30> Killin’ Time Band Trio @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9:30> Clarke County @ The Franklin House, 263 Queen St. S., Streetsville ~Pop Rock

9:30> Rebelljo Band @ Gator Ted’s, 1505 Guelph Line, Burlington ~Rock/Blues

9:30> Painted Black @ Boston Manor, 4460 Fairview Ave., Burlington ~Rolling Stones tribute

9:30-11:30> Bad Wolf @ The Purple Heather, 3600 Dundas St. W., Burlington ~Rock

10-2> Hot House @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/R&B; $

10> Lindsay Brohan @ Bier Markt Mississauga, 55 City Centre Drive, Mississauga ~Pop Rock

10:15> Tomahawk Love @ Failte, 201 City Centre Dr., Mississauga ~Pop Rock

10:30> Fiction @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington ~Pop Rock

Copyright © 2017 by Gary “17” Webb-Proctor &  TorontoMoon.ca. All Rights Reserved