\ TO EAST \
I wonder if, before hosting his weekly open stage tonight at Black Swan Tavern, songwriter/iconoclast and Les Paul guitar enthusiast Sebastian Agnello will drop into the Canadian National Exhibition and maybe take in a bit of one of the several live music offerings there in order to reminisce about what life was like for him 50 years ago today.
That day, when the just-released movie “In The Heat Of The Night” was causing controversy with its graphic depiction of violent U.S. police racism in action (obviously not that much has changed) also happened to be a Monday. And Seb (as friends and fans call Agnello) then just 13 years old, along with bandmates from Pop Rock group The Lords of London, were a featured act on the only music stage then happening at The Ex, in the old Grandstand.
While introducing the group, a dj from then-mighty CHUM-AM 1050 radio announced that the new Top 50 chart that was being issued that day (which he held up for effect, Seb recalls) featured a new Number 1 song: “Cornflakes & Ice Cream”, which had been released by that very band just a few weeks earlier. A bubblegum-style tune that’s catchy and charming and very reflective of its era, the song can still be heard online on YouTube in a couple of versions, including one that also features pics of the group and other memorabilia.
These days hitting Number 1 would still be cause for some mild celebration for any artist (if the charts still really meant anything) but this particular achievement was not just a once-in-a-lifetime high for the group members but also historic —it was the first time a Canadian act had ever occupied that position on the chart.
(In those days, of course, there was no such thing as “Canadian Content” regulations and the airwaves, both audio and video, along with movie theatres, publishing and every other facet of Canadian culture, were even more heavily dominated by the U.S. than today.)
According to various sources, including Jaimie Vernon’s “Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia”, the Lords didn’t stay together much longer after their chart success. Follow-up releases were not as well received and by some time in 1968, after their third release, the group had dissolved, with Sebastian launching what has proved to be a prodigious solo, band leader and sideman career while other members Hughie Leggat, Greg Fitzpatrick and Danny Taylor (along with Agnello briefly) would go on to become part of Nucleus for a couple of years (which eventually evolved into A Foot In Coldwater in the early 1970s).
There are some interesting anecdotes in Vernon’s account of the history of the Lords (which forms the basis for most other online articles about the group) that are well worth reading. One that illustrates Seb’s independent-mindedness and anti-conformity bent even then relates how Sebastian quit the band by flying home midway through a recording session in the U.S. that was supposed to lead to the band’s breakthrough there, because he felt the song that had been selected was “too bubblegum.”
Fifty years later, still pursuing his own vision through his Turtle Shell Records label, Sebastian is still going strong, with seven albums released and another coming soon. He created a sensation among the newly hip Queen Street music scene with his debut album Head Roach in 1971 —which was promptly banned from radio because of references to drugs and sex.
In addition to a Country disc in ’83, Agnello has also released several collections of what are basically protest songs, from 1986’s This Is A Protest Album through to his most recent, Take Your Lumps in 2008.
Although his self-titled band has been on hold for a few years now, since both he and his drummer developed medical issues that needed tending (happily in Seb’s case with full success), his weekly open stage at the Swan is now past the six-year mark.
I’m not sure what, if any, celebrations are planned for the room at 154 Danforth Ave. starting at 9:30 tonight to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Agnello’s participation in the historic achievement in the summer of 1967.
But I wouldn’t be surprised to see some of his old friends show up, including some former Lords who are still quite active musically such as Leggat and Fitzpatrick. I doubt there’ll be any cornflakes and ice cream, but someone should at least bring him a cake!
-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca
SHOW LISTINGS for Monday, August 28, 2021
For KEY to listings codes and schemata see note at end of shows list.
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ON AIR/ONLINE
*6> “Underplayed and Underpaid” interviews and performances by Guelph area bands on CFRU 93.3 FM broadcast and online
7-8> “Acoustic Workshop” with host Heather Fielding @ CIUT 89.5 FM broadcast and online
416 – TORONTO CENTRAL
12:15-1:15> Wind Octets featuring Chad Heltzel @ Holy Trinity Church, 10 Trinity Square ~Classical
5-10> June Garber @ The Berkley Bicycle Club, 504 Jarvis St. ~Jazz; $
5> Gordon Shawcross and Burke Carroll @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St. ~Roots-Rock
5:30-9:30> momondays with conversation and live music @ Supermarket, 268 Augusta Ave ~eclectic; $25
6> Laura Merrimen @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W.
6:30> Peter Hill Quintet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~Jazz; $
**7-1 (sign-up at 7, show starts 7:30)> open stage with host Wayne “Neon” Smith @ Free Times Café, 320 College St.
*7-10> open stage with Brad Scott @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave.
7:30> Happy Hour with Chris Banks @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave.
7:30> Sean Jones @ Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace ~R&B/Soul
*8> Music City North open mic @ Rose & Crown, 2335 Yonge St.
8> Lloyd Spiegel @ Sellers and Newel, 672 College St. ~Blues/R&B
8> Ukulele jam @ Tranzac Lounge (Main Hall), 292 Brunswick Ave.
8:40> Theiacband; Doors + Fours; The Feedbacks @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W. ~indie; $0
**9-1:30> jam with featured host Sam Sundar-Singh @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave.
*9:30> open mic with host Mark Villamor at Amsterdam Bicycle Club, 54 The Esplanade
9:30> We Are All @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W. ~big band Jazz; $
10> Jordan John @ The Orbit Room, 580 College St. ~R&B/Blues; $
**10> open mic (2 songs; sign-up starts 8 p.m.) with host Yawd Sylvester @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave.
10> Friendly Rich @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W.
10-2> Dan Gagnon & Jake Saenz @ The Hideout, 423 College St.
416 - TORONTO EAST
7-10> Smokey Folk @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave. ~Bluegrass; 0$
7> Bonobo @ The Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave. ~contemporary original; $
7:30> performers so little respected by the club it can’t be bothered to list them on its website @ The Old Nick, 123 Danforth Ave. ~songwriters; 0$
8:30-10:30> Michelle Rumball @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E. ~Roots-Rock
*8:45-12> Riverboat Mondays acoustic open stage jam with Julian Taylor & Tyler Ellis @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave.
*9-12> The Out of Towners @ Sauce on Danforth, 1376 Danforth Ave.
*9:30-2> Sebastian Agnello & friends open stage @ Black Swan Tavern, 154 Danforth Ave.; 0$
416 – TORONTO ETOBICOKE
*8-12> Al Reilly’s Catalyst also featuring Rick Anderson host Rock jam @ Rockpile, 5555 Dundas St. W.
416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH
7:30> Uke jam/workshop @ Stone Cottage Pub, 3750 Kingston Rd.
*8-11> open stage with Dan Walek @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave.
*9-1> open jam with The Repairmen @ Newfoundlander Tavern, 472 Danforth
416 – TORONTO WEST
1-5> Angie Hilts @ The Wine Garden, Canadian National Exhibition Grounds, Lake Shore Blvd. West ~original Roots
1:30-5:30> Danny Scott @ Casino patio stage Canadian National Exhibition Grounds, Lake Shore Blvd. West ~Pop Rock
3-6> Greg Wyard Band @ CNE Midway Stage, Canadian National Exhibition Grounds, Lake Shore Blvd. West
3-6> Marshall Dane @ CNE Northern Comfort Stage, Canadian National Exhibition Grounds, Lake Shore Blvd. West ~Country
5-8> Ed Kope @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Jazz piano solo
5-9> Club Django Toronto @ The Wine Garden, Canadian National Exhibition Grounds, Lake Shore Blvd. West ~Jazz
6:30-10:30> Lost Patients @ Casino patio/stage Canadian National Exhibition Grounds, Lake Shore Blvd. West ~Pop Rock
7> WIRED @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. ~Jazz; pwyc
7:30> Pavlo @ CNE Bandshell, Canadian National Exhibition Grounds, Lake Shore Blvd., TO West ~songwriter
7:30-11> Dave Rave @ CNE Midway Stage, Canadian National Exhibition Grounds, Lake Shore Blvd. West
7:30-11> Kelly Prescott @ CNE Northern Comfort Stage, Canadian National Exhibition Grounds, Lake Shore Blvd. West ~Country
*8> open jam with The Pumpkinheadz @ The Wicket Pub, 1671 Bloor St. W.
8:30> Viva Non; Tansy; Bénédicte @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W. ~songwriters; $
*9-1> Hamstrung Stringband @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Bluegrass
*9-1> eclectic open stage/jam with host Nelson Sobral @ The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave.
9-1> Tim Hamel Trio & guest @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. ~Jazz
9:30> Karl Silveira Quartet @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. ~Jazz; pwyc
10> Good Enough Band @ Drake Hotel Lounge, 1150 Queen St. W. ~live karaoke
*10> open mic with host Liam Kearney @ The Hole In The Wall, 2867 Dundas St. W.
519
*5> open mic with Dennis Napper @ Rhapsody Barrel Bar, 179 King St. W., Kitchener
TBA monthly first Monday 7:30-12> open mic @ The Cornerstone, 1 Wyndham St. N., Guelph
*8-12> open stage @ The Boathouse, 97 Jubilee Drive, Kitchener
9:30> Turk and the Hobbits @ Duke of Wellington, 33 Erb St. W., Waterloo
705
*7> Rick & Gailie @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough
9?> jam night with Rob Drake @ Sticky Fingers Dunlop, 199 Essa Rd.
905 EAST
*8-11> open stage @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa
905 NORTH
9:25-1:05> jam/open stage with backline @ Sneakers Uptown, 18025 Yonge St., Newmarket
905 SOUTH
6> Michael Wainwright & Rick Labrie @ Innsville, 1141 Highway 8, Stoney Creek
*8> The New Rebel Westerners @ Cat ‘n’ Fiddle, 174 John St. S., Hamilton ~Country
905 WEST
*7-10> open mic with Chris Partland @ 5 West Brewpub, 3600 Dundas St. W., Burlington
*7-10> The Dirty Pioneers @ Shoeless Joe’s Brant (patio), 1250 Brant St., Burlington ~Rock/Top 40 covers
**8-12> BBQ & jam night with Wayne Cheddie @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville; ($8.95 with BBQ dinner special starts at 6)
9> Felip Prado Band @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Brazilian Blues-Rock
*9:30-1> jam with Tom Barlow @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit
LISTINGS KEY
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.
-Copyright © 2017 by Gary “17” Webb-Proctor & TorontoMoon.ca. All Rights Reserved
