\ OAKVILLE \

These four Kings from Hamilton are /
bearing keys, drums, bass and guitar /
masterfully singing, playing and bringing /
to Moonshine the light of their star.

Wow, are the good folks in Oakville in for a treat tonight!

Just when you thought 2016 was set to end on a dour, sour note —could there possibly be even more heart-wrenching entertainment industry deaths yet to come before the calendar clicks over?— one of the brightest beacons of the early Can-Rock scene is set to bring its gifts to an intimate room for a paltry $10 cover charge.

If you’re in Oakville tonight, “The Kings Are Here!” (as their debut 1980 album proclaimed) live on stage at the town’s destination original music room, Moonshine Café at 137 Kerr St., starting around 8 p.m..

Yes I’m talking about those Kings, the group that rocketed to fame with the monster international hit “The Beat Goes On/Switchin’ to Glide” and, while their profile may not be what it was, which has never really gone away since.

David Diamond (aka Dave Broadbent on bass and vocals) and Mister Zero (John Picard, guitar) continue to provide a dynamic, exciting show that, as I described a couple of years ago prior to a previous appearance in the funky Oakville room, is without parallel.

Not only do they play a selection of their many chart-topping hits from the old days, this group is still bestowing new musical gifts on the world.  Their Because of You album released in 2003 remains on my all-time Top 10 list of releases by Canadian Pop Rock bands because of its many punchy, catchy, danceable songs that also contain lyrical substance.

Tunes like the title track, “The Fools Are In Love”, “Do You Rock and Roll” and “If The Stars Come Out Tonight” are as timeless as they are immediate.

New songs since then, hopefully soon to be released on a new album, are also impressive and for aficionados there’s some really interesting stuff on a 2006 release, The Kings Anthology One, containing a couple of rarities from before they were known as The Kings!

(You can purchase several of their albums, along with a live video-dvd and other merch, at their online store.)

When The Kings perform live these days, Diamond and Zero are usually accompanied by versatile keys veteran Peter Nunn and drummer Todd Reynolds and the show is uncanny in its ability to bring back to life the feel of those heady days of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.

People are quick to mourn their lost icons once they’ve gone and to rage against time for its thieveries.  And certainly 2016 should serve to remind us that we never know when another star will fall.

But tonight the stars will come out in Oakville.  Maybe you should too.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Thursday, December 29, 2021

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 and underlined and, where applicable, include a live link to their websites or event page. Advertisers’ listings are in larger type and highlighted, include a live link to their website and also have a copy of the ad included in listings.

ONLINE / ON AIR

9-10am> “The Bill King Show” with host Bill King & guests @ CIUT 89.5 FM ~Blues/Jazz

Noon-2> Blues on Rock Radio UK with Carolyn Fe

416 – TORONTO CENTRAL

*5-8> Danny Blue @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave. ~acoustic Pop

6> Corin Raymond @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~original alt-Country/Roots

6-8> Billy Newton-Davis @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $10-20/pwyc

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

*7> open mic with Derek Mok @ Kensington Lodge, 21 Kensington Ave., TO

7> Rumpus Room @ Tranzac Lounge (Tiki Room), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

*7:30-9:30> Bluegrass Thursdays with Houndstooth @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

8> Niko Love Duo @ Dominion Pub, 500 Queen St. E., TO ~cover Pop Rock

8> Johnny Juarez @ May Café, 876 Dundas St. W., TO

*8-12> Joe Bowden @ Nawlin’s, 299 King St. W. TO ~Blues

8> Dirty Mike and the Boys; Sedge; Bare Claws; Honesty @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W., TO ~indie Rock; $?

8:30> Mirabel Palmer-Elliot @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. TO ~vocalist; $10

9-1> Holiday singalong with Annie Bonsignore, 4 Skör & Tomoko Abe @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $10-20/pwyc

8:30-12:30> Aleppo evacuees benefit concert for Karam Foundation with Fucked Up Headline; Fake Palms; Triage; Pedestrian; more @ Silver Dollar 486 Spadina Ave., TO ~$15

*8:30> Organic Groove open mic with host Dylan Hennessy @ Cannabis Culture, 461 Church St., TO

9> Sure; Nords Knifey @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St., TO ~indie; $12

9> Nerissa Bradley Group @ Poetry Jazz Café, 224 Augusta Ave., TO ~Jazz

9-11:30> Genevieve Marentette with Eric St. Laurent & George Koller @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~Jazz; $15

9> The Commoners; The Manvils; Induamaps @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~local indie; $7

*9-1> Blackburn @ Jo Mamas, 317 King St. W., TO ~Blues

9:30> Florian Hoefner Trio @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz from Newfoundland; $

*9:45> Alison Young Group @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz; $

10> Paul Reddick @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~original Blues

10> Owen’s Sound @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO ~Blues/R&B

10> Dan Pencer @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10> Pretzel Logic @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~Steely Dan tribute; $

*10:30> Mike Barnes @ Pauper’s Pub, 539 Bloor St. W., TO ~acoustic Pop

416 – TORONTO EAST

7-9> Chris Staig & The Marquee Players @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Roots-Rock/Country covers & originals; 0$

7:30> Municipal Waste @ Opera House, 735 Queen St. E., TO East ~original Rock; $24

8-12> Black Bear All-Stars featuring William A. Miller @ Black Bear Pub, 1125 O’Connor Drive, TO East ~Rock/R&B

8> Russ Macklem Quintet with guests @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Jazz; 0$

*8:30-10:30> Jerry Leger & The Situation @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~Folk-Rock/Country

*9:30> open jam with host Kar Wong @ Sportsters, 1430 Danforth Ave., TO East

9:30-12> The Layrite Brothers, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Bluegrass/Honky Tonk

*10-1> open jam with host Michael Villamor @ Breakwall, 1910 Queen St. E.

416 - TORONTO ETOBICOKE

8> Freeza Chin @ Bier Markt Etobicoke, 199 North Queen St., Etobicoke ~indie Pop Rock

8> Kimberley Wetmore Band @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock

*9:30-2> Skip Tracer @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd., Etobicoke South ~Rock/Pop

416 – TORONTO SCARBOROUGH

8-12> jam night @ The Birchmount, 462 Birchmount Rd., Scarborough

9-1> The Tall Boyz featuring Tommy Rocker host acoustic open jam @ Winners, 2181 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough

9:30> tba @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock

416 – TORONTO WEST

5-8> Jorge Gavidia Jazz & Blues Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

8> Sisters Euclid @ 3030 Dundas West, 3030 Dundas St. W., TO West ~original Rock/Jazz/Country fusion; $10

8:30-12> Jason Collett’s 10^th Annual Basement Revue @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~indie; $30

8:30> Suzie Vinnick @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~original Blues; $22.50

8:30> Fun Palace’s “3 Penny Holiday Variety Show” @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West ~opera as Pop; $12

9> Ed Vokurka @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St., TO West ~Classical/Swing violin fusion; pwyc

9> Lido Pimienta; Persons; Posterboy for Christmas food drive for Parkdale Community Food Bank The Baby G, 1608 Dundas St. W., TO West ~$10/$5 with food donation

9-11:45> The Ben D’Cunha Trio @ The Piper’s Pub, 782 St. Clair Ave. W., TO ~Jazz

*9-12> open mic night with Anthony Abbatangeli @ DeSoto’s, 1079 St. Clair Ave. W., TO West

*9> open mic with Phil Hood @ The Roncy, 390 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West

*9-1:30> open stage with Jay Pennell @ Dave’s On St. Clair, 730 St. Clair West, TO West ~eclectic

9-12> Denise Leslie Jazz Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

9> Chuckline Rider; The Jones; John Muirhead and Friends @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W., TO West ~indie; $5

9> Garbagio; Beach Red; Poor You; Triples @ Smiling Buddha, 961 College St., TO West ~indie; $

9> The Parkdale Rebels @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Honky Tonk

11> The Digs @ Drake Hotel Lounge, 1150 Queen St. W., TO West ~60s Retro Rock; 0$

519

*6-10> Lucas Stagg @ Argyle Arms, 210 King St. E., Cambridge ~Roots-Rock

*7:30-12> open mic with K.M. Smith @ Molly Bloom’s Guelph, 91 Wyndham St. N., Guelph

*8> open mic with Mandippal @ Fionn MacCool’s Guelph, 494 Edinburgh Rd., S., Guelph

*8-11> open mic with Sandy MacDonald @ Williamsburg Arms, 1187 Fischer Hallman Rd., Kitchener

*8:30> acoustic jam hosted by Mike Mecher & Vic Freitas @ Kiwi Gastropub, 47 Dickson St., Cambridge

*8:30-12:30> acoustic jam night @ Fiddle & Firkin, 707 King St. E., Cambridge

*9:30> open mic night @ The Black Badger, 55 Water St., Cambridge

*10-2> Mike Something @ Royal Electric, 52 Macdonell St., Guelph ~acoustic Pop

705

7-11> The Groove Project with guest @ Harbour Street Fish Bar, 10 Keith Ave., Collingwood ~Blues

*7:30> Rob Phillips Jazz/Blues Trio and Marsala Likianchuk @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

*8> The Joe Huron Trio @ Sticky Fingers, 199 Essa Rd., Barrie ~Jazz/Blues

8> Dave Russell @ The Huron Club, 94 Pine St., Collingwood

*9> jam with Ted Rusk @ The Sauble Dunes, 11 Southampton Parkway, Sauble Beach

905 EAST

*5-8> Nelson Denis @ Frank’s Pasta, 42 King Street E., Cobourg ~eclectic mix (Folk, Jazz, soft Rock, Latin)

8-11> Quisha Wint & Mellow Dee @ Rum Diaries, 368 Bayly St. W., Ajax

*?> jam with Darren Smith & Shayne Thomas @ The Corner Pocket, 45 Prince St., Oshawa

*9> jam @ The Wee Pub, 371 Wilson Rd. South, Oshawa

*9:30> jam with Billick @ Harp & Crown, 300 Kingston Rd., Pickering

9:30> open mic with Two For The Show @ The Edge, 250 Bayly St. W., Ajax

905 NORTH

*6:30-10:30> jam with Faces for Radio @ Coasters, 55 Rutherford Rd. S., Brampton

*7:30-11:30> jam with house band @ 52^nd St. Tap & Grill, 30 Kennedy Rd., S., Brampton

*8> open mic with host Kevin Kerr @ The Duchess of Markham, 53 Main St. N., Markham

*8-11> Jam with Jayme Lynn Reed @ Offsides Sports Bar, 200 Simcoe Ave., Keswick

9> open mic (signup starts at 8:30) @ The Barrel, 2180 Steeles Ave. W. Vaughan

905 SOUTH

*9> LMT Connection @ Doc Magilligan’s Irish Pub, 6400 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls ~R&B/Funk

8> The Eggmen @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton ~Beatles covers; $12

8> 8^th annual “Shake Rattle & Rave” with Dave Rave; Hailee Rose; James Alphonse; Ruby’s Revenge @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton ~indie; $20

*9> open mic night with rotating hosts @ Coach & Lantern, 384 Wilson St E., Hamilton

10> Strummers Union @ The Pheasant Plucker, 20 Augusta St., Hamilton

905 WEST

*6-9> Ric Jacobs @ Ivy Bar, 3330 South Service Rd., Burlington

*7-11> James Anthony Band & guest Tim Park @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington ~Blues

8> The Kings featuring Mr. Zero @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St. Oakville ~Can Pop icons; $10

*8-12> jam hosted by The Personics @ Carrigan Arms, 2025 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington

8-12> Brad James @ The Purple Heather, 3600 Dundas St. W., Burlington

*8> Celtic Night @ Fionn MacCool’s Burlington, 2331 Appleby Line

9-1> Freedom Train @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop

9:30> Glenn Groves @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Honky Tonk Country new & old

*9:30> jam with Jack B Nimble @ Abbey Road Pub, 3200 Erin Mills Parkway, Mississauga

9:30> Chris Partland @ Cuchulainn’s Irish Pub, 158 Queen St. S., Streetsville-Mississauga ~Pop Rock

*10:30> The Killin’ Time Duo @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington ~Pop Rock

Copyright © 2016 Gary “17” Webb-Proctor & TorontoMoon.ca. All Rights Reserved