Like Steve Tyler’s band, Mama Kin has staying power

/TORONTO NORTH/ Until Canada Day of last year, it had been about a decade since I last saw the Aerosmith tribute band Mama Kin –so long ago, in fact, that they were still employing a live boa constrictor as part of their show.

(Maybe they still do at some club venues, but there was no evidence of any reptilian presence on stage at Woodbine Park when I saw them perform as part of the outdoor festival held there each year –unless you count the writhing, prancing and posing of lead singer Frank Grosso doing a flawless Steve Tyler impression, and who was certainly making some of the women in the audience snaky as at one point they came into the fenced off area in front of the stage to dance with him.)

The band, which also includes veterans Tony Verna (doing the Joe Perry thing) and Chris Lewis-Taggart on guitars, hasn’t lost a step along the way in the past decade based on what I saw that day in the park.  In fact, like Tyler and Aerosmith after 42 years (can you believe it’s been that long that band has been around?) if anything the group just keeps getting more and more impressive –and it certainly didn’t hurt things when, after a 7-year hiatus, Tyler & co. came out with a new album in 2012 that gave new impetus to interest in the band.

Mama Kin has always been known as a spectacular show band and at one time was very active on the local live scene, but doesn’t do a lot of club shows these days. It’s probably gotten to the point now where they’re too expensive for regular booking into run-of-the-mill chicken wing joints and it also may be because the group members are often busy, in demand for other combos.

In fact, the group’s only Toronto-area date before October (unless you count shows in London and Barrie later this month) is tonight at a room once renowned for its great live music and that is trying to make a comeback under new owners and a new name. The former Chick ‘n’ Deli at 744 Mount Pleasant Rd. is now, of course, known as Seven44 and still has bands several nights a week (and no doubt prowling cougars seven nights a week).

Show starts at 9:30 and there’s a cover, though the club’s website doesn’t state how much. But it’ll be worth it. -Gary 17, www.torontomoon.ca

 

LISTINGS:

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. 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 include a live link to their websites where applicable. Advertisers’ listings are in larger type, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

 

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

*5-8> Kensington Kitchen Party with host Kevin Jollimore of Sin City Boys & guest musicians @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO ~Pop Rock with heart

*5-7> Ronnie Hayward Trio @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E.. TO E. ~Blues/Roots

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

5:30> Rick & Gailie @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

6-9> First Fridays with Sandi Marie & Under The Bus feat. Kevin Jeffreys on bass @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave, TO ~Roots Pop

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

6:30> Sara Dell @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

7> Michael White & The White perform Led Zeppelin 3 @ Opera House, 735 Queen St. E., TO East ~tribute; $

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

8-12> Stevie Gee @ Ember Hot Stove, 3039 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock

*8-1> karaoke @ RCL #312, 112 Hunt St., Ajax

8> Jabel @ Earl Of Whitchurch, 6204 Main St., Stouffville ~acoustic Pop

8:30> No Band Required feat. Jeremy “Cowboy Buddha” Edwardes @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~

8:30> 7^th Anniversary show (Night 1 of 2) with Lee Harvey Osmond, Tom Wilson, Layay Jane, Brent Titcomb & more doing the music of Neil Young @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~tribute; $32

9> Welcome Soleil @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~eclectic French tunes mix

9> Hatchetmen @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO ~pwyc

9-1> Tevlin Swing Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Swing Jazz

9-1> 24^th Street Wailers @ Monarchs Pub in Eaton Chelsea Hotel, 33 Gerrard St. W., TO ~ Rock/Blues/R&B

*9-1> Frank Cosentino Band @ Karla’s Roadhouse, 4630 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~rockin’ Blues

9-1> Hot Rocks @ Legends On The Queensway, 1184 The Queensway, Etobicoke South ~Stones tribute; $10

9> North Of 49 @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd., Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock

9> Rebelljo Band @ Blarney’s Gate, 1151 Dundas St. W., Mississauga ~Pop Rock

9> Jack Connolly & The Gas Station Cowboys @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country

9-1> Bon Jovi Forever @ Oscar’s Roadhouse, 1785 Queen St. E., Bramp. ~tribute

*9:30> David Macmichael & Chris Mills @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~alt Pop originals and covers

9:30> Tommy Rocker’s Classic Rock Show @ Centro Pizza, 3406 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~classic Rock

9:30> Al Reilly’s Catalyst @ Scruffy’s Irish Pub, 4650 Hurontario St., Mississauga ~classic Rock

9:30> jam with Kimberley & Company Dave Girdlestone of Soul Funkshun @ Gator Ted’s, 1505 Guelph Line, Burlington

9:30> Ryan Ainsworth Band @ The Loaded Dog, 1921 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough ~Rock/Top 40

9:30> Material Men @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etob. S. ~80s Pop Rock tribute

9:30> Mama Kin @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Blvd., TO North ~Aerosmith tribute

9:30> Jeff G & The Four Heads @ McGradie’s, 2167 Victoria Park Ave., Scarb. ~classic Rock/Top 40

9:30> Denis Martel @ Stone Cottage Pub, 3750 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock

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

9:30> The 3 D’s @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington

9:30> Handsome Dan @ Gladstone Tavern, 1385 Main St. E., Hamilton

9:30> Andy Earl and the Bandits @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

9:45> Alex Dean Quintet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

10-2> Straight Shooter @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South ~classic Rock/Top 40

10> Shawn Brady & Hervé Basset @ P.J. O’Brien’s, 39 Colborne St., TO ~Pop Rock

10> James Clark Institute @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave., TO East ~original Roots Pop

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

10> Dustin Bentall & The Smokes @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen Street West, TO

10> Alun Piggins & The Quitters @ The Press club, 850 Dundas St. W., TO ~indie Roots Pop

10> Chris Lord Ideal @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave., TO ~rockin’ Blues

10-2> Lucas Stagg Band @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO W. ~Country Rock/Blues/Roots

10> Sunny Nights; No Fixed Address @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

10-2> 3 Sheets To The Wind @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 36 Kingston Rd., E., Ajax ~Pop Rock/Top 40

10-2> The Government @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~

10:30> Stinky & The Hot Rods @ The Dickens, 423 Elizabeth St., Burlington ~Pop Rock

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