TorontoMoon.ca 140712Sa Shows - Michael Keith adds another star to Junction’s “house” band

140712Sa

140712Sa

Michael Keith adds another star to Junction’s “house” band

\TORONTO WEST\

For the past several years now veteran bass player Dave McManus has anchored The Junction City All-Stars band that has hosted jams and done showcase nights in a variety of venues in the funky little part of the city centred around Keele and Dundas St. West.

If a neighbourhood could have a “house” band, this one would be it for that particular one –as I’ve recounted before, I first met McManus shortly before the prohibition again selling alcohol in the ward was lifted following the 2000 municipal election, quickly transforming the previously decrepit strip along Dundas West into the very hip place it is today.

The group isn’t currently in residency with a jam (last I was told they’re waiting for one of the owners of The Hole In The Wall, where they used to host a jam at one time, to open a new venue in the area) but does perform regularly at various area venues, including the grandfather of live music in the neighbourhood, Axis Gallery and Grill, where they appear tonight.

JCA-S is an amorphous collection of excellent players that usually also includes a special guest performer, which helps to keep things fresh and to increase their draw. And for their 9:30 show tonight in the room at 3048 Dundas St. West (near High Park Ave.) they’ll have one of the most versatile if somewhat quirky talents the city has to offer on board: guitarist and songwriter Michael Keith.

Michael Keith on a more traditional stringed instrument -Carol Cain

Michael Keith on a more traditional stringed instrument -Carol Cain

I’ve written about Keith several times in the past two decades, noting that this man is a world class talent trapped in a local musician’s life. Adept on six-string guitar (when I first met him he was known as a wailing Rock/Blues guitar) he ventured into Jazz about a decade ago and has never really come back –unless tonight’s show is meant to herald otherwise.

I had him do a feature set at one of my open stages a couple of years ago and he transfixed the room by performing original Turkish-Blues Fusion material on a 3-string ukulele!

I doubt he’ll be playing that particular instrument tonight, but with Michael Keith you just never know. There’s no cover charge to find out and the club offers several interesting draughts on tap, has a really nice patio inhabited by beautiful people from the area and excellent victuals.

-Gary 17, www.torontomoon.ca

LISTINGS:

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. (Double asterisk indicates repeating event with different hosts/guest/etc.). 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.

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10am-noon> James Clark solo @ Etobicoke Farmers Market (Civic Centre) 399 The West Mall, Etobicoke South ~indie Roots Pop

*12-3> Julian Fauth’s Blues Brunch @ Axis, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Blues

*12-3> Chris Kettlewell & Friends @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

12:30-2:30> Greyhound Riders @ Humble Beginnings, 3109 Dundas St. W., TO West ~acoustic Roots/Blues/Pop

1-4> open mic with host Will Gillespie @ Full Of Beans, 1348 Dundas St. W., TO West

*2-6> jam w. Tom Finocchio @ Sam’s Place, Barton-Chestnut Sts., Hamilton

**2-6> Saturday Blues Sermon with James Anthony & special guest Gayle Ackroyd @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington ~Blues

*3-6> Danny B’s House Party Band feat. Michael Keys on piano @ Blue Goose, 1 Blue Goose St., Etobicoke South ~R&B/Pop

*3-7> jam with Michelle Deneault & Redder @ Port Credit Legion, 35 Front St., Port Credit

*3-7> open stage jam @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville; $2

*3:30-6:30> Climax Jazz Band @ Seven44, 744 Bayview Ave., TO North ~Jazz; $

3:30> Mississauga Big Band Jazz Ensemble @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

3:30> Kalabash Sextet @ The Pilot, 22 Cumberland St., TO ~Jazz

*4-8> The Bear Band & guests @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W. Etobicoke South ~Rock-R&B

Southside 1407114> Kevin Jollimore stars as Nixon in “Elvis and Dick” @ Tarragon Theatre Mainspace, 30 Bridgman Ave., Toronto, TO ~musical theatre; $10

*4-7:30> Ronnie Hayward Trio @ McQueen’s, 993 Queen St. E., TO E. ~Blues/Roots

*4-8> The Meteors with special guest Kimberley Wetmore @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Blues/Rock/R&B

4-8> Tony Sylvestri @ Lake Affect, 1 Port St., Port Credit

*4> PRJ @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St., Oshawa ~Blues

*4:30-6:30> Big Rude Jake @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E.. TO E. ~Blues/Roots

5-8> Michelle Rumball @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave. TO West –Rootsy Pop

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

6-8> Big Tobacco & The Pickers feat. Anne Werbitzki @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Country

6:30> Joe Hall @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

7> Michael White & The White do Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti @ The Opera House, 735 Queen St. E., TO E. ~tribute; $

7-11> Yeah Yeah Yeah @ Main’s Mansion, 144 Main St. N., Markham ~Beatles tribute

7:30> The Bacchus Collective @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~ Jazz

8> Skye Wallace; The Dreadful Starlings feat. Iliya Vee; I Hate Todd feat. Nelson Sobral @ Duffy’s, 1238 Bloor St. W., TO West ~indie

8> Drive 4 feat. Stephanie Braganza @ Casino Niagara, 5705 Falls Ave., Niagara Falls ~Rock/R&B

8-11> The Beatmen @ Fox & Fiddle York Mills, 865 York Mill Rd., TO North ~Beatles tribute

8-12> open stage with John Marlatt @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St., Oakville; $5

KB poster July 12**8:30> Gary 17’s acoustic showcase & open stage with 9:30 feature by Alan Moffat @ King’s Belly, 429 Donlands Ave., TO East

8:30> The Gibson Brothers @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO W. ~Bluegrass; $22.50/-

8:30> Keith Cronki; John Stonebridge @ Free Times Café, 320 College St. TO ~

9-12> Jessica Blake & The Dinner Club @ Habits Gastropub, 928 College St., TO ~original Roots-Pop

9-1> Tommy Rocker’s Classic Rock Show @ Centro Pizza, 3406 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Rock

9-11> Bonny Elvis Band feat. Darwin Bruce on bass @ Wild Wing Beaches, 2252 Queen St. E., TO East ~Rockabilly

*9-1> karaoke with Rob MacArthur @ Tudor Rose, 700 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax

9-1> Voodoo Kings @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd., Scarborough ~ Pop Rock

9-1> Sweet Derrick Blues Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~ Jazz

9> Paul Reddick Big Band @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Blues

9> Don Valley Stompers @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Mountain Roots

9-1> JD & Associates @ Lake Affect, 1 Port St., Port Credit

9> Steel City @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country

9-1> Rust Proof Band @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

Linsmore 1407099:30> Gunslinger @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~tribute to Guns N’ Roses; $5 adv/$10 door

9:30-11:30> Andy Griffiths @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Roots songwriter

9:30> The Junction City All-Stars feat. Dave McManus with special guest Michael Keith @ Axis Gallery & Grill, 3048 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Blues/Rock

*9:30-2> karaoke with The English Rose & The Mad Scotsman @ Winners, 2181 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough

9:30> David Love Band feat. Darrell McNeill @ The Purple Heather, 3600 Dundas St. W., Burlington ~60s Pop Rock

9:30?> Dunn feat. Dee Flat @ East Side Bar & Grill, 750 Hamilton Rd., London ~Rock/R&B

9:30> Murphy’s Law feat. Mike Murphy @ Redhouse Bar & Grill, 1085 O’Connor Dr., ~Rock

9:30> Supernatural feat. Rod Clarke @ Smiling Jack’s, 3482 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough ~classic Rock

9:30> Play Back @ Seven44, 744 Mount Pleasant Blvd., TO North ~50s & 60s hits

9:30> Craig Robertson & Friends @ Stone Cottage Pub, 3750 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock

9:30> Old Man Flanagan’s Ghost @ Timothy’s Pub 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Celtic Rock

9:30> Paul & Curtis @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9:30> Terry Finn & Friends @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

9:30> Balls and Jane @ Puck ‘n’ Pint, 871 Chemong Rd., Peterborough ~Blues

9:45> Bruce Cassidy’s Hotfoot Orchestra @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

*9:45> Tyler Yarema & His Rhythm @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues

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

10-2> Midnight Jewel feat. Brian Potts on bass @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 36 Kingston Rd. E., Ajax ~Pop Rock

10> Ride The Tiger @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~Funk/Soul

10> David Baxter @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~Roots-Pop

10> Healing Power showcase @ Tranzac Club  (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10-1> Sheldon Holder @ Bar Radio, 615 College St., TO ~Soul; pwyc

10-2> The Double Cuts @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West

10-2> Dirty Truth @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~original Blues-Rock

10> The Sarcastic Onions @ Beaver & Bulldog Cambridge, 525 Hespeler Rd., Cambridge ~Rock

10> Beautiful Losers @ The Red Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough ~Leonard Cohen tribute

10:30> Gargantua @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

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