NXNE: Bands heard and missed and verdicts delivered

Thursday June 9                                                                                                                   

Michael Johnston,  9 p.m. Rancho Relaxo.

The unique, gentle, slightly twisted, funny pianist/singer is one of the best new artists I've heard in a year.  Alas, he's playing in one of the true toilets that pass as venues in this city; despite that, go and hear him!

       Well, it's still a toilet, but Johnston lived up to the hype.

       Pity, but he didn't play his toy piano.

Luke Doucet, 10.00 p.m. Horseshoe Tavern.

Interesting singer-songwriter comes in from the road - he's been Sarah McLachlan's guitarist - to sing his own stuff. Well worth hearing.

       An amazing set: Loud, crunchy, and terrific songs. It was his birthday, too. After a 

       late late set with his band Veal (which I didn't catch) his sister poured him onto a

       plane for Vancouver so he could play the last gig on Sarah's tour....

Heather Morgan, 12 midnight, Cadillac Lounge.

Red headed fiery violinist, singer and songwriter, with her band.  She's going to make up for her disaster last year at the worst venue in town, The Black Bull.

       Much better!  Good songs, a lovely stage presence, and a bit of an uncertain band.

Laura Repo, 1 a.m. Gladstone Hotel.

This woman has made two attractive indie CDs, and she has a special gentle air about her music, without descending into Joni Mitchell impersonation.

       Arrrgh, I missed it. My house guest Dale Anderson of the Buffalo Evening News

       drove us all home...I was bushed!

Friday June 10                                                                             

Robert Burton Hubele, 9 p.m.  The Art Bar.

Unusual take on blues from a fine guitarist from the Prairies.

       Missed this by arriving late, but caught the end of a great set by a woman from

       Boston called Danielle Mariglia. Bluesy, great guitar work, terrific stage presence

       and pretty good songs. As soon as I've had time, I'm going to follow up on this artist!

Hayes Carll, 10.00 p.m. Cadillac Lounge.

Huge buzz in alt.country circles about this guy; I'm really hoping for bang, twang and heart from, this Texas singer.

       Terrific! He didn't show up!

Ann Vriend, 11 p.m. The Art Bar.

Singer/songwriter/pianist from Edmonton who'll charm you silly. Heard her first three years ago at a western festival, and I've been a fan ever since.

       A bit studied, perhaps.  But a hell of a keyboard player; I heard she was much

       better at the SOCAN in-the-round session on Saturday.

Astrid Young, 12 midnight, Fox & Fiddle.

Don't know the venue, but I hope Ms. Young is as loud and proud and raunchy as she was last time I heard her. Her big brother's probably cheering from the California sidelines!

       Flaked on this one, too. Sorry Astrid!

Saturday June 11                                                                         

Justin Rutledge, 4 p.m. Graffiti's.

This tiny bar in Kensington Market is where I first realized how magnetic this artist can be, especially for young women with their harts on their sleeves.

       The previous act, and they'll remain nameless but they're now on my shit list,

       played 20 minutes over their spot, but Justin set up quickly, running in from

       the SOCAN event at the Holiday Inn. His set was rough and ragged, he revised

       songs on the fly (as does Dylan) to change them up and keep the band on their

       toes, and he PACKED the room.

The Cliks, 8 p.m., Bovine Sex Club.

Three out-gay women rockers; if their music is as effective as their image and their promotion, they're going to cut through this year.

       A bit Liz Phair like, said my writer pal David Hayes, whose partner Jen is

       writing on the band for Xtra. It was as hot as hades, so the band didn't wear

       the nice pin-striped suits they wear in their publicity shots; pity!

Romi Mayes, 9 p.m. Cadillac Lounge.

She took part in the Suite Beaver Suite showcase we ran at Folk Alliance in Montreal. Country-ish, engaging, good songs, and a terrific stage personality. She HAS to escape from Winnipeg!

       Hung out with Romi a lot later that evening (and at a couple of parties), but

       missed the show.

Clare Muldaur, 9 p.m. El Mocambo.

Yes, the daughter of a highly distinguished musical family.  I hate the "new" Elmo - too many fond memories of the old one! - and I hope the chattering scenesters at the back bar won't drown out a singer with heart and chops.

       This was UPSTAIRS at the Elmo. What an utterly appalling, dreadful,

       horrifying venue! When I think of all the artists I'd heard there in the glory

       days, I was suddenly depressed. I heard the sound check, hated the New York

       mock-sophistication and the singer's wispy voice. At five minutes to showtime

       I was the only "customer" in the room; I snuck out, for the next stop.

Colin Linden, 10.00 p.m. Lee's Palace.

There's a terrible tendency to take Linden for granted, just because he's been part of the scene here since he was 10 years' old.  He's our most talented roots music performer and producer, and his new record ("Southern Jumbo") is pretty damned fine.

       Caught a bit of Joel Kroeker first; he's a lovely guy, I'm best pals with his

       manager (Larry LeBlanc), but I just don't hear the songs. And he did a regrettable

       version of the Leonard Cohen song Hallelujah. Colin came out, and rocked -

       how can you NOT with Richard Bell on keys, John Dymond on bass and Gary

       Craig on drums? Bruce Cockburn joined in - and played superbly, as did Paul

       Reddick on harmonica and John Whynot on keys.

       Afterwards, Heather Morgan and her pals dragged me to see a lame band from

       Philadelphia at Clinton's, followed by a VERY pretty (and mostly naked) gay guy,

       trolling around the stage backed by a good drummer, a couple of horn players

       (loved the sax man's underpants) and a woman bassist who rocked.  Incidentally,

       Clinton's is cursed by a manic lighting guy who throws strobe lights all over the

       room, keeps the singer in darkness, and has yet to learn that flashing lights and

       coloured lamps and mirror balls DISTRACT from a band, especially if he can't

       get the musical cues right.

       Back to Lees for 54:40 - good head-banging music with LOTS of dry ice smoke.

Michael Brennan, 12 midnight, Black Bull.

Maybe the least music-friendly venue on the whole NXNE circuit. But Brennan is a terrific alt.country songwriter, with a voice that reminds me of old folkie John Stewart's, and the look's just perfect.  His new CD will be officially released in the Fall . . . A real discovery, methinks!

       Shoot - I missed him again!!!!

Sunday June 12                                                                           

Sleep.

       Oh yessss....Along the way, I also attended many parties, thanks to The Chart,

       NXNE, EMI Music Canada (the rooftop party was even better than it usually is!),

       Paperbag Records, and Universal Music Publishing. Great hangs, great chance

       to schmooze....and probably drank more than I should have done.  My

       accompanists included the aforesaid Dale Anderson; the wonderful Abby White

       of Performing Songwriter magazine in Nashville; dancer, bar-keep and utter

       charmer Sarah Doucet; my assistant Samantha Carter; that redhead Heather

       Morgan; writer Kerry Doole, and many more...

       Great work by the NXNE crew, especially my pal Travis Bird.