Pat Blythe – Something Personal …CMW …A Few Shows …and Music!

Writing one’s column on the day it’s supposed to post is not the best in planning but it will have to do for today (and last week and probably next week). Right now I’m listening to The Beach Boys song God Only Knows and I can’t stop thinking of all the people that have shared my life, not just in the past four years but going as far back as I can remember. So add the following video I found on FB and a late night conversation and yes, once again my column takes a different fork in the road.

All That We Share…..connected – TV 2 Danmark

Every person in my life, from birth to present day, has been an important and integral part of my growing pains (and pleasures). Some of those people I chose or chose me, some I welcomed and some I turned away, some dropped in and left unexpectedly, some are a recurrent presence and some were initially a glance, a smile or an introduction that I met again at another time. Some I’ve known for fifty years or fifty minutes and some of those I’ve known for only fifty minutes I feel like I’ve known for fifty years. Some I’ve completely lost touch with and others I’ve reconnected with after years or decades apart. Each and every one is a small piece of who I am now. Watch this next video from beginning to end.

All That We Share – TV 2 Danmark

Chris was husband, father, teacher, lover, friend, advisor, support and my true soul mate. I got lucky. We were together for 34 years and, although my mother was the strongest influence in my life (and still is) Chris is the one person who impacted my life the most. Where is this all leading? Well, think about it. Take a good long, hard look at where you are today, look at the people who surround you, remember those that have come and gone and ask yourself, “what piece of them do I carry with me.” Love and loss, life and death, friendships that endure, lessons learned, being alone or part of a team, the good and not so good choices we’ve made…..it’s all a part of who we are. So, when you listen to the song and hum it for the rest of the day (earworm is a given), who do you think of when hear the line, “God only knows what I’d be without you.”?

God Only Knows (What I’d Be Without You) – Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys

I truly believe I would not be where I am today if Chris hadn’t, literally, walked into my life 40 years ago. He met a young, somewhat naive “immigrant” from London and glimpsed something in me no one else had seen. Still not sure exactly what that was but through all our ups and downs we lived and learned, shared our lives, listened to and taught each other…..we filled each other’s gaps. He believed in me, encouraged me and pushed me forward and here I sit today, doing what I love, spending time with people I love, using Chris’s knowledge and my own strengths to continue. Not a bad combo.

Chris….from 1954 to 2011

So…..quickly…..CMW wrap……

Cassandra Maze performed just ahead of Tribe Royal at the Paddock.  She was aMazeing. Confident, lovely voice and polished.  This one-woman show is an experienced looper producing songs that are what’s been termed “dance pop”.

Cassandra Maze

The band Ferraro, brothers Cosmo (guitar/vocals), Tally and Gianni (drums/vocals), performed at the Horseshoe Tavern May 8. I was heading there to see the MONOWHALES and managed to catch most of Ferraro’s set. Descendants of the family who own the storied Cameron House (which is still in family hands), it was natural the Cameron’s musical history would influence these three to follow the same pursuit. Great stage dynamic, catchy tunes that had some folks dancing….old pop fused with new pop. Singer and bassist Tally Ferraro has the vocal chops and the girls swooning.

Cosmo Ferraro (Tally Ferraro foreground)

Tally Ferraro

CMW’s Spotlight on South Africa, the world’s 31^st largest market for recorded music, featured industry decision-makers including promoters, buyers, publishers, managers, performers, etc., This was Canadian Music Week’s first official mission from South Africa. I met one of the artists (Carly  Myers) and missed another (Jonathan Butler). Their music is included below.

The 2019 festival season is now officially full steam ahead.

Kingston and The Musical Box Extravaganza……

A small getaway for a few days and a much anticipated theatre show. The Musical Box, a French-Canadian Genesis tribute band, was performing. I love many of the prog-rock bands from “back in the day” but Genesis is my favourite. The Musical Box Extravaganza…..wet your pants amazing!!! It was extraordinary and sometimes overwhelming….the music surrounding, enveloping and overtaking you. I actually had tears streaming down my face at one point. I’m sure the couple next to me thought I was nuts but to hear some of my much-loved songs come to life, exactly as I remember hearing them….it’s almost indescribable. I never had the good fortune to see Genesis live…..until now.

Taken from the song of the same name from the Nursery Cryme album, The Musical Box, formed in 1993, is “the only Genesis tribute band that has received active support and permission from the real group.” According to Jeff Miers of The Buffalo News, “The Musical Box elevates the concept of the ‘tribute’ band to a new level.”  The entire production incorporates every note and every nuance right down to the tiniest detail. Even their setlists are identical to those performed by Genesis in the 1970s. My favourite Genesis song…..Watcher of the Skies. I used to go out of my way to see a Toronto band called Nightwinds just so I could see and hear them perform Watcher. I had my fingers crossed the song would be part of the Kingston show but unfortunately, not this time. It gives me an excellent excuse to see them again.

Little Magic Sam……

l-r – Steve Grant, Sam Taylor

On May 14, Tuesday Nights at Cherry Cola’s presented Blues Night with Little Magic Sam. An intimate, acoustic event, Taylor simply oozes the blues. Guitarist and artist Peter Kashur had this to say, “I treated myself to some honest, from the heart and soul, blues that you can believe in. Sam Taylor goes deep into the archives and pulls up some less remembered gems from Taj Mahal, Muddy Waters, etc. and sings and plays them like he means it, and his originals are as authentic as their inspiration … ‘Ted’ don’t teach what Sam does at Humber … (get your fat ass off the couch and go out and see Little Magic Sam … ‘BIG REAL Sam’ ) … Oh and Cabbagetown Steve Grant plays some of the sweetest misery whistle this side of Butterfield …”

Sam Taylor

Eddie Bullen and Sons…..

May 21 and another Tuesday Nights at Cherry Cola’s presentation. This time it was Jazz Night with Eddie Bullen on keys, Tre-Michael Bullen on drums and Quincy Bullen on bass, guitar and vocals. They jazzed up, funked up and bluezed up the club. Drummer Sarah Thawer backed up Tre-Michael, whose cast for a broken wrist had just been removed. This was the second time in as many weeks I had the opportunity to see Thawer perform. From Stevie Wonder to the Doobie Brothers plus originals, this trio tore up the house.

l-r – Eddie, Tre-Michael and Quincy Bullen

Eddie Bullen and Sarah Thawer

l-r – Eddie Bullen, Sarah Thawer, Quincy Bullen

Next up for Tuesday Nights at Cherry Cola’s is the Jeff Jones Trio. On May 28, Jones and his fellow Carpet Frogs drummer Sean Fitzsimons and guitarist Michael Zweig will be performing some acoustic pop rock classics and originals. Jones made his debut as the bassist and singer in the band Ocean, recording the hit “Put Your Hand In The Hand”. Unknown to most, Jones was in the first incarnation of Rush prior to Geddy Lee. Jones currently tours with Tom Cochrane and Red Rider and The Carpet Frogs, the latter famous for their work with Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman. During his 40-year career Jones has also performed with the funk/rock band Infidels (Molly Johnson), Ronnie Hawkins and Lawrence Gowan.Click the link for more details https://www.facebook.com/events/333373637380320/

Photo of Jeff Jones ©2017 Lisa MacIntosh Photography

THESE GUYS!!!! Yes…..these guys!!!! Dirty Loops are back, finally, with new material and a new album in the works. Produced by Quincy Jones Productions (go figure, the man is EVERYWHERE!), Work Shit Out is the band’s brand new collaboration and just dropped two days ago. Longtime friends Henrik Linder on bass, Aron Mellergardh on drums and Jonah Nilsson on vocals and keyboards form a dynamic that blends together exceptionally well and continues to create some of the most jaw-dropping, ear tingling, original music out there. Pop/jazz/classical/rock fusion with bass lines that don’t just walk, they cruise, run and snap….drumming that is inspired, ingenious and innovative…..keyboards that jazz it all up. According their IG account, a tour is also forthcoming. Damn!!!! I can hardly wait.

Work Shit Out = Dirty Loops

Lost In You – Dirty Loops

Boom Boom – Cassandra Maze

Wait – Cassandra Maze

Shake It Up – Ferraro

Losing Sleep – Ferraro

Just because I love the power in this song…..

Shallow – Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper

Free – Jonathan Butler

No Woman No Cry – Jonathan Butler

All The King’s Horses – Carli J. Myerrs

Just Sayin’ – Carli J. Myers

Dance on a Volcano – Genesis

Watcher of the Skies – Genesis

Firth of Fifth – Genesis

Cheers!

All photographs ©2019 Pat Blythe, A Girl With A Camera unless otherwise noted.

=PB=

Pat’s column appears every Wednesday.

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“Music and photography….my heart, my passions.” After an extended absence —  33 years as a consultant and design specialist in the telecommunications industry — Pat has turned her focus back to the music scene. Immersing herself in the local club circuit, attending the many diverse music festivals, listening to some great music, photographing and writing once again, she is eager to spread the word about this great Music City of ours…..Toronto. Together for 34 years, Pat also worked alongside her late husband Christopher Blythe, The PictureTaker©, who, beginning in the early 70s, photographed much of the local talent (think Goddo, Frank Soda and the Imps, BB Gabor, the first Police Picnic, Buzzsaw, Hellfield, Shooter, The Segarini Band….) as well as national and international acts. Pat is currently making her way through 40 years of Chris’s archives, 20 of which are a photographic history of the local GTA music scene beginning in 1974. It continues to be a work in progress. Oh…..and she LOVES to dance!