Pat Blythe – #MeToo/#NotMeToo and Rockin’ the Night Away…

Let me start by stating I am not a “political” person. I follow what’s going on the world to keep myself current but I don’t read nor do I decipher every minutiae that is written about “he who shall not be shamed” or anyone else for that matter. However, the latest in a very long string of accusations of sexual misconduct/harassment, particularly here in Ontario, well…..I’ve about had enough. I posted this in Facebook a few days ago and, generally, the respondents agree with me. What follows in a slightly edited version.
“For the first time in years, eons even, I sat down to read something other a computer screen (except for Tom Wilson’s book Beautiful Scars). This time it was the newspaper. The National Post actually. For some mysterious reason it keeps appearing on my front porch at least six out of seven days a week. But I digress……

Pat Blythe – Appreciating Tom Waits, “The Bout” at The Hideout and More…

Brrrrrrrr…..the cold weather has been keeping many folks inside, even with the brief break of a balmy five degrees! Inviting sun…..frostbitten tootsies. The live music scene, however, is not slowing down and is, in fact, just starting to heat up. Behind the curtains local clubs, bars, concert halls and music festivals are busy sprucing up, prepping, and booking music that will make your ears dance.

CMW….The Bands, The Music, The Food, The Rain…..

Well…..I’m sick and wide awake at 2am, coughing…. I refuse to bow down to the Spirit Virus. I will not yield to the scourge that is coursing through my system…my eyes, my nose, my body. I will not lie down on the Altar of Kleenex. I reject this damnable cold…. (it’s amazing what your brain comes up with at 2am). I am in denial but it’s not working. So, with a box of Kleenex, a cup of tea and enough ibuprofen in my system to kill an elephant, I power on. Homemade soup comes later.

Roxanne Tellier – Music City, My Ass

Every time I see an article lauding Mayor  John Tory’s ‘inspired’ idea of turning Toronto into a ‘Music City,’ I get queasy. You see, I came to Toronto in 1976, when it really WAS one, and have watched succeeding local governments and well-heeled blue noses, waving the banners of political correctness and money over art, stomp the culture to death.

JAIMIE VERNON – MY LIFE WAS SAVED BY ROCK AND ROLL

This week legendary musical curmudgeon Lou Reed died at the age of 71 following complications related to a liver transplant this past May. Within minutes of the initial announcement by Rolling Stone magazine the InstaFaceTwitterverse was abuzz with condolences and skepticism that it might possibly be a hoax. But after a few hours of confirmation and critical mass the news became ever too real. The King of Kool, the Dean of Dark, the Earl of Emo, had indeed died.