EVENT PREVIEW: WAMM Magazine's One Year Anniversary - One Party, Two Venues!

With much of the local mainstream media virtually ignoring the local arts scene (music, film and visual art) or, at very best, tucking it away in small mentions or short clips, Windsor has long relied on local persons to be their voice, a source of "alternative news".

In the early 1990's, ROOM Magazine erupted to a whirlwind of fanfare and became the local rag of choice for issues that to many of us, truly counted. Not only a staunch supporter of the local arts, ROOM Magazine brought forth many of the political issues that affected the younger markets and ones that, at the time, the mainstream usually shrugged away.

By the early 2000's, ROOM had vanished, replaced by Upfront Magazine, who's biting satirical approach to the local news was for some a blessing in disguise and for others, a notch above bathroom wall scribblings. But no matter the view, Upfront's often controversial journalism (they had several articles end up in legal battles over their exposure), Upfront was anything but satirical when it came to promoting Windsor's arts communities. But, in 2008, Windsor was suddenly left without an "alternative voice", when Upfront shut its doors and moved on to Ottawa, where it's biting attacks on Canadian politics would face a greater crowd.

But in April of 2008, Stephen Hargreaves, a local graphic designer and long-standing member of Windsor's music scene (in such bands as NOT_Digital, Children of Laudanum and Sukubus) emerged on the scene with a brand new magazine that ushered in the next wave of local arts news media. With its in-depth coverage of Windsor's arts, music and film scene's, written by those in the trenches, WAMM (Windsor Arts & Music Monthly) Magazine became the voice Windsor had been waiting for.

A year has passed, and through its ups and downs and finding its legs, WAMM Magazine has endured and is now Windsor's premiere voice for its overlooked and underappreciated arts communities.

TONIGHT, WAMM Magazine is throwing it's One Year Anniversary party at not one, but TWO, venues, with a great event planned for you to come out and raise a glass to the voice of Windsor arts, and, more importantly, to the people who comprise our arts communities - for without all the talented musicians, artists, film makers and writers who make up these communities, WAMM would be nothing but pretty toilet paper.

One party is at Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West), where all the entries from the 1st Annual WAMM Video Contest will be screened, with the winner announced following the screening. There were some fantastic entries and tonight everyone will have the chance to view all these videos. Doors are at 8pm and it will be a social party for artists of all types to mingle and catch up, with the Video viewing scheduled to start at 11pm. And they'll be having their usual cheap pints of beer special as well!

The other party is at The Whiskey (300 Ouellette Ave., below A-Channel), coinciding with WAMM/The Windsor Scene's monthly Indie Showcase. The cover is only $3 (which is all going to the bands for their services this night) and there are $3 whiskey drinks as well. The bands feature some up and coming stars of the local scene, starting at 10pm sharp with The Mindframes, a new rock and roll outfit featuring some vets of Windsor's music scene, such as Andrew MacLeod, Paul Loncke (of The Locusts Have No King), Aaron McKinley, Brent Reaume and Mike Dube. There will be a break in the music from 11 to 11:45 as the Video Viewing goes on at Phog, followed by more music at The Whiskey. Death or Comber is a band that has been on a sky rocket rise in the Windsor music community, bringing an edgy-yet-melodic style of songwriting reminscent of bands like Shudder To Think or Built To Spill. This young band has been picking up bandwagons of fans of late and it's only a matter of time before there shows are standing room only. Closing out the party at The Whiskey is the "got-to-see-to-be-believed" stage show by The Peace Leeches. Although from Blenheim, this electro-pop duo has been playing Windsor more than anywhere, quickly cementing a hardcore following, based on their energetic and unbelievable live shows and catchy songs. Doors are at 9pm for this showcase.

Unfortunately, both shows are 19+ shows.

A time table line-up for tonight's festivities:

10:00 - 10:45 ... The Mindframes, live @ The Whiskey

11:00 - 11:45 ... Video Screening of Video Contest Entries, live @ Phog Lounge

11:45 - 12:30 ... Death or Comber, live @ The Whiskey

12:45 - ??? ... The Peace Leeches, live @ The Whiskey

WEEK IN PREVIEW: March 30 - April 5, 2009

A somewhat quieter week for live music in Windsor (after last week's monumental amount of great shows, it's nice to have a breather), but some great shows none the less! Here's a quick look at what's to come...

Monday March 30

The Milkmen
Milk Coffee Bar (68 University Ave. West)
Another night of chillaxin' at Milk with the sultry improv jazz sessions of the Monday Milkmen.

Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
The always delightful Tara Watts hosts an eclectic open mic session on Phog's stage. For the first-timer to the stage veteran, you never know who will show up and sing a song.

Open Mic with Clinton Hammond
The Kildare House (1880 Wyandotte St. East)
Windsor's longest running Open Mic continues along without any signs of showing down! The charismatic Clinton Hammon runs the gauntlet of the Open Mic - sing a song, tell a joke, the stage is open!

Tuesday March 31

ALL-AGES: Rockin' Off The Grid featuring
The Tree Streets, Inoke Errati, Trevor Cox and Justin Alexander
The Basement Pub, University of Windsor (in basement of CAW Student Centre)
This free All-Ages event is a one of a kind event here in Windsor and perhaps something other festivals or showcases should look at as a model. From the press release: "The bands will play with 1,000 amps of power, which will be delivered by pedaling cyclists on stationary bikes and a green energy trailer donated by http://windsorpowerhouse.com . The trailer is equipped with wind-turbines and solar panels. This will be the first Canadian concert that is completely off the grid; a demonstration of alternative energy and its many applications." Chalk up another first for the Windsor music scene! Doors are at 8pm and this is an all-ages event.

Ron Leary & "Mr. Chill" Kelly Hoppe
Aardvark's Blues Cafe (89 University Ave. West)
Ron Leary and Mr. Chill play a smattering of songs, with some choice covers mixed in with songs from Leary's brilliant debut CD, theroadinbetween, and Mr. Chill's fantastic Cold Testament.

The Last Trio
The FM Lounge (156 Chatham St. West)
Alan Penner leads a rotating cast of some of the city's finest players through jazz interpretations and beyond.

Clare Renaud's Session
The Kildare House (1880 Wyandotte St. East)
A real traditional Celtic feel to this impromptu jam session that has all the flair of a Cape Breton house party. You never know who's going to stop by with what instrument and play what song. And the beer ain't half band neither.

Open Mic with Stefanie Sarafianos
The Mill Tavern (3199 Sandwich St.)
One half of the sisterly duo Twisted Sisters, Stephanie leads a cast of musicians of all types of experience each week on the West end.

Open Mic with Andrew MacLeod
The Dominion House (3140 Sandwich St.)
Andrew MacLeod leads another Open Mic on the West end, showcasing many of the city's finest songwriters and drinkers.

Tuesday Night Music Club with Jamie Reaume
Twig N' Berries (2135 Wyandotte St. East)
The Golden Eagles' Jamie Reaume leads an all-star cast of local musicians through one of the city's wildest Open Mac jam sessions.

Wednesday April 1

Daren Dobsky & Josh Zalev
Aardvark's Blues Cafe (89 University Ave. West)
Dobsky and Zalev lead an occassional all-star ensemble through a series of covers, from Led Zeppelin to Jeff Buckley, rock and roll to the blues.

Kenneth MacLeod & The Windsor Salt Band
The Dominion House Tavern (3140 Sandwich St.)
Kenneth MacLeod is a one-man musical wrecking crew. His talent is overwhelming and his intensity equally so. A variety of music, from East Coast to contemporary, with a supporting cast featuring Max Marshall on bass and Sally Zori on drums.

Thursday April 2

The Windsor Scene on CJAM 91.5 FM
Randi Irving continues to host the on-air version and multi-JAMMY Award winning companion to "The Windsor Scene", each and every Thursday evening from 6pm to 7pm, on CJAM 91.5 FM, Windsor's Campus and Community Radio Station. Hear tracks from some of Windsor's current musical stars as well as nuggets from the vault, not to mention live interviews and peformances!

The Peace Leeches, Death or Comber and The Mindframes
The Whiskey (300 Ouellette Ave., below A-Channel)
A great local indie showcase of three great up and coming bands from the local scene. The Peace Leeches (who are actually from Blenheim) have been building quite a local following with a series of inspired electro-pop live spectaculars the past year, while Death or Comber has been building quite a following after only a short time together. The Mindframes are another local supergroup, featuring local singer/songwriter Andrew MacLeod as well as Paul Loncke (The Locusts Have No King, ex-The Scarecrows), Aaron McKinley, Brent Reaume and Mike Dube. This is also a co-party to celebrate the one year anniversary of WAMM Magazine.

WAMM Magazine One Year Anniversary Party
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
WAMM Magazine has been covering Windsor's local arts, music and film community for one whole year now and the staff is throwing a party at Phog Lounge to thank everyone for making the magazine such a success. There will be musical guests (TBA) plus screenings of all the entries for the WAMM Video Contest, plus the winner announced!

Huladog
The FM Lounge (156 Chatham St. West)
Always a great night of live jazz and funk jams by a group of Windsor's premiere players. Huladog have been at it for years now and they play the perfect blend of great jazz and booty shakin' funk.

"Mr. Chill" Kelly Hoppe, Tom Hogarth and Chris Borshuk
Mezzo Ristorante & Lounge (804 Erie St. East)
Mr. Chill teams up with the incomparable voice of Tom Hogarth as well as Chris Borshuk for this intimate showcase. A great night for dinner and some music.

Friday April 3

Mr. Chill & The Witnesses
Aardvark's Blues Cafe (89 University Ave. West)
Always a good time when "Mr. Chill" Kelly Hoppe rounds up his posse and brings the full band to the stage. A tireless scene veteran, Hoppe, along with his Witnesses (Greg Cox, Josh Zalev and Bradford Helner) are never a bad idea. If you've never seen this foot-stompin' blues & roots combo, now would be a great time (and venue) to experience them for the first time.

Ron Leary
The FM Lounge (156 Chatham St. West, beside Pogo's)
I don't know how Ron does it, but this man plays and plays and never slows down. He has a weekly gig in Toronto on Thursdays (at The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., for any Toronto readers) but he's racing back on Friday for an intimate solo performance at the FM Lounge (formerly the Old Fish Market). Still playing in support of his stunning debut Theroadinbetween, rumours have it that he's in the early writing stages for songs for his next album. If you haven't seen Ron in a while, now's a great chance to possibly preview some songs from his next CD.

The Junction (Brampton, ON) wsg The Tragedy of Mariam and My Son My Son
The Chubby Pickle (762 Ouellette Ave.)
Touring in support of their new album, Another Link In The Chain, The Junction has been kind to Windsor the past few years, always stopping by with their great indie rock (perhaps because of their kinship with The Reason, featuring several ex-Windsorites). They're joined by Windsor pop-punksters The Tragedy of Mariam and indie rockers My Son My Son.

The New Kings (Toronto, ON) wsg High Mother
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
Remember when punk rock was political? Well it doesn't get more political than Toronto's The New Kings. Lead by activist/musician Michael Louis Johnson, these guys are like a mix between The Clash and Rancid (whom they've opened for). A horn section always gets a crowd going, and mixed with politically charge punk rock, makes for a wonderful combination. Johnson, who previously worked with Big Rude Jake, also happens to be the brother of ex-Big Sugar/Grady guitarist/singer Gordie Johnson. Opening the show will be the high octane rock and roll of Windsor's own High Mother.

Blind Leads Nakid (Macomb, MI), Demon Street (Sterling Heights, MI) and Sinnocence
The Coach & Horses (156 Chatham St. West, below Pogo's)
Michigan's Blind Leads Nakid are no stranger to Windsor or the Coach. These metal progsters have been playing over here for years (in fact, it was only recently I discovered they were from the U.S.). There sound is reminiscent of early Soundgarden (pre-Badmotorfinger) with traces of early Monster Magnet. They're bringing another Michigan act over with them, alt. rockers Demon Street. Local metallers Sinnocence open up the show.

(GrounD)
Empire Lounge (128 University Ave. West, above California Sushi)
DJ's Mach-X and J_Wild continue their weekly electronic collective and live collaboration night at the Empire, spinning the best in "epicness of EDM with techno, dubstep, house, scenster nu-rave, breakz and everything else you've come to expect from this dynamic team." This week they have true live collaboration, with DJ Tone Deft (Nich Finlayson) spinning to a live drummer, Tom Gaspar.

Saturday April 4

Aquila, Odium (Walkerton, ON), Punish Them (London, ON) and Ball Harness
The Coach & Horses (156 Chatham St. West, below Pogo's)
Aquila is fast becoming the new face of Windsor heavy metal, with a rabid following and great word-of-mouth buzz. This will be a special show (as it's vocalist Mark Arruda's birthday) so expect them to turn it all up just a little for this one. Joining them on the bill will be a smattering of offerings from the Ontario metal gods, with Walkerton's Odium and London's Punish Them. Couldn't find much info on Ball Harness...

Mr. Chill & The Witnesses
Aardvark's Blues Cafe (89 University Ave. West)
Mr. Chill and his Witnesses return for a second round of honky tonkin' roots and blues with night two of their weekend double header at the 'Vark.

Slow Down, Molasses (Saskatoon, SK) wsg Valery Gore (Toronto, ON) and Wax Mannequin (Hamilton, ON)
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
Exclaim! Magazine has called Saskatoon's Slow Down, Molasses "the Broken Social Scene of the prairies" and for good reason. This multi-member collective channel indie lo-fi pop with Canadiana roots with surprising effectiveness. Toronto's Valery Gore adds her quirky piano pop to the line-up, as well as the folk-rock stylings of Hamilton's Wax Mannequin, who has always tore the house down when he visits Windsor.

Harvesting The FAM presents
Through Women's Eyes & Voices with Monique Belanger and Corrina Keeling
Milk Coffee Bar (68 University Ave. West)
The Harvesting The FAM Festival continues to promote local arts and music with a special month long presentation celebrating women's artistic input to the local arts community. This is a combination of a month long photographer exhibit (featuring works by such local photographers as Roxi D-Lite, Alicia Fox, Bree Gaudette, Cristina Naccarato and more) combined with select live music showcases, with this first one featuring singer/songwriters Monique Belanger and Corrina Keeling.

Jamology and Anonymous Bosch
The Chubby Pickle (762 Ouellette Ave.)
I must admit, these are two bands I'm not very familiar with (or of). Not that that means they aren't worth checking out! Jamology sounds like a heavy alternative jam bands (of sorts), while Anonymous Bosch (I love that name...) seem to be a prog metal band in the vein of bands like Dream Theater.

CD Release Party:
Solid State wsg PurpleOrange, Inforlife (Calgary, AB) and Twisted Alliance (Tilbury, ON)
The Blind Dog (671 Ouellette Ave., formerly The Roxy)
Solid State's throwing a big bash at The Blind Dog to celebrate the release of their new disc, Broken Homes. Cover is $10 but the first 150 people in the door get a free copy of the new release. These veterans play old school metal and play it tight. They've enlisted a few openers, including Belle River's PurpleOrange, former Windsorites Inforlife (now residing in Calgary) and Tilbury's Twisted Alliance.

Sunday April 5

The Whitsundays (Edmonton, AB) and Brasstronaut (Vancouver, BC) wsg The Original Lady Eyes
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
Pick of the Week: The Whitsundays are a supergroup from Edmonton who have been making waves the past year with their stunning self-titled debut, which sounds like it could have been written in 1966. A real 60's throwback sound, reminiscent of bands like The Zombies, these guys are made up of members of such noted Canadian indie bands as Shout Out Out Out Out and Faunts and last year Rolling Stone magazine commented that they were "the next big Canadian indie supergroup", warning The New Pornographers to "watch out". Brasstronaut's experimental indie sounds have also been making waves, especially on CBC Radio 3, where their creative use of a brass section has created some truly remarkable music. Opening up the show will be Windsor's own Original Lady Eyes.

Dusty
Aardvark's Blues Cafe (89 University Ave. West)
One of the city's premiere entertainers, hand down, he plays an impressive mix of songs, from outlaw country to rock and roll to a little dab of hair metal. Genuinely super dude with a great sense of humour.

Open Mic with Dan Marshall
The FM Lounge (156 Chatham St. West)
Meters To Miles' frontman Dan Marshall leads an impromptu Open Mic at the Old Fish Market each and every Sunday.

WEEK IN PREVIEW: March 23- 29, 2009

Wow. That's all I can say. Wow. This week is so immensely packed with great shows - from two amazing CD releases, to video releases, to festivals, to just plain hardcore insanity - so I hope you've saved away some bucks to spend this week! So much to choose from that I've had to pick a couple Picks of the Week instead of the usual just one. Here goes...

Monday March 23

The Milkmen
Milk Coffee Bar (68 University Ave. West)
Another night of chillaxin' at Milk with the sultry improv jazz sessions of the Monday Milkmen.

Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
The always delightful Tara Watts hosts an eclectic open mic session on Phog's stage. For the first-timer to the stage veteran, you never know who will show up and sing a song.

Open Mic with Clinton Hammond
The Kildare House (1880 Wyandotte St. East)
Windsor's longest running Open Mic continues along without any signs of showing down! The charismatic Clinton Hammon runs the gauntlet of the Open Mic - sing a song, tell a joke, the stage is open!

Tuesday March 24

Ron Leary & "Mr. Chill" Kelly Hoppe
Aardvark's Blues Cafe (89 University Ave. West)
Ron Leary and Mr. Chill play a smattering of songs, with some choice covers mixed in with songs from Leary's brilliant debut CD, theroadinbetween, and Mr. Chill's fantastic Cold Testament.

The Last Trio
The FM Lounge (156 Chatham St. West)
Alan Penner leads a rotating cast of some of the city's finest players through jazz interpretations and beyond.

Clare Renaud's Session
The Kildare House (1880 Wyandotte St. East)
A real traditional Celtic feel to this impromptu jam session that has all the flair of a Cape Breton house party. You never know who's going to stop by with what instrument and play what song. And the beer ain't half band neither.

Open Mic with Stefanie Sarafianos
The Mill Tavern (3199 Sandwich St.)
One half of the sisterly duo Twisted Sisters, Stephanie leads a cast of musicians of all types of experience each week on the West end.

Open Mic with Andrew MacLeod
The Dominion House (3140 Sandwich St.)
Andrew MacLeod leads another Open Mic on the West end, showcasing many of the city's finest songwriters and drinkers.

Tuesday Night Music Club with Jamie Reaume
Twig N' Berries (2135 Wyandotte St. East)
The Golden Eagles' Jamie Reaume leads an all-star cast of local musicians through one of the city's wildest Open Mac jam sessions. The Golden Eagles will be releasing their debut CD this Saturday and you can win two tickets, CDs and a T-Shirt with our exclusive blog contest.

Wednesday March 25

River of Ghosts
The Coach & Horses (156 Chatham St. West, below Pogo's)
The solo project from Willy Skullz, who cut his teeth in such bands as Mister Bones and Pitch Union, brings his dark Danzig-esque sounds to the stage at the infamous Coach and Horses.

Daren Dobsky & Josh Zalev
Aardvark's Blues Cafe (89 University Ave. West)
Dobsky and Zalev lead an occassional all-star ensemble through a series of covers, from Led Zeppelin to Jeff Buckley, rock and roll to the blues.

Kenneth MacLeod & The Windsor Salt Band
The Dominion House Tavern (3140 Sandwich St.)
Kenneth MacLeod is a one-man musical wrecking crew. His talent is overwhelming and his intensity equally so. A variety of music, from East Coast to contemporary, with a supporting cast featuring Max Marshall on bass and Sally Zori on drums.

Thursday March 26

The Windsor Scene on CJAM 91.5 FM
Randi Irving continues to host the on-air version and multi-JAMMY Award winning companion to "The Windsor Scene", each and every Thursday evening from 6pm to 7pm, on CJAM 91.5 FM, Windsor's Campus and Community Radio Station. Hear tracks from some of Windsor's current musical stars as well as nuggets from the vault, not to mention live interviews and peformances!

CD RELEASE PARTY:
CJAM 91.5 FM and WAMM Magazine presents
Tara Watts' About Love wsg The Locusts Have No King and 87 Things For The Future
The Room (255 Ouellette Ave., above Chanoso's)
Pick of the Week: One of the local music scene's most heavily anticipated CD for the past year, Tara Watts finally unveils her debut album with a special showcase at The Room. The electronic sounds of 87 Things For The Future kicks things off, followed by a rousing set by The Locusts Have No King. Tara Watts will be performing with a full band featuring members of The Locusts Have No King and Johnny West.

SMASH THE GLASS FESTIVAL: Day One
Lioness (Toronto, ON), Perilelle, A Young Wife (Toronto, ON), The Floral Prints and Erica Di Maio
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
Pick of the Week: Local promoter Sonia Nza's ambitious little local festival celebrating Women in independent music has blossomed since its inception and this year features an international flavour, as local artists are joined by some great acts from across Ontario and the U.S. Indie-electro popsters Lioness headlines this kick off night at Phog Lounge.

ALL-AGES: CUTTING EDGE MUSIC FESTIVAL featuring
Explode When They Bloom, Hello Bella, Radio Adelaide, Assassinate The Following, Sinnocence, The Oath of Ares, The Unthinking Majority and Falling From Glory
The Chubby Pickle (762 Ouellette Ave.)
Put on in association with Toronto's new rock station, The Edge 102.1, this Battle of the Bands style showcase pits some of Windsor's indepenent talent against each other, with the winner playing at Sound Academy in Toronto on April 24, as part of Edge 102.1 Friday Night Live broadcast.

Huladog
The FM Lounge (156 Chatham St. West)
Always a great night of live jazz and funk jams by a group of Windsor's premiere players. Huladog have been at it for years now and they play the perfect blend of great jazz and booty shakin' funk.

"Mr. Chill" Kelly Hoppe, Tom Hogarth and Chris Borshuk
Mezzo Ristorante & Lounge (804 Erie St. East)
Mr. Chill teams up with the incomparable voice of Tom Hogarth as well as Chris Borshuk for this intimate showcase. A great night for dinner and some music.

Friday March 27

ALL-AGES: SMASH THE GLASS FESTIVAL: Day Two
Two Hand Fools (Cleveland, OH), The Love and Terror Cult (Mississauga, ON), Empty Hands (Kitchener/Waterloo, ON), Happy Living Collective, Brass Knuckles and Cold White North (Columbus, OH)
The Chubby Pickle (762 Ouellette Ave.)
The Smash The Glass Festival continues with its second big night, this time featuring a decidedly heavier, punk flavour, shifting stages to The Chubby Pickle.
$5, 7pm

CJAM's Minced Meat presents
INSIDEaMIND (Toronto, ON) wsg Magnolius (Toronto, ON)
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
Put on in part by CJAM's Emily Copeland (of the program Minced Meat), this show will feature some experimental electronic hip-hop from Toronto's INSIDEaMIND and the great hip-hop stylings of Magnolius, who are off to play Europe following this special Phog showcase. If you're fans of Jurassic-5, you'll dig these guys.

Waking Without Remorse
The Coach & Horses (156 Chatham St. West, below Pogo's)
A night of doom and gloom from Leamington's Waking Without Remorse. Another of the Nu-Blood of Windsor's metal scene.

"Mr. Chill" Kelly Hoppe and Greg Cox
The Tecumseh Roadhouse
Mr. Chill and Witness bandmate Greg Cox bring their guitars, harmonicas and extensive songbook to the Tecumseh Roadhouse for a night of great BBQ and great storytelling.

Saturday March 28

CD RELEASE PARTY:
The Golden Eagles' The Golden Eagles wsg Vultures! and The Tree Streets
The Liquor Box (2155 Wyandotte St. West)
Pick of the Week: Check out the CD review posted on Saturday for your chance to win two tickets to this release party, plus copies of the CD and a T-Shirt. A sure-fire rock and roll party, the Golden Eagles bring Vultures! and The Tree Streets to the dance.

CD/VIDEO RELEASE PARTY:
Living In Armour wsg Betrayer and 40 Sons and Daughters (Hamilton, ON)
The Blind Dog (671 Ouellette Ave.)
Out of the ashes of Dronefly emerged a new heavier, darker and more cohesive unit in Living In Armour. These guys are veterans of the scene and have perfected their aggressive melodic metalcore sound to a tee. They're unleashing their debut CD as well as their debut video this night, with help from local metal icons Betrayer and Hamilton's 40 Sons and Daughters.

Young Rival (Hamilton, ON) and Songs From A Room (Toronto, ON) wsg Death or Comber and The Legendary Sean Connery Supergroup
The Dominion House Tavern
Pick of the Week: Formerly known as The Ride Theory, Young Rival have carved out a niche as one of Canada's biggest indie buzz bands, with opening slots for Wolf Parade and King Khan & The Shrines to playing just about every festival out there. Their video for "Your Island" is one of the Featured Videos on MySpace right now. Toronto's Songs From A Room got their initial start right here in Windsor and have also been creating quite a buzz of late. Joined by the great Death or Comber and The Legendary Sean Connery Supergroup (featuring members of Water/Heart), this will be a high energy show to be sure.

The Jet Trio wsg Destroy Thy Will
The Coach & Horses (156 Chatham St. West, below Pogo's)
Get ready to have your faces melted off as if you were a Nazi opening the Ark of the Covenant. The Jet Trio are one of Windsor's premiere riff masters and their brand of stoner rock is unavoidably infectious. Add in the sheer intensity of Scott Funnel and Destroy Thy Will and your face doesn't stand a chance. You've been warned.

"Mr. Chill" Kelly Hoppe and Greg Cox
Taloola Cafe (396 Devonshire Rd.)
Mr. Chill and Mr. Cox tone their songs to an even more intimate acoustic experience with a nice early showcase from 8:30pm to 10pm.

The Original Lady Eyes wsg Meters To Miles
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
These guys just get better and better, honing on such classic 80's college material as early U2, REM and The Cure, but mixing it into something modern, unique and inevitably Windsor. They're joined by newcomers Meters To Miles, featuring Dan Marshall, formerly of 90's power-pop faves B-Plan.

ALL-AGES: Malignacy (Yonkers, NY) wsg Our Lady of Bloodshed (Brantford, ON), Analyze The Catastrophe, Dismata (Tilbury, ON) and Abstractionist
The Chubby Pickle (762 Ouellette Ave.)
It doesn't get much darker than New York's Malignancy - this is real death metal, akin to older legends of the genre like Cannibal Corpse. Add in some
This is an All-Ages show with doors at 5pm

Dean Lickyer (Hamilton, ON) wsg The Eclectic Chair
The Chubby Pickle (762 Ouellette Ave.)
Hamilton's Dean Lickyer (a band not a person) was recently touted by KISS' Gene Simmons as the Best Band at Canadian Music Week this year and got a cheque for $10,000 from the Demon himself. They're joined by local grunge rockers The Eclectic Chair. This show starts about 10pm.

Sunday March 29

Walls of Jericho (Detroit, MI) wsg The Red Chord (Boston, MA), Turmoil (Philadelphia, PA) and Days Fade
The Chubby Pickle (762 Ouellette Ave.)
Detroit's highly influential metal vets hit Windsor as part of their current tour with The Red Chord and Turmoil, with local hardcore kings Days Fade joining the bill. I'll bet someone loses a tooth at this show.

Dusty
Aardvark's Blues Cafe (89 University Ave. West)
One of the city's premiere entertainers, hand down, he plays an impressive mix of songs, from outlaw country to rock and roll to a little dab of hair metal. Genuinely super dude with a great sense of humour.

Open Mic with Dan Marshall
The FM Lounge (156 Chatham St. West)
Meters To Miles' frontman Dan Marshall leads an impromptu Open Mic at the Old Fish Market each and every Sunday.

EVENT PREVIEW: Indie Showcase Tonight @ The Whiskey with High Mother, The Tyres and Eric Welton

If you recall, once a month myself (in association with WAMM Magazine and The Windsor Scene) will be putting on a showcase of local indie bands at The Whiskey (300 Ouellette Ave., below A-Channel News). These are showcases of diverse local original acts, somewhere where people who don't normally see original acts can see something different or a place where regular supporters can see their local favourites in a different venue.

The Whiskey has been very kind so far and our first night, featuring Vultures!, Perilelle and Two For The Cascade, was a success, with 70 people coming through the door for the first night. We hope to top that this week with our second night (I know, it's not a month later, but I agreed to fill in a last minute cancellation).

Due to the A-Channel's 11 O'Clock News, there's a slight down time where there will be no music, at it leaks up from the bar into the on-air room. The schedule will be as follows, with start times promptly as listed (especially for the first band).

10pm to 10:45 The Eric Welton Band
One of Windsor's finest singer/songwriters and recent addition to local fave The Square Root of Margaret, Eric Welton has been playing with a full band since his release last year of Fool Heart. Normally a small rotating cast of musical friends, tonight's backing band includes Damien Zakoor (The Tyres, The Golden Hands Before God...) on drums, Travis Reitsma on guitar and vocals, Andrew MacLeod (The Mindframes) on vocals, Jamie Greer (The Golden Hands Before God..., ex-The Hung Jury) on tambourine and shakers, Erik Myskow (FourLetterWord, ex-The Hung Jury) on bass (and maybe Tara Watts on vocals).

10:55 to 11:35 No live music due to A-Channel News

11:45 to 12:30 The Tyres
Damien will be pulling double duty as his other full time band, The Tyres, follows up Eric Welton. The Tyres will be bringing their Kinks-inspired rock and roll to the Whiskey stage with an diverse songbook of originals.

12:45 to 1:30 High Mother
The indie showcase is rounded out by a four man gang of Windsor scene veterans in High Mother. Sporting various ex-members of such bands as TOAST, Grumpy and Luxury Christ (to name a few), this high octane rock and roll is fuelled by an electric cocktail of 70's-style Detroit punk rock and 50's rock and roll.

Cover for this showcase is a mere $3 and all money collected goes to the bands for their time, so check them out if you haven't seen them before or if you're a fan who hasn't seen them in a while. To sweeten the deal, The Whiskey is also offering $2.50 ryes and $3 Jagers. Sounds like a party to me!

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THE BONUS SECTION

All three artists involved have generously donated an mp3 song to put up here, available for FREE for you to download and keep on your computer or add to your iPod. If you dig it, I'm sure they'll have more merch you can purchase, or even just appreciate a kind word!

To Download Song, Right Click on link and then "Save File As..." to your destination folder.

"Tit" by Eric Welton
Second part of 'The Drunk Man Trilogy' found on the 2007 release, "An EP"
The second movement of perhaps Welton's most known, most requested and most beloved song ('The Drunk Man Trilogy'), this catchy hook will be stuck in your head for days if not years.

"Finish Line" (Demo Mix) by The Tyres
Hot off the presses! The Tyres are currently recording new material for a new album and have kindly donated the first mix demo of a brand new song, "Finish Line", just recorded last week!

"From The Same Cup" by High Mother
A recording from a 2008 demo session, this a perfect song to introduce you to the signature guitar sounds of High Mother's Richard Benson and a preview of the intensity the live show will bring.

WEEK IN PREVIEW: March 16- 22, 2009

Here's a quick glance at the week ahead in music in the Windsor area. For sound samples for shows, click on the bands names for a quick trip to their MySpace or other music outlet site.

Monday March 16

ALL-AGES: Deadwalk (Montreal, QC) and Breaking The Fourth Wall (Montreal, QC) with The Fitzpatrick Incident (Toronto, ON), Days Fade and Jack London
The Chubby Pickle (762 Ouellette Ave.)
Montreal bands Deadwalk (doom metal) and Breaking The Fourth Wall (Christian hardcore) swing through Windsor on their current tour together, with Toronto's The Fitzpatrick Incident. Windsor hardcore kings Days Fade and hardcore nu-blood Jack London round out what should be one hell of a loud show. This is an All Ages event, beginning at 6pm.

The Milkmen
Milk Coffee Bar (68 University Ave. West)
Another night of chillaxin' at Milk with the sultry improv jazz sessions of the Monday Milkmen.

Open Mic Surgery with Tara Watts
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
The always delightful Tara Watts hosts an eclectic open mic session on Phog's stage. For the first-timer to the stage veteran, you never know who will show up and sing a song.

Open Mic with Clinton Hammond
The Kildare House (1880 Wyandotte St. East)
Windsor's longest running Open Mic continues along without any signs of showing down! The charismatic Clinton Hammon runs the gauntlet of the Open Mic - sing a song, tell a joke, the stage is open!

Tuesday March 17 - St. Patrick's Day!

Days Fade, The Fitzpatrick Incident (Toronto, ON), Monolith and Waking Without Remorse
The Coach & Horses (156 Chatham St. West, below Pogo's)
If green beer, corned beef and Celtic music just isn't your bag, but drinking on St. Patrick's day to loud music is, then The Coach is your best bet for this festive day of over-indulgence. Days Fade, the undisputed kings of Windsor hardcore, have set up the St. Patty's Day Massacre at the Coach, with a killer line-up that includes Toronto's The Fitzpatrick Incident, as well as local bands, Waking Without Remorse, and the latest supergroup Monolith (featuring current and/or former members of Grand Marais, ShotDownStars, Woods of Ypres and Closed Casket Funeral).

Celtic Cross, Tartan Army and Toast & Jam
Kokopellies (110 Chatham St. West)
Following the closing of Patrick O. Ryan's, Kokopellie's inherited their entire St. Patrick's line-up, with Windsor's two premier celtic bands, Celtic Cross and Tartan Army, as well as Ryan's Thursday night party band, Toast & Jam. Entertainement, drink and food specials from 11am to close.

Tartan Army, Toast & Jam, Kenneth MacLeod & The Windsor Salt Band
Mick's Irish Pub
Now downtown's only Irish Pub, you can catch one of Windsor's finest celtic bands in Tartan Army, party band Toast & Jam, and the mad East Coast fiddling and music of Kenneth MacLeod and his band of merry musicians, The Windsor Salt Band, close out the night. Entertainment, drink and food specials from 11am to close.

Clinton Hammond and Mick O'Brien
The Kildare House (1880 Wyandotte St. East)
Easily Windsor's most authentic British-style pub, this Walkerville gem will be having an all day party for St. Patrick's day with all-day entertainment from two of their staples - Clinton Hammon, Monday's Open Mic host and a damn fine singer, and the bawdy enterainment of Mick O'Brien will be running the gauntlet. Entertainment, drink and food specials from 11am to close.

ALL-AGES: Great Big Sea and Spirit of the West
The WFCU Centre
7pm
Arguably Canada's best known East Coast celtic band, Great Big Sea couldn't have picked a more fitting night to hit Windsor. They've got Spirit of the West in tow and, to be honest, I thought they broke up years ago. But I'm sure people will be going bonkers throwing back their green $8 "pints" of Coors Light to the original band who wrote "Home For A Rest". Doors are at 7pm with the show starting about 8pm.

Ron Leary & "Mr. Chill" Kelly Hoppe wsg Kenneth MacLeod & The Windsor Salt Band
Aardvark's Blues Cafe (89 University Ave. West)
Ron Leary and Mr. Chill play a smattering of songs, with some choice covers mixed in with songs from Leary's brilliant debut CD, theroadinbetween, and Mr. Chill's fantastic Cold Testament. Joining in for the St. Patrick's Day festivities will be a set or two by Kenneth MacLeod & The Windsor Salt Band.

FourLetterWord and The Last Trio
The FM Lounge (156 Chtaham St. West, below Pogo's)
Alan Penner leads a rotating cast of some of the city's finest players through jazz interpretations and beyond. Following the Last Trio is a special performance by FourLetterWord, made up of former members of The Hung Jury.

Open Mic with Stefanie Sarafianos
The Mill Tavern (3199 Sandwich St.)
One half of the sisterly duo Twisted Sisters, Stephanie leads a cast of musicians of all types of experience each week on the West end. Food and drink specials begin at 11am and the entertainment begins early evening for a special St. Patrick's Day at The Mill.

Open Mic with Andrew MacLeod
The Dominion House (3140 Sandwich St.)
Andrew MacLeod leads another Open Mic on the West end, showcasing many of the city's finest songwriters and drinkers.

Tuesday Night Music Club with Jamie Reaume
Twig N' Berries (2135 Wyandotte St. East)
Former Foreign Film Star frontman Jamie Reaume (and currently a part of The Golden Eagles) leads an all-star cast of local musicians through one of the city's wildest Open Mac jam sessions.

Wednesday March 18

ALL-AGES: I Am The Vine, Fights Not Forgotten (Grimsby, ON), Queen Anne's Lace, Beneath Broken Glass and Chuck Norris & The Delta Force Chorus
The Chubby Pickle (762 Ouellette Ave.)
I'm not sure how Christian music managed to combine with death metal or hardcore (it just seems wierd to praise such a peaceful man so angrily, but hey, what do I know?), but local hardcore band I Am The Vine has done it masterfully and are easily one of the scene's leading bands, Christian or otherwise. They lead another showcase of some of scene's emerging hardcore acts, as well as bands from around Ontario. As is the case with many of The Chubby Pickle's metal and hardcore shows, this is an All-Ages event, with doors at 6pm.

Daren Dobsky & Josh Zalev
Aardvark's Blues Cafe (89 University Ave. West)
Dobsky and Zalev lead an occassional all-star ensemble through a series of covers, from Led Zeppelin to Jeff Buckley, rock and roll to the blues.

Kenneth MacLeod
The Dominion House Tavern (3140 Sandwich St.)
Kenneth MacLeod is a one-man musical wrecking crew. His talent is overwhelming and his intensity equally so. A variety of music, from East Coast to contemporary, with a supporting cast of local musicians.

Thursday March 19

The Windsor Scene on CJAM 91.5 FM
Randi Irving continues to host the on-air version and multi-JAMMY Award winning companion to "The Windsor Scene", each and every Thursday evening from 6pm to 7pm, on CJAM 91.5 FM, Windsor's Campus and Community Radio Station. Hear tracks from some of Windsor's current musical stars as well as nuggets from the vault, not to mention live interviews and peformances!

High Mother, The Tyres and The Eric Welton Band
The Whiskey (300 Ouellette Ave., below A-Channel)
WAMM and The Windsor Scene's second showcase at The Whiskey, featuring three diverse acts from Windsor's rock and roll scene. High Mother features some of Windsor's musical veterans, including members of Toast and Luxury Christ, and brings high-energy punk rock akin to 70's Detroit stylings of The Stooges and MC5. The Tyres bring a smart 60's savvy to their Ray Davies-inspired songwriting. Eric Welton is leading an all-star ensemble to play cuts from his prior CD releases. These showcases start EARLY so get there by 9pm - first act is on at 10pm sharp.

What Seas, What Shores and The Kettle Black (Ottawa, ON)
The Coach & Horses (156 Chatham St. West, below Pogo's)
It'll be a night of experimental music at The Coach on Thursday as local instrumental explorists What Seas What Shores share the stage with Ottawa's indie exerperimental outfit The Kettle Black.

ALL-AGES: Sinnastarr Entertainment presents
The Holly Springs Disaster (Regina, SK) with A Textbook Tragedy (Vancouver, BC), Sights and Sounds (Winnipeg, MB), Baptized in Blood (London, ON), Aquila and Assassinate The Following
The Chubby Pickle (762 Ouellette Ave.)
Sinnastarr Entertainment has done a great job the past year bringing in some real up and coming touring bands within the metal and hardcore scenes and they continue that trend with this heavily awaited show. The Holly Springs Disaster leads this cross country tour through Windsor, with locals Aquila and Assassinate The Following warming up the show. Again, another All-Ages show, with doors at 6pm.

Huladog
The FM Lounge (156 Chatham St. West)
Always a great night of live jazz and funk jams by a group of Windsor's premiere players. Huladog have been at it for years now and they play the perfect blend of great jazz and booty shakin' funk.

Steph Copeland
The Gourmet Emporium
Steph Copeland, better known as Perilelle, plays an intimate show at The Gourmet Emporium.

"Mr. Chill" Kelly Hoppe, Tom Hogarth and Chris Borshuk
Mezzo Ristorante & Lounge (804 Erie St. East)
Mr. Chill teams up with the incomparable voice of Tom Hogarth as well as Chris Borshuk for this intimate showcase. A great night for dinner and some music.

Friday March 20

The Ford Pier Vengeance Trio (Vancouver, BC) wsg David Dubois
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
Quirky pop songwriting, in the vein of people like Daniel Johnston or Windsor's own Ten Indians, Ford Pier leads his Vengeance Trio into Phog Lounge, with The Locusts Have No Kings' David Dubois opening the show.

The Tyres, Just Press Play and The Mayfliez
The Coach & Horses (156 Chatham St. West, below Pogo's)
The Tyres play their second show in two nights, joining fellow Windsor grunge rockers Just Press Play (in their debut gig) and The Mayfliez with a sweaty rock and roll show down at the Coach.

These Words Remain (Sarasota, FL) with ShotDownStars, Waking Without Remorse and Seven Out
The Chubby Pickle (762 Ouellette Ave.)
These Words Remain bring their Florida hardcore through Windsor with a stop at the Pickle, backed up by local stalwarts ShotDownStars (playing their final show as ShotDownStars), Leamington's Waking Without Remorse and newcomers Seven Out.

High Mother, Cucumber Slumlord (Toronto, ON) and The Mindframes
The Loop (156 Chatham St. West, above Pogo's)
Windsor's rock and roll veterans headline a special night at The Loop that also brings Toronto's rock and rollers Cucumber Slumlord to the stage, as well as The Mindframes. Also includes a preview screening of Another Saturday Knight's upcoming live DVD.

[GrounD] with special guest DJ Random Doug
Empire Lounge (128 University Ave. West, above California Sushi, across from Capitol Theatre)
It's impressive to see how the [GrounD] DJ team of J-Wild and Mach-X have taken this night from slow beginnings on a Sunday at Light Bar (when it was known as [Bright]) to a full blown Friday night dance party on Fridays at the Empire Lounge. Electronic music the way Windsor/Detroit is known for, these guys push the platforms combining old school electro sounds with the newest beats. They're joined this night by guest DJ Random Doug.

David Cavan Fraser
The Whiskey (300 Ouellette Ave., belown A-Channel)
A tireless performer and musician, David Fraser was formerly part of the band Cavan before going solo. He brings his vast repetoire of songs, both original and cover, to the Whiskey.

Open Mic with Tara Watts
Cafe Morena (999 Erie St. East)
Tara's second weekly Open Mic is the heart of the Erie St. Village and offers a more relaxed and intimate venue.

Saturday March 21

Fiftywatthead with Kill List, Blastphemy and Disco Assault
The Coach & Horses (156 Chatham St. West, below Pogo's)
Windsor's heavy metal kings, Fiftywatthead, continue to promote their critically acclaimed third release, last year's bombastic Fogcutter. These guys have been a staple at the Coach and these shows always bring out the best in them. Kill List marks the debut of the revamped ShotDownStars, Blastphemy is the monster supergroup featuring members of Fiftywatthead and Ton and Disco Assault is still the same band, playing good old fashioned punk rock.

Jay Clark & The Jones (Toronto, ON) wsg Ron Leary
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
Some killer Canadiana roots music, with Jay Clark & The Jones hitting Phog Lounge to promote their latest CD, Blue Cholera, produced and recorded by the one and only Andy Magoffin at his House of Miracles Studio. Joining them will be Windsor's own troubadour of the roots music, Ron Leary.

Time wsg Sledgehammer
The Blind Dog (671 Ouellette Ave., beside Dr. Disc)
Pick of the Week: You know, Time is actually one of the band's I haven't seen yet that I have really desire to (scheduling conflicts!). Nothing flashy or fancy, no bizarre experimentation with computers, no deep dark meaning to the song writing, just balls to the wall honest-to-goodness rock and roll. These guys are definitely more Wolf Mother than Stillwater. They're having a special show at The Blind Dog (the old Roxy, or 'O' or Rez or Bernie's World or...) to shoot their new video and they're being joined by local piano metal juggernauts Sledgehammer. That's some loud goodness right there.

Down With Webster (Toronto, ON) wsg MicLordz & Sauce Funky, Street Pharmacy (Welland, ON) and New Stage Loop
The Chubby Pickle (762 Ouellette Ave.)
Combining energetic party-flavoured hip hop with live jamming, Down With Webster are becoming quite the buzz on the Canadian indie scene. Not to be outdone, Windsor's own hip-hop funkmasters MicLordz & Sauce Funky will be ensuring this party has a distinctive 519 flavour as well. Also on the bill are the ska sounds of Street Pharmacy and new hip hop sounds from Windsor called New Stage Loop.

Adam Gilchrist
Taloola Cafe (396 Devonshire Rd.)
The former frontman for two of Windsor's elite indie rock bands of the early part of this decade - The Butterfield Gateway and Caught In The Moss - has resurfaced as an honest and sincere singer/songwriter. Although the edge of his former projects has melted away, the melody and songwriting are only getting better. An intimate showcase at Taloola, it starts at 8:30pm and ends around 10pm.

Sunday March 22

ALL AGES: The Big Bang featuring
Escapes, Rose City Disaster, Academy Drive, Problem Child, We Are The Bravest, Stockholme Avenue, Yours To Call, Monroe, Falling From Glory, I Am The Vine, Queen Anne's Lace
The Chubby Pickle (762 Ouellette Ave.)
Another All-Ages hardcore blow-out at The Chubby Pickle. Doors are at 3pm for this all-day event.

Dusty
Aardvark's Blues Cafe (89 University Ave. West)
One of the city's premiere entertainers, hand down, he plays an impressive mix of songs, from outlaw country to rock and roll to a little dab of hair metal. Genuinely super dude with a great sense of humour.

Open Mic with Dan Marshall
The FM Lounge (156 Chatham St. West)
Meters To Miles' frontman Dan Marshall leads an impromptu Open Mic at the Old Fish Market each and every Sunday.

EVENT PREVIEW: New Indie Showcase debuts at The Whiskey this Thursday with Perilelle, Vultures! and Two For The Cascade

Starting this Thursday night, I will be booking a monthly showcase at The Whiskey, located in downtown Windsor at 300 Ouellette Ave. (on the corner of Ouellette and University, below A-Channel).

What I hope to accomplish with this new showcase is simply this: expose new Windsorites to music they've probably never experienced and to help give some of Windsor's stalwart music supporters a change of scenery for one night.

We all know that Windsor has a few venues that have adamantly supported Windsor's original music makers the past several years, such as The Chubby Pickle, The Coach & Horses and CBC Radio 3's Best Live Venue in Canada, Phog Lounge. Add in recent additions such as The FM Lounge, The Room, Taloola Cafe, and more, and we're definitely getting some variety in our locales.

The Whiskey is a smaller venue and these intimate showcases will feature three bands from Windsor's vibrant music scene. Due to the size and intimacy, these acts will generally be from the indie rock to singer/songwriter crowd, not out of prejudice, simply out of the fact that it may be a bit unbearably loud in there if I go much louder. But who knows? We'll see where the road leads us!

The first night is this Thursday March 5th and it features three bands that I am not only friends with, but fans of. Coinciding with this month's edition of WAMM Magazine, I am further exploring the ideas set in motion in the article "Electro Surge" by Stephen Hargreaves, by having three bands from our own music scene who are vastly different in musical style but use electronics differently than the others. Please note, it's an early start, with the first band going on at 10pm sharp. We have a small noise ordnance from A-Channel, so we have to put the bands on earlier. Please make a note of that and be there for 9:30pm to get a good seat!

10:00pm - 10:45pm - TWO FOR THE CASCADE
A darkly romantic electro-acoustic quartet, since adding two members, Two For The Cascade has blossomed into a gorgeous soundscape of love lost and triumphantly regained. They combined the traditional singer/songwriter approach by layering it with electronic sounds from a Theramin, a Moog and...an iPhone? You can check out an interview with the members of Two For The Cascade in this month's WAMM Magazine.

10:55 - 11:35 - no music due to bleed through into A-Channel news

11:45 - 12:30 - VULTURES!
Kick ass rock and roll with a hint of electronique! Three of the four (Anderson, Scott and Andy) used to be known collectively as Bombast until one of them (Anderson) ventured off to The Golden Hands Before God. The other two formed Lone Locust in Bombast's wake. Anderson left the Golden Hands and has reunited with his ex-Bombast mates, adding a fourth component in Kimberly Ann, better known to the public for her own project, This Is Me As A Woman. But instead of her usual place behind a guitar, she's swapped the six-strings in for a Moog. Think Queens of the Stone Age meets Metric and you're half way there...

12:45 - 1:30 - PERILELLE
What can be said about Perilelle's Steph Copeland that hasn't already been said? One of Windsor's most captivating and beautiful voices, she builds a sea of layered beats and electronic sounds to create a mesmerizing tapestry of songs. But it's her voice that's the star of her show and it will pull you in and leave you wanting more.

Cover for this night is only $3 and it's a great mix of music to take in on a Thursday evening.