WEEK IN PREVIEW: April 20 - 26, 2009

Sorry I'm a day late with this, but I was unavailable due to illness for a couple days there. But here's a look at the rest of the week and what's out there for you to check out!

Tuesday April 21

After The Thaw Tour featuring Brzowski (Portland, ME) and Pour Man's Vision (Jason Blakeman and H.W., MA) with special guests Lyrical Bliss, Academy, Perilelle, Lordru (ex-The Misinformants, Detroit, MI) and DJ Fahrenheit 2040 (Detroit, MI)
Presented by Emily Copeland (from CJAM's Minced Meat show), this show is going to be packed. Some great underground hip-hop from New England teams up with some of the best from Windsor and Detroit for a beat party that will be one of the year's highlights, hands down. The whole show is being sponsored by Pete's Pipes in Windsor, so there will be giveaways all night long. Doors are at 9pm, 19+.

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. A great chance to see some great live jazz and it's early too! It runs from 7pm to 10pm for those who don't want to make a late night of it on a Tuesday.

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 22

The Peace Leeches, Vultures! and (wh)y.m.e.(??)
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
A special Earth Day show at the P-Hog. I reported last week in the Scene section of the Windsor Star that this night was supposed to be headlined by Montreal's Beast. But I've learned in the past few days that a booking error (definitely not in our favour) meant they had to cancel this show. Beast had a great time last time through here (playing some b-ball in the back alley with some regulars, as well as tour mates You Say Party! We Say Die!) so rest assured, they'll be back. In the meantime, the scheduled openers, Blenheim's simply magical The Peace Leeches and the inspired beats of (wh)y.m.e.(??) (who is rumoured to be unveiling his debut recording this night), are still going on with the show and are being joined by the new rock thunder of Vultures! Doors are at 9pm, 19+.

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 23

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 performances!

Ron Leary wsg Ray Whimsey (Toronto, ON) and Gianna Lauren (Halifax, NS)
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
Ron returns to one of his old stomping grounds with a great night of music at Phog. Now in the stages of writing and previewing possible song inclusions for his follow-up to 2006's masterful debut, theroadinbetween, Ron is joined by a couple of stand outs for this show. Toronto's Ray Whimsey used to be a resident of Windsor and aside from his outfit Ray's Right Fender, hosted Monday night's Open Mic Surgery for years (before handing it over to Leary, who in turn, handed it over to Tara Watts). They're also being joined by Ottawa-based, Halifax-bred songstress Gianna Lauren, for what should be a great triple header. Doors are at 9pm, 19+.

ALL-AGES: Sound Haven, Release The Sounds and Sam & Steph
The Chubby Pickle (762 Ouellette Ave.)
Couldn't really find out a whole lot about this show. Sound Haven appears to be a local electronic outfit - check out their MySpace for a sample of what they sound like. Release The Sounds - I have no idea. Couldn't find any evidence of their existence. And Sam & Steph - come on. Really? That was the best name you could come up with? I don't mean this as a put down on anyone's talent - for all I know Sam & Steph could be the best thing since sliced bread. But duo names like that just sound like its too people who aren't really doing this for anything more than to get in front of people and play a few covers. Now I know there have been some duos with names like this who have had successful careers (Bonnie & Delaney and Chris & Cosey to name a few), but I have to admit, seeing names like this turns me right off. But hey, maybe you know them, and maybe they are amazing live. I hope so. Doors are 7pm and this event is All-Ages, with tickets $5 at Door

Cancer Centre Foundation Charity Pasta Dinner with Client 9
The Mill (3199 Sandwich St.)
A special benefit pasta dinner with proceeds going to the Cancer Centre Foundation. The buffet begins at 6pm for this event, with entertainment starting at 8pm. Client 9 is an acoustic duo that features Robert Desmarais (The Wannadies) and Dale D'Amore (Guitar Army, The Spy's). Again, I don't usually promote cover acts, but this is very special event for a good cause in our community, so I'm mentioning it. It's $20 in advance or at the door (tickets are going fast!).

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.

Kelly "Mr, Chill" 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 24

The After Party wsg New Stage Loop, The Treehouse Kids, and The Pounds
The Chubby Pickle (762 Ouellette Ave.)
The After Party are pure punk power pop, with MTV hooks and looks to boot. These guys have been picking up some great gigs and are building a loyal local following. Their joined by the hip-hop stylings of New Stage Loop, the emo electropop sounds of The Treehouse Kids and indie rock of The Pounds. Doors are at 9pm for this 19+ show, with tickets $5 at the door.

Alun Piggins (Toronto, ON) wsg The Heels
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
The former leader of early 90's Canadian band The Morganfields has made a life of constant touring to support his string of Replacements style rock and roll and with critical acclaim. Piggins always blows the doors off his shows at Phog, so this should be a good one.

Alun Pigguns: "Not Happening" (Live Video, March 2009)


Vultures! wsg My October (Toronto, ON) and Voodoo Mafia
The Coach & Horses (156 Chatham St. West, below Pogo's)
If you read the Windsor Star last Friday, you saw the article about baby Isaac Dauphin and the battle he's currently fighting to live with a heart defect. Isaac is barely a month old and he's already in for a life of surgery after surgery to keep his heart beating. This means medical fees sky high for his parents, Chad and Stephanie. The local music community is helping the couple out this Friday night with this special show. Cover is a minimum donation of $5 (feel free to donate more!) with all the proceeds going to the new parents to help with medical costs. This is truly a great event with some great music going to help a special little man get the medical attention he deserves.

(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, scenester nu-rave, breakz and everything else you've come to expect from this dynamic team." Tonight, DJ Cameron Power shows up to mix it up with the (GrounD) crew.

Saturday April 25

Barzin (Toronto, ON) wsg Nick Zubeck (Toronto, ON) and Music Minus You
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
Barzin was a monster hit the last time he came through Windsor. With his intimate storytelling, he's been garnering comparisons to everyone from Bon Iver to Great Lake Swimmers (which is somewhat valid - Great Lake Swimmers' Tony Dekker plays on the records). Highly respected UK music mag MOJO recently picked his latest album, My Life In Rooms, as its Americana pick of the month, giving it 4/5 stars. He's joined by bandmate Nick Zubeck playing his own solo set as well as the sonic stylings of our own Ryan Fields under the banner of Music Minus You.

Barzin: "Leaving Time" (Official Video)


Harvesting The FAM presents
Perilelle and Tara Watts
Milk Coffee Bar (68 University Ave. West)
In conjunction with the Harvesting The FAM Festival's showcase Through Women's Eyes & Voices (a month long celebration of local women in song and photography), two of Windsor's emerging stars are showcased at Milk. Steph Copeland's trip-hop dream sounds under the banner of Perilelle have been enthralling local music goers for years and Tara Watts has released one of the finest Windsor albums in years recently, About Love. Should be a great intimate performance from two of Windsor's best musicians.

ALL-AGES: Call To Preserve (Rockledge, FL) wsg The Fitzpatrick Incident (Toronto, ON), The Advocate (Hamilton, ON), Waking Without Remorse and Tough Luck
The Chubby Pickle (762 Ouellette Ave.)
Florida's Call To Preserve play more NYC-style hardcore than the kind of metal that Florida's known for - hard, fast, tight yet melodic. Throw in some of the creme-de-la-creme of hardcore from Toronto and Hamilton, plus a couple from right here in Windsor, and you've got yet another stellar show put on by Rose City Promotions. Doors are at 5pm for this All-Ages show. Tickets are $5 at the door.

Call To Preserve: "Unsinkable" (Official Video)


Radio Adelaide wsg Far From Right, Far From Focus, Pulp City Inn, and Playing For Keeps
The Chubby Pickle (762 Ouellette Ave.)
Radio Adelaide has been leading the charge of late for Windsor's pop-punk crowd, taking their high energy shows on the road as far as Toronto. These guys definitely have the drive to take this act further than local, that's for sure. They're joined by more of Windsor's punk up-and-comers for what will sure to be a packed house. Doors are at 9pm, 19+, tickets are $5 at the door.

Radio Adelaide: "Bas Rutten" (Official Video)


Cowboy Dan, Lot 9 Brawl, The Gutter Hearts and The Rowley Estate
The Coach & Horses (156 Chatham St. West, below Pogo's)
Good to see the DIY punk ethic is still alive and well in Windsor. Cowboy Dan may be an odd moniker, but musically they're pretty exciting, well structured punk melodica, in the vein of bands like later Fugazi. Lot 9 Brawl is one of the longest running punk-ska bands in the city. The Gutter Hearts I'm really starting to dig, with their no-holds barred punk rock. It's very timless - it could be 1970's New York, 1980's Los Angeles or 1990's mid-west. The Rowley Estate is another aggro-punk-pop band who brings a real honesty to their songs. A great line-up of what Windsor punk has always been about. Doors are at 9pm and tickets are only $3 at the door for this 19+ show.

Sunday April 26

ALL-AGES: Aquila wsg Odium (Walkerton, ON), Burning The Day (Toronto, ON), Waking Without Remorse and Desertion
The Chubby Pickle (762 Ouellette Ave.)
This show is going to blow the ears out and the doors off. I've been really impressed with Aquila's sound - these guys are definitely getting ready to claim the mantle as Windsor's kings of metal (in fact, they may already). Their recordings sound top notch and they've been taking their show on the road for some time now. In fact, Odium has been a tour partner for many shows around Ontario now. The nu-blood of Windsor metal is here and Aquila is leading the onslaught. All hail, Aquila. The new kings are here. Doors are at 6pm for this all-ages event. Tickets are $5 at the door.

ALL-AGES: The Other Guys present The Record & Music Paraphernalia Show
featuring Kelly "Mr. Chill" Hoppe and Greg Cox
The Mill, 3199 Sandwich St.
10am to 4pm, $3 Admission
With the rise of interest in vinyl (records), this is a nice treat for a Sunday morning. Hanging out at The Mill, flipping through some cool old records, listening to tunes by Mr. Chill and his gun slinger, Greg Cox. Good times, folks.

SAC Songwriter's Circle
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
Another monthly installment of the SAC Regional Group, where host Glen MacNeil and local songwriters can network and share songwriting techniques. Starts at 7pm, admission is free - bring your songs!

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 Travis Reitsma
The FM Lounge (156 Chatham St. West, beside Pogo's)
"The Heartbreak Kid" will woo you with his own songs and share the stage for you to showcase your own at the venue formerly known as the Old Fish Market.

WEEK IN PREVIEW: April 13 - 19, 2009

What a week for music in Windsor! After a few quieter weeks (but not lacking in talent by any means), this week explodes with a slew of world class events, from metal to indie pop to cult heroes. Some of these tickets are pricey (so start saving now) but they WILL be worth the price of admission. Many of these acts are on national or world tours and are including Windsor on their stops as a possible new location, so let's show them that we appreciate the best this country (or any country) has to offer when they hit home. The best part is, these acts are being paired up with great local entertainment - in a time when the auto industry is asking us to support local (which really just means support foreign companies who employ locals - because GM and Ford are about as local as McDonald's and Apple), the arts and entertainment are one of the purest forms of supporting local there is.

Monday April 13

ALL-AGES: Bring Me The Horizon (Sheffield, UK) wsg Straight Reads The Line (Stoney Creek, ON), The Sleeping (Long Island, NY) and I Am The Vine
The Blind Dog (761 Ouellette Ave.)
Epitaph Records recording artists Bring Me The Horizon make a Windsor stop on their world tour, bringing their "deathcore" sounds all the way from Sheffield, England. These guys are selling out venues quickly and their star is rocketing, so this is a great chance to see a band at this stage before they skip Windsor all together next time and play somewhere like Saint Andrew's in Detroit. This is an all-ages event, with doors at 6pm. Tickets are $15 Advance (at Dr. Disc Records)/$20 at the Door.


Bring Me The Horizon: "Pray For Plagues" (Official Video)

Kelly "Mr. Chill" Hoppe and Greg Cox
Billie's Place (3179 Sandwich St.)
Mr. Chill and fellow Witness Greg Cox play a stripped down set of great old blues and roots songs, as well as songs from their album, Mr. Chill's Cold Testament. Party on the West side!

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 April 14

The Pack A.D. (Vancouver, BC) wsg Another Saturday Knight
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
Mint Records' garage blues duo The Pack A.D. have been the torch bearers for Canada's sweaty blues scene for the better part of the past two years. Their 2007 debut Tin Type was just an appetizer for 2008's Funeral Mixtape, that cemented their status at the top of the indie blues circuit, lauding critical acclaim from Rolling Stone Magazine to the cover of Exclaim! Magazine. These first ladies of blues are joined by Windsor's Another Saturday Knight.


The Pack A.D.: "Making Gestures" (Official Video)

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. A great chance to see some great live jazz and it's early too! It runs from 7pm to 10pm for those who don't want to make a late night of it on a Tuesday.

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 15

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 16

ALL-AGES: Days Fade
The Blind Dog (761 Ouellette Ave.)
The undisputed kings of local hardcore, Days Fade has carved out a name for themselves not just in our own local heavy scene, but nationally as well. These guys have done countless Ontario and U.S. tours, as well as some out of province, spreading their barbaric gospel to every mosh pit that will bleed for them. And it's been a lot. They've played on some great bills and with local promoter Ryan Barron as one of the band members, it's no surprise these guys are making waves on such a high level. Doors are at 8pm for this all-ages event. Tickets are only $3 at the door.

Jackie Robitaille
The Whiskey (300 Ouellette Ave., below A-Channel)
Jackie Robitaille is the latest from the Robitaille clan (behind her brother, the uber-talented Pat Robitaille) to make the jump from writing and singing in their basement to the stage, and she's showing the same talent as her brother. With a voice and style that is uniquely her own, she is destined to be one of the break-out talents from Windsor in 2009.


Jackie Robitaille: "Illumina" (WAMM Magazine Video Contest Entry, 3rd Place)

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!

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.

Kelly "Mr, Chill" 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 17

Black Diamond Bay wsg Helsinki Go
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
Pick Of The Week: Black Diamond Bay is the new project from two former members of critically acclaimed indie pop darlings The Dears and they've just released their debut album, Calm Awaits (their CD release was two weeks ago). These guys are on a monster buzz right now and their album is gorgeously epic. You can read a full interview with frontman (and former Dears guitarist) Patrick Krief in this month's WAMM Magazine for more info. Opening the show is the mighty return of Windsor's own Helsinki Go. Tickets for this event are $6 in Advance or $8 at the Door, but keep in mind, this is an intimate showcase for a band that is playing much bigger venues on their Canadian tour right now. This will be a special treat for all those who attend.


Black Diamond Bay: "What We Wanted" (Video, Live from Lion D'Or, Montreal, QC)

Harvesting The FAM presents:
Two For The Cascade wsg This Is Me As A Woman
Milk Coffee Bar (68 University Ave. West)
In conjunction with the Harvesting The FAM Festival's showcase Through Women's Eyes & Voices (a month long celebration of local women in song and photography), two of Windsor's emerging stars are showcased at Milk. The darkly romantic electro-acoustic stylings of Two For The Cascade (which features Stefanie Zaccagnini on vocals and Moog and Holly Brush on theramin and e-bow) join with the singer/songwriter set of This Is Me As A Woman for a great little intimate showcase at Milk.


Two For The Cascade: "Where Things Are Fine" (Video, Live from FM Lounge, Windsor, ON)


Evan Symons (Texada Island, BC) wsg The Eclectic Chair and Crash Kondition
The Coach & Horses (156 Chatham St. West, below Pogo's)
Evan Symons has been playing quirky indie for decades now and his latest solo incarnation carries on that mantle. He makes his Windsor stop on his cross Canada tour with a stop at the legendary Coach & Horses, with Windsor alt. rockers The Eclectic Chair and Crash Kondition warming up the crowds.


Evan Symons: "Conductor's Wife" (Official Video)

Mr. Chill & The Witnesses
Big Tony's (911 Walker Rd.)
Catch Kelly "Mr. Chill" Hoppe and his roots and blues outlaws at Big Tony's for some great music and dinner.


Mr. Chill & The Witnesses: "Rolling Thunder" (Video, Live at The Capitol Theatre, Windsor, ON)

Kaskade (San Francisco, CA)
The Boom Boom Room (315 Ouellette Ave.)
As always, The Boom Boom Room continues to bring a roster of world-class electronic DJ's through its doors and this week is no exception, when San Fran's superstar Kaskade mans the decks. Tickets are $10 in Advance.

(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, scenester nu-rave, breakz and everything else you've come to expect from this dynamic team." Tonight, DJ Tyler Power shows up to mix it up with the (GrounD) crew.

Saturday April 18

ALL-AGES: Endast (Montreal, QC) wsg Analyze The Catastrophe, Synastry (Montreal, QC), Chuck Norris and The Delta Force Chorus and Amass These Souls
The Chubby Pickle (762 Ouellette Ave.)
Montreal metallers Endast are currently finishing up recording of their new album, but they've got the live itch and are doing a small Canadian tour to scratch it. These guys are explosive metal, powerful hardcore that makes the spine shudder. They're pulling double duty today, starting with this first all-ages showcase during the day. Fellow Montrealers Synastry are along for the mayhem. They're joined by some of Windsor's nu-blood of metal, Analyze The Catastrophe, Chuck Norris and The Delta Force Chorus and Amass These Souls. Doors for this event are at 5pm. Tickets are $5 in advance or $6 at the door.


Endast: "The Craving" (Official Video)

Endast (Montreal, QC) wsg Bloodshoteye, Dismata (Tilbury, ON) and Seven Out
The Chubby Pickle (762 Ouellette Ave.)
Endast's second show is their 19+ showcase later on in the night and they've brought out some heavyweights to make sure that your heart is punched out and nailed to the wall with a railroad spike. Bloodshoteye has arguably been Windsor's leading metal export the past few years (working with and garnering praise from Lamb of God's Randall Blythe) and Tilbury's Dismata has been simply owning the scene in Windsor the past year. Seven Out is a Windsor metal supergroup featuring past and present members of such Windsor staples as Kill List, ShotDownStars and The Dead's Elite, so you know these guys have the balls to back up their metal! Doors are at 9pm for this one, with tickets $5 in advance, $6 at the door.


Bloodshoteye: "Foul Play" (Official Video)

We, The Undersigned (Fredricton, NB)
The Coach & Horses (156 Chatham St. West, below Pogo's)
New Brunswick's We, The Undersigned bring their metal assault to the Coach and Horses for a rip-roaring Saturday night in the dirty dungeon. These guys bring an old school sounding approach to hardcore sounds, with it coming across as a blend of Alexisonfire meets Wolf Mother (if that's even possible). Either way, it sounds like a hell of a lot of metal fun.

The Mindframes wsg Metro4 (London, ON)
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
The Mindframes have been impressing lately with their great hooks and riffs, that remind some of early era R.E.M. (circa the Murmur era). These guys are the latest collaboration between many of the area's music scene favourites of the past few years, fronted by local singer/songwriter Andrew MacLeod, and also featuring Paul Loncke (The Locusts Have No King, The Rusty Halos) on bass, guitarists Aaron McKinley and Mike Dube, and drummer Brent Reaume. London's Metro4 are coming down to join the show and these guys have a great retro sound, with hints of The Cure and OMD.

Ron Leary
Taloola Cafe (396 Devonshire Rd.)
Shows just don't come any more intimate than ones at Taloola Cafe. Unplugged and compact, the small coffee house becomes a great showcase to hear some of Windsor's finest singer/songwriters stripped down to their purest form. For this special night, Ron will be joined by the guitar of Scotty Hughes. Keep in mind, Taloola shows start early - 8:30pm - and finish up by 10pm, so get down their early for a coffee or bite to eat and start your night off with some grub and some Leary.

Sunday April 19

Spookey Ruben (Toronto, ON) wsg The Love Machine (Ottawa, ON) and The Tyres
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
Yes, it's that Spookey Ruben. The "Wendy McDonald" Spookey Ruben. The guy who released Modes of Transportation Vol. 1 back in 1995 and took the indie circuit by storm. The album event brought his quirky songwriting styles to the mainstream as he was critically acclaimed the world over for his freshness and eccentricity. His new wave pop, often compared to such acts as XTC, was raved about from media circuses from national (even the presitgious New Yorker picked it as one of their year's best releases) to zine and backed by his label, TVT Records, his star looked untarnishable. But after a label disagreement, Ruben seemed to disappear (despite the fact he released a few underground albums in subsequent years). Well, now he's back with a new record, Mechanical Royalty, and a new tour. He last played Windsor over 10 years ago, so this is a rare chance to see a Canadian indie rock pioneer in such an intimate venue. Opening up are Windsor's own The Tyres as well as Ottawa's psychedelic popsters The Love Machine. Tickets are $7 at the door for this special treat of a show!


Spookey Ruben: "Wendy McDonald" (Official Video)

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 Travis Reitsma
The FM Lounge (156 Chatham St. West, beside Pogo's)
"The Heartbreak Kid" will woo you with his own songs and share the stage for you to showcase your own at the venue formerly known as the Old Fish Market.

WEEK IN PREVIEW: April 6 - 12, 2009

Here's a quick overview of what to look forward to this week in live indie music in Windsor. Just a note that The Chubby Pickle is closed down this week so all shows originally scheduled for this week are in the process of being rescheduled...

Monday April 6

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 April 7

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. A great chance to see some great live jazz and it's early too! It runs from 7pm to 10pm for those who don't want to make a late night of it on a Tuesday.

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 8

Azeda Booth (Calgary, AB)
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
This electro-pop trio from Calgary have been getting all kinds of acclaim for their debut, In Flesh Tones, even from the indie militants at Pitchfork Media, who proclaimed that they "have figured out how to reconcile pop music's infectiousness with ambient music's nebulous aura, and have produced one of 2008's most unique and immediately pleasurable albums." These guys would be a perfect fit with Windsor's own The London Apartments.

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 9

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!

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.

Kelly "Mr, Chill" 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 10

The Perpetrators (Winnipeg, MB) wsg Kelly "Mr. Chill" Hoppe
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
Winnipeg's blues rock riff masters The Perpetrators always pack the house at Phog. These guys have become staples, hitting Windsor at least twice a year on their cross country treks. Original, driving and full of just enough piss and vinegar to rock without pretention, lately the one and only Kelly "Mr. Chill" Hoppe has been joining them on-stage to lend his killer harp to their tapestry.

Mr. Chill & The Witnesses
Big Tony's (911 Walker Rd.)
Before Mr. Chill joins The Perpetrators down at the P-Hog later in the evening, you catch Kelly Hoppe and his roots and blues outlaws at Big Tony's for some great music and dinner.

(GrounD)
Empire Lounge (128 University Ave. West, above California Sushi)
Pick Of The Week: 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, scenester nu-rave, breakz and everything else you've come to expect from this dynamic team." This Friday they're having a special charity night for Easter Seals. There's a $2 cover for this week's (GrounD), but it's all going to help children with disabilities, so it's a night of dancing for a great cause. The (GrounD) Crew is joined by guest DJ, Al Chartrand.

Saturday April 11

Electroluminescent (Hamilton, ON) wsg What Seas, What Shores
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
Electroluminescent is the work of Ryan Ferguson, a one man experimental instrumentalist from Hamilton, Ontario. He's currently doing a mini-tour and swings through Phog this Saturday, teaming up with Windsor's own instrumental faves What Seas, What Shores.

Wayfarer (Kitchener, ON), The Gutter Hearts, Lot 9 Brawl and Cowboy Dan
The Coach & Horses (156 Chatham St. West, below Pogo's)
Kitchener's Wayfarer are great melodic punk in a similar vein to our own Orphan Choir. They're heading to Windsor with a bill of Windsor's punk heroes, The Gutter Hearts and Lot 9 Brawl, as well as the debut of Cowboy Dan.

ALL-AGES: Battle of the Bands Charity Event for Camp 4 Compassion featuring
Time, Sixty First Second, The Tree Streets, Far From Focus, Finding Core (Chatham, ON), The Eclectic Chair, Meters To Miles, Far From Right, Rose City Disaster, Voodoo Mafia, A Point in 7 and The Grave Misunderstanding (Chatham, ON)
The Blind Dog (761 Ouellette Ave.)
Ten bands from Windsor's original music scene and two from Chatham, from punk to alternative to classic rock and roll, compete in a Battle of the Bands. The door is $10 but it's for a great cause. All proceeds are going to the Better World Today Association, a group dedicated to raising awareness of the lack of donors for bone marrow transplants, and their Camp 4 Compassion they hold each July 24-26 in Leamington. Doors are at 6pm for this All-Ages event.

Kelly "Mr. Chill" Hoppe and Greg Cox
The Kildare House (1880 Wyandotte St. East)
Mr. Chill and fellow Witness Greg Cox play a stripped down set of great old blues and roots songs, as well as songs from their album, Mr. Chill's Cold Testament. A great night for a pint and a tune!

Official Aries Birthday Jam
Club 20 (20 Chatham St. East)
For years now, DJ Needle has been Windsor's hip hop champion, promoting the local Windsor hip hop scene here and in Detroit, with his multi-Jammy award winning "Needle 914 Show" on CJAM 91.5 FM. He's hosted multiple hip-hop nights and special events over the years, tirelessly promoting one of Windsor's most overlooked and underpublicized music scenes. He's throwing a huge birthday bash this Saturday at Club 20, with himself manning the decks along with DJ Infinity Sound from Detroit and Hot 102.7 FM's Waxtax-N Dre. This will be one crazy night.

Sunday April 12

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 Travis Reitsma
The FM Lounge (156 Chatham St. West, beside Pogo's)
"The Heartbreak Kid" will woo you with his own songs and share the stage for you to showcase your own at the venue formerly known as the Old Fish Market.

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.