A great month for music.

[BillD]

I have seen a lot of music, in the last month, starting with Canada Day in Kingston. A dozen bands at Fort Henry, for Rockin the Rideau, including Low Level Flight, who we went to see, and including David Wilcox, and Bedouin Soundclash. Next day Brockville for another LLF. A few days later, Rama to see George Thorogood, which was an awesome concert. George seemed more than pleased by the reception (used the words "the beginning of a love affair"), and did 5 songs for an encore. He hasn't lost a step.
Last week, again at Rama, Bachman and Cummings, another excellent concert, by the men who opened up the music scene for a lot of Canadian bands since. Burton sounds as good as ever. They were wowed by the facilities at Rama.
Wednesday night, back to Rama, to see the Allman Brothers Band. The rowdiest fans I have ever seen at Rama; music fans not gamblers. Awesome show, with a display of guitar, I have never seen before. Warren Hynes is well known, but I was stunned by Derek Trucks, who is the youngest ever voted to the top 100 guitar players of all time. He has his own band, as well as playing with the Allman Brothers. He also played with Clapton at crossroads. The guy is only 28, but is truly something to see. He can be seen at the MSN videos from Crossroads, with his band and with Clapton. He needs to be seen by anyone who appreciates good guitar.
Last night, it was Barrie for Kempenfest, to see LLF, and also the Stampeders. The Stampeders are only half the band they used to be, but still acquitted themselves well. LLF rocked the place.

[BillD]

Since the above, LLF and the Trews at the Ale House in Kingston, followed by Joe Walsh at Rama on the Monday following. Last Friday was up to Wasaga Beach (first time in over 40 years) to see LLF and Dr Draw, an innovative young band out of Montreal that has an electric violin as lead instrument, and also has an electric harp (didn't know there was such a thing).
Saturday it is off to Mohawk Park in Desoronto, to see LLF, Honeymoon Suite, Glass Tiger, Organik, and Mike McKenna and Slidewinder. Looking forward to seeing Mike McKenna, as I remember him well from Mainline.

[T_Totler]

Mike McKenna and Joe Mendelson. Sure brings back memories. I still have some Mainline vinyl. Great band they were.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McKenna_Mendelson_Mainline

[Number6]

[QUOTE=T_Totler;211162]Mike McKenna and Joe Mendelson. Sure brings back memories. I still have some Mainline vinyl. Great band they were.

Let me guess, the vinyl you have is Stink, I have it on vinyl and on CD. I couldn't believe it when I saw it on CD so I had to buy it. Mainline was definitely a very good blues/rock band ... always fun to see live. I saw them a bunch of times both in Toronto and Waterloo in the old days. I saw Mike a few years ago when he was working at Long & McQuade on Bloor Street in Toronto
.. that was weird.

[BillD]

Mike McKenna put on a good, but short, show yesterday. I spoke to him after the show and he is still busy playing with the Slidewinders and his other band the Mike Mckenna Blues band. From what I could see, he still has it, and the band was very tight and polished, with 2 sax players.
Honeymoon Suite was fantastic. It was the original band with Ray Coburn back behind the keys. He has to be just about the best keboard player around.
Glass Tiger was, well, Glass Tiger, and Allen Fru can still sing, but he is too much of a Prima Donna for my taste. He never left the tour bus until it was time for the show. The band is very polished and played meticulously, as they should after 21 years together.
Low Level Flight, was the main reason we went, and they played another excellent set.They will be on the Canadian Idol results show this week, with their new single, Say.
Unfortuneatly, especially for the organizers, the turnout was less than sparse. It was like a private party for the 100 or so people that showed up. There was a new car (Chrysler Caravan) given away, and the 6 or so participants were drawn from about 71 ballots submitted. A 1 in 71 chance to win a car is pretty wild. They are giving away another one today, when the featured performers are country acts.
This was supposed to be the first, of an annual event, but, I can't see how they can afford to stage another event of this magnitude again, with the loss they will have incurred from this one. The food vendors took a beating too. It is a shame, as those who came, were treated to some really good entertainment, at a reasonable price.

[T_Totler]

This was supposed to be the first, of an annual event, but, I can't see how they can afford to stage another event of this magnitude again, with the loss they will have incurred from this one. The food vendors took a beating too. It is a shame, as those who came, were treated to some really good entertainment, at a reasonable price.
I suspect the reason for the poor turnout was poor scheduling.

Having an event like this on the last long weekend of the summer when most people are out of town and with many other events competing wasn't the smartest move (imo).

[BillD]

Perhaps, but, this is out of town, and they had free camping, and kids under 12 were free. Regardless, putting on an event is always a gamble, and with about 5 radio stations sponsering it, I would have expected a few more to show up. Some of the stations didn't even have representatives there.