Peter Frampton got me in trouble when I was a kid. My older brother’s record player was in his bedroom underneath the window. I would spend a lot of time secretly listening to his records while he was out of the house and I mean really listening to records (as loud as possible) for all the nuances and instrumentation. A turning point in listening to music came along for me when I first heard Frampton Comes Alive!. I couldn’t understand why I liked it so much; after all, it was a live record and sounded nothing like those studio recordings I was accustomed to. And I’d ask myself, “What is that weird talking guitar thingy on ‘Do You Feel like We Do’?” (At 3:41 is the Talk Box.) Even the sun coming through the window liked it, so much so, that it softened the large disc into an unplayable shape. I was going to be in unplayable shape if I didn’t find the money to replace it before he got home. I replaced it but didn’t escape my brother’s strength.
From the category archives:
The Shows
Each year it creeps up on me. I don’t do too much advanced planning, yet I end up being entertained every night. Just for Laughs hits Toronto with what I expect will be a fairly decent amount of jokes about the G20 and the heat wave. Using some of the cities great entertainment venues JFL not only exposes great comedic talent it also showcases that Torontonians have the ability to laugh at ourselves.
Massey Hall welcomes back Emmy winner Louis CK. I was first introduced to him through the Opie and Anthony Show on XM Radio about 3 years ago. He was talking about being a parent and how selfish his daughter is. I was howling! Did you see his set last year? The Sarah Silverman hosted Gala had Louis CK closing out the show. The only bad part of his set was it seemed to be too short. The cool part of the program was Silverman was on fire. I’m sure having CK host the late Gala Saturday night will provide plenty of Louis HAHAs. You might want to warm up for his Gala with a few Louis CK videos that you can find on YouTube. Here’s the clip that went viral last year. Just be cautious going there, the videos might trap you indoors on your computer for hours.
Everything’s Amazing & Nobody’s Happy
So – one of the first thing I noticed when I joined the Toronto Symphony is that orchestral musicians inner clocks are timed just like any band; for late night. Mornings are groggy but in the evening, musicians are buzzing. I’m actually a bit surprised that June 19 is the TSO’s first ever Late Night concert.
The Late Night concept came about after TSO Music Director Peter Oundjian conducted a similar concert at Tonhalle, Switzerland. He ran the idea by some of our tsoundcheckers at a post-concert party and well, here we go.
What can I tell you about Beethoven’s 9th…the “Choral,” his Ode to Joy? I can tell you it’s a masterpiece and has been since its premiere in 1824, written during Beethoven’s later period (when most of his contemporaries thought he was going crazy.) I can tell you that it proved his contemporaries wrong and that it was revolutionary, ushering in the romantic era and foreshadowing the massive symphonies of Mahler and Bruckner. I guarantee that you can hum the theme. We’ve all heard it many times; but hearing it live…with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, a stellar cast of soloists and the impressive Mendelssohn choir, you understand why it holds this place is music history. You’ll feel it in your gut, in the hairs on the back of your neck, in your twitching tear ducts (and yes, it will be the music, not the triple rye you brought into the hall.)
Bruce Cockburn has been very influential in the lives of all the members of Barenaked Ladies. Whether it be his incredible guitar playing, his social conscience, his beautiful songs, or his fabulous Eye Wear – Bruce has left his mark with us.
Throw in the fact that we covered one of his biggest hits and it became our first hit – then Barenaked Ladies at least owe Bruce a tribute night, perhaps even a nice dinner some time…. Congratulations for this night, Bruce – we love you and your music.
- Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies perform Wednesday, June 16 2010 as part of Canadian Songbook: 40 Years of Bruce Cockburn at Massey Hall
The problem with watching a Hollywood actor perform in a very character driven role is that you can easily be distracted by their own well-known public life. Maybe it’s just me, but sadly, I don’t just see a race car driver, I see Tom Cruise acting like a race car driver and Tom Hanks acting as though he is friends with a volleyball. I mean, I know they are very accomplished actors and all, but it’s just how I see them. Some actors, though, can blur the line between their real selves and the characters they portray. For example, even though we know him as the loving (though sometimes troubled) brother from Six Feet Under, if you were on the same side of the street as Michael C. Hall, wouldn’t you cross the road?
Not unlike Hall’s fiercely convincing portrayal on HBOs Dexter, when John Malkovich takes the stage this evening as character Jack Unterweger, we’ll be compelled by his transformation to serial killer. Cleverly, we are invited within the first few moments of The Infernal Comedy: Confessions of a Serial Killer, to embrace the man and eerily witness as he blurs that line between Actor and character through simply a name.
Here it is, in their own words…
Planet Maurie Photo ©2010
Taking our Roy Thomson Hall concert virginity away was none other then Diana Ross! She is undoubtedly one of the Motown greats and to see her right here in Toronto was amazing! I love her countless smash hits to begin with, but adding a full orchestra to her concert experience was incredible! Both Matthew and I went to the concert not really knowing what was in store, but we were absolutely blown away by the experience. Our seats were great!! And it didn’t take long before we were on our feet, caught up in the infectious beats and her classic hits.
Planet Maurie Photo ©2010
One thing that makes Diana stand out among other artists I’ve seen in concert is the fact that she makes eye contact with you as you dance! She smiles at you – it really makes you feel like you’re part of the show. In fact, between two songs, she said “While you’re staring at me, I’m staring back at you… I see ALL your beautiful smiles!“ I have to say though, that one of the highlights for me, was halfway through the show Diana kicked off a back-to-back set of upbeat favorites starting with “I’m Coming Out”. I don’t think I’ve danced like that in a long time.
During her set, there was no doubt that Diana saw us, as she stood in front of Matthew and I and smiled.
I thought there was no way it could get cooler; she then pointed at us and signaled us to come on stage! WHAT!? REALLY?! So, not missing a beat we climbed up on stage and shook what our mama’s gave us!
I couldn’t believe it, we were actually on stage with Diana Ross! She was laughing and had a great time with us. It was unbelievable! She gave us a hug and we went back to our seats. It’s a moment we will never forget.
Thanks Diana, you’re so awesome! and thanks to Roy Thomson Hall for being the perfect venue to see this live act.
Maurie Sherman & Matthew Almeida
Conan O’Brien recently listed his 5 favourite clips on youtube. And so it got us thinkin’ -- what are some of your favourite coco moments??
In anticipation of his performance at Massey Hall in Toronto this weekend, here is a list of our top 5 favourite clips of him:
1. LOST
Shelagh Rogers and Peter Gzowski
I’ll admit never having the opportunity of actually meeting Peter Gzowski. I can certainly recall the tone of his voice though, (as many of us can) as fondly as I do any of my close friends. Through my recollections and recent readings I can tell that his legacy is far reaching, beyond the tens of thousands of engaging conversations he conducted on air and into our alarm clocks, televisions and car stereos for so many years. A champion of adult literacy, a mentor to many and friend to those who surrounded him.
Our intention with this post is to capture a glimpse into his character, through the voice of those who knew and worked with him. Thank you to everyone that contributed their memories and we hope this encourages others to celebrate his legacy.
“He set off in search of the best of Canada, and because he thought it was important, we did too. Somewhere along the line, he became part of what he was looking for.”
–Stuart McLean
“Everywhere I travel in Canada, people still come up to me and talk about Peter. He had a way of reaching through the radio–as if he were right beside you in your kitchen or your car. People still have his picture up on their fridges and desks. He loved this country and it loved him right back. And he loved the stories of this land. As for me, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing had it not been for Peter. He gave me some really good breaks. His biggest lesson comes down to two words “Just listen.” And it’s true. Just listen. It’s all we have to do.”
-Shelagh Rogers
It has been three years since we (Women Fully Clothed) have performed in Toronto. We’ve been touring Canada, we’ve taken our show to Edinburgh and Chicago. We’ve meet some incredible people, seen some breathtaking sights, eaten large quantities of amazing (and sometimes not so amazing) food, shopped at countless stores and drank gallons of Tim Horton’s coffee … and now we are back in Toronto!!
When listeners ask about my next gig in TO and I mention the Glenn Gould Studio, the response is one of reverence for the hall’s fine acoustics, as well as its intimacy. This is something I truly look forward to, as I sit here contemplating the set list for the show on May 1. I have always felt that the venue plays an important part in the overall mood of a concert. Never having performed or attended a concert at the Glenn Gould studio, I have tried to visualize the performance space based on listener accounts and then pick my songs for the night accordingly.
It has been awhile since I played in a venue that was built with music in mind. Given the intimate nature of the space, audience members can expect to hear songs that include subtle nuances that otherwise might get overlooked in a venue with lesser acoustics. The soiree on May 1 will include the very fine accompaniment of Don Thompson and Reg Schwager – two musicians of the highest calibre that thrive on subtlety of expression. Don likes to select his chords based on the emotional quality of a song. In his capable hands, a sad song can be transformed into a devastating lament. Reg is the backbone of the trio – his accompaniment is a combination of melody and rhythm. With the utmost restraint, he nonetheless makes our trio sound like a whole orchestra. Listeners tell me this is the perfect setting for this trio and I look forward to a special performance here.
Guest contributor Diana Panton performs at Glenn Gould Studio on May 1, 2010
