That Night in Toronto
If Toronto is the certer of the universe, then I'm at the center of the center of the universe. I'm sitting on the corner of Queen street west and John street in Totonto, directly accross from Much Music. I've come out here to play a gig with Famous Players for the company, Flight Center. The gig was on Saturday night and went well, although the sound was as if we had a digereedoo player with us all night. They have put us up a a great hotel right down by the CN tower and I've taken an extra couple of days here to hang out and basically get some rest.
My good friend Tino lives here now. I have played with Tino for many years in such varied bands as Souldecision, Moka Only, and Retrofits and I'm pretty sure he is one of the funkiest bassists in the country. I remember him explaining that a lot of his practicing simply focused on grooving. He would literally just practice being funky.....and it shows!!!
I met up with him on Friday night at a place called The Drake Hotel. It seemed to me like a place to be seen. The kind of place that you have to stand in a line up for an hour just to get into one of the trendier rooms in the joint....which we did. Later that night, we met up with Coco's dad, John at the Rex and caught some of Mike Murley's set there. The next morning Tino flew off to Halifax to play with Ashley MacIssac, opening for the White Stripes (nice gig, eh??) which worked out well considering we had the Flight Center gig.
Yesterday, the band left and left me here to fend for myself. I decided that I wasn't gonna set my alarm, wake up when I want, and have zero agenda. I did a little exploring and ended up at the Hockey Hall of Fame. Really fascinating and what Canadian in their right mind wouldn't well up a little listening to stories of Rocket Richard, Gordie Howe, and the Great One.
Last night, Tino and I once again hit the road and checked out some local music. We went to a place called The Supermarket in Kensington which had some great, and not so great, singer songwriters doing an open mic. Then we headed over to the College St Bar and watched a funk band, whose repertoire was similar to Soulstream's. They were all great players and really nice.
Today.....we'll see. I might go see a movie. Maybe.
My good friend Tino lives here now. I have played with Tino for many years in such varied bands as Souldecision, Moka Only, and Retrofits and I'm pretty sure he is one of the funkiest bassists in the country. I remember him explaining that a lot of his practicing simply focused on grooving. He would literally just practice being funky.....and it shows!!!
I met up with him on Friday night at a place called The Drake Hotel. It seemed to me like a place to be seen. The kind of place that you have to stand in a line up for an hour just to get into one of the trendier rooms in the joint....which we did. Later that night, we met up with Coco's dad, John at the Rex and caught some of Mike Murley's set there. The next morning Tino flew off to Halifax to play with Ashley MacIssac, opening for the White Stripes (nice gig, eh??) which worked out well considering we had the Flight Center gig.
Yesterday, the band left and left me here to fend for myself. I decided that I wasn't gonna set my alarm, wake up when I want, and have zero agenda. I did a little exploring and ended up at the Hockey Hall of Fame. Really fascinating and what Canadian in their right mind wouldn't well up a little listening to stories of Rocket Richard, Gordie Howe, and the Great One.
Last night, Tino and I once again hit the road and checked out some local music. We went to a place called The Supermarket in Kensington which had some great, and not so great, singer songwriters doing an open mic. Then we headed over to the College St Bar and watched a funk band, whose repertoire was similar to Soulstream's. They were all great players and really nice.
Today.....we'll see. I might go see a movie. Maybe.
posted by Hammer at 11:39 AM
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