Tag Archives: Crow Bar and Variety
CROW Sessions Spotlights Stephen Fearing
By Bill Monahan
On Tuesday April 24th, Crow Bar and Variety in Collingwood presents the third in its special series of dinner shows, this time featuring singer-songwriter Stephen Fearing. The early dinner-show format, with the admonition, “Shut the F@#k Up and Listen”, is designed to give audiences extra insight into the artists featured with a mix of stories and songs. Part of the show on Tuesday will be an interview on stage conducted by writer and broadcaster Jeff Woods “asking some of the hard questions”.
Stephen Fearing, a veteran singer-songwriter, winner of two Juno Awards, a Canadian Folk Music Award and a West Coast Music Award, has been building an international reputation since the release of his first self-titled, self-produced cassette in 1986. He is probably best known as one of the founding members of Blackie and The Rodeo Kings, but during his decades with them he has continued to develop a solo career that includes collaborating with the Northern Irish singer-songwriter Andy White, almost two decades as a solo artist on the prestigious True North label, conducting songwriting workshops, and producing records by other artists that include Suzie Vinnick’s Juno-nominated “Happy Here”, for which he co-wrote most of the songs.
“When I started in this business it was a very different landscape and certainly there was a lot more emphasis put on just being one-dimensional,” he says, “You know, ‘don’t confuse the audience’, just be the thing that the record company is trying to sell you as and stick to that. I think a lot of musicians have an interest to try different things, not just other styles but collaborating, performing with other players gives you a chance to try a different hat and that kind of thing. The way the business is working now, you’ve really got to be able to spread yourself around, do different things, multiple income streams. But just from a selfish point of view of keeping yourself interested, the more ways you find to can skin a cat, as it were, the better.”
Like a lot of veteran artists, Stephen Fearing has lived through the seismic change in the music industry that occurred with the advent of the Internet, and he’s learned to adapt. He’s live through the change from the days when a musician was seen as “somebody who rolls out of bed at noon and picks up a guitar and then is just kind of magically transported to the show and then to a party afterward,” to the way things are now, “when so much that needs to be done is the artists’ job.”
Tom Wilson Shares a Stirring Story of Family Secrets Mixed With Songs
by Bill Monahan
Feature Photo by Donna Harper
On Tuesday, Feb. 20th, CROW Bar and Variety in Collingwood is presenting the first of “The Crow Sessions” dinner shows, where they bring an artist who combines story with song and encourage the audience to, as Steven Vipond puts it, “Shut up and listen.” These shows are special enough for the audience to set aside their chatter and do just that.
And the kickoff in the series is very special by any measure. Tom Wilson of Blackie and The Rodeo Kings, will talk about his memoir, “Beautiful Scars” and sing songs related to the story.
“I’m kind of out for the next year-and-a-half or so concentrating on doing what I call literary recitals, consisting of either what I’ll be doing in Collingwood which is piano accompaniment and myself, all the way up to a 21-piece orchestra which I did last month in Hamilton and will be doing in Ottawa and Calgary, etc. This is me being able to combine the story of my book along with the music that I’ve been writing for the last year around the book.”
And what a compelling story that book contains. Since its release last year by Doubleday, “Beautiful Scars” (the book, not to be confused with the song or the album of the same name that Tom has recorded) has impressed critics.
Clap For The Sinners Choir
This Saturday, CROW Bar and Variety in Collingwood is bringing The Sinners’ Choir to town.
The best bands are always those that evolve naturally from a shared love of the music they play. That’s the case with this trio, in which players from three generations have come together to blend their talents. They also blend their voices, with an easy harmony that falls sweetly on your ear.
Working as a full-time musician, as with any job, can wear on you. The thing about musicians, though, is that more often than not when they take a break from their regular gig, their idea of relaxation is to get together with somebody else and play something different. That’s how this band came together. Their shared joy in what they do is so infectious that it has led to another regular gig for them. Their private jam sessions became public with a longstanding residency at The Rex in Toronto. As the public caught on to their sound, they found themselves having to set aside the occasional date at the Rex to take other offers, for which they are increasingly in demand. And now they are bringing their sweet harmonies to the sweet air of Georgian Bay.
The most seasoned pro of the group is bass player Terry Wilkins, whose name will be familiar to any fan of 80’s Toronto rock and blues. He was already established in Australia in the 60’s with a popular band called The Flying Circus. When they tried their luck in San Francisco, a chance meeting with members of McKenna Mendelson Mainline brought them to Toronto.
Making Toronto his permanent home, Terry played bass with Rough Trade from 1978 to 1982 and did stints with Lighthouse and David Wilcox. At the same time he played with a variety of visiting artists of wide-ranging styles, including Dr. John, Maria Muldaur and Levon Helm. Consistently working through the decades, he has worked more recently with Freeman Dre and The Kitchen Party.
Drummer Adam Warner has a similar history of being an in demand player, except he started a couple of decades later. He’s been around, playing at legendary clubs like The Cavern in Liverpool, CBGB’s in New York, and has played at a command concert for Paul Anka and birthday celebrations for the Queen of Holland. As a writer and composer, he has released solo works, composed musical backdrops for David Suzuki, and performed or recorded with various members of The Barenaked Ladies,The Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo, Sloan, Great Big Sea, Big Sugar, and Moist.
Guitarist Adam Beer Colacino was busy growing up while his bandmates were making their international reputations. He’s worked with Devin Cuddy, Whitney Rose and members of Downchild Blues Band. He’s teamed up with blues guitarist Fraser Melvin and an 8-piece horn section in the The Melvin-Colacino Band.
The band takes turns on lead vocals, with the other two providing harmonies, as they mix it up with originals that reflect the wide-ranging experience and tastes of the players. When a band loves playing together as much as these three obviously do, it is always a delight for the audience.
Jayden Grahlman Kicks Off CROW Residency With A Benefit
Tonight (Oct. 4), Jayden Grahlman kicks off his month-long residency at CROW Bar and Variety in a very special way, raising funds for Josh Noronha, the young Collingwood man who broke his neck in a trampoline accident and is paralysed from the chest down. For this special event he has enlisted the aid of other local talents Romney Getty, Drew Wright and Coming of Age.
This is the third such residency since CROW opened its doors this summer. The first one featured Austin McCarthy and the second one presented the duo Hunnay, with Dave Russell. The feature has been well received by both audiences and the players who have welcomed this opportunity to build an audience at the same time as they build their chops.
Normally there is no cover for these nights. Tonight is an exception. They are asking for $20 at the door because it is a fundraiser for a very special young man. In addition to the door receipts, further funds will be raised through a 50/50 draw and a Silent Auction. On top of that, CROW Bar and Variety will be generously donating a percentage of food sales.
The fundraiser is necessary because the lifelong costs resulting from an accident of this kind can be as challenging as the recovery process. In addition to the costs of meals, traveling and parking for Josh’s immediate family while he undergoes physio, occupational and recreational therapies at the Lyndhurst rehab centre, the family is looking at ongoing costs that include mobility, housing renovations, training, living expenses, caregivers, physical therapy and psychotherapy.
