Tag Archives: Jenie Thai
Damon Fowler Has Earned A Big Reputation Among Guitarists
by Bill Monahan
Blues fans can find respite from the frigid winter weather this weekend, warming up to Southern Blues sounds of young blues phenom Damon Fowler, performing Saturday with his power trio at the Simcoe Street Theatre in Collingwood.
As a genre, authentic blues is in good hands these days with a cohort of young players who have the knack of infusing this venerated music with a respectful blend of its roots and personal feeling. In this area just this past year, we’ve enjoyed exceptional blues from young artists Conor Gains and Jenie Thai, and now Damon Fowler brings another exciting performer to watch.
A Florida native, Fowler began playing guitar at the age of twelve. One of his earliest influences was Jeff Healey. He quickly developed a style that is equal parts tradition and originality, applying it to acoustic and electric guitar, dobro and lap steel, with an emphasis on slide work. He began gigging as a support act and attracted enough notice that his first, self-released album was produced by Rick Derringer.
As a solo he opened for artists that included several blues legends such as Delbert McClinton, Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter, Jeff Beck, and many more. His reputation spread.
A Night To Remember At The Gayety Theatre
Review by Bill Monahan of Tyler Yarema Chuck Jackson concert Oct. 5th, 2017
With their show last night at The Gayety Theatre in Collingwood, Tyler Yarema and Chuck Jackson wanted to record a live CD that would capture the excitement of their live shows when they perform as a duo. They succeeded. The theatre was filled with fans who showered them with an outpouring of love from start to finish.
It was clearly as exciting for the performers as it was for the audience. They approached the show with the discipline required to assure that it resulted in a good recording but that didn’t stop them from pulling out all the stops to fill the room with energy.
“I’ve been performing for forty-seven years,” said Chuck, whose regular gig is as vocalist and harmonica player for the Downchild Blues Band, while taking a sip between songs, “ and this is the first time I’ve drunk water on stage.” After a pause, he added, “And the last!” He also said it’s the first time they have performed with a set list. Each of them has such a wide-ranging repertoire and they’ve been playing with each other as a duo long enough that they usually can wing it on stage, following their whims.
The Thursday Outlook – Oct. 5 to 9, 2017
Fraser Melvin will be playing at The Leeky Canoe on Saturday. If you were lucky enough to catch the performance from Jenie Thai as part of the Summer Concert Series this year, you saw Fraser as part of her crack band. He is a busy and talented blues guitarist, arranger and singer who, in addition to playing with Jenie Thai, has two other bands that he calls his own: The Fraser Melvin Band, a quartet that countrifies Jimi Hendrix tunes and plays funk versions of Dylan; and The Melvin-Colacino Band, an 8-piece outfit with a horn section that plays Funk and R & B. He will be on his own at The Leeky but, if you saw his solo turn during Jenie Thai’s set, you already know that’s something to see.
If you want to make an evening of Meaford live music on Saturday, you can catch Owen Sound duo Anyway Susan, featuring Kevin Ross and Mark Moloney, from 7 to 10 at The Red Door, and then walk up the street to enjoy Fraser Melvin.
Tonight is the big show at The Gayety Theatre in Collingwood, where Tyler Yarema and Chuck Jackson will be recording a live CD. It’s a full night with a reception beforehand that will feature Jenie Thai and a second set (after the live recording of the duo) that will be a jam with musical friends that include the evening’s Master of Ceremonies, Virgil Scott.
Whitehorse-based singer-songwriter Kim Beggs will be at Heartwood tonight. This is a stop on a long winter tour that will take her across Canada in support of her new album, “Said Little Sparrow”. New Canadian Music calls her “one of the most respected artists on the Canadian roots scene,” adding “Beggs’ eloquent songs or her strong, supple voice that occasionally suggests Lucinda Williams”. For this date she will be supported by Corin Raymond, JUNO-nominated Toronto singer-songwriter whose songs have been covered by, among others, The Good Lovelies, The Strumbellas, and The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer. The Globe and Mail has said, “Corin Raymond is a storyteller who by the end of the night you’ll have known your whole life.” This double bill is a must-see for fans of Roots/Americana music.
Be Part Of A Recording at The Gayety with Chuck Jackson and Tyler Yarema
It will be a special event on Thursday Oct 5th when Chuck Jackson and Tyler Yarema record a live CD at The Gayety Theatre in Collingwood. The show starts with a set at eight which will be recorded for the CD, but the party starts much earlier and goes beyond the recording.
Get Tickets Here
Cocktails at 6:30 get you primed for the show with a chance to talk to other concert goers and to Chuck and Tyler while enjoying the music of Jenie Thai (yes, Jenie Thai!).
The second set after the recording will be a big jam with friends of the duo. If you’ve seen the shows that Tyler has directed at Meaford Hall or The Marsh Street Centre, you know how exciting these jams can be. And if you’ve seen any of those shows, you also know that the energy level will be bouncing off the ceiling with the evening’s master of ceremonies, Virgil Scott.
“I think of it as an event rather than just another show,” says Tyler, “It’s a chance for people to be part of something. It’s just going to be a fun show with a lot of audience participation.” That means if you’re loud enough you might end up on the CD too.
