On The Beat

College Street Tastes

TASTE OF LITTLE ITALY: The always-popular street festival along College Street returns on June 18-20. This year, its sixth in fact, marks an extension of the fest into Sunday, a sign of its popularity (over 100,00 attendees last year). Happily, the construction that has wreaked havoc on that strip for months will have moved on by then. An eclectic mix of music (from classical to salsa) will be played live on the street and on patios from 7.00 to 11.00 p.m. on Friday night, 1.00 to 11.00 p.m. on Saturday 19th, and now 1.00 to 6.00 p.m. on Sunday 20th. A 'mercato' street market operates during the day, and a special children's area helps make this an excellent family event.

CAFE MAY: This cozy small bar on Roncesvalles has been around since 1976, but sadly closed its doors last week. In recent years, it has featured many of the city's best singer/songwriters in its intimate confines, but its location seemed to prevent it from gaining the higher profile and larger crowds it deserved. It'll certainly be missed by many of the city's musicians, as was indicated by the turnout at its closing night party/wake. Many of those in attendance got onstage for a song or two one last time, including top locals REID JAMIESON and CAROLYN MILL, JACK BREAKFAST, MARTIN TIELLI, JENNIFER FOSTER, KARYN ELLIS, plus the super-talented AL TUCK, visiting from Halifax. The beer (and a few tears) flowed freely as the party went into the wee small hours. On The Beat wishes Cafe May's gracious proprietor, KEIKO, all the best in future endeavours.

JENNIFER FOSTER: After gaining national prominence as a guitarist/backing singer in THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, this local songstress has gone solo. She recently released her second album, the seven-song Fit For Mars, and played a launch party at The Rivoli. Foster demonstrated a supple voice and material that sounded best when she rocked out with a bit of a BREEDERS vibe. Amongst those enjoying the gig was her former boss, TPOH mainman MOE BERG.

CANCON ROCK: Toronto indie label Bullseye has long been a passionate flagwaver for Canadian rock 'n roll. When Cancon Rocked - Volume 1 is the first in a planned series of compilations of some classic Maple Leaf rock. It's a fine collection, moving from 1967 (an early GUESS WHO cover of NEIL YOUNG's "Flying On The Ground Is Wrong") to 2004 (a cut by WILD T. & THE SPIRIT, featuring JEFF HEALEY). The older stuff like LUKE & THE APOSTLES, GODDO and SEGARINI has more appeal than the slightly generic HAREM SCAREM and ANDY CURRAN tracks, while hits from THE KINGS and HONEYMOON SUITE will please many. Excellent job.

NEW RELEASES: Toronto world music group MAZA MEZE launch their fourth CD, Secrets, Moon, Magic, with a performance at the Cecil Community Centre (58 Cecil St.) on June 12th. The group's eclectic sound embraces Greek, Middle Eastern, South Indian and Sufi styles, but in an imaginative and focused manner. Their previous disc, Hypnotika, earned a Juno nomination last year. The new album features such special guests as master percussionists JOHN WYRE and TRICHY SANKARAN and singer SUBA SANKARAN, and is released on CBC's Global Village label. Canadian JOHN KAY gained rock 'n roll fame as leader of STEPPENWOLF ("Born To Be Wild," "Magic Carpet Ride"), and he is still making records as a solo performer. His trademark gruff voice is in fine shape on new album, Heretics & Privateers (on Rainman). It has a bluesy and acoustic feel, with songs that are strong on social commentary.

UPCOMING: SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE SKIDS are an always entertaining band that somehow manage to both satirize and celebrate the culture of the American South. "When you're from the South, you need a sense of humour," guitarist/singer Rick Miller once told On The Beat. Over the past 15 years, they've put out a bunch of fun records that mix swamp, surf, and rockabilly styles. They're rockin' out at The Horseshoe on July 3. Over the course of a now lengthy career, American singer/songwriter SAM PHILLIPS has put out a string of albums that have earned major critical kudos, but no serious commercial success. She has a lovely voice, a gifted pen, and a charming stage presence, and her June 14th gig at Lula Lounge is highly recommended. Opening act is another underrated talent, local songstress PRIYA THOMAS.

Publication Date: 2004-06-13
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=4071