Burt Neilson Band Rocks the 'Shoe

Set I: Chevron > Beanie, Speedbump, Bench, Fresco Lopez, Anabanana, > Waves

Set II: Funkin' Shoes > Five Alive > Not Yet, Yellow Pants, Martain, Stop 28, Moonshine, Gonzalo, Function

The Burt Neilson Band has always been a good band. Now, with countless live shows all across this country over the last couple of years, they've become a great band. The band proved this with a superb show at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto.

BNB's live act has grown leaps and bounds since they first played together in Thunder Bay, Ontario a few years back. Older songs like Frisco Lopez and Function now have new found energy and the jams are so much more tighter with more of a funk groove. The band also played some new songs from their upcoming release that their recording in London, Ontario. The song Funkin' Shoes is quickly becoming a fan favourite and one of their best songs to date, and along with the tracks Five Alive and Bench are making the band one of the best live acts currently out there.

The chemistry that now exists between these six musicians is astounding. The rhythm section has been boosted by the more developed percussions of Jeffrey Kornbloom. Kornbloom has become one of the top percussionists on the live scene and is seemingly getting better with each performance. The band has developed a smoother transition into songs, The transition between Chevron and Beanie at the show was exceptionally cool, exhibiting the bands awesome chemistry.

The Burt Neilson Band has come a long way since their inception. Their show at the Horseshoe was a clear example of their growth and maturity. They are constantly touring and bettering themselves (culminating with a NYE show at the Comfort Zone in Toronto). They will be doing a ski town tour of Canada in the upcoming months and hopefully will make their way into the United States shortly. As well, they should be releasing their new album early in the new year. So, if your doing some travelling (skiing) in Canada keep an ear out for The Burt Neilson Band.

Through the Changes, Fat Cats Keep Truckin' On

Around since the early 90's, the Fat Cats have persevered and have become one of Canada's top live acts. With two solid albums to their credit (1994's Cruelty's Cure and 98's Daredevil), the band has also played with such notables like Merl Saunders and the JGB.

It hasn't been all roses for this Southern Ontario band, they have had eight changes and have gone from a six-piece outfit to a more cohesive grouping of four. The Fat Cats have helped nurture bands in the area like The Burt Neilson Band while constantly touring themselves. They have travelled from the east coast of Canada to the west coast of the U.S. attracting many fans that include Parliament P-Funk and Mickey Harts Planet Drum. They have performed at Grape Jam and The Trinity Tribal Stomp in California and Freak Out '99.

Early on, the band was known for it's incredible renditions of Grateful Dead tunes like Scarlet Begonias and Shakedown Street along with a very memorable version of Phishs' Down with Disease. The Fat Cats have come along way since those days and have a vast repertoire of their own songs that play extremely well live and are captured equally well on the most recent album, "Daredevil" (reviewed in last months issue). The Cats recently opened for Jazz is Dead in Toronto and had the fans pleasantly surprised at their incredible progress.

Their music is a collective hybrid of all the necessary ingredients of a good band. They like to funk, rock and jazz out and do it really well. Their music flows at a nice pace and is highlighted by their melodic harmonies. The band has become more polished, their influences are less obvious and their style is now more dominant. The Cats have really clicked well with The Burt Neilson Band, often sharing the bill most nights (NYE, they share the bill at The Comfort Zone). It is often the case that at a Cats show, you will see a couple of the boys from BNB join them on stage.

After all of the changes the band has finally hit it's stride, now a tight four piece outfit (Todd Gillies -Guitar, Vocals, Dave Hill- Bass, Joel Stouffer - Drums, Ron Elliot - Keys/Vocals) The Fat cats have reinstated themselves as one of the top jam bands in the country. Check em' out if their in your are or click on to the website www.fat-cats.com.