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International Report
Edited by Evan Newman - evan@lombardipublishing.com Northern Exposure: The Toronto Jam Band SceneFor many years, Toronto has churned out many bands that have gained international stardom. From The Barenaked Ladies to Rush, Toronto has established itself as a great city for music. ,p> What most people don't realize is that Toronto has one of the best jamband scenes in North America. On any given night, you can find a great jamband playing somewhere in the city. Some of the great bands that play out of Toronto have gained the attention of some of the staples of the jamscene. ,p> One Step Beyond, an acid jazz funk band became Merl Saunders backing band for the last leg of his summer tour (which included the Jerry Garcia tribute shows). They performed exceptionally well and were well received throughout the states. They have released two albums on mo' funk records and are constantly touring. They have bombarded Canadian jazz scene, picking up many awards and playing the prestigious jazz festivals such as The Montreal Jazz Festival. They've attracted quite an eclectic following, from the deadhead community to the upper class jazz connoisseurs. Keep an eye and ear out for One Step Beyond as they will probably be in your area soon.
The best band to come out of Toronto in the last ten years is The Burt Neilson Band. They are not to be confused with a Vegas lounge act (There actually is no member named Burt Neilson in the band). These guys met at school in Northern Ontario and have been playing together for the last couple of years. As when most bands start out, their influences were obvious but The Burt Neilson Band have successfully broken from their phish shell and have created a revolutionary sound that incorporates a fantastic organ player, percussion and a unique musical chemistry that is independent from anything on the music scene today. The members of The Burt Neilson Band are dedicated to their music and are constantly touring Canada attracting quite a following. They have released an album on their own label, Redbeard Records, but their recognition has come from word of mouth. They recently performed a few dates around the province with famed lyricist, The Dude of Life in which they packed every venue they played. They have tentatively scheduled a New Years Eve show with moe. As they continue to mature musically, The Burt Neislon Band will become an integral part of the jam scene, worldwide.
So come on! make a run for the border, Toronto is only a few hours from New York, Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois. The venues in Toronto are great. From the historic Horseshoe Tavern where legendary acts like the Rolling Stones have performed to Lee's Palace where Dave Matthew's and moe played their first Canadian gigs, the scene in Toronto is like no other. The Fat Cats, Zygote, and Funderwear are other great bands that will tickle your jamband fancy. Look for the Burt Neilson Band and One Step Beyond to be touring in your area and make sure you catch them. Toronto is a great place for jam bands. Hope to see you soon.
The Dude of Life w/ Burt Neilson Band
The Comfort Zone, Toronto, Ontario
9/25/98
by Dan Gladman <fracturedego@sympatico.ca> It would be a lie to say that anyone knew what to expect on the nightof The Dude of Life's maiden voyage to Canada. Sure, some people had passed around copies of 1994's "Crimes of the Mind" but nobody really took that album too seriously. Also, the Dude himself - Monsieur Steve Pollak - had shown his face in Toronto's public once before. That was in August of 1993, when he joined Phish on stage at the Concert Hall for a rousing second set finale of "Crimes." ("Rocky Top" was the encore, so for all intents and purposes, "Crimes" was the last song of that night).So the skeptics were many, and many of the smarmy Phishhead inhabitants of Toronto were loathe to appear at The Comfort Zone. It's funny, I saw more familiar faces in Rochester last December than on this night at the revamped Comfort Zone. Nonetheless, 450 believers came to the club to give the Dude and his band the benefit of the doubt. A chance to prove themselves. A shot at redemption.>These music fans were rewarded.
The Dude opened with one of the cool tracks from the debut album,"Dahlia." His singing was sharp, his costume glittering, and most striking, his band was first rate. The former four-piece Great Red Shark is the story behind The Dude of Life - with their playing, the Dude's on-stage persona,and the school ties to Phish, the group was able to titilate a young hippie crowd. A well-sequenced second song, "Susie Greenberg," saw to that. The song was energized, and the Dude smartly changed the ordering of the lyrics, making a singalong possible only the tune's famous refrain.
Another Phish tune, "Fluffhead," closed the first set and charmed those screaming the lyrics and punching the air. By "I sure got some powerful pills" the crowd was in a frenzy, with 15 people joining the Dude foran impromptu dance circle on stage, while Cliff Mays, Mark Thors, Paul Gassman and Jim Weingast wrang out a non-Phishy but pleasing jam.
Mingling more Dude originals with Great Red Shark charts in the second set, the band held onto the large crowd's ears, winning them again with a short but rousing "Self," an anthem for self-love that seems to encapsulate 80s culture. (Hey, it was recorder in 1991, OK?) Led Zeppelin's "Dancing Days" was a choice pick for a cover song, as was a cool funk numbermid-second set. Needless to say, "Crimes of the Mind" was the encore.
The Dude's show is a well-rehearsed rock 'n' roll show, distant from the endless noodling that has come to generalize the Third Generation JamBand scene, but close to it in spirit. The performance of the songs indicates a professional approach to live music theater and the Dude's confidence in himself, and his band, was impressive. While the show may be a tasteful Phish love-in, the Dude of Life is not a Phish tribute band. Think of them more as a jam band which uses its brain.