mark tonin

In, in a big way!

Peace, Mark

Tonin, can we expect your smilin' self this weekend?

I sure hope so. We haven't shared nearly enough dance floor realestate this summer.

Part of me will be there in spirit, but unless they move ahead really quickly with this cloning technology, my body will be in KW for a special wedding ... Tungsten Gruvsten and Denise are getting married.

I'm sure that Lose Yer Shoes will be awesome ... have a blast everybody!

Thanks for the smiles Kaidy Mae and bradm!

Peace, Mark

Just read the Newfoundlog ... thanks for sharing your thoughts, Todd!

Peace, Mark

Hey Todd,

I'm not the guy running the acoustic stage, but I'm almost positive that the Saturday acoustic stage is full. Having said that, depending on how things go, the Indie Stage on Sunday may include some acoustic acts as well. I'm not really sure of the status of things at the moment, but I will discuss with Jay and Mark Wilson to see where things stand.

Hope your trip is going well ... I assume that you are still in Newfoundland?

Peace, Mark

OK, if we're dreaming, I'd love to hear Burt cover a Fat Cats song. And to take the dream through the roof, invite Todd Gillies up on stage to jam along while it happened.

Peace, Mark

down with the sound is a canjam classic...

I remember when Caution Jam covered this song at a Come Together Festival ... the crowd went crazy ... one of the highlights of the weekend, that's for sure, and a class act by Caution Jam.

Peace, Mark

The interest of the Come Together Indie Rock Stage is to help new rock bands reach new audiences, and vice versa, bringing in some new faces to our party.

This is also what we are trying to do with the acoustic stage on Saturday ... bring in some artisits that have rarely/never played at the festival to help them reach new audiences, and to bring in some new faces to our party that will fit with the vibe of the event and help it to grow in a postive way. Here are 4 acts that are booked for the acoustic stage on Saturday ... I think that we are in for a treat! Peace, Mark

Lucas Stagg

Throughout the late 1990’s and early 2000’s Central Canada was the backdrop. Playing at rock n’ roll fairs and licensed establishments with his band, Room 101 was how he spent his late teens. Like any band, “The Room†had their ups and downs, and, finally called it quits in the fall of 2002.

Since then, Lucas has taken the “one man and his guitar show†to heart, and to the road. He recently toured through 22 countries across Europe, recorded an album with Canadian Guitar Legend Jack de Keyzer as producer, written a stack of new songs (including everything from hit parade material to gospel, train songs, instrumentals, and tributes for Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan), and, has just released his new record, Play For Keeps. It’s an acoustic walk through the places he’s been, including good ol’ Waterloo, the city he currently calls home.

Lucas Stagg’s recorded and live music has not only been heard, but more importantly well enjoyed in; Canada, U.S.A., England, Germany, Australia, Spain, and beyond.

www.lucasstagg.com

Mandi Hancock

Small town girl Mandi Hancock moved to Kitchener, Ontario in 1993 and it was there she took the steps towards performing her songs live. Here she landed a regular gig at the Circus Room where she hosted the weekly jam with Scott Wicken. Mandi could be seen playing in the Kitchener-Waterloo (K-W) area quite frequently and has shared the stage with a good number of K-W’s local musicians. Mandi enjoyed playing solo but was often seen playing with Jason Schneider (Shannon Lyon & The World Record Players), Tom Murray, Chris Gatchene (The Fat Cats) and Deanna Knight (The Hot Club of Mars).

Mandi moved to Toronto in 1999. Here, she put her music on the backburner and completed her degree in graphic design.

In 2004, Mandi was feeling uninspired in the big city, and missed the strong musical influences K-W had to offer. She decided to pack her bags and return to the place she calls “homeâ€. Mandi is back playing with many of her aforementioned friends, working towards releasing her first album which will be available in the fall of 2005.

The Hawk Dawsons

The Hawk Dawsons are brothers Robert, Richard, and Levon Dawson. They enjoy cold beer, frisbee, and the Rolling Stones in equal measures. With part-time gigs in other rock bands, the brothers always seem to end up together, singing boozey yarns about love and the universe. Classic stuff from men who've toured the world and seen it all, and are still just glad to have each other and their guitars.

www.thestarshere.com

www.doormatrecords.com

Mary 5e

Her debut album, Made of Gold is something special. What’s remarkable about the album is not that it roams effortlessly between leaden electric rock and sweet acoustic folk rock. It’s not that Mary’s outstanding voice is equally capable of belting out snarly heavy lyric lines while, a scant few songs later, melting your heart with a plaintive whimper. It’s not even the artist’s surprisingly skilled grasp of melody and stellar harmonies. The remarkable thing about Made of Gold is that all of these things are true of it, and that the songs are good.

In the near future Mary will release an acoustic album, and surely local fans are anxious for it. Mary is well known in her music scene and people are taking notice in unexpected places: her web site receives many hits and CD orders from the U.S. and the UK, and readers of The Kitchener-Waterloo Record voted Mary favourite female artist in both 2002 and 2004.

www.mary5e.com

Thanks to everybody that made it out to the Freakers Ball at Izzy's on Saturday night. It was a wonderful night of music and friendship, and the event was well attended on Saturday night, with a relatively small contingent of people from this board when compared to the Come Together Fests, but with many other kind people.

It was a treat to be able to play with Harvard Mouse at this event. Dr. Evil Mouse blew many minds with his guitar playing on our final song ... a song called "Keeps Us Alive" which he wrote. My body tingled as I stood next to him while he tore it up in a big way. Amazing ...

Rose Garland played a wonderful set of music, and it was lots of fun dancing under the stars to songs that mean so much to so many. The vocals came through nice and clear, with some sweet harmonizing.

Errol Blackwood is an energy machine ... he and his band played reggae song after song, while people danced and sang along.

To everyone in Harvard Mouse and to the extended Mouse family ... huge hugs to all of you and I can't wait to do it again!

Peace, Mark

WOW ... I know that many others have already posted this, but WOW ... this show was incredible. It definitely makes my short list of favourite shows ever.

I remember when Jimmy Herring toured with The Dead (or The Other Ones) ... a few people commented on message boards that they wished that the band would "let Jimmy Herring play some guitar." Now I know why people made those comments ... the man can play! No wonder bands like The Dead and ABB ask him to play with them. And his guitar amp was 15 feet from my head! Oh my goodness! Plus he's such a nice guy, as are all of the guys in this band from what I can tell.

OK, Jimmy Herring can play guitar. People know that. But when you add another guitar player of his caliber to the mix, things get out of control! Bobby Lee Rodgers can play guitar! I remember at one point watching Jimmy smiling and shaking his head as Rodgers laid down one of many tasty guitar solos. Plus Rodgers writes most of the band's songs. I had a nice chat with him after the show ... what a genuinely nice guy! And he had nothing but kind things to say about Canada and the show/people at Pepper Jack's.

It's nice when musicians look at each other and into the audience, smile, and feel comfortable and natural on stage. I loved how much of this happened with the Codetalkers. They seemed so comfortable and happy, playing music from the heart. The music felt so organic and natural.

One of the funniest moments of the night for me was when Col. Bruce Hampton started playing his guitar behind his head, and then the bass player (sorry I forget his name but I thought I heard him introduced as "Cheif such and such") mimicked Col. Bruce and started playing is stand up acoustic bass behind his head. Add a little humour to make people smile while dancing to some of the sweetest sounds imaginable.

Thank you to everybody that helped to make this show happen ... it was fantastic!

Peace, Mark

Oh' date=' Lord, please ensure that this show is taped.

Aloha,

Brad[/quote']

Ottawa Music Fans Commandeer Greyhound Bus

- Reuters

Several apperent music fans, possibly cultists, took over a Greyhound bus destined for Toronto, Ontario earlier today in an attempted bid to attend a rare performance by obscure American voodoo blues man, Col. Bruce Hampton. One disorientated looking man wearing an Expo baseball cap demanded the driver skip scheduled stops and head straight for Hamilton Ontario, but later changed that demand to an immediate stop for beer and pizza.

laughing my ass off! Peace, Mark

A friendly reminder to everyone that there is a big party happening at Izzy's this upcoming weekend (August 5 & 6) ... Shakedown Street's annual bash, a.k.a. Bob's Bash, a.k.a. Gathering of the Freaks, a.k.a. Freakers Outdoor Ball.

There is nothing like dancing to sweet live music under the sun, moon and stars ... I highly recommend making it out for at least one night (Saturday) if you want a dose of Dead-influenced songs and jams to remember Jerry by ... Harvard Mouse will take the stage at around 7:30, followed by Rose Garland at 9:30, and people will be shakin' their bones, that's for sure. Tickets for the one night can be bought at the gate.

For more information, visit the Shakedown web site and look under "Summer Party Information."

Shakedown web site

There will also be liquid lights and digital visuals provided by the Green Marble Support Troupe ... they're really good at what they do!

I hope to see some of you there!

Peace, Mark

A nice article, Shain!

I have one Codetalkers cd (called "The Codetalkers with Col. Bruce Hampton") and on it most of the song writing credits go to Bobby Lee Rodgers. Some catchy songs, that's for sure.

The Smilefest show that I mentioned above has some great guitar playing on it ... I'm looking forward to a big blast of "southern fried goodness."

This band kicks ass!

Peace, Mark

Huge birthday hugs to you, Mike. Thanks for all that you do for this community!

Peace, Mark

Steve Hackett can play guitar!

I used to have a Genesis Live album (1973) and I was always impressed with his guitar playing on it.

I haven't heard any of his recent material but I'm thinking it must be good.

Peace, Mark

Dave & Deb, I love you both!

Mark

And the first time I saw Garth was at a Band gig at the Masonic Temple in 1996.

Hey, I remember that show! If I remember correctly I think that the Mahones opened. Dr. Evil, timouse, Calamity Jane, snail, and others were there if this is the show I'm thinking about.

I was also lucky enough to see Garth with The Band on two other occasions ... once at Convocation Hall (U of T) and the other time at Lulu's in Kitchener, which was a bit of a culture shock for the heads that were there, witnessing the large "bar scene pickup crowd" that frequented Lulu's on a regular basis. Still a sweet show though.

Peace, Mark

Thursday March 16, 2000

University at Buffalo

Centre for the Performing Arts

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones

I walked into this show with my friend, not really knowing what to expect.

We were lucky enough to have front row seats.

Half way through set one, Victor Wooten blew my mind. We were sitting so close to Victor during his solo that I could hear the acoustic sounds coming off of his instrument. And I couldn't believe what I was seeing and hearing.

At the end of his solo, the audience burst into a standing ovation.

Victor Wooten is awesome!

And yes, he's flashy ... he puts on a show. I like watching a show in addition to listening to one.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing and hearing what he has in store for us in Toronto in October!

Peace, Mark

i think 35 is a great price for a band of this quality in such a small but great location.

I agree!

For anybody wondering what we may be in for on Friday night, check out this Codetalkers show:

The Codetalkers at Smilefest May 27, 2005

This band is stellar!

Peace, Mark

This is going to be a great show ... I'm in for sure!

Peace, Mark

Happy birthday Jeff ... I love to hear you play, and I look forward to the next time I get to ... I'll see you at Izzy's for the Labour Day Come Together Fest!

Peace, Mark

the fall lineup, with walters on keys, could be the most talented touring band in North America.

Agreed ... wow ... what a lineup of talented musicians!

Peace, Mark

Friday, July 29th: Tony Furtado, with guests Caution Jam

I wish I was around for this one ... it's going to be a sweet show!

Friday, Aug 5th: Codetalkers (Jimmy Herring)

I am STOKED for this show. I'll be heading from this show on the Friday night to Izzy's on Saturday night for a full weekend of Deadish magic.

Peace, Mark

Tim ... please keep posting your show info!

Some day I'll get to one of your shows, as I'm sure that they are excellent and that I'd enjoy them. However, I'm canoeing in Algonquin this upcoming weekend so it won't be this time.

Peace, Mark

Hey Deeps,

Nice to read thay What The Thunder Said has been added to the Labour Day Come Together Fest bill. I look forward to seeing and hearing your band.

It's going to be a great weekend!

Peace, Mark

Ah Dr.Evil what amazing posts they have been. You've been such a wonderful addition to this board and my life. I am glad to know you ...

Ditto!

... and am looking forward to having you closer ...

I can't say ditto to this thought , but I'm wishing you and Deb nothing but the best with your move. I'm sure that you will find many people to play music with as you head to Eastern Ontario, and the thought of you playing guitar with Mike while Sharon sings puts a huge smile on my face and warmth in my heart. Although you will be further away, I know that we will still have opportunities to play together. It is always such a treat to play music with you ... you are an excellent guitar player, a very thoughtful, caring and intelligent man, and a very good friend. Ok, I'd better stop now before booche tells us to get a room!

"It's the same story the crow told me; it's the only one he knows.

Like the morning sun you come and like the wind you go.

Ain't no time to hate, barely time to wait,

Wo, oh, what I want to know, where does the time go?"

Peace, Mark