briguy Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 Where do you think the Jamband Capital of Canada is? It changes over the years, venues close, promoters move on, et cetera. I'd go with Hamilton these days. Amazing shows throughout Canada but nothing seems as consitent as Hamilton. I live and promote in Hamilton so I'm probably a little bias. Vancouver seems to be leading with high profile gigs but Hamilton usually has a few things to offer every week. What do you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briguy Posted March 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 quote:Originally posted by Jaimoe: I read it, but are the NMA big yet? I'd question that. Robert Randolph is moderately big. He's a good draw and he may soon be one of the big cross-over jam acts - hell, he is a cross-over act already. What bands do you consider non-big that don't play Toronto? I know there's lots, but I'd say that many smaller acts don't tour Canada extensively as a whole. I think NMA has a bigger name then any Canadian jamband. They were nominated for a Grammy. I was told that Robert Randolph sold out the Opera House, that's big time. I don't have a system for figuring out what's big and what's not but the two you named seem big to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elemeno Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 chatham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cakvuli Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 quote:Originally posted by FreeknutsByTheSpeaknuts: 1. Moncton (well pretty much all of NB) 2. Halifax 3. Hamilton 4. Ottawa 5. Toronto Its really funny that you say Moncton. When I frist entered the scene no bands played moncton. Ever. Fly Jimmy Swift used to play once in a while but there wasnt much of a scene. These days the Moncton scene is booming. Its great to see because there really isnt a whole lot to do in the city. Team Moncton is a good crew that really knows how to party! Hell, we partied it up in a Mansion for a year hosting bands like Slowcoaster, JSB, GTB and Nero. Go Team Moncton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 quote:Originally posted by briguy: quote: I think NMA has a bigger name then any Canadian jamband. They were nominated for a Grammy. I was told that Robert Randolph sold out the Opera House, that's big time. I don't have a system for figuring out what's big and what's not but the two you named seem big to me. I'm no authority, but some of the bands I consider to be big are: Phish, The Allman Brothers, Dave Matthews, Ben Harper, Widespread Panic, The Dead/Phil & Friends, Moe. ( arguable ), Flaming Lips etc... I think the following bands can arguably be called second tier jambands: Robert Randolph, NMA, The Slip, Derek Trucks, My Morning Jacket, Drive By Truckers and even Gov't Mule. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secondtube Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 If your talking straight jambands, i dont think it could argued (at least very well) that hamilton isn't the capital.....when you compare population with the actual music we get, Toronto pails in comparison. BUT, when you compare overall music, all different genre's and styles, nothign in Canada can compore to Toronto.... I see just as many shows in Toronto as in Hamilton, but all my T.O. shows (like the Preservation Hall Jazz Orchestra last night) are usually not jam related. I'd agree with you Brian. We may get as many jamband shows as Toronto, possibly more, and we have a helluva lot less population than Toronto... My final point is, the jamband mecca may not last in Hamilton. It goes in waves. Five years ago, Hamilton would not even been considered a top Jam City....But things have changed.... 10 years from now, how knows what will be happening in Hamilton's music scene.....well other than for Paisley still there, dancing, enjoying it all.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CyberHippie Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 I think for overall music and variety Toronto is pretty amazing. I haven't been to a lot of other big cities to compare but, with the exception of Montreal, I'm thinking Toronto is the best. Kind of the Canadian New York City. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
show---whore Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 quote: It all seemed to occur when the Comfort Zone closed - ending a " for-sure " weekly jamband locale.your going to see alot more show at the elmo in the coming months. by apirl Upstairs at the elmo will have weekly shows put on by U.F. Productions. Things have been going really well there, the owner is willing to put some money into the room if the shows keep going well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elemeno Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 10 years from now, how knows what will be happening in Hamilton's music scene.....well other than for Paisley still there, dancing, enjoying it all.... paisley for Prime Minister. i can see it now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 He's got my vote... I can see the headlines now: Down with hope, up with dope! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poutine Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 1.vancouver- 2.toronto 3.NB 4.hamilton 5.montreal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CyberHippie Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 quote:Originally posted by show--whore: your going to see alot more show at the elmo in the coming months. by apirl Upstairs at the elmo will have weekly shows put on by U.F. Productions. Things have been going really well there, the owner is willing to put some money into the room if the shows keep going well. Good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 Judging by the number of top bands that play here, Toronto has to be tops on the list. Ottawa ranks high because this website originates from there, some great bands are from there ( nero etc... ) and it's becoming one of the places to play in Ontario for touring bands. I'd call Hamilton Canada's Capitol of punk and new wave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briguy Posted March 7, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 I'd have to go with Edmonton for punk. New wave, not sure about that. IMO it seems like Toronto is hit & miss. Not including the bigger names, I notice a lot of bands don't play Toronto as much as other cities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 Punk and new wave of the 70's and 80's was really big in Hamilton: The Forgotten Rebels Teenage Head The Kings Simply Saucer ( not big, but still influential today ) As for bands " not playing Toronto as much as other cities ", that's unfounded. Toronto was crawling with big shows last summer and just in the month of February, Robert Randolph and The North Mississippi Allstars played ( on the same day ). Toronto gets a lot of the eastern and southern jam bands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briguy Posted March 7, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 I'm proud of Hamilton's musical history. The punk scene is going to explode again once the non-smoking bylaw kicks in. You're not reading my post. Not including bigger names. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CyberHippie Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 Toronto gets the big ticket items now and then, but the smaller mid level bands aren't playing here anymore, because there isn't really a venue or promoter of any sort of regularity. I'd definetly say Hamilton has the scene. I think Toronto probably has more heads, but the music scene here in TO is so diffused these days it's pretty hit and miss. Some shows are well attended some or not at all. I'm not in Hamilton super often, but seems like Pepper Jacks always has a pretty good crowd for shows that could be extremely underattended here. Seems to me that Pepper Jacks is the new Comfort Zone. There is a scene here but it's just not organized. We really need another comfort zone. The upstairs elmo venue, isn't necessarily the best place, but there is a lot of potential there. The last show I saw there was the Fat Cats and it was very well attended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 I read it, but are the NMA big yet? I'd question that. Robert Randolph is moderately big. He's a good draw and he may soon be one of the big cross-over jam acts - hell, he is a cross-over act already. What bands do you consider non-big that don't play Toronto? I know there's lots, but I'd say that many smaller acts don't tour Canada extensively as a whole. CyberHippy is right about the disorganization of the jam scene in Toronto. It all seemed to occur when the Comfort Zone closed - ending a " for-sure " weekly jamband locale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouche Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 You guys have totally forgotton about Smiths Falls! Even the mayor has his own band that plays regularly in the local pub, Rob Roy's. One time, I saw a band there that consisted of one guy. He had his entire band on a computer, and he used a multieffect pedal driving his guitar. He'd take a solo, and you'd swear that he was in full control of this computer band. I don't know why nero hasn't played there yet. It's half way between Ottawa and Kingston. It's a perfect pitstop for any jamband Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 While Hamilton has one of my favorite venues for shows (PJC), I don't think it can be called the jamband capital of Canada. Not enough "big name" acts play there to qualify. Yeah, the Dead have played there, but Phish, SCI, moe., MMW, ABB, etc. have not. I would say Hamilton is in the top 5 cities, but not #1. Toronto would get my vote for having the best mix of old established, as well as up and coming bands coming to town. It's true that Toronto has been notibably skipped a few times, but that happens everywhere. here's my top 5... 1.Toronto 2.Ottawa 3.Hamilton 4.Nova Scotia (Evolve + Halifax = good) 5.Vancouver Just my opinion, but if Hamilton pulls a few more big shows, they could definately move up the list... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 Another thing to consider is that " real " rock bands are making a comeback, which may put a dent in the attendance at a jam concert. I chose to go to a few non-jam concerts over jam concerts last year simply because I liked the bands better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freeker Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 1. Moncton (well pretty much all of NB) 2. Halifax 3. Hamilton 4. Ottawa 5. Toronto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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