This drum kit was created by Domenic Nardone, a drummer who I played with back in St. John’s College in my home town. I remember this miniature work of art when he started it back in 1986.
It was even put on this RUSH blog and I can’t be any prouder of my big buddy from Brantford! Domenic was also the one who generously sent me the copy of an old concert that I played in along with his band Zedd Zero and Vigilants. More to come in the future about this great gig we all shared the stage in!
My old band Pylis and this other great band called Vigilants, another of Brantford’s many fabulous 80’s bands, planned on playing this tune called Battle Scar at the old St. John’s College Dufferin campus gym. It was a big deal back then to all of us from a rather smallish town with not all that much to do.
We practiced in this really cool, old meat locker beside a now defunked Roller Town in Brantford. We played this song together to death at this location and it was perfect. To all you musicians out there, imagine the sound you would get with 2 drummers, 2 bass players, 1 great keyboardist and 3 guitar players playing one tune together… does REALLY LOUD COME TO MIND!!!
After many months practicing in the same facility, we decided to do a concert together and this was going to be the last song of the night. As luck would have it, Vigilants had so many unforeseen soundboard problems that cut short the night dramatically. I felt so bad for them … and for the song Battle Scar!
This is a true story from a buddy of mine. He sent this to us and with his permission, I JUST GOTTA share it with you!
So let me tell you the story of how Scott gets a Martin.
I was downtown ATL about 6 weeks ago having a smoke outside when up from the ground comes a bubblin… wait not that story..
So I’m having a smoke when I see a homeless guy walking down the street with a dobro (acoustic slide guitar) over his shoulder. He comes walking up to me looking for a smoke, I was hoping that he played this thing and might play me a tune. No luck there, he said that he had just found it in the garbage at the children’s museum. To which I offered hm 40.00 for it. He said “and a cigarette ?” “Of course” said I, “you can have the rest of my pack”.
I researched the guitar when I got back to the office and it turns out that it is a hand crafted dobro made here in ATL by Ralph Luttrell(he’s the guy playing slide in the video). So I emailed him, explaining what had just transpired and if the guitar was stolen I would gladly give it back.
He responded with “it might be stolen but let me check” …. it wasn’t stolen, the museum had in fact thrown it out… its worth 3k new.
I brought it up to his shop and since I don’t know how to play slide and have been looking for a nice guitar. He asked if I would be willing to trade it for a new Martin.
So I am getting a Martin D18 for 40.00 and a half a pack of cigarettes !!
Not bad Scotty, not bad at all! See it pays to be honest.
Helix is one of those long lost and forgotten great Canadian acts. They were one of the great big hair bands of the 80’s!
The best song on their first album Breaking Loose, was a classic rockin’/country style called Billie Oxygen, it’s number 5. You’ve got to listen to the guitar/bass/drums solo at 02:07 of the song, tell me what you think of it!
I use to play this one with some guys back in Brantford. It was the first rock band that I played in right after leaving Pylis. Domenic was on drums, Eddie on guitar and Jon (the same guy I’ve talked about before on this and my other blog) on bass!
It took me a while at first to get my musical mojo back, but after playing this tune, I was back in the saddle again! This tune has everything in it to bring a crowd to it’s feet, in my eyes. The harmonizing guitars are fabulous, the bass is just a jumping, the keyboard is nicely accenting in the background with the booming drums kicking up a storm. Oh what a feeling!
I just heard from Domenic while writing this post and he said he does not have the band on tape, but he may have some pictures from that time period. He has in his possession a copy of a talent night that we were playing at, but in different bands! He’s well on his way to sending them to me as I write!
A great East York Jazz pianist is set to release his latest CD. It was held at Papermill Theatre in East York. He sold out the venue, that holds 160, but you can catch him this weekend at Ten Feet Tall on the Danforth, in Toronto. He is a regular at their Sunday Jazz series.
I’ve seen Steve Koven live and he never disappoints me in his delivery. Either his solo material or the electricity with his Trio, he is worth the price of admission. Even though he is a serious jazz fan, he sometimes has a funky side to him.
He is a Toronto boy and started playing around the tender age of seven. He earned a B.F.A. from York University, in the northern part of the city and studied contemporary improvisation at this site. Since graduating in 1987, Koven has pursued his career as a jazz pianist, composer and educator.
The man is nationally and internationally known as a musician and teacher. The man has earned his badge of musical honour, not to mention zillions of air miles!
I just want to expose all of you educated music lovers to the hidden treasures that we have here in my neighbourhood of East York in Toronto, Canada!
This is little long, but I hope that you give Steve, a good old Toronto boy, and his trio a chance! Enjoy.
