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Catching Neil Young in Toronto

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I went to see Neil Young the other day at the ACC (Air Canada Centre) in Toronto and I was not disappointed! Neither was anyone else that attended.

My brother in-law Steve won the tickets when he was in Toronto a week ago visiting a dear friend having open heart surgery. He was there as moral support for her husband who just hates being in Hospitals.

The night he was down, Steve and the patients husband went to a bar across the street from the hotel that he was staying at for a beer, a laugh and a bit of a distraction.

There was a draw for some Neil Young 2 tickets (way up in the nose bleeds) and he won them! He needed someone to go with, so he choose me!

The tickets are not as bad, as one would think. They to the right of the stage and we were around 20-30 seats away from the roof of ACC. With vantage point that we had, we could see the side of the stage, the ramp that Neil and boys came in on and we could see his equipment and his foot pedals. The position of our seats were also more in front of the stage then behind. There was some big screens to show the more intimate close ups of him and his band which was a nice touch.

The set that night was a nice collection of his classics and some from his latest album! Of coarse his early stuff was fabulous that goes without saying, but to tell you the truth, his new tunes were just about as good! The best song of the night was his encore. He played, with his wife on stage the whole night, A Day in the Life by the Beatles and the place went BANANAS!!! I never in a zillion years would think that he would do this classic tune, but only great ones always keep you thinking … and he didn’t disappoint us this night!

So overall I give the show two big thumbs up!





Cesare Bonizzi sings God’s greatest hits

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There is a 62 years young, Franciscan monk that seems to have had a divine musical intervention with the big guy.

The thing is, he had it through the most unlikely of mediums … Metallica and Megadeth music! I wonder if anyone has translated the lyrics into his native tongue? I honestly do not know how this post is going to turn out, so here goes and don’t tell my mom!

Being brought up in a fairly strict catholic family, I always had the image of the Franciscan monk, as a very pious old man wearing the traditional brown vestment and singing Gregorian chants, which was invented by the Franks. The Franks were West Germanic tribes, first identified in the 3rd century as an ethnic group living north and east of the Lower Rhine, ok the religious history lesson is over for today kidz!Saint/priest Padre Pio, is the one who comes to mind when thinking of a monk. After this post, I just may change your idea of the singing Monk!

To many he is known as Brother Cesare Bonizzi and to others Fratello Metallo (“Brother Metal”). He has a not bad voice, but he might want to work on his stage presence. What do you think?

Keep on Jammin’

The Old Grey Whistle Test

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This was a very popular BBC2 television music show that ran from 1971 to 1987. It was the British version of North American’s Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert show … or is it the other way around? It first went on air in September 1971 and lasted for 16 years. The final show was broadcast on Dec. 01, 1987.

I just happened to run into this gem of an old show while researching my post about Allan Holdsworth on this blog.

… a ‘tin pan alley’ phrase from years ago. When they got the first pressing of a record they would play it to people they called the old greys [doormen in grey suits] . The ones they could remember and could whistle having heard it just once or twice had passed the old grey whistle test. The meaning behind the name

To say that it became one of the most influential music shows for a generation would be an under statement.

This show had everything you wanted in a 1970’s – 1980’s Rock & Roll variety show! I’ve never seen this show, but maybe that was because I live on another continent! Anyways, check out the line up of who played on this show!

The first British TV performance of Bob Marley and the Wailers, U2, The Ramones, Supertramp, Eric Clapton, The Police, John Lennon Lynyrd Skynyrd, Talking Heads, David Bowie (beautiful) and Edgar Winter Group, just to name a few!

“I owe my whole solo career to The Old Grey Whistle Test. Mike and Bob were the only people who had faith in ‘The Six Wives of Henry VIII’ Rick Wakeman

They also did some great interviews of the musicians of the time. Keith Moon, The Rolling Stones, A very young Muddy Waters, Tom Scholz and Brad Delp of Boston, John Lennon part 1 & 2.

Another way to promote bands that where not actually playing on the show, was making a video of the song, specifically for the show. I’ve never heard of any show, or band for that matter doing something like this. It is really a testament to what lengths a band would go to, just to be put on the show! Led Zeppelin, Mike Oldfield were some of them!

So hats off to the grand old lady of British Rock Variety shows, The Old Grey Whistle Test!

Keep on Jammin’

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