Veritable Infusion

2018.3.30 Robbie Rox Friday 3.30.2018 Local singer and band leader Robbie Rox played a rare show Friday Night at the Linsmore Tavern on Danforth Avenue. Rox was accompanied by The Power Quintet, one of several local backing bands he uses for his sporadic appearances. The local performer has toured extensively, playing Quebec mining towns in the early 1970s and later touring. His first record, “Construction Site,” was released in 1976. Here in Toronto, he has played just about everywhere from the legendary club The Edge to more recently functioning venues like the El Mocambo and Alberts’ Hall. Robbie Rox’ Danforth digs in more recent years include Dora Keogh, the Black Swan and the Linsmore Tavern. His music has been described as Zappa-like, insofar as Rox retains tight backing bands whom he directs on stage while they play his unusual mix of rude lyrics and complicated music. Rox led The Power Quintet (he is the fifth member) through two sets for the pac...

2019.11.13 Ruby Waters Wednesday November 13, 2019 at The Horseshoe Tavern. Ruby Waters career is taking off. She toured with Classified and appears on his song “10 Years,” which they performed together at the 2019 East Coast Music Awards in Charlottetown. Recently she released an e.p. called “Almost Naked.” She had the idea and title on her mind for years but decided to wait until now to put an album out. Waters brought her 1-man back-up band to the Horseshoe for the first of two nights in her home town. The keyboard player riffed on some soulful slivers between songs, which varied stylistically once they got going. Some of Waters’ material is classic singer-songwriter rustic sounding, while other songs are decidedly poppier. The drum sounds emanating from the keyboard player for some tracks seemed incongruent with Waters’ natural vibe and singing approach. A good live drummer would have pushed the music harder on stage. The keyboardist meandered into th...

2019.10.17 Lil Andy 10.17.19 opening for The Larite Boys at The Burdock. Ottawa Valley born, Montreal based Li’l Andy made a rare local appearance on a cold fall evening. The country singer’s earthy style has a taste of polish on his latest album, “All the Love Songs Lied to Us.” The title, Andy explained, came suddenly, while eating chips one day; he knew a compelling phrase when one came to him, and Li’l Andy wondered who had used this phrase in a song before? As many roads lead to Cohen in Andy’s world, he checked to make sure the phrase was available. He told a story about seeing Cohen in his neighbourhood, but naturally feeling daunted by the the idea of striking up a conversation with the man. The influence of Leonard Cohen is apparent and expected for a guy who’s performed a bunch of the late song master’s entire albums live, leading a rotating cast of co-interpreters. One of his new songs, “The Lives of Others,” has a lighthearted sound- compl...