Big Highway at the Cheeky Monkey: Hip In Their Back Pockets Sarnia First Friday, December 7, 2021 by Brian Hay The first thing that was noticeable about the playing of Big Highway was the charge it contained. That was clear right from the opposite end of the store to the point where it jumped out at the listener. It was electrifying and invigorating, also a sign that it was going to be a good night. The second point was in how much they sounded like the Tragically Hip. What they were doing wasn’t an imitation — they were clearly their own band but the essence they channeled was, literally, pure Hip. It would almost have been eerie had the proceedings been somber but the band members were having too much fun for that to happen. The energy in their playing started in their basement. Or to put it another way, with their rhythm section. ...
MoreMany of you know who Donavan Woods is from his years growing up in Sarnia and that he has recorded several CD's over the years including the most recent called "Both Ways". What you may not know is how many other musicians have recorded his songs. Below is a list of what albums you can find songs by Donovan. We are sure, over the years, this list will continue to grow. Thanks to Doug Woods for the list. Donovan's CD's available at Cheeky Monkey. Catch Donovan live at the Imperial Theatre Saturday, March 2, 2019. CLICK HERE for info. Other info about Donovan... The song "Brand New Gun" was featured in the movie Numb starring Matthew Perry. His song "Wait and See" was featured on Degrassi: The Next Generation, and his song "My Cousin Has a Grey Cup Ring" was used in commercials for the Grey Cup. "Grey Cup Ring" was inspired by Woods' father, ...
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The Forest Pioneers Live at the Cheeky Monkey: Diamonds in the Rough Brighten a Slow First Friday by Brian Hay The first thing that hit the ear was the doubling from a pair of acoustic guitars. There was nothing lightweight — this stuff was being played with a chop. The next thing coming in was some crystal clear singing. Then a sweet bit of harmony vocals filled the air. Things might have been slow outside and the crowd in the store smaller than usual, but the music seemed like it was going to be fine. It was too. The guitars were played by Andy Genovy and Frank Kirkey with Kirkey delivering the lead vocal. The harmony work was done by the full group, which was rounded out by vocalist Shannon Kelly keyboard player Lauren Ihrig. Their timing was solid and the voices of both ladies were distinct enough to stand out individually. That ...
MoreWhat does BLACK FRIDAY mean at record stores like Cheeky Monkey? And what does it mean for our customers? Black Friday is traditionally the kick off of the gift giving season. Black Friday at record stores are the PERFECT place to find the PERFECT gift for everyone on your list - or for yourself. In honour of Black Friday, Record Store Day organizers have been working tirelessly with artists, labels, managers and distributors to create special releases to come out on November 23rd exclusively at independent record stores like Cheeky Monkey. As we do for Record Store Day, Roland orders virtually every one of the exclusive, but because they are limited editions, we do not know what we will have to sell until all the deliveries are in. We do not take orders in advance (that's not fair or allowed) but we will be sending out a SPECIAL EDITION email to all our ...
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Sarnia’s First Friday, October 2018: Missy Burgess, Dwayne Cloes and Wulf Von Waldow at the Cheeky Monkey by Brian Hay The great thing about live music is the opportunity for spontaneous combustion is always there. It's the ability to find concerts nearby and be enraptured by them. When it happens, it’s felt as much as heard and it produces a moment in time that can never be duplicated. It’s a one-time thing and it’s glorious. When Missy Burgess and Dwayne Cloes came together with Wulf Von Waldow there hadn’t been a lot of time for them to “prep” themselves. Missy and Dwayne had played together a few times but the rest fell to each being able to follow what they heard and invent things on the fly without drifting away from each other or the songs. It’s risky. Playing “wrong bits” or showboating creates a train wreck. Paying attention and supporting each other to ...
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AND THE WINNER IS... As reported on CBC Music... Jeremy Dutcher has won the 2018 Polaris Music Prize for his album Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa. On Monday night, a grand jury of 11 Polaris voters convened at the Carlu in Toronto, Ont. to decide the winner of this year's big award, which is handed out every year to the best Canadian album of the year. Dutcher, a Wolastoqiyik member of the Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick, beat out nine other albums for the $50,000 grand prize, including Daniel Caesar's Freudian, U.S. Girls' In a Poem Unlimited and Alvvays' Antisocialites. He is the first east coast act to win the award in its 12 year history. "This is the greatest moment of my life!" he exclaimed onstage as he accepted the award, which was presented to him by last year's winner, Lido Pimienta. Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa uses 100-year-old wax cylinder recordings of traditional Wolastoq songs, a language that is ...
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El Camino Rocks the Cheeky Monkey: Sarnia’s First Friday Celebration, September 2018 by Brian Hay The addition of bassist Glen Perry and keyboard player Lise Jordan changes the face of this band immensely. That Glen provides an excellent rhythm partner for drummer Steve Bird is a factor of huge importance. They listen to each other closely, slide lock-step into whatever the other does with (seemingly) no effort and it spins off to the rest of the band. Guitarist Marvin Eskritt slides in with lead or rhythm parts according to the needs of the songs. Lise Jordan reinforces Glen’s bass lines and injects ornamentation in the same manner while lead singer and guitarist Scott Whyte doubles rhythm lines or weaves with lead passages delivered by Eskritt. All of it is very tasteful. More on that later … The area that shows the most obvious difference stems from Lise and Glen both being solid vocalists. Having ...
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Introductory Watercolour Class Whether you would like to discover the art of watercolour painting or sharpen your skills, this 6 week course taught by Cathy Earle a professional artist and illustrator , will teach you everything you need to know. Space is limited and classes start Sunday September 16th, 1:30-3:30 at the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts. To register, please call Cathy at 519-331-6197 or email cearlecogeco.ca
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Eric Ethridge started to gain serious momentum in 2015 after the release of a series of orchestra country-pop covers, one of which garnered him a mention in Rolling Stone Magazine. Having built his brand on an electrifying stage presence and unique vocal ability, in early 2016 Eric was selected by a panel of 45 music industry professionals from across Canada to be one of the top 6 finalists for the CCMA Discovery Program. After a final showcase of the top 6 emerging artists, Eric then went on to win the 2016 CCMA Discovery Award and was deemed the top emerging country artist in 2016. He has since become a new addition to The Feldman Agency and Watchdog Management. In 2017, Eric teamed up with Juno award-winning producer/songwriter Brian Howes to produce his debut single, “Liquor’s Callin’ the Shots”, peaked at #30 on the Canadian Country Charts, a rare achievement for ...
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THE WHO formed in 1964. Their classic line-up consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century, selling over 100 million records worldwide and holding a reputation for their live shows and studio work. Selected CD's & videos now on the Cheeky Monkey 'Great Deals' wall starting at $4.87. Get them while supplies last. Who's Next is the fifth studio album by English rock band the Who. It developed from the aborted Lifehouse project, a multi-media rock opera written by the group's Pete Townshend as a follow-up to the band's 1969 album Tommy. The project was cancelled owing to its complexity and to conflicts with Kit Lambert, the band's manager, but Townshend was persuaded the group should record the songs as a straightforward studio album. Greatest Hits was released ...
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