I've been chronicling my time in Toronto since I got here in 1990. And if you scroll down you can read all about the ups and downs of this old blues guy trying to break into the music scene in Toronto as well as videos and tour dates. Look me up on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, Soundcloud, Reverbnation, Itunes and NorthernBlues Music.
In addition to my guitar playing, I am also resident desktop publisher for the Blues Society, the Jazz Festival and the Musician's Union putting out newsletters and websites. Please note that any opinions or commentary here are strictly mine and do not represent any of these most esteemed organizations.
Monday, February 10, 2025
Thursday, January 30, 2025
Albert Lee in Toronto
Masterclass from Albert Lee, previously known as the Master of the Telecaster, now playing his signature Ernie Ball Music Man guitar through a couple of Toronto-made amps by Pete Medvic. At 81, he's playing with the same fire he had at 21. What a delight meeting Albert and his phenomenal keyboard player, J.T. Thomas (thanks for the comp, J.T.) I thought an $80 ticket was a bit much until I looked up Jack White at History next week and it was more like $500! Wish I'd known JT played in Captain Beefheart's band - I would have had a few questions about those days...
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Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diary
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Orange Devils at Monarchs Dec 2024
I love hearing a big band up close and personal. This time I was too "up close" with the iPhone and I was shooting one tyune with the light on but didn't realize. I think I annoyed some of the horn players in the front
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Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diary
Saturday, November 30, 2024
Jesse Greene is the 2024 recipients of the Amy Louis Grossman Music Scho...
Jesse Greene does a victory lap at Grossmans
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Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diary
Downchild at Grossmans November 2024
Just as the band wraps up it's 55th year, they came back to the club where they got their start, and where Dan Aykroyd heard them and was inspired to invent the Blues Brothers
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Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diary
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Blues for the Red Door Nov 2024
Jay Blues, Shakura S'Aida with Brooke Blackburn, Virgil Scott, Garnetta Cromwell, Cheryl Lescom, Chuck Jackson with Tyler Yarema, Roberta Hunt, piano, Russ Boswell bass, Michelle Josef, drums, Rebecca Henessey & James Stager, horns, Margaret Stowe, guitar & bandleader. Johnny Max, host. Great Evening and many $$$ raised for the worthy Red Door Shelter programmes.
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Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diary
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Sidemen & friends Hughs Room November 2024
The Sidemen were the "buzz band" on the blues scene when I arrived in Toronto in the early 90s. They were still youngsters and had built up a following and they had a home-made cassette that was selling like hotcakes. They had a reunion at Hugh's Room and invited some special guests, Selena Evangeline and Brtooke Blackburn. Jay Bleus trio opened the show
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Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diary
Johnny Burgin Toronto Nov 2024
I got called to play bass with Johnny Burgin and Sugar Brown a couple of years ago and have kept in touch with Johnny (then known as "Rockin Johnn y") and was happy to see him coming back our way for a gig a Grossman's. He's currently based in Memphis. This time Gary Kendall got the call to play bass, but Sugar Brown sat in for a couple of tunes and so did Bobby Chorney. Johnny's a master bluesician and a real road-warrior (you have to be these days if you want to be a touring blues musician). Johnny is all over the YouTube with instructional videos and more. Check him out.
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Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diary
Thursday, October 31, 2024
Monday, June 10, 2024
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Brandon Isaak at the 2024 Maple Blues Awards
Here's a tune that Brandon Isaak played at the Maple Blues Awards soiree. He was my "discovery" of the Summit, although I knew who he was and had watched him on YouTube but that guy knocked it out of the park with his showcase at the Blues Summit but when he hit the stage at the Awards show and announced that he was going to play "Reconsider Baby", one of the old nuggets that you've heard a million times, I went "Awwww..."
But from the first notes, it was like hearing that song for the first time. And his guitar tone was amazing. I ran into him at dinner the day before and asked what kind of pedal he used, he said no pedals, "but I've got a really good cord".
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Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diary
Monday, January 15, 2024
Garnetta Cromwell and Sandra Bouza at Hugh’s Room Blues Night
My first outing of the New Year was a blues night at Hugh's Room Live organized and hosted by Quisha Wint (who will be hosting the Maple Blues Awards) with guest vocalists Garnetta Cromwell and Sandra Bouza You hear just a bit of Quisha nailing ab Aretha classic then bandleader Michael Occhipinti and organist Joel Visentin het into “trading fours”. That night got lift-off a few times even though the rhythm section were all new to me. I told organist Visentin he bore an uncanny resemblance to the dearly departed Rod Phillips (who he had not heard of) …the look, the rig, the wild abandon in his playing… Take a look at this 1998 video of me with Rod Phillips (on piano - the organ couldn't fit into that tiny club in Barrie) and (mostly) jazz drummer Don Vickery. When I told Rod Don would be subbing in on that gig he was concerned that he was not a blues drummer. I said he's played with Jay McShann, Big Joe Williams and many other blues greats. Rod was still a little grumpy anout it because he already had somebody in mind for the gig but by the time we were halfway into the first tune I looked over and he had a big grin on his face.
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Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diary
Monday, January 1, 2024
The Last Blainletter
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Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diary