Toronto-Based MAPLE BLUES BAND Capture A Jazzy, Sultry, Strutting Confidence with Aptly Named “Mating Cry”

  

“Mating Cry,” the new single from Toronto-based Maple Blues Band goes into the jazz world for this, and is exactly what its name suggests – a sexily strutting tune that announces its grand entrance with bright horns and a fun, cocky confidence. And its tenor sax solo by Alison Young adds just the right amount of sultriness to seal the whole deal.
 
With crossover appeal in both jazz and blues, Maple Blues Band reached No. 1 on the Roots Music Report’s Canadian Album Chart for a fifth week total for their album Let’s Go, consisting of 12 of the instrumental compositions the band compiled during their association with The Maple Blues Awards. Their release of a full-length album of instrumental music is part of a master plan to launch the group into the performance market of festivals and concerts.
 
“Mating Cry” was composed by the late piano/organ genius Michael Fonfara. A founding member of The Maple Blues Band, Fonfara was with the band for 16 years.  
 
“We added ‘Mating Cry’ to a show we did at the Calgary Blues Festival in August 2021 to make sure we wouldn’t run out of material,” recalls band leader Gary Kendall. “When I was editing a performance video of that show I realized that our version of that song was strong and should be added to the recording plans. And especially because it’s a fitting tribute to Fonf, who passed away in January, 2021.”
 
A highlight of the recording is Young’s aforementioned sax solo. “Alison is normally on baritone saxophone in our horn section, but I asked her to switch to tenor for the solo at our sessions,” Kendall recounts. “It was a good call for sure!”
 
The Maple Blues Band consists of Gary Kendall, bass/band leader; Pat Carey, tenor/saxophone/horn arrangements; Teddy Leonard, guitar; Al Lerman, harmonica; Jim Casson, drums; Lance Anderson, piano/Hammond B3 and accordionist; Howard Moore, trumpet; Meirion Kelly, trombone; Alison Young, baritone saxophone; and Roshane Wright, percussion.
 
The 12 tracks on Maple Blues Band’s Cordova Bay Records release Let’s Go are a group effort, as the songwriting credits are spread over 24 years, including past and present band members. 

Seasoned Canadian Bluesman David Deacon Decries Our Endless Summer of Superficiality with "California Has No Winter"

We live in a world that increasingly celebrates youth and beauty in snapshots and doctors’ reality to taste, all while ignoring the value to be found in people and things with age, history and experience. Accomplished Guelph, ON-based blues/roots singer-songwriter David Deacon is eschewing instant aesthetics with his provocative new single “California Has No Winter”, released in tandem with his new album “Four” - both available now.
 
Soaking in the sunshiny tropes of the Golden State and delivering knowingly dark, spoken verses å la Leonard Cohen, Deacon points a poetic finger at the see through superficiality of today’s youth culture in his new release - and he certainly can. After five decades of creating poetry, music and visual art, careers as a race car driver, an advertising executive and a businessman and almost losing his life in a terrible motorcycle accident, turning a critical, musical eye on our modern societal state of affairs is Deacon’s hard won right.
 
“‘California Has No Winter’ is an observation about the thinness of the veneer of American youth culture, which stresses the beauty of the moment and has so little charity for the long term, the historic, the aging, the difficult,” explains Deacon. “It is my soft, non-belligerent, and very short version of Ginsberg’s ‘Howl’.”
 
While Allen Ginsberg’s 3-part opus is a voluminous hallmark of beat poetry, Deacon’s artistic observations are delivered in a tidier, four-and-a-half-minute song that packs its own, slow burn punch. Deacon’s softly commanding, world-weary baritone juxtaposed with an octave-higher female vocal rises into a crescendo in the outro, insistently asking “without seasons, without signs, how do we know when it’s over?” A very good question we should all ask ourselves from time to time.
 
You won’t see the leaves fall, there’s no snow at all
Time is only a clock, no need to take stock
You’re in the summer of life, you’ve got a California wife
California has no winter
 
While it certainly looks perfect on the surface, there’s a dark side to that shiny California coin. “It seemed to me that images of nature are perhaps the best possible way to contrast the idea of an eternal summer of life and the consequences of actually living that way both culturally and politically,” notes Deacon.
 
The third single from Deacon’s just released album “Four”, “California Has No Winter” is the album’s smoothly cynical cornerstone. As with all ten tracks on the new album, it was co-written by Deacon and his guitarist Andy Ryan. Deacon and Ryan also co-produced the new album, which was recorded by Grammy nominated and Juno winning producer Eddie Bullen and mastered by Lacquer Channel’s Noah Mintz. Rounding out Deacon’s musical quartet are Etric Lyons on bass guitar and Aaron Spinks on drums.
 
An album that marks a re-invigorated return to music making after a long hiatus, Deacon describes “Four” as ‘a ride that starts out on a freeway, takes a long stretch down a winding road, makes a few off-road excursions, and ultimately has faith that just keeping on will get you somewhere interesting.’ After years of writing, recording, and performing in decades past and detours into periods without music over the years, it’s the creative road ahead that excites Deacon now.
 
A chronicle of thoughtful and soulful reflections on life paths, relationships, and the state of the world around us, “Four” is a comprehensive example of Deacon’s approach to songwriting, which is two-pronged.
 
“I think the main starting point about writing songs for me is sorting out whether in my mind the song is a story or whether it’s a poem,” notes Deacon. “For example, the song ‘Poetry’ is a poem. That probably didn’t surprise you, did it? The song ‘Hard Time’ is the story that happened after the poem. They are both about the same woman, the same relationship but they were from different times and different points of view.”
 
It’s those different points of view about personal events and world perspectives that only an artist with David Deacon’s history and experience could possibly gather and turn into the poetry of his fourth album. With renewed vigor and creative spirit, the fourth time is the charm for this blues and roots journeyman.

Conquering Rockabilly, Toronto’s Miss Tammy Darling Makes Sparks Fly in RnB/Soul Single "Electric Love"

When you start getting romantic feelings for someone, you might feel a surge of passion that comes from feeling a strong connection with them. Miss Tammy Darling can distinctively be found in the rockabilly world, but for “Electric Love,” she’s expressing these buzzy feelings of romance in authentically sliding into the RnB and Soul genres.
 
At the start of the song, smooth horns, and Darling's passionate vocals slither into the listener's ears. Once the first verse kicks in, so does the guitar. When combined with Darling's vocals and the horns, the guitar's casual strums seem to gently dance along. This enhances the song's feel-good romance mood.
 
"There’s a strong pull in your direction,
Never felt this kinda connection.
Sparks start flying when you’re around.
I’m soaring way off the ground.
Surge of passion through every cell,
Open the windows, it’s hot as hell
Fireworks ignite right through my veins,
Lock me up, I’ll be your ball and chain."
 
Of the song's inspiration, Darling states, "With a love of old Hollywood and a fascination with the past, my original music is influenced by the iconic sounds of the 1950’s and 1960’s. I hope to revitalize these retro sounds, keeping them alive for future generations to enjoy. "
 
In fact, Darling's song is almost like a modern version of Wanda Jackson's "Cool Love." While Jackson's track displays the blues and country roots of rockabilly, Darling's track uses jazz and country. A commonality that they both share is that they both unabashedly state their desires for an exciting and sensual romance.
 
Darling asserts this when she states, "I enjoy writing tunes that appeal to a multigenerational audience and encourage listeners to take a step back in time. Occasionally midcentury music presents outdated values. In sticking to the contemporary vintage community’s mantra, “vintage style, not vintage values,” I infuse these old styles with modern values and a fresh female perspective.
 
Miss Tammy Darling combines her love of vintage Hollywood movies and a retro 50's and 60's sound with modern sensibilities to introduce rockabilly to a new generation. She began performing covers of iconic artists such as Brenda Lee and Doris Day, most notably covering Gayla Peevy's "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" in 2019.
 
Two years later, Darling took inspiration from being a cocktail enthusiast and released her first original song, "Mr. Bartender", which resulted in Darryl Sterdan of Tinnitist to name her “Toronto’s Queen of Rockabilly”. In March 2023, Darling released her debut EP "Electric Love".

Mel Garsek

Mel, born and raised in Fort Worth, is a fifth generation Texan. From a young age, Mel showed a great interest in music, banging away on his toy piano and pretty much anything else he could use to make noise. 

When COVID hit, he had a simple request, he wanted a gaming system. Instead, his folks bought him a guitar. It was from there, with many hours on YouTube videos, he really dove into honing his craft. Self-taught, he spent countless hours practicing, singing, and learning the finer nuances of his favorite pastime. Focusing primarily on Country and Singer/Songwriter genres. At the age of twelve, Mel began playing gigs around town, growing to playing more than 150 gigs around Texas and Nashville during the calendar year 2023. Today, you can catch him playing gigs around Texas, from local bars and honky tonks to festivals and farmers markets.

www.melgarsek.com

Country Blues Rockers The Prairie Dogz Can “Almost See The Sun” In New Single

Okotoks, Alberta-based country-rock and blues band The Prairie Dogz announce the release of their new single, “Almost See the Sun,” this month. The song is a hard-driving, heartfelt exploration of how to cope with the feelings of isolation and lack of connection that have no-doubt plagued many over the past few years. 

 
The song’s narrator “finds himself in a dystopian world, in a society suffering from years of oppression,” vocalist and co-writer Keith Hambrook says. “He sees the loss of hope on peoples’ faces but finds solace and peace by seeing the woman he loves. He gains a brighter perspective because of his connection with her.” It’s that holding out for hope of a happier future that keeps him going in bleak times, with the hard-rock riffs and rhythms bolstering the emotional lyrics. 
 
“Break down these walls that kept us alone/ Through the grace of God, I’m coming home,” Kohen sings.
 
The track was produced in collaboration with Calgary’s Jeff Muller and the Oregon-based Ron Nevison (Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, Heart). It was Nevison’s idea to recruit the participation of renowned drummer Denny Fongheiser (Heart, Tracy Chapman, Counting Crows, Theme song from “Friends,” “Hakuna Matata”). 
 
“It was humbling to work with people responsible for so much iconic music,” Hambrook says. 
 
The current five-piece lineup of The Prairie Dogz includes Kohen on lead vocals, Hambrook on guitar, vocals and keyboard;; Terry Studd on guitar and vocals; Dave Fast on bass; and Martin Wright on drums. 
 
Hambrook, Kohen and Studd first met as members of a successful classic-rock cover band and decided after years of touring together that it was time to strike out on their own. They owe their sound in part to the blend of Kohen’s blues-influenced vocals and Hambrook’s rock guitar stylings, while their country credibility comes straight from lives spent on those wild Alberta prairies. 
 
From party anthems to moving ballads, The Prairie Dogz aim to not only entertain but also challenge themselves – and each other – to express themselves the best they can.
“We are constantly pushing each other to share our deepest thoughts, fears, joys and sorrows in our lyrics,” according to the band. “We talk about it all the time and dare each other to take more risks.”
 
With “Almost See the Sun,” they invite listeners to stand with them as they battle the darkness and look toward the light.

25,000 Streams In A Week – Toronto Rocker Emily Mac Raises The Stakes With “Kills Me To Love You”

Relationships are supposed to be a two-way street and when you feel like you are drowning in that partnership, then it’s time to get out and move on. Female classic rock sensation Emily Mac exposes those truths on her newly released single, “Kills Me To Love You.”
 
"Kills Me To Love You" begins with a thunderous blast of drums bringing electric shock through the listener's ears, combining Emily’s powerful, yet husky vocal prowess and rebellious energy. You can hear the conviction of sheer vulnerability in her vocals when the song opens as she shouts, “F--K your games. All I do is lose. Your love is fake. And your lips are loose. All you do is take. I gave it all to you. Now I’m done playing. The Devils muse.” 
 
“Kills Me To Love You was written in the studio with my producer Dajaun Martineau. We were throwing ideas around and nothing was sticking,” Mac says. “Then the line ‘Kills Me To Love You’ popped out of my mouth and we were both like - Ooo yah! There’s something there!”
 
The gritty and fierce rock star from Toronto, Ontario conveys the pain and struggle of being in love with someone who is no good for her, as she expresses this message in the chorus:
 
“Your blood runs black.
You can take all your darkness back.
It kills me to love you.
It kills me to love you.”
 
“The lyrics are honest and raw and points out the conflicting emotions that come with trying to let go of someone you know you shouldn't be with,” Mac explains. “I wasn’t just thinking about romantic relationships gone wrong. I’ve had those in my life, but I’ve also had friendships that were toxic where I had to break up a friendship which can sometimes be harder than ending a romantic relationship.”
 
Co-written and produced by gold certified producer Dajaun Martineau, Emily had a solid supporting cast in the production for her new hit single which is evident when the song erupts into a climatic electric guitar solo from Ben Healey, bringing the listener back to the glory days of ‘80s hard rock; that compliments her empowering delivery and allows for the vocals to shine and take centre stage.
 
“I love classic rock and wanted to have an epic guitar solo in this song like they used to back in the old days,” Mac says. “My guitarist Ben Healey channeled all of his emotions and frustrations into his guitar playing, giving a performance full of angst and fire which fit in perfectly with the edgy mood of “Kills Me To Love You.”
 
This marks Emily’s first release since her debut single, “Whiskey Like Me”, that has amassed over 27,000 streams from listeners throughout 94 countries. Over the course of her career, she has performed at numerous festivals, such as: Canadian Music Week, Indie Week, TD Toronto Jazz Festival, Beaches International Jazz Festival and internationally with performances at New York City’s The Bitter End and The Rockwood Music Hall.

The Maple Blues Band Releases “Savona Shuffle” Single And Video From Their Let’s Go Album

It can be very difficult to live life on life’s terms, and so Guelph, ON-based blues artist David Deacon gives us a dose of gentle reality on his humbly philosophical song “Arc of Life” – available now.
 
An introspective, wailing guitar ballad sung in Deacon’s signature gravely tone, “Arc of Life” encourages the listener to examine the life they’ve lived without vanity, without artifice, and with a mature, and ultimately peaceful, acceptance.
 
It’s the arc of life
A bright or darkened star
It’s our mark on life
What’s done is what we are
What’s done is what we are

“I wrote ‘Arc of Life’ because I always wanted to have a non-secular song that spoke to a life in a larger sense,” Deacon explains. “I wanted something that spoke about individuals and not to some mystic abstract. As well I wanted to make clear my view that I believe that what we do is what we are – not what we hoped or believed or just talked about.”
“Arc of Life” is Deacon’s first single from his forthcoming album Four, out this May, which is like a ride that starts out on a freeway, takes a long stretch down a winding road, makes a few off-road excursions, and ultimately has faith that just keeping on will get you somewhere interesting. It was written upon Deacon’s return to the music scene after a long hiatus. After a decade of hard work in this intense industry, Deacon chose to leave music. Now, returning to the scene, he’s excited to play and create with the new technology that redefines what it means to be a musician, and share his work with the world.

David Deacon can be described as Blues and Roots music attached to a 6’5 rangy-and-rugged guy. He has a voice that sounds like it could have an atomic decay number attached to it (and that’s a damn good thing). His bluesy, old-school rock/ballad storytelling spends time digging into the psyche of someone who has travelled many roads, and the people he’s met along the way. If you like Dire Straits or Tom Waits, maybe Leonard Cohen (if he rode motorcycles), Dylan for sure, perhaps Van Morrison, you will definitely love David Deacon.

The Maple Blues Band Releases “Savona Shuffle” Single And Video From Their Let’s Go Album

The Maple Blues Band is back, and groovier than ever as they get set to drop another bluesy classic with their newest single, “Savona Shuffle” with the music video produced directed by 30-year Canadian Blues legend and recent Maple Blues Drummer of the Year winner, Jim Casson featuring all band members making cameo appearances. 
 
Led by musical director and bassist, Gary Kendall, and joined by an all-star cast of proud Canadian musicians – Savona Shuffle is featured on their newly released debut album, “Let’s Go,” a 10-track instrumental record that will be sure to get listeners tapping their feet and nodding their heads throughout the album’s playlist.
 
Kendall describes the band’s celebration of their newly released record by saying: “The 10 tracks on our Cordova Bay Records release, Let’s Go are a group effort.  The song writing credits are spread over 24 years and include past and present band members.” He then pays homage to his nine other band members who helped create the album. “The men and women I chose to surround myself within The Maple Blues Band are part of the enormous southern Ontario pool of Blues talent.  Each one of them is a star and when I’m in their presence they take me to a very comfortable and extremely high level of musicianship.”
 
Savona Shuffle is a lively instrumental piece that embodies the musical core of The Maple Blues Band. The track begins with a driving drumbeat by 30-year Canadian Blues legend and recent Maple Blues winner, Jim Casson, and a funky bass line that immediately sets a groovy tone for the rest of the song. You can then hear lead guitarist and Maple Blues Guitarist of The Year Award winner Teddy Leonard, deliver a catchy riff to the upbeat tone of the piece. 
 
Each instrument takes a turn to shine throughout the track, with the tenor sax, harmonica, trombone and organ, combining lively solos that add a unique creative element to the song.
 
The 8-time Maple Blues Award winner for Bassist of the Year and band leader, Gary Kendall, dives further into the journey of making Savona Shuffle and how it took on a new life after going back to the project years later. “Al Lerman and former band member Chris Whiteley became my co-writers for the song.  At the time Al lived on Savona Ave. in the Etobicoke neighbourhood of Toronto. We pulled Savona Shuffle together there and named it after the street that house was on and it debuted at the 2007 Maple Blues Awards.” 
 
At that time and in Kendall’s own words, he said that the song never caught fire and it fell into the back shelf of their music library and was only used again on just one occasion.
 
Kendall concludes with the origins of the re-birth of Savona Shuffle by saying: “In 2021 while preparing our set of instrumentals for The Calgary Blues Festival, I went back to it and realized that with a new arrangement, it could be a better song. I took my idea to Pat Carey, our tenor saxophonist and horn section arranger, gave him my thoughts for a rework and that was all it took.”

Montreal Blues Rockers Midnight Miles Release “Coming On” Single

You can feel it coming alright! You can literally feel that heavy drumbeat taking you on a journey, just before the electric sounds of the guitar relinquishes that angst in Midnight Miles’ newest single, “Coming On” – available now.
 
The 5-piece vintage rock band from Montréal, Quebec lets it all out as they get set to introduce their Steal Away debut EP, dropping this Spring.
 
“Coming On” is a rhythmic anthem that punctuates a combination of bright blues and rock vocals with elements of jazz. This track takes you on an exploration of the human condition and the need for change. The lyrics describe a night out that lasts too long and leaves the central character feeling disoriented and disconnected from reality. The chorus urges the listener to "feel it coming on" and to be ready for change. This is evident when lead vocalist and song-writer – Ryan Setton is heard saying:
 
“Can you feel it coming on, Got a little bit of time to spare.
Can you feel it coming on, Everybody wanna’ get their share.
Can you feel it coming on, Just let the melody flow.
Can you feel it coming on, Baby let’s go.”
 
“In writing ‘Coming On,’ we wanted to express something that would encapsulate the angst that many of us felt throughout the pandemic. That yearning to break free, try new things and feel unburdened,” says Setton. He continues, “Like a shot of riff-driven rock 'n' roll adrenaline, ‘Coming On’ is about all the infinite possibilities awaiting us just around the corner, so close you can almost taste it.”
 
The Steal Away EP is filled with classic rock sounds including other bangers such as, “Don’t Worry (‘bout a thing)” and is a perfect backdrop for going on long countryside road trips or riding through the city, as the fluidity of their music makes your mind and spirit roam free.
 
Setton describes the influence and creative process behind the making of Midnight Miles’ debut album by explaining: “The name of the EP Steal Away is taken from the first line of one of our songs ‘Last Time’ and literally means to escape or sneak off, which conveys the general feeling and mindset of the record.”
 
The authentic rock ‘n’ roll band consisting of Ryan Setton, Justin Wiley (drums), Shaun Ryan (bass), Paul Lucyk (guitar & backing vocals) and Peter Grant (guitar & backing vocals) have gained a reputation for their electrifying and liberating live performances and have often been compared to The Black Keys and The Black Crowes, thanks to their dynamic and exciting rock sounds.

The Maple Blues Band Ends Era As Host Band For Maple Blues Awards

The Maple Blues Band announces that after 24 years they will not be returning to their position as host band for the 2024 Maple Blues Awards.
 
Notice was given to the MBA planning committee at the awards recap meeting on Feb.16^th.  This departure marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for the big band that was formed two decades ago to provide the musical landscape for the popular national awards program. 
 
Their new release, Let’s Go on Cordova Bay Records will need full commitment towards increasing their performance schedule with festival shows and theatre concerts.   It’s been a great run that has provided band leader/musical director, Gary Kendall with the valuable opportunity of forming a large group with a platform for creating original pieces of instrumental music.  Those compositions have become the basis for the band’s live show and an exciting vision for the future.
 
Special thanks go out to The Toronto Blues Society and President Derek Andrews for guiding The Maple Blues Band through the last two decades and to Jocelyn Greenwood, President of Cordova Bay Records for opening the door to the band’s future.
 
The Maple Blues Awards made it possible for The Maple Blues Band to accompany and perform with hundreds of Canadian blues musicians, some of the best in the country and the world.  That privilege will be expanded upon in their next chapter. 

 

Blue Moon Marquee

British Columbia-based Blue Moon Marquee rocked the Maple Blues Awards in a stunning four-award sweep, winning the coveted categories of Entertainer of the Year, Acoustic Act of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, and Record/Producer of the Year for their fifth album, Scream, Holler & Howl.
 
It’s the first time in the 26-year history of the awards that one artist has swept in these specific categories. A.W. Cardinal, one half of the duo, is also the first Indigenous artist to win the big four categories.
 
Blue Moon Marquee have worked diligently over the past decade, touring throughout North America and Europe. They have put out a total of five albums, as well as band member A.W. Cardinal’s second solo project Stainless Steel Heart (2012).
 
"The best part of these awards is that they came from the people. All those long years on the road crisscrossing the country, sleeping in alleys with our instruments and performing anywhere we could,” Blue Moon Marquee said. “It was predominantly fan voting, and that feels special. It is spark and spur for inspiration and encouragement to keep going."
 
“A deep thank you and bow of gratitude to everyone who took the time to vote for us, come out to a show, buy a record and support us along the way,” the band said, adding that they will soon announce plenty of new tour dates, including for their very first tour of Australia.
 
Blue Moon Marquee writes and performs original compositions influenced by anything that swings, jumps or grooves.  A.W. Cardinal (vocals/guitar) and Jasmine Colette a.k.a. Badlands Jass (vocals/bass/drums) have played for a vast gamut of crowds at jazz clubs, Lindy Hop dance halls, folk venues, blues haunts, hospitals, prisons, markets, motorcycle joints, dive bars and prestigious festival stages. 
 
Colette not only commands the upright bass but also brings the rhythm with her feet on a custom foot drum kit, all while singing in her signature honey-dipped tone. Cardinal’s distinctive and soulful vocals barrel out like a raging bull while his guitar crackles with the swinging energy of jazz-tinged blues.
 
With their highly anticipated fifth album Scream, Holler & Howl, Blue Moon Marquee have captured their most sophisticated collection of songs yet. Co-produced by Duke Robillard (Fabulous Thunderbirds, Roomful of Blues) and Erik Nielsen (City & Colour) and recorded live to tape, SHH blazes forward with a full band featuring some of Canada’s finest veteran players. While they have primarily performed as a duo since 2013, over the last couple of years Blue Moon Marquee have been performing often as a trio or quartet featuring Darcy Phillips (Jann Arden) on piano and Jerry Cook (Colin James) on tenor and baritone saxophone.  
 
In addition to sweeping the Maple Blues Awards, the album was also honoured this year with the Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Award nomination for Emerging Artist of the Year. The album has topped the charts in the United States and Canada, achieving No. 1 on the !Earshot National Folk/Roots/Blues chart and No. 3 on their National Top 10 Chart for all genres, No. 1 on Canada’s Top 50 Chart by Roots Music Report, No. 6 on the International NACC Radio Chart and No. 8 on the coveted Living Blues Radio Chart. In a rare feat, it also reached No. 9 on the !Earshot National Jazz Chart.