Thursday, March 3, 2011

Lowest of the Low

Ya know, I've mentioned before that the Kingston music scene is actually pretty good, as most of the bands that travel between Toronto and Montreal/Ottawa inevitably make a stop up here in Kingston. But, I'm starting to think that it's really on par with Toronto's scene. Well, almost. My logic stems on the fact that yeah, you will see most of these bands, and the ones you do see play in tiny venues with no line-ups and very little hype surrounding the show. Like, this Friday Jenn Grant plays to 100 people at the Grad Club, where I have already seen Cuff the Duke and the Braids, and unfortunately missed Doiron and Bryson w the Weakerthans. Never mind shows at the Mansion (NCR, Sheezer) and the Sydenham Church (Plaskett). Now, to perhaps to build this Jan-Mar music extravaganza to a climax, Tori pointed out that Lowest of the Low are playing The Toucan at the end of the month.

The Toucan is incredible to see live shows.. insane.. it fits maybe 20 people. I remember seeing Thrush Hermit, the Flashing Lights, and the Inbreds there my first time around. Incredible venue in the way that it's not supposed to be a venue. I'm not kidding when I say the venue holds maybe 20 people around the stage. This is going to be a special night. Tickets? nah.. no tickets. First come first serve. Amazing. Basically eat dinner there by the stage tables and make a night of it.

Lowest of the Low, the return of one of The Toucan’s ULTIMATE FAV bands from the early 1990’
Shakespeare 20th Anniversary Show
Celebrating the 20th(!) anniversary of Shakespeare My Butt…,
the Lowest of the Low machine will once again crank up for a series of shows this spring.These shows will  be featuring Shakespeare in its entirety,  the rest of the LOTL catalog,  favourites from Ron and Stephen’s records… and more. On top of that, the great Mick Thomas will be opening many of these dates.

I frowned when I saw their Massey Hall show in early May, knowing I couldn't go, but now this is going to blow that Massey Hall show out of the water.



I want to take a streetcar downtown
Read Henry Miller and wander around
And drink some Guinness from a tin
'Cause my U.I. cheque has just come in
Ah, where you been, because

Everything is coming up rosy and grey
Ah, the wind is cold but the smell of snow warms me today
And your smile is fine and it's just like mine and it won't go away, 'cause
Everything is rosy and grey

You've been under my skin for more than eight years
It's been eight years of laughter and eight years of tears
And I don't know what the future can hold, or will do, for me and you
But I'm a much better man for having known you
Yeah, you know that's true, because

Well, I've been told that there's a sucker born every day
Well, I wonder who, yeah, I wonder who
Maybe the one who doesn't realize there's a thousand shades of grey
'Cause I know that's true, yes I do, I know that's true
How about you?

Well, they're picking up trash and they're putting down roads
And they're brokering stocks, the class-struggle explodes
And I'll play this guitar just the best that I can
Well, maybe I'm not and maybe I am
Who gives a damn?
Well, I've kissed you in France and I've kissed you in Spain
And I've kissed you in places I'd better not name
And I've seen the sun go down on Sacre Coeur
But I like it much better going down on you
Ah, you know that's true

--

If you can't catch them in Toronto, they are playing around the region over the next couple of months.