It will be a hot time on a cold night when The Sadies, with the Dan Romano Outfit, play the Biltmore
Theatre Thursday, February 9. The Sadies are Sean Dean on stand-up bass, Mike Belitsky on drums, and
singer/guitarist Travis Good. Dallas Good, who founded the band, passed away at 48 a
year ago on February 17. Dallas and Travis are sons of Margaret and Bruce Good of The Good Brothers.
The Sadies first formed in Toronto in 1994, and those who know the Sadies love the Sadies. It’s a
done deal. They are probably the band I have seen the most live, even during the pandemic when
they did a live stream from the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern. For those who don’t know these alt-country legends, the Sadies are the musician’s musicians. Along with over a dozen of their own
albums, the Sadies have played back-up both on tour and/or on a record with a long list of artists including
Buffy St Marie, Randy Bachman, Neil Young, Greg Keelor, Ron Sexsmith, Neko Case, and Gord
Downie.
The Sadies are touring the album, ‘Colder Streams’ of which they recently received a 2023 Juno nomination for Adult Alternative Album of the Year. Opening for The Sadies will be the Dan Romano Outfit. Romano was in the band Attack In Black, who played The Dungeon and the Groove Lounge back in them days, but since AIB broke up, he has created a deep catalogue of roots records ranging from cosmic country to the finest of folk. I saw Romano with the Sadies at Lee’s Palace one time and Romano’s Outfit again
at the Great Hall where, a few nodding heads to the left of me, was the aforementioned Gord Downie.
Fab stuff.
Fans of the Downie & Co. looking for a place to happen on Saturday would do well to check out the
Tragically Hip tribute band, The Hip Experience, also at the Biltmore Theatre, along with Pearl
Jamming, a Pearl Jam tribute act.
Jersey Nights, billed as a Valentine’s Day tribute to Frankie Valli, is on at the Regent Theatre Sunday,
February 12. It’s a matinee, so not exactly a date night, but you know what they say, early to bed. . .
The Atria has Heavy Head, Chris Caduret, and Jake Feeny this Saturday, but not all live music happens in the downtown core. Simcoe Blues and Jazz on Simcoe North is a gathering place for one-time
professional musicians who still like to hang out and jam out with each other.
There are open jams every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Simcoe B&J and matinees with
Kevin and Sue on Fridays and again on Saturdays with the Frank Z Band. Keyboardist Terry Blankley
has been on stages worldwide, but the Oshawa resident will be closer to home when he graces
the stage at Simcoe Blues and Jazz Friday, February 10.
And if that ain’t enough for you, there are so many pubs and roadhouses, like the Wee Pub on Wilson Road South, which has solo or duo acts gigging out on the weekends.
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