The Wednesday night acoustic jam has resumed at the Rooftop Pub.
And your host is local singer/strummer L’il Steve Piette, fast becoming an expert in this capacity.
In this very open jam, you have guys playing along on guitar off stage, his sidekick, Amanda Rose (keyboards, flute), stepping up front to do justice to Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams, and jammers such as keyboardist Brian and his mate faithfully reviving forgotten oldie Easy To Be Hard, by Three Dog Night.
“That’s what I like about (this gig),” Piette says. “You hear songs you don’t hear anymore.”
While Piette has put together a first-class rock band to play the west-end circuit, in this sitdown acoustic show he very pleasingly covers folky icons such as John Prine, Bob Dylan and Jimmy Buffet, plus some Todd Rundgren, David Bowie and Beatles.
“You sort of get stuck in the mix with a band," he says. “Sitting is nice. Stuff like James Taylor’s Sweet Baby James is perfect in this setting.”
Ballads are clearly his forte.
And over the years, Piette has “taken some ridicule” for this from your rock ‘n' blues types.
But he has improved his rhythm guitar playing, and begun landing prime west-end gigs, regardless, including a featured guest spot this Sunday with Robbie Lane & The Disciples, at Hollywood On The Queensway.
At this point, one wonders when he’s going to push past the Brown’s Line border and brave the downtown circuit.
“That’s my next venture,” Piette says. “My promo kit will be ready this week, then we can start nosing around the clubs.”
It's an 8 p.m. start tonight at Rooftop Pub (714 Lakeshore Rd. E.).
On the town tonight: David Cavan Fraser solos at Fox & Fiddle, 285 Enfield Place.
Thursday: It’s the Jack B. Nimble jam at Abbey Road; Kim Wetmore Band jams at It’s Web’s; Chris Partland appears at Cuchulainn’s; Pat Hewitt does his weekly show at Lionheart British Pub; Chuck Jackson & Michael Fonfara play blues, jazz, etc. at Ridgetown Pub.
Thursday through Saturday, it’s Groove Station at Failte.
Friday: Christian Kennerney returns to the Cock and Pheasant; Strange Days pays tribute to The Doors at P.K. Creek; Virgil Scott checks into Lake Affect; Dan Walek solos at Manchester Arms; Class Act is at Butt Rhettler’s.
Friday and Saturday, it’s Souled Out at Lucy’s, Jay Douglas at Snug Harbour, Running Red Lights at West 50, Detour at On The Curve, David Rotundo doing a fundraiser for needy families at Roc ‘N Doc’s, and Celtic rockers Fiddlestix doing the same at The Brogue Inn.
Sunday: Kevin Phillips hosts his weekly matinee at Mulligan’s.
Monday: Tom Barlow & John Bride jam at The Harp.
Tuesday: Chris Smith continues his residency at Ten.
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