Jimmy George (band)
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Jimmy George is a Canadian folk rock band, who blended Celtic folk with rock influences in a manner similar to Spirit of the West and Great Big Sea.
Formed in Ottawa in 1991, the original lineup consisted of Michael Lawson electric guitar, Joel Carlson mandolin, Steve Barry (vocals), Duncan Gillis (acoustic guitar/penny whistle), Rob Porter (drums), Michael Eady (fiddle) and Colin Burns (bass). Various members came and left over the subsequent years. The band at the end of their 9-year run as house band at the Duke of Somerset pub consisted of vocalist and guitarist J. Todd, electric guitarist Steve Donnelly, bassist George Jennings, Joel Carlson on mandolin, Jeff Kerr on banjo, Mickey Vallee on accordion, and Tom Werbowetski on drums.
Other members at various times included Eric Altman (drums, played drums live and on all Jimmy George recordings), Christine Chesser (fiddle, vocals - Chickpea), and Vitas Paukstitis (bass).
In 1993, after establishing a reputation for a dynamic live show, the band was asked to open for Spirit of the West in Peterborough and Ottawa. At the Peterborough show, the band arrived and the sound man asked "which one of you is Jimmy?" The band was told they couldn't use any of Spirit of the West's equipment and that they would have to pare down the band for the show as there wasn't enough space, time or channels on the board for an 8-member band as the opener. The band was ready to leave when Spirit of the West singer John Mann intervened and said the band was welcome to use any of their equipment if it made things easier. The show went off without a hitch. The next night in Ottawa, the band again opened for SOTW in front of a capacity crowd at Carleton University's Porter Hall. At this show Bill Stunt, producer of CBC Radio's All In A Day program, was in the crowd and approached the band after the show. Stunt offered to record the band's material using funding from the CBC development budget. Over the next few months the songs were honed and recorded at Ottawa's Sound of One Hand studio, and A Month of Sundays was released on Montreal's (now-defunct) Cargo Records later that year with national distribution by MCA Records. Two years later the band released their follow-up record Hotel Motel, produced by Marty Jones and the band and also recorded at Sound of One Hand and Raven Street Studios. In 2001 on the occasion of another reunion show at Barrymore's Music Hall in Ottawa, the band released the CD "Same Sh!t Different Day", a collection of their favourite songs from their previous releases, plus a few songs recorded live including the previously unreleased song "Where You Bleed".
The band toured Canada from coast to coast twice and also played occasional shows in the US including Colgate University in Hamilton, NY and a private function in Detroit, MI. Most of the band also visited England and Ireland for a month, busking in the streets of London and Dublin and seeing the sights.
Venues of note include the Town Pump (Vancouver), Amigo's (Saskatoon), The Rivoli, Horseshoe, and Ultrasound (Toronto), Sidetrack Cafe (Edmonton), Town House (Sudbury), Barrymore's Music Hall and Zaphod Beeblebrox (Ottawa) and countless more.
The band played for many years as the house band at the basement Duke of Somerset pub (now closed) in downtown Ottawa every Sunday night and one weekend a month, regaling the crowd with their music and antics. The band played over 500 shows at the Duke of Somerset over a 9-year period including several St. Patrick's Days and New Year's Eves. Often touring bands would stop by "The Duke" to join the band for a few songs or borrow their instruments and play a few tunes and have a pint. Great Big Sea made several such appearances at the Duke on Sunday nights, as did some members of Leahy who also played The Duke on a regular basis.
The band have ceased recording and playing as a unit for the most part, playing a "final" show in 1997. They played regular "reunion" shows in Ottawa to celebrate St. Patrick's Day or over the Christmas holidays for several years. In April, 2002 the band headlined Ottawa's Tulip Festival Concert Series and played a headlining show at Ottawa's Barrymore's Music Hall, flying in accordion player Mickey Vallee for the occasion from his new home of Edmonton, Alberta.
October 7, 2007, the former owners and staff of the Duke of Somerset pub organized a reunion event at local pub The Heart and Crown. Jimmy George played two sets with the line-up of J (vocals/acoustic guitar), Jeff (banjo), Mike (electric guitar), Joel (mandolin/bass), Rob (drums), Steve (bass/mandolin/accordion) and guest appearances by Angela McFall (Fairytale of New York) and Madeleine Giguere (Rock and Roll Thing) on vocals and Colin Burns on bass for a few songs.
March 17, 2008, the band played a St. Patrick's Day show at Zaphod Beeblebrox in Ottawa. The lineup for this show consisted of J Todd (vocals, acoustic guitar), Joel Carlson (mandolin), Rob Porter (drums), Steve Donnelly (bass, electric guitar, accordion) and Colin Burns (bass on a few songs). This show was likely the smallest version of Jimmy George to ever perform live.
In December 2011 the band celebrated their 20th anniversary with 3 shows at Kaffe 1870 (Wakefield QC) and Elmdale House Tavern (Ottawa ON). Altman flew in from Japan for the occasion, and Vallee made the trek from western Canada. The band played to packed houses 3 nights in a row and the second night featured all three drummers from the band's history, Altman, founding member Rob Porter and Tom Werbowetski.
The members continue to perform in bands including: Bible All-Stars (Carlson); The Kingmakers, Ninety Pounds of Ugly (Donnelly); Mike McDonald Broadband (Vallee)
Several of the band's songs have been performed by other bands, most notably Breakfast With St. Swithin which appeared on Vancouver band The Town Pants' CD. Other bands have performed the band's Token Celtic Drinking Song despite the fact that the song has no official lyrics and many of the words are improvised and undiscernable even on the recorded version.
The band's songs have been featured in several television programs including Toddlers and Tiaras, and Southie Rules.
Though they usually played in Ottawa, on one memorable occasion, they played a bar in Toronto. Clearly unfamiliar with the demands of a Celtic rock band (that hated Celtic music) and its fans, the bar ran out of beer long before the band ran out of songs. Disgruntled fans made do with shots, mixed drinks, and sarcastic mutters. Later that evening, a second disaster nearly struck as Mickey, hands busy with an accordion solo, tried desperately to spit out a cigarette that had become dangerously stuck to his bottom lip. All was well, however, and shortly thereafter, the band played a cover of "Home for A Rest." The resultant dancing caused the floor to bounce, propelling even those who did not normally partake in rhythmic activities into lurching back and forth as the floor jigged and reeled. (Source: admittedly fuzzy memories of the evening.)
TV appearances
The Tom Green Show
Rita & Friends (CBC)
Lunch TV (CITY TV Toronto) The New Music (Muchmusic) Tiny Hearts Telethon for CHEO (CTV) Various other Telethons and interviews
Festivals
Northern Lights (Sudbury) Ottawa Folk Festival (Ottawa) Tulip Festival (Ottawa) Mariposa (Toronto) Music West (Vancouver) North By Northeast (NXNE) (Toronto) Canadian Music Week (Toronto) Riverfest (Deep River)
Videos
One Convention (1995) Four Feet From Shore (1993)
Discography
- A Month of Sundays (1993)
- Hotel Motel (1995)
- Same #$%! Different Day (2001)
External links
- Jimmy George info and music for sale at BandCamp.com
- Their "last concert"
