Grievous Angels, Hugh's Room

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Sunday Kate and I drove to Toronto in the morning and were at the Grievous Angels concert in the afternoon at Hugh's Room on Broadview. We were home again that evening. A nice day for a tour of the 401 and a bit of music too. Were we "long ball hitters" we might have stayed to see Maggie's Wake who were showcasing their new album at the same venue that evening!

We last saw Charlie Angus and his band at the Horseshoe Tavern back in May of 2023 (see blog post). While there are several players who remain the line seems to have changed considerably. Nevertheless, it was a good show. Lots of tunes we recognize, many that brought me to tears. Charlie is a folk/punk singer/song writer, not a polished singer, but he does have a way with words and he does assemble a great supporting band. He "leans to the left" as do we. We are with him in so many ways.

On Charlie's "way with words".... These days he has stepped down from the House of Commons — he was a sitting member for the federal NDP for many years and even ran for head of the party. He's doing his best to save our democracy, our country, in this "time of monsters" (we mean you the Orange Felon) through his "Canada Meidas Network" on YouTube and his essays on "Charlie Angus/The Resistance" on Substack. We follow both as do many in attendance. But enough on that tangent. Music can be a good way to express your resistance to the current circus. Hence, this concert.

We've only been to Hugh's Room a few times over the years. My most solid memory is seeing Tom Russell many years ago the evening that Kate received the Queen's Jubilee medal (2002). That was quite a while ago — we were so much younger then, we're old than that now. We were more than a little tipsy then and Tom Russell took my camera away! We were interrupting his show.

Back then Hugh's Room was on the west side of downtown Toronto on Dundas near the Junction. At that time it was a restaurant, bar and live music show room. These days it's on Broadview on the east side of downtown just over the Don River. It's in a smallish converted church which might seat about 150 people; there is a balcony and main floor with good seating, good lights, good acoustics. It has a bar (no cash, only cards) but there is no restaurant. I understand there are plenty of eateries in this funky neighborhood.

We have been Grievous Angels fans for years and have collected as much as we can (we checked their "merch table" and we have all the CDs on offer (no I don't want an LP and Kate says we have enough T-shirts). Kate and I with our friend Sam rehearsed "Sarah Gordon" (1990) for the KBS Conference Banquet (2025) but didn't get to perform. Anyways, "One Job Town" (1990), where that song is found, was our introduction to the band and our desert island album for many years. "Toute la Gang" (1989) we had on a C90 (since ripped into iTunes but chase the link to Bandcamp — it's available even now!). We really enjoyed those early albums where Michelle Rumball's voice helped to shape the sound of the music. Charlie has always been the words but her voice was lovely. "Revolution" (2026) is the latest album and "In the Time of Monsters" is the single getting most play from it. But with 40 years under his belt Charlie has a pretty extensive catalogue to draw on and played tunes from all those releases (see set lists in the photo album).

Charlie had a lot of patter between tunes that helped to connect the music. For example, stories about living in "One Job Towns" and the parental sacrifice to do so and to get your kids out of there for an education and better jobs in the south. ... a dad telling his son to "remember these hands" and the hard work and sacrifice.

I was wearing my "punk shirt" which got some attention. We were chatted up by a fellow from the 1980's era who knew our friend What Wave Dave in London, ON ... he claimed to have smoked some dope with Johnny Rotten at the 100 Club in London, England back in the day. I couldn't top that story although I did get to shake hands today with Charlie Angus and some time ago I got to shake the hand that choked the chicken with Gary P. Nunn over the pisser at the Broken Spoke, Austin! We swapped cards and I invited him to check on some of our blog entries on bands and events from back then. 

If you don't already know about the Grievous Angels music take some time to explore the catalogue. If you like listening to live music Hugh's Room is a good place to support it. 

See also:

• Grievous Angels on YouTube
• Grievous Angels on Bandcamp

Ps. "Grievous Angel" (1974) was an album by Gram Parson that, in many ways, helped to popularize country music to my generation. The Eagles not withstanding.

Saguenay to Cornwall

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Saturday, September 26, Saguenay to Cornwall with a brief stop at Montmorency Falls.

The photo album starts with a couple of pictures of Lac St Jean taken from our room — sunset and a full moon that night.

We bid farewell to the Auberge des îles, Lac St Jean on Saturday morning and are headed home with an overnight stay in Cornwall. Our original plans were to meet up with some Austin friends in Quebec City, Mark & Charlsa were at the tail end of an Atlantic cruise, but Mark had a mishap on a hike and they have had to hot tail it home. So we're on our own with some flexiblity. We had talked about getting to Montreal and spending some time there. But we're more keen to get home than spend another night in some expensive hotel. We're trying to get home quickly.

There are some interesting routes one might take back. I had originally thought we'd head back to the north shore where we had arrived several days ago. But that would have been a dumb idea. There are a couple of more direct routes. The one would take us to Trois Riviere (between Quebec City and Montreal), the other is somewhat shorter and more direct to Quebec City.

This direct route on 169/175 turned out to be a very good route. While there some pretty good farmland around Lac St Jean most of the route is through the rocks and trees of the Laurentide Wildlife Reserve with very few sparse settlements along the way. There are a few pictures of some stops we made. The weather was lovely, clear and bright. The forests were changing colors and probably at their peak. The road was in very good condition (unlike our alternate route through NB) and fast with regular passing lanes.

One thing I learned on this trip is that cell coverage in the wilds of Quebec and NB is going to be spotty at best. I found that if I downloaded the route map ahead of time that Google maps worked pretty well.

Speaking of Google maps, as we approached Quebec City we made a decision that we should stop at Montmorency Falls. We had a bit of a view of the falls from the cruise we had taken on the St Lawrence when we were last in Quebec City. I had some vague understanding that it was nearby, it's actually very near by. Anyways, Kate found it on her phone and Google maps navigated us to "Haut Parc Montmorency Chute" which is at the Haut/top of the falls. This would have involved some walking around (some interesting walking around) but we weren't up for it so we turned around heading to "Bas Parc Montmorency Chute". We had expected a pull over by the side of the road. It's much more impressive than that. Kate and I did a bit of hiking together, she hung out at the gift shop and I walked to the base of the falls on the left in the picture above. We didn't ride the cable car back to the top or dine at the better restaurant up top. We really didn't do the park justice, but then we aren't as young as we once were. One should allocate a full day there to take it all in.

Onward to the south shore, past Montreal and on to Cornwall where we stayed at the Ramada Inn. It's part of the Wyndham Group like the Motel 8 where we stayed on the way out. We like it a little better, have stayed before, it's only a little more expensive, and we finally smartened up enough to pre-book a ground floor room. We had slugged luggage up stairs far too many times.

We had dinner at the Kelsey's Road House across the street. I had a steak .... when you live with a pescetarian you take your opportunities where you find them.

Sunday is another lovely day and we're home to St Marys by end of day where Chandel has been tending the home and the critters.

Riviere du Loup to Saguenay

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Sept 25. Riviere du Loup, ferry to St Simeon and on to Saguenay (Lac St Jean).

This is just a place holder, edits here and to the photo album to follow.

23

 

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Sept 23, Moncton to Riviere du Loup. This is a place holder, will fill in later.

21

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Sept 17-21. We're staying in Moncton, visiting with Paula, sometimes to Shediac and Camp Wintergreen.

This is only a place holder. More text and edits to follow.

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We're in Moncton NB for the Nashville Takeover (Friday Sept 18 thru Sunday Sept 20).

This blog entry is just a place holder. Text and album edits to follow.

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Monday Sept 14 through Wed Sept 16. First night Cornwall. Tuesday to QC, full day in QC before heading off to Moncton on Thursday

Place holder, edits of album and text to follow.