On The Run Comedy Tour to stop in Newmarket

Recently the promo and entertainment providing team TPE hooked Stellar Hall & Event Centre up with, that being 90 Nickel Entertainment and Arthur Jr Music, held their latest installment in an array of entertainment they've been bringing to town, featuring a night of live Hip-hop performers.

On The Run Comedy Tour - Stellar Hall - Sat July 12 2014

The event which was originally supposed to also feature headliner hip-hop artist FREEWAY, one of Jay Z's original crew, was a success despite a less than the usual stellar attendance - mostly because main man FREEWAY couldn't make it due to a murder in the family. Go figure. Regardless, the performers on the night put on a great show with rappers, free-stylers and hip hoppers coming from as far as Scarberia to get in on the deal and an opportunity to bring it to Newmarket. And bring it they did yo.


I once asked a hip-hop artist what the difference was between a hip-hopper and a rapper and he said that hip hop was an attitude. I think I get that now after a night of watching the performers and how they encouraged each other to support the other artists etc. It reminded me of a community support team...a culture even...and maybe that is what he meant by it being an attitude. Cool. Or Dope rather.

To my liking, the back up semi headliner of the evening, Rapper, Prince P, was not at his best this night. Good, but not his best. He seemed rehearsed yes, polished yes, but he also had some back beat vocals on the track which sometimes seemed to override the stage vocals as his voice seemed a bit tired this night, and I wanted to feel more emotion - not motion - go into it. In other words there is going through the motions and there is projecting your emotion or feeling, and I wasn't feeling it early on.....until the towards the end when a free-style-like collaboration, including with Maurice Weeks himself from AJM FAM, seemed to get things / him going and that finally upped the energy in the house. Weeks and the FAM belted out a few numbers, including the newly dropped single, The Payment. The performers by midnight had gotten right into it, transforming their energy into the room to bring it to a fevered pitch as people continued to arrive - and no one leaving!

Rapper Prince P

Stellar Hall staff did a sweet job keeping the beers cold, and the fresh snack & deli menu was delish while the lighting was spot on - finally! - as it's taken us a while to get a grip on that part of the house atmosphere with what we have had to work with, but now with some additions it's down to a fine art and looks great,

Next up on the slate, Stellar Hall and TPE, in cooperation with the AJM FAM and 90 Nickel Entertainment, present the ON THE RUN COMEDY TOUR coming Saturday July 12. 

Playing a parody off Jay z and Beyoncee's "On The Run" tour this On The Run comedy show tour stop features headliners Keesha Brownie and Kevin Christopher along with some lead-up comedians to complete a great night of comedy, followed afterwards by some live music artists.

Have you got a Brownie!

Keesha Brownie is a Stand-Up Comedian who offers up a unique blend of her Canadian & West Indian heritage through her material. The graduate of Second City is also a Producer of some highly successful live shows such as; ‘Jokers Corner’ and ‘Underground Comedy Railroad’ with both touring from the G.T.A. to Montreal.
 
Found a P-Nut....Found a P-Nut...Found a P-Nut last night!

Kevin Christopher is a veteran stand-up comic, on-air host and actor as well as the voice of the Cartoon Hero Ninjamaica! The rap album available on iTunes was nominated for a ‘Tim Simms Award’, he's featured on the TV documentary special ‘Nubian Disciples of Comedy’ which aired on C.T.V., and Kevin's inexpensive life improvement tips’ led him to make appearances on the hit TV show “Buzz”! Wow.  Along with his hilariously bizarre stories and comical slapstick act-outs, Kevin Christopher, aka P-Nut, is sure to leave you with an  sore jaw from laughing so hard..don't say we didn't warn you! Warning may cause jaws to hurt!

Doors Open 7PM for nibblers & cocktails, show starts 8pm, $15 Cover. Reserve for large tables only. Book a table of 12 - $150. To reserve call Stellar Hall @ 905-830-9441

Warning some material may be deemed offensive to some. Tough Titties. Lol.

TP out!

Top Live Talent Coming Near You!

Headliners Glass Ampp rocked Stellar Hall

Recently I was involved in an event that hit town, and I must say I got a good taste of what Arthur Jr Music and Captured Films have been up to - witness the array of talent they were able to assemble for the Newmarket stop of the Talent Search Concert Tour 2014 - and as well I earned a new respect for Farley Flex - Canadian Idol's judge who, up until now, I'd regarded as possibly Canada's token "Randy Jackson" or some shit - no offense meant, just my experience is we often try to copy what they do (like American Idol) and sometimes too literally methinks. But Farley really impressed me with not only his work ethic - rarely leaving the judges area - but his genuine love for entertainment and by caring enough to stick around and offer advice to the contestants. Now that was class. To boot, the info I heard him dish, I agreed with 100%, so I respect his entertainment opinion as well.

Danny Barker

All idol chat aside, there really was some spectacular talent showcased on the evening with host M.C. and co-organizer Danny Barker (along with Maurice Weeks of Arthur Jr Music) doing a solid job moving the night along from talent to talent and genre to genre. There were a few technical issues due to it being a new venue for the guys, but in the end they got it figured out so the bands could wail and and the Comics and Hip Hop contestants could perform. We also got a taste of the hard rock band Glass Ampp and you can expect to hear lots from this talented quartet in the future - wow. I leaned in to Farley to mention how good I thought they were and he informed me he's managing them. Good on him / them and I look forward to their upcoming e.p. release. Remember the name - Glass Ampp.

Maurice Weeks

Speaking of releases, Maurice Weeks of Arthur Jr Music also performed along with some members of the the A JM Family - including some cuts from The Payment which is to be released in May 2014 with beats written by the same guy who wrote for Eminem! NOW RELEASED. This was also the first time I'd heard Maurice perform and freak! he's quite a talent. He's able to rap with the best of them as it were, but also has a commanding stage presence combined with a unique style and 'smooth" voice and lends himself to holding a tune - often as he reels off the lyric others might simply rap straight up. Having previously heard a recorded version, it was also great to listen and see the transition and that it carries over very well to live. I look forward to the full e.p release!

Goliath Paw

The show itself featured 8 hip hop acts 5 bands and 5 comedians, with Contour winning the band category and Goliath Paw coming in second, and being one of the judges, I can tell you Goliath Paw were good, but did lose points with me for having some music beats recorded - wherein had they entered the Hip Hop category they likely would have won it, which Farley Flex pointed out to them as well post contest.

Top Comedians were funnyman Mark Anthony with American Jake Leland second, and Hip Hop acts had Doggie & D Show coming out on top with Douce taking second place. Winners continue on in the tour and win marketing packages, video and recording time.

The night ended with some comments and observations by Farley Flex as he announced the winners offering constructive bits of info  - from telling Contour's lead singer to find another barber,

"Seriously dude, you can't be a front man with that hair cut." Farley Flex

to telling Goliath Paw they entered the wrong category but the most important advice he gave out on the night, was highlighting the need for the acts to be themselves and bring themselves out on stage - not try and emulate some American hood or fashion they saw on a c.d. cover or whatever.

" You need to stand out from others not be the same. I can see 50 other acts just like you. "

Two of the judges Farley Flex and Tom Pearson

 " Do you want to be stars...or superstars? To do that, it is critical you stand out from the rest."

" You're not American, you didn't have that experience, so why are you presenting that?"

" Seriously, I'd rather you be shit and original than the best copy in the world of someone"

Farley Flex , Talent Search Concert Tour 2014, Newmarket stop

Notwithstanding there was still a good amount of entertaining performers on the night and certainly worth the price of admission, and who knows, maybe a star is born!?

Here's some other upcoming Gigs these guys have coming to town in May 2014!

Contour, winners of Best Band & worst hair cut categories!

All Photos By Glenn Rodger

Schweet!

People roll into Stellar Hall

The Judges yo

Tom Pearson and Maurice Weeks

Underground Method

Hip Hopper Entity

The boys!

Stand up comedy winner Mark Anthony and Farley Flex

  

Farley hams it up with comedian

Newmarket Music Promoter Maurice Weeks Live Entertainment Nights

The life of a promoter or show event coordinator or record label evolves constantly, and a real promoter is always looking to do something bigger, and so when a good promoter is filling their venues to capacity with patrons, the natural progression is to find something bigger to put them into. That's the predicament event and music promoters / record label Arthur Jr Music, led by Arthur Weeks aka talented Hip Hop singer Maurice Weeks, along with partner / compatriot Dan Barker of 90 Nickel Entertainment, is experiencing right now. But these are growing pains of the excellent kind.

Let's face it, the ultimate for someone inclined to put live rock & roll, hip hop and other cool genre laiden shows together is to do bigger and better each time. Just look at the progression of rock concerts over the years. I actually had the honour recently of interviewing Johnny Brower, one of the guys who organized and promoted the first ever multi day concerts who happens also to be the same fellow who organized The Toronto Rock & Roll Revival concert of 1969 - the first ever concert John Lennon performed apart from the Beatles, and widely believed by those in the know as being the catalyst that broke them up. Hey, what can I say, that's who I hang with when they are producing the Pop69 movie about him. Ha. The irony of having driven around with the legendary icon a few months back and now being out with an eager group of young up and comer wannabe legends didn't escape me.

I tried to mention it to the three who'd accompanied me on the little road trip, including another indy records and entertainment Producer Carly Myers of ILLBROKEN (IB) Entertainment, while showing a potential site for an indoor / outdoor gig that holds up to 1000 people, but I think it was maybe too much at the time to take in as they were way loving the venue and already wondering aloud about the how to's and what if's.

Anyway, the 1st idea was to bring some kind of headliner in to cap off a day of bands including showcasing local bands who have stood out in band wars and Talent Search competitions. So it would showcase not only a top notch headlining act, but some very cool other bands as well.

TPE could perhaps hook in some great food from a couple of local businesses and a beer tent to seal the deal, and the event would have all the fixings of a fun time. TPE's been looking for someone that fits this bill for these types of venues to work on the entertainment side and believe these guys fit that bill way well. They also combine to have a tremendous following and combine that with the fact they have also brought some great new talent to the stage in Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Aurora and Markham too and are always looking to develop talent and introduce the coolest in music trends through their events, which I'm digging, and you get a recipe for a great time. 

Maurice tells me they just signed an exciting rapper artist to the label  also known to do little genre blending which is cool and maybe what the music festival will be come about.. a festival of merging rock, rap and hip hop styles..thrown in amongst some traditional styles - A celebration of Rock Music history if you will!...So stay tuned for sum of dat shit y'mean!? It's all rock & roll to me.Ha.

These guys are at the ground level forefront of the music scene today - just like Johnny Brower was in his and am excited to see this show to completion and what kind of talent line up these guys put together should so stay tuned!


....With a hip, hop, a hippity hippity hop, and a hip, hop, hippityhophop! 

TP Out

Night Clubs and Restaurants Guide Newmarket for Valentines Specials

TOM's TOP 10 is 20 years old!

Welcome to At the Clubs and Local Flavour all rolled into one! Traditionally January & February are the slowest times of the year in the hospitality industry and to that end communicating what restaurants and clubs have is important.

In addition to what I was able to note here on what clubs & restaurants / bars are doing in the new year, there is more info more posted in my Tom's Top 10 Newmarket Dining Entertainment Guide already - accessible to you via this link or simply by Google searching " Entertainment, Dining, Newmarket" or
Toms Top 10 Guides.

At a stopover at Big Chris BBQ at their recent Tues Jam Night I found out about some upcoming acts but one in particular stood out to me which was Taratuma,  a long time, very popular band in the area, and not heard of them playing locally in a while, so a great chance to check them out whilst enjoying some Big Chris BBQ from the smokehouses menu. As well as Feb 14 w Connie Scriver for Valentines Day




Watch for TPE's Tom's Top 10 Dining reviews.

With Valentines Day coming up, a number of places are offering up some pretty nice night out packages. 

Villa Risi for example offers fine dining and also live jazz/blues duo entertainment, featuring the fab rythm, blues and jazz singer sensation Lori Viola for Feb 14 Valentines Day Dinner and a special, with choices menu.and options including glass of champagne and divine chocolates and ala carte style menu choices!.
I'd book fast to impress your lady or guy. Pronto!

Valentines Dinner Theatre

Stellar Hall and Events Centre - 1220 Stellar Dr, Newmarket - has a couple of events going on Valentines Day weekend, including the feature night Feb 14 Dinner Theatre show in a show directed by Karen barjker and featuring prefpormers from Spotlight! Book now for this sure to be sold out event! New Years also always a blast at Stellar Hall. Call 289-221-0928 for more info.

Sparro Ristorante coming soon

I'm sure all of Tom's Top 10 have some kind of entertainment and dining specials set up for valentines - check out the Tom's Top 10 Dining Entertainment Guide to access them all.

TOMBITS: I discovered another place in Newmarket on Main St below Made In Mexico called Tequila 185, Top 10 worthy as well, offering up some dining w dancing and occasional live entertainment .

Watch for a new Italian restaurant by Riverwalk Commons and Main St, Sparro Ristorante, coming soon!,

Stopped by The Cove on Davis Dr in search of Newmarket's best Fish & Chips deal $5 but arggg! The owner was not around to say hi too! Stay tuna-ed! Also a lively sports bar...Arrrr!gos?!

In my travels I'm often in a hurry and doing fast food and expect a value for my dollar when doing so and in response to that Tom's Top 10 categories will continue to pop up on your screens with our latest being Tom's Top 10 Pizza! Enjoy!

TP Out!