Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Ed Sousa Kicks Out the Jams: Toronto Mike'd Podcast Episode 1521

Episode Date: July 12, 2024

In this 1521st episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike chats with Ed Sousa to find out who he is and why he's able to bring his favourite bands to Classic Bowl and the El Mocambo. Along the way, Ed plays his ten favourite songs of all-time and talks about why he loves them. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Ridley Funeral Home, The Advantaged Investor podcast from Raymond James Canada, The Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Team and RecycleMyElectronics.ca. If you would like to support the show, we do have partner opportunities available. Please email Toronto Mike at [e-mail]

You're listening to this city's finest podcast about the city that this man loves. This is Toronto Mic'd. Proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, a fiercely independent craft brewery who believes in supporting communities, good times and brewing amazing beer. Order online for free local home delivery in the GTA. Palma Pasta. Enjoy the taste of fresh, homemade Italian pasta and entrees from Palma Pasta in Mississauga

and Oakville. The Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team, the best baseball in the city outside the dome. Join me August 4th at Christie Pitts. I'm recording live at 2 p.m. right after I throw out the first pitch. RecycleMyElectronics.ca, committing to our planet's future means properly recycling our electronics of the past. And Ridley Funeral Home, pillars of the community since 1921. Today, making his Toronto Mike debut, and kicking out the jams, is Ed Souza. Welcome Ed.

Thanks Mike. Thanks for making the long trek from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It's getting longer. It's getting longer. You could have biked here, but Could have. I like that t-shirt, you're wearing an El Macombo t-shirt.

Wow, you gotta represent. Well, we're gonna talk about it because you know a recent episode of Toronto Mike featured Midge Year. Love Midge. Did you listen to that episode? Yes I did. What did you think? Oh I mean you're great at what you do so that goes without saying. I like you already. And Midge is one of my favourite humans of all time. He's uh he's just

he's Midge. I don't know what I can say about him. Now we're kicking out the jams today which is your your top 10 songs of all time. I've got them loaded up. We're going to get to them really quickly. And then between the jams, as we talk about why you love the song, we're going to get to know you. Who are you Ed Souza? What are you up to?

I keep hearing about these great bands playing at a bowling alley in Mississauga. And then I'll hear about the Palooza, but we had a good time and Perry's like telling me about you and he's like, you need to have Ed Souza on. And then I'm thinking, I do need to have Ed Souza on. So thanks for being here. It was money well spent. Thanks, Perry. Yeah, I got this email. Perry's like, I'm introducing you guys. And I'm like, let me kick out the jams of Ed Souza and then you can answer all my annoying questions about who the heck you are and what you're up to. I love the hat by the way. You had a hat when you came in.

Absolutely. I don't go anywhere without it. It can't be recognized without it. You want it to trademark. Yes. That is your brandy. Okay. So we're going to get to the first jam right away. And then along the way again, we'll talk about Susa Palooza. We'll find out what's going on at this Mississauga bowling alley, classic bowl. We'll get your story. I got a few fun facts to, to, you know, I mentioned the mid year episode, but I also had a Johnny D and dairy from honeymoon suite in this basement, just about, I dunno, a couple of months ago, you came up in that episode. So we'll cover a lot of ground. We'll even talk some Randy Bachman. And, uh, I think I fulfilled my Perry

Lefkoe mentions for this episode. Are you ready, my friend? Yes. To kick out the jams? You got to give me a yes on that. Yes, absolutely. And then I'm going to crack a great lake of beer. I'm going to be a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a

little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a

little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a

little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a You're the one that makes me laugh You're the one that makes me laugh You're the one that makes me laugh You're the one that makes me laugh You're the one that makes me laugh You're the one that makes me laugh You're the one that makes me laugh You're the one that makes me laugh You're the one that makes me laugh You're the one that makes me laugh

You're the one that makes me laugh You're the one that makes me laugh You're the one that makes me laugh that trick The one that makes me scream, she said The one that makes me laugh, she said Through her arms around my neck Show me how you do it And I promise you, I promise that I'll run away with you I'll run away with you I'll run away with you

Love it, we're off to a roaring start Mr. Souza, tell me why you chose this song Well, I mean it's the Cure, how can you not have a Cure song in your top 10 of all time I think it came out in 87 I believe, I know it was kind of towards the late 80s. And it was just one of those songs that when you're out on the dance floor, wherever you are as soon as you hear it, it just gets into you and you can't stop moving. And fortunate enough to see them, I think they came through about a year and a half ago, give or take. And Robert Smith is incredible, still has that velvet voice. He's one of my favourite singers of all time, really, really good. So I couldn't have a top 10 without Tecure.

So along the way we're going to find out about this, the promotion work you're doing, bringing these great artists like Mid Year and we'll talk about other bands that you put concerts on for 80s heads like Langer, Shadow to Langer who goes all year he's going to be at Suza Palooza he's going to all these events but The Cure is this like a wish list band that you could bring The Cure? Yes I only have one rule of thumb because I'm asked religiously to book this band and that band But I only book bands that I have a certain passion for Because it takes just as much work to book a band that you're not necessarily a fan of Than a band that you are. Can I just interrupt to tell you that was the philosophy of the Gary's

Gary Cormier and Gary Top longtime promoters and they're the guys who would first bring, they would first bring the police, for example, to Toronto or a whole bunch of bands that they were bringing in because they were passionate about the music. And you're taking a cue from them. I'm a firm believer in that.

Because if you don't do that, you're actually doing the artist at the service because you don't have your heart and soul into promoting the event. You hope it goes well, but the chance of success when you're not 100 percent behind it is not good. So, again, for me personally, it's just a matter of making sure that I have a tremendous affinity for the band. And you know what? Even if you fail, you succeed because you brought a band in that you love. Yeah, and that's the payoff. Like I always tell the band, I said, if nobody comes,

I'm still gonna have a great time. Right. Because I mean, I'm here. Because you love the band. Because I love the band. But is a band like The Cure, I'm curious, because we're gonna run down during this conversation, we'll find out some of the great acts you've brought,

some of the acts you'd like to bring, but is The Cure at a level where you don't even try? Like it's like, that's- At at the moment there's no sense in trying uh first of all their fee is astronomical and a lot of those bands what's their fee i need to know for the next tm lex event their fee are probably around you know seven figures give or take that's real money that that's real and that's uh you know not canadian money that's real money so you got to add you know 40 some odd percent on top of that and then all the pluses that in some cases are more than the fee right so and plus you know with Live Nation so you really can't compete with that juggernaut

do they have a monopoly like if a band is in bed with Live Nation then Ed Suza hands off yes interesting and I hear like the rider, the amount of hair spray you have to provide, that's going to break your bank. Yes, the rider is something that's, I mean, it's basically the same. So if you book X band and somebody else books them, they say it's a generic rider. And then you can kind of manipulate it a bit to serve, you know, specific, you know, requests that they may or may not have. I'll give you a perfect example. I won't mention the artists, but the rider that I received, the writer that I received, a lot of the products that they asked for are no longer available.

So all of a sudden you contact him and say, by the way, you know, yeah, this product and the, the reply is, ah, don't worry about it. Just get something else So it's not it's not that major of a deal. Okay, it's like when you use an app to go shopping They're like, hey, they don't have this brand of whatever pasta. Is it okay if we give you a town pasta or something like that? Okay. Now I would love to know what band that is though of the outdated rider any clues. Do I get a clue? The only thing I tell you they're a a Canadian. They're a Canadian band. It's Honeymoon Suite.

No, no, it's not. It's not. I don't think they supply a writer, but I shred it because it doesn't really matter. They just get what they want. So I mean, firstly, when a band says they will come in the basement here and chat with me, I already know they're down to earth, like good people. Like, because the, I don't think Robert Smith is coming in the basement. You never know.

I'll give you a quick story about certain artists that I never thought would have could have shown. Yeah, and then we're gonna get your origins story. Yeah. Yeah. Go ahead. No, you wanna do now? No, no, I was gonna say a perfect example is having, let's say Mike Score from A Flock of Seagulls,

never thinking that in my wildest dreams, because they've always been my favorite band, that I'd have an opportunity. Spoiler alert. Yeah, that I'd have an opportunity to work with him. Met Mike probably going on 25, 30 years, give or take a year. And again, met him on the off chance at one of the shows and 25, 30 years later, we were extremely good friends

and couldn't have Susa Palouse without him. Things like that. So you never, yeah, absolutely. People will come in your basement that you never think may come. I think I did have a moment like that And I'm gonna try to relate to you. You know, you're playing in the big leagues I'm in the I'm in double a over here trying to be inspired by you That's why one of the reasons you're here, but like I will say I had an event at Great Lakes Brewery

Which I'm gonna crack open a beer just before this next jam, but Danny graves from the Watchmen Came by to put sing acapella for us all a beautiful night sky Danny graves singing what a beautiful singer he is and I had a moment like that where it's like Oh, this is happening right now and I made this happen and I had a moment like that So that must be how you feel when you get a fly. I've had to be honest with you Mike I've probably had well over 100 of those moments. And so and hopefully it doesn't change because every day you kind of get up. You hope to serve a higher purpose, which is to bring a lot of smiles to individual faces and

you're doing that and bring an axe that they never thought they'd have the opportunity to see again. All of a sudden they see them and they want to see them again. So after the second jam, we kick out, I'm going to get your origin story because you know, I got to know again, all of a sudden they see them and they want to see them again. So after this second jam we kick out, I'm going to get your origin story because you know, I got to know like, did you wake up one day and say, Hey, I'm going to be a concert promoter. Like I'm going to find out the story after the next jam, but full disclosure, Ed Souza FOTM Ed Souza does not drink. So you've never drank any alcohol. Never you just don't like the taste.

I just don't like the taste. It's been great personally from a lifestyle standpoint in terms of put a good roof over my head, good clothes on my back and but in terms of drinking it no never. You come in handy you could always be the designated drinker. In high school that's basically what I got invited to every single party and but I knew why it wasn't because I was that popular it was because they knew that they get home safe. Everyone needs an Ed Susan in their life so I'm gonna crack open a Sunnyside session IPA but I am gonna send you home with some fresh craft beer one of them actually is non

alcoholic but I'm sure there's people in your family neighbors loved ones who will enjoy delicious fresh craft beer brewed right here in Southern Etobicoke. I'm already getting texts stating that the beers accounted for. That was me not Ed. Okay so I'm gonna be enjoying this as we kick out your second jam and then we're gonna get your origin story. Such a shame to believe in escape A life of every place, that's a change Till I'm finally left with an end Tell me to relax, I just stare Maybe I don't know if I should change A feeling that we share, it's a shame Such a shame, number me with rage This is a band so good they named it twice.

Such a shame, Talk Talk. Talk to me about this song. This is before I actually get into the song, I've been asked numerous occasions, which band do you regret not having the opportunity to ever see live? And this is actually the only band that I regret never, never seeing live. Because unfortunately, my call has passed on. But what I try to do is if I can't get the band, I try to pick off individuals from the band. So back this past April, I do a couple of secret shows a year.

So back on April 28, I had the Escape Club fly in from the UK, which had the number one song Wild Wild West that people may remember. And as special guest, Ian Cornell from Talk Talk came and they performed the song that's kind of more recognizable from Talk Talk that no doubt covered It's My Life. Of course. And they played that live which again brought the house down. So and the Talk Talk is again one of those bands that never had the opportunity to see and wish I had. Just last night we recorded our quarterly FOTM cast and the VP of sales Tyler Campbell was at that secret show with the Escape Club. How did you like it? Just tell me about it. He loved it. He had a great time. recorded our quarterly FOTM cast and the VP of sales Tyler Campbell was at that

secret show with the Escape Club. How did you like it? He loved it. Yeah. He had a great time. The advantage we have with those, not necessarily just a secret show, secret shows are great, but just for our R&B sessions we only limited to a hundred some odd people so they become true fans of the artist. There's a Q&A component that you know the artist will tell the fans how songs came about. This is like intimate and interactive. You name it. Even the interaction between members of the band. The second secret show that we held back on May 26th, they showed was Yard of Noise.

Out of the UK, which hadn't been to Canada since 1986. So that was quite a get for us. Okay. So we've teased, like, who the hell is this? Ed Sousa doing this. So I'm going to read a note from the live stream, live.torontomike.com. This is from Rob Del Mundo. He goes, I got to catch up with Ed last May at the Rick Emmett.

He actually put at the FOTM Rick Emmett. Good boy, Rob. Okay. The FOTM Rick Emmett show at Classic Bowl. I found out that Ed married one of my old high school classmates. So there's a little connection you got to FOTM Rob Del Mundo who does a great job writing about hockey. Give us the origin story. When did you start promoting concerts? Like where does this come from? Who the hell are you Ed? The the first show that I actually ever promoted When did you start promoting concerts? Like, where does this come from? Who the hell are you, Ed? The first show that I actually ever promoted, 1989, Bare Naked Ladies.

And I got a call out of the blue from Don Burns, the old program director from CFNY. Of course. And my parents' house was a five minute walk from CFNY, sorry, CFNY radio station in Brampton. So I was operating a business at the time, got a call from Don Burns. He says, Ed, we're trying this new thing. We're going to introduce some Canadian talent.

There's going to be about 30, 40 people there, some VIPs, some industry types. And I said, yeah, no problem. So I'm standing at the back of our lounge, seeing these five kids walk in. Grant, at that time, they were my age as well. But what lounge? I was in a trans world. We had a location out in Brampton. And, uh, seen them walk in, go to our mini stage we had set up. Next thing I know they're playing, you know, some quirky song. You know, if I had a million dollars, don't quote me on the song,

but I'm fairly certain it was that one. The famous independent yellow tape. Yeah. And, uh And so as if I'm kind of being transported back to that day, I turned to one of my staff members and verbatim I said, these guys ain't going anywhere. What? Okay. Yeah. And caught up with one of the members who Kevin Hearn who also plays with Rough Trade. FOTM Kevin Hearn. Yeah. And so I was telling Rob, sorry, I was telling Kevin, I go Kevin, you know back and he said, Ed, you know how many times they heard that story

in terms of so many people had, and I mean, phenomenal guys and extremely talented have made Canada proud. But like certain artists who are phenomenal individuals, it's just not my genre. Not your cup of tea. Not my cup of tea or my cup of coffee. It's an acquired taste, you know, right?

Yeah, right, you don't drink tea either. No. Okay, no beer, no tea. Just coffee. If you have a head of Sousa over. Just coffee. How do you take your coffee? Regular, one cream, one sugar and I'm good.

Okay, I like my coffee black, but I do love a good cup of coffee, absolutely. But Bare Naked Ladies, an acquired taste. Now I'm younger than you and I know you're having a milestone birthday for this S Susa Palooza, which we'll get to. So I'm guessing we're exactly a decade apart. This is my guess based on the fact I had a milestone birthday like a week ago. That's where I saw Perry Lefkoe. Now I think it hit me right. Like I actually really loved the yellow tape and became a big bare naked ladies fan. And I was listening to a

lot of CF and why, and they were playing the hell out Of that album and I loved it But I think they were kind of at that time lumped in with like Corky and the juice pigs like a sillier kind of a comedy Rock type thing and you're a serious. You're a serious man and you don't have time for this. Yeah, I don't I didn't have time for silliness For those that know me know me that's's not true. But back in the day, I mean, you gotta keep in mind. You were dead wrong, of course. Of course. Cause that band went on to have a number one billboard hot 100 hits.

I've learned a lot more from my failures than my successes. The, but remember growing up in late seventies, early eighties. So the music that influenced me and all of a sudden here comes a Bearnigga ladies. It was like like what the hell they were goofy and then actually it became worse because then when grunge came out the only thing that i could think about was oh please can you guys just take a shower that's the only thing that kept entering my mind and they killed the 80s yeah well they killed the hair metal yeah and i just

i couldn't couldn't get that out of my head and to this day I just those bands don't I just can't imagine 20 30 years from now to have a 90s revival. I'm not saying I won't be around in 30 years I'm gonna spearhead it buddy. I want to be the Ed Souza of the 90s revival. Like that's what I want to be. Good luck man So now we know we won't hear any grunge in this countdown and we won't hear any bare-naked ladies It's funny because I listen to a podcast called Indiecast In fact, that's where we got the name FOTM cast from is this podcast I listen to cam Gordon turn me on to it and these two guys were talking just today about how the bare-naked ladies are The worst band of all time and no nobody how I can't remember the quote. It was something like

No one did it worse or something some quote like that Like these two guys is particular this one guy was going off on BNL and I was thinking oh I really like BNL and my good friend FOTM Brian Dunn is gonna hear this and be devastated But you are on the band the the anti now the guys are great We've established that but the anti BNL bandwagon in terms of music Not your cup of coffee. Yes. Yes. Okay. So you got you did that for now Don burns Unfortunately, he's no longer with us. Yeah, he was also DJ trance on energy one way But prior to to Don burns and the gentleman that I got a gift

I mean almost all the credit is Mr. David Marsden, who was actually the program, Mars Bar, the program director prior to Don Burns, who brought every band that I just love, broke him in Canada from of course the the Flog of Seagulls to Depeche Mode to the Simple Minds to Duran Duran, so I could go on and on and on. And so got to got to know David or the last little while he's been instrumental in in our success. So I want to publicly thank him if if he's listening. Thanks, David. He's listening. David's been over here and we had him in the schedule to return and he

had a health scare. And I wanted to give him some time to feel better. And I feel like maybe because now he's back doing his NY the Spirit show I think maybe David's ready to return. Encyclopedia bring David back on I mean his wealth of knowledge and it's it's just phenomenal love David. So CFNY was your station of choice? Yeah it was the only one and keep it in mind again living in Brampton and five minutes away we still the reception was horrible it was like one of these things you know the rabbit ears left finger out right leg left and it was just horrible so we see the only thing that we the only time

we get reception was literally after 11 p.m. so can I ask you because I know at some point with the Pete and Geet show they get a transmitter on the CN tower yes so before that you're talking to guess well before that signal well right on Clarence and Kennedy and Brampton for the Rampton listeners and anybody that knows CFNY history Spanky's I don't know if you're familiar with they had a bar underneath That a lot of the bands that they used to bring in for interviews used to play down at Spanky's and my sister-in-law I'll never get this as well. They know her at the time But her her boyfriend who later became her husband had

to forge his license in order to get in to see images and folk perform at Spanky's. Another teaser for what you might hear coming up. And so, but like I said, that's where the affinity for the music came from. But of course, in, you know, CKLC back in the day, they had the top 40 countdown from Hamilton and Chum AM and on and on and on but CFNY was so let's shout out some specific talent on CFNY now I've had as many chats as I can I'm Personally fascinated with the spirit of radio era of CFNY and collecting these stories There's an episode you need to listen to ed 1021

1021 where I have Marsden on, I got Scott Turner on that, May Potts, Ivor Hamilton's on this episode. Alan Cross is on this episode. You've really got Liz Janik is on this zoom. I got as many people as I could collect from this, this great era in, in, in radio. You got to listen to episode one. And you know that the documentary is coming out soon. Gosh, you kidding me? Between Ivor Hamilton, Scott Turner and Alan Cross, I feel like I'm a co-producer of this thing, but yeah it should be coming out in the fall. I'm really really looking forward to that. I'll see you at the premiere, for sure we'll be there together. Let's kick out another jam and then I'll get more CF and Y, you know, answers out of you. Here we go. I love how this sounds in the cans. So, thank you very much. We are charging our battery We are the robots.

We are the robots. We are the robots. Kraftwerk, the robots. Tell me about your love for Kraftwerk. I distinctly again remember the first time I heard Kraftwerk and it was like, what the F is this? It was just so distinctive, a sound that, you know, never heard of it before. A lot of people don't know about me.

Prior to this kind of genre change, my favorite band as a kid growing up was Backman Turnover Drive. Loved, I mean, you know, known as Lumberjack Rock, loved Backman Turnover Drive and hopefully I'll have the opportunity to meet Randy and tell him that personally because they're going to be in town on August the 24th as part of a boom stock at the new bull at York University. And all of a sudden to hear Kraftwerk talk about like 180 and I've never looked back since. And right around that time the the cars came out in 77-78 I believe because the robots

was from Man Machine I think was again the same thing about 77 78 and to segue into the Cars one of my all-time favorite bands and again since you can't get the whole band and the car specifically because Rick Ort, sorry Benjamin Ort passing on and Rick passing on so the only member that's really carrying the Cars flag nowadays from a live perspective is Greg Hawks. So we're going to have Greg Hawks and his band at the Elmo actually next Saturday, July the 20th. Cool!

So really, and he's performing the debut album in its entirety plus all the hits, deep tracks. And that's one of the great debuts in the history of rock. Of all time. Okay. And the Kars are one of the bands that performed at the Elmo in 1978 and actually have their name on the iconic Elmo steps. Not many bands do, but the Cars do.

So we're kind of really looking for them too. But to circle back to Kraftwerk, yeah, I mean, the sound was so distinctive that. Yeah, but how do you, that's jarring to go from BTO, you know, you're taking care of business to taking care of calculators. Here's what I can tell you, Mike. At a very young, you know, you're taking care of business to taking care of calculators. Here's what I can tell you Mike, at a very young age, remember, we're like sponges. We have so much headroom that we absorb everything. And it's not necessarily kicking anything out of your mind, it just keeps adding.

Now when we get to be our age, more mine than yours, there's really not a lot of headspace left. So people always ask me, well, how come the new artists, every time they release an album, like they don't really get any play. Nobody knows about it. I said, well, if you're already maxed out upstairs,

what song are you gonna kick out in order to have a new one? You're not, you're not gonna kick out. There's no more room for these Taylor Swift songs. There's no more room. So that's why new artists, I mean, they release new material and people say, yeah, it's great. But they're not, and relating it even to Honeymoon Suite,

because heard the podcast he had with Johnny and Derry. Hey, what did you think? Oh, again, incredible. Thanks for the shout out, Johnny, by the way. I'll be your manager when I retire. He was a sweetheart. Derry, now Derry was great too, but Johnny, there was something about Johnny where he was like, just so kind of like so humble and kind of happy to be chatting with you. He was this sweet.

That's how he is. The question that I get asked the most often about Johnny for people that don't know him, they say, is he approachable? Because sometimes Johnny may give out the air that he's not, but he's the most approachable approachable individual that, uh, you know, that you can meet. It's super, super guy. And even afterwards questions he was asking me where he was like just sincerely interested in, like, I'm not sure he knew where he was going. Somebody said, Hey, go to this guy's basement and talk to him. And I mean, he's like, okay, whatever.

And then he was just so curious about everything and how it all works and what just happened. And he was really impressed with the chat. Quick story about Johnny. Back through COVID, I believe it was in 2020, later in the year, I started this new thing called VIP and Me, which was an opportunity similar to Cameo for individuals that know Cameo about stars and artists wishing someone, you know, happy birthday, anniversary and that kind of stuff. The only difference between what we did and what they were doing, ours were going to be live. So the artists were actually going to wish someone a happy

birthday live. So a lady contacted me and she says, Ed, my sister's turning 50. She's a massive Johnny D fan. Are you able to get Johnny? I said, you know, I'll contact John and see if he's interested. So I contacted Johnny and I said, Johnny, uh, I was contacted and this lady, a massive fan of yours, her sister's willing to pay, you know, a fairly substantial fee to get you on to wish your sister happy birthday. It'll be, you know, maybe 20 minutes and all that. And Johnny goes, no, Ed, I don't, I don't really do that. He goes, it's not about the money. It's just that that I I don't do that and it's I'll gladly wish somebody happy birthday when I see them but you know I don't want to wish him happy birthday through any type of zoom meeting or anything of that nature

because that's the type of person Johnny is it wasn't anything to do with the money because it was it was gonna be a fairly hefty you know 20 minute payday and he just wasn't interested in that. He was more interested. He says, listen, next time she's at one of our shows, please bring her up to me. I'll gladly wish her a happy birthday. Yeah, he's a really, really cool guy.

Sweet heart of a man. Okay, so before we get to the next jam, I wanted to follow up. So you said in 89, Don Burns asks you to put together the Bare N naked ladies show. So that's a pre Gordon bare naked. So this is post yellow tape, but pre Gordon. Yes.

Okay. I remember this era. Well, do you remember the McDonald's girl cover they had? Okay. So you were, I never followed her. You didn't, you didn't, yeah. You didn't give a crap about B and L. No, no, no, no. I didn't say that in case they're listening. I mean, they've done a sweet heart.

She said the people are good. Yes. Yes. I mean, Tyler Stewart, man, he's listening right now. I didn't say that in case they're listening. I mean, they've done us proud. No, the people are sweethearts, you said. The people are good. Yes, yes. I mean, Tyler Stewart, man, he's listening right now, the drummer, doesn't miss a Toronto Mic'd episode. That's a great band, but it's not going to be everybody's cup of coffee. See, I've changed it for you, man. Cup of coffee. Thank you. Now, where do you go from there? You just, you know, you wet your beak with that and you're like, oh, I can do this.

Yeah. But you know what happens is life gets in the way. I got married in a 93, opened up another business. My son was born in 96. My daughter was born in a, in 97. Everything you're saying. No, they're not listening. So yes, no, they don't. And, uh, and then, you know, all these, uh, you know, late nights, early mornings, and then all these car rides to gymnastics practice Football practice and also when I do things I really want to dedicate a hundred percent if I can't do it, right? I'm not gonna do it at all

So kind of took some time off from that and when they got a little bit older then kind of started dipping my toe back into it and Mike's score was again massive influence on for me to get back in terms of start booking shows and then pardon the pun the ball started rolling and it's continuing to roll. Well we'll talk more about Flocka Seagulls later in this jam kicking. I'm going to kick out this next jam of yours because I was having a Facebook chat with a great FOTM who was involved with this band and I told him, I teased him basically that we were going to play something from this act and he'll be listening. So let's kick this out and then we'll talk about it. It hits hard, no doubt When the truth lies there like that

Though unashamed, unstained I've never lied or told the truth Or don't truth Don't mistake my lust for love Don't mistake my lust for love Take my last fall off Images in both Can I tell you how difficult it is Mike to listen to these great songs and I'm not able to sing along with them You can sing along Your mic's open, what do I care It's so difficult

Sing along It's so difficult. No, no, you never want to ruin a hi Dale. If Dale Martindale's listening, he lives about maybe 10 minutes from my house. Really? He lives in Brampton. Yeah, he's about 10 minutes from my house. Again, an individual that people say, what's Dale like? Again, that's another question I get asked so often. What's this person like?

They're like you and me. Just go up to them, say hi. Dale's a great guy, phenomenal. And I like to imitate Dale when he sings. Because Dale is like the, what's his name? From, the name escapes me now from the furs, Richard Butler. So I mean, his man, his stage presence, and that's such a great voice. And this song is, again, you can't have a top 10 of all time without Canadian talent,

you just, especially from this genre, it's impossible. Images in Vogue, I could be wrong, but I don't know if I am. I think I've booked Images in Vogue more than anyone has in Canada. I just, they're just one of my favorites. Okay, so that's a great segue. So you took a break, you had kids, life got in the way, you're starting these businesses. So be specific, how do you get back into the music promotion game? Well, again, I met Mike on The Off Chance and I said, Mike, from Flockas Eagle's Mike

Score, and I said, Mike, do you do any private shows he said Ed here's uh I'm just fortunate enough that people still know who I am right because I mean a lot of the 80s artists are here and they're gone right so for him it was just a matter of very humble just people want to book me I'll gladly I'll gladly perform and so that was in the early 2000s and then booked him for a show and after the show he says that from now on you don't have to contact anybody else just deal with me directly awesome and and then from there kind of morphed into another act and another what venues are we talking about which specifically in Mississauga a classic bowl and then we've done X number of

shows like people's Residence. A lot of the shows we do even private, somebody's anniversary, birthday, you know, it's a, so it kind of runs the gamut of where we've done shows at Revival, the other venue in Toronto that we've done shows as. So it depends where you guys are. Okay, I need more info on Classic Bowl.

So I often hear, you know, we have an FOTM community and we have a chat group on WhatsApp and so many, you know, we have similar demos, right? Like, so it's like, I'll hear from people that they're going to Classic Bowl to see this band Midtown Gourd, for example, is it gonna gotta see Lee Aaron at Classic Bowl, I get all these notes. And I'm like, what a bowling alley like I was like, so what do you mean? And then I had somebody explain explain the setup to me it because I think it was I

don't know if it was Midtown Gord or Michael Lang or whatever. Maybe something to behold, Mike. You have to, you have to come out to where is it? It's at the corner of Winston Churchill and Dundas. So it's at the Dundas is the dividing line between Oakville and Mississauga. So you cross the street, you're into Oakville. So Oakville is on the South side and Mississauga is on the North side. And we have also a private lounge where we do our Heineken stage, where we do our

intimate sessions. And then when I'm going to start calling this the Great Lakes brewery stage, I like that idea. Okay. So you got a Heineken stage, a Heineken stage. Okay. And then we have our main stage when we put our, uh, mcbull concert series, which is now the largest indoor music festival in North America. Cause it runs not in terms of attendance, because we only were max at a certain capacity, but in terms of length. So now it runs not in terms of attendance because we only were maxed at a certain capacity, but in terms of length. So now it runs for literally five days. We started off with one day back, actually this year would have been,

sorry, next year would have been the 10th anniversary, but we had to take two years off. So next year will be the eighth. Oh, I'm sure COVID got in the way. Yeah, and so we started with one day and it was the charity for Ronald McDonald House. So we wanted to bring some attention to the house and not knowing how it was going to do and sold out.

So then I said, you know what, I'm not going to tempt fate. I'm going to try it again and bring back the same two artists, which were the spoons and honeymoon suite. So that exceptionally well. And then I said, okay, one more time. Then I believe I brought in, I think it was the box out of Montreal. So they came in. So, and then that did really, really well again. And I said, well, I I've maxed out. I can't, you know, unless it runs the whole day,

which people are rage more mine than yours again. Like I said, it'll be, yeah, I'm catching up to you. So I said, you know, why don't we add a second day? So we added a second day and then. So I said, you know, why don't we add a second day? So we added a second day and then we, I said same thing. Okay, what can we do? So added a third day and now we have a pre mcbull show, which we started last year, actually Johnny and Derry again, coming full circle or the, the first two artists performing for our pre mcbull show, which again, is a part of our intimate sessions. Yeah. And this year we had Rick Emmett.

These are, you know, these are all people who've been on this show. These are sweethearts, great artists. I got more questions about the bowling alley, but first I want you, if you take a moment, talk about this charity, Ronald McDonald House. Why that charity? Ronald McDonald House is a charity that's near and dear to my heart.

Back for people that don't know the story, my nephew back in 1987 at the age of 12 got diagnosed with leukemia and my sister stayed at the house until his passing, which was Halloween night in 1992. So for the five years off and on, he stayed at raw McDonald's. So I saw from literally being hands on what the house was like and what it did for from literally being hands-on what the house was like and what it did for, you know, my sister, like her family, because she had, you know, other children as well and for my brother-in-law and that. And so I told myself, I said, if there's ever going to be a charity that I'm going to pour my heart and soul into, it's going to be that one. It took a while because like I said, his passing was

in in 92. So started this up close to 10 years ago. And now literally outside of McDonald's, I believe we're the largest supporter in terms, not just of monetary, but more importantly, in terms of the publicity that's created, because no one's gonna donate money to a charity if they don't know what it's all about. Awareness, absolutely. So first thing, I gotta make sure,

my sincere condolences, that's very sad to hear what would happen with your nephew there that's very sad he's in he's in a good place I mean he's suffered a lot and we did everything we could and again the house was very instrumental in terms at least easing the pain while my sister specifically was was staying at the house and the house now is not what the house is like back then, because in 1987, it was literally just one floor, X number of rooms. Now it's like multi floors, has its own cinema,

its own gym, its own school. So if anyone has an opportunity, and I think it's on McCall Street downtown, please stop by and if you have any money to donate, they'll gladly take it off your hands. Good on you, Ed, for raising the awareness and for helping to raise funds for this tremendous charity. That's a wonderful thing.

Oh, well, being on a show also helps, Mike. So thank you. Well, listen, you had me, you had me at mid-year. You had me at mid-year. Now, I'm bowling. Let's get back to the bowling for a moment. And then we're going to get to a jam, which I'm going to dedicate to a beloved FOTM who visits me once a month.

But I used to bowl all the time when I was in high school we had a bowling alley on Islington called O'Connor Bowl. Yeah I remember that. And during breaks in school, shout out to Joe from TO, we would drive from Michael Power High School to O'Connor Bowl which was just down the street and we would bowl and I loved it. Like I loved it. People may not know this about me, Mike, but I've actually bowled a 300. That's a perfect game. That's 12 strikes in a row in one. No, I know what 300 is.

And I'm guessing you're, you know, I remember the turkeys and everything, but I got to tell you, you're wearing an El Macombo shirt and it's a cool shirt, but I would have a shirt that just says I bowled a 300. And I have the ring to prove it. And I also bowled a 299. I was one short of the big one as they say. How did that feel though? I would be up at 90.

It was torture. That's got to be the worst. Then about six months later I actually bowled a 300. So you're a hell of a bowler. I haven't bowled in quite a while just because of all the business. You've been to the top of Mount Everest. Where are you going to go from here? But you actually have a plaque in my office so people go no. So I said see look and it's there. I've actually

done it yes. How did you become involved with Classic Bowl? Do you work for Classic Bowl? What's your deal there? I'm a director for the company so been there since since 01 and I just thought that yeah I just thought that music was a perfect vehicle to promote the business. You can't bowl during the concerts, right? No, not during the McBowl concert series, but during the intimate sessions, which is held again in the private lounge. The Heineken? Yeah, the Heineken room, which you can.

But I thought... I'm getting a text from Great Lakes, stop saying Heineken. Okay, guys. I'm sorry. Growing up in in the 80s what did we do we bowled we roller skated and we listen to music so what a perfect opportunity to to marry the two because you're not let's face it the like my kids like my 22 year old is probably not coming out to see spoons at

classic bowl so that demo that you're, that is a demo with the warm fuzzies I have for bowling. And they have the discretionary income. Right. So think about it this way, so when we're kind of going through you know the early marriage, young children, so our time is completely consumed. So once they're self-sufficient, they've moved on. So now we, in a sense, recuperate our youth, and now we're back to doing what we did as kids. And music is one of the things that we love to do as kids. Okay, I'll have more questions on the other side of this tremendous jam.

And I just want to shout out the, you will, three people on this song are FOTM, so I'm just bragging about that Ed. I can't get, you know, mid year to come to my birthday party, but three of these band members are FOTM. We'll talk more about it on the other side. I can tell you that Rob Pruss lent his old keyboard to I'll tell you that Rob Pruss lent his old keyboard to Gord, he calls him Gord Spoons, who composed this on Rob's old keyboard. And Gord started composing this song after going to see OMD in Hamilton and coming home and literally waking up and that tune, whatever was in his mind. And he started kind of, that's how he came about after listening to OMD.

And it kicks ass, let's listen. But soon we'll be only on our own And I'll sleep, sleep in your new bones And sleep, come on, come on I'll hide, hide in your love at least with the thoughts I can show you. Alright, two things. Ed, I love it. Love it so much. Sounds great in the headphones here. And two, talk to me about Spoons. Spoons, again, one of those bands that I probably booked more than anyone else has. They're just, can't say enough about them. Gord, Sandy, been there from the beginning, great individuals and it's so much fun to work with people that are not just again great at what they do

professionally but just great individuals. It makes things go a lot easier and you know going back when I first heard Nova Heart it was like where's this coming from and wow and they're from Burlington? That's not too far away. How did that happen? Because at the time I was listening to a lot of UK artists and not having a lot of our own artists to listen to. But Spoons were just one of those bands that again resonated with me and have stuck ever since. And I can't believe these guys are from Burlington.

That was what I thought back then as well. Never thought that listening to know, listening to them, that they would, they'd be one of our own and one of the best that we've produced. And as you know, they just received the keys to the city the last couple of weeks. Well deserved. Yeah.

Well deserved. Did you think they sold out when they appeared in like ads for Stitches and stuff like that? Yeah, you know what, Stitch, I think, no, I think it was Thrifties, wasn't it? Was it Thrifties? I think it was Thrifties. Okay, okay, you might be right.

I was very young. Stitches was known for, you know, you buy one, you get 20 for free. I think that Thrifty's, wasn't it? Was it Thrifty's? Okay, you might be right. I was very young. Stitches was known for, you know, you buy one, you get 20 for free. I think that was Stitches. I'm mixing up my claviers of the early days. I bought a lot of my clothes back then at the Big Steel. Well, they did a Maxell cassette ad too, right? Did they?

I feel like they might've. I should check. They did a bunch of ads back then. What they should do, and I can't believe that no car company has gotten in contact with for romantic traffic. I mean, so many car ads. And to this day, I still can't believe that no, no car company, no advertising agency has jumped on that bandwagon.

Oh, I'm with you so much, especially since my dear friend, Rob Pruse has a co-writing credit on romantic traffic. So Novahard here is a gored dep song, but the Romantic Traffic, I think The Room might have wrote that one. Love that you kicked out some spoons. And I do have a note on the live stream from Midtown Gourd, who I actually referenced earlier in the program. And he says, sorry for tuning in late.

Unacceptable, Midtown Gourd. Although we didn't start early. Yes we did. I told people two o'clock. We did, we did. I saw Lee Aaron on the Heineken stage and then Honeymoon Sweet and Street Heart with Lee Aaron on the whole stage.

Yes. Ask him what he thinks. Well, I don't need it. Let us know what you think, Midtown Gourd. And Jeremy Hopkins is on the live stream and he talks about how much he loved Nova Heart. But I think most of us loved and still do love Nova Heart. That song is just fantastic.

And it's been covered by, and I'm sure you know this as well, Mike, through COVID we worked on the Echo CD that they had with, we brought in a different artist to perform the song and one of them was an artist that I have to take a little bit of credit for, putting back together Strange Advance, Strange Advance covered Novo Hard, which is, I'm not gonna say it's the best track on the album, but I don't know if there's a better track on the album

than that one. And they performed that as part of their encore, sorry, Strange Advance does. And so yeah, there's a lot of, a lot of synergy between all these bands. Did you listen to the very recent visit to my basement by Drew Arnott? Yes. And we did a whole strange. And I was with them that, that night. So you know what your name,

no wonder I had to finally book you on Toronto Mike because your name had been like Ringing in my ear for a long time now and I'm like, uh, we've uh, but I think we were worlds away No puns and no pun intended. No, that was totally intended. Come on Absolutely. My goodness gracious. So shout out to spoons. Uh, love those guys. They're sweethearts, too I mean would you work with assholes if it was an asshole band? love those guys, they're sweethearts too. I mean, would you work with assholes? If it was an asshole band, would you even bother with them? Here's the thing, you never know if they're gonna be asses until you actually book them. Certain people, you know, get along with certain people, other people don't for whatever reason. And if I book artists for the first time, there's always that little apprehension, you know, what are they like?

I mean, they come with preconceived notions, but you know, you're dealing with them at a certain level, so maybe other people are dealing with at a different level. And I'll give you a perfect example, like with the Art of Noise that we just had here. I mean, nobody's been able to bring them over to Canada since 1986. Which is wild.

Which is incredible. And we kept them over for the secret show and nobody knew. So imagine the Art of Noise performing in front of 100 people. It's like little dude are performing in your basement and you're calling your buddies over to say, listen, the Art of Noise is here. Do you want to come by and see them perform? That's basically what it's like. So, um, didn't know what they were like first time, of course, booking them and they were, I'm telling you, I again, can't

say enough good things about them. They, uh, and we'll have some news coming up on the other noise coming up very soon Okay, so people should you don't want to break that news here No, because I can't I can't as of yet cuz I'm very left go no, no No, he doesn't even know but it may be but he would know but it may be in the book that Perry's writing Where's he at with that book? Yeah, we're starting on it I mean we kind of go back to the genesis of, you know. Is the name of the book, Sousa Palouza? No, it's the, that's the concert series,

which will be held on an annual basis. But you could use that name, come on, Tom Wilson uses the name, Beautiful Scars for everything. Yeah, no. Musical, albums, songs, books. We actually put it out online and we narrowed the options down to 10

But people could have submitted their own title and because our brand is SUSE the whatever happens to be so it's going to be titled SUSE the book and SUSE that's a Portuguese name. That's a Portuguese name. Yeah, you were born in Portugal Yes, I was born actually in the middle of the Atlantic the Azores Which a lot of people don't even know I remember when immigrated in 74 at the age of 10, uh, having, you know, in grade four maps of the world and it wasn't even listed. So way too small. And then all of a sudden people go, where are you from? And I go right here and they go, well, where's here?

I don't see anything there. I go, yeah, it's, it's, it's there. And that was kind of a, uh, a learning curve. But, uh, and then being here today with you Yeah, I kind of come a long way baby I kind of pinch myself every day and that will be part of the book coming over to immigrating to a new country and not speaking the language and then not seeing your dad for two years and being the baby of five to this day, I'm still babied by my two older brothers two older sisters, so it's

I've been blessed again. It's been a good life. Can't complain. It's a good life if you don't weaken. Now one quick, before I move on to the next jam, we've got five more great jams to go. Next time you have, cause I remember, I think it was very recently you had a concert you were promoting, I think at classic bowl, which had both spoons and honeymoon suite. Is that correct? Not well, not on the same part of the same concert series, but different nights. Oh, different nights. Different nights. That's part of our McCool concert series, which ran for three days.

On the first day we had Saga, Harlequin, and Images in Vogue. On the second day we had Honeymoon Suite, Street Heart, Lee Aaron, plus we brought in the, sorry, Derry's daughter, Liam Ar the, uh, Lee, uh, sorry, Derry's daughter, Liam Arlene, 12th for American Idol to perform. So we actually had four artists. And then on the Saturday night we had the Art of Noise, we had Spoons, and then we had Bowie Revisited, which is an incredible Bowie band out of Montreal that has two box members, Daniel and Francois. So that was- Okay, so different night. Only because if I thought I heard, um, now it turns out I'm wrong as usual. Uh, Robert Lawson just jumped out of the bushes and told me wrong again. Mike, remind me to bring up Robert later in regards to Randy Backman actually, cause I got homework for you.

But if you ever did have spoons and honeymoon suite on the same day, we've had, okay. Yeah. Okay. You have had, okay. You have have had okay, I'm not going to Okay, the first two years that earlier I know the first two years of a bowl That's who we had we had honey. We didn't do that You have to invite special guest Rob Bruce Because Rob Bruce played keyboards for all the hits from spoons and then he went on to play keyboard Rob has an open invitation or honeymoon Honeymoon Suite. He knows that. I've communicated with Rob X number of times, including for Rob's own. Because he's the link.

Yeah, including Rob's personal performances. So he doesn't even have to play with any of those bands. You can give Rob his own show. And he's performed, when I booked Rough Trade at the Alamo, Rob was a keyboard player. He did, yeah, a thing with a Church of Trees. Yeah. Absolutely, they're all connected here.

Everyone's connected here. Carol Pope too, great FOTM. Okay, let thing with a church of trees. Absolutely. They're all connected here. Everyone's connected here. Carol Pope to great FOTM. OK, let's kick out another jam. You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar When I met you I baked you out, I shook you up and turned you around Turned you into someone new Now five years later on you've got the world at your feet Success has been so easy for you But don't forget it's me who put you where you are now

And I can put you back now too Don't, don't you want me You know I can't believe it when I hear that you won't see me Don't, don't you want me? You know I don't believe you when you say that you don't need me It's what you like to find You think you've changed your mind You better change it back or we will both be sorry Don't you want me baby? I don't want to ruin the song.

I only do it in my car, car and shower. People know how to scream the song afterwards. Okay, talk to me. This is, I mean, again, from the first time I heard this song, it was, it was hook line and sinker. What's the great opening line, right? Oh, this is I mean again the advantage of all these songs It literally takes you back to a specific point in time music is literally the only art form that can a painting can't do that Even though I'm an avid reader. I I can't remember when I read like my favorite book of all time is

1984 I can't remember when I read like my favorite book of all time is 1984. I can't remember when I first read it. I've read it multiple times, but I can't remember the first time I read it. We're living in now, right? Yeah. 1984. And, uh, but all of a sudden hearing that being in high school, I remember, uh, one of our friends, uh, John and I can't remember his last name, but I know his first name was John came in. He had one of these big, you know, boom players. Of course, boombox. Boomboxes and...

Well, we usually have another name for it, but we evolved. Exactly, yeah. And right across the street, a good Catholic voice who went to Cardinal H.J. High School in Brampton, we had a park across the street where we could actually smoke. And all of a sudden, first thing in the morning, he comes in with this big boombox and this is playing. I go, what the hell? Yeah. big boombox and this is playing. I go what the hell? And actually I got to know Martin who actually

started the band, who's also then left the band to perform to form Heaven 17. So hopefully we'll have some news on them as well. I gotta say I am impressed because you're following your passions and you're doing it. You're putting in the work and you're doing it. Honestly, huge inspiration for me as I sit here now, because I'm trying to do something on a much smaller scale. But I can see down the road, you've got the blueprint I can follow to bring all those 90s Canadian alt rock bands that I adore, do the same thing for them. You can. The rusty, lowest of the low.

I could go on and on. You can. And to... I'm not inviting you in to collaborate. I'm gonna steal your blueprint, buddy. No, but here's the thing about talking about following your passion. One of my other favorite bands of all time is Simple Minds. I just, if I were ever to work with Simple Minds,

here's what I can tell you, Mike, I would literally retire the next day because I can't book anybody else that would literally surpass Simple Minds, here's what I can tell you Mike, I would literally retire the next day because I can't book anybody else that would literally surpass Simple Minds. We'll elaborate more on this in three songs. So for me, since I can't work with Simple Minds as a band, as a collective because of the Live Nation issue and they haven't been to Canada since 2018. So follow them to London, Ontario. And then the next night they performed at the Nats Meridian Hall, I think at the time

it was called the Sony Center. So back to back nights and again, it's watching Simple Minds is a dream for me and to work with them. Well, it's funny, I just saw Bratz. Have you seen this documentary on the Brat Pack? No, no. Okay, cause they closed with a scene

from the Breakfast Club. So, okay. And so what I try with a scene from the Breakfast Club, so okay. And so what I try to do is to say, if I can't get the whole band, then maybe I can pick them off one at a time. Right, right. So I announced, I think it was about a month ago, been after him for quite a while and read his book,

which he just recently released called A Very Simple Mind, which Derek Forbes, for any Simple Minds fans out there, he was the bass player. I mean, Waterfront, actually I was listening to Waterfront on the way here. The opening bass riff is, if anybody hasn't heard it before, please do yourself a favor and listen to it. So Derek and I have been communicating for about, I'd say two years off and on. And, uh, so when he released his book gave me kind of more of an end to,

to continue the conversation and fortunate enough to now we booked Eric coming for March 30th to do an intimate session where he's going to perform. He's got his own band and then plus talk about his book and all the simple mind stories and on and on. So amazing. And that's a, at the classic, classic again, be part of our Intimate Series because the advantage of the Intimate Series, it has a Q&A component and of course, just a storytelling component. So it's like, what was it like? Cause everyone wants to be, you know, behind the curtain. Like, what was it like? What was it like? And you're preaching

to the choir on this one. So individuals will actually get to go behind the curtain. So Derek will basically tell everyone all the simple mind stories from the early days into their hey days. And people can ask questions, right? People can ask questions. So it's a two-way conversation, right? So you can have a follow-up. So it works out. So any questions that anybody is dying to get answered, those shows are the ones that you can actually get to get answered. And I now have that's amazing. And I now have a review from Midtown Gord, who saw again, he saw

Honeymoon Sweet, Streetheart and Lee Aaron at the bowling alley. OK, I almost called it O'Conner Bowl. You can't you can't which is long gone, of course long gone. It became townhouses as as as will happen in the city of Toronto. Okay, his review is loved it didn't know what to expect in a bowling alley and it was perfect. So that's a good way to giving it an example about how successful the series is for the first time ever. we sold tickets to Nunavut.

We had people come down from Nunavut. We sold tickets to all provinces except Saskatchewan. So if there's anyone from Saskatchewan, listen, please make sure you at least purchase one ticket so I can state that we sold tickets to every province. We sold tickets to 19 US states. Sold tickets to Germany, sold tickets to Australia, and unbeknownst to me, Michael Sadler, the lead singer of Saga,

who we had on Thursday night, says, Ed, don't forget, I also have people coming up from Venezuela for the show. So people came up from Venezuela. And the thing that was, kinda caught me off guard about the German individuals that came over, Saga literally lives in Germany. So they're there constantly. They make a living in Germany, but these individuals from Germany

wanted to see Saga perform in their hometown. That's wild. So that's why they, that's why they came over. Yeah. A quick story about Saga back, I think it was in the late eighties, early nine, it must've been the sometime in the eights, so Q107 at the time. A DJ had some type of contest where he basically stated, name me your favorite Canadian band. And somebody called in and they said Saga. And the DJ goes, no, I said Canadian bands. They're not Canadian.

Like even the Q107 DJ didn't even know. And you don't remember who it was. I don't know, but all I know is I got back to Saga. Yeah. But the management team said, if you wanna make it big, you have to get out of Canada. So to this day, there's still people that don't even know that Saga is a Canadian band. And, and they're again, one of my favorites, great people and, you know, just a great all around man. And shout out to cousin Janna, who I think listening at home is a big sag ahead

as well. But by the way, here's a fun fact about Midtown Gord before we move on to the next jam, is that his wife is from, and I hope I say this right, Tersera Azor? Yeah, Tersera, that's a... Oh, I butchered that. Yeah, he butchered that. I butchered it, he wrote it.

That's one of the, because the Azores, there's nine islands, so that's the second. I come from the biggest one, which is San Miguel. And he comes from, actually it's known more for, it's like I think bullfighting that's what they're known okay that's Midtown Gord's wife yeah from uh from there uh good to know okay this song I'm gonna dedicate it to Perry Lefkoe he's got enough mentions don't make him cry you're gonna make him cry I played it for him when he was over and he cried so we'll talk about all the tears this song causes on the other side and I have a story about them after the song okay

but all the tears this song causes on the other side. And I have a story about them after the song. Okay. Do you need Kleenex Ed? I got Kleenex Ed. No, no, I'm good, I'm good. ["Kleenex Ed"] If you need a friend, don't look to a stranger. You know in the end, I'll always be there. And when you're in doubt, and when you're in doubt And when you're in danger

Take a look all around And I'll be there I'm sorry but I'm just thinking of the ride Just to say I promise you I know they don't sound the way I planned them to be But if you wait around the wall I'll make you fall I promise you I will I promise you I will I promise you I will I promise you I will

I think Perry right now is dancing with tears in his eyes. Again, no pun intended, right? If Midge is listening. I hope Midge is listening. By the way, Midge, great guest. I just said, Midge, if you're listening, you deliver. That guy gives good punch. And this is again, I love how all our stories come full circle. You know where Midge lives?

Portugal. Portugal. Yeah, he told me off the top there. I know, I expected it to be in England or something. No, he moved to Portugal X number years ago. Wow. And that was when Portugal was still alive in the Euros. But they're long gone now. Yeah, well, I mean, they should have beat France, but that's a completely different story. And I told you before we recorded, because my 10-year-old is a huge Cristiano Ronaldo freak.

Like, he wears the jersey all the time. It's his favorite soccer player. And when he scores, both my son and Ronaldo Ronaldo when they score, they say this, they go Sue and I think they're saying that because of you, but I like that. That's a, that'll be my story from now on. All right. When in Rome, as they say, not Portugal, when in Rome, by the way, Rome capital of Italy, if you want authentic Italian food, that's in Miss By the way, Rome, capital of Italy. If you want authentic Italian food that's in Mississauga, not Rome, because Rome's a long way to go to get your pasta, you do know Palma Pasta's in your backyard. Palma Pasta's in Mississauga and Oakville. Delicious authentic Italian food. You do know that, right, Ed?

Absolutely. Love pasta. Pasta and Chinese food are the two, my two staples. That, that I enjoy. Can I send you home with a frozen lasagna from Palma Pasta? You can send me home with any type of pasta. Well, I would never send you home with anything but Palma Pasta, which is the best lasagna. So you're going to go home with a Palma Pasta. Talk to me about when in Rome. When in Rome, again, part of our intimate sessions where you can kind of find out how things came about

and the question that gets asked most often to the artists is like, where does your name come from? And When in Rome came from the fact that when people in the UK, especially London, went to Manchester, they acted like they own the place, like because they're from London. So the band says, no, when you're in Manchester, you act like you're in Manchester. So, and then that kind of dovetailed into when in Rome, do as Romans do. Right. And I love both Clive and Andrew become some of my best friends,

Clive Farrington and Andrew Mann. Clive lives out in Orange County, California, and Andrew Mann lives out in London now, but they're originally from Manchester and the news that I have I'll break it here. They're gonna come back This year, so if any when in Rome fans are listening Keep a lookout for a when in Rome date, but they will be back this year. They'll be back Yeah, they'll be back and recently Perry Lefkoe was excited to tell me he's not the only one who cries during that song No Another quick story during a winner own show is on we usually do our intimate shows on Sunday night

So got a call from a mutual friend of mine and Kujo Joseph and My friend goes, you know, I just received a call from Curtis his wife is the biggest winner. Rome fan. So is it possible that they can attend? Of course, all our shows sell out. And what am I going to say?

No, Chris Jones and what you can't come. You don't say no to. Yeah. So they came and his wife, Stephanie comes running in. She gives me a bit. She goes, I love you. I go, no, it's not me you love. It's the two gentlemen in the in in the room so I took her in and so she was literally like crying saying you know of course promise and when Rome is their favorite band and then she goes you know people always say how tough Curtis is every time when in

Rome plays on the radio and I'm of course sing along with it and I look at Curtis and you should see the stream of tears just running down his face and if only people knew that he's I mean the effect that this song also has on him and at the end of the night we used to do a raffle draw for a custom guitars of the band and she purchased I don't know a whole slew I mean she must've spent hundreds of dollars on purchasing these raffle tickets for the guitar. And guess who won? She won. Amazing.

Not planned, I mean, it's just one of those things. No, she stuffed the ballot box, which is illegal. That's legal. Yeah, and she took the customized when in Rome guitar home. So I love that story because it's true, you know, these athletes, they present this tough exterior or whatever, but then meanwhile, they're listening

to a song like that and they're weeping like a baby. I love it. And they haven't been back since, but we've brought back When in Rome X number of times. And again, they're coming back just because of the demand. They ran the promise and heaven knows, they're coming out with a new album. So we're gonna be part uh, release party for them.

Okay. Amazing. You're kicking ass. We have the anti penultimate song here, but first I'm just going to give you a gift. I gave you the lasagna. I gave you the beer. This Brown book right there is the history of Toronto Maple Leafs baseball. It's an awesome book.

They play at Christie Pittsits. I was there last Sunday. I'll be there again in early August. I think it's August 4th. I'm throwing out the first pitch and I'll be broadcasting from just beyond the left field fence. Awesome baseball. No ticket required. You can have a beer, grab a dog, sit on the the hills at Christie Pits and take in some amazing baseball and we'd love to have everybody out there. Ed, you would love it. It'll find a good place in my bookshelf. Well, you got to read it first. No, absolutely. All right. I mean, I was thinking, uh, yeah, Cujo. I was thinking, oh,

I would love to get Cujo on Toronto Mike and just play that song and see what happens. Okay. That's what I'm thinking. I'm going to pitch something to you before the anti penultimate jam. I just like to say the word anti penultimate, but I just like to say the word anti-penultimate, but I'm gonna pitch this to you. So I had Mid Year on, I had Honeymoon Suite on, but none of this had anything to do with Ed Souza, even though they were doing events that you promote. So we should collaborate in that.

When you bring an artist to Toronto, there should be an element where either I come to Classic Bowl and record them, or they come here. But we work something out where to promote other stuff at Classic Bowl In their concert they come on Toronto Mike like we should have this sounds sounds like a plan Well, I don't have any issues with that as long as the artist is okay with that Well, I mean we can because I can always say, you know, you're not coming back But depending how big the artist like I would I bike my gear to Christie Pitts and set up,

I would a hundred percent bike my gear to Classic Bowl set up to talk to some great artists that are gonna be, maybe they're doing a sound check or something. Yeah, listen, Derek Forbes being one of them, right? I mean, how many times you get an opportunity to speak to Simple Lines. So I'm just saying, you and I, this Toronto mic, Ed Souza collaboration,

too much synergy for me. I just can't get enough of this I can't get enough the live stream says all your songs are bangers and they really are they're all bangers I just can't get enough, I just can't get enough All the things you do to me and everything you say I just can't get enough, I just can't get enough We slip and slide and we fall in love And I just can't seem to get enough

When is Depeche Mode playing the Classic Ball? You never know, I've reached out actually to Vince Clark who is the principal writer on the debut album including Just Can't Get Enough. So the possibility does exist. Tell me why you why you love this song. Well you know 1981 again the CFNY connection and regardless if individuals don't like this genre there's no way individuals can't like this song. Right. It's so catchy and I'm fairly certain that it's not David Gohan's favorite song to sing and maybe Martin Gore to play because it wasn't really theirs.

It was Vince Clark's. But I mean, all you have to do is go to Depeche Mode Show and see exactly which show, sorry, which song has the most influence on the attendees. And this is basically this one and Enjoy the Silence. I mean, Personal Jesus is okay. I mean, to me, people are people. When I say okay in relation to this one, but it's this one and Enjoy the Silence. This is the banger. This is the banger.

This is the Depeche Mode. Yeah, there's no... And it's debut album. I mean, they've... The thing with Depeche Mode is, as opposed to Simple Minds, and I tell this to everyone as well, and I love both bands, Simple Minds is still putting out tremendous work. Soul's This Kiss, maybe when you're bored, might go on YouTube if you haven't listened to it. It's off their new album, Direction of a Heart, it's incredible. It's tough for these legacy bands though, when they have great new music,

cause everybody just wants the hits. Yeah, that's the problem, cause they have to try to incorporate at least a song or two into their setlist. They Pesh Mode usually incorporates about four or five into their setlist, which then every time you incorporate a song, you have two options, which is to increase the setlist time, which because of curses and all that they really can't in some cases make it much longer or they

have to in a sense eliminate one of the fan favorites. And fans are not interested in that. But this is a song that just, it gets everybody moving. It's got my heart rate pumping here. Call my doctor! This can't be healthy. Okay. I want to shout out again. I don't know why I'm shouting this out. I've talked about it a couple of times, but if anyone listening wants to hear more love for Ed Souza, you'll hear it in the midge year episode of Toronto Mike, which was very recent. It was episode 1514. This one's 1521. That's how recent it was. Mike chats. This is what the description I wrote at the time, Mike chats with musician Midge here about Ultravox, Vienna of course, one of the big Ultravox songs,

the passing of Chris Cross. Do they know it's Christmas? That's, I feel like Bob Geldof hogs all the oxygen. He does. And Midge is a type of individual that he- He lets them? He lets them. That's, it's not, listen, if that floats Bob's boat, boat You know more power to Bob, but it has no effect on Mitch, but make no mistake the song Do they know it's Christmas the primary composer is mid year? Yes, okay, we know I Last time Mitch I brought Mitch to the Elmo. It just him and I in the green room and so he's sitting on the couch I'm just standing up and I go to Mitch. I go midge do you ever pinch yourself that you're midge he looks at me he's got a big

grin on his face he says no you know what I've never done that but never stop pinching yourself he goes every time I meet an artist that I just love their work I literally pinch myself and he also says he goes back to Scotland quite often to walk the same sidewalks because he says he never wants his feet to leave the ground and that's the type of individual if anybody has a met Midge do yourself a favor head down to Susa Palouse on August 16th it's not a promo because the show is doing exceptionally well like are there tickets available I don't tease people

yeah they where do they go if they want to grab that last ticket elmacombo.com how did you get hooked up with the Elma Combo? Through a mutual friend. Michael Weckerly and I become really good friends. So he really enjoyed the work. His mom taught at my high school, which makes me- Really? I don't know if he went to my high school

because he's a bit older than me, but his mom, Mrs. Weckerly, who's no longer with us, sadly just passed away, but she taught at Michael Power High School when I was there. Great job. So again, we got connected through a mutual friend and Michael really enjoyed the work that we do. So he asked if I'd be interested in assisting,

bringing, you know, well-known artists to- Rough trade, I know these are great shows. I mean, mid-year. Mid-year, you mean ABC, a quick story about ABC. Yeah. So had Martin and I were together for four days cause he was here for two days. And that was the same show that Midge was performing because if anybody hasn't been to the Elmo do yourself a favor Heather because the

Elmo has two stages a lower stage and an upper stage. So for the first time in history I had Midge performing on the lower stage the same capacity everything's basically identical. Does that lower stage looks like it's a smaller room? I know because there's not as it's just laid out differently, but capacity-wise is the same. Okay, I trust you. So we had Midge performing from 7 till 8.30, and then ABC performing from 9 o'clock until about 10.30. Oh, so you can go to both. You can go to both. You need two separate tickets, but you could go to both shows. It's like a double header, but yeah, two separate tickets. And so I had Martin Fry with me for four days off on,

because they, of course, arrived a day earlier, get everything set up, and stayed the day after the show. So I picked him up personally from the airport, him and his wife. So I had Martin beside me. And when I was a kid growing up, after quote unquote my BTO days, the guy that I really wanted to

be was Brian Ferry from Roxy Music. He's the James Bond of music. I really mean he's so cool. Sharp dressing. Sorry, everything. No hats, but he's about I think 18, close to 20 years older than I am. And then when ABC came out in the early eighties, all of a sudden I'm like, going Martin Fry, he's like a, a much younger version to Brian Ferry, but same thing, very cool.

Really sharply, just the style, right? And then you fast forward to, you know, a year ago, a year and a half ago, here I am with Martin Fry. So he's sitting in my car and I'm looking at him and I'm going Should I tell him that I wanted to be? I? Don't know if that's cool. Right cool move. It's not a cool move, but internally, you know The fanboy comes out of you and you're saying, you know, this is this is cool to have Martin Frye nice again typical Did you tell him? No, no, I never told him. So if he's less than I think he made the right move

Yeah, and creeps people. Yeah, exactly again typical did you tell him no no I never told him so if he's less than right move yeah and yeah exactly and so but yeah great great great gentleman and so fortunate enough to have him for for a couple of the shows that that we had and we've had another act that one of my favorites that I'm fortunate enough to bring up for example information society out of the US nobody's been able to bring him up to Canada. So a China crisis Bring him every year to Did the only one as a matter of fact last year for the first time since I believe was 84 maybe 86 you're living the life that they brought it man that they brought their full band So normally come with the fourth piece this time they came with their full six piece band just to do our shows they flew in

On the Friday, they flew back to the UK on the Monday. They just do our shows. Spaniel Ballet guys, Steve Norman did me a solid. He flew in from London on the Friday, flew back to London on the Monday. Just did our show and then flew back. Did no other shows. So we're fortunate enough to that individuals

I can pick up the phone. And that's how we got connected with the art of noise. Booked Jesus Jones. Right here, right here, right now. And it seems a little late era for you though I feel. But right here, right now. But keeping in mind that they weren't grunge. They were not. So they're trying to kind of keep that 80s kind of vibe going. I was just hanging on by my fingernails. I said, great, Jesus Jones, thanks for doing me a solid. And so got connected to LMX number years ago.

So Ian Baker, who's the leader of the band and the keyboard player. So we hit it off like we do and we're fortunate enough to hit it off with every band. We became really good friends. And when I reached out to the Art of Noise and unbeknownst to me, Ian Peel from Art of Noise is one of the best mates of Ian Baker from Jesus Jones. The Ians all hang out together. So then Ian from Art of Noise goes to Ian Baker and says, I got contacted from this Ed Sousa guy from Canada.

We kind of heard of him, don't really know much about him, but you've performed, what's he like? And Ian Baker said, when it calls, you know, don't really know much about him, but you've performed. What's he like? And Ian Baker said when it calls you just go That's the highest compliment. Yeah, and then all of a sudden your reputation. Yeah get contacted and they said okay We'll do the show same thing. They flew in just did our our mcpole concert on the saturday night I kept them over for our secret show nobody knew about on the sunday and they flew back on the monday So of the attainable acts, like let's not dream in Technicolor here, but of the attainable acts,

who's the highest on your list that you think you should be able to get in and you're working on it? Or is this too confidential? No, no, I mean, to be honest with you, we start with a blank canvas. There's really nothing, like you mentioned at the outset about the cure. I mean, the cure is on the list.

So it's not a matter of them not being on the list. But they want seven figures. No, no, but- You don't dabble in that game. No, but but that doesn't matter defeat when I say it doesn't matter It doesn't restrict you from placing him on that canvas sure right if all of a sudden three big Yeah, exactly through a connection maybe through a sponsor maybe through a private function You reunite Oasis and bring them that in classic Bowl Oasis. You could charge, I think you could charge a hundred thousand dollars. I don't think even Jesus Christ could put them back together. That's exactly. Funny thing, which actually if Andrew

Klowater is listening, I got to give him credit, he's our official photographer. If anybody hasn't seen Andrew's work, please see some of Andrew's photos. So we booked Jesus Jones recently to perform at Revival, which is the club downtown, and on Easter weekend. So we had Jesus Jones performing in a church, in an altar, on Easter weekend. Wow, sacrilegious. You know, how can you get, I don't know,

it's just one of those things that. Now I'm thinking, now I'm thinking, I'm just brainstorming here, but let's pretend, I don't know it just one of those things that now I'm thinking now I'm thinking just brainstorm here But let's pretend I don't know you're having beers in a British pub or something and no no. Yeah, no, it's there Yeah, no, sir. Not like you not Liam. So no, it's there because I think no is the whole doubt here I think Liam would do it for the money or whatever But okay, so you and him I don't you hit it off and he trusts you and you tell him some of these things You guys have a great time. You can't understand what he's saying, but you're having a great conversation. Okay. Let's say this conversation goes to a point where he says, and I like you. All

right. But you missing the point, Mike. What was the point that I said at the outset? You gotta have a passion for the music. Exactly. That's not grunge. No, no, no. But always this is, you know, they're okay, but you don't even, you won't even. So I understand. I can actually now psychologically just being an armchair like psychologist listening to you, your music was destroyed by grunge. No wonder you hate grunge, okay?

But Britpop is a whole separate animal. It's a separate animal, but even within Britpop, there's certain acts that just don't, here's one that I reached out to. I mean, not to say it's not gonna happen. I reached out to Lam I mean, not to say it's not gonna happen. I reached out to L'Amal from Casagugu, which they've never ever performed in North America. And for those that don't know Casagugu,

they had the song called Too Shy, which is one of my favorite songs. And Nick Betts plays with Howard Jones. So every time Howard Jones comes to Canada to perform, what do they play? Too Shy. Right. And so like bands like that. So again, I have to have a reason to get up in the morning. If I'm just gonna get up to book a band that somebody else likes, well let them get up in the morning. Alright, so because I was gonna ask like if he's... But Simply Red. Simply Red. I really love. So Mick Hucknall, potentially. Yeah, Simply Red I

really, really enjoy. I envision more Toronto Mike, Ed Sousa collaborations in the future because I really like how you're wired. I see, I think you're an inspiration to me here and let's kick out your penultimate. I was almost good. What is it now? It's a penultimate jam and we'll talk more about this band on the other side. Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la You won't dream She's the one from the inside and I'm the ecstasy You won't dream Crashing beats and palatines, every time in front of me You won't dream And the world goes hot And the city takes And the beat goes crashing All along the way Don't you forget about this song, New Gold Dream, Simple Minds.

If anybody's a Simple Minds fan, the New Gold Dream album, every single track is beyond a banger. I remember back, I believe it was 84, it was a double bill, them and China Crisis at Massey Hall. They had four consecutive sold out nights, which back in the day was kind of unheard of, until I think Fair Naked Ladies broke the record, they beat the Russia record I believe. But back then that was quite a do. And sitting in the cheapest seats, because of course going to high school and having a part-time job, so you had to really pick the shows and you had to buy the cheapest possible seat.

So I might have been sitting in the roof instead of actually inside Massey Hall, but I distinctly remember it was, again, as I'm being transported back there, it was... And then fast forward to having China crisis come regularly and we talk about how they performed those Simple Minds as a support act on multiple occasions and the Jesus Jones road manager was touring with Simple Minds just this past summer with, because he does work for Delamitri, another Scottish band. So I told them, I said listen, get Jim and Charlie, I need something from them. So they personalized a concert t-shirt for me, so and when Sebastian came over to History not too long ago, he also works

with them, another Scottish band, so he presented me with Jim and Charlie t-shirt. So inch by inch I'm kind of getting closer, but Simple Minds is, again, they're Simple Minds. It just, it's every single thing that they've done has been, has been beyond incredible. I just- Is this your favorite band of all time? No, Flock of Seagulls are- Oh spoiler, we have one more song to go. Yeah, Flock of Seagulls are my favorite, spoiler, we have one more song to go. Yeah, Flock of Seagulls are my favorite band of all, but they're... Simple Minds, 1A, 1B. Exactly, it's like 1 and 1A.

There's no... The thing with... Difference between Simple Minds and Flock of Seagulls, unfortunately, because of the mix in the Flock of Seagulls as far as the band, you know, they split up, they had some issues that people that know the band They know what issues are whereas the two principles of simple minds, which is Jim and Charlie they've continued on so they kept that unit together. They brought in X number of different members But you know Jim is the principal songwriter. You know Charlie of course does all the music

so collectively they've continued on. Whereas with the Flock of Seagulls, Mike is kind of the last. But he's, you know, he wrote all Flock of Seagull songs. He had his brother in the band. And he owns the name. And he owns the name. He had his brothers in the band. Ask Randy Backman how important that is.

And so, but again, the difference is, so Flock of Seagulls stopped creating new music. Even though Mike is getting back, hopefully they'll release a new album this year, where Simple Minds just continued on. So the library is a lot more extensive than the Flock. I mentioned I had homework and I wanted to bring back Robert Lawson. So there is an episode of Toronto Mike with Randy Backman. And it's a great episode. You should check this out. I know you're a big BTO fan.

Then I had a gentleman named Robert Lawson who wrote, he wrote a great book about the Guess Who, who asked if he could come over and fact check the Randy Backman episode. And then that, so now there's an episode of Robert Lawson, the official fact checker of the Toronto Mike Podcast, fact checking Randy Backman's episode. So I had encouraged you to listen to both. I'm just assigning you homework here. I think if you're a BTO head, you'll love Randy Backman's episode. So I would encourage you to listen to both. I'm just assigning you homework here I think if you're a BTO head, you'll love Randy back in this episode and you might enjoy the the fact check of the end one of the the reasons that I really want to meet Randy besides telling that that in

From a musical standpoint. He was my first love BTO was my first love, right? I remember seeing him back in I believe was, when he was doing one of his storytelling tours. He was a great story. Yeah, and he was in Oakville performing at the art center. So I'm sitting there and he's telling a story how say American woman came about and all that. Yeah, Kitchener I wanna say. Yeah, it was Kitchener.

It was like, I think a curling ring or something. Yeah, you told me the story. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you know, the guitar string broke and all that. So I'm sitting there, I'm like going, wow, this is a great story, but I wish I could follow up and ask Randy a question, but because of the capacity, I think it's about four or 500. You really can't have a two way conversation in that type of setting.

Right. So that's where the Genesis for the R&B sessions came about. So I said, if I make it more intimate to a hundred and a hundred some odd people, I can control it. And then the artist gets really close to the fan. The fan gets closer to the artist. Do people put up their hands and then someone comes over? The way I actually started it off was because I was a little hesitant to hand anybody the microphone,

cause you didn't know what was coming out the other side. F Trudeau! And so what I got them to do at the entrance to the stage, they actually wrote their question on a little piece of paper, basically stating their name and what their question was. So I was the one reading the questions. But because we have such a loyal following and-

You can trust your- But now you can kind of trust your audience and the audience kind of knows because then, it kind of be part and the part of the BlackBall not to attend any more of our shows. So they're very cognizant of that. Right. You don't want to get banned from Classic Bowl. Exactly.

No, God forbid. So then now basically they absolutely, they raise their hand and get in the microphone. And then they like the art of noise worked out really, really well. How like Gary had the principal in the band along with JJ, Gary had absolutely no money. He moved in with JJ and all of a sudden they kind of started

and Gary's an engineer by trade, but he says, I was dead broke, didn't have any money. So I just kind of was renting a room from JJ's house. And then that kind of started the, you know, and Trevor Horn and all that came about. So from there, those are kind of things that you would never know unless you attend one of these. No I'm digging it. So like if people say I got to get in on this Classic Bowl Mississauga action

like is there a website? They can go on Classic Bowl.com we have a dedicated Rock and Bowl sessions page we have a dedicated McBowl page we also have a dedicated pop-up show page, which is the other series that we do, hence the name, D-Show Just Pop Up. The next one we have coming up is The Box on August 11th. So I get contacted by artists and they say, Ed, we're looking for a show, can you just give us a show? So they just pop up.

So no tickets, basically they receive an email confirmation of their purchase, they show up again we limit to a hundred some odd people, so the next one we have for that is the box, but that one's sold out so... You want a little fun fact here, right? Okay, so you can't get in on that one, but a quick fun fact for you, because you said the box and I'm thinking now I'm thinking of a big box hit where Sass Jordan is singing backup vocals, okay? And I'm thinking the fun fact that Sass Jordan's husband back of vocals, okay? And I'm thinking the fun fact that Sass Jordan's husband is the lead singer for the current iteration, the rogue iteration of the Guess Who.

No. Yep. That is a fun fact for you. And even Robert Lawson will fact check that until you am correct. The only thing that John Mark said about Sassel and he knew she was a talent from the first time he heard her. But when they did the video and I think for closer together, yeah, no, but it was, but it was somewhere in the Caribbean. Okay. And, uh, Satchel didn't go, uh, Satchel and was literally the something to do with the vocals or something to that effect that she really wasn't involved with. But John Marks stated that he knew right away. She wasn't long for the box.

She was on her way. Yeah, she was on her way. Yeah, she's fantastic. And then we got one more jam to go, more questions on the other side, but Ed, I'll tell you right now, I've thoroughly enjoyed learning more about you. I was very curious about Ed Souza,

this guy who's booking Spoons and Honeymoon Suite and all these acts, like the band were about to play. I learned a lot more about you. I think you and I will be doing stuff together in the future and I appreciate you dropping by to kick out these jams with me man. Thanks Mike. Thanks Perry. Thanks yeah Perry who sent the orders. Okay you know Perry's brother was in the lowest of the low documentary. I closed out. Oh Elliot? Yeah and I'm a little peeved off because Elliot, who says he loves Toronto Mic'd and listens

and even reviewed it with a five-star review on Apple podcasts, Elliot refuses to come on Toronto Mic'd. I'm like, come on, your brother's crying on Toronto Mic'd. When in Rome, let's go, buddy. So Elliot Lefkoe, if you're out there listening, Toronto Mic'd needs to collect those stories. So you could do it now or you could do it later, but it's going to happen eventually. Hey, before I kick out this final jam, I bet you people know exactly what's coming, too I will give you a piece of advice Ed if you have any old electronics old cables all the

Devices in a drawer at home or in a box at home Don't throw them in the garbage because those chemicals end up in our landfill go to recycle my electronics dot ca Put in your postal code and they'll say hey Here's a depot near you. You can drop them off to be properly and safely recycled. You got that Ed? Got it All right. Let's kick out one more What a surprise this is number one night You gotta sing this one, okay? Come on. Real loud.

Let's go. I've actually been on stage singing this song with Mike. Well, you can do it with this mic. Yeah, I might do it again at Sousa-Palouse on August 17th. Oh I was gonna say you can do it right now with this mic. I walk along the avenue I never thought I'd meet a girl like you Meet a girl like you With open there in tawny eyes The kind of eyes that hypnotize me through Hypnotize me through And I ran, I ran so far away I just ran, I ran so far away

I couldn't get away. Sorry Mike, I just ruined that for you. No, wait, I wanted you to do that because it sounded great, but I love it when passionate fans sing out their belt out their favorite songs. Okay, Flock of Seagulls, true or false? You're the reason Gore Depp is a guitarist in a Flock of Seagulls today. A quick, quick story about that. So it was about the McColl concert series. Back, I believe it

was the second year, I contacted Mike. I said, Mike, do you want to come up and perform as part of the series? He goes, which date? I gave him a date and he said, I'm already booked for that date. I go, okay, well, we'll work on a different date for a different show. He goes, okay. Then the show sold out, with Spoons and Honeymoon Suite on the Saturday night. So I contacted Mike again. I said, Mike, you know what, what about Sunday? He goes, yeah, Sunday, I'm fine.

Cause the Saturday show is in New Jersey, so I can catch a nerdy flight out of New York, head over. And I said, perfect. So I go, I'll get you a backup band. So he goes, are they any good? He didn't know who they were, right? So I said, yeah, I'll get you the backup band. So he goes, are they any good? He didn't know who they were. Right. So I said, yeah, I'll get you the spoons. They're really, really good.

So he, the spoons had a full set. Then Mike had sent five songs for them to, uh, to kind of get working on. So they performed after the show and they went exceptionally well. So after the show, they just started talking, right? Fast forward to a little while later, Mike's looking for a new lead guitarist and he knows the kind of work that Gord does. So Gord's in Italy with his fiance at the time, Meg, who's now his wife, contacts Gord and he says, how would you like to be on the Flock of Seagulls? So Gord contacts me,

he goes, Ed, guess what? He said what? He goes, Mike just contacted me. Meanwhile, I knew what it was about. And so I go, what'd you say? He goes, what do you think I said? And so that's how that came out. Wow, you did that. Because even though for those Flock and Spoons fans, we'll know, and again, coming full circle, I love how this all kind of is dovetailing into each other, the police picnic. Back in, I believe it was 82. That's a Gary's presentation. Yes. On the same bill was the Flock of Seagulls and the Spoons, but they never, they didn't know each other, they didn't talk to each other at different times, whatever. So they didn't really know each other, even though there's

a photo circulating of the Spoons and Flock of Seagulls together. So Mike didn't know anything about The Spoons or Gord specifically and so when I put them together and then next thing you know so you have literally my favorite Canadian band put together with my favorite band so that's it was it was pretty cool it was pretty cool and to this day so I've seen actually went with Gord for a flew with Gord for his first US show with the flock of seagulls was in Chicago back and I think was 2017 give or take 2018 because time goes by really quick and in Chicago so it was them and the romantics a double bill so that worked out. I like about that oh my goodness now do they play any would they play Nova Heart during the flock of seagulls show? Because you know I think sticks will play like a Criminal Mind or something like

that when when Gowen sang it. I guess they could. I just wondered. But it's a matter of... But their crowd doesn't know it. Yeah their crowd especially. I mean even though it's getting kind of a little more recognizable so eventually I think it may happen but Mike's now playing his three new songs that's gonna be in the new album Hopefully again will come out this year, which is Really really good songs, but I'm kind of biased. I really enjoy them. Of course It's kind of bias. That's the whole thing about art super bias any chance we get a gallon at the classic bowl Yeah days we've had outreach previously, time-wise, because of this schedule with sticks

always sometimes gets in the way, but it's a possibility. As a matter of fact, for McBowl for 2025, we already have, well, we have three artists a day, so six are already booked and three, the ink is drying. So it's basically all kind of done. You got to bring in Tom Cochran. The thing with if it's Tom Cochran or I guess Gowan to some extent, here's what I like to do.

I like to bring in artists who don't necessarily play around the area that often because- Although I, you know, Cochran rarely plays Toronto. He doesn't like playing home in his hometown. No, he might, he'll go, maybe you'll lucky if he's in Markham or something like that. But for me, I like to bring, let's say, street heart who really never comes up this way.

Uh, like I did with say Harlequin, right. Is there like a West? Uh, yeah, like they're kind of, you know, they're based West coast. So it may like even strange advance when, uh, when I kind of spoke to drew and that took about a year and a half to convince them to, to go back on the road and but now they're You know, they just headlined the sound of music in in Burlington a couple of weeks ago

They're coming back to Markham on September the 28th. So people get your they're at the flat Oh theater in Markham. So people get your tickets for that. They're gonna be in Ottawa the night before they're gonna be in Montreal the day I think on so 26 26 Montreal, 27 Ottawa, 28 in Markham. And so again these... I like to bring accent that don't necessarily play around the area that much. Love this very much Ed, thanks for doing this again and I gotta get my ass to Classic Bowl. Yeah, yeah, you have an open invitation. Oh my god, can I sing Iran with Flocka Seekers? Well you know what, come on August 17th as part of Susa Felusa because we're really looking forward to that. I need to meet Midge, I

need a photo of Midge here. So again if people are not familiar with it, just a quick plug mic, so on Friday August the 16th Midge is coming, plus his bandmates, so it'll be band in the box, so it'll be a full electronic set along with Chalk Circle. Well yeah, I will just shout out Chris Tate as an FOTM himself. And quick story on Chris Tate, not really that long. Chris, I'll see you tomorrow because we have a private show. Say hi for me. With 5440 and Chalk Circle, So we have a private show tomorrow.

That's a great deal. That we're doing. And then Canada's new sensation as I call them 416 on Friday night and then on Saturday night we have a flock of seagulls, spoons and Viera. She's an incredible solo violinist. So get your tickets all at elmacombo.com. Elmacombo.com. Thank you, Mr. Souza. And that brings us to the end of our 1,521st show. You can follow me on Twitter, blueskyam at Toronto Mike, but go to torontomic.com for your Toronto Mike needs. Much love to all who made this possible. That's Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, RecycleMyElectronics.ca, the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team, and Ed, I forgot to give you your measuring tape from Ridley Funeral Home.

Oh, thank you. Measure what you wish. See you all. Who's up next, Ed? I should do this stuff before I record, but oh, this is exciting. Longtime CBC journalist Robert Fisher makes his Toronto mic debut that's the next episode see you all I wonder if he's gonna kick out any flogging see do it do it see you all

then Your smile is fine and it's just like mine It won't go away Cause everything is rolling great Well I've kissed you in France and I've kissed you in Spain And I've kissed you in places I better not name And I've seen the sun go down on Shaklikur