Wander into any one of a dozen or so blues dens around Greater Toronto on any given night of the week and there's a fair-to-middling chance that Mory "The Sockman" will be digging the scene. And chances are that he'll be one of the few brave souls willing to strut his stuff on the dance floor, while actively urging the stand-around crowd to catch the fever. The guy loves the music; he loves the partying; and he loves being around people. And people are charmed by him!
If the blues had more fans like this, nobody would ever question the future of the music.
But Sockman, a traveling salesman by vocation, is more than just another highly dedicated blues junkie who has sated his craze for the music in countless towns and cities across North America. Soon he'll be making the transition from blues bar patron to patron of the blues.
Salesmen love to dream, and Sockman, a highly successful purveyor of hosiery and men's socks, has always nurtured a fond desire to own his own club. He's certainly met enough owners and musicians to understand the "ins-and-outs" of the industry. Now, he's about to walk the walk-and not just talk the talk!
Mory will be making his directorial debut by organizing a rockin' blues gala at one of Toronto's largest banquet halls on Saturday, January 31, 2004 at The Woodbine Banquet & Convention Hall, 30 Vice Regent Boulevard, Rexdale, Ontario (Hwy 27, one block south of Rexdale Blvd, on the east side near the Woodbine racetrack). It'll be a smashing kickoff to the Superbowl weekend. This promises to be a big-time do, and every lover of music (blues in particular) will be treating it as the highlight of the winter season.
The dream band that Sockman has put together ensures it will be a strictly first class affair. He's dubbed it the "Sock It To You" All Star Band, and it's a knockout assembly. On dueling keyboards, he's paired up legendary Mike Fonfara of Downchild with another major player in Pie Guys' veteran leader, Rod Phillips; while poised on the drum perch will be another Downchild hotshot: the classy Mike Fitzpatrick. If bassist Garth Vogan doesn't elicit that same name recognition, he's certainly acknowledged by the cognoscenti as a brilliant player. Yours truly recalls Vogan's long-term stint with Chuck Jackson's All Stars.
Sockman has signed up two other performers that are constantly on the lips of even the most cursory blues fan: Jack De Keyzer and Dave Rotundo. De Keyzer is hands-down the best blues guitar player to ever come out of Canada, and he has a string of credits a mile wide, including being current winner for Best Canadian Blues CD '6-String Lover'. If you got the best guitar slinger around, then it makes sense to pair him with the hottest harmonica player in town, and super-performer Dave Rotundo is riding a wave of high praise---especially with his current CD 'Blues Ignited' poised to win a heap of awards.
Acting as musical director is Pat Carey, the hard-working saxophonist who's got 15 years under his belt with Downchild. Pat is also a major player on the Toronto Jazz scene with his highly regarded band the Jazz Navigators.
It's no surprise who'll be performing MC duties. The Sockman himself will be up there on the dais telling tales, making mirthful, and working the crowd like a pro. Between the kibitzing, the double entendres, and the general wackiness, the extroverted Mory should keep the assembled in a state of constant amusement. In fact, there can't possibly be a dull moment during the entire evening.
Blues, booze, comedy, football…lovely ladies! A team of wild horses couldn't keep me away that weekend! Anyone within a 100-mile radius of Toronto (hello Western New York!!!) should start making plans for getting tickets to this tremendous evening of entertainment as there's a likelihood it'll sell out very soon.
For information on tickets, e-mail Sockman at: sockman@gertex.com or telephone: 416-244-6984 or 416-727-7012
Tickets are also available at Hartnett's Pub, 68 Six Points Rd., 416-236-5159
and Dior Lounge, 385 The West Mall, 416-621-9010
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