While watching the first rough cut of this Montreal music-history-in-the-making night last October it was so apparent how much pure joy there was on stage at Le 9e. From Jake Kimmel’s wide smile and nod to his parents Eric & Sherri while singing Neil Young’s lyrics
And I just turned 22
I was wondering what to do
to the Frank Marino love-in over three hours later as guitar greats Steve Hill and Shane Murphy couldn’t hide their giddiness at the end of an emotional and sensational night of music that honoured the lasting legacy of Live Aid.
Having Josh Trager along for the ride with Frank was extra special. “Incredibly overwhelming and mind blowing” is how Josh describes his long awaited reunion with Frank. Josh spent five years on drums behind Frank before leaving to join Sam Roberts Band. “I deeply appreciate the years I had as part of Mahogany Rush early on in my career and as these past two decades have rolled by I’ve truly missed the unique musical connection Frank and I once shared, so to finally be on stage with him again was an unbelievable whirlwind of emotion. Like old friends tend to do we just picked up from where we left off – it was just too damn short! We were just getting warmed up!”
Thanks again to everybody who contributed to the fund raising effort for https://motherfoodinternational.com
Special props to Rob MacDonald who again managed to shepherd the house band and guest vocalists to new heights. The music veered from classic rock to pop to soul to blues to folk to the spirit of punk and, yes, to rap. And it was handled with grace, beauty and an appropriate edge by Rob, drummer Dan Legault and Celine Dion vet Yves Frulla on keys. But the MVP of the night might have been Alec McElcheran who started and ended the singing and added his considerable talent and versatility to a last second stint as bassist for the Adam Baldwin band including Jake Clemons.
It was worth the wait to get Steve Hill into one of these productions. The Juno winner was phenomenal in his salute to a pair of of Brit groups that have been around for over 60 years.
And here’s to James Correa who asked for the Queen songs and delivered them like a vocal king. While also filming and editing the proceedings with flare and sensitivity.
Until the next time.
Enjoy!
