The Toronto Sun n Friday, January 6, 2012

Hail to the King!

Rhythms N Rhymes

SHOWBIZ

47

nazareth

errol

Michael Wrycraft may not go as far as to say that every poetwith-a-guitar whos ever bared their soul at an open mic night has Carole Kings Tapestry to thank for the inspiration. But he will confess that her album shifts my DNA to a warm, fuzzy place every time I hear it.

And that was good enough for the gregarious promoter/ graphic designer when it came time to choose which musician to pay tribute to. Over the years, Wrycraft has conceptualized some of the most original tributes to singers like Kate Bush, Simon & Garfunkel, Elton John and Tom Waits. They are also hugely popular. Tonight at Hughs Room, Wrycraft presents The Two Sides of Carole King, featuring Katharine Wheatley, Micah Barnes, Rebecca Campbell, Barbara Lynch, Christopher Plock, Ivy Mairi, Kurt Swing-

Katharine Wheatleys vaporous, glassy high range tones will be part of the Carole King tribute at Hughs Room tonight.

hammer and Dave Wall. All of us have a list of favourite artists so its not surprising that folks often suggest who he should do a tribute to. But Wrycraft says he chooses a particular artist because I love them and want to hear their music coming out of other musicians mouths. Its that simple, he says. Im selfish! But that love and passion for the artist and the absolute joy I get putting together a dynamic and eclectic show is fantastic. Wrycraft says that Hughs Room erupted when he mentioned Carole Kings name at a James Taylor tribute held there last January. He says King s hugely influential Tapestry, which Britains The Guardian newspaper once claimed ushered in the age of the singersongwriter, was the very first record he bought. I stood in the record department of Kmart in Malton with Tapestry in one hand and Black Sabbaths Masters of Reality in the other, he recalls. I agonized for hours until finally I decided on Tapestry. It was a turning point for me, Wrycraft says. I went nuts for the southern California folk-rock singer-songwriter thing. I would come home after high school, go to my room and listen to Carole King, James Taylor, Harry Chapin, Jackson Browne and Carly Simon. He says Tapestry and Tay-

lors Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon albums served as comfort albums during his teen angst years but also helped him learn the joy of singing harmony and were the templates for songs he wrote in his teens. In the past, Wrycraft has delighted ears by employing someone like Indian/jazz singer Suba Sankaran to offer her interpretation of a Kate Bush song or getting electronic duo LAL to cover their favourite Simon & Garfunkel tune. You may not see that crazy eclecticism tonight, but that wont take away for whats in store for you. Wrycraft can hardly contain his excitement when he raves about the diversity of voices youll hear. They range from Barbara Lynchs dark, ominous, Tom Waitsian approach to Katherine Wheatleys vaporous, glassy high range tones and from Dave Walls soul-drenched voice to Ivy Mairis diabetesinducing frog-croak of a voice. For this show, he says he concentrated more on fantastic vocalists, great pianists and fabulous sing-songwriters who owe more than a passing debt to someone like King. NOTE: The Two Sides of Carole King happens at Hughs Room tonight. The show starts at 8:30 p.m. and admission is $25. 2261 Dundas St. W. 416531-6604.
errol.nazareth@sunmedia.ca

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DJ Medicineman spins a mix of global grooves and ethno-electro hits at Harbourfront Centres Natrel Rink tomorrow. Free. 8-11 p.m. Blues and rockabilly singer Big Rude Jake is at Castros Lounge Saturday. 2116 Queen St. E. 416-699-8272. The Girls Night Out Jazz Jam happens at Chalkers Pub every Wednesday. 247 Marlee. 416-789-2531.

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