Jimmy George (band)
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Jimmy George was a Canadian folk rock band, who blended Celtic folk with rock influences in a manner similar to Spirit of the West and Great Big Sea.
Formed in Ottawa in 1991, the band at the end of their run at the Duke of Somerset pub consisted of vocalist and guitarist J. Todd, electric guitarist Steve Donnelly, bassist George Jennings, Joel Carlson on mandolin, Jeff Kerr on banjo, Mickey Vallee on accordion, and Tom Werbowetski on drums.
Other members at various times included Christine Chesser (fiddle, vocals - Chickpea), Michael "Spike" Lawson (electric guitar), Michael Eady (fiddle), Colin Burns (bass guitar - Rude Boy), Steve Barry (vocals, acoustic guitar), Rob Porter (drums - Polaris!, The Whirleygigs), Duncan Gillis (acoustic guitar, penny whistle, vocals).
In 1993, after establishing a reputation for a dynamic live show, the band was asked to open for Spirit of the West in Peterborough and Ottawa. At the Peterborough show, the band arrived and the sound man asked "which one of you is Jimmy?" The band was told they couldn't use any of Spirit of the West's equipment and that they would have to pare down the band for the show as there wasn't enough space, time or channels on the board for an 8-member band as the opener. The band was ready to leave when Spirit of the West singer John Mann intervened and said the band was welcome to use any of their equipment if it made things easier. The show went off without a hitch. The next night in Ottawa, the band again opened for SOTW in front of a capacity crowd at Carleton University's Porter Hall. At this show Bill Stunt, producer of CBC Radio's All In A Day program, was in the crowd and approached the band after the show. Stunt offered to record the band's material using funding from the CBC development budget. Over the next few months the songs were honed and recorded at Ottawa's Sound of One Hand studio, and A Month of Sundays was released on Montreal's (now-defunct) Cargo Records later that year with national distribution by MCA Records.
The band toured Canada from coast to coast twice and also played occasional shows in the US including Colgate University in Hamilton, NY and a private function in Detroit, MI.
Venues of note include the Town Pump (Vancouver), Amigo's (Saskatoon), The Rivoli, Horseshoe, and Ultrasound (Toronto), Sidetrack Cafe (Edmonton), Town House (Sudbury), and countless more.
The band played for many years as the house band at the tiny Duke of Somerset every Sunday night regailing the crownd in their music. Often touring bands would stop by "The Duke" to join the band for a few songs or borrow their instruments and play a few tunes and have a pint. Great Big Sea made several such appearances at the Duke on Sunday nights.
The band have ceased recording as a unit, but continued to play an annual reunion show in Ottawa to celebrate St. Patrick's Day for several years. Most recently the band headlined at Ottawa's Tulip Festival and played a headlining show at Ottawa's Barrymore's Music Hall in April, 2005.
The members continue to perform locally in several bands including: Dude Ranch (Spike, Steve, Joel, Rob, Jeff) Bible All-Stars (Steve & Joel) You're My Groupie I'm Your Rock Star (Spike) The Lowbellies, The A-Tease, The Kingmakers (Steve) Garaga (Rob)
Several of the band's songs have been performed by other bands, most notably Breakfast With St. Swithin which appeared on Vancouver band The Town Pants' CD. Other bands have performed the band's Token Celtic Drinking Song despite the fact that the song has no official lyrics and many of the words are improvised and undiscernable even on the recorded version.
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[edit] TV Appearances
The Tom Green Show Rita & Friends (CBC) Lunch TV (CITY TV Toronto) The New Music (Muchmusic) Tiny Hearts Telethon for CHEO (CTV) Various other Telethons and interviews
[edit] Festivals
Northern Lights (Sudbury) Ottawa Folk Festival (Ottawa) Tulip Festival (Ottawa) Mariposa (Toronto) Music West (Vancouver) North By Northeast (NXNE) (Toronto) Canadian Music Week (Toronto) Riverfest (Deep River)
[edit] Videos
One Convention (1995) Four Feet From Shore (1993)
[edit] Discography
- A Month of Sundays (1993)
- Hotel Motel (1995)
- Same #$%! Different Day (2001)
[edit] External links
- Jimmy George info and CD's for sale at TuneVault.com
- Their "last concert"
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