After eight years, the Pepper Jack Cafe will be closing it's doors for good. It has played host to many great gigs with local and international talent. The PJC will be missed.Ken Inouye sent the following e-mail message to members of the Pepper Jack Facebook Group:
"It's been 8 wonderful years of music, food and friends but also 8 years of very hard work. A bit too much hard work to continue on past June when our lease is up. "
"I'd like to thank you ever so much for all your support of our club and your support of live music in general over all these years. No doubt there are some truly great people who make it fun to throw shows for and with in Hamilton.. Who knew? We've had "maybe" one "fight" in the entire 8 years we've been in downtown Hamilton. I really can't stress enough how great the crowds have been. I've especially admired anyone who's done the research, spotted something interesting and been brave enough to attend a show even if they could not find a buddy or crew to go with.
While I'm at it I'd also like to comment on the abundance of good music coming thru Hamilton. Even when we are gone, many great bands will of course still be coming by the other live music clubs in this city. Not to mention the abundance of talent that this city has in it's own citizens. Please remember that when you go to a show, on top of the potential to have a fun and rich experience, you are also casting your vote and approval to the promoter and/or band to continue coming back and playing Hamilton.
The more support the clubs get, the more chances for unique and interesting entertainment to continue flowing and staying in the city.
Also, rest assured that there are clubs in Hamilton that do consistently book the up and coming buzz bands that go on to play much bigger, less intimate venues for way more money. "
"There are still almost 2 months of quality shows coming your way from PJC as well as some gems yet to be announced!
Thanks for your support and for being so cool!
Sincerely,
Ken"
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Journalist Mark McNeil wrote an interesting true tale in the Thursday, May 7 edition of the Spectator (article no longer available).
It was all about a guitar (dubbed "Six String Nation") built of 63 pieces of Canadian history.
Here are some highlights:
The peg came from from the hockey stick used to win the legendary 1972 Russia series
The inlays contains a piece of golf from Rocket Richard's 1955/56 Stanley Cup Ring and a wooden nickel from Maid of the Mist II.
The edging was made from the Cabin of author Jack London (Call of the Wild)
The bracing used wood from Green Gables writer, Lucy Maud Montgomery's home in PEI and from the deck of the Bluenose II.
CBC Radio Broadcaster Jowi Taylor helped create the guitar and is travelling Canada with it. On Wednesday, May 6, it was brought to Westdale Secondary School where students and the teacher played the fabulous instrument.
Plans are underway for a book about the guitar and the Canadian Mint recently issued a coin celebrating it.
Click here for the guitar's blog/web-site.
Click here for the coin.
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Jacob Moon has recently released a YouTube video on the making of his new six-song EP. The disc should be released in the fall.
From Jacob's site:
"I have been writing some new songs, and trying them out on unsuspecting audiences, slipping them into sets like some kind of mad scientist, to see how they react.
What I'm hoping to achieve this summer is something I've rarely tried: compose parts of songs, then record them and finish the lyric and melody as I go, reacting to studio musicians' interpretation.
All of this in an attempt to uncover something about the songs that I would be unable to do on my own. First up is something to get me into that headspace again: a band version of The Great Beyond, for an upcoming animated video I've partially commissioned from local animator Rachel Peters. I intend to make that video part of a half dozen new videos that will debut this fall."
Click below or here to view the video.
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