2009
(cont'd)
To close out the month of September, the band was on the road again -- this time to the Legion in Aurora, Ontario for a night with Dave Battah and his 'Tonight's the Night' Rod Stewart tribute show.
Organized by the 'Four Hearts of Hope', Diane & Mike Maguire and Margaret and Graham Cardoza, the evening was a benefit to raise funds for the Southlake Regional Cancer Centre. The night started with Chicago Transit taking the stage for a one-hour show. After a short break, this was followed by Dave Battah and his Rod Stewart Show. The evening closed with a final show by Powerhouse, playing their very danceable R&B set. Between shows, Randy Skelcher took the stage to sing Elvis and Roy Orbison tunes.
Not only was the rather large Legion Banquet Hall packed for the
To the right is the evening-ending photo op for the local newspaper. In the front row, from left to right, are: Mike Maguire (host), Carlo DiBattista, David Battah as Rod Stewart, Tom Forsyth and Tony Aquino. In the back row, from left to right, are: Don Berryman, Mike DiBenedictus, John Willett, Steve Negus and Phil Kott.
It was another excellent evening and a great fundraiser for Breast Cancer Research.
entire evening, but the event also raised a $5,850.00 contribution for the Regional Cancer Program.
The band did a good job warming up the crowd this evening with their Chicago Transit Show. Below are pictured two of our hosts, Mike Maguire (seated, light shirt) and Diane Maguire (seated behind, just over his shoulder). The evening started out with everyone seated at rather large dining hall tables, but didn't stay that way for long.
Once Dave Battah took the stage to do his Rod Stewart show, the tables were pushed back against the walls and a large area in front of the band was opened up -- which was promptly filled with people.
The video to the left was lifted from YouTube and gives an idea of what Dave's show is all about. Since Dave perfoms his show all over the world, all across North America, to as far away as Afghanistan and Australia, the clips here could have come from anywhere in the world. But tonight, Dave was at the Legion in Aurora, Ontario with Powerhouse behind him and a very large appreciative audience in front.
As Dave did his show and interacted with the crowd -- something that he's always been one of the best in business in doing -- the crowd went from the first few on the dance floor, to a few more, to finally, a very large and vocal crowd in front of the stage area.
The 'other' thing that trombone players do when they're not trombonin' ...
Excerpted from: http://www.stirlingfestivaltheatre.com
Built in 1927 as a “community service building”, the Stirling Festival Theatre has served many uses over its lifetime. The beautiful building originally cost $25,500 to build. With no money in the town budget for such a large expense, the village turned to the bank and begged for a loan so that they might build a more adequate space for entertainment in the bustling farm community.
Everyone chipped in to manage the new building with representatives from the Council, Women’s Institute, the Agricultural Society, the Board of Trade and the Horticultural Society.
To begin with, the main building housed the Public Works office. What is the box office today, was actually the Stirling Police Office and the dressing rooms under the stage, were once old jail cells! On frosty winter nights, Wilfred Gravers, the custodian, occasionally had help fuelling the boilers from an inmate commissioned to shovel coal.
Beginning in 1939, the 436 seat auditorium was used as a movie theatre.
During the Silent Movie era, Jerry Clute provided piano music to set the mood. One of the first movies shown at the Stirling Theatre was the original Jolson Story.
If there's one thing that can definitely be said about playing in a band that travels regularly, it's that you get to see the country. Following a few weeks off, the band headed to central Ontario on a beautiful fall Saturday afternoon to do an evening show with Frank Rondell and his Ray Charles Tribute show at the Stirling Festival Theatre.
It was a terrific day for a drive up to Stirling, Ontario. After a drive along the 401 to Trenton, we headed north, following the Trent Waterway. The bright sun, fall colours and the Waterway out the driver's side window yielded some very relaxed musicians arriving in Stirling in the late afternoon.
The theatre itself was gorgeous, built in the mid-20's and covered in hardwoods and ornate woodwork -- a slight contrast to the sign that greeted us as we entered the theatre backstage.
Below, Tony makes his 'discovery', one of the best pianos in the world -- a Bösendorfer grand, hidden away in a small room backstage. "That stuff I was just playing", said Tony as he finally closed the door on the room, "You can't do those things on a regular
grand piano."
The video to the left was lifted off Frank's website at http://raycharlestribute
show.com/
It was recorded during one of Frank's recent trips to Australia.
(be sure to shut off the video at the top of the page first, if it is still playing)
To the right, two of the Powerhouse alumni who returned for the evening -- Paul Augustyn on saxophone and Greg Smith, playing his 5-string bass.
Showtime
Three reasons why it's always a pleasure to do Frank's Ray Charles Tribute Show -- the Roulettes: Heather Cadagan, Erin Lasky, and Sharon Musgrave
After set-up and sound check, the band headed across the street to have a bite to eat. Then, for a few, it was time for a walk around a very pretty town to work off the calories before the show.
We are dedicated to helping victims of violent crime. We are equipped to deal with families and victims who are placed in the criminal justice system through no fault of their own.
Lean On Me's unique value for survivors of homicide is plentiful. Not only is Lean On Me the first group of its kind in Southern Ontario, it is also founded by, and composed of, individuals who have experienced the untimely violent death of a loved one firsthand.
Through a 12-week program -- the one one of its kind in Ontario -- survivors connect together, re-establishing strength, support, guidance, and healing. Following this program, each member is welcomed into the maintenance group -- a group consisting of other members who have completed the 12-week program. Individual support is consistent -- from the start of the 12-week program and throughout the maintenance group. The maintenance group also facilitates involvement in awareness and advocacy actions and fundraising projects that help LOM to help more survivors.
Webmaster's Note: In browsing through the rather well-documented business plan of this organization, I did come across one point that deserves mention. In co-operation with local police departments, the LOM implements a comprehensive nine-item plan of support for survivors within the first 24 hours of a violent crime. This is listed in a brochure, aptly titled: "You Are Never Alone".
Lean On Me is an non-profit making, non-government funded charitable organization that was founded in 2007. The organization is based on principles of love, compassion, family, honour, respect, justice, and strength. Accountability, honesty, and transparency in the organization is paramount -- for relationships with members as well as those in the community.
The month closed out with Powerhouse in the banquet hall of a Hamilton Mountain Legion for a Hallowe'en Benefit Bash to raise funds in support of the 'Lean On Me' Organization.
Joining the band this evening was an ex-Powerhouse member, Vince Renaldo and his red Nord Electro. And a surprise guest was our friend, Suzanne O in her fabulous cat costume. "It took me an hour and a half to do the make-up", she said as she joined us on stage for a couple of songs in the second set.
Once sound check was over, it didn't take long for a rather large crowd to build.
Always the best part of any Hallowe'en Bash -- the costumes. And this event definitely had its share of good ones.
As band leader, it was Carlo's responsibility to take the 'photo op' with SuperGirl. Yes Carlo, we know it's a tough job some nights.
Above: Phil & Don on a break
Below: Our friends, John and Debi
To the above left: Front and centre with Carlo, Suzanne and John. Suzanne would join us the following weekend with her keyboard (minus the 'catsuit'} for a full night with the band, sitting in for our still-ailing piano player, Tony Aquino.
The best part of this evening -- music notwithstanding -- was that, not only was the event sold out in
advance, but there was enough interest that the organizers had to open the room next door and hire a second band for the overflow patrons. We talked with Brenda, the event's organizer recently: "We had enough funds raised from the night that we were able to start another support group of 8 to 12 people for a 12-week program."
For information about the 'Lean On Me' Organization, please contact Sarah at:
Phone: 289-339-1460
Powerhouse is very pleased to have been part of this event. It was another great night to be playing music..
