Jimmy Bowskill at Delta Chelsea Monarch's Pub

I was out checking the local blues and open mic scene in Toronto last night. First stop was Dave's Pizza, on St. Claire, where a hip musician scene appears every Thursday at 8:30pm. From up and coming young musicians to older and seasoned country singers, this place is warm, cozy and very friendly. The talent has mixed abilities, with the surprise event being a young artist who wrote and played a song while waiting for his turn in the restaurant. This musician named Sal Di Matteo was quite a song writer and singer. While most people could take months to put a tune together, his was done in a few minutes and he sang with notes in his hand. Other artists were coming and going, but I felt I had to find the pros. Unfortunately, like many artists they come and go from their craft so who knows when he will be back again.

I was in the mood to hear the pros so I ventured down to Monarch's Pub at the Delta Chelsea on Gerrard Avenue. Lo and behold a baby faced young man with long hair got onto the stage. He opened his set with a very poweful vocal solo for the song Let the Good Times Roll. Jimmy Bowskill, was in the house, and it was captivating to see such a young artist play with such seasoned expertise. His guitar rifs were superb, as he beant the notes and played classic blues rock such as Stormy Mondays. He has a bass player and a drummer, and all the vocals are his. I was approached by an older lady who tried to sell me a CD with a free kiss. I guess I was afraid of the kiss, so I did not buy the CD.

The audience is mature business crowd and it is a great venue for the blues. More upscale than our other locals such as Grossman's Taven etc. Jimmy is from Toronto, and at the age of ten, grabbed onto the guitar and started to make it work. He looks like he is having fun, and wish him great success. You gotta love what you do to be good at it, and Jimmy is in his prime and enjoying. Check him out one night and see what you think.

Keep on Rocking,


The Adventure Guy