The Year 2015 was a much ‘easier’ year for
the POWERHOUSE Band – and a welcome
relief from the events that the band had
weathered over the past few years. The
only major change with personnel came with
long-time trombonist, Don, retiring his horn
at the end of 2014. He would remain with
the band, however, as the second
keyboardist – a position that was becoming
more necessary with the changes in some of
the band’s newer material. This left the door
open for the other alumni band trombonist, Dan Elliot (pictured, above right), to step in as his more-
than-capable replacement. Although much of the year was spent continuing to work with the new band, tightening arrangements,
harmonies, adding newer material to the songlists, etc., the band did get out and play some excellent shows. Since our photo album
– and this website – is beginning to get rather full, we will save our narrative photo stories for this year to a few of the more
memorable shows.
The band started the year by taking their Chicago Transit and Rod Stewart Tribute shows on the
road to Petrolia, Ontario and the gorgeous Victoria Playhouse Theatre. The shows were organized
by the Petrolia Lions Club with all proceeds from a fully-packed second-floor theatre going to local
medical and community projects. For the added benefit of the band and their entourage, there
was a fabulous feast put on by the Lions Club between soundcheck and the opening Chicago
Transit show. The evening closed with Doug Varty’s Rod Stewart tribute show in front of a very
appreciative full-house audience.
During the 1900s, [Petrolia’s] oil industry
[was declining]. By the late 1950s, the
opera house fell into disrepair through
disuse. In the early 1970s, a teacher
and his students wanted to use it and
decided to clean it up. This sparked
local citizens to create the Victoria
Playhouse Foundation to restore the
building and once again make it a
cultural and community centre. Victoria
Hall became a National Historic Site in
1979. [Then], suddenly, on January 25, 1989, fire gutted the building -- leaving only its
massive brick walls intact. After much debate, Victoria Hall was rebuilt at a cost of $6.5
million.
Through grants, generous donors and countless community fundraising events, the town
successfully raised its required portion of the cost; $750,000 -- very impressive for a town
that was only 4,500 souls! The hardworking community celebrated with an opening gala on
Sept. 26, 1992. For the entire summer (from mid-May to mid-September), Victoria
Playhouse Petrolia brings in six shows, plus it books performances throughout the year.
condensed from: http://town.petrolia.on.ca/visitors/heritage/victoria-hall/
Most theatre venues are very difficult for taking decent
pictures during the shows -- either cameras are not allowed
or if they are, using a flash is forbidden. Again, our best
pictures were taken during soundcheck, with the guys (and
girl) in their civvies. Above left is now-senior band member
Nick on sax, and on the right, playing his first show back with
the band again, Dan Elliot on trombone.
Left to right: Vince, Paula, Pete,
Carlo, John and Steve
SHOWTIME -- after a very warm introduction from the
Petrolia Lions Club, Chicago Transit took the stage.
Closing out the evening was
Doug Varty, fronting the band
with his Rod Stewart tribute
show. Doug always manages to
bring the crowd fully into the
show with his impeccable and
energetic Rod tribute act.
It was a great day in Petrolia with
a huge feast before the main
events, two excellent shows in
front of a very appreciative south-
western Ontario crowd, with
curtain calls and time for the
band to meet some of the crowd
afterwards. All in all -- a great
way to start the year.
Later in the spring, the band
was off to Delhi to the
Backstage Capital Theatre with
their Chicago Transit and Rod
Stewart shows. Joining us this
time was Frank Chiarelli and his
Frankie Valli tribute. We were
much too busy this time and the
theatre was far too dark for
pictures, but we do have to post
a couple of internet pictures of
this rather remarkable venue. From the outside, the Theatre looks like a nondescript brick ‘box’
building in the middle of southwestern Ontario tobacco country, but inside, the work done is
immaculate – from the imaginative wood and brick work on every interior wall to the sparkle stars
on the roof. It was a great night for the band – you’ll have to trust us on this one.
Apologies for ‘borrowing’ the
title for this show from The
Band’s 1997 Genuine
Bootleg Series CD, but it
seemed a good fit. The
POWERHOUSE Band found
themselves very early in the
summer at a huge outdoor party behind a private home on Hamilton east
mountain. The enclosure you see in the pictures is a huge back yard tent that
just fit the confines of the property – a few feet to the property line on each
side. In front of the stage area were hundreds of slate squares, pushed
together to make an excellent dance floor. We knew it would be a good night
when we arrived and saw the row of gas barbeques lined up in the alcove
under the huge 2nd-level deck behind the house.
We asked someone what the occasion was for such a large party. “The owner
does this every year – he puts on a big party for all his friends to celebrate the
beginning of the summer”, was the reply. That certainly seemed like a good
enough reason to us.
The band played their full POWERHOUSE show long into the night,
breaking only for the feast that was wheeled out early into the evening.
The crowd was having a great time and the dance floor stayed well-used
all night. It was a warm early summer night and a perfect night for a
party, a feast and a lot of tunes.
The back row (left to right): Don, John, Pete and Vince
The horns (left to right): Dan, Nick and Carlo
... and Paula and Steve down front.
To the left, something new
this week for Don, the band’s
retired trombonist, as he
accompanies Carlo and his
trumpet for the opening of
the band’s new Eagles tune.
And to the right, band
saxophonist, Nick, doing
very un-saxlike things.
Yes, it was quite the party on Hamilton mountain -- a party
that went on long into the night. It was a great way to
start the summer season.
Through the summer, the band travelled – first, taking
their Chicago Transit show to Mill Pond Park in
Richmond Hill, ON on a very hot July evening, then
north to the somewhat cooler temps of southern Lake
Superior at the Bay Mills Casino in Brimley, Michigan.
The Richmond Hill show was a redate, having taken
our Powerhouse show there a few years ago, and at
the Casino in northern Michigan, we were almost
becoming regulars, having taken all the band’s shows
there multiple times over the years. The band would
close out the summer headlining Friday night on Labour Day weekend at the Burlington,
ON Ribfest with their POWERHOUSE and Chicago Transit shows.
And what an excellent
night it was. The weather
was perfect and the crowd
was huge -- as it always
is at this long-time end of
summer Burlington
tradition. As a bonus for
the evening, our good
friend (and occasional
band fill-in keyboard
player), Suzanne O and
her band, ‘Up Front’ were
on stage just before us.
They definitely had the
crowd well-warmed up by
the time we were ready
to go.
Long-time band
trombonist, Don, in his
new role with the band.
Newest (and returning) band
member, Dan, on the trombone.
.... and Carlo doing the same.
Nick doing the things that Nick
does best ....
The Chicago Transit horns, Paula’s Aretha and Gladys tunes and the
guitars front-and-centre made for one great night of music.
Eventually, it was time to say good-bye to the Burlington Ribfest and to the summer months. It was great fun -- all of it.
The band would play once more in Toronto at the Aquatic Park Sailing Club a few weeks later to close out the 2015 season.