The Pearl Company

Dala: Friday, March 19. Doors at 7:30, show at 8:00. $15 advance, $20 at the door.  “Their harmonies just give you goose bumps.” This acoustic duo from Toronto is made up of Sheila Carabine and Amanda Walther who tie pop sensibility, sublime singing and spacious arrangements into the irresistible knot of Dala.  Self-described as on the “poppier side of folk and the folkier side of pop,” they weave beautiful flights of melody and harmony, reminiscent of the Everly Brothers and Emmylou Harris.  They are also consummate comediennes, keeping us thoroughly entertained between their exquisite songs.  It seems they are selling out wherever they play in the U.S; they are actually playing the New Orleans Jazz Festival with singers such as Aretha Franklin in April!  Shall we show them they are equally appreciated here?  Hmmm?  www.dalagirls.com

Spanjazz@ThePearl: Post Art Bus / James North Art Crawl. Friday, March 12. 10:00pm start time. $10 at the door.  Join “Spanjazz”, Ron Palangio, Jordan Abraham, and Gary Santucci for a special kind of jazz sound.

Held Together by a Thread: Opening Saturday, March 13 through April 29, 7pm – 11:00pm.  A group show featuring the works of Kareem Abbas, Amanda McCavour, Laura Sorbara, Stephanie Hansen. Curated by Stephanie Hansen. This show has everything!  Amanda’s displays are installation works made entirely of thread, Kareem impresses us with brilliant Canadian landscapes painted with the fresh eyes of an Iraqui immigrant, Laura presents us with strong visual imagery work using wool from a sheep she sheared herself (!), and Stephanie Hansen offers up several dress forms worked in mixed media.  The variety and display promises a dazzling evening you should not miss!

Gallery hours: 1 to 4, Wednesday through Sunday; 6 to 8 Thursday and Friday evenings. (Also by chance or appointment.)

Jean-Paul de Roover with City of Glass: Wednesday, March 10.  Doors at 7:30, show at 8:00. $10 at the door. Here’s David Kidney’s review of Jean Paul’s previous show at The Pearl: “J-P plays loops, which means he creates a full band sound all by himself. Whether he begins with a riff, a beat, a bassline, even a vocal he then adds the missing pieces together like a jigsaw puzzle until finally the whole is revealed…. He is a sensitive singer with a flexible voice laying down harmonies and background sounds (including percussive noises) with an ease and facility that is amazing to watch/hear…. He begins with melodic ideas, even when constructing the abstract experimental pieces. He add words as an afterthought, and yet the words he adds are filled with ideas, he is a thinker, having just completed his Master’s in Sociology.  Sociology? That’s right, and it’s a perfect fit for his songs about life, death, love, loss and all that…. Even his CD package Windows and Doors breaks through! It folds out to become a little house.  Keep your eyes out for De Roover appearing near you.” City of Glass specialize in pop rock that goes from catchy and hip-shaking to heart-on-the-sleeve emotional. Using clean riffs, synthscapes and snappy beats their fresh and dynamic songs are instantly moving.

Cinema Insieme presents Open City [Roma, Citta Aperta] dir. Roberto Rossellini (1945)  Monday, March 8 at 7:00 p.m.- WWII during the 9 month Nazi occupation of Rome in 1943 – The Fascist dictatorship has begun its fall, although many sympathizers still remain. The Nazis have occupied several Italian cities and areas. The Italian Resistance movement is carrying out a clandestine battle against the Nazis, as they did against the Fascist dictatorship. Based on real life events, this landmark film focuses on the hardships and struggles of ordinary people and their fight for freedom. Rome, Open City, considered the mother of the Neo-realist film movement, ushered in a new film style that influenced audiences and directors throughout the world.

Four Films Celebrating Black History: Wednesday, February 24. 7:00pm. $10 at the door. Michael Williams (Radio / TV Personality) will be hosting a unique show of film and music. 1) 24 ONE MINUTE MOVIES ON “OUTSTANDING CANADIANS” 2) “THE OBAMA EFFECT ON BLACK CANADA” 3) “STILL BILL” A DOCUMENTARY about Bill Withers, the unexpected superstar. The songs “Ain’t No Sunshine”, “Lean on Me”, “Lovely Day” and “Just the Two of Us”, are only part of the life of a complex and fascinating character, an icon who left the industry behind but never gave up his soul. Featuring a tribute concert, a soundtrack with previously unreleased tracks, and a rare live performance. http://stillbillthemovie.com/ 4) SOUNDTRACK FOR A REVOLUTION tells the story of the American civil rights movement through its powerful music – the freedom songs protesters sang on picket lines, in mass meetings, in paddy wagons, and in jail cells as they fought for justice and equality. The film features new performances of the freedom songs by top artists; riveting archival footage; and interviews with civil rights foot soldiers and leaders, including Harry Belafonte and Julian Bond. The freedom songs evolved from slave chants, from the labor movement, and especially from the black church. The music enabled blacks to sing words they could not say, and it was crucial in helping the protesters as they faced down brutal aggression with dignity and non-violence. Produced by Danny Glover.

Tjupurru, Live in Hamilton: Friday, February 12. 10:00pm (post Art Crawl) $15, Art Bus riders $5. A proud descendant of the Djabera Djabera tribe of the West Australian Kimberleys, Tjupurru plays a unique slide Didjeridu, named “The Didjeribone” because it can slide through different notes and tones – a cross between a didj and a trombone. He picks up his sound through a device called the “Face Bass”, a seismic sensor implanted inside his mouth. With the addition of sampling and electronic effects, Tjupurru has enabled himself to perform as a one man band creating live samples and looping them to create songs and soundscapes that crisscross musical genres. His live show is a must hear. This is an artist bringing something unique to the current music scene. Tjupurru is mixing cultures, technologies and sounds with aural traditions that are thousands of years old. The result he describes as 21st century Didjetronica. The rest of us call it amazing, stunning, revelatory, provoking . . .
Tjupurru’s has played festivals all over the world. He’s in Hamilton for one day only, on his way to play at the Cultural Olympiad, part of the Olympic Games celebrations in Vancouver!

The Undesirables & C.R. Avery (with The Legal Tender String Quartet), Saturday February 20th, 2010 Doors: 7:30pm Show: 8:00 pm. Adults: $17.00 (advance) $20.00 (door) Artists (musicians, etc.)/Students: $10.00 (advance) $15.00 (door) reserve your seat or payable in cash at The Pearl Company. Corin Raymond and Sean Cotton are The Undesirables: Roots music / blues / folk, inspired by anyone who is honest and on fire, and who is saying something real and doing it with conviction and colour. If you stumbled upon a tavern where Tom Waits, Ray Bradbury, Jim Morrison, and Charles Dickens were huddled in a corner exchanging stories, perhaps eavesdropping on them would give you a better idea of what to expect from this Toronto duo.

C.R. Avery: A Canadian music sensation; poet, pianist, singer, beatboxer, and harmonica player with a mix of hip-hop and blues. His lyrics, vocal delivery, energy, and artistry have won him international acclaim. C.R. Avery’s current band(The Legal Tender String Quartet) is no less than classically trained! Tom Waits is a fan and brought C.R. up to perform on stage with him.

The Acoustics: A Valentines Concert: Saturday, February 13, 8:00. $20 at the door. With special guest, the romantic guitar of Gary Santucci. The Acoustics are a happening band. Their CD Forever and a Day came in 2nd place for World Album of the year at the 2009, JPF Music Awards, in Nashville TN. They had two major category Nomination for the 2009 Hamilton Music Awards. Folk/Traditional Recording of the year and Instrumental Recording of the year – The Acoustics – ‘Forever and a Day’.

Gary Santucci: Composer / Flamenco, Classical and World Jazz Guitarist will play his most romantic and compelling pieces in honour of St Valentine.

Rob Lutes. Opening Set: J.P. Riemens: Sunday, February 7, 8:00. $15. Rob Lutes is a soulful singer/songwriter from Montreal with an ever-growing collection of literate, moving meditations on life and love. His ability to encapsulate universal ideas and questions, even the subtle ones, coupled with his gritty, heartfelt delivery and world-class performance chops, have invited comparisons with several legends in the roots genre from John Hiatt to Fred Eaglesmith. “Widely recognized as an gifted songwriter”. – Ottawa Citizen.
J.P. Riemens local singer / songwriter has charmed Hamilton audiences for years. His style leans toward roots/rock and country, calling his particular style “Acid Country”, J.P. is as at home in an intimate acoustic environment as a Concert Hall

Pearl Review Fundraiser: Saturday, February 6, 8:00 $10. Please join us here at The Pearl to help launch the Pearl Review Studio House (located directly beside The Pearl Company). Door Prizes, 50/50, Silent Auction. Food and Beverages. And more!!!

The arts journalism newsprint magazine, The Pearl Review (an exciting new take on the Hamilton Arts Scene and an Arts view of Hamilton issues) is coming right along.  Check out the patron subscriber incentives at www.thepearlreview.ca. This newsmagazine will focus on our individual artists of all disciplines, – the background stories, the big questions, and the lively particulars. First issue projected for Spring 2010. Order your subscription now!

Haiti Media Telethon in support the two public hospitals in Haiti with which St Joseph’s Hospital is affiliated. One is still standing but overwhelmed with patients and lack of supplies. The other is rubble. St Joseph’s Health System has established a fund through which 100% of donations will go to provide medical supplies for the Haitian people. The Haiti Media Telethon will go live on Cable 14 on Tuesday, January 26 from 6:00am to 10:00 pm with constant support from CHCH. Please help the besieged population of Haiti. There are numerous events throughout Hamilton; let us do what we can in whatever ways we can.  Gary Santucci is one of the co-chairs of this event.

Italian Film Night: Monday, January 25, 7:00 p.m. $10 at the door. Cinema Insieme presents “THE LAST KISS” “L’ultimo bacio” directed by Gabriele Muccino. Film is in Italian with English subtitles. The Last Kiss (2001) focuses on relationships in today’s society, from the 29 year-olds who fear commitment and responsibility, to the 50 year-olds who fear aging. With its multiple storylines and some amazing performances, the film creates a vivid and colourful fresco of modern Italian life.

Mary M. Cushnie-Mansour: Sunday, January 31 at 2:00. Mary will be launching two new poetry books “Shattered”  and “Memories”. She will be reading selections from them as well as from her collection of short stories. “From the Heart”, which was released in May 2009.  Mary is a freelance creative writer who was born in Stoney Creek.  She now resides in Brantford.

• February 5: First an art show and tour at The Lincoln Alexander Centre, next Arctic Experience/McNaught Gallery, and the Anastasia Gallery. Then we head to the Sunrise Gallery and back to Gallery 435.
• February 12: It’s a second Friday again which definitely means the James North Crawl, the Tiger Group Studio Gallery, and the Imperial Cotton Centre. Read the rest of this entry »