Dwayne In The City

Friday night, after some Japanese eats, I headed to Yonge-Dundas Square for the Indie Friday music showcase. Depending on the band, the surrounding billboards and lights can add to their performance. Cover band Dwayne Gretzky played last summer to a full crowd and tonight they've returned for an second engagement.

Watching live music at this location is always an adventure. Tonight, in addition to the usual drunks, there were several old fogies who dig the music. Some of the young'uns danced along with these happening oldsters. Although there were a few moments that went from engaging and fun to over-the-line uncomfortable and creepy.

I missed their last theme show when they concentrated on 90s music. It would have been a nice break from their focus on "classics", which are  enjoyable but sometimes too old for them. But tonight they stuck to mostly 70s and 80s music. With songs from The Band (Ophelia) and Steely Dan (Dirty Work), their first set had more of a country feel than usual. Their second set was more eclectic from Paul Simon, Queen, and Peter Gabriel.

Though the male leads (Tyler and Nick) always gather a crowd of young women, no doubt from their stint with Sweet Thing, Robin Hatch is developing her own set of "groupies". In a black velour top and tight bell-bottom jeans, she won over more fans this evening.

This show had an extra special moment. Under the pretense of having won a raffle, Nick called up a couple. The prize was actually a diamond ring as the bearded dude knelt down to propose. After a triumphant "She said yes!" from Tyler, the couple danced to Robin's cover of Be My Baby. An old gentleman was particularly taken with the scene and had to wipe away his tears several times.