Posted by 
On November 7th, 2015 I attended what was probably my final pre-renovation show at the National Arts Centre’s 4th Stage. While the 4th Stage had been the product of an admirable renovation in the first place – borne out of a previously unused room that was primely located along the Elgin Street side of the building – it was a venue sorely in need of some sprucing up, and fortunately the NAC did exactly that as part of their extensive renovations of 2016-18.
But like I say, this was pre-reno, so I got my ticket punched at a side door, walked across the carpeted floor to a broom closet that served as a tiny bar, got a pair of beers and sat myself down at one of the brown, wobbly tables near the short, makeshift stage.
I was there to see a Tom Waits tribute called Tom Songs From A Drunken Piano, featuring some of the crème de la crème of the Ottawa music scene. I was there because a) I like tribute concerts vastly more than I like tribute acts, b) several friends of mine were playing the show and I always enjoy going out to see my friends play music, and most of all c) I love, love, love Tom Waits.
Gosh, I love Tom Waits.
Looking at the info in my ticket book, I see that my good friend and former bandmate Mike Essoudry was the drummer on the gig, and his talented wife Megan Jerome was on the bill too. So was Kenny Kanwisher, a very great multi-instrumentalist and super-friendly guy I used to teach with, who was playing bass, plus there are several other familiar names written there.
But I’m surprised that Missy Burgess isn’t listed. I used to play guitar for Missy, and I know for a fact that she was one of the singers at the 4th Stage Tom Waits tribute. Which leads me to believe that I must have seen this same show twice. Come to think of it, I seem to recall the core musicians putting on this show annually for a few years. Hmm.
If that is indeed the case (and if I wasn’t too lazy to flip through my ticket album I’d know for sure), then I’ll inevitably be pulling memories from both of the concerts for this ticket story. Except (I suppose) the memories I have of Missy singing, which would have to be memories only from the other time I saw this Drunken Songs show. Come to think of it, I will probably end up dumping all of my memories from this pair of shows (or did I see it three times?) into that story. Unless I’ve already written it, which would mean that I already have.
In which case, there’s no reason why I don’t just stop this story right here.
Todd Man Out 