Mainline 2002 The Last Show @ The Elmo

Genre: Blues
Rate: 320 kbps CBR / 44100
Time: 00:38:24
Size: 87,79 MB



Mainline, (formerly McKenna, Mendelson Mainline), have come out with their first live CD, (and their first CD in decades), called The Last Show @ the Elmo. Mainline were and still are one of the finest and hardest driving blues bands. This CD captures their energy the way a great 'live' CD is supposed to.

Jim Zeppa, the band's director and constant friend, says a few words appropriate to the closing of a true blues landmark, such as the El Mocambo was to the city of Toronto. From then on the blues take over in the best way possible - with Mainline giving it their all, and the audience responding likewise

All Mainline members are original except for harp guy Bob Adams, who has excellent technique and style. Mainline co-founder, Mike McKenna plays mouthwatering guitar licks, backed up by Tony Nolasco's energized drumming and inspired vocals. Mike Harrison's hypnotic bass lines I feel are the real heart of the band. Ted Purdy's rhythm guitar and background vocals, complement the rest of the band, and help give it substance.

Mainline takes hold of the audience right from the start, with "Blind Girl". Nolasco's strong vocals and drumming, along with McKenna's incredible leads, work well together. Harrison's mesmerizing bass lines, groove with Adams' playing harp like nobody's business. "Beltmaker" is one of my favorite tunes on the CD. It features Purdy's raw vocals, which along with some scorching leads by McKenna, are driven home by Nolasco's uncompromising percussion technique.

"Mainline" is a self-titled and rousing blues tune, which features more of Nolasco's superb vocals and driving drum beats. McKenna really outdoes himself on the guitar work here. His guitar idol is Muddy Waters - understandably his slide guitar riffs display hints of "Honey Bee" on "Mainline"; making it a real winner in my books.

"Wine, Women and Whiskey", a Johnny Young composition, features Nolasco's intoxicating vocals, along with Adams' equally inspiring harp playing. Guaranteed to get the feet tappin', the hands clappin', and the dance floor packed - this one can send you there, and keep you there. "Get Down To" is given a heartfelt intro by Nolasco, who mentions old Mainline friend and alumnus Zeke Sheppard. He echoes the audience's sentiment that Zeke "is in that ultimate blues band in the sky." A rarity from the equally rare Mainline Blues album from 1969, is "Toilet Bowl Blues". The new CD calls it "T.B. Blues" … same song, and just as rousing as it was when first performed in '69. Adams' strong, full harp tone complements Nolasco's vocals well on this one. The humor, intended or otherwise in "T.B. .. " is always an upbeat tune to 'experience'.

A word or two should be mentioned regarding Mainline's "Live @ .. " cover art. It was designed by famed artist David Andoff, who designed the original Mainline posters and artwork back in '69. He's still active today designing CD and poster art, and continues to be well-respected for his artistic genius. The amorous 'ape' and turned-on 'girl' images in his poster art from the 'free-love' days of late '60's hippy-dom, is still prevalent in the CD artwork and packaging on this fine blues CD today!

"Drive You" is, like its title suggests, a hard driving blues tune, with more than enough 'gas in it's blues tank', to get you where your musical desires want to be 'driven'. Adams' harp playing, as always is superb. It's supported by Purdy's fine rhythm guitar work, complementing Nolasco's raw vocals and driving drum beats. "Brain Damage" follows, played with all out abandon by the whole band. Nolasco dedicates it to Andoff; referring to him as "our artist then and now." "I Am Normal", follows "Brain Damage" and is accented with 'apey', 'nutty' utterances by the band, who really ham this one up to a 'T'.

The final tune on this final night of 'live' music ever at the good old El Mocambo, is called "Going to Toronto". The band decided to rename it "Going to the Elmo", to commemorate this historic and very important event in Toronto's musical history. "Going to .. " seems to go into a 'drugged stupor' which adds atmosphere - then picks up the pace with riveting guitar riffs, to let the listener know that Mainline is indeed back -- with all the raw energy they had, as if they've never left.

I should mention one important fact -- that the Elmo downstairs, is now open for business again, booking acts under new ownership -- although the upstairs El Mocambo concert hall (where the Mainline concert was recorded), is no longer a venue, and is being used as a dance studio at this time. The new owner has beautifully restored the downstairs, and is booking local acts; ie: Brian Gladstone's recent first-ever Winterfolk folk festival. Added to this happy series of events, is a new book that'll be coming out sometime this year about the El Mocambo. It's entitled Under the Neon Palm - The El Mocambo Story. This book when available, as well as all Mainline-endorsed merchandise and CDs, can be purchased direct from Jim Zeppa, of Minor Miracles. Email: zeppa@istar.ca (This review is copyright © 2003 by Joe Curtis, and Blues On Stage at: www.mnblues.com,)



Tracklist:

01 - Blind Girl 03:52

02 - Beltmaker 02:59


03 - Mainline 06:36

04 - Wine, Women And Whiskey 03:47

05 - Get Down To 03:48

06 - T. B. Blues 02:25

07 - Drive You 03:08


08 - Brain Damage 04:33

09 - I Am Normal 02:57

10 - Going To Toronto 04:19





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McKenna Mendelson Mainline 1969 Stink

Genre: Blues
Rate: 320 kbps CBR / 44100
Time: 00:56:49
Size: 116,94 MB



biography by John Bush

Michael McKenna, previously with Luke & the Apostles and the Ugly Ducklings, formed McKenna Mendelson Mainline with Joe Mendelson (vocals, guitar, bass, harmonica), Tony Nolasco (vocals, drums) and Frank Sheppard (vocals, bass, mandolin, harmonica). After Stink (1968) and Canada, Our Home and Native Land (1971), the band shortened their name to Mainline and broke up soon after. Two posthumous albums appeared in 1972-73: The Mainline Bump and Grind Revue -- Live at the Victory Theatre and Biscuit Meets Mainline. Joe Mendelson's first solo album, Mr. Middle of the Road, appeared in 1972. Michael McKenna and Tony Nolasco later formed Diamondback. A reunion album with McKenna called No Substitute has also been released.



Tracklist:

01 - One Way Ticket 02:46


02 - She's Alright 03:28

03 - Beltmaker 02:40

04 - Mainline 06:41

05 - Think I'm Losing My Marbles 02:23

06 - Drive You 03:01


07 - T.B. Blues 02:08

08 - Better Watch Out 04:38

09 - Bad Women 12:18

10 - Don't Give Me No Goose For Christmas, Grandma 02:33

11 - Ramblin' On My Mind (Bonus) 03:44

12 - Help Me (Bonus) 10:29





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The Mainline Bumb 'n' Grind Revue 1972 Live At The Victory Theatre

Genre: Blues
Rate: 320 kbps CBR / 44100
Time: 00:37:36
Size: 85,97 MB



review by Jo-Ann Greene

In a perfect world a band forms, releases records, then calls it a day, no messy lineup changes, no confusing comings, goings, and re-formings, just a stable unit that plays until done. But it's not a perfect world, and the Mainline Bump and Grind Revue was far from a perfect band.

Thankfully, though, the sleeve notes help make sense of the muddle that began when Mike McKenna began piecing together the Mendelsohn Mainline Blues Band, which morphed into the Mainline Bump and Grind Revue. Playing their ginned-up R&B at home and abroad (with tours of Britain, Holland, and Australia), they returned to Canada, folded up shop, re-formed, and began sliding into a far raunchier sound than yore, especially on-stage.

Opening with a patriotic instrumental rendition of "O Canada," as they did in February, 1972 at Toronto's Victory Theatre, did little to prepare the audience for the ensuing moaning with passion "Ezmerelda." But don't blame the band, blame the "Wild Wild Women" on the loose, or all those nasty blues and R&B composers whom they cover. Virtually their entire set is drawn from others' pens, Johnny Young's "Wild Women," Leadbelly's "C.C. Rider," Big Joe Williams' "Feel Alright," and Jimmy Smith's "Chicken Shack" amongst them. A versatile unit, Mainline could shift from harmonica-laced R&B to horn-braced swing on a downbeat, move from fingerpickin' porch-sitting' blues to stompin' electric licks at the flick of a switch. Their own "Game of Love" storms into funk and soul, "Misty" is smooth jazz with a fingersnapping beat, while the harmonica, horns, and female backing singers all vie on "C.C. Rider."

The inner cover art provides copious photographic evidence of just how far the band were pushing the envelope on-stage, and the CD just what devastating musicians they were, as they wound their way through thickets of subgenres exuberantly weaving together blues, R&B, swing, and rock. Mainline's buzz never blew up into stardom, but as bar bands, they were one of the best around.



Tracklist:

01 - O Canada 01:43

02 - Ezmeralda 03:23

03 - Wild Wild Women 04:58


04 - Miss Collin's Cha-Caha 05:26

05 - Feel Alright 05:17

06 - Game Of Love 03:17

07 - Chicken Shack 05:02

08 - Misty 03:53


09 - C.C. Rider 03:15

10 - No Boogie Finale 01:22





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Mainline feat. Joe Mendelson & Michael McKenna 1973 No Substitute

Genre: Blues
Rate: 256 kbps CBR / 44100
Time: 00:34:22
Size: 62,86 MB



The first McKenna Mendelson Mainline album, Stink, appeared in the second half of 1969. Stink was received not just as a great album of electric blues , but as some sort of revelation. This must have puzzled many of Toronto's veteran blues players and listeners. The blues had been a part of the Canadian musical landscape for a long, long time; certainly the immortal Robert Johnson wouldn't have bothered to cross the border in 1937 to play without an audience. From those days right into the 1970s, bars and nightspots in all of the major Canadian cities were included in the club circuits plied by American blues, jazz-blues and rhythm and blues orchestras. There was also a great deal of homegrown talent -- both black and white -- playing shuffle music, rhythm and blues, and electric Chicago blues to appreciative audiences from coast to coast.

It was the vibrant Toronto blues and R&B world of the 1960s that gave us McKenna Mendelson Mainline. Lead guitarist Mike McKenna spent the previous year ('67-'68) in the bluesy Ugly Ducklings, but he had already developed a 'local hero' tag by playing hard electric blues as a member of the legendary Luke and the Apostles. Earlier still he'd been in Whitey and the Roulettes, a young group that became the Rogues then the Mandala once Domenic Troiano took over on guitar. (The Roulettes didn't record, but trivia buffs might like to know that Mike played on the Apostles' single, "Been Burnt", and the Ducks' last single, "I Know What To Say".)

While guitarist and singer Joe Mendelson was himself no novice -- having been playing in artsy blues and jug bands around Yorkville as far back as 1964 -- he had certainly not been part of anything especially big. In the summer of '68 Mendelson spotted an ad saying that Mike McKenna was looking to put together a blues band. Unable to stifle the urge, Mendelson called to say that running such an ad was an incredibly naive thing for a guitar hero to do. Out of this inauspicious introduction a surprisingly productive partnership was born!

Together, McKenna and Mendelson made arrestingly earthy music, which soon attracted another of Toronto's rock gods of the day, bassist Denny Gerrard. Gerrard's recorded work up to then (with the Paupers, on a couple of Richie Havens cuts, and on "I Dig Rock and Roll Music" by Peter, Paul and Mary) doesn't really show him off to advantage. However, his legendary talents had served him well on the stage of the Monterey Pop Festival, where his work with the Paupers was (and still is) considered a highlight. But, whatever his own international potential, Denny loved the roughness of Joe's style and wanted to be part of it.

Another ad brought in drummer Tony Nolasco, who was at the time young and fresh off the bus from Sudbury. While Nolasco may have lacked in experience and flash, there was something very attractive in his style.

The group succeeded in moving from the Night Owl coffee house in Yorkville to higher profile work such as opening at the Rockpile for John Lee Hooker. (By that time, Gerrard had long since been replaced by Mike Harrison from Grant Smith and the Power, most of whom would soon form Motherlode. Though not possessing the brilliance of Denny Gerrard, Harrison was a very good bassist, with a simple style that was well suited to the blues.)

When the group told Hooker of their plan to head to London -- McKenna in particular was excited by the British blues boom -- Hooker suggested that they team up with him there. While they never did meet up with Hooker, McKenna Mendelson Mainline were well enough received in London that they were given the opportunity to record. The result, Stink, was recorded in a single day in June 1969. Shortly afterwards, the group headed home to Toronto.

Hard on the heels of Stink's immediate local success, the small Paragon label issued the vinyl version of this disc, McKenna Mendelson Blues, a collection of tapes recorded in the group's very early days in September 1968 . While Stink remained in print in Canada for years, and has been available on CD for some time, this album has never been particularly easy to get hold of. Many long-time Stink lovers will be pleasantly surprised by what they hear here. The grooves on these songs are often stunning - in the middle of "Ramblin' On My Mind" even tough Joe Mendelson can be heard letting out a joyous whelp at the sound he was helping to create.

Mendelson himself is desperately raw and powerful throughout, and certainly deserved any special recognition that came his way. McKenna of course plays up a storm, but in a somewhat different style than on the better -known Stink. Here he wrenches notes from his guitar using a harsher tone and some fuzz (listen to "Bad Women" in particular), reflecting the accepted Toronto style of the time; presumably his love for British blues soon pushed all that aside. Denny Gerrard plays it straight for the most part, though in a wonderfully punchy way, but occasionally he unleashes one of his trademark staccato bass runs (not to mention the yodelling bass run on "Bad Sign"). Tony Nolasco, though just a kid in the eyes of the others, does a superb job of holding it all together, and in a funny sort of way sounds to be the true heart of the group. (He also deserves the Charlie Watts award for drum-miking if he did it himself.)

For whatever reasons, the group's magic was never meant to be left intact. Mendelson decided to go solo before the end of '69, and future punk-funkster Rick James, of all people, was called in as a replacement to complete a handful of contracted gigs. McKenna immediately moved into a new 'supergroup' version of Luke and Apostles, with singer Luke Gibson, drummer Pat Little, bassist Denny Gerrard (again) and guitarist Danny McBride. (For the record: Gibson had been with Kensington Market as well as the original Apostles; Little had been with the original Apostles, and would later be in Chimo!, Heaven and Earth with Rick James, Flagg, Diamondback and Fludd; Gerrard would later be in Jericho, Heaven and Earth, the Great White Cane with Rick James, and the Lisa Hartt Band; McBride is probably still in Chris DeBurgh's band, who he's been with for years.)

Fortunately for McKenna Mendelson Mainline fans, Mike quickly tired of the Apostles, and in the summer of '70 played the Scarborough Fair festival with Mendelson, Nolasco and bassist Zeke Sheppard. This lineup solidified into a productive new version of Mainline, which toured Australia and recorded two great albums - Canada Our Home & Native Land and The Mainline Bump 'n' Grind Revue. The rocky road of personnel changes, breakups, reformations should probably be left for whenever those albums, and the final No Substitute LP, are issued on CD.

For now, let's just say that Denny Gerrard hasn't been heard from since the Lisa Hartt Band in the late '70s, Tony Nolasco hasn't been heard from since his involvement in Rick James' about-to-blossom career in the mid-'70s, Mike McKenna has never stopped playing blues and blues-rock for long (either with his own groups or as a member of Downchild -- though we shouldn't forget the largely blues-free stints with Diamondback and the Guess Who), and Joe Mendelson has managed to stay in the public eye as a singer of songs, a painter of prime-ministerial bums and a tireless writer of letters to editors.



Tracklist:

01 - Meet You Beat You 02:19

02 - Sometimes 02:36

03 - Do My Walkin' 02:22

04 - Get To You 05:23

05 - Dictator 04:12

06 - Digging The Holes 02:45

07 - No Substitute 03:03

08 - I've Been Lucky 01:55

09 - Give It To Me Straight 07:18

10 - It's Been A Treat 02:29





Mainline feat. Joe Mendelson & Michael McKenna here:

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Mainline 1971 Canada Our Home & Native Land

Genre: Blues
Rate: 160 kbps CBR / 44100
Time: 00:38:46
Size: 44,36 MB





Tracklist:

01 - Blind Girl 03:15

02 - Get Down To 03:33

03 - Pedalictus Rag 02:22

04 - One Time Loser 03:55

05 - You're My Hearts Desire 02:27

06 - Motorcycle 04:44

07 - I Am Normal 02:41

08 - Brain Damage 04:02

09 - Honkis De Konkis 03:23

10 - Going To Toronto 07:42

11 - Nova Scotia Breakdown 00:42





Mainline here:

Thank you Canadian Music for sharing this album!

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Mirrorcreator