Old Music Friends Make Gravenhurst History; It's Not Always About The Big Names, But Best Friends!

The Rhythm Pals At An Informal Gathering of The Music Minds; From left to right, Dave (standing), Gill, Andrew, Bob and Brian. Robert is visible in the reflection of the patio door. Robert Currie photo.

WE PLAYED HOST TO THE FIRST EVER "PALAPALOOZA" - SO LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT WHY IT WAS SO MUCH FUN

FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND THE SWEET MUSIC THAT MAKES A GOOD DAY GREAT


    WHEN THE TORONTO SUN WAS LAUNCHED, PRE-DISCO, BACK IN THE EARLY 1970'S, (REMEMBER THE FRONT PAGE PICTURE OF HAMILTON TIGER CAT QUARTERBACK, JOE ZUGER, LEVERAGING ON HIS HEAD, AFTER A SHOULDER INJURY?) COLUMNIST PAUL RIMSTEAD MADE A BIG DEAL OUT OF THE FACT, A "BRAND NEW" PUBLICATION'S "BRAND NEW" HOME, WAS ACTUALLY A REALLY OLD BUILDING. HE HAD A LITTLE JAZZ GROUP THERE TO PERFORM, READY FOR THE OPEN HOUSE, WHICH HE ADVERTISED TO ALL THE "SUN" READERS, AND HE PLAYED DRUMS. RIMSTEAD COULD TAKE SOMETHING SMALL AND SOMEHOW MAKE IT BIG. REALLY BIG. THE JAZZ OF A GOOD PAGE THREE COLUMN, WHICH HE KEPT UP FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS. WELL, YOU SEE, WE NEVER HAD A PROPER OPENING CEREMONY, OR ANYTHING THAT INVOLVED A RIBBON, AND THE TOWN'S MAYOR CUTTING IT IN HALF. WE'VE HAD THE BANDS PLAY, MANY TIMES, BUT NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF A GRAND OPENING. IT'S BEEN QUITE A FEW YEARS SINCE ANDREW AND ROBERT OPENED THEIR MUSIC SHOP, IN THE FORMER MUSKOKA THEATRE, ON MUSKOKA ROAD, IN GRAVENHURST, AND WE'VE BEEN IN PLACE FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS, BUT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A FUSS TO HAVE AN OPENING CEREMONY IN RETROSPECT. UNTIL THAT IS, WE FOUND THIS RIMSTEAD-LIKE GROUP, KNOWN AS THE SECOND EDITION "RHYTHM PALS." THEY WEREN'T THE FIRST TO USE THE NAME, AND THE GROUP LEADER ADMITS THEY KIND OF STOLE IT FROM THE PAGES OF MUSIC HISTORY. BUT THEN, THIS ISN'T A FOR PROFIT GROUP. THEY JUST LIKE TO PLAY THEIR MUSIC. THEY LIKE TO HAVE A NEAT NAME, TO GO WITH THEIR STYLE OF MUSIC. JUST LIKE RIMSTEAD USED TO RATTLE THOSE DRUMS, THE THREE MAIN LADS GIVE OFF SOME GOOD VIBES. WE DECIDED THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE AN OPENING FOR THE RECORD BOOK (SCRAPBOOK THAT SUZANNE KEEPS FOR THE BOYS FUTURE FAMILIES). BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. WE STILL DIDN'T HAVE A RIBBON TO CUT, AND THE CELEBRITY CROWD WAS A LITTLE THIN, BUT WE HAD SOME POPCORN TREATS AND CANDIES, AND THAT WORKED OUT JUST FINE AS WELL. IT WAS FAMILY THEMED EVENT, SO NO BOOZE. HISTORY WILL NOW OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE, THAT ANDREW CURRIE'S MUSIC AND COLLECTABLES, AND CURRIE'S ANTIQUES, WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED, A LITTLE LATE IN COMPANY RECORDS, BY THE RHYTHM PALS (A GROUP THAT WAS NOT AT WOODSTOCK). THE PHOTOGRAPH ABOVE TELLS THE STORY. IT MIGHT BE A MODERN DAY CAST OF A THEATRE PRODUCTION OF "THE BOYD GANG," OF ROBBERS, OR JUST A GAGGLE OF MUSICIANS WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR INSTRUMENTS.
    HERE AT OUR SHOP, WHICH LOOKS A LOT LIKE AN OLD MOVIE THEATRE, (CAUSE IT WAS) 0N THE MAIN STREET OF GRAVENHURST, WE ARE QUITE USED TO CELEBRITY DROP-INS. WE CAN'T TELL YOU WHO THEY ARE, BECAUSE THEY LIKE TO BE ANONYMOUS WHEN THEY VISIT. WE, OF COURSE, RESPECT THIS, AND GO TO ANY MEANS NECESSARY, TO PROTECT THEIR PRIVACY. SOMETIMES ITS A LITTLE TRICKY, BECAUSE THEY HAVE IDENTIFIABLE MUSIC STYLES, AND FAVORITE SONGS THEY CHOSE TO PLAY, WHILE IN THE STUDIO; WHICH IS OFTEN PICKED-UP-ON, BY OTHER CUSTOMERS, WHO KNOW THE BANDS THAT PERFORMED THE MATERIAL. WE'VE HAD INSTANCES WHEN A PERSON BUYING A RECORD, FROM OUR NEW OR VINTAGE VINYL COLLECTION, WILL COMMENT TO ANDREW OR ROBERT, AT THE FRONT DESK, THAT THEY RECOGNIZE THE GUITAR OR DRUM PLAYING, FROM THE STUDIO, AND HOLD UP THE RECORD THEY INTEND TO BUY; ASKING IF THE PERSON BEHIND THE DOOR, PRACTICING, IS THE SAME AS THE BAND-MEMBER ON THE RECORD THEY INTEND TO PURCHASE. WE CAN'T TELL THEM, AND BY GOLLY, IT'S TOUGH KEEPING A STRAIGHT FACE. BUT IT'S OUR POLICY TO NEVER SURRENDER THIS INFORMATION, UNLESS THE MUSICIAN IS OPEN TO MEETING FANS. IT DOES HAPPEN FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT LARGELY, THESE ON-TOUR MUSICIANS, ENJOY A LITTLE DOWN-TIME, AWAY FROM THE HECTIC LIFE OF MULTIPLE VENUES AND LONG, LONG ROADS AHEAD. AMONGST THE MUSICAL PATRONS WE PLAY HOST TO EACH YEAR, THERE ARE A FEW THAT OUTRIGHTLY REJECT ANONYMITY, AND LONG-FOR FACE TO FACE MEETINGS WITH THEIR LOYAL FANSHIP, EVEN IF THAT NUMBER IS IN THE TENS, MORE THAN IN THE THOUSANDS. THIS BRINGS ME TO THE POINT OF THIS STORY. THERE ARE THESE GUYS, YOU SEE, AND THEY FIND GREAT RECREATION IN MUSIC. THEY DON'T NEED TO BUY COTTAGES, AND SKI BOATS, JUST EXPENSIVE INSTRUMENTS.
    TAKE FOR EXAMPLE, THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED, AND MODESTLY KNOWN, COUNTRY BAND, "THE RHYTHM PALS," AND THEIR RECENT STAGING OF "PALAPALOOZA," HERE IN OUR MUSKOKA ROAD SHOP AND STUDIO. TO SAY THAT WE WERE HONORED TO HOST THESE CHAPS, THE MAIN GROUP BEING RELATED BY MARRIAGE, COULD ONLY BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT. THEY COME WITH THEIR OWN SECURITY DETAIL, WHICH IS MADE UP OF WIVES AND THEIR CHILDREN, AND AS FAR AS CROWD CONTROL, THEY ARE AS PREPARED AS A MILITARY BRIGADE, TO KEEP ORDER WHEN THINGS GET OUT OF HAND WITH FANS. THERE IS NO UNDER-GARMENT THROWING AT PALAPALOOZA. NO THROWN KISSES, EXCEPT BETWEEN SIGNIFICANT OTHERS, AND DEFINITELY NO EXCESSIVE WATER DRINKING, BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO OLD FARTS IN CASES OF OVER INDULGENCE. THAT'S RIGHT! FLATULENCE AND MANY TRIPS TO THE BATHROOM.
     THE "RHYTHM PALS," ARE OUR GOOD FRIENDS, AND THEY WOULD LIVE AT THE SHOP IF WE LET THEM. SOMETIMES WHEN WE OPEN THE STORE IN THE MORNING, WE OFTEN HERE THE SCAMPERING OF FEET, TOWARD THE BACK, AND SEE BUM IMPRESSIONS IN THE COUCH CUSHIONS; WHICH MAKES US WONDER IF THEY HAVE FOUND A WAY TO SNEAK IN AT NIGHT, TO PLAY IN OUR ABSENCE. WELL, WE'D TRUST THEM TO LOOK AFTER THE PLACE FOR US. FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, THEY'RE REALLY KIND OF STAFF ANYWAY. THEY'RE CERTAINLY SHAREHOLDERS. THERE ARE ENOUGH COUCHES TO MAKE THEM COMFORTABLE, AND A FRIDGE AND ELECTRIC KETTLE, SHOULD THEY WANT TO MAKE CUP-A-SOUPS FOR SUSTENANCE. THEY LOVE MUSIC, AND PERFORMANCE, SO MUCH, THEY'RE WILLING TO GET IN TROUBLE WITH THEIR WIVES, EACH AND EVERY TIME THEY VISIT; TURNING OFF THEIR CELL PHONES SO THEY CAN'T BE LOCATED, JUST TO PLAY ONE MORE SONG AS A GROUP, BEFORE DOMESTIC TITHES REEL THEM IN ONCE MORE. SO WHEN THEY WANTED US TO BE THE HOST FOR A TINY, BUT ABUNDANTLY FRIENDLY MUSIC FESTIVAL, TO LAUNCH THEIR NEW CD, AND THEY WERE PROVIDING LUNCH AND BEVERAGES, HOW COULD WE SAY NO? THEY NEEDED A VENUE, AND NO ONE ELSE WOULD HAVE THEM. DID I ACTUALLY WRITE THAT? I'M SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME ON THIS KEYBOARD. I DIDN'T REALLY MEAN THAT NO OTHER VENUE WOULD CONSIDER THEM WORTHY OF STAGE LIGHTS, AND TURNING ON THE SOUND SYSTEM. THEY'RE GOOD. THEY HAVE A CD FRESH OUT OF THE STUDIO. THEY HAVE A FAN BASE. GROUPIES. PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM. DID I MENTION FOR A COUNTRY BAND, THEY'RE REALLY PRETTY GOOD.
      THE MEMBERS OF "BOB DEANS AND THE RHYTHM PALS," INCLUDE OF COURSE, MISCHIEVIOUS, BOB DEANS ON LEAD GUITAR, BASE, MANDOLIN, VOCALS, DAVE SMITH, THE MUSCLE OF THE GROUP, ON GUITAR, VOCALS, AND BRIAN DAVIDSON, THE REAL TALENT, ON BASS. SUPPORTING CAST MEMBERS INCLUDE THOSE ROVING MUSICIANS, GILL MCNAUGHTON, DRUMS; VAN NEWELL, VOCALS, GUITAR; ANDREW CURRIE, DRUMS, MANDOLIN; ROB CURRIE, GUITAR AND BASS. THE NEW CD IS CALLED "OLD FRIENDS," AND WAS RELEASED ON THE 13TH OF SEPTEMBER, AT A SPECIAL PRIVATE, MEET AND GREET EVENT, HELD AT CURRIE'S MUSIC. THE CD WAS PRODUCED BY ROBERT CURRIE, AND MIXED AT CURRIE'S MUSIC STUDIO, IN GRAVENHURST.
      SHARON SMITH, ONE OF THE BOOSTERS OF THE CD LAUNCH, DID A FABULOUS JOB KEEPING THE EVENT CIVIL, AND THE GUESTS WELL LOOKED AFTER. MUSICIANS ARE HIGH MAINTAINANCE YOU KNOW. AT LEAST THESE ONES ARE. IN FAIRNESS, ALL THE BAND MEMBERS AND SIGNIFICANT OTHERS, PITCHED IN, TO MAKE IT A MEMORABLE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OCCASION, WITH A COUNTRY MUSIC THEME.
      THE GROUP, WITH A LITTLE COAXING (ACTUALLY, NONE WAS NEEDED), GOT UP ON STAGE AND PLAYED FOR AN EAGER AUDIENCE, AND AT ONE POINT, IT'S SPECULATED BY AN EYE WITNESS, THAT A FLUNG GARTER BELT WENT SNAPPING OFF THE BASS PLAYER'S HEAD. NO INJURY WAS REPORTED. JUST SOME COLD, ICY STARES! NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO COLLABORATE EYE WITNESS REPORTS, AND THE BASS GUITARIST REFUSED TO COMMENT. ALL FIFTY CD'S WERE ALLOCATED, EVEN BEFORE THE DOORS WERE OPENED, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF DISAPPOINTMENT FOR THE LINE-UP OF FANS OUTSIDE, WAITING TO GET THEIR SIGNED DISCS. THERE WAS SOME JOSTLING IN LINE, WHEN NEWS LEAKED OUT, THERE WEREN'T ANY CD'S LEFT. SO IF YOU WERE HOPING TO BUY ONE, YOU'LL HAVE TO CHECK EBAY, IN CASE ANY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, GO ROGUE FOR A QUICK PROFIT. MAYBE SOME KNOCK-OFFS WILL START SHOWING AT FLEA MARKET BOOTHS.
      ALL KIDDING ASIDE, THIS BAND OF MUSICAL MATES, WORKED HARD ON THIS CD, AS DID THE FAMILY VOLUNTEERS, WHO PUT ON THE LITTLE COMPANION PARTY, TO COMMEMORATE THE LAUNCH INTO THE STRATOSPHERE OF ENTERTAINMENT. IT WAS AN ENJOYABLE EVENING FOR US CURRIES, AS WELL, PROVIDING THE FACILITY FOR SUCH A NEAT, ALL FRILLS EVENT.
      ADDITIONAL OPERATIONS ASSISTANCE CAME COURTESY, EMILY DEANS, DUSTY AND KATELYN ALCOCK, JENNA AND MARC KOUASSI, AND MALIYAH AND BAIJA KOUSASSI; JODI, TIM AMD WEE HUDSON SMITH.
      THE EVENING GOT UNDERWAY WITH SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS, ADMINISTERED BY BOB DEANS, WITH THANKS FOR ALL THE KIND ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY FRIENDS AND FAMILY, TO BRING THE CD LAUNCH TO FRUITION. BOB DEANS, AS MASTER OF CEREMONIES FOR THE FIRST PART OF THE LAUNCH, SHOWED FOUR VIDEO CLIPS, INCLUDING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SONG, "VIKING,"  WITH VAN NEWELL, WHO JOINED THE PALS, FOR A FEW RECORDED SONGS; "THE WEIGHT," (WRITTEN BY ROBBIE ROBERTSON) SUNG BY DAVE SMITH, "OLD FRIENDS," BY THE PALS COLLECTIVE, AND THE SOLO PERFORMANCE BY BOB DEANS OF THE SONG "SLEEP WALK," (WRITTEN BY ANN, SANTO & JOHNNY FARINA).
     BOB DEANS NOTED THAT THE ORIGINAL "RHYTHM PALS," WERE A VINTAGE CANADIAN COUNTRY GROUP, THAT USED TO APPEAR REGULARLY ON THE FORMER TOMMY HUNTER SHOW. "SEEING AS THEY'RE NOT AROUND ANY MORE, WE DIDN'T THINK THEY'D MIND IF WE BORROWED THEIR NAME FOR OUR BAND." FOOTNOTING, AT THE SAME TIME, THEY WOULDN'T BE MAKING THE BIG BUCKS EITHER, UNLESS THEY WERE INVITED TO NASHVILLE; HEY, YOU NEVER KNOW. THE LEAFS MIGHT WIN THE STANLEY CUP TOO!
     FOLLOWING THE OPENING CEREMONIES, AND VIDEO CLIPS, "THE RHYTHM PALS" AND CHUMS, TOOK TO THE STAGE, AND WOWED THE AUDIENCE, WITH THEIR COUNTRY STYLINGS. IT WAS AN ALL-AGES SPECTACLE. THE GENERATIONS WERE ADEQUATELY REPRESENTED.
     I WAS TALKING TO THE BOYS EARLIER IN THE DAY, ABOUT THE WAY WE'VE ALL BECOME SO SERIOUS ABOUT OUR BUSINESS, IN THE PAST YEAR. IN PART DUE TO COMPETITION, THE OTHER PART DUE TO A PRETTY FAIR AMOUNT OF SUCCESS. HONESTLY, WE DIDN'T SEE THIS COMING. OUR CAVALIER FORMER SELVES, HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED BY OUR EXPANDING BUSINESS, AND HONESTLY, WE'RE FEELING A LITTLE HEARTSICK ABOUT CHANGE. WE'RE BIG BELIEVERS IN TRADITION AND HOMESPUN VALUES. ASK ANYONE, WHO THE GRAVENHURST "WALTONS" ARE, AND AT LEAST HALF WILL POINT TO TOWN HALL. WE WON'T WORRY ABOUT THESE FOLKS. THERE'S NO HELPING THEM. THE OTHER FIFTY PERCENT WILL POINT AT US, AND THEY WOULDN'T BE WRONG, AS IT WAS OUR FAVORITE TELEVISION SHOW. SOMETIMES, WE CAN FORGET FAMILY AND SMALL TOWN VALUES, AND FIND OURSELVES STRESSED-OUT LIKE CITY FOLKS. WHY IS THIS AN IMPORTANT REVELATION?
     HOSTING THIS CD LAUNCH BROUGHT US BACK TO THOSE OLD TIME VALUES. (A LITTLE LIKE THE MOVIE "SLAPSHOT," AND THE HANSON BROTHERS TALKING ABOUT THAT OLD TIME HOCKEY, ACE BAILEY, EDDIE SHORE). EVERY NOW AND AGAIN, WE NEED THAT BRIGHT RETROSPECTIVE, ABOUT WHAT THE GOOD LIFE IS ALL ABOUT. IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN OPENING UP A SHOP EVERY MORNING, TENDING THE CASH REGISTER, AND CLOSING UP AT FIVE WHEN THE TUMMY RUMBLES. SEEING ALL THESE CLOSE FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS, WELL, MAKES AN OLD CYNIC A LITTLE LESS CYNICAL, A SCROOGE, A LITTLE KINDER, AN A COUNTRY MUSIC FAN, A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE FARMSTEADS OF OUR FOREFATHERS AND MOTHERS. WE RELAXED. THE MUSICIANS RELAXED, THE KIDS WOUND-DOWN, THE ADULTS ATE PRETZELS AND SIPPED COFFEE, AND WE WERE ALL, AT THE SAME TIME, ENTERTAINED BY INDUSTRY OLDTIMERS, WHO REFUSE TO SURRENDER THEIR INSTRUMENTS, JUST BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T ASKED TO JOIN THE "TRAGICALLY HIP!" "IT JUST DOESN'T MATTER," SAID BILL MURRAY'S CHARACTER, IN THE MOVIE, "MEATBALLS." "BECAUSE THE OTHER GUYS ALWAYS GET THE GIRLS."
     AS THEY SAY, IN WRAP UP, "A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!" TRUER WORDS WERE NEVER SPOKEN.