ANDY KIM - the Road Trip

Be My Baby because Baby, I Love You. Even though you Rock Me Gently and We're So Good Together, well - How'd We Ever Get This Way? 'Cause despite the fact that I Been Moved, I Ain't Takin' No Rainbow Ride - regardless of being On Fire, Baby I'm on Fire. Might as well Shoot 'Em Up Baby.

Saw Andy Kim on the weekend. He was supposed to be at the London Music Club last Wednesday. The opening date of his Canadian tour. I even took the night off work for the chance to see this Canadian AM-radio hitmaster of the 1970s live. Then, six days before the big day came word that his London show had been cancelled - due to "unforeseen production problems," as the on-line ticket-seller said.

This being London, I just assumed that meant poor advance ticket sales. Which wouldn't be a surprise. Sadly, we live in probably the most un-hip city in Canada. And thus, the world. And when our local paper doesn't even mention his upcoming concert when doing their occassional list of upcoming concerts for the next couple of months, I wasn't surprised at the news. How can people buy tickets for a show they don't know about?

Well, shame on me for being so dang cynical. Turns out the cancellation had nothing to do with ticket sales but because when the London Music Club was booked, no one told the club that they were planning on a big show with an eight-piece band. The London Music Club is a great venue - and even though Carole Pope played their Big Room a couple of months ago, maybe it wasn't the most appropriate venue for the kind of show Andy & company wanted to put on.

But when I heard the cat was touring with an eight-piece band, that only multiplied my disappointment. I was intrigued. And pissed off at what I was missing. So I looked into where else he was playing around here. Mind you, I would have been just as happy seeing him at the London Music Club even if it meant he only showed up with an acoustic guitar and maybe someone with a set of bongos.

Well, turns out he was in Hamilton the next night - where he would be joined by Ron Sexsmith on stage. The next night, a Friday, he was booked into the Starlight Social Club in Waterloo - a nightclub which books the same acts as Call the Office, the London Music Club and the Aeolian Hall. It specializes in 'indie' music, the kind the young people like to listen to on their college-radio stations. Andy has played there four times in the last year or so.

But I figured there would be people drinking and smoking there. And you all know my policy on that. Wanting to be able to actually remember my first Andy Kim concert, I settled on the next one - in Belleville, Ontario, up Kingston way. It was at the Empire Theatre, a lovingly restored abandoned motion-picture theatre from the 1920s. It seated 700, and although Andy's show wasn't a sell-out it was close to it. It's also the place where the likes of Blue Rodeo, Tragically Hip and Alice Cooper play when an hour away from Kingston.

And it's easy to understand why - great sound, a big stage and all the bells and whistles that come with putting on a good live show. ... and it made me think - maybe London DOES need a 'Performing Arts Centre' that would have seating for 700 people after all.

So Mavis and I took that four-hour drive up the 401 on Saturday. Which of course meant staying overnight. This is the most money I've ever spent on a concert which, originally I could have been able to walk to and then stop and get a hot sausage at 'Lighthouse Dogs' located near Joe Kools and Richmond near Victoria Park afterwards on the way home. Incidently, I can highly recommend their baked beans.

I won't go on and on about the concert. Let's just say that it was everything I hoped it would be - and more. His band consisted of a very young group of kids - chick rhythm section on bass and drums; two young female back-up singers ('Veronica' and 'Betty'?) and young hot-shot lead guitar player and keyboard guy. And this guy of 'our' vintage, Derek, who was obviously the bandleader/arranger and also the hardest-working man on stage. Andy, himself was all effortless cool and charm and friendly. The perfect host for a love-in of adoring fans.

After the intermission, there was a brief interview section hosted by the local radio DJ. Before the music began again, they opened the microphone for three questions from the audience. The first was a good one. Why the name change from 'Andy Kim' to 'Baron Longfellow' in the '80s. But the next was from a woman of my generation - "This is a serious question - can I get a kiss from Andy Kim?" ... needless to say, she got it. But when the light-bulb immediately went off in my head and I thrust my hand up to get my 'question' addressed, there was suddenly no more time for questions. Probably just as well. He probably wouldn't have kissed me anyway. Plus, Mavis was with me and would have been jealous.

It was a fantastic show - and the good news is - according to Andy's Facebook page as of early last week - "The shows in London and Montreal have been rescheduled for a later date. All other shows are going on!"

Can't wait. And I know I'll see you all there.