If anyone out there remembers Penny Lang, she will be back in the Montreal area in
April '07. April 11th at Church St.Cafe in Lennoxville and Apr.12th Le Zarist Club in St. Hyacinthe. She presently lives near Vancouver where she owns a horse ranch. Her latest album, 'Sand, sea, sun and stone' (if I got right) was done with Ken Pearson who played organ for Janis Joplin and her son Jason. The last time I saw Penny was last year at the Flea Market at St.Willibrord's Church in Verdun. She remembered coming to a party at my house in LaSalle in 1969 with Ken Pearson who was a friend of mine. She has recovered from a serious stroke and her music is better than ever. Ed
60 comments:
Hi Ed
I sure remember Penny Lang. In fact, I just saw her perform at Hugh's Room in T oronto a couple of weeks ago. It was a sold out concert on a weeknight. Not too shabby. I have her latest CD, stone+sand+sea+sky sitting here next to me. It was nice to see here again after the illness.
BobB
http://www.pennylang.com/pages/news.shtml
Bob, I checked out the Penny Lang website that Maggie posted. It doesn't mention your name or mine. A disgraceful way to treat such loyal old fans as you and me. We must protest when she comes. Ed
Ed It must have been a clerical oversight. That's the only explanation I can think of!! BobB
I'm hoping that Ken Pearson will be touring with Penny. He has been recording with her in New York. Shortly after Janis died I spent some time at his place in Kingston New York where he was working with the old band (Full tilt Boogie) at a place called Bearsville sound studio near Woodstock. Our paths went different directions shortly after that. I'm glad he's back with Penny. Ed
When I saw Penny at Hugh's Room recently, she had a very good guitarist, Rick Fines, with her.
http://www.rickfines.com/
BobB
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I remember Penny very well, and in fact played in a band with her brother, Scott for a few years in the early '70's. Would you know where Scott is these days? Penny was a terrific performer back then, and I am happy to hear she has got through her medical issues in good shape. I would love to see her perform again. Glen
Hi Glen
I draw a blank on Scott. I'll ask a musician buddy of mine out in BC if he knows.
BobB
Bob. Thanks for the reply. Scott was a terrific guitarist and last I heard he had gone to the US in the 70's and was playing. I had heard, although could not verify, that he might have played with Big Brother for a while. Another of our band mates was Jim Oliver, whom I believe might still be in the business in the Montreal area. Know anything of him? Glen
Hi Glen
I hope I can help. My buddy Andre (another former Verdunite and Pointe guy) has been playing around North America and the world for years now. He is always bumping into someone at a festival or what ever. I'll send him a note out there in BC (take his mind off boiling water!). I'll ask about both Jim Oliver and Scott. Last name Lang?
BobB
Bob. Thanks for helping with this request. And yes, Scott's last name was Lang. Heading to Montreal on Thursday for a couple of days and will be hitting Crescent St., Woodland pizza, Lafleurs......all the best the city has to offer. Glen
Hi Glen
Sounds like fun in Montreal. I'll see what I can find out for you. I'll post something here either way.
BobB
I've been raking my brain ( what little I have ) ever since this thread started. I remember going to a coffee house above Ste.Catherine Street near Eaton's dept. Store back in the 60's. I saw Penny Lang perform there and I cannot remember the name of the coffee house. Does anyone remember it? Dianne
Was it the 'Yellow Door' ? Ed
Ed it might have been the Yellow Door. But that name doesn't come to mind at all. Do you know of any other coffeehouses in Montreal during the 60's? Di
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I am pretty sure that was the Yellow Door. I used to go there often with Penny's brother, Scott to watch her perform. Glen
Ed, Glen and Arbutus: It must have been the Yellow Door, anyhow, I am glad to hear that she is still performing, and has recovered from a stroke. We have to count our blessings and I thank God everyday for having good health.... Dianne
Hi Glen
I haven't forgotten about enquiring about Penny Lang's brother. I was braodsided by an arythmic heart beat which was racing off to nowhere. Hospitalized for a week, but ai am back home and slowly getting back my strength. I will call my buddy in Vancouver this weekend.
BobB
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BOBB...Hope you are doing better. Keep us posted on how you are doing. Thanks. Winston
Fixing up the home? Live Search can help
Hi Bob,
Glad to hear you are back home from the hospital and feeling better.
Much aloha, Bill
Thanks folks
It's wonderful to be back. Some work to do still, but my spirits are up. It's nice to sleep in my own bed, although the folks at the hospital were truly wonderful people.
Thanks again
BobB
Glad to hear your Ok Bob,......it just goes to show us all,how fast things can change,.........Take it easy,....and enjoy it all,now ,............
Thanks Les. You're right how fast things can change. One minute I am sitting in emergency waiting room and next I am told I'm staying. Thank God, I'm home and recovering. The good wishes here have meant a lot to me.
Thanks to everyone again.
BobB
Hi Glen
Hope you are ot there. A little late getting back to you. I just spoke to my friend Andre out in BC. Unfortunately, he drew a blank on Scott Lang and what he is doing.
BobB
Bob, Sorry it took so long I must have missed this post, anyway glad to know you're back in the land of the living. It's true these things come on fast. Why just the other day my friend said to me, "You don't look so good." and he was right. I looked in the mirror, I am ugly. Ed
Ed
You've made me laugh. Thank you. It reminds me of an old Rodney Dangerfield line ....
I went to the doctor and he told me I had to lose weight. I said "I'd like a second opinion". So he told me "OK, you're ugly too".
BobB
Here's a link on Penny Lang's latest news. Imangine winning an award at 64 years old hurray Ed http://entertainment1.sympatico.msn.ca/Penny+Lang+Canadas+grande+dame+of+folk+music+takes+two+top+awards/Music/MusicNews/ContentPosting.aspx?isfa=1&newsitemid=29397023&feedname=CP-ENTERTAINMENT&show=True&number=5&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc
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Hi Joey ! That's it!!! Cafe Andre! Thanks for remembering....does it still exist today? I have seen a few shows there, another one was 'Spring Thaw' which featured Ted Zeigler of Jelly Bean fame, Dinah Christie and Dave Broadfoot. It was a good show, lots of laughs!!! Dianne
Diane...and anyone else that cares .
Penny used to play for years at a club on St,Catherines Street, In the Guy to University Street area . It was upstairs . She played there for years .....sorry that the name escapes me...
And I believe that her last years in Verdun were on Verdun ave....near Desmarchais ....maybe Ed can give some input on this ?
joey
Joey, I remember the Cafe Andre. But I believe the Yellow Door was on Stanley street almost across from the Pam Pam restaurant. The Yellow Door used to be called the 7 steps. A bunch of guys got together and renovated the place and gave it a new name. I remember Penny Lang singing there and also Eric Anderson. Whatever happened to him? Dolly
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Look who got their start at the New Penelope Club,.. J.Geils Band,............... Montreal had a lot of things going on ,with musicians ,artist etc etc it was a hapenning town,,,,,,, It must have been right about this time that Peter Wolf and Steven Jo Bladd left the Hallucinations. They began looking around for another outfit to join until something better might come along, and soon enough they hooked up with the J. Geils Blues Band. The new quintet (Bladd, J. Geils, Danny Klein, Magic Dick, Wolf) shortened the name to the J. Geils Band. As the Hallucinations first played out at the Putney School here in Vermont, so the J. Geils Band's debut engagement was a two-week stand at the New Penelope Club in Montreal, evidently in September 1968. [Members of the J. Geils Band have often given the year as 1967, but all the evidence I've seen points to 1968.]
Does anyone Remember a group called Natural Gas,.........my brother and some friends had a deal with SirGeorge Williams University,.to use their camera equipment to film this group live ,at one of those old places,....I (being younger) still got to help...(that's code ,for drink beer underage,and stay out of the way)..............hahahahaha It was fun,........and this group was great,..with a tone of horns & basically mostly brass......I think there was at least 9 of them in this group,......maybe more.........all paid for by Sir George, I love it when Tax dollars are spent wisely.............hahahahaha I am uncertain of the name of the club,.but it had several floors in it,...and being Montreal the place was 'jammed packed'.......... Gotta love Montreal,...where the Drinking Age,..and the Maximum Capacity, signs ,.were as they say "Merely a Suggestion"..........hahaha
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Joey, Love that story. It is indeed a small world. And the Montreal night scene that you speak about was magical. Perhaps I can view it that way now because of the distance in years. The reason why I am saying that the Yellow Door was on Stanley street is because I was there. After the Penelope moved, my friend's ex, who was a reporter for the Montreal Star then (will remain nameless), and a future city councillor (will also remain nameless), took it among themselves to rebuild the Penelope and named it the Yellow Door. It was a pothead's heaven! I mistook it as the Seven Steps but yes you are correct it was the Penelope and then moved to become the New Penelope. I was studying art at Sir George Williams at night at that time, and working at CIP because the eatin' was better and so after work, to kill time, I would go either to the Yellow Door or the Pam Pam across the street for supper ---- to read, to write, to think, to slurp some Hungarian goulash. It was my arty period. I was in love with the idea of becoming a starving artist. Hey, I was young! So unless I dreamed it, my memory is that the Yellow Door was on Stanley street. Just goes to show, we would not make credible witnesses in a crime scene! Dolly
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joey-verdun,.............I came across these photo's which are period correct,bu not sure if it's the same group,.....but it's unlikely that this many musicians would also call themselves Natural Gas,......... .........here they are a little older: They now seem to go by the name NaturalGasJazzBand........
Les......Sabby.....
Sorry that I've got to call it a night ......I've got three in the morning stuff that I got to take care of.....
Hong Kong and London is open then
till tomorrow
Joey, Pierce street between Ste. Catherine and de Maisonneuve. That little coffee house a block from the Revue Theatre on de Maisonneuve Used to go there after rehearsals. They served the best pastries and home made soup ever. Funny you mentioned it because I was thinking about it the other day. No kidding. One of those moments of just sitting there looking at the Christmas tree and your mind just becoming an image of the past. I thought we might have crossed paths because I recognize your voice.
Oh yes and the name of Madelein's place.... I give up. e-mail full upstairs.....memory deleted
Les, Natural Gas I still have their Album. They had one hit off of it, but I can't recall the name of it at the moment. I will have to look it up.
Glen.....
It sure would be nice if you could post a scan of the ALBUM cover ......
Also relay my regards through your sister to Earl and his brothers .
joey
Ah, Joey, Could the place on Pierce be the Lantern or Blue Lantern? I thought Limelight at first but I think that was a club on Peel between Ste- Catherine and Dorchester (oops I mean blvd. Rene Levesque). Lantern seems to ring a bell. ...
Sabby....
It doesn't seem to ring a bell....
The only Lantern that I remember was the Green Lantern
which I think was over in the hotel on dominion square . The name of the hotel escapes me right now ......
Yes I think that the Limelight was on Peel ....
It's funny you know cause the place on Pierce , the owner and her daughter and I go way back ......
joey
Joey, I only went there a couple of times after rehearsal with the gang but never knew the owners.
You got me Joey. I didn't know Penny ever lived in Verdun. Ed
Ed and Joey and anyone else who knew Penny Lang back in the 60's.....did she marry an ex catholic priest at one time? dianne
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