Downtown St. Catharines is still vibrant and available to us older folks in the summer. With the Brock kids not flooding the downtown core, I was able to visit one of my favourite establishments, take in some nightlife again and see Niagara living legends LMT Connection.
I have been seeing this band for almost 40 years now. They may be older and greyer and sitting down now, but they still deliver the funk soul and blues and keep the crowds coming in. With Helliwell Hall's garage-style doors open to the street, passersby could see and hear the band playing at the back of the room—but plenty still paid the cover to come inside and join the party. People were dancing and partying like LMT always brings to any house they play. The hard-hittin' Mark Rogers was celebrating his birthday that night and seemed pretty joyous, playing great as always. There was a new to me bass player sitting in and he was fantastic. His solo in the Latin influenced 'Europa' was superb.
Leroy Emmanuel, what can I say? He is a superstar, and Niagara is so lucky that he somehow decided to settle here in the '80s. I don't pretend to know his whole story, but I know it started in Atlanta and included time in Detroit as a Motown session player (I'm sure I've glossed over a lot of a distinguished career here). Somehow he ended up in Niagara Falls, Canada, and started this beloved trio that pretty much everyone around here has seen—many of us multiple times. Everyone knows and loves Leroy and it was a pleasure to see him again last night and groove to some Latin beats, Motown classics, some blues and, of course, some FUNK! I took some guitar lessons from Leroy in the '80s, but don't let my playing reflect on his abilities. I only took a few and quit way too soon after moving out of my parents' house and needing to cut some expenses. Oh, what if...
Thank you, Helliwell Hall—first off, for being the best damned club venue downtown St. Catharines has seen in... well, forever, but also for bringing in such good entertainment. I have to sheepishly admit I haven't been spending as much time there as I should. This old man gets scared off by the college crowd during the school year, but nights like this remind me that I need to get in there more.
The pizza and beer certainly don't hurt either.
Nearly forty years later, LMT Connection is still getting kids who weren't even born when they started out of their seats and onto the dance floor. Yeah... they still got it.