“Pop quiz, today @ the School House”

What might four graduates from University of Ottawa do after convocation? Wrong! They for a musical quartet that will encompass country, folk and rock genres. Thence; head on down the performing road. Guitarist Joel Ryan, with Mitchell Jackson on banjo & guitar; bassist David Campbell and Geoff Lemmon's percussion at stage rear are "SCHOOL HOUSE"; and last night they performed in St. Catharines 'playground':- Montebello Park ! The opening soloist of the evening goes by the single name 'Nicole'. The voice is pleasant but unfortunately, her lyrics and intro commentaries were an emotional downer. I especially tuned out the piece titled 'Arson', given what's aflame all over our continent.

The feature band's name was chosen while the members who were studying Kinesiology and Geology, moved into a century-old schoolhouse. 'Disclaimer'... The idea of living in an abode with at least a five-generation history resounded with this scrivener. Our home in Hamilton was built in 1917! Thus, I must admit to a certain positive bias toward these kids who can appreciate antiquity. School House started out back in 2019 and was given a boost when they were the opening act for Allan Doyle of the renowned Canadian group 'Great Big Sea'. The quartet composes and arranges all of their performance library. They have published a single with Universal and will be releasing their second album momentarily. The group are physically peripatetic travelling from Ottawa to Barrie; fourteen shows down East and back in our area next month, Sept. 3rd & 4th at the celebrated winery, Jackson Triggs in NOTL. Their style and demeanor is laid back and humorous. Interspersed with intimate and personal dialogue, the overall impression is one of 'mellow'. There was one 'BeeGee's moment when the the vocal trio turned to face Lemmon with backs to the audience à la Barry Gibb's Aristotelian posturings. I was especially touched by their 'A hold on Me' and the 'Nightmares'; numbers. Both resounded with the assemblage as well, given the level of applause. Jackson's lead vocals are a soft tenor that is more than just pleasant. His, and their stage manners are almost intimate with the audience, perhaps given that I noticed about a dozen family members sitting en masse in front of me. No overt threats but I did have to promise a positive critique, given the 12 to 2 outnumbering!

On Saturday I attended my first visit to Port Colborne's 'Canal Days' Festival and was definitely impressed. The civic staffers; volunteers and local citizens all contribute a yeoman effort to be individual ambassadors of welcome and positivity. That our now famous flooding waited a day before the deluge was certainly a bonus. To all of our readers that suffered water damage, our N A R people's collective hearts are with you.