CARRY ON: THE SONGBOOK of LAUREL CANYON (Set List & Photo Album)

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This one’s for Howard Bilerman.

The co-owner of the renowned hotel2tango studio in Mile End suggested the Laurel Canyon scene as a future themed night of music on site at Le 9e, to follow up the Recreation of The Last Waltz that we staged in the Grande Salle in late November. It was a great idea to bring to life another important slice of the American (and transplanted Canadian) music scene of the late 60s and early 70s. It was originally planned for late summer or early fall.

Then in January the wildfires swept through Los Angeles. It was heartbreaking to see so many homes and businesses burn to the ground in such a rapid and ugly manner. Like so many Montrealers with friends and family in the Los Angeles area, and after speaking to a couple of friends who had their belongings packed up while waiting for official word to evacuate, I wanted to help. But what could we really do from nearly 3,000 miles away?

A week or so into the wildfires I met with Howard and Le 9e’s Jeff Baikowitz and Andy Nulman to wrap up our final gathering on The Last Waltz and plan ahead. While we all agreed on the merits of the Laurel Canyon theme, I suggested pushing up the date and turning it into a benefit concert. There was no hesitation. Through his Los Angeles connections, Baikowitz – a philanthropist of some note – suggested No Us Without You LA – “humans helping humans’. A perfect connection. Then it was up to Howard to convince his merry band of musicians to agree to perform without pocketing a dime. That’s a big ask. Not just for the night of, but the hours and days of rehearsing it would take to learn 30-40 songs, with the vast majority of them never previously played live by any of them. It didn’t take much arm twisting. Eventually Howard asked if another longstanding Los Angeles charity organization could be added. It was a no-brainer to include MusiCares as a beneficiary.

So we were all set for a late January announcement. We settled on ‘Carry On’ as a title for obvious reasons. Much like saving ‘Roadhouse Blues’ (“save our city!”) for the end of the night. And then the orange blob from south of the border injected himself into the mix. Not merely content to lead with his little mushroom head on the 51st state front, he added to the fury on February 1 by announcing stiff tariffs on imports from Canada, under the guise of us apparently flooding the U.S. with mass levels of fentanyl. This was a SNL skit come to life. But it wasn’t funny.

I’m a damn proud Canadian. I don’t need an international incident – or a hockey tournament – to appeal to my pride nor get me riled up. I was on TSN 690 suggesting that if fans attending the Canada – USA 4 Nations game at the Bell Centre wanted to boo the U.S. anthem as a mass display of anger and disgust over what the U.S. President was attempting to do, then boo away. Eventually they’d figure out – even the cement heads – why so many of us felt this way.

So when anti-American sentiment started to appear in comments under our Facebook event for the benefit concert I was hardly surprised. But the depths to which some people went to insult, denigrate and rage at it was almost beyond belief. One hysterical West Island resident suggested I was raising money for my “rich friends to rebuild their homes”. Another idiot who couldn’t be bothered to read accused me outright of putting on the show so I could take the money and put it in my own pocket. When a former Gazette staffer turned real estate agent posted that it was “the wrong cause at the wrong time” I decided to engage. I explained that the concert was announced before the Trump crap. That everybody was on board to help out in our own small (big picture) way to do something. She responded by suggesting we divert the money away from the LA based charities and keep it local. I didn’t think I had to explain again that the whole point of the night was the result of what went down in Los Angeles and we had already put in motion the plan to send money there. And then I started thinking. Why is Billy Bob Productions being singled out here? I’m one guy – with a few part-timers – just trying to put on a good show for the right reasons. I explained that most of us who host radio shows help out local charities constantly. Publicly and privately. And that if she was so intent on helping out a Montreal charity, why not put something together and do so instead of just complaining about what we were doing. And then I took it a step further. I suggested she take 10-20% out of her commission of the next home she sold and put it aside for the charity of her choice. And Billy Bob Productions would match the profit percentage out of the next major concert we produced. She went next level , wanting to know “what is wrong with you?” and that I must have an issue with strong women expressing their views. Yep, she nailed it.

I knew there was no getting around the fact that some people just use the comments section – any comments section – to rage post. And if they thought that a a group of 20 or so Montreal musicians were playing songs to raise money for Trumpf and his fascist followers then no amount of reasoning was going to work.

I also knew it was going to be a great show in an intimate setting in a beautiful, historic performance room. Thanks to those who did post in defence of the event and also trying to reason with people who don’t have the ability to see anything but black and white. Thanks again to Howard for putting and pulling it all together.

This review in Montreal Rocks is spot on. Thank you Annette Aghazarian for capturing the spirit of the night.

But I do want to add that Murray Lightburn’s solo vocal on ‘Without You’ was simply spine tingling. And a nod of appreciation, as always, to Shane Murphy who prepped for The Doors segment while mourning the loss of his mother who had passed away just a few weeks earlier. The night of the concert March 13, 2025 would have been Gail Murphy’s 83rd birthday.

Everything went so well that Howard and the musicians would like to do it again. We’ll charge less and make sure they get paid this time. As long as a few more songs are added, notably by Frank Zappa, Love and Michael Nesmith of The Monkees. In the meantime, as we await the film version by James Correa, enjoy the photo albums by Scott Martin and Baran Asghari.

Final words from Howard, “The music that came out of Laurel Canyon in the late 60s and early 70s was era defining and is still influencing singers and songwriters today. I wanted to celebrate that community of musicians and also put a spotlight on the local community of musicians that have been a part of the records I’ve made over the last 20 years.”

1. CARRY ON (Stephen Stills – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Deja Vu 1970) – Brad Barr – vocals & electric guitar; Chris Velan – vocals & acoustic guitar; Jasmine Bleile – vocals; Steve Herskovitz – vocals; Mike O’Brien electric guitar; Simon Nakonechny – keys; Andrew Horton – bass; Matthew “Woody” Woodley – drums; Howard Bilerman – congas
2. FIRE and RAIN (James Taylor – Sweet Baby James 1970) – Steve Herskovitz – lead vocal: Chris Velan – acoustic guitar; Simon Nakonechny – grand piano; Andrew Horton – bass; Howard Bilerman – drums
3. HEART of GOLD (Neil Young – Harvest 1972) – Steve Herskovitz – harmonica & lead vocal; Chris Velan – acoustic guitar & backup vocal; Katie Moore – backup vocal; Mike O’Brien – electric guitar; Dylan Keating – pedal steel; Andrew Horton – bass; Howard Bilerman – drums
4. FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH (Stephen Stills – Buffalo Springfield single 1966; Buffalo Springfield Again (2nd pressing) 1967) – Mike O’Brien – vocals & electric guitar; Jasmine Bleile – backup vocals; Chris Velan – acoustic guitar & backup vocals; Andrew Horton – bass; Mathew Woodley – drums
5. MY BACK PAGES (Bob Dylan – The Byrds – Younger Than Yesterday 1967) – Chris Velan – vocals & electric guitar; Mike O’Brien – electric guitar & backup vocals; Angela Desveaux – backup vocals; Simon Nakonechny – keys; Andrew Horton – bass; Howard Bilerman – drums; Matthew Woodley – cowbell
6. IT’S SO EASY (Buddy Holly & Norman Petty 1958 ; Linda Ronstadt – Simple Dreams 1977) – Angela Desveaux – lead vocals; Katie Moore & Michelle Tompkins – backup vocals; Chris Velan – acoustic guitar & backup vocals; Simon Nakonechny – keys; Andrew Horton – bass; Howard Bilerman – drums
7. WHEN WILL I BE LOVED (Phil Everly 1960; Linda Ronstadt – Heart Like a Wheel 1977) – Angela Desveaux – lead vocal; Katie Moore & Michelle Tompkins – backup vocals; Chris Velan – acoustic guitar & backup vocals; Brad Barr – electric guitar; Andrew Horton – bass; Matthew Woodley – drums
8. DOCTOR MY EYES (Jackson Browne – debut album 1972) – Chris Velan – lead vocal & acoustic guitar; Jasmine Bleile & Katie Moore – backup vocals; Mike O’Brien – electric guitar; Dylan Keating – pedal steel; Simon Nakonechny – grand piano; Andrew Horton – bass; Howard Bilerman – drums; Matthew Woodley – congas
9. HEARTS ON FIRE (Walter Egan & Tom Guidera; Gram Parsons – Grievous Angel 1973) – Wood Andrews – vocal & acoustic guitar; Michelle Tompkins – vocal Mike O’Brien – electric guitar; Dylan Keating – pedal steel; Simon Nakonechny – grand piano; Jeff Louch – keys; Andrew Horton – bass; Ethan Soil – drums
10. YOU’RE SO VAIN (Carly Simon single 1972; No Secrets 1972) – Jasmine Bleile – lead vocal; Michelle Tompkins – backup vocals; Mike O’Brien – electric guitar & backup vocals; Chris Velan – acoustic guitar & backup vocals; Simon Nakonechny – grand piano; Dylan Keating – pedal steel; Andrew Horton – bass; Howard Bilerman – drums; Matthew Woodley – cowbell
11. (YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE) A NATURAL WOMAN (Carole King & Gerry Goffin – Aretha Franklin single 1967; Carole King – Tapestry 1971) – Jasmine Bleile – lead vocal; Michelle Tompkins & Angela Desveaux – backup vocals; Simon Nakonechny – grand piano; Andrew Horton – bass
12. THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT (Joni Mitchell – Blue 1971) – Rachel Silverstein – vocal; Angus Watt – acoustic guitar; Dylan Keating – pedal steel; Andrew Horton – bass; Ethan Soil – drums
13. ALMOST CUT MY HAIR (David Crosby – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Deja Vu 1970) – Lee-la Baum – vocal; Tom Shemer – electric guitar; Mike O’Brien – electric guitar; Simon Nakonechny – keys; Andrew Horton – bass; Ben Shemer – drums
14. WOODSTOCK (Joni Mitchell -Ladies of the Canyon 1970; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Deja Vu 1970) – Steve Herskovitz – 1st lead vocal; Chris Velan – 2nd lead vocal & acoustic guitar; Brad Barr – 3rd vocal & electric guitar; Jasmine Bleile – 3rd vocal; Mike O’Brien – electric guitar; Simon Nakonechny – keys; Andrew Horton – bass; Howard Bilerman – drums
15. CALIFORNIA (Joni Mitchell – Blue 1971) – Katie Moore – lead vocal & acoustic guitar; Chris Velan – acoustic guitar & backup vocal; Dylan Keating – pedal steel; Andrew Horton – bass; Matthew Woodley – drums
16. CAREY (Joni Mitchell – Blue 1971) – Michelle Tompkins – lead vocal & acoustic guitar; Angela Desveaux & Katie Moore – backup vocals; Mike O’Brien – electric guitar; Andrew Horton – bass; Matthew Woodley – congas
17. HELP ME (Joni Mitchell – Court and Spark 1974) – Michelle Tompkins – lead vocal & acoustic guitar; Angela Desveaux & Katie Moore – backup vocals; Mike O’Brien – electric guitar; Simon Nakonechny – keys; Andrew Horton – bass; Matthew Woodley – drums
18. EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS IS NOWHERE (Neil Young – Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere 1969) – Brad Barr – lead vocal & electric guitar; Chris Velan – backup vocals & electric guitar; Angela Desveaux – backup vocals; Mike O’Brien – electric guitar; Andrew Horton – bass; Howard Bilerman – drums
19. LAWYERS, GUNS and MONEY (Warren Zevon – Excitable Boy 1978) – Mike O’Brien – lead vocal & electric guitar; Brad Barr – electric guitar; Chris Velan – electric guitar; Simon Nakonechny – grand piano; Andrew Horton – bass; Howard Bilerman – drums
20. WEREWOLVES of LONDON (Warren Devon, LeRoy Marine, Waddy Wachtel – Excitable Boy 1978) – Mike O’Brien – lead vocal & electric slide guitar; Brad Barr – electric guitar; Chris Velan – electric guitar; Simon Nakonechny – grand piano; Andrew Horton – bass; Howard Bilerman – drums
21. CARMELITA (Warren Zevon – Murray McLaughlin debut album 1972; Warren Zevon 1976) – Andrew Horton – lead vocal & bass; Jasmine Bleile, Angela Desveaux, Katie Moore & Michelle Tompkins – backup vocals; Brad Barr – electric guitar; Mike O’Brien – electric guitar; Chris Velan – acoustic guitar; Dylan Keating – pedal steel; Jeff Louch – grand piano; Simon Nakonechny – accordion; Ethan Soil – drums
22. HELPLESS (Neil Young – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Deja Vu 1970) – Brad Barr – lead vocal & electric guitar; Jasmine Bleile, Angela Desveaux, Katie Moore & Michelle Tompkins – backup vocals; Chris Velan – acoustic guitar; Steve Herskovitz – harmonica; Simon Nakonechny – grand piano; Andrew Horton – bass; Howard Bilerman – drums
23. BIG YELLOW TAXI (Joni Mitchell – Ladies of the Canyon 1970) – Katie Moore – lead vocal & acoustic guitar; Chris Velan – acoustic guitar & backup vocals; Angela Desveaux & Michelle Tompkins – backup vocals; Andrew Horton – triangle; Matthew Woodley – drums
24. I’ll FEEL a WHOLE LOT BETTER (Gene Clark – The Byrds Mr. Tambourine Man 1965) – Jeff Louch – lead vocal & grand piano; Mike O’Brien – electric guitar & backup vocals; Chris Velan – electric guitar & backup vocals; Simon Nakonechny – tambourine; Andrew Horton – bass; Howard Bilerman – drums
25. WITHOUT YOU (Pete Ham & Tom Evans Badfinger – No Dice 1970; Harry Nilsson – Nilsson Schmilsson 1971) – Murray Lightburn – vocal; Jeff Louch – grand piano; Simon Nakonechny – keys (synth); Andrew Horton – bass; Howard Bilerman – drums
26. TAKE IT EASY (Jackson Browne & Glenn Frey – Eagles 1972; Jackson Browne – For Everyman 1973) – Chris Velan – lead vocal & acoustic guitar; Jasmine Bleile, Angela Desveaux, Katie Moore & Michelle Tompkins – backup vocals; Brad Barr – electric guitar; Mike O’Brien – electric guitar; Andrew Horton – bass; Howard Bilerman – drums
27. GO YOUR OWN WAY (Lindsey Buckingham – Fleetwood Mac Rumours 1977) – Chris Velan – lead vocal & acoustic guitar; Jasmine Bleile, Angela Desveaux, Katie Moore & Michelle Tompkins – backup vocals; Brad Barr – electric guitar; Mike O’Brien – electric guitar; Andrew Horton – bass; Howard Bilerman – drums
28. LA WOMAN (Jim Morrison – The Doors LA Woman 1971) – Shane Murphy – vocal & electric guitar; Mike O’Brien – electric guitar; Brad Barr – grand piano; Simon Nakonechny – keys; Andrew Horton – bass; Matthew Woodley – drums
29. ROADHOUSE BLUES (Jim Morrison – The Doors Morrison Hotel 1970) – Shane Murphy – vocal & electric guitar; Brad Barr – electric guitar; Mike O’Brien – electric guitar; Simon Nakonechny – grand piano; Steve Herskovitz – harmonica; Andrew Horton – bass; Matthew Woodley – drums
30. GOD ONLY KNOWS (Brian Wilson & Tony Asher – The Beach Boys Pet Sounds 1966) – Jeff Louch – lead vocal & grand piano; Brad Barr – electric guitar & backup vocals; Mike O’Brien – electric guitar & backup vocals; Chris Velan – acoustic guitar & backup vocals; Simon Nakonechny – keys; Andrew Horton – bass; Matthew Woodley – drum; Jasmine Bleile, Angela Desveaux, Katie Moore, Michelle Tompkins, Wood Andrews, Rachel Silverstein, Angus Watt, Ethan Soil, Steve Herskovitz – backup vocals