I got pulled back in with one arm behind my back.
I really was fully prepared to sit out major events like this one until 2026 (which will still happen).
But Howard Bilerman had this bright idea to combine the long awaited re-opening of the 9th floor at Eaton’s (Le 9e) and specifically the new restaurant Île-de-France and performance hall next to it – La Grande Salle. And the fact that the people in charge of the place are music fans but especially Jeff Baikowitz (Joe Beef, Liverpool House, Park. Bistro Franchette, McKiernan’s) who loves The Band. And while some venues here and elsewhere are closing, they want to stage some cool shows in one of the most beautiful show rooms in the city.
So one morning last May Howard picked me up and drove into the downtown core where he eventually arrived through some back channel on De Maisonneuve that turned out to be the shipping entrance at Eaton’s where he left his car while I followed him up a freight elevator to the 9th floor as the busy restaurant staff was preparing its first public lunch serving. I had no clue what was going on other than the historic site was damn impressive looking after being shutdown for over 20 years. And I knew that Andy Nulman was involved at some level. But like most Montrealers at that point I had only read about the project. I met Baikowitz in La Grande Salle. He said Howard had told him that I was planning a major bash to commemorate the 50th anniversary of The Last Waltz in 2026 (not totally accurate but close). He said, “Why wait? Do it here. In November.”
“Not only a Last Waltz music tribute,” said Bilerman. “But we can also have American Thanksgiving turkey dinner at the restaurant. And maybe some ballroom dancers too.”
How could I say no?
I did have concerns. Especially about the sound. Andy Nulman tried to alleviate those concerns by inviting me to the Bobby Slayton-Derek Seguin standup show in the summer. (I had already purchased tickets but I was going strictly for the laughs – not a sound test of one stand up comic riffing into one mic while thinking about how a 15 piece band with multiple vocalists might sound.)
The more I thought about it the more I wanted to get involved even though I was tied up with another major project that was driving me up a wall – or more aptly – down a well.
Eventually, reality set in. And the excitement of being part of the first rock and roll show at Le 9e turned to frustration and disappointment while Baikowitz, Bilerman, Nulman and the restaurant’s manager Marco Gucciardi juggled costs, projected costs, logistic uncertainty and a time frame that was rapidly shrinking.
I’ve known Andy Nulman for over 45 years. He’s been part of so many successful high profile Montreal entertainment projects that I felt a sense of comfort that might not have otherwise been there.
I did not know Jeff Baikowitz. But played catch up in a hurry. Any time it appeared we wouldn’t get it done in time he gave me reason to believe it would. It normally takes awhile for me to warm up to somebody I don’t know. But after five months of on site meetings, zoom calls, phone conversations and plenty of texts, I felt like we were on the same page. And I’ve learned a lot about business.
With time getting very tight, the final call to go ahead with a mid-October announcement for a November 28 show was mine.
None of it would have happened without Howard who did most of the heavy lifting on the planning side while Baikowitz quickly realized he (and all of us) would be better off if he purchased as much infrastructure as he conceivably could in the short time we had. This was going to be the first major music show but, hopefully, the first of a planned regular series of shows. And the annual Andy Kim Christmas Show was going to follow a week later after a decade at the Corona. So, in came a stage, monitors, speakers, soundboard, lighting and more.
But we still weren’t sold on the sound with an expected 20-plus musicians planning to share the stage. So 10 days before the event we staged a free concert to fully test it out. Thanks to Andrew Woods & the Nora Kelly Band for providing the traditional country sound while Rob Lutes and his gang of Montreal vets Rob MacDonald, Alec McElcheran and Dan Legault got bluesy and occasionally rocked out before a solid gathering of friends, family and curious music fans.
I’ll provide a little more background when the James Correa film is released on this site early in the New Year but in the meantime major props to sound man Vid Cousins and his crew plus Jeff, Andy, Marco and the kitchen staff at Île-de-France led by Liam Hopkins and Derek Dammann who helped make the entire experience so memorable. And more nods of appreciation to Shalom Jacob and Angelique Esguerra.
Billy Bob Productions is grateful, as always, to Ghislain Arsenault and Truck ‘N Roll, Steve Traynor, Greg Mate, Alex Petraki, Leonard Yelle, Jaye Portigal, Cult MTL,TSN 690, CHOM, CJAD and Bill Brownstein of The Gazette. And everybody else who helped get the word out.
Most of all, the following musicians, who will always remember this night. There might have been some challenges and a couple of night-of blips that we’ll all learn from but my youngest daughter said that when she left the room about 15 minutes after the show people were singing in the elevators.
Thanks to these wonderful artists.
House Band #1
Mike O’Brien – lead electric guitar, mandolin & vocals; Chris Velan – electric guitar & vocals; Andrew Woods – acoustic & electric guitars & vocals; Josh Toal – bass & vocals; Jeff Louch – organ/keys; Howard Bilerman/David Payant – drums; Simon Nakonechny – saxophone & organ Andy King – trumpet
- THE SHAPE I’M IN – O’Brien lead vocal w/ Bilerman & horns
- UP ON CRIPPLE CREEK – Woods lead vocal & guitar w/ Nakonechny – 2nd organ
- WHEN I PAINT MY MASTERPIECE – O’Brien lead vocal & mandolin
- OPHELIA – O’Brien lead vocal w/ horns & Payant on drums
- THIS WHEEL’S ON FIRE – CHRIS VELAN – lead vocal w/horns
- KING HARVEST (HAS SURELY COME) – Velan – lead vocal w/ horns
- STAGE FRIGHT – Woods – lead vocal w/ King – trumpet & Nakonechny – 2nd organ
- RAG MAMA RAG – Toal – lead vocal
- DON’T DO IT – Velan & Toal – lead vocals w/ horns
- HELPLESS – TIM KINGSBURY – lead vocal & acoustic guitar w/ Bilerman on drums & GUY BELANGER – harmonica
- EVANGELINE – Kingsbury, O’Brien & ANGELA DESVEAUX – lead vocals; O’Brien on mandolin
- SHADOWS & LIGHT – MICHELLE TOMPKINS – vocal & acoustic guitar w/ Toal
- RAISED ON ROBBERY – Tompkins – lead vocal & acoustic guitar w/ Nakonechny – saxophone & Payant – drums
- COYOTE – KATIE MOORE – vocal & acoustic guitar
- CARAVAN – Josh Toal – lead vocal w/ horns
- FOUR STRONG WINDS – BASIA BULAT – lead vocal w/ Guy Belanger – harmonica & Bilerman – drums
- THE NIGHT THEY DROVE OLD DIXIE DOWN – Katie Moore, Angela Desveaux, Michelle Tompkins – lead vocals w/ Nakonechny – 2nd organ; King – trumpet & Payant on drums
Walter Lyng – Loud Prayer (Lawrence Ferlinghetti)
House Band #2
Rob MacDonald – lead guitar; Alec McElcheran – bass & vocals; Josh Trager – drums; Jeff Louch – organ/keys; Simon Nakonechny – saxophone, organ & accordion; Andy King – trumpet
- CHEST FEVER – McElcheran – vocal
- LIFE IS A CARNIVAL – BILAL BUTT – lead vocal w/ JASMINE BLEILE & FELICITY HAMER – backup vocals plus horns
- ALL OUR PAST TIMES – McElcheran & JOHNNY GRIFFIN – vocals
- SIP THE WINE – Griffin – lead vocal & acoustic guitar; McElcheran, Bleile & Hamer – backup vocals
- INTO THE MYSTIC – JAMES CORREA – vocal w/ horns
- W.S. WALCOTT MEDICINE SHOW – ROB LUTES – lead vocal & acoustic guitar w/ horns
- OUT OF THE BLUE – FELICITY HAMER – vocal
- DRY YOUR EYES – Lutes – vocal & acoustic guitar
- SUCH A NIGHT – Lutes – lead vocal & acoustic guitar; McElcheran – backup vocals
- DOWN SOUTH IN NEW ORLEANS – SANTO ROMANO, Bilal Butt, Alec McElcheran – lead vocals w/ Bleile & Hamer – backup vocals, Nakonechny – accordion
- IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE – Jasmine Bleile – lead vocal w/ Nakonechny – saxophone; Hamer & McElcheran – backup vocals
- I DON’T BELIEVE YOU (SHE ACTS LIKE WE NEVER HAVE MET) – ANDRE KIRCHHOFF – vocal & acoustic guitar
- BABY LET ME FOLLOW YOU DOWN – TJ PLENTY – vocal & electric guitar
- MYSTERY TRAIN – SANTO ROMANO – lead vocal & harmonica; McElcheran – backup vocals, Graham Chambers – backup vocals & tambourine
- CALDONIA – GRAHAM CHAMBERS – lead vocal & tambourine w/ GUY BELANGER – harmonica
- WHO DO YOU LOVE – SHANE MURPHY – lead vocal & lead electric guitar w/ Belanger – harmonica
- FURTHER ON UP THE ROAD – Murphy – vocal & electric guitar
- HAZEL – Murphy – vocal & electric guitar
- MANNISH BOY – Murphy – vocal & electric guitar
- FOREVER YOUNG – DAWN TYLER WATSON – vocal
FINALE
1. THE WEIGHT – House Band # 2 w/ MIKE O’BRIEN – electric guitar; Lead Vocals: Shane Murphy, TJ Plenty, Dawn Tyler Watson, Jasmine Bleile, Josh Toal, Angela Desveaux, Katie Moore, Michelle Tompkins, Tim Kingsbury
2. I SHALL BE RELEASED – House Band #2 w/ Howard Bilerman on drums & Guy Belanger – harmonica; Lead Vocals: Basia Bulat, Chris Velan, Andre Kirchhoff, Dawn Tyler Watson; Backup Vocals: Jasmine Bleile, Felicity Hamer, Angela Desveaux, Katie Moore, Michelle Tompkins, Mike O’Brien, Tim Kingsbury, Andrew Woods, Josh Toal, Alec McElcheran
Enjoy the photo album by James St. Laurent including many during soundcheck and backstage. And to all those who attended – thank you for packing the place!
