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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Rocker gives DJing a spin
Pumpkin man Paul Bilodeau
Matt Johnson of band 54-40 plays the hot tracks at the Yellow Dog.
A POST-GIG GIG: Matt Johnson, drummer for band 54-40, who rocked the McPhillips Station Casino Saturday night, was simply vibrating with excitement in the green room before going onstage. Strange behaviour for a 30-year veteran. Word is, the Vancouver-based drummer was jazzed over what he was slipping out to do later.
He'd been invited to guest-spin as "DJ Skeptic" at a post-concert gig at the Yellow Dog Tavern, that popular little music bar and gastropub hidden behind the Burton Cummings Theatre.
Event organizer Aaron Young from the JFK and the Conspirators reggae/ska/dancehall band, says: "Matt came to the Pyramid after 54-40 played in Winnipeg last time, and we met and talked. When I read 54-40 were going to be our competition the night of the Yellow Dog party, I got in touch with him right away."
Young asked Johnson to join more than a half-dozen other deejays at a Mod, Mod World bash, including Mod Marty, DJ Chico, King Cabernet, LemoNate, DJ Penny Lane and Angus Kirkpatrick. Johnson spun 10 of his favourite soul music/Motown/party rock songs (including that old grinder Louie, Louie) and people were up dancing like mad. Said Yellow Dog manager Greg Ash, who watched the proceedings from the bar: "It was a great night and Johnson was an awesome DJ."
Young came to Winnipeg 15 years ago to play trombone with JFK and the Conspirators and never left. Check him out Fridays on UMFM hosting Right on Time with the Invisible Man 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on 101.5 FM.
-- -- --
NAME YOUR PUMPKIN: Teacher/philanthropist Paul Bilodeau is in the home stretch, with his bumper crop of 1,000 pumpkins to be sold with names engraved and grown in their skins. The profits go to charity -- this year, the North Point Douglas Women's Centre -- and he can take orders up to Oct. 12. This year, Bilodeau seeded an acre near St. Agathe, and let Mother Nature do her thing for charity. The École Springfield Heights Grade 4 French immersion teacher says:
"I read an article in the newspaper about Elaine Bishop. She came from another part of the city and moved right into the neighbourhood and started the women's centre. I decided I wanted the money to go to them."
Bilodeau started the pumpkin-engraving project several years ago as a way to earn $1,000 in shipping money to send books he'd been collecting for students in Africa.
For the last few years, he's done it each year, for a different charity. Pumpkins cost $6 for the small to medium and $10 for the large pumpkins. Email Bilodeau at nameyourpumpkin@gmail.com .
-- -- --
BIG DADDY TAZZ KILLS: Tazz, the "Bipolar Buddha" comedian, killed at the taping of the second show of season 4 of Shaw TV's Week Thus Far. It's taped upstairs at the King's Head Pub every Monday night in front of a live audience. People who want to clap and laugh at jokes at the Monday tapings of this comedy news show arrive by 8:30 p.m. to get refreshments and instructions.
The gang of a dozen local comics that skewers all the newsmakers and issues of the previous week -- all-new material every seven days -- also books celebrity guests and live music acts. Hosts are the Old Ball Coach (Ben Walker) and Dan Huen, who happens to be my son and the heir to my large fortune. Now that's a real joke.
Got tips, events, sightings, unusual things going on? Call Maureen's tip line at 204-474-1116, email Maureen.Scurfield@Winnipegfreepress.com, or send letters to Maureen Scurfield, c/o The Insider, 1355 Mountain Ave., R2X 3B6.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 28, 2012 B2
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