Winnipeg band’s tribute to Prince

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This article was published 03/06/2019 (2672 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

JD EDWARDS and many guest performers crowded the stage at band Ego Spank’s tribute to Prince on May 30 at the West End Cultural Centre. Prince is most famous for the film and soundtrack to Purple Rain, and funk tunes such as Raspberry Beret and Little Red Corvette.

Ego Spank, consisting of guitarist Murray Pulver, bass player Gilles Fournier, keyboardist Marc Arnould and drummer Daniel Roy, stepped up from mainly backing up guests during both of the concert’s sets. At one point, Pulver screwed his eyes shut and belted out his own super Prince falsetto, to huge applause.

It appeared to take a stage full of instrumentalists and singers to produce the music Prince often wrote, sang, played and recorded himself in 24-hour sessions in Minneapolis.

Todd Martin soon appeared in purple suit and black fedora and Prince-styled eye makeup, and wailed and swung his microphone stand à la Prince. Then, guitarist Joe Curtis — who has a low voice plus a pitch-perfect Prince-like falsetto — performed several of Prince’s songs.

Fans aged 25-65 danced madly from the first song on. Audience member Gloria Dignazio had a Prince tattoo (the logo the singer used when he stopped calling himself Prince for a time) — on her right forearm.

NEW CHAISE CAFÉ AT TEO’S: Shea Ritchie and Nikola Maharajh of Chaise Café on Provencher Boulevard have just taken over a second location, Teo’s bar, patio and restaurant on Corydon Avenue promenade near Hugo Street, and will be changing the name to Chaise Corydon soon.

They started offering their famous Chaise brunch at their new spot this past weekend. “First seating is at 10 a.m. with last seating at 2 p.m. You can get a savoury course and a sweet course in a “family-style” brunch for $20 per person, a series of platters to share with unlimited seconds.

Ritchie says they’re big on accommodating people with dietary restrictions. “Why? Because if your friend can’t eat, you’re not happy, and we want everybody to be happy!”

To that end, they can do their entire menu in a vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free format. Call 204-952-9089 for reservations.

For now, they’re open for evening dinners and brunch on the weekends, but not lunches yet.

Maharajh, who’s looking after the bar, is also a co-owner at 441 Main nightclub. He’s well-known as DJ Alokin (Nikola spelled backwards) and fans will know him from Green Room, Stereo and Opera clubs.

Ritchie, a chef and experienced restaurateur, is definitely just the food man. “We don’t have a big nightlife at Chaise Café on Provencher,” he says, grinning. Maharajh says he will rev things up.

“We want to add more lounge atmosphere here on Corydon,” Maharajh says. “There’s been a nightclub here two days a week and we want to get it up to seven.”

FATHER’S DAY SEASON: Comedian Jon Ljungberg is headlining Dad Jokes — an evening of comedy in honour of fathers at the Park Theatre on June 12 at 8 p.m. The show includes Ashley Burdett, Jared Story, Ben Walker, Kate Schellenberg, Danielle Kayahara and host Angie St. Mars.

Then, Ljungberg takes the stage. “I’ll be talking about my kids’ marriages and finding myself turning into my own father… plus the trials, tribulations and changes of being a dad.

“For instance, on Father’s Day, people get their dads nose and ear trimmers. I didn’t even know I needed one — that was a joy to find out!”

Ljungberg has a son Christopher, 27, and daughter Brittney, 30.

“I also have a beautiful granddaughter Eleanor Danger Ljungberg. He huffs indignantly, “Danger! So when she’s older she can say Danger’s her middle name? Gonna be a spy or something?”

Tickets are $10, or $15 at the door and are available at Ticketfly.com or by calling 204-478-7275.

CORYDON COMING ALIVE! It’s been a long, cold winter, but it’s party time on patios of Corydon Avenue and they’re making up for winter with 13,000 plants in hanging baskets, tree surrounds and giant standing pots. “We just got the last ones in this week and in two weeks they’re going to just go wild,” says Katia von Stackelberg, executive director of Corydon BIZ.

On Friday and Saturday evenings of every weekend, dance bands play on different Corydon intersections, starting June 21 with Free Ride doing their tribute to the Beatles at Arbuthnot Street North. On June 22, the “B” Side Champs play classic rhythm & blues of the ’60s on Lilac Street. For a complete listing of all the performers, visit corydonbiz.com/concert-series-2019.

Got tips? Cool things happening in your world? Been rubbing shoulders with the stars? Email Maureen’s Tips at mscurf@shaw.ca.