An Andy Kim Christmas Spectacular at The Phoenix

Date of show: December 13, 2012
Written by: Chiara DiAngelo

For the past eight years, Canadian icon and co-writer of The Archies’ mega-hit “Sugar, Sugar,” Andy Kim has orchestrated a special holiday show that brings together a “who’s who” of the Canadian music scene in support of a chosen charity. The artists each typically perform two songs, an original as well as a Christmas tune. This year’s event was in support of the Jeff Healey park, an Etobicoke neighbourhood park where Healey used to play as a child. Renamed after the late guitarist, they are hoping to fit it with permanent instruments in order to give the gift of free play music to children. It attracted a wide range of attendees, though for the most part they were on the older side.

The stage was set with tinsel and sparkles galore when Kim took the stage to open the night, alongside backup singers and a backing band. He brought a lively atmosphere and set the merry tone with such oldies favourites from the late 60’s and 70’s such as “Be My Baby,” “Baby I Love You” and “So Good Together.” Kim may be getting up in years now but you would never know it from his performance and all over disposition.

Before the rotating cast of characters began coming out, Steve Anthony of CP24 brought out a guitar from Long & McQuade that every participating artist had signed and would be auctioned off. The first guest was the fresh-faced Melissa Bel from Toronto. It was noted that last year she was in the crowd and now, here she was, sharing the stage. The moment she started singing the rich country-blues track “Distance” off her album, she proved why she deserved to be there.

Next up was Neverending White Lights. They started with a cover of the instrumental “Christmas Time Is Here” from A Charlie Brown Christmas before going into “Falling Apart” from their last record, with Evan Konrad of Bed of Stars on vocals. While the older crowd ooh’ed and aah’ed over their Peanuts cover, they weren’t too sure what to make of their original material. It was perhaps not the right demographic.

In the break to set up for the next act, Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene came out to entertain the audience. He lauded the event, praising the mix of participants that take part each year and the fact that no egos are involved as it is all done on a volunteer basis. With some technical difficulty delaying the next set, the always hilarious Drew came down from the stage and spoke with some audience members to get an idea as to why they were there. Many mentioned that they come every year as a way to kick off their holiday season. At some point, his partner-in-crime, Brendan Canning also emerged from behind the curtain.

Finally it was time for local Arts & Crafts’ duo Snowblink. They remarked “we’re vegans so we’re going to bring everyone down.” Daniela Gesundheit asked for a volunteer near the front of the stage to ring their bell rope and that everyone else pull out keys or other jangly items to take part in their version of “Winter Wonderland.” They also performed the single “Unsurfed Waves” from their album Inner Classics. With this being much of the audience’s first encounter with them, a smaller more intimate setting may have suited them better.

Introduced with much reverence by Kim himself, Divine Brown then came out for “December Song” before belting out the massive “I Don’t Want A Lot For Christmas.” Many of the middle-aged women surrounding me were more than a little excited when BC’s Dan Mangan took the stage next. Kim’s backup singers joined him for “Rows of Houses.” Then a supergroup of sorts amassed as Kevin Drew, Brendan Canning, Chris Murphy of Sloan, Dave Hamelin of Eight and a Half, and Kevin Hearn of Barenaked Ladies came out to “sing a brand new song that we just wrote yesterday.” It was called “Merry Christmas Baby, Please Don’t Die.” The charming lilt to Mangan’s voice despite the depressing nature of the lyrics gave the whole experience quite the epic feel.

Announced as a special surprise guest, Serena Ryder garnered a huge round of applause before musician Liam Titcomb then graced the stage for the traditional Christmas favourite “Silver Bells” as well as “I Can Teach You Generosity.” Belfast, Ireland export Beverley Mahood was the next performer, and she may have described the event and the cause the best: “putting instruments into kids hands is one of the most powerful things.” With members of the Healey family in attendance, a moving video tribute to Jeff was then shown and wife Cristie Healey came out to accept a $10,000 donation – the cost to purchase one instrument.

Mark Holmes of Platinum Blonde fame, donning a velvet maroon jacket, channeled the mannerisms of Elvis on “Blue Christmas” and added some entertaining theatrics to “You’re a Mean One, Mr Grinch.” lt really didn’t matter that he needed to have the lyric sheet beside him to remember all the words. Colin James, a personal friend of Healey’s, flew in specially to be a part of the night. Next on the list was Liz Coyles. It felt like a weird placement for an unknown like her to follow some of the larger acts and try as she might, the crowd’s attention began to wane. After only performing one song, she announced that finger-picker extraordinaire Calum Graham would then come and play a song. Apparently no one was aware this was going to happen, but wow, he captured everyone’s awareness back. It ended up being one of those random occurrences that make an event like this so much fun.

Faced with another break between acts, Kim and Drew led the crowd in an acapella sing-along of “Silent Night” to kill some time. It was an experiment that was actually pretty successful, though many of the lyrics did get muddled along the way. It started to really feel festive at this point. k-os came out, promising surprises. After “Man I Used To Be,” he was joined by Chris Murphy on drums as well as Buck 65 for “I’ve Been on the Run.” Drew and Anthony asked if the audience would rather see them fight in a deathmatch or makeout. The response weighed pretty heavily in favour of making out, and a slight (attempt at a) kiss may have even transpired. It’s for charity right?!

Longtime event performer, Ron Sexsmith, who has played almost every year was the second-to-last guest of the night. He surprised and thoroughly impressed with his rendition of “Father Christmas” by Ray Davies of the Kinks. A new album in the works, he also performed a new song. Drew and Derek Downham of The Beauties returned, making up an acoustic song on the spot as a time filler before it was finally time for Sloan. It felt like we had finished a marathon at this point, but all sense of tiredness lifted and were replaced with irrevocable joy during “The Rest of My Life” and “Money City Maniacs.” Their time on stage felt much too short.

After announcing that the night had raised over $25,000 for the park, Kim returned to close out the show. There is something really special about getting to see “Sugar Sugar” and “Rock Me Gently” performed live – made even more so when bubbles and confetti began falling from the sky. While the show was lengthy and our legs were sore by the end, it was impossible not to walk out of the confetti-littered venue without a smile plastered across your face and your heart filled with happiness. It’s definitely an event I now want to make an annual tradition.