Photo of Suzie McNeil. Photo credit ccvic.zenfolio.com

I wanted to see Suzie McNeil‘s new hair, as the fabulous red hair is no more. I also wanted to see how she has grown as a performer.

I figured that I if I arrived by subway, then I could shoot half the show and then hit the subway to get downtown between say 9 and 9:15. That would still leave me time to shoot a part of the concert at Yonge Dundas Sq.

Photo of Suzie McNeil. Photo credit ccvic.zenfolio.com

I exited the Royal York Subway Station with plenty of time to spare. Out of the blue, the people putting on the Taste of the Kingsway had decided to perform a skit introducing themselves and praising a couple of politicians who had associated themselves with that street festival. About twenty minutes later they were finally done. Some more chit chat came from the MC.

Suzie McNeil went on stage around 8:30. They were supposed to go on at 8pm. So much for me going downtown, after a half hour of Suzie McNeil.

Photo of Chuck D Keeping performing with Suzie McNeil at the Taste of the Kingsway. Photo credit ccvic.zenfolio.com

Suzie McNeil’s band members have changed or were maybe not available to play that night. She had a couple of good session players. Her drummer, Chuck D Keeping, had recently finished touring with Big Wreck. It must have been quite an adjustment for him to again be playing on a small stage, at an insignificant street festival. I think that it’s great that he was performing with Suzie McNeil. One of her Keyboard players from last year, was also with her that evening.

Photo of Chuck D Keeping performing with Suzie Mcneil on Sept 06 2013. Photo credit ccvic.zenfolio.com

It seemed like they were playing more cover songs. Suzie McNeil also did something that I had only seen one other musician ever try. She invited a bunch of young female teens and preteens onto the stage.

Andy Kim once had asked audience members to hop over the security barrier, to join him on stage at one show. The security guys were not previously informed, as the look in one security guy’s face was priceless. They actually stopped one big burly guy, before Andy Kim asked them to let him proceed to the stage.

Photo of Suzie McNeil. Photo credit ccvic.zenfolio.com

To do something like that for the young kids, created a life long memory. It’s typical to expect unexpected things like that, at a Suzie McNeil concert. It’s also always fun to catch a Suzie McNeil concert.