There’s nothing like howling at the late-night moon in midtown Toronto to the incredible blues guitar of Paul James.
It hasn’t happened often in the past six decades but Saturday blues fans will have to howl at the sun instead. Just when you thought the legendary Toronto bluesman would not wake up for his day before sunset comes word the Paul James Band will be performing a rare matinee this Saturday.
“I am excited,” the 74-year-old legend said of this special gig. “Even after all of these years, you still get pumped to play for a live crowd.”
As Toronto music enthusiasts knowJunoand Maple Blues award-winning James’ live show is epic. He takes over the room and you just might see him strut by you at your table doing the duck walk with his guitar over his head.
With James on guitar and harmonica, Gary Gray on keyboards and backup vocals, Michael Theodore on bass and Paul Armstrong on drums, you can expect the packed house to be singing the blues but in a good way.
The first time I saw Paul play was in 1987 in Sault Ste. Marie at the Michael Zaharuk and David Hornstein owned Zak’s, which was so packed that people were lined up all along Queen Street. I was invited by editor friend at theSault StarEd Piwowarczyk, who later worked with me at theToronto Sun.
I became an instant fan. I had never seen a live performer like him before. And I have had the good fortune of seeing him many times since. Now’s your chance.
“I had just got one of the first wireless pickups, which meant I didn’t get restrained from a long cable and I was able to wander, so I went out there to visit the people who came out to see us in the middle of the song,” James recalled of the Sault gig. “It was fun.”
COPS INVESTIGATED
But yes, the cops came to check out what was going on and got a laugh when they realized it was just a guy playing guitar in the middle of the street. Paul James shows – indoors in concert halls, theatres or clubs, or outdoors at the CNE or fairs – are always electric.
“I still always hear about the Zak’s gig and remember it so well because of the wild crowd and that they had a world-class chef and dining room and the whole band was fed so well,” James said with a laugh. “It was a great place to play just like the Smoke Show is and also thePhoenixwhere this winter I am going to have a show to celebrate by 75th birthday in January.”
For this afternoon show on Saturday, you might want to book now because the Smoke Show BBQ and Brew at 744 Mount Pleasant Rd. – just south of Eglinton Ave. E. – is expected to be packed. It’s not a Halloween show but James just may play his famous It’s Halloween, Trick or Treat song.
If the location seems familiar, yes, it’s the spot where James and his band have played for decades. The Chick “N” Deli closed in 2012 but there is new life in the place as the Smoke Show where they are one of the remaining venues still putting on amazing live rock’n’roll and blues.
It’s $15 cash at the door and you get The Paul James Band between 3-6 p.m.
The gig is important because this kind of show in the afternoon on a Saturday is exactly where many would like to see Toronto go in the years ahead. There has been plenty of talk in the past about making Toronto a live music hub and very little has happened to foster that.
In this next mayor and council election campaign, live music and getting players and fans involved should be on the list of things debated. It’s not hard to do. Make it easy for clubs to book artists and for artists to play. Drop some of the regulations and lighten up a bit.
When I was a teenager there was live music everywhere. Dozens of spots on Yonge Street alone and every pub had live bands and there were even talented buskers on the street playing for coins. It’s got to come back to the way it was and make Toronto and the GTA a mecca for going to see your favourite bands, of blues, rock, country or rap.
Always loved this Halloween 🎃 song by PAUL JAMES BAND — turns out the Juno Award winning blues legend is playing a live matinee show Saturday at the Smoke Show (formerly Chick ‘n’ Deli) from 3-6 pm.https://t.co/Y6kTIyp8O6
— Joe Warmington (@joe_warmington)October 16, 2025
BO DIDDLEY, BB KING and BOB DYLAN
Not just on the weekend but on any day or night. James was a product of that time and while he rocked every bar there is in Toronto, he’s always played in all ten provinces and also toured the world playing for a time with San Francisco-based band Mink DeVille. He’s jammed with Bo Diddley, BB King and Bob Dylan but never, ever forgets his Toronto roots.
“I know when I started back in the sixties one of the reasons there were so many great bands and artists here in Toronto was we played at a venue all week,” said James. “Often on Monday night there would only be a few people in and a few more on Tuesday. It would build all week and by Saturday night, it would be rockin.”
And the performers would be on their game.
“When you play together all week you get really tight,” said James.
In addition to not having to set up and tear down the stage for a one-nighter, which is common now, the equipment stays on stage all week, so bands could practice and write songs in the afternoon.
“When you played a club for a whole week, you always built up an audience and relationship with your fans and it was a lot of fun,” James said.
The mood of the day was artists and fans were all in on the ride together.
NEIL YOUNG, RUSH and KIM MITCHELL
The result was Toronto produced a lot of world talent. From Neil Young toRushto Max Webster, Coney Hatch, to Jackie Shane, Joni Mitchell to Buffy Sainte-Marie, to the Partland Brothers to Kim Mitchell – the list goes on and on.
But James wants there to be a new crop of talent to get their chance. With this being an afternoon show and just $15, he’s hoping this is a chance for some of the kids starting bands to come out and experience the weight and fun of 60 years of honing one’s music skills.
“I used to be one of those teenagers,” James said. “I went from being a hockey goalie to playing guitar at 12 and I’m still doing it.”
One of the guys he played with in his first band was bassist and current jazz player Errol Fraser, who hopes to attend Saturday and was telling me he saw right away that Paul James had the talent and stage presence that would take him places.
He sure was right. Paul James has been to a lot of places and on Saturday afternoon the next place is at the corner of Mount Pleasant and Eglinton where the howls will be happening in daylight.
