On stage at Shifty’s in Syracuse, the Jimmyriggers lay down a cool tone.
Why would an alt-country band from Montreal be a favorite over the border, way down yonder in Syracuse, N.Y.?
Further, why would this four-piece golden outfit love to play in Syracuse so much?
Those questions were answered emphatically Sunday night in Shifty’s, the neighborhood bar that opens its corner stage to live music five nights a week.
A hundred or so folks make Shifty’s a hopping joint.
It was hopping and happy Sunday night, not a usual evening for my dear wife Karen and I to venture the couple miles from our Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood to take in a nighttime gig. But my good friend Dave told me while we were hanging out with Steve at the Chiefs baseball game at Monday that The Jimmyriggers were worth the visit. And Steve agreed whole-heartedly.
And since Steve is the bass player for Syracuse Americana band Los Blancos and Dave is a lifelong music fan whose tastes I consider dead-on, we decided a 7 p.m. start time was doable.
They were right.
The Jimmyriggers were tight.
A review quote on their website describes their style as alt-country. I’d call it Americana, too. Canada is in North America, after all.
Front man, bass player and songwriter David Pearce had an easy way about him, chatting up his Syracuse fans between the bursts of musical richness.
And he connected the dots between Montreal and Syracuse, too, as he talked about his maverick guitarist Kevin Mouquin. The first time he saw Moquin play, Pearce explained, he knew he had to have him in his band. Moquin’s hometown is Syracuse. Everybody in Shifty’s cheered.
They dug Moquin’s deft work, fast and slow, big times and rich riffs back in his hometown.
Here’s the link to the YouTube clip of The Jimmyriggers’ official video for “Sleepwalkin’.”
Shifty’s is the neighborhood Syracuse bar that turns into a music club five nights a week. And with no cover charge.
Do you have a favorite neighborhood bar that’s also a popular live music spot? What do you consider the best band you’ve ever seen play in a bar?
Mark Bialczak 
I’m diggin’ The Jimmyriggers. Shifty’s is definitely a favorite of mine, and those who go there are easily swayed. There is only basic information to actually describe Shifty’s, but it makes the place that much more impressive.
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An unimposing stage for impressive bands. A good kitchen. Reasonably priced beer and food. Friendly service. Yup, that’s Shifty’s, my friend.
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A fun night out! Yay, for Karen! Oh, and for you. 🙂 I love a good hole in the wall. Love me some music!
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It’s small, it’s cozy, it’s intimate. Karen and I were commenting — happily, I might add — that the only thing that seems to have changed in Shifty’s the last couple of decades is that the TVs are now flat screens. Great place to hang, Audrey.
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Sounds great! Yes, a flat screen is a nice upgrade. Good business sense, I say.
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(I made a little error, it was instrumental and the guy’s getting the crowd involved sounded nice, in your review.)
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The place you show has a nice ambiance, Mark! I liked this post, wish I could have gone, I would have enjoyed the different instrumentals and the voices are quite good! Rock and roll lives in Canada and beyond the borders!! Americana and North American Rock, thanks to Beth, that is great!
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Shifty’s is great because 100 people fills it up, and everybody is close to the music, and people want to hear the band, not just drink and talk loudly between themselves, Robin.
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I like ‘intimate’ settings, which we have mainly Roop Brother’s for this venue, but there is a sports bar across town, that also has groups play, called, Final Score. It does well, but not as ‘intimate’ in its setting. Also, we have a few local bands, one that goes by their names, Kreis, Krup and Ross.
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It’s important to have local music to connect the community, I think, Robin.
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Sadly, the I left all the good neighborhood bars up North when I moved back here to The Swamp. But yours looks like fun! Would you mind sharing it next time I’m up your way? 🙂
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Indeed we shall, Rachel. There’s a great band with your name on it when you come up, I’m sure. I was going to say bar stool, but those go fast on music nights!
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LOL! YAY!
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Sounds like a great way to stretch out the weekend! The last show we went to was at Whole Foods, do you guys have those in your area? It’s a specialty market. Anyway we went to see Lisa Loeb play in the beer garden of said market. She did a book signing and sang a few songs (mini concert) promoting her new children’s songbook. Oliva was maybe a year old at that time. That’s the season we’re living in at this point. We’ll be back on the dive bar live music junket when she’s in her college years, I hope. Until then I’ll live through your exploits with Dear Karen. Thanks!
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We have yet to be graced with a Whole Foods, but if they bring cool things into the store like the Lisa Loeb talk/concert, I am rooting hard for its arrival here.
Glad to feed your music jones, by a little bit, Sandra.
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I am definitely doing a road trip from Ottawa down to Syracuse this summer! Maybe Montreal, too. Fun post, Mark–thank you.
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Thank you, and enjoy the road trip. Let me know when you’re going to be in Syracuse!
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Will do, Mark. I’ll have to search “Diners, Driveins and Dives” for any Syracuse-based episodes before I go. I can do sophisticated bistros, but that show seems to make my mouth water, every time.
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Guy was here, and I think he got several episodes out of the visit, if I recall. You’ll find them, I’m sure.
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this sounds like a great place and a great night of north american rock! how’s that for a new genre? that could even include a mexican mariachi band –
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Yes, Beth, indeed. I like the sound of your new genre. Long live North American rock!
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What a great way to spend an evening with a Dear one. We’ve gone to some local hang outs for one duo only. Local girls Forcynthia. They are amazing. 🙂
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And I like the duo’s name, too. Forcynthia. I hope there’s somebody named Cynthia they are singing for in some shape or form. Thanks, Colleen.
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Their Mom! 🙂
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Perfect band name, then, Colleen.
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Mark, how was the Concert with Train??
Or is it comming up?
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The Train show is not until the end of August, Anna. They put the tickets on sale very far ahead, so you have to anticipate the good time forever!
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Oh, ok! 🙂
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I live in the armpit of America, so sadly no, but I live vicariously through others. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Imarashed.
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A nice way to spend a Sunday evening.
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Yes, it was fun, Kim, even the night before the work week starts up.
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Just what I was thinking.
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