  Brendan Canning and Andy Kim (Dave Thomas/QMI Agency) |
Brendan Canning of Broken Social Scene is a veteran of the Andy Kim Christmas concerts in Toronto, now in their seventh year.
And for good reason.
"It's a really nice time and it's good when you do your charity gigs and they are just really fun and just a good spirit on the night," said Canning on the line from his Toronto home.
"And Andy, upon meeting him, he's just such a gentleman. And over the years, (BSS's) Kevin (Drew) and I just became good buddies with Andy so much that he got up on stage with us at the Sound Academy show last December and then came to Montreal to perform with us."
The Montreal-born Kim, 59, is best known for his '70s hit Rock Me Gently and for writing Sugar, Sugar for The Archies a decade earlier.
But since being coaxed out of semi-retirement in 2005 by Barenaked Ladies'20 Ed Robertson and releasing his first studio album in 20 years, 2010's Happen Again, he's become somewhat of an elder statesman to younger generations of Canadian musicmakers including Ron Sexsmith, who is also on this year's bill.
Canning says it's because he cares so much.
"Andy called me up last week and left me a message and I called him back and said, 'Did you say you were going to Phoenix?' He said, 'No, no. I'm at the Phoenix.' I said, 'Well, I'm right around the corner, I'm coming over right now.' And we cased the joint. For anyone in the biz for that long and is still just really vibrant and energetic and just so grateful for what it's given him. He's casing out the room a month before the gig just to make sure the lighting's going to be good. He's so into it. I was just thinking, 'Oh, my God. When was the last time I went to a venue to make sure the lights are good?' The answer's 'Not yet.' "
Moved from its traditional home base of The Mod Club to the much larger Phoenix on Dec. 14, the lineup of this year's Andy Kim Christmas Show is a doozy, Canning and Drew, Sexsmith, Sam Roberts, Lights, the Arkells, Sarah Harmer, Buck 65, Alex Lifeson from Rush, James Black and Rick Jackett from Finger Eleven, Emma-Lee, Honeymoon Suite, Dru and comedian Sean Cullen.
The year's charity is Julliette's Place, a refuge centre for women and their children leaving abusive homes who are given clothing, food, beds, and toys, and a safe place to try to restart their lives (julliettesplace.org). Canning says Drew was instrumental in getting Roberts, Harmer, Arkells, and others, while he wanted Honeymoon Suite.
"I think the nice thing about the show is that it really spans some generations," said Canning.
As for what Canning will perform this year, the only hint was his playing of Otis Redding's Merry Christmas Baby over the phone.
"Kevin and I were talking about maybe doing a couple of tunes with the Arkells, so there's not going to be a full-on Broken Social Scene thing or anything."
GET TICKETS: Tickets, $25, are still available for the 7th Annual Andy Kim Christmas at the Phoenix at Ticketmaster, Rotate This, Soundscapes or by phone at 416-870-8000.
Did BSS play their last gig?
Toronto indie collective Broken Social Scene, founded by Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew just over a decade ago, caused quite a stir in November when they performed in Rio de Janeiro and tweeted beforehand it was their final live performance.
So what's the group's status?
"We just finished our touring cycle for (2010's) Forgiveness Rock so I think before we say anything I think it's nice to not even think about when or if or what, you know what I mean?" said Canning.
He would only confirm all of the group's members are off on "individual ventures" and that in 2012 it will become clear what exactly those projects are.
"We're on a break, whatever a break means," said Canning. "I don't know, it could mean anything. There's probably more things to think about in life than whether we're ever going to play a gig again. It's nice to have the concern, I guess. It's better than (people) going, 'Oh, you were in a band?' "
