TORONTO - Just because Elton John is still standing doesn't mean you can't throw a night to celebrate his greatness.
Saturday Night's Alright For Elton, happening at Hugh's Room tomorrow, isn't your ordinary tribute, mind you.
Don't expect to hear slavish interpretations of classics like Rocket Man or Daniel. Not when Michael Wrycraft is the man behind the event and the lineup includes singer-songwriters like Spiral Beach, Scott McCord, Kim Beggs and Ariana Gillis.
"Up until he hit middle age, he was one of the most formidable pop/rock gods on the airwaves, and because he has about 40 highly recognizable songs," says Wryrcraft when asked the reason behind the night. "Also, Hugh's Room had given me a night, but honestly, I would love to hear these people pounding out some Elton.
"It's gonna be fun!"
Wrycraft is the brainchild behind several very popular unorthodox tribute shows. He's organized tributes to Tom Waits and Kate Bush, but his flagship show is Girls Do Boys -- which features eight women singing songs by their favourite male singers. To date, he's put together 22 of these.
Oh, and there's also Boys Do Girls.
He's aware that getting folks into a club on the Labour Day weekend is a challenge, but he points to the minor success of a Kate Bush tribute that was held on what Hugh's Room considered "to be the deadliest dead slow weekend of the summer, a week they traditionally close down and black out each year.
"But I got 85 paid (people) in the room," Wrycraft says. "Not great considering the cost of the show."
But not too shabby either.
Wrycraft is understandably reluctant to tell us who he's most excited about hearing on Saturday, but he doesn't hide his enthusiasm for Spiral Beach.
"They're rocketing skyward as Canada's newest indie darlings," he says. "They owe much more to the B-52s, Talking Heads and the like than, say, Arcade Fire and all these bands that sound the same.
"They have an angular, oblique way of looking at rock and pop," he explains. "Their next album (The Only Real Thing) isn't out until the end of the month, but the stuff I've heard punched me in the butt and brain.
"I've known these kids since they were teeny -- three of the four are children of infamous folk/roots darlings, but instead of going the cute folksy singer-songwriter route they started rocking.
"I can't wait to hear them do Goodbye Yellow Brick Road."
Wrycraft's shows are worth checking not only to hear unconventional takes on tunes by Tom Waits, Kate Bush or Elton John, but to also see musicians who many in the know feel will soon become household names.
Aside from Spiral Beach, Saturday Night's Alright For Elton will give us the opportunity to check out "a fabulous group of powerful and very young females on their way skyward" including Allie Hughes, Ariana Gillis, Dolly, and Kim Beggs.
Each of the eight performers will do two Elton John songs each and the night will end with everyone singing one song.
"It's gonna be amazing!" Wrycraft says.
NOTE: Saturday Night's Alright For Elton happens tomorrow at Hugh's Room. 8:30 p.m. $20. 2261 Dundas St. W. For info and tickets, call 416-531-6604.
