Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Al Grego: Toronto Mike'd Podcast Episode 1709

Episode Date: June 11, 2025

In this 1709th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike catches up with Al Grego while Al kicks out the jams. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Ridley Funeral Home, Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball, Yes We Are Open, Nick Ainis and RecycleMyElectronics.ca. If you would like to support the show, we do have partner opportunities available. Please email Toronto Mike at [e-mail]

Yes, we are open! Yes, we are open! An award-winning podcast Only from Onaris Yes, we are open! Yes, we are open! Hosted by Albrego He's an F-O-T-M

And yes, we are open, are we open? Yes we are! Yeah! What up my uncle? You look like you need jazz hands at the end of that. I'm in Toronto, baby, wanna get the city loved? I'm from Toronto, I wanna get the city loved Yeah, they're in my backpack.

Go get your awards, I'll wait. Welcome to episode 1709 of Toronto Miked, proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, a fiercely independent craft brewery who believes in supporting communities, good times and brewing amazing beer. Order online for free local home delivery in the GTA. Palma Pasta! Enjoy the taste of fresh, homemade Italian pasta and entrees. From Palma Pasta in Mississauga and Oakville. Yes, we are open!

An award-winning podcast from Monaris hosted by FOTM Al Gregor. Toronto Maple Leafs baseball, the best baseball in the city outside the dome. Catch a game at Christie Pitts this summer. Recycle my electronics.ca Committing to our planet's, means properly recycling our electronics of the past. Building Toronto Skyline, a podcast and book from Nick Aienes, sponsored by Fusion Corp Construction Management Inc. and Ridley Funeral Home, pillars of the community since 1921. Joining me today returning to kick out the jams is Al Greggo. How are you now?

How are you now? That's a, that's a, I always get this mess. That's a letter Kenny thing. It is, yes. And you host, Yes We Are Open, which is an award winning podcast. That is right. And I learned, I think it was last week,

you won yet another award. Are you like adding on extensions to your trophy case? Like what did you just win? Adding wings to my home. Uh, we just won a branded podcast of the year. Uh, that was a just good business actually won that one. Okay. Yeah.

Your other fine podcast. Yeah. And, uh, yes, we were open one, um, Oh, what is it? Most creative branded podcasts or something like that from both of them from the Quill podcast, podcast awards. Okay. The Quill, those are, uh, esteemed awards. I don't know.

And they sound like they're made up, but I think it's a really impressive thing that you keep winning these awards. You know how we joke Elvis has a Costco room. Right. Do you have a trophy room yet for all the podcast awards you win? Yeah. I call it my office. I've got all my awards on the wall and yeah.

And all my other knickknacks, just like you have, which no one ever gets to see. You, you need an opposite view camera so people can see. Well, you're welcome to take pictures. If you like. Yeah, I will. You can be live streaming your experience

here today and let people see the other side of this studio. Off the top of this episode, we're going to kick out jams related to season eight of yes, we are open, which was a fine season. We'll discuss it. Lots to catch up on, but what did you think of the cold open today? The, uh, Rob Prusian production, your jingle. I know you hated it because it's AI garbage. I don't like it. I know you don't,

but that's fine. I thought it was fun. I thought it was great. You know, it wasn't made without efforts So I appreciate Rob Bruce making putting the effort in to you know, create a little jingle for for yes We were open. So thank you Rob Even if Mike hated it. I thought it was it was a it was endearing. Did you hear the Rewinder theme that Blair I did together yesterday listen to it this morning on my way into work and I loved it. It was a lot of fun and Blair Packham killed the new theme song.

I loved it. Okay, so I'm actually here. So before we get to your first jam, I'll play that Rewinder and just make a point. And again, this is not a Blair versus Rob thing because I love both of these musical geniuses equally. You know this, I'm a big fan. I mean, no one likes Rob Proust more than I do. Would you agree? I guess, sure. Yeah. Except for Liza Fromer, maybe.

Well, I can't compete with Liza. I chatted with Liza the other day, revealed to her that there was some Liza chat in Rewinder yesterday, but let's listen to this. ["Rewinder"] with the pack of movies also known as Blair and Mikey boom boom to Mikey boom boom to you know I didn't I have to say he did not write that melody did you know he stole that from snow no that's not an original that's not a Blair Packham so like I don't give Blair too much credit except that the words you hear he wrote them of course but then he sang. Like this is Blair Packham singing. Yeah. And Rob's lyrics, and I appreciate his efforts of course, in the jingle for Yes We Are Open, that's performed by AI. So my issue is the fact that it's being sung by like an algorithm,

bots. Like I would rather hear Rob Proust, I've heard him sing like backgrounds for Honeymoon Suite. I'd rather hear him sing it even if it's a little off key or not perfect than hear like, you know, AI sing it. That's fair. But I mean, again, I think just it wasn't without effort. And Rob was thinking of me when he made it and so I appreciate the effort and time he put into Creating the prompt that spit out that that gem. Okay ever the diplomat and this is why you win the awards I think I'm too polarizing. Maybe you are. Yeah, you're a nice little controversial that only CNN will have you I've told you many times I'm you're a nicer guy than I am. That's why people want cuddle you apparently Yeah, okay, so we're gonna kick out. I see here. I've got eight jams loaded up

How many episodes were there in season eight? You should have nine jams Yeah, but I was building up the fact there's like a bonus Oh, yes, and that's gonna be at the end right eight up eight episodes in season eight versus eight episodes in every season of yes We were open so we have a lot to talk about, including something happening Saturday night. I will shout out the fact that I'm wearing my produce stand T-shirt because you host the definitive Shorzy slash Letter Kenny podcast. That is correct. And it also wins awards.

No, it's been nominated for a few, but I honestly thought it had won. I mean, it's a very, it's a much more competitive category. Uh, we are competing with some American, well from all over the world. So it's a little tougher, but we do that. We haven't, we have gotten some nominations. So that's been fun. Okay. Maybe you'll win a Juneau. Yeah, maybe you're a Canadian screen award. I'm sure they'll add a topic for that. So are you ready, Al Gregor? And again, between these songs, as we talk about season eight of Yes We Are Open,

I've got some personal questions for you. So be ready, but are you ready to kick out the jams? Let's do it. Well it started out down a dirty road All alone And the sun went down As it crossed the hill And the town lit up The world got still I'm learning to fly Did you pull a Nate Fielder?

Did you learn to fly? What's going on here? But before you answer that, don't say a word actually. You gave me a look like you wanted to crack open your Great Lakes beer and I shot you my evil eye. Did you get it? Like I said, Al, don't you dare. It's really hot outside, but here we go.

Okay. You've got a premium lager from Great Lakes Brewery. I'm going to crack open my session, my Sunnyside Session IPA. Cheers. Love seeing you Al Grego. So talk to us, why the late great Tom Petty learning to fly? Well first a few things about the song. Obviously it's a very well-known song. It's his best performing song on the album Rock Charts actually. You know what? Mind blow. Yeah, I think so.

I mean, cause he's had so many hits. Um, how can it not be waiting? Okay. Remember Homer waiting to get his gun? Do you remember this? Yes. Okay. Uh, released nine, uh, June 17, 1991 from the album, uh, the wide open.

It was our eighth studio album. Number one on the Billboard hot album charts, uh, six weeks on that 28 on billboard hot 100 and, uh, I think it, yeah, four 46 on the UK singles and up to number five in Canada. So it was a big, big jam for Tom Petty. May I issue a correction? So yesterday on rewinder, which people can find in the Toronto Mike podcast feed, I

Erroneously credited Tom Cochran with a Billboard Hot 100 number one single for life is a highway In fact that song went to number one in Canada But peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and I regret the error So VP you don't have to call me out on that mistake on FOTM cast. I've corrected the error It's a it's the Mandela effect, isn't it? We're like Cuz I thought it was the same thing. I thought actually rascal flats made it to number one with it In the US, but I guess we were all wrong on that one anyway the reason I'm kicking out learn to fly by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is my first stop a

On season eight was first of all I went to Regina I know you mentioned that many times throughout your I actually enjoyed thoroughly talking to guests about their trips to Regina like it was a fun part of the show for the last couple of months yeah and I enjoyed my stop in Regina my first stop was at the Prairie Flying Service and I interviewed Kevin Toth not Toth even though spelled the same oh did interviewed Kevin Toth, not Toath even though it's spelled the same. Oh, did I say Toath? Probably. You probably did, but that's okay. It's spelled the same. And I actually asked him point blank. It's not Toath because it's spelled the same.

And he said, no, it's always been Toth. He and his son, Jonah, and he's been running the Prairie Flying Service since the early eighties, but it was founded in 1946 by four World War II veteran pilots. And yeah, that kind of kicked off the aviation industry in Regina. So it was a pretty good story there, a longstanding history with that business. And there's so many good flying songs. You came up with a great one, Of course Tom Petty I heard a I think it was maybe this past weekend that Mike Campbell not FOTM Mike Campbell But the guitarist for the Tom Petty's band there was in town. I believe oh, yeah You know fun fact for you there, but did you have the difficulty choosing which flying song many fighters? There's so many are learned to fly the Royal Pains play that one all the time by the food fighters. Leaving on a jet plane, I guess.

I mean, there's so many. Airplane by red hot chili peppers. I mean, it goes on and on. But you could have kicked out the Chantel Kravijic version of leaving on a jet plane. I could have, and that would have been germane to this podcast, but I didn't. I like, I like. And you're, you're winning the awards. So how does it get determined that Monaris is going to send you Al

Gregor to Regina, Saskatchewan? I was a short straw. No, I'm just kidding. No, I it's a, it's the podcast. I'm the podcast guy at Monaris. And so, uh, I picked the destinations and actually last, as of last season, I'd already hit every single province. So this is actually my second lap around the country.

Last time I went to Saskatoon, so this time I hit Regina. And yeah. Which is the capital city. Yeah, correct. Do you ever pinch yourself that you have a job where not only do you get to produce compelling content for award-winning podcasts, but you get to see this beautiful country? Absolutely. Can I pinch you? Yeah, I tell people all the time I'd be an asshole if I complained about my job. I love what I do and honored that I get to do it

for Minaris for sure. Well I'm honored to reward you with a palm pasta lasagna. Yes, I can't wait if I came home without this box my family would be. So we changed things. So that box is merely symbolic. Now the box lives in the studio so you can see something, Palma pasta. But now we have these like retail packages. I guess they sell Palma pasta lasagna in some long goes. So now they have these like packaged retail lasagna's and you're going to take home one of those. And I know your family loves the

palma pasta lasagna will you and your family be at tmlx 19 on June 26th from 6 to 9 p.m at Great Lakes Brewery where palma pasta will be feeding everybody I will be there with bells on just you just me sorry why can't I get more Gregos? It's midweek and evening. It's midweek. It's Thursday. Yeah. My wife works and my kids have school still. So, but it'll be me. I'll be there for sure with bells on. Can't wait to meet up with all the other FOTMs that night. Okay. And after we kick at another song and talk about episode two, I will tell the listenership that I won't have to wait until June 26th to see the cuddly one again. That's called a teaser, Al, and I should win some awards for that. Yeah, you're good at those.

Here we go. Do you have the time? Love this song. To listen to me whine about the things I want. I believe this is Monica's favorite, no? She does love the album Dookie, and she does love this song. I am one of those melodramatic fools, neurotic to the bone. I am one of those melodramatic fools, neurotic to the bone.

I am one of those melodramatic fools, neurotic to the bone. I am one of those melodramatic fools, neurotic to the bone. I am one of those melodramatic fools, neurotic to the bone. I am one of those melodramatic fools, neurotic to the bone. I am one of those melodramatic fools, neurotic to the bone. I am one of those melodramatic fools, neurotic to the bone. I am one of those melodramatic fools, neurotic to the bone. I am one of those melodramatic fools, neurotic to the bone. I am one of those melodramatic fools, neurotic to the bone. I am one of those melodramatic fools, neurotic to the bone. I am one of those melodramatic fools, neurotic to the bone. I love the album Dookie and she does love this song. Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me It all keeps adding up

You're taking me right back to 1994 when I was spinning Duckyie over and over again. Just love this album. Are you called Dookie? I call it Dookie. What's that? I mispronounce words. I don't know. My trademark.

Who's saying it right or not. This is the one song I play on bass with the Royal Pains. So it's near and dear to my heart. We learned this song from Monica actually because I remember when we played Nearby and I heard that she was a Green Day fan. We were like, oh, we got to learn a Green Day song. So that was a great night. I saw Lenny and FOTM there. I saw, I believe James Edgar was there. Did I see Lee Vefumka and Juan there? Probably. Yeah. Oh, was Moose Grumpy there? And maybe even the grumpy part of Moose Grumpy. Mr. Grumpy. Mr. Grumpy.

So tell us why we're kicking out Basket Case and then I'm going to ask you about the Royal Pains. Sure. So second stop was at a place called Basket Cases. And believe it or not, it was not named after the song. It actually predates the song by I think about 10 years, cause it was started in 84, 85. Well maybe the song was named after this place in Regina. It had to have been, yes.

So I met up with Ashley Donald and she's the owner and her daughter was there too and they actually, they weren't the original owners, they bought it after being happy customers of the company. When they heard the company, when she heard the business was up for sale, she bought it. And she's been running it now for a few years and it's a great business. And I had a lot of fun visiting with her and they're in a really cool part of Regina called the warehouse district, which right now is, it's kind of a, you know, up and coming place in Regina, similar to, I guess,

maybe the, the, the maybe the distillery district here. You know, a lot of red brick buildings and warehouses and stuff. Anyway, being revamped now and a really cool place in Regina to visit. How does it feel, El Grego, that any minute now you'll be turning the big five O? In over 24 hours, yes. On Friday, I'll be turning 50. Yes. It's, uh,

I'm not going to lie, but that's any minute now. I don't, I don't, uh, not looking forward to it, but whatever it is, what it is. Well, I need to know, because as you know, one year ago, I went through this exact experience. How'd you feel? Uh, I don't remember feeling anything other than, uh, it's kind of an excuse to have a party. Like it felt like, okay, this is cool. We can kind of go big on this one.

I don't remember fearing the fit. My fifties. Like I think my brain realizes there's a, you either age at the rate, which time travels or you die shout out to Ridley funeral home, Al Grego. You've got a measuring tape there, buddy. Ridley funeral home. They don't have an award've got a measuring tape there, buddy. Ridley Funeral Home. They don't have an award yet, but one day Brad Jones will win an award for Life's Undertaken, because it's a great podcast.

So you're feeling like the weight of this round number, 50? I mean, I don't think anybody enjoys getting older, although we're all privileged to age for sure. You were surrounded by 90 of your closest friends last year, if I remember correctly. And, uh, it was a great time. And yeah, I'm kind of hoping to do the same this year. I don't know about 90, but we're going to have a, but that's what I want to talk to you about because I have in my Google calendar, I have, uh, I'm visiting. Am I, is this, is this a public party?

I don't even know. Is it? It's a public place. Anyone can come if they want. Tell us where and when we can see you as you celebrate your 50th. Sure. It's Trinity Common. And that's a cool kind of a local pub in Kensington Market on Augusta Avenue. And yeah, I'm going to be there. And three live bands are playing that night, two of which are mine. One is a bunch of buddies of mine.

Well led by not led by, but, but our, my buddy, Stu from the Royal Pains is the guitarist for those handsome hooligans. So they're going to be playing. I've seen Stu at a couple of TMLX events. Yeah. So Stu's playing with his band, the hooligans and then, uh, the weekends are playing, which is one of my bands and the Royal Pains are closing out the night.

What is the difference? Obviously the personnel is different, but is there a difference in what kind of songs you'll sing as the weekends versus the Royal Pains are closing out the night. What is the difference? Obviously the personnel is different, but is there a difference in what kind of songs you'll sing as the weekends versus the Royal Pains? Generally, but unfortunately my co-lead singer, who's a woman, is not going to be there for the weekend. So with the weekends, there's two singers. What's she got going on? She's going to the F1 race in Montreal.

She goes every year. It's your 50th. I know, but she goes every year. So she said, sorry, can't make it. make it and I understand you know don't fuck with tradition that's you are a nicer guy I'd be pissed no and that's fine because and so I said that does change what we would normally play that night but it just means double time for me and yeah so what time does the weekends start playing and then what time does the Royal Pains start

playing? The weekends will probably start around 11. First band's at 10, second weekend's around 11 quarter after, and then the Royal Pains will be on after midnight. Well this works out brilliantly for yours truly, Al, and at the end of the day that's what matters most. I'm going to be at the Danforth Music Hall to see The Watchmen, and then when that show ends, I'll be far east of you in Kensington Market there I've got to come west to New Toronto so

I'm literally gonna you know bike to you and come on in and wish you a happy 50th and catch some weekends or maybe some Royal Pains or maybe both and I can't wait that's Saturday night yeah invite the guys from the Watchmen to come to be fun to have them I but you know all four are FOTM's so I can't wait that Saturday night. Yeah invite the guys from the washroom and come to be fun to have them I but you know all four are FOMs. No, so I can make I can make that happen Absolutely, and I'm gonna bring some other FOTMs. Here's confirmed FOTMs who I'm gonna drag to see you include People think they're arch nemesis, but I think they're actually best buds the Langer Yeah, Michael Lang and the great VP of sales. Yes. I'm looking forward to seeing those guys and, uh,

they've been to other real pain saw a part, uh, shows. And so maybe Michael Lang was at that event near me. I'm trying to remember who was there, but, uh, it's possible. Okay. Well, happy birthday to you, Al Gregor. And let's get to a third jam. Listen it If I was low Would you call me then? If you got a man

Will we still be friends? Swear word in there Fuck around and find out This is stress I can live without Share my clothes, pay when we outside I'm not your man so why do I provide You only want me when you need me Hey, yeah You call me crying and I'll be there Mmm, mmm

There's so much bullshit you put me through I'm not too my head, dress her all about you She says, Sky, you're too kind What a voice. Okay, Skye Newman. That's right. I'm so excited to bring this one here because I know often my picks are old, show my age, and I don't often get to bring anything contemporary. Well, this is about as new as it gets.

This was just released this year, I think March of 2025. Her name is Sky Newman. This is like her first, her debut single, and she's got a great, unique voice. She lists people like, I mean, no surprise here. Amy Winehouse is an inspiration, Adele, Bob Marley, and Eminem. I mean, no surprise here. Uh, um, Amy Winehouse is an inspiration, Adele, Bob Marley and Eminem. I mean, uh, she's great.

She it's peaked so far nine and 15 on the UK charts. I don't even think. What does charge matter in 2025? I mean, it matters if she's getting, you know, getting people's attention. And, uh, I think she sounds great. She doesn't sound cookie cutter like a lot of the other singers out there. And, uh, yeah, I'm, I dug it when I, I mean, I did a search because I needed something about hairdressers or hair or

something. Oh, beautiful hair. Yeah. Well, I could have done that, but again, that would have shown my age. So I'm glad I was able to bring- Well, that's before your time. Yeah. I'm glad I could, you know, introduce folks hopefully to, to a new talent. And I think she's very talented. Yeah. Very talented. It's calleddresser. Her name is Sky Newman. And on Friday, I have a guest named Sky. Oh, is she coming? Sky Wallace. Sky Wallace. She coming back?

Who's got new music and she's preggers and she's kind of leaning into this like, I don't know, I don't wanna misquote her, like a trashy, preggers, sexy face, like her era, like she's Taylor Swift or something here. All right. But she's leaning into this and we're gonna talk about all of this Sky Wallace but Sky Newman hairdresser why this jam? Because I visited Bass Studio and Amanda Ray who's the owner of Bass Studio and Regina and got to tell

her story of how she this is her kind of second kick at the can that's starting her own business. The first time she started with partners and it didn't quite work out and she learned from those mistakes. And this time she's doing it herself and having a really successful time at it. So that's Amanda Ray from bass studio in Regina. Now, I know I've been talking about season eight of yes, we are open for a couple of months now, but, uh, they really are inspiring stories. Like I like how you capture these stories and, uh, you just, uh, bring it home now. Like these awards are earned.

Thank you. I appreciate it. Uh, have fun doing it. And I just really enjoy spending time with, with these business owners. And I think they all have something to share, you know, if it, you know, like, you know, you're an entrepreneur, uh, hearing the stories of other entrepreneurs can, you can learn from them or you can just be inspired by them. I think they're great stories.

They're great stories. I'm going to give some love to a couple of great musicians. We lost this very week, but first let's get into the throwback machine, the way back machine here. Step by step, part by part. left right left, we all fall down. Like toys go down.

Listen to that production. So lush. It wasn't my intention to mislead you It never should have been this way What can I say? It's true, I did extend the invitation I never knew how long you'd stay When you hear temptation call It's your heart that takes, takes the fall Won't you come out and play with me But the chains, chains of hope Won't you come out and play with me?

Step by step, heart to heart Till the end of time, we all fall down We tell the toys of the world In my dreams, I'm telling her Never with the man I'm waiting for Toys soldiers Toys soldiers, Al Greco By Martika

Martika, sorry Martika Yeah, from 1989 Did you know? This might be a mind-blower, maybe not. I'll let you know. She was an actress first? I did not know that.

And she was on this little show called Kids Incorporated? I remember Kids Incorporated. If you went on YouTube today and I watched the opening theme going, oh my God, and that was her. She was one of the main actresses in that. She went by Martika Moreiro at the time. You know, I did not. Al, you're blowing my mind right now. This is how it works. Yeah, it's really cool. And then she went on with her music career. This is considered a

one hit wonder. And actually, I think it ranked where I've got the ranking here somewhere. Number 67 in VH1's 100 greatest one hit wonders of the 80s. That's very specific. But did you know, you wanted to hear who the top three were? One hit wonders of the 80s? That's very specific, but did you know, wanted to hear who the top three were? One-hit wonders of the 80s? Can I take a guess? Go for it, yeah. Come on, Eileen, by Dexys Midnight Runners. That's number one. That's a key one. Okay, 80s one-hit wonder. Somebody's watching me rock well.

No. The second one I'm surprised. I thought they had more than one hit. Tell me it then and I'll tell you if they did. Flock of Seagulls. I ran so far away. I feel like they had more than one hit. Tell me then and I'll tell you if they did. Flock of Seagulls, I ran so far away. I feel like they had more than one hit. You have to, whenever you do these, and I love these kind of lists and contests, but you have to establish your criteria. Like what is a one hit wonder?

I'd say for the great unwashed, the average FOTM listening right now, they can only name one Flock of Seagulls song. All right, that's fair. Can you name a second? I feel like, maybe not name it because I'm horrible with names, but I feel like I've heard other Flock of Seagulls songs, right, that's fair. Can you name a second? I feel like maybe not name it because I'm horrible with names, but I feel like I've heard other flock of Seagull songs, but maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm confusing them with with Platinum Blonde actually, which I would have. Well, they got

lots of hits in this country. Yeah, for sure. And then number three is the stereotypical, prototypical number one hit wonder. Hey Mickey. No, but that isn't I think in the top 10 but think 1980s. The Buggles, Video Killed the Radio Star. No, think Black and White Drawing Video. Oh yes, aha, take on me. This one's famous because in North America that you can argue strongly that they are one-hit wonders but you will piss off a Brit. Yes. Or anyone in Europe actually where you'll learn about how many hits they had in Europe. That's right. Yeah. You know, he's got Parkinson's.

Oh, yeah. Yeah, I think I read that recently, too. You can hit that high note still. It's unbelievable. That song is great. So as an actress, Martika was also on an episode of Silver Spoons and Hardcastle McCormick. Yeah, in the 80s, she did the rounds. But I love Silver Spoon. Yeah. Jason Bateman. Mm-hmm

That's right. I used to watch a lot of and John Yeah, he was like a friend. Oh, he was a friend right now. Yeah, not Ricky Schroeder Yeah, but a grandpa was John was his name John Houseman John House the guy, you know The guy the paper chase guy who you saw make a cameo in Scrooge and the naked gun. Oh yeah. John Houseman. I think. I don't remember his name. Yeah. He played the grandpa anyway. The reason I'm kicking this song, of course, very famous. Even my 11 year old knows it because Eminem sampled it with a big hit.

That is correct. Uh, I'm kicking out toy soldiers because that's what I talk about the music. Okay. Episode four. I know me too, but anyway, yeah, this is a fun one though. Episode four I went to a toy store called Zippity zoom toys and I interviewed Tracy Boshay and her daughter DJ and they're the owners in Regina, Saskatchewan. Uh, and they had a great story. I mean, Tracy started the business when she was pregnant and she, it's a crazy story of how she did that and was able to jug it, juggle,

you know, raising a baby and, uh baby and having a toy store and stuff. It's a really cool story. And yeah, and now they're expanding too. They're in the same plaza, like a bunch of units down. They've started like a hobby store that's also branded Zippity Zoom and it's more for like the older kids, the collectibles and the arts and crafts and stuff like that. So it's pretty cool. No, very cool.

And another great story on season eight of Yes, We Are Open. Did you, Al Grego, I was trying to think how many TM Alex events you've been to of the 18 we've held so far. It's a high number. How many have you missed? I've lost count. I feel like, yeah, it'd be easier to count which I've missed and maybe two only because you kind of threw in an official one that, that, that's not fair,

but I wouldn't have been able to make. Well, I was trying to mess up Langer's perfect record and I failed. Yeah. Because Langer doesn't, yeah, doesn't have anything else better to do, I guess. But, Oh, well, he, he'll see him on a Saturday so he can punch you in the nose on your 50th birthday there. But, uh, I had TMLX 18 and Christie Pitts for the home opener of Toronto Maple Leafs baseball.

And I have for you Al Grego, a book on the history of Toronto Maple Leafs baseball. It's a great experience. No ticket required. You come out to Christie Pitts, watch high caliber baseball. You can see Ayami Sato. Look at that first page I opened it to Rich Butler. Rich also an FOTM. Rich Butler the brother of the current manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs Rob Butler. Amazing. Yeah this is

great I've heard about this book a lot and I'm glad to finally got a copy. Did you see footage of my first page? I did and I'm gonna echo I forget who was it who said but great form you did way better than I would have done. So well done. Thank you and kudos to Morgan for the great videographer Efforts and capturing all of that Okay Are you going to take the family to Regina for a pleasure trip? Like did you see enough of Regina to say hey, I want to come back here with the fam I mean we've always talked about one day driving out West and hitting some of

the spots that I have stopped that I've visited. I'd love to do that one day. We'll see. My son's starting university in September. In my mind, maybe because when you first started coming to TMLX events and met your boy and girl, I remember a little note from Veronica. I they're like frozen as that size in my head. Like it's wild when they aren't your kids

and you step away for a few years. And like next time you see him, the guy's got a mustache. Oh, he's six foot seven towering over me and deeper voice than I have and a drummer now too and doing great, yeah. Well, he had a deeper voice than me when I met him several years ago. You know what, Al, all I can say is kids,

right? Kids. Yes. Break transition. That's why you're the pro. I love this song. You were a child, crawling on your knees, trodding Take a while to get to the chorus. Well everybody knows MGMT's kids still sounds great in the headphones. Sounds amazing, yes. And not one hit wonders, I know there's a couple of other big hits from MGMT. Yeah, so MGMT or management if you will. So tell me what it is because forever I've been calling them MGMT. I think they started off as The Management but then went to MGMT because there was another band called management.

Like Death from Above 1979. Yeah, exactly. Or the English Beat. Yeah. Or Bush X. Or Bush X. Quick, quick Bush X and I want to hear why you're playing kids but I loved 16 Stone. Like I loved the first single Little Things or whatever I heard first. Although Everything Zen. I love that album. Come Down. I still love like Glycerin. I love that album come down. I still love love like glycerin I love that album, but I bought it early when they first came out in Canada It said Bush and I bought it early so mine said Bush Then they had that other Canadian band named Bush and they had to change their CD to say Bush X and I remember feeling Kind of proud or something. I felt good that oh, I have the OG Bush everyone else is buying Bush X.

But then they reissued it as Bush again, because they worked out this issue with the other Bush. And then I felt like, oh, it would be better to have Bush X. That's, this all happened now. Do I overthink this stuff? You probably do, but kind of in the same vein, the Black Crows put out a CD called, I think it was called a Morica

rent. And the cover, the original cover had Bush and, and then the re-release cover didn't. Do you recall this? I just was a Walmart or somebody wouldn't sell it. I do remember this. So it's kind of, you know, related, you know, how you're talking about Bush and we're talking about Bush anyway, we won't go to, does Minerva this manner this is okay no let's not do that all right so management MGMT you know I'll say what this is great bang banging track obviously the official video was was kind of problematic there's it features like a toddler being like traumatized by like monsters Joanna Newsom's in the video she plays a baby's mom anyway for a while there there's a lot of criticism

because of the video. And I watched the video going, yeah, that kid's scared out of his mind and he's too old to be acting. So it was kind of interesting, you know, watching that video. So I'm playing Kids by MGMT because I visited Creative Kids, Saskatchewan.

And they're an amazing charity, charitable organization that helps pay for children in Saskatchewan to participate in the arts. That's amazing, man. Yeah. In music and theater, visual arts, and they do amazing work and they raise a ton of money and they help kids all over the province of Saskatchewan, which is a vast, I mean, if you think about how, how, you know, big the province is

and everyone's so far away from each other, they do amazing work. And I had a really great morning spent with them talking about all the great work that they do. I bet you everybody in Regina loves El Grego. Well, I don't know about that. Am I right? I had fun, I had fun in Regina.

I have fun everywhere I go. I make the best out of every place I go to. Well that's the secret to success. Shout out to Michael J. Fox. They used yellow's Oh Yeah in Secret to My Success and I remember my mind being mildly blown by this amazing song I was hearing. Oh yeah. Wasn't that Inferior Bueller's? I think it was in both. It was definitely in Secret of My Success. Okay.

But then- Well, definitely Inferior Bueller's Day Off too. Well then what happened was I started hearing it everywhere. I distinctly remember like, oh my God, every movie uses Oh Yeah by Yellow, I think it was. And it's a perfect way to say, hey, this story takes place in the 80s. All these movies were from the 80s. But without a doubt here, I personally, if I'm making a movie today about the 80s. All these movies were from the 80s but without a doubt here I personally if I'm making a movie today about the 80s I'm gonna open my wallet and I'm gonna pay for romantic traffic whatever it costs me because I

feel like Rob Bruce deserves it. Yes yes. Okay good effort and good on you for choosing this song was wonderful song instead of Foster the People's Pumped Up Kicks which has a similar vibe. That's like about a school shooting. Yeah. I mean, I don't think the messaging to this one's much happier, but yeah, it's not about a school shooting. I never thought, I never considered.

It just seems like that you hear kids playing and maybe I need to analyze those lyrics. But another great choice. I have a question for you about a gentleman who made his Toronto mic debut earlier this year and he hit it out of the park it's one of the great episodes but his name is Alan Gregg okay so Alan is spelt the same way you spell it yeah which is not not common it's usually a L a N or yeah or a L E and usually I see a L a N for Alan and this is a L L a N yeahA-N. Yeah. And that's not common. That's more like the apple juice.

Right. By the kids would be Alan's or something. And that's usually a surname. That's EN is usually a surname. Right. But then Alan Gregg is G-R-E and then two G's. Right. G-R-E-G-G and you're G-R-E-G-O.

I know. The fact that you're one character away, that's kind of neat. Yeah, I think he was just trying to spell out my name, but had a stutter. But anyway, he was here first. I know. You're not even 50 young man. And there were great episodes too. I mean, I can't come near what that man's accomplished. So kudos to Alan Gregg. Kudos to Alan Gregg, who was kind of brutally honest about his breakup with the Tragical Hip and it was really neat. And now that I remember, he promised to come back with Jay Gold and I haven't booked that yet. So I'm going to get on that, but I'm glad you're going

to take us back. I'm looking at who do I see here? I said, George Animal Steel to my right. A gift from Stu Stone. Okay. Yes. I thought about Stu when I, when I kicked out this jam. A gift from Stu Stone. Okay. Yes. I thought about Stu when I, when I kicked out this jam. Stu Stone. I did tease earlier. I'm good at teasing and I never get to it. I did tease earlier. I wanted to shed out a couple of like musical legends we lost this week. You said Stu Stone or maybe I said Stu Stone. And then I remembered the one that I want to do this. I'm going to do it after this song. But I'm looking at my Andre the giant mug and now I want to play the World Wrestling Federation for over 50 years the revolutionary force in sports entertainment There are no lyrics to this Is that a cowbell?

Definitely a cowbell? Yes. Definitely a cowbell, not a gong. I got a fever. And the only prescription is more cowbell. Okay, talk to me. This is the Bushwhackers theme song. That's right. Composed by Jim Johnson, who's an American composer. Over three decades he composed entrance music for WWE wrestlers and superstars. He's done entrance music for The Undertaker, Steve Austin, The Rock, and of course these guys, the Bushwhackers, who are the tag team combination from, I guess, late 80s, early 90s maybe? I think you're right.

Yeah. He's also collaborated with a lot of mainstream musicians like Disturbed, Kid Rock, Ice T, Run DMC, Mariah Carey, and FOTM adjacent, Our Lady Peace, again, for the WWE. You don't have to say adjacent because it's an FOTM band because Jeremy Taggart has been in the bass. Oh, that's right. Taggart was here.

How dare you? I was like, he hasn't, because I know you've teased that you're going to have rain on, but you haven't had it. That's because Chantel said she's going to bring him over. Yeah. But I got in trouble with the Jan Arden thing, so I'm gun shy now. You have to have rain on but you haven't had it. That's because Chantel said she's gonna bring them over. Yeah. But I got in trouble with the Jan Arden thing so I'm gun shy now. You have to have rain on. Maybe bring them on Saturday. I'm gonna be singing one of his songs. Anyway, so I'm kicking this one out because I visited Bushwhacker Brew Pub. Sorry. Easy for you to say. Yeah I know right. Because you're

drinking another brew pub. You can't get Bushwhacker in Ontario. No, you can't get it outside of their restaurant, their brew pub, because they only make it for them. They don't even use cans. They use plastic bottles, which I've never heard of before. See, way back in the day, Great Lakes did that. We're going back with this one to the 90s, but they used to have plastic bottles too. Yeah. And it was great stuff. I had their red, I forget what it's called, but it's a red ale there and I really enjoyed it. They have a bunch of different things there. Big place, live music,

great neighborhood. You have to go to the brew pub to drink this beer. That's wild. They bottle it there by hand. There's like no machinery or anything. It's, it's all like a family run, independent, small brewery, brew pub, um, from Regina. And I spoke to Grandfrew there. He's like their marketing manager and a great, a great story. Cause that, that story goes back. I don't have the year here,

but it goes back many decades from when they started breaking news on the live stream that the VP of sales says his grandfather was Alan, a L L a N. Oh yeah. I don't want to pull a Jane Sibere but that's not that interesting. I'm wondering because I was named after a Dutch fisherman apparently so maybe that's Dutch way of spelling it and and so this is his grandfather Dutch inheritance or well let us know VP if your grandfather is a Dutch everybody did no one called him Alan apparently

everybody called him midge and I don't know if that's because of FOTM midge year, it probably predates that but yeah, no one called him Alan. So I want to ask you about another great podcast. Wonder if you're listening to building Toronto skyline. Have you heard this thing, Al Gregor? I've heard of it. Yeah. The great Nick Ienis is the host. We have two episodes recording Friday morning. And Al does, I'm sorry, you do a great job, but you don't have anything to do with this podcast. But the great Nick Ienis does a great job.

And I love that much like the wonderful people at Monaris, you know, Nick Ienis stepped up to help fuel the real talk over here. And we appreciate Nick on this program. I have a very important question for you after this song. You ready? Go for it. When love is deep, when boy meets girl, here's what they say. When the moon hits your eye like a big a pizza pie, that's amore. So more. When the world seems to shine like you've had too much wine that's more.

Bells will ring, tingling, tingling, tingling, tingling, and you'll sing the. Dean's half in the bag when you sing in this heart so play tippy tippy tippy tippy tippy like a guitar and then. Dean's half in the bag when he's singing this hearts are played to be to be tamed default setting If I were an award-winning podcaster and I most definitely not I would do my palma pasta Shout out right now Right. Yeah, go for it. No, I did it already Tell us I know why but I want to hear from you Al Gregor. Why are we playing this Dean Martin? standard because Episode 7 of season 8 I visited Jim Baten from tumblers pizza now before I went to Regina

I started looking you know doing my research. What's Regina known for? You know when I go there, I want to make sure I explore or whatever. Bread I would guess. It's known for a bunch of different things. But one thing that caught my eye was Regina style pizza. I'm like, what the hell is that? I had no idea what Regina style pizza. I read a little bit more into it.

And then I said, okay, well, is there a Meneris merchant that specializes in that? And luckily, there is the Meneris merchant that specializes in that. Wow. Wow. Tumblr's pizza. Jim has a great story. He's a really cool character too. A lot of fun to talk to him. And he made me a Regina style pizza himself. And oh boy, was it delicious. Like if ever you find yourself in Regina, you need to try this. It is worth it. And I'm not even saying that because he didn't pay me. It was so good. No, it sounds amazing.

Like it's, it's worth the drive to Regina. Would you say that? Yes. So what happened, what about that sentence you wrote in the description about, I can't remember what you wrote 1400 locations or something like that. Yeah. So I think you, you, you thought of it as there's 1400 pizza places, but no, he is, he, his pizza is sold in 1400 locations because his kitchen is a wholesale. So they make it, freeze it and send it out to grocery stores.

Oh, so, okay. So there's a 1400 unique places you can buy this Regina style pizza. And I wasn't thinking that it was like a chain with 14 locations. And I never, you know, I'm from Toronto. I didn't pause until people were like, oh yeah, he was there. Joey Serlin was the one. He's from Winnipeg and he knows Regina and he's like, there's nothing with 1400 locations in Regina. And then I realized maybe I'm misunderstanding the sentence. Yeah. But so sitting in his office behind me, there was a map with pins where everywhere his pizza was being sold.

It was like grocery stores, super stores and any different, different places like that. But of course, if you want it fresh, I would highly recommend you order it straight from him fresh out of the oven. So good. I could only have a slice and a half and I came hungry because he asked me, he said, really come hungry. It's, I would be good for three slices no matter I don't know about this Mike because okay what makes a Regina style like yeah that's my question what makes a Regina so I'm not a big fan of deep dish pizza like Chicago yeah I'm not a big fan of Chicago style pizza and that Regina

style looks like a deep dish but Chicago style is mostly dough. Regina style is all meat. And having worked in pizza, I've, I worked seven years in different pizzerias and stuff like that. I know like the different pizza chains that I worked at mothers. No, but I worked at a pizza Ville, um, two for one, double, double, um, um, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm little Caesar's. I was a little, the assistant manager at little Caesar's for many years. Um, um, um, um, um, um, little Caesar's, I was a little, this is the manager at little Caesar's for many years.

So no knowing how much, for example, cheese is gold to a pizzeria. You have to be very stingy with you at the end of the night. You're counting how much you have left over because you won't, you can't waste cheese, all your toppings are weighed and counted and stuff like, I knew how many pieces of pepperoni went on a little Caesar's pizza tumblers. He was just putting it on by the handful and it was like six different kinds of meat and I'm not even exaggerating. And then the amount of cheese he threw on that thing.

It was so, so thick. It was, but it was so delicious. It was so good. You're making me want to hop in the Mazda three and how long would it take me to drive to Regina? Uh, quite a, quite a while. How long does it take you to get out Ontario? And then you got a cross. Yeah, no, it'll take you. It's a long ride.

It's a long ride, but you flew there, right? I flew there. Oh, must be nice. It must be nice here. By the way, I have an answer from the VP regarding his grandfather, Alan, not Dutch. Uh, here I'm going to read what he wrote. He wrote bog standard, descendant of English folk. Oh, interesting. So there you go Alan a LL a and the shadow to Alan Greg and Alan Grego who turns 50 years old in two days That's exciting. You're catching up to me. You will be the same age for a couple of weeks. That's that's also exciting You're a 75 baby here

Let's you know what? let's shout out the two musical geniuses we lost. I think, I think these two guys gave us so much great music, very different musicians, but both geniuses in their own right. And I can't believe we lost Sly Stone and Brian Wilson in the same week. Yeah. That one today hit, hit hard, yeah. When I heard that one. But Sly Stone for sure, both of them are huge, yeah. Musical monsters, but I mean, if you think about any album that might rival a Beater,

fuck, I'm having a hard time speaking. How much great links have you had now? Any album that might rival a Beatles record right now would be Pet Sounds, and that's all Brian Wilson, right? That's good vibrations, which I believe was influenced by Phil Spector's wall of sound Technique on the Righteous Brothers. You've lost that loving feeling. Yeah, which is still a monster radio hit like it's probably playing right now a couple of Toronto stations, who knows but That in yeah that that inspired, he was very,

yeah, he was very inspired by Phil Spector jams, right? Because that Ronette song was his favorite song of all time, Be My Baby. And then he went on and did Don't Worry Baby. And he wanted the Ronettes to record Don't Worry Baby. But Phil Spector had a rule where he wasn't gonna have Ronettes record anything that Phil Spector had a rule where he wasn't going to have Ronettes record anything that Phil Spector didn't write. So the Beach Boys recorded it and not just written by Brian Wilson

and produced by Brian Wilson, but he played all the instrumental parts on Don't Worry Baby. Yeah, I mean arguably God only knows one of the greatest songs ever written and recorded. And one of my favorites that, I mean, I've got a daughter now in musical theater and she just finished doing a presentation of Little Mermaid is Kiss the Girl. But Brian Wilson's version of it is really good. I don't even know this. Well, I think it's his, I think he wrote, well, it's a Beatles song. I'm assuming it was a Brian Wilson song, but it's a good song. Not the version in the movie, but the Beach Boys version. Yeah. So absolute legend. Of course, his battles with mental illness are legendary and much discussed. There's an FOTM jam called Brian Wilson talking about Dr. Landy and his grip on Brian Wilson and his period in bed and everything.

And, uh, just, just, I did read a couple of years ago, I read that Brian was battling some form of dementia, so it's not a shock that he's gone, but what a loss. So Sly Stone and Brian Wilson in the same week, the world is, uh, has less musical genius on it today than it did when this week began. Agreed. Speaking of musical genius, dedicate one to the lady. Randy Druzen needs something to keep you cool. I'm now summertime. So, need something to keep you cool

Better look out now though, Dave's got something for you, tell you what it is I'm your ice cream man, stop me when I'm passing by Oh my my, I'm your ice cream man, stop me when I'm passing by See now all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy, hold on a second baby Van Halen. Flavors again she does satisfy hold on one more. Well, I'm usually ban alas by 11 o'clock a scream man from 1976 you knew this was a cover though, right? You want to hear a funny small world freaky story Which is the most recent episode of Martin pop off. He's an FOTM Martin pop up has a podcast called five songs or something Yeah And he talks his premise for his most recent episode

as we speak now on Wednesday, June 11th at 4.30 p.m. His premise is that it's not grunge that killed heavy metal, it's covers that killed heavy metal. And he kind of tries to prove his point that heavy metal kind of from Quiet Riot, Come On Feel the Noise, and he uses as an example, Dan Halen had a bunch of covers. You know, you really got me this one.

There's a couple of other ones. Speaking of Brian Wilson, David Lee Roth would go solo and cover California Girls and I ain't got nobody or whatever. But yeah, so I did know this was a cover, but I have no idea who performed the original version of Ice Cream Man. His name was John Brim recorded in 1953 like as a hardcore like blues. You can hear it yeah it's totally in the how it begins anyway. So this is the first time I'm bringing you a jam that wasn't picked by me but picked by the person I interviewed.

Oh. Because... You should always do that. I should. I'd never thought of it until... Well, because what happened was I was visiting with Brenda and Rick Coletta, the owners of the Fries Limit food truck and the parlor, and they're up in Thornton, Ontario, just outside Berry.

And I had a great time with them. Amazing business. And by the way, the food was really good. The poutine, the hot dogs, the ice cream, all A1. And the service was amazing. And they have a really cool story. This was her retirement plan. She used to work at Lysol as a regional sales manager

or whatever, or director maybe. And then retired and started this business and is doing really really well anyway After I spoke with her and had a great lovely visit with her I said hey, do you know who Toronto Mike is you said yes, I'm gonna be on his is that true. I 100% hand to God the eyes right now. Yeah, I said Like in a couple of weeks, but I think she's being polite. Well, maybe, but I said, I'm going to kick out the jams. I need to pick a song that, you know, that reflects your, you know, like thematically reflects your business.

And she said, Oh, ice cream man. I didn't even ask her. She just said ice cream man by, and she said by David Lee Roth, there is a David Lee Roth version. Yeah, but she meant Van Halen. Maybe she meant Van Halen. Either way. Uh, I'm like, Oh, okay. And I looked it up and sure enough that that was the perfect jam to kick out

for this one. Absolutely. And it is a bit of a mind blow for a lot of listeners right now that it's a cover. I think people will think that's a Van Halen original. What are your personal thoughts, Al Grego, on the band Van Halen? I'm a fan. I mean, who isn't like they're a great, great band from the eighties and, but, I can't pick between David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar because I love both. I love both areas. I think they both were very different eras. I really enjoyed, you know, uh, right now and, and, and, um, uh, I can't, I'm blanking on the other songs, but that Sammy Hagar brought,

but then David Lee Roth rot that's classic right now Right now amazing. I loved that stuff. So see the van the van Hagar era. Yeah did nothing for me I loved it. No, I really enjoyed it. I mean the maybe if I'm gonna, you know Unfortunately be down on any of the years. It would be the Gary Sharone here which which is unfortunate because I'm a big now that that I've seen them live, a big fan of extreme because because Nuno Betwell because my, my cohost on the produce stand was a big fan of extreme and he sold me on Nuno Beckancourt being the greatest rock guitarist living today.

He's not wrong. And I got to see them up at Casino Rama and they put it on an amazing show. I think he was, it was as close to seeing Van Halen live as you could get, where you have this amazing band putting on an amazing show where the front man is the guitarist, not the singer. And he was definitely like, Nuno Bettencourt was full marks for the money.

Shout out to Nuno Bettencourt and Van, see my Van Halen, maybe because, you know, I'm your age, well I'm a bit older actually. Yeah, you're much older, months older. David Lee Roth is the singer of Van Halen. I've never been comfortable with changing lead singers without the lead singer dying. No, I mean, but Sammy Hager-

I can give another example where the lead singer, I mean, where you get, still get hits with your new lead singer, but the old lead singer didn't die. Oh, I mean, I guess Genesis. Sure. Yeah. Although he was already in the band. Yeah. But that would be the only example where I can think of big,

I mean, you name, can you think of one? I'm doing this off the cuff here. No, you're right. I mean, Genesis is probably a great example. It's very rare for a band to change lead singers Without the lead singer dying like AC DC the lead singer died Yeah, and there's an example where they had more success with the new lead singer It's very rare because they had more time to with the new lead singer, but I mean and I'm not the biggest AC DC fan I know that's a hot take but

Maybe you I think you have a point there. I think Van Halen did it best because I really did enjoy those Sammy Hagar albums. Yeah, they had big hits. Yeah, massive hits and much music probably had a lot to do with drilling those into my brain. And Pepsi. Yeah, and Pepsi, right. Crystal Pepsi, right?

I think so, yeah. Does it still exist? No, I don't think so. Do they have it up in Holland's Landing, Crystal Pepsi? No, I think we're still. Does it still exist? No, I don't. Do they have it up in a Holland's landing? A crystal Pepsi? No, I think we're, you know, we're still on RC Cola or something. Hey, I want to shout out recycle my electronics dot C a because even in Holland's landing, even in Regina, even in Thornton. And what was the name of the woman who said she had heard of Toronto Mike,

Brenda, Brenda call me. We need to talk. This is great news here. Okay. Even in Thornton, I'm big in Thornton, you know this, but you can go to recycle my electronics dot CA and put in your postal code and find out where you can drop off old electronics, old devices, old computers, laptops, cables even. And you can find out where you can drop it off.

So the chemicals do not end up in our landfill go to recycle my electronics dot CA you want them to be properly recycled and that's what they do there so we love recycle my electronics dot CA Al I don't know if listeners noticed I know a couple mentioned they noticed I stopped giving out wireless speakers at some point because I ran out. Yes. So you didn't have any, uh, at hand to deliver. You had all, all, all the ones that left. And I asked you before this season started, Mike, how are you doing for this?

Well, what did I say? I had a lot, right? Yeah. I think he's, I think I have lots, but I record a lot. So I think my brain did prolific. I know. And unfortunately it's not one of those things where I could have, you know, quickly ref, uh, reordered and gotten them to you, but before this season is over.

So hopefully by next season we'll have a new stock of speakers because I think they're, they're a great giveaway. Should I play this bonus song before I ask the obvious question, which is where you're off to next? Like, should I play this now and then ask you? Well, I can tell you where, yeah, maybe we'll say that to the end there. So I'm hoping, fingers crossed, this summer I'm going to head up to none of it. I said that I've hit every province, so I want to hit the territories as well. And so the plan, fingers crossed, for next season is none of it and

then also Ottawa, because I'll be up there because that's where you fly out to get to none of it. So that's hopefully the plan for season nine. You know, that's incredible. Like, what a trip that'll be for you. I think that's wild. But we do have a bonus jam here. You can watch a dog run away And out here it can take three days I heard every joke, I heard everything you say

You think there's not a lot going on, but look closer baby you're so wrong. I roll my eyes back into my happy place. I'm always gonna need this sense of space and in the ever wave under the rolling cloud. I can't hear what you say cause you're talking so loud. This is an FOTM jam. Yes it is. This is an FOTM jam. Yes it is. For the longest time, for some reason I thought this was Sloan.

It has a bit of a Sloan sound to it. It's got a bit of Sloan, yeah. When I found out who it was, it made sense. This is obviously not a lot going on by Northy Valenzuela. And that's a collaboration between Craig Northy of the Yodds and FTM and Jesse Valenzuela of the Gin Blossoms. And of course everyone knows this is the theme for Corner Gas. But yeah, the version they use in the TV show. Don't be so sure everybody knows that. Hopefully, hopefully most people know it. The version you hear on the TV show, it's a different recording.

For some reason, I thought it was Sloan, like forever I thought it was Sloan. Well, because you're hearing a lot of trans Canada highwaymen and you hear Chris Murphy's voice and Craig Northey's voice kind of mixed up in that. It's a great song. And I love this song they end every episode with as well, which I was going to bring as a bonus bonus,

but I didn't want to push my luck. What's the name of the actress the blonde actress who played the police officer? Oh I know but yeah I'm not gonna be able to retrieve that name. Well I can tell you this is it's Tara Spencer Nairn. Yes. Tara Spencer Nairn appears in a movie I saw the other day, well not the other day, I guess it's about a month ago now. It's called Home Free. In fact, these Kleenexes were from the premiere that I watched at this film festival. Home Free is the directorial debut of a guy I've come to know very well named Avi Federgreen. And I'm here to tell you Tara is great in this, the cast, the whole cast is great in

this and this is a great movie and I have no idea what happens when you make a great movie in this country. I guess I'm going to find out by following Avi's journey, but it's excellent and the crowd was crying and it was just very well done And I just want to give some mad props to Avi and Tara and everybody who was in this great Canadian film I watched called Home Free. You hit the post. Anyway, the reason I bring that up though is while I was in Regina, I did have like an afternoon off and I drove down an hour.

Dog River. To Dog River, AKA Rouleau, Saskatchewan. Yeah. Uh, cause I had to go. I mean, I'm in Regina. I gotta go see dog. Of course. Yeah. It's you gotta do it. I had dinner at the dog at the dog river hotel, the bar where they, and across the road from it is the dog river community center. And so there's a few things and they've got plaques. Unfortunately, it being, you know, the Canadian film and television industry,

things aren't kept up very well, which is too bad, but walking around the downtown, which is, it's, it's, to call it a downtown, it's kind of, right. It's, it's like a road, a road off of the highway with a few buildings. And then there's a few houses kind of on the peripheral. It's not even a hamlet. It's so small, but you're walking through basically a movie set now, like, you know, through all my, my dealings with letter Kenny and Schorzy, I've been on many movie sets and walking through this town where people live and

still do business, uh, was like walking through a movie set, but unfortunately, not, you know, the place is a little dilapidated. The corner gas is gone and I think it burned down or something like the grain elevator that you see is yeah, they don't, they didn't, you know, there's just no money in keeping it up, unfortunately. But I asked the owner of the bar, like where I had dinner, like, you know, do you still get a lot of people coming through here? And she said, yeah, we do still get a lot of people who want to see dog river and she's

too bad. Well, it was a huge show for this country. Yeah. And it's funny that you have a show about letter Kenny and Schorzy because they kind of pick up that mantle. Like that's in the spirit of corner gas. And with, I mean, with letter Kenny, you can just go visit Sudbury and you're going to find a lot of the places where they've shot. But this year, uh, it was really cool to see a little sad,

just see how, how it's kind of you know Been been allowed to to be let go but um, you know, hopefully I don't know I don't know if I don't there's any money in Fixing things up, but I feel like it's it's a place We got to kind of keep like we don't have a Canadian version of the Smithsonian where you can say like let's send this No, but you can still go to Molly's reach, right? Like the beachcombers restaurant thing there. You can still do that, right? Yeah, I guess.

Yeah. And I think they just put the, the bud, the Rosebud signed back on the motel from Schitt's Creek for the longest time. It was in the CBC headquarters, like on their wall. I think they've put that back in like, so. Did you know the daughter was married to the guy from Colorado, holler at oh What daughter who what the the Schitt's Creek daughter? Okay? I didn't watch this. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah

Um, Alexis, I forget her name, but yeah, I think it's Alexis on the show anyway, but yeah, she's married Annie Murphy I've been anymore name. Yeah, she's married to the guy from, uh, Colorado. Mm-hmm. That's just a fun fact Yeah, that's just great actresses. She had a great show called Kevin Can Fuck Himself, which was really, really well done. I think it only had a couple of seasons, and probably that's all it needed, but it was really well done. Well, Yes We Are Open was very well done. Season 8 was a, you're getting better at this. And I just want to say thank you for you and Monaris stepping up to sponsor an independent podcast like Toronto

Mike. I want to say thank you to you, Al Grego. Thank you for being a great promoter and partner, Mike. You know, I love my visits here and and I'm a proud FOTM and looking forward to many more. Well, see you Saturday. Happy birthday again. On that note, I pulled one final jam. Ready? Go! Come on, Bim note, I pulled one final jam. Ready? Go!

Come on, Bimbo, please! Well done, and out comes Bimbo, and here's Bimbo with his music. Introducing Bimbo, the Birthday Clown, and the son of Happy! Here he goes. Bimbo, Bimbo, and the birthday clown, Bimbo, Bimbo, here on our super special Bimbo, Bimbo, I would like to say... Good shot. Happy birthday Al Grego, the cuddly one. And that's a little Uncle Bobby Bimbo, the birthday clown. And if you get that reference, you're listening to the right podcast. Thanks bud.

I'm owed a new version of this closing theme by Rob Pruss because I've been shitting all over his AI product. Do you think I should maybe just like be more patient with him? I don't like paying a salary. I think I heard he's he's working on the next TPS intro because so you may have been shelved. You may have been shelved. If that's true, I'm gonna be shaking my fist at him when he's at the next oh the next host by the way with Rob Pruce and Bob Willett. Did you see those in the 88 ratings?

Yeah amazing that's the that's the Willett effect. Willett's gonna bring some some further rating numbers and etc. Some info to the next host, which is June 26th before TMLX19. Again, everybody listening is invited to TMLX19 at Great Lakes Brewery. That's 30 Queen Elizabeth Boulevard down the street from the Costco in South Etobicoke, 6 to 9 p.m. That's a Thursday, and Palma Pasta will, they promised me they're going to deliver a bunch of food by 5.30. But

yeah, the event's 6 to 9. Come hang out! Say hi, you never know who's going to show up. Will the snowman be there? You have to show up to find out. Will Al Gregor be there? Confirmed. And that brings us to the end of our 1,709th show. Go to torontomike.com for all your Toronto Mike needs. What needs would they be? I say that every time I'm like, what am I talking about? Much love to all who made this possible. That's Great Lakes Brewery.

We enjoyed our fresh craft beer during this recording. Palma Pasta. Al's getting a lasagna right now. Menaris! Al! Much love to Menaris. I get to shout out this season eight for the rest of the month. I don't have any speakers though. We'll get you some for next season. Toronto Maple Leafs baseball. They're in the midst of a great season.

Check them out at Christie Pitts, recyclemyelectronics.ca, building Toronto skyline and of course Ridley funeral home. See you all tomorrow. Tom Harrington visits for his exit interview. If you want to see the live stream, live.torontomike.com, it's 2 p.m. Tom Harrington. He's retired from the CBC after over four decades. We're gonna talk about it. See you all then. Music So So Music