8/8/2019 Big Ticket Jan 2011

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Perez Hilton is apparently “obsessed”

with you. Is that a good thing? Well, I

think so because a lot of people listen to

what he says. And he is really sweet.

How would you describe your music? I’m

a storyteller of Americana and folk mish-

mash with blues, pop and rock thrown in.

You were first noticed for your covers on

YouTube, correct? Well, my covers of “Bad

Romance” and “Pursuit of Happiness”

brought a lot more people to the party.

Does that make you the new Justin

Bieber? [Laughter] I wish. I don’t think

people have Lissie Fever yet.

The Opera House, Jan. 24

THE POP-FOLK JAMLISSIE IN CONCERT

This series is called Out of Character —

Michael Burgess as Michael Burgess.

What can we expect? Songs from the

major musicals, but I like to do things that

people don’t expect: a ’40s freedom song

or maybe a country and western tune.

Your first audition was in Toronto, for St.

Michael’s Choir, right? Yes, and they took

me! But it wasn’t until much later that I

thought about it as a career. In fact, I’m

still not sure!

I think it’s too late to back out now. Well,

it’s never too late [Laughter]. There’s

always hotel management!

Weston Recital Hall, Jan. 27 

THE OPERAMICHAEL BURGESS

You, Platinum Blonde, Rik Emmett and

others are doing a flashback to the ’80s.

What do you miss most from that era?

The energy of something new. Kids today,

they grew up on hip hop. We were onto

something, learning as we grew.

What other ’80s stuff is on your playlist?

Public Enemy, Kool G Rap and Polo, that’s

my vibe right now.

Do you see parallels to Drake? Definitely.

We’re both from Toronto, both multi-

dimensional artists. I’m proud of the cat.

He just took it to the next level up.

 Juno Awards’ Songs of the ’80s,

Horseshoe Tavern, Jan. 8

THECONCERTMAESTRO FRESH WES & FRIENDS

What’s new with everybody’s favourite

Bay Street trader turned farmer? Well, we

last saw Walt having started a family and

gotten into climate concerns. Walt’s well

fails, and this occasions trouble and a lot

of hilarity.

In addition to Walt, you play, well, all the

characters. Does that type of acting have

any side effects? You mean, how do I stay

out of the clinic? [Laughter] Well, it isn’t

much different from the kind of acting you

do normally, but you switch moment to

moment instead of play to play.

Wingfield Lost & Found, Panasonic

Theatre, Jan. 12 to 30

THEPLAYROD BEATTIE IN WINGFIELD

BIG TICKET

Five wild ways

to ring in thenew yearSome poison-tipped jokes, a splendorous tenor, the next

Justin Bieber, the slipperiest of backbones and a wondrous

one-man show make for a killer kickoff to 2011 by Malcolm Johnston

You’re the Queen of Mean, but we Canadians are famously polite. Well, this is the great thing

about Canadians. Even if they don’t like your act, they’ll tell you they do, and they’ll laugh

politely, so it’s a win-win situation.

What’s the meanest thing you’ve thought today? That I have to call that douche bag in Toronto

at that newspaper.

[Laughter] So how do you draw the line between funny and offensive? Well, it’s all in how you

say it. I can call you some newspaper douche bag who earns $12,000 a year, but you know I

don’t mean it because I love you.Right. And it’s actually $11,000. [Laughter]. Yes, I feel sorry for you!

Have you ever crossed the line? No because, in a roast, nothing is off limits. Like with William

Shatner or Pam Anderson — wait, they’re both Canadian! It’s looking like only the people with a

good sense of humour are Canadian.

Yeah, maybe you’ll stay here after your show. You know what? That’s the happy ending — I’m

moving to Canada. So buckle up, bitches! Massey Hall, Jan. 22

LAUGH UNTIL (SHE MAKES) YOU CRY“QUEEN OF MEAN” LISA LAMPANELLI