Mike Oddie passed away in 2005, a largely unknown local Blueshero, great harp player and vocalist but living, unfortunately, in the shadow of The Biscuit (Richard Newell), for all his musical career. But back in the early ‘70s, Mike was one of the first guys I turned toward to “stay in the life”. We formed a blues band and called it Rockbottom ’cause the blues lord I got ’em.
Myself, Mike on vocals and Blues harp and Ron Copple on guitar but a rollercoaster on the skins, it wasn’t working without the right groove. Don’t know Chicago blues, next. Eventually, on the advice of our friend Michael O’Brien, we checked out Pat Finnochhio, a local skinner who loved and could play the Blues, and through him, eventual Juno Award winning lead guitarist the teenage Jack De Keyzer, Mountain boys both. With the addtion of Mike Short on piano the FL Kyng Blues Band was born. That was “F” and “L” as in “fear” and “loathing” (we were all huge Hunter Thompson fans ok).. On some nights though, when things got uncoordinated due to whatever substance, it was “F” as in Fucking and “L” as in Loose.
We played gigs at various pubs and special events around The Hammer and eventually through Michael O’Brien sweet talking the manager, we got into the Elmar Tavern as one of the groups in their three-band rotation. It suited O’Brien to have another band that was similar enough groove-wise to his own band, M&M, both bands satisfying the same fan base. Keep ’em coming back, fill the till and your band is coming back! And that’s right for the length of time the band stayed together, about 15 months, I played in both bands, FL Kyng and M&M as did pianist Michael Short.
Jack DeKeyser, Doug Carter, Mike Oddie, Pat Finochio, Michael “Mike” Short
(only known photo of FL Kyng)
The selection of songs below are of FL Kyng live at the Elmar Tavern, Caroline and Main West, Hamilton, Ontario in 1974.
Tabby Thomas’s Hoodoo Party
Jimmy Rogers’ Chicago Bound
Elmore James’ The Twelve Year Old Boy
We also did a song I had recently written The Shorty George
All the songs were recorded live and should be considered ‘historical documents’. Best listened to through a sound system where the bass and treble can be controlled.
Blues Rockin' Hamilton 