TUNESMITH

TUNESMITH was a once and future (2017-2020, TBD) monthly celebration of songs, songwriting and the artists who perform them live. in Toronto.

It takes place every fourth Monday of the month from 7-9pm at the Imperial Pub Backroom, 54 Dundas Street E. The Origin of TUNESMITH

The name of this event is inspired by the now-classic book from 1998 on songwriting, written by the legendary tunesmith himself, Jimmy Webb. I decided to create a monthly event, inviting artists I love and admire, to conjure an evening that celebrates the art of son

g, and the craft of songwriting. I invite artists to either showcase their own new or established material, or interpret covers, standards, or songs they believe should be considered standards, in an intimate environment that does not judge whether the music is original or part of the already existing great songbook. Years ago, when I was a web designer at Sony Music Canada for artists Céline Dion, Glenn Gould, Leonard Cohen, Our Lady Peace, Chantal Kreviazuk, and The Philosopher Kings, I was like a deer caught in the headlights, surrounded by such lofty talent. Fortunately during this era, I met the most-recorded bassist in pop history, Carol Kaye. When I told her I was also a musician, she said that any musician worth their salt has at least one hundred standards in his or her back pocket. Then one can play anything. The challenge was given, and I had my work cut out for me. I took this advice to heart. In addition to developing my own songs over the years, I chose to also delve deeply into popular music, searching to understand the construction of stellar songs by artists like Brian Wilson, Lennon and McCartney, Buddy Holly, and Elvis Costello, to name a few, distilling these pieces down to piano and voice. I wryly list these bespectacled artists here because they are illustrated in my daydream image above, yet there are so many more from which to choose, and artists who play this monthly event will curate selections for our audiences to discover and enjoy. I believe a live setting in a delightful room such as the Backroom at The Imperial Pub is a wonderful place to praise the “tower of song,” a lyric and song title gifted to us by that late, great monk from Mount Baldy you may have heard of: Leonard Cohen.

—Michael Thorner 03.14.18

04/19/2026

04/16/2026

For Record Store Day 2026, I’m releasing an exclusive pressing of RUNT live recorded in Sigma Sound Studios on June 30th, 1971. Head down to a participating record store this Saturday to grab your copy.

Laufey - Madwoman (Official Music Video)

04/14/2026

https://youtu.be/yNa8jP4zoJo?si=j2sxSYsk1Z58Fm0K

Laufey - Madwoman (Official Music Video) "Madwoman", the official music video starring Laufey, Hudson Williams, Alysa Liu, Megan Skiendiel and Lola Tung premieres Monday, April 13th at 10 AM EST.Str...

Elvis Presley - Don't Fly Away (PNAU Remix - Official Audio)

03/07/2026

Do you think Elvis would have liked this reimagining of his music, with the new technology now available? The reframing using different chords certainly is interesting...

Elvis Presley - Don't Fly Away (PNAU Remix - Official Audio) "Don't Fly Away" by Elvis Presley (PNAU Remix - Official Audio)Listen to Elvis Presley: https://ElvisPresley.lnk.to/listenYDWatch more Elvis videos: https://...

RAYE - Nightingale Lane. (Live at Abbey Road Studios)

03/05/2026

https://youtu.be/9ZKywzRJa_Y?si=Q2kLMHMkjFhZNLMm

RAYE - Nightingale Lane. (Live at Abbey Road Studios) RAYE, London Symphony Orchestra - Nightingale Lane. (with The Flames Collective)An Aldgate Pictures and Sibling ProductionLimited Edition Nightingale Lane 7"...

Thee Sacred Souls - Live For You | A COLORS SHOW

02/28/2026

We will continue to drop our favourite jams at this virtual location.

Thee Sacred Souls - Live For You | A COLORS SHOW San Diego’s Thee Sacred Souls ( ) bring infectious funk to their COLORS debut with a soulful performance of ‘Live For You,’ a standout track ...

02/21/2026

Labi Siffree - My Song ft. BBC Concert Orchestra (Radio 2 Piano Room) Labi Siffree performs his classic single 'My Song' with the BBC Concert Orchestra in the Radio 2 Piano Room at the BBC's legendary Maida Vale studios.Arrange...

02/08/2026

Brian Wilson & Lana Del Rey - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠 (NEW LEAK!) 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭: Brian Wilson & Lana Del Rey𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠: The Last Song𝐚𝐥𝐛𝐮𝐦: No Pier Pressure𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠:• "The Last Song" is a song by lead si...