For the first time in a long while Natasha and I went out pubbing with a little gang from work. I was pretty tired so I wasn’t sure I was up for it but I didn’t want to turn down the invite, so we met up with the gang to check out the Carleton Tavern on Parkdale. It’s your standard watering hole: mismatched tables and chairs squeezed in wherever they fit, a bunch of old geezers drinking in the corner and some pretty waitresses who have a list a yard and a half long of beer varieties on offer. A pretty nice place overall – really friendly and inviting.

What really impressed me about the place was the music – apparently they have a reputation for attracting a lot of really talented pub bands, and “Love Shovel” did not disappoint. Not only did they have a wicked name, but they backed it up by being a really excellent guitar/bass/drums trio. I wonder if they’re secretly all studio musicians by day – they really seemed to know what they were doing in a way that looked unusually relaxed and easy. They did an especially fantastic job on the Rolling Stones classics and John Cougar Mellencamp hits.

I’ll definitely drop in again sometime when I know they’ll be there – it was a good time!