MEN IN SUITS live at THE ORBIT ROOM
17 Nov 2019.  -

Image above promotional material for Men In Suits Show

Okay, so they’re not all men in suits. At one time the band was made up of all Bay Street business executives, and while it’s still true for some, their sexy singer Trish Fonberg is anything but a man in a suit. Leading the vocals with her is powerhouse rocker Gerry Throop who also plays the guitar alongside Jim Hardy (guitar) and underscored by Vince Mazza on drums.

The band was conceived by technology thought-leader Don Tapscott on keyboards who onstage is a mix between Elton John and Chris Lowe of the Pet Shop Boys. During their 20 years doing gigs for charity. the band has managed to raise more than $3 million playing at venues such as The Revival Room, Roy Thompson Hall, This Is London, C-Lounge, The Design Exchange and, if you’re old enough to remember, The Bamboo Club. They even once played the Air Canada Centre for a Canadian Blood Services drive. But it’s the intimacy, not just the great sound system, that The Orbit Room is famous for. Co-founded by Alex Lifeson of RUSH, the venue has seen its fair share of celebrities. According to Stewart, “Once we were playing a gig there and doing a Barenaked Ladies number and who walks in but Ed Robertson!” Men In Suits have also performed live with Canada’s darling Amy Sky, rapper Duke McKenzie and Triumphs’ Rik Emmett. They even earned a nod from the National Post who has referred to them “Bay Street’s hardest working band.”  Men In Suits’ repertoire spans the '60s through to the present so there is something for almost every age and musical peccadillo. But at heart, they are a dance band and their setlists have been time-tested and reduced to pure hardcore party tunes.

The crowd at the last Men In Suits event at Revival Bar - Image above by Raymond Helkio

Their upcoming gig at The Orbit Room is being spearheaded by Men In Suits' bassist Stewart Borden who is raising funds for Rainbow Railroad, a charity that helps LGBT people around the world escape persecution and violence and find a safe, secure place to live.  Borden, who is also part of a Rainbow Railroad newcomer settlement team, is holding the event to raise funds to help safely relocate two gay Iranians forced to flee from persecution. “The money raised through this event will directly help two people who have had to flee their country in fear of their life. Right now I’m hosting them at my home and it’s been eye-opening to learn about LGBT life in the more hostile parts of the world.”

While we do have things pretty good in Canada to put things in perspective it is illegal to be gay in over 72 counties, with six of those countries imposing the death penalty if you are caught or even suspected of being gay. Iran is one of those countries, and if recent news reports of President Hassan Rouhani’s position on LGBT human rights haven’t shocked you, his public executions of gay people should.

“It’s a big problem but not insurmountable when people can use their power to collectively to change this. I hope this event helps to uncomplicated the current situation of LGBT people around the world. I know it’ll be a great time,” says Borden.

Join Men in Suits as they party down at the amazing Orbit Room, proceeds to help LGBTI refugees escape persecution and violence through Rainbow Railroad.