Cory Monteith has performed live at the White House, at New York's Radio City Music Hall and on Oprah with castmates from Fox's hit series Glee, but nothing can compare to his appearance at Sugar nightclub tonight with Bonnie Dune.
"It's huge. This is my hometown," says the affable, hard-working actor who hasn't stopped believing since creator Ryan Murphy cast him as McKinley High's musical quarterback Finn Hudson in the pop culture phenomenon two years ago. "It's massive to be able to come back and play a show for all my friends and family."
It's also a helluva fun way for Monteith to continue his 29th birthday celebration that began in the wee hours of Wednesday in Los Angeles during taping of Glee's final Season 2 episode — a shoot that didn't wrap until 5:30 a.m.
The Victoria-raised actor's whirlwind visit here today and to Vancouver tomorrow for Bonnie Dune's Saturday night show at the Commodore are taking up half of his four days off before he starts rehearsals for the new Glee Live! tour that kicks off May 21 at Las Vegas's Mandalay Bay Resort. But first Monteith flies out Sunday to New York to appear at the start of "Upfronts Week," when TV networks unveil their new schedules.
His priority today is to have fun making music with the peppy California indie rock band started by childhood friends Jason Massey and frontman Justin Wilczynski, a fellow actor Monteith became fast friends with while working on Kaya. In MTV's music biz series, he pounded the skins in the recurring role of Gunner, drummer for the rock band Crossing Coldwater.
After many jam sessions and years after his band's formation, lead singer-guitarist Wilczynski retooled it with encouragement from Monteith, who came on board as drummer and provides vocals. The new foursome, including bassist Joshua Kerr and Wilczynski's longtime friend Seth Roberts as lead guitarist, made its concert debut at Hollywood's Roxy Theatre in January.
The audience included Disney teen queen Selena Gomez and Glee castmates Mark Salling, Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz.
"The Glee people have been excited for me," Monteith notes appreciatively. "Everyone's been nothing but supportive. I think everybody wishes they'd give me a few more days off to play."
The Calgary-born actor says playing with Bonnie Dune is a natural extension of something he's always done.
"I've played drums since I was 7 or something and playing in Victoria with different friends and bands since 16 or 17, so Kaya was a natural fit, and now this," says Monteith, who washed cars at Suburban Motors, was a Wal-Mart greeter and played drums in Porch Life, formed by Ted Gowans, now with Tegan and Sara, before his acting career took off.
Putting Bonnie Dune together with Wilczynski was an "organic experience," Monteith recalls.
"It came together really well," he said. "First and foremost the reason we're doing this is that we love playing with this band so much. And it's of the utmost importance to me that I play in my hometown."
And, no, Monteith won't be replicating his now-famous audition tape for Glee — playfully drumming Tupperware, glasses and mugs with pencils — as Ellen DeGeneres persuaded him to do during an appearance on her show.
"No, I'm afraid I'll be using real drumsticks," he says, laughing.
Monteith joins a growing legion of actors who make music when the cameras aren't rolling, including Keanu Reeves, Lou Diamond Phillips and more notorious examples such as Billy Bob Thornton and Joaquin Phoenix.
"I love to be included in that collective," he says. "I suspect it's because I would hope that everybody in my field wants to be as diverse as they can, being creative persons. There's something about expressing yourself in as many ways as you can that's very valuable."
Just don't expect him to start lipping off at radio talk show hosts, or growing a beard and getting all eccentric. "Nah, not doing that," he says, chuckling. "Not so far. Not yet."
You will, however, get a chance to hear Monteith behind the microphone today when he hosts a show on The Zone, 91.3, at 3 p.m.
"I have a couple of friends in common with Jeremy Baker over there so getting the chance to host a radio show is a privilege and honour," he says. "I remember driving around listening to that station when I lived in Victoria so it's kind of a thrill for me."
Besides that and tonight's gig that his Victoria-based mother Anne and older brother Shaun are expected to attend, Monteith says he hopes to spend as much time as possible with friends and give his band "the Canada experience" today.
And if he's greeted enthusiastically by some local Gleeks, it's something he's learned to live with and even appreciate.
"It comes with the territory," he says. "The exposure of the show is just a necessary part of it, and a good part of it."
source: timescolonist.com
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