Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Grateful reminders
I have a lot to be grateful for, my health, a good sense of humour, living in Canada, being lucky. All these are good reasons to be grateful but the best reason I have these days comes from my fans. I have the best fans out there. You folks are awesome without a doubt and I am not always certain I deserve the support you give me but I am happy to accept it none the less.
This tour has been reminding me about this like no other I've done. Here are a few of the things that have happened simply because my fans decided to show me how much they appreciate my work.
1) I received an invitation to play at the Mary Berglund Community Health Centre in Ignace this past week. The person who wrote the e-mail said they had been checking my schedule and noticed that I was playing in Thunder Bay one night and then Wabigoon the next night. Since I had to travel by could I work a show in for them. Of course I did and it was great. It turns out that Gloria (I have forgotten her last name) is the Executive Director of the centre and has been a big fan of mine for sometime. She wanted to get me there so that her friends and people she helps could experience my music. Thanks a heap Gloria.
2) In Wawa I reunited with a long time fan named Peter Burgoyne. Peter has been following me since I first played in North West Ontario and took the time to tell me how happy he was that I had returned to touring. Thank you Peter for sticking by me and buying my recordings and attending my shows. Without people like you I'd probably be doing something else.
3) Another long time fan in Saskatoon, Joannie Dueck decided that she hasn't seen me enough in Saskatoon so she is organizing her first house concert to host me this July. It's a humbling thing when fans turn into promoters just to get a chance to hear you play. Thanks so much Joannie!
4) I have to thank Elmer Kuber who went way beyond the call of a fan when he single handedly raised $600 in travel funds for the current tour. Elmer asked me if he could send a message out to his friends and others about helping with my tour and I agreed but I had no idea what he was going to say. Elmer offered to all his friends that he would match dollar for dollar any donation to the tour fund. So ultimately donations were $300 and Elmer matched them all for a total of $600 in gas funds for the tour. Thanks so much Elmer!
5) Last but not least is just thanking everyone who comes to my shows every time I stop in and play. People like Carl Bleitch in Dryden who have been there for years and still invites me for pancakes when I'm in town. People like Joanne Stacey who invite me into their homes to perform for their friends. Cathi and Gary Hammer who wrote to say it's been too long since I've been to Swift Current so they organized a house concert. Lorri Solomon in Carlyle who also is opening her house up for a show.
You have no idea how humbled I am by your support folks. Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to help me make a living. I sure appreciate you and could not have done it without you or without all the people who just quietly like my music and come to shows, watch my videos on YouTube and buy cds. You people are the best!
This tour has been reminding me about this like no other I've done. Here are a few of the things that have happened simply because my fans decided to show me how much they appreciate my work.
1) I received an invitation to play at the Mary Berglund Community Health Centre in Ignace this past week. The person who wrote the e-mail said they had been checking my schedule and noticed that I was playing in Thunder Bay one night and then Wabigoon the next night. Since I had to travel by could I work a show in for them. Of course I did and it was great. It turns out that Gloria (I have forgotten her last name) is the Executive Director of the centre and has been a big fan of mine for sometime. She wanted to get me there so that her friends and people she helps could experience my music. Thanks a heap Gloria.
2) In Wawa I reunited with a long time fan named Peter Burgoyne. Peter has been following me since I first played in North West Ontario and took the time to tell me how happy he was that I had returned to touring. Thank you Peter for sticking by me and buying my recordings and attending my shows. Without people like you I'd probably be doing something else.
3) Another long time fan in Saskatoon, Joannie Dueck decided that she hasn't seen me enough in Saskatoon so she is organizing her first house concert to host me this July. It's a humbling thing when fans turn into promoters just to get a chance to hear you play. Thanks so much Joannie!
4) I have to thank Elmer Kuber who went way beyond the call of a fan when he single handedly raised $600 in travel funds for the current tour. Elmer asked me if he could send a message out to his friends and others about helping with my tour and I agreed but I had no idea what he was going to say. Elmer offered to all his friends that he would match dollar for dollar any donation to the tour fund. So ultimately donations were $300 and Elmer matched them all for a total of $600 in gas funds for the tour. Thanks so much Elmer!
5) Last but not least is just thanking everyone who comes to my shows every time I stop in and play. People like Carl Bleitch in Dryden who have been there for years and still invites me for pancakes when I'm in town. People like Joanne Stacey who invite me into their homes to perform for their friends. Cathi and Gary Hammer who wrote to say it's been too long since I've been to Swift Current so they organized a house concert. Lorri Solomon in Carlyle who also is opening her house up for a show.
You have no idea how humbled I am by your support folks. Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to help me make a living. I sure appreciate you and could not have done it without you or without all the people who just quietly like my music and come to shows, watch my videos on YouTube and buy cds. You people are the best!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Beside Superior
Every time I am beside Lake Superior I feel the pull of the tides. Big water has this effect on me. I usually feel calmer and more ready to deal with anything that comes my way. I am inspired by the rolling waves and the endless movement. I feel empowered by the possibilities that come with each wave. A new opportunity or a new treasure with each crash against the bank.
Last night Allison Brown and I performed at the Rock Island Lodge in Wawa. It was a fantastic night (as it usually is) and the audience proved once again that great audiences can be found anywhere. But what will stick with me this time is the sound of the water. The surf crashing against the rocks and the sound of an early morning rain fall on the leaves.
Last night Allison Brown and I performed at the Rock Island Lodge in Wawa. It was a fantastic night (as it usually is) and the audience proved once again that great audiences can be found anywhere. But what will stick with me this time is the sound of the water. The surf crashing against the rocks and the sound of an early morning rain fall on the leaves.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
New Song, New Record, New New New New
Sometimes life just twists and turns you this way and that so much so that you don't know which way is up until you're laying flat on your back on the ground. Other times it's easy like Sunday morning. This past week I've been in Barrie, Toronto, London, Stratford and Hamilton. They were all great shows but Hamilton did something to me inside.
Allison Brown and I played at a bar called This Ain't Hollywood. It is a first class joint. Gritty and honest with a touch of the eccentric about it. The booker hired a local opening act for us. It was a trio drums, bass, and blues banjo. They were really good in a punkish way which made for some cool moments. Then Dave Rave, former frontman for Teenage Head joined them onstage. I know my Mom will say who is he and who were they.
It's a strange thing when one of the kings of the Canadian Punk Rock movement opens for a roots/traditional ukulele duet. After they did a great set we set out to play our show. The small audience was very appreciative and another first happened for me. While we were playing there was a scuffle at the bar. A fight almost broke out. That isn't the strange part. Later we found out the story. Two fellows came in together to get a drink. The first sat down and decided to listen to our show. He was focusing on us and clapping after every song. The second fellow kept going out and coming back in the bar. He got in the face of the first and tried to get him to leave and the first guy said;
Well I've never had anyone fight to hear me play before so I left with a self satisfied but surreal feeling. The next morning the new song happened.
Anyone who has been following this blog knows that I've been working up to a new recording. I've had a few hiccups along the way with regard to subject matter and style of the project. I wrote a new song that has in an instant become the title track and solidified the direction of the project. The song is called "All Around The World". It`s a spooky blues number that is right up there with the Police for stalker potential (Every Breath you Take). The song is dark but what makes it the title track is that it sums up what I hope this recording will do - take me All Around the World.
After looking at my list of potential songs I realized that I have enough material for a new recording. All I have to do is actually make it now. After this tour I`ll begin demos and funding applications in earnest. If you want to help, click on the donations button above the navigation to this site. I appreciate every bit you can spare and I will reward you with a new recording and your name as one of the patrons that made it possible.
I`ll sign off for now with this quote that I find inspirational - Lots of things make sound, GREAT music will be heard! See you down the road...
Allison Brown and I played at a bar called This Ain't Hollywood. It is a first class joint. Gritty and honest with a touch of the eccentric about it. The booker hired a local opening act for us. It was a trio drums, bass, and blues banjo. They were really good in a punkish way which made for some cool moments. Then Dave Rave, former frontman for Teenage Head joined them onstage. I know my Mom will say who is he and who were they.
It's a strange thing when one of the kings of the Canadian Punk Rock movement opens for a roots/traditional ukulele duet. After they did a great set we set out to play our show. The small audience was very appreciative and another first happened for me. While we were playing there was a scuffle at the bar. A fight almost broke out. That isn't the strange part. Later we found out the story. Two fellows came in together to get a drink. The first sat down and decided to listen to our show. He was focusing on us and clapping after every song. The second fellow kept going out and coming back in the bar. He got in the face of the first and tried to get him to leave and the first guy said;
"I will punch you out if you don't let me listen to these guys!"
Well I've never had anyone fight to hear me play before so I left with a self satisfied but surreal feeling. The next morning the new song happened.
Anyone who has been following this blog knows that I've been working up to a new recording. I've had a few hiccups along the way with regard to subject matter and style of the project. I wrote a new song that has in an instant become the title track and solidified the direction of the project. The song is called "All Around The World". It`s a spooky blues number that is right up there with the Police for stalker potential (Every Breath you Take). The song is dark but what makes it the title track is that it sums up what I hope this recording will do - take me All Around the World.
After looking at my list of potential songs I realized that I have enough material for a new recording. All I have to do is actually make it now. After this tour I`ll begin demos and funding applications in earnest. If you want to help, click on the donations button above the navigation to this site. I appreciate every bit you can spare and I will reward you with a new recording and your name as one of the patrons that made it possible.
I`ll sign off for now with this quote that I find inspirational - Lots of things make sound, GREAT music will be heard! See you down the road...
Monday, June 21, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Tour update (from secret lair in London ON)
Well the first show with Dr Pinkham's medicine show went great! The home in Moonstone that hosted us was an awesome timber frame structure with these amazing floating buttresses. The area we performed had once been an aviary so the ceilings were high and magnificent. The sound was awesome and it was a great time to work out the kinks in this brand new show of ours.
The show is a blend of Allison Brown, Leah Morise and myself. We all play and sing so there is 3 part harmonies on most of the songs. The material is definitely old timey and borders on the sacred. Allison likes to call it the low lonesome sound (as opposed to the high lonesome sound of bluegrass). We shot a video but haven't edited it yet. I hope to complete it soon and then I'll post it and you can see what we're doing.
Today is a day off and I've got my suit being dry cleaned, I spent some time cleaning up and gassing the van and tonight I'll have supper with my niece Megan and her fiancée Tyler. Wednesday we go off to Kitchener and the Boathouse. Hope to see you there!
The show is a blend of Allison Brown, Leah Morise and myself. We all play and sing so there is 3 part harmonies on most of the songs. The material is definitely old timey and borders on the sacred. Allison likes to call it the low lonesome sound (as opposed to the high lonesome sound of bluegrass). We shot a video but haven't edited it yet. I hope to complete it soon and then I'll post it and you can see what we're doing.
Today is a day off and I've got my suit being dry cleaned, I spent some time cleaning up and gassing the van and tonight I'll have supper with my niece Megan and her fiancée Tyler. Wednesday we go off to Kitchener and the Boathouse. Hope to see you there!
Friday, June 11, 2010
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