Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The past stays with you
I'm sitting here in the Bear's Paw cafe in Wells. The walls are filled with posters of the artists who've been here before. There are two of mine up there. I've been here twice before and the last time was six years ago. I've been thinking alot about that on this tour. Everywhere I go, there are memories and history staring back at me. The posters remind me that I have fans. The streets and clubs are familiar and they all seem to say, what are you gonna do now?
Well for starters I'm recording a demo cd in my van in an abandoned RV park here in Wells. I've got 4 tracks down so far and a few more to go. These are basic one voice, one Uke tracks that pay homage to the field recordings of Alan Lomax. I will ask some of my musician friends to join me on a couple of the songs but most will be just me and my Uke. My plan is to release this in the fall for the conference season. I'll let you know when it's done.
Go gently friends.
Well for starters I'm recording a demo cd in my van in an abandoned RV park here in Wells. I've got 4 tracks down so far and a few more to go. These are basic one voice, one Uke tracks that pay homage to the field recordings of Alan Lomax. I will ask some of my musician friends to join me on a couple of the songs but most will be just me and my Uke. My plan is to release this in the fall for the conference season. I'll let you know when it's done.
Go gently friends.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Tour Update from the Okanagan
I've also decided, based on the success of the last video, to try making my next recording from my van. So I'll be camping a few nights in the Cariboo mountain range and recording some tunes that I've been working up to recording. The result will be a fun solo record. I plan to record some tunes here in BC, some in Saskatchewan and some in Ontario between folk festivals. I'll do my best to keep you informed of my progress.
Remaining dates on my tour are;
July 16 - Minstrel Cafe - Kelowna (Dr Pinkham)
July 17 - Skinny's Grille - Hope (Dr Pinkham)
July 19 - House Concert - Coquitlam, BC
July 20-22 - Recording session
July 23 - Bear's Paw Cafe - Wells, BC
July 24-26 - Edmonton (hiding out at West Edmonton Mall)
July 27th - House Concert - Saskatoon, SK
July 28th - Benefit concert for disabled society in Saskatoon (private)
July 29th - niece's wedding in Calgary
Aug 3rd - House concert - Swift Current, SK
Aug 4th - House Concert - Carlyle, SK
Aug 6-8 - Live from the Rock Folk Festival - Red Rock, ON
Aug 13-15 - Trout Forest Music Festival - Ear Falls, ON
Aug 16 - Serendipity Gardens, Rossport, ON
Aug 17-20 - Recording in Guelph, ON
Aug 21st - Ukulele Workshop - Folkway Music - Guelph, ON
After that I'm heading home to Nova Scotia and a few days sleep I hope. See ya out there!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Little Box of Sadness review Yorkton This Week
LITTLE BOX OF SADNESS
Manitoba Hal Brolund
Indie 8-out-of-10
If you are a blues fan in the Yorkton area you likely recall Hal Brolund. He used to be better known as Manitoba Hal, and performed at the Painted Hand Casino back in the day they offered blues nights.
Well, Hal has since moved to the East Coast, dropped the ‘Manitoba' for obvious reasons, and has also found a new love, the ukulele. Yes I said the ukulele. For most of us the small stringed instrument conjures memories of school, where the ukelele was used as a sort of primer to the guitar.
In terms of musicians who play the ukulele professionally, well there was Tiny Tim and the Hawaiian star Don Ho, but generally we think of it as something of a novelty instrument.
Well listen to Little Box of Sadness and you find out a couple of things rather quickly. To begin with Brolund takes the music he plays with the ukulele pretty darn seriously.
And, secondly, the ukulele works nicely for the sort of roots blues music Brolund performs. I suppose that should be obvious when you consider the music is generally a music of the common people, and the ukulele would be an affordable, easily carried instrument.
The CD has eight songs, six by Brolund, including the best of the bunch Call of Angels, and the fun Line & Pole.
Built 4 Comfort by the great Willie Dixon is also included, as is the traditional Somebody On Your Bond.
This is a real solid, enjoyable roots blues CD, played with an instrument not often thought of, giving it something of a unique feel.
Definitely worth checking out to add to one's CD collection.
Check it out at www.manitobahal.com
—; CALVIN DANIELS
Manitoba Hal Brolund
Indie 8-out-of-10
If you are a blues fan in the Yorkton area you likely recall Hal Brolund. He used to be better known as Manitoba Hal, and performed at the Painted Hand Casino back in the day they offered blues nights.
Well, Hal has since moved to the East Coast, dropped the ‘Manitoba' for obvious reasons, and has also found a new love, the ukulele. Yes I said the ukulele. For most of us the small stringed instrument conjures memories of school, where the ukelele was used as a sort of primer to the guitar.
In terms of musicians who play the ukulele professionally, well there was Tiny Tim and the Hawaiian star Don Ho, but generally we think of it as something of a novelty instrument.
Well listen to Little Box of Sadness and you find out a couple of things rather quickly. To begin with Brolund takes the music he plays with the ukulele pretty darn seriously.
And, secondly, the ukulele works nicely for the sort of roots blues music Brolund performs. I suppose that should be obvious when you consider the music is generally a music of the common people, and the ukulele would be an affordable, easily carried instrument.
The CD has eight songs, six by Brolund, including the best of the bunch Call of Angels, and the fun Line & Pole.
Built 4 Comfort by the great Willie Dixon is also included, as is the traditional Somebody On Your Bond.
This is a real solid, enjoyable roots blues CD, played with an instrument not often thought of, giving it something of a unique feel.
Definitely worth checking out to add to one's CD collection.
Check it out at www.manitobahal.com
—; CALVIN DANIELS
Yorkton This Week Article June 30th
Playing the blues ukulele-style
Hal Brolund
Hal Brolund has been a bluesman for years now, but his music has evolved and changed over the years too.
“My background is a long tale of trial and error,” said Brolund who will perform at 5th Avenue Cup & Saucer with the Dr. Pinkham’s Medicine Show next Wednesday (July 7). “In the late 80s, I explored the band-in-a-box sequence shows with a partner and we played the hits in small town lounges and beer parlours all over Manitoba and North Western Ontario.
“Then in the 90s I took a more original approach to music and began to develop the style that is more familiar to my audience now. I took up slide guitar in 1993 and ukulele in 1995.
“By early 2000 I was touring pretty regularly all over Canada in coffee places, bars and festivals.”
Now Brolund, long known as Manitoba Hal is evolving again.
“I lived in Winnipeg for 25 years but recently moved to Shelburne, Nova Scotia. I live in a century old house about two blocks from the ocean. I am renovating the house and playing music and enjoying the laid back culture of an east coast fishing town,” he said.
As for the root of his roots music, Brolund said pinpointing the interest is not easy.
“I don't know if I can say what drew me to music exactly,” he said. “I’ve always been moved by a good song and an awesome guitarist. I remember living in Clearbrook, B.C. in 1983 sitting with a friend as he played his acoustic guitar along with a record. I suddenly had this flash and heard this voice in my head that said ‘That is what you will do with your life’. I knew then that I would play music the rest of my days. I was 18 at that time and I’ve been on this journey ever since.”
From that point on, Brolund has drawn from a variety of musicians in defining his own style.
“My musical influences are pretty varied,” he said. “I like a lot of old blues recordings. Skip James, Blind Willie Johnson, Robert Johnson, Son House, Taj Mahal. But I also listen to singer/songwriters like Stephen Fearing and Paul Thorn.
“I grew up listening to pop radio, old country and heavy rock. AC/DC, Kiss, Bon Jovi … you name it, I’ve probably listened to it at one time or another.
“Lately I’ve been soaking up Hawaiian music and great Novelty acts like the Hoosier Hot Shots.”
The result is a roots/blues sound for Brolund.
“I mostly play blues influenced roots music,” he said. “I try to distill a band experience down to a solo guitar or ukulele. I’ve also been using modern technology to create a ‘virtual band’ on stage with looping effects. I will play a groove, add a faux bass line and then play over the top giving the impression of a whole band.”
It’s a style and sound defined over a quarter of a century.
“I’ve been playing music for over 25 years now and have been on stages with Dr John, James Hill, Colin Linden, David Essig, Ken Hamm, Big Dave McLean,” he said. “A personal highlight was meeting BB King in 1998 backstage in Winnipeg. He is the only musical hero that I was unable to speak to. I stammered like a star struck kid. Not my proudest moment but it still sends a chill down my spine when I think of shaking his hand.”
Recently Brolund has released his newest recoding ‘Little Box of Sadness’.
“Writing a CD takes me some time,” he said. “I used to churn out songs but as I get older it takes me longer and longer to have something to say. But when I start writing it just starts coming. I carry a notebook around with me and I collect song ideas and lines and then after some period of time which varies all the time, a song will begin to pop out. When that starts happening the song can come quickly or take it's time.
“On this record I have one song where the verses came out quickly and it took another year to find the chorus.”
The music though must come from life to feel right.
“I get inspired by ordinary tales of human interaction,” said Brolund. “I look for the heroism in falling in love even though you are flawed. I like to explore extreme emotions without trying to embrace them and then tell the story in which those emotions occur.”
The CD was recorded on Protection Island, BC with David Essig, and at Brolund’s home studio in Winnipeg in 2007 and 2008.
The resulting ‘Little Box of Sadness’ is a disk Brolund is proud of.
“I am very happy with this record,” he said. “It was released in 2008 and has sold well over the internet to audiences all over the world.
“My favorite cut is the traditional ‘Somebody On Your Bond’. The track features myself and David Essig playing a guitar duet that is reminiscent of Maybelle Carter. The ukulele carries the melody on that track and it’s just awesome and sweet.”
Brolund is joined by Allison Brown and Leah Morise on the Dr. Pinkham’s Medicine Show.
“My background is a long tale of trial and error,” said Brolund who will perform at 5th Avenue Cup & Saucer with the Dr. Pinkham’s Medicine Show next Wednesday (July 7). “In the late 80s, I explored the band-in-a-box sequence shows with a partner and we played the hits in small town lounges and beer parlours all over Manitoba and North Western Ontario.
“Then in the 90s I took a more original approach to music and began to develop the style that is more familiar to my audience now. I took up slide guitar in 1993 and ukulele in 1995.
“By early 2000 I was touring pretty regularly all over Canada in coffee places, bars and festivals.”
Now Brolund, long known as Manitoba Hal is evolving again.
“I lived in Winnipeg for 25 years but recently moved to Shelburne, Nova Scotia. I live in a century old house about two blocks from the ocean. I am renovating the house and playing music and enjoying the laid back culture of an east coast fishing town,” he said.
As for the root of his roots music, Brolund said pinpointing the interest is not easy.
“I don't know if I can say what drew me to music exactly,” he said. “I’ve always been moved by a good song and an awesome guitarist. I remember living in Clearbrook, B.C. in 1983 sitting with a friend as he played his acoustic guitar along with a record. I suddenly had this flash and heard this voice in my head that said ‘That is what you will do with your life’. I knew then that I would play music the rest of my days. I was 18 at that time and I’ve been on this journey ever since.”
From that point on, Brolund has drawn from a variety of musicians in defining his own style.
“My musical influences are pretty varied,” he said. “I like a lot of old blues recordings. Skip James, Blind Willie Johnson, Robert Johnson, Son House, Taj Mahal. But I also listen to singer/songwriters like Stephen Fearing and Paul Thorn.
“I grew up listening to pop radio, old country and heavy rock. AC/DC, Kiss, Bon Jovi … you name it, I’ve probably listened to it at one time or another.
“Lately I’ve been soaking up Hawaiian music and great Novelty acts like the Hoosier Hot Shots.”
The result is a roots/blues sound for Brolund.
“I mostly play blues influenced roots music,” he said. “I try to distill a band experience down to a solo guitar or ukulele. I’ve also been using modern technology to create a ‘virtual band’ on stage with looping effects. I will play a groove, add a faux bass line and then play over the top giving the impression of a whole band.”
It’s a style and sound defined over a quarter of a century.
“I’ve been playing music for over 25 years now and have been on stages with Dr John, James Hill, Colin Linden, David Essig, Ken Hamm, Big Dave McLean,” he said. “A personal highlight was meeting BB King in 1998 backstage in Winnipeg. He is the only musical hero that I was unable to speak to. I stammered like a star struck kid. Not my proudest moment but it still sends a chill down my spine when I think of shaking his hand.”
Recently Brolund has released his newest recoding ‘Little Box of Sadness’.
“Writing a CD takes me some time,” he said. “I used to churn out songs but as I get older it takes me longer and longer to have something to say. But when I start writing it just starts coming. I carry a notebook around with me and I collect song ideas and lines and then after some period of time which varies all the time, a song will begin to pop out. When that starts happening the song can come quickly or take it's time.
“On this record I have one song where the verses came out quickly and it took another year to find the chorus.”
The music though must come from life to feel right.
“I get inspired by ordinary tales of human interaction,” said Brolund. “I look for the heroism in falling in love even though you are flawed. I like to explore extreme emotions without trying to embrace them and then tell the story in which those emotions occur.”
The CD was recorded on Protection Island, BC with David Essig, and at Brolund’s home studio in Winnipeg in 2007 and 2008.
The resulting ‘Little Box of Sadness’ is a disk Brolund is proud of.
“I am very happy with this record,” he said. “It was released in 2008 and has sold well over the internet to audiences all over the world.
“My favorite cut is the traditional ‘Somebody On Your Bond’. The track features myself and David Essig playing a guitar duet that is reminiscent of Maybelle Carter. The ukulele carries the melody on that track and it’s just awesome and sweet.”
Brolund is joined by Allison Brown and Leah Morise on the Dr. Pinkham’s Medicine Show.
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