October 15, 2008 - Kenora!My Mom always says that whenever she's with either me or my sister, she always misses the other. If she's with me, it makes her think about Beckie; when she's with Beckie, it makes her think about me. She says it reminds her that she truly just wants to be with us both all the time. That's exactly how I feel about recording and touring. When I'm out on the road, all I want to do is be in the studio to record my latest expression; when I'm in the studio, all I want to do is connect with a real audience while on stage at a concert. Recording this album has turned into such an enjoyable labour of love for me... I love the creative challenges and satisfaction of capturing raw human emotion on tape. I love hearing these songs take form and become entities I could only vaguely dream up in my mind. But this past Thursday, after playing an intimate show in Kenora with Scott Nolan, presented by Sun Porch Productions (ie. our new friends Jeff and Mike), I was again reminded of how much I miss touring. Thank you so much to Jeff and Mike for hosting such a well-run event. We've worked with many a promoter over the past couple years, and you guys have it figured out. Not to mention you're just great people - it was a pleasure meeting and working with you. Thanks also to Ainslie Everett and Mike again for opening the night, and to Scott Nolan for sharing the stage with me. I want to send a message of gratitude out to Corey McCrindle for interviewing me at 89.5 FM. Corey is also a very talented photographer who came down to the show to take a few pictures. You can view some of the photos here. To my new Kenora friends, your community is now a treasured destination for me... see you the next time through.
October 12, 2008 - Me and my GibsonI'm vibrating at a new frequency right now... I just made a big purchase. I decided that even if I don't eat for the next few months (I'm only half kidding...), I was going to get me a new guitar. Not just any new guitar.... but what I consider to be the perfect guitar for me.... a Gibson Songwriter Deluxe. I have to admit I was nervous going into this transaction. I have spent my guitar playing years being told by other people what I should play and why... what sounds the best and why. And being a newbie, I had nothing to go on... and so ate it up eagerly. I've since learned more about myself and my tendencies, and one thing I am conscious of now more than ever is... what do I think? What do I hear and feel? Do I have the courage to stand by my own opinions and learn as I go? So... I walked into Long & McQuade this week, and did what I should have done a long time ago. I played every guitar in the place until I found what instrument felt and sounded the best to me. At first, I admit I felt very lost. They all seemed so similar. What was I looking for? What if different strings or improper tuning were affecting my overall opinion of an otherwise great guitar? The scientific part of my brain demanded these confounding variables be removed... but I had no choice but to play on and do my best to objectively assess. Amazingly, I naturally began to feel my way through, and eventually started to develop a sensitivity to the subtle differences of each instrument. Which ones had cut outs... which ones didn't... and how their sounds varied. Which bodies were bigger, which ones had longer or wider necks, how far apart did the frets feel to my fingertips, how easily could my fingers move. I've been playing the piano since I was very young, and my ability to differentiate these kinds of subtleties among pianos feels second nature. My guitar playing years are approaching six, and I am only now beginning to really learn about guitars. It's a slow process... as it should be... ingraining muscle memory and instrument knowledge through touch, feel, and sound... but I took a big step today and am now the proud owner of my very first hand-picked guitar. I tried to avoid looking at brands through this process... turns out I have very expensive taste. I guess the Gibson reputation has passed my test... for what that's worth.
But I think I'm in love. I think I'm in love with this beautiful instrument... this incredible work of art. I wonder what new songs will find me... Tuesday, October 7, 2008 - Cleaning HouseToday's a cleaning house day... and the perfect opportunity to avoid heavy lifting and write a journal entry. I'm arranging my living space a little differently.... getting rid of some old items I've seen through this cycle a few times... cleaning in some corners that have gone ignored for too long. Things have just been... busy. I had a wonderful photo shoot with Tracey Dyer a couple weeks ago (formerly Tracey Hawken - www.traceyhawkenphotography.com). I've only seen a few shots at this point... and for as overly critical of myself as I am... she took some absolutely beautiful pictures. I love Tracey - she's one of the coolest women I know. Adventurous and sensible all at the same time. We were really hoping to get on the roof top of the building we were shooting in... but the final few stairs transitioned into a rusty, questionable looking ladder close to 10 extremely high stories off the ground... so even the very adventurous Tracey declined the photo opp. Thank you for making time for me during what must have been a crazy and hectic week before your move. I truly appreciate your gift and the way you have shared it with me. See you in Toronto!
I've also made a new musician friend... Allison Lickley. (www.allisonlickley.com). She's from... well, I think she grew up in Sudbury ON, moved to Montreal to start her music career, and at times has called the Maritimes her home. She's more transient than I am. :) And I'm a new fan. It was such pleasure getting to know you, Allison - as brief as your visit to Winnipeg was, I can tell we have a lot in common, and I look forward to more visits in the future. It must be that left brain, right brain thing... I had never met another chemist/musician before, and then there was you... :) This past weekend, I participated in the Walk 4 Darfur event at Assiniboine park. Thank you so much to Sarah, Lindsey, Lauren, and the whole crew for inviting me out and organizing such a meaningful event. The more I learn about what's going on over there... what's BEEN going on over there for years... my heart breaks. Darfur is a province in Sudan, Africa. The conflict started in 2003, and since then has claimed 400,000 lives. Most recently, a refugee camp was attacked in August leaving 30 dead. It's so sad that people who have lost their homes and families continue to face such danger even in these camps. Over 3.5 million people in Darfur rely on International Aid everyday just to survive. For anyone who in unfamiliar with the conflicts occuring in Darfur, I encourage you to educate yourself. (www.walk4darfur.ca) On a lighter note, I want to send a shout out to Ace Burpee... that guy is awesome! I keep running into Ace at community events and charities, and he's a delight to be around each and every time. He even brought me a banana as I worked my merch table... I am a fan. As far as radio personalities go, he is truly one of the genuine few. Great to see you again, Ace. September 18, 2008 - My Eyelid...Nothing like coming down from a fulfilling weekend of music and songwriting with a chest cold and an eye infection. Not just any old eye infection... but an eyeLID infection. One of those interesting and painful ones that at first glance looks like an eyebrow piercing gone wrong. I left it a little long before seeing a doctor, thinking I could tough it out, but a full week later... I'm still suffering. It always makes me wonder how my body is really trying to communicate with me in some way... I tend to think if I listen to early signs, things don't NEED to get bad. And then when they do get bad, I wonder what I missed. An eyelid... the body part that stops us from seeing.... or protects our vision. What is my vision? What should I be protecting that I'm not? Or what am I seeing that I don't want to see? At first, these types of questions made me smile to myself... I was probably 'reading into things' too much. But I'm finding a lot of truth in my body's ailments. If I sit quietly with myself, some really profound answers start coming up. I'll keep you all posted. :)
This past weekend, I was in my hometown area working with the Harvest Moon Society in Clearwater - an incredible organization dedicated to community sustainability and equitable food systems, among many other wonderful things (http://www.harvestmoonsociety.org/). I visited Manitou Elementary School to facilitate five different songwriting workshops with grades one through six. It was equally fun, rewarding, and exhausting... and a sincere highlight of my school experiences, considering my Mom was also teaching there. Thank you to Mariette for organizing my visit and for contributing a few tasty bass lines as well! To the entire student body and staff, thank you for being so open, creative, and a pleasure to work with. I hope to see you all again in December at the Manitou Opera House.
The weekend at the Harvest Moon Festival continued with great success, and unfortunately, a little rain on Saturday night that moved us all indoors. I didn't really mind playing inside... there's something cozy about everyone huddled in a warm shelter while it storms outside... the music keeps playing, the aroma of fresh homemade meals fills the room... that's what happy feels like. Thanks again to Andre, Colin, and everyone who contributed to the fantastic weekend. Thanks also to the creative group of festival goers who wrote the Harvest Moon song with me... for my first group of adult songwriters, it was a real treat. I will say though... children write songs differently than adults... as my research continues, I may readdress this trend :) Stay tuned...
September 8, 2008 - Home at Last...Lots of time to reflect on life these days. There was truly something magical about being away on tour this summer that my heart is heavy for right now. I am truly so grateful I was able to do accomplish such a remarkable goal, and at the same time, I'm also seeing how much of a dream it was... even out of touch with reality in some ways. I looked back on my blogs over the past few months, and I can hear my own excitement oozing through every word. That, and I can't believe how often I referred to the food I was eating - pizza more specifically - as if it were the first time I was seeing the stuff. I think somewhere in me there was eight year old Sheena peaking out through my eyes... living a dream she had imagined from the moment she wrote her first song... (I actually just had a memory of me tearing up in the audience at a Boyz II Men concert when I was 10 or 12, singing "End Of The Road" at the top of her lungs, longing to be up there too... I had completely forgotten about that concert, my first arena show. haha... what ever happened to Boyz II Men???)
Just to officially wrap up the last few shows of the tour, I have a special thank you to send out to Ben (Wytinck) for coming out to Regina to play the Java Expess and McNally's Tavern with me. That was an excellent way to end it all, I must say. Ben's a funny creature... he adapted to our motor home culture with great class :) Washing you hands with tank water that smells like rubber and skunk is always the toughest test... but he passed with flying colours. I also want to say that rounding out with the final show at Lady of the Lake in Brandon was one of my happiest memories of the whole summer. I had never seen this beautiful venue before... and though I had heard many great things, I was not expecting the night I had. Thank you to everyone who made the trip out to welcome us home. Thanks to Kristjanna who showed up unexpectedly... it was a magical experience to play with you and Ben together!!! My immediate family... my extended family... my dearest friends. Your support fills my empty vessels... I can't tell you all enough how much it means to see your faces from the stage... reflecting back to me the happiness I feel. Thank you for being a part of my journey in such a meaningful way. August 26th, 2008 - Randy Bachman, Fred Penner, and Jen Lane!We're nearing closer to home everyday.... one more week and we'll be sleeping in our own beds again!!!... but there's a sadness too as the air gets a little cooler. The summer's almost over, and paradise on the road is nearing its final moments. For now at least.
We just left Saskatoon after a frenzy of shows, media appearances, and late night visits with new and old friends. The fantastic Jen Lane (www.jenlane.com) set up a few shows for the two of us in town, which was really amazing of her since I've never played in Saskatoon before... she graciously shared her fans with me. I met Jen and her sister, Megan, and brother, Jeremy, at the Winnipeg Folk Festival years ago as part of the Young Performers Program. I met a lot of people that weekend, but the Lane bunch left an impression in me I have held on to over the years... truly inspiring, talented musicians... all three so different. When mine and Jen's paths crossed at the WCMA's last year, I knew I had to set something up with her. The universe was willing it so! After a radio interview with Theo on 90.5 FM CFCR Radio, followed by a Shaw TV appearance with Curtis on the downtown streets of Saskatoon, Jen and I headed off to Amigo's - a cute little Mexican place with spicey good food and a great sound guy... Ryan - you know your stuff, my friend. Thanks for setting us up! Jen and I shared the evening along with her talented husband, Smokerkiller (www.smokekiller.com). He was just "John" to us. :) Megan Lane (www.meganlane.com) also joined the pack for the night... so wicked!!! I don't think we went to bed before 4:00am all week... there was clearly just too much to catch up on. I'm sure we solved the world's problems each and every night, beginning with the relevance (or lack-there-of) of the movie Borat, all the way through the importance of pediatric insoles, and ending with the brilliance of KD. The theme of the week seemed to be returning to the refreshing elements of being a kid again... youthful exuberance... where did you go? On we went to Lydia's on Thursday night, and I soon learned why this venue is known country-wide as the place to play in Saskatchewan. EVERYBODY plays at Lydia's... that's just the way it's always been. We managed to turn a peaceful night of singer/songwriter goodness into a rowdy scene of dance parties and sing-alongs. Lydia's marked the first time anyone has ever danced to "Bull Dog" anyway... that says something! We had a few fun yahoos in the front waving lighters for the slow songs too... it was a cool vibe. I think my highlight of the night when Megan got the whole bar to sing "Tiny Dancer" at the top of their lungs... or at least yell out the one phrase everyone knows... too fun! I really can't thank Jen enough for being soooo good to us. I had such a good time with you, Darlin'!! I would say the stage highlight was opening for Randy Bachman last night. Yes, Randy Bachman. Holy crap. Jen was asked to open up the fundraiser being held at the Delta Bess, and she asked me to come along and back her up on piano and harmony vocals. Um.... sure Jen. I had a really busy day of sleeping and cleaning the motorhome planned, but I think I can squeeze this in. :):) She and I got to chat with the icon himself within the first ten minutes of being at the event... it was awesome. I always get a little anxious meeting ridiculously famous people... I always want to blurt out just STUPID random things like "I bet you're sick of always Taking Care of Business, eh Randy? Eh?? *nudge, nudge*" I'll just go stand over here now... Even with my awkwardness, the encounter was a treasured one. Immediately after the exhilarating experience at the Delta Bess, I slipped away to play at McNally Robinson. I love these vibey little bookstores and restaurants. We just had one of those nights with the sound system...and my guitar pick-up was acting up...and I couldn't seem to hear myself through the system until song 6 or 7... and on top of all that, a really inconsiderate parker took the only parking spot we could fit into while we were literally half-way in it already, merely adjusting ourselves, and in she went... right from under us. Tragic!! The highlight of the evening was a visit from Evan, a friend I hadn't seen in years - practically family - so that was a pleasant twist to the evening. :) Great to see you Evan!! Before we left Saskatoon, we caught the WAM festival where the Smokekiller Band was playing. One last chance to hang out with Jen and John (*single tear*)... we had to go! Interestingly, Fred Penner was also playing at this same festival, and before his set, Jen and I went backstage to meet him. You know... we just wanted to shake the hand of the man who made us fall in love with nature and music together... whose voice played out the soundtrack of our childhoods... it was an important encounter! Anyway, somehow Fred recognized my CD when I handed him a copy... which was cool... and we ended up chatting about our small world connections (which ended up being Keith MacPherson of all people. Thanks for the hook-up Keith!). Just another crazy awesome day in Saskatoon! But seriously.... this is not the end of my rant about the Lane family. There will be touring, writing, recording, and more performing stories ahead... I know it! Jen.... thank you for everything this week. I truly enjoyed connecting with you again. We'll see you in WInnipeg before long I'm sure! Shout out to Craig!I thought I would have another opportunity to officially thank Craig for his part in my tour... but alas, due to some unexpected and awesome opportunities that have come up for Craig, he will be unable to join me for the last two weeks of August. He was SO great to have on the road... it was incredible. Craig was a touring mate who wanted to investigate every place he came to... wanting to take in the fullest of experiences. He always had something interesting to say... always a helpful, knowledgeable, or insightful thought. He was particularly useful when it came to tires and batteries failing us miserably... Craig had been around the block - he knew who to call. My tribute to Craig doesn't end here! His music, which we had the great fortune of hearing every night, was always moving... always entertaining... always real. If you haven't checked him out yet, please... consider it a gift.www.craigcardiff.com.
Fortunately, our travels with Craig will continue. I will be joining him at Hugh's Room in Toronto on Dec. 3, and at The Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield, QC on Dec. 5. My final shows in August will not be solo performances after all. Jen Lane (www.jenlane.com) will join me in Saskatoon for two shows (possibly three!), and Ben Wytinck (www.benwytinck.com) will be rocking it out with me in Regina and Brandon. Check tour dates for details! August 19, 2007 - The SliceJust had our first show in two weeks here at the Slice in Lethbridge... and once again I am reminded why music is the magnificent centre-piece on our table of life. It just feels so good to play music... it is absolutely a spiritual experience for me in many ways. The biggest reason being... it's just so easy to shut off my thoughts for those precious moments on stage... and be truly in my body... present. Feeling every word I sing, sensing the subtle energies from every listening soul in the room. In most other moments of my day, I struggle with my head games, not unlike many other human beings walking this earth. But when I'm tapped into the space where music finds me, I feel at home... just existing... just BEING... it's a precious experience for me I will try to extend into all areas of my life.
...like in the moment we were waiting at a stoplight on our way to CKXU 88.3 FM - the campus radio station in Lethbridge - and our unlocked back door was getting loudly investigated by an outside intruder... my inner peace was lacking in that moment. But, we made it safely to the University... no huge drama to control ... and we surprised Luc and Jamie with an unexpected interview request. Thanks guys for being so great and throwing something together last minute. Luc - you were a true rock star.... I had a great time on air :) The show at the Slice was wonderful for me... the venue, top notch. Thank you to Tyler for being such a generous host.... your pizza - hard to beat, my friend :) Thank you for taking care of us. Thank you also to everyone who came out on such short notice... the facebook message went out hours before the show, and a lot of you still made the trip. Lucie and Leon, Luke and Jamie, Danielle, Brandon, Daryl, Dennise, and all others who were sending me your love last night... it was a pleasure sharing the space with you. I'll see you all the next time through. August 18, 2008 - An Olympic AugustThe Olympics took over my life here for a while... I'm not gonna lie - all other obligations took a back seat when Michael Phelps was cleaning house. Now there's a swimmer. It feels kinda nice being back in the land of the living, having something of cultural relevance to discuss with others instead of my usual conversation pieces (including Good Year Tires, "where can I get my hands on a portable vacuum?", and Pesto Sicilian sandwiches from Safeway... a staple).
I've been having dreams - ok, nightmares - about racing in general because of all this Olympic madness. I don't like the feeling of being chased, or the panic of needing to catch up... I think I've traced that back to elementary school track and field. There can be some fairly traumatic events for kids... especially for the kid like me who was just a little slow and on the chubby side. Do we really spend most of our adult lives just getting over our childhoods? Yes, it has been a nice break from shows the past two weeks... hanging out at Adam, Joc, and Todd's place this week and at Kyle's for a week before that in Calgary. Firstly, thanks Kyle for opening up your place for round 2... you made us feel right at home. Your kitchen became our domain there for a while, but you didn't seem to mind. Kyle's the talented ear that mastered "Get Out Alive" for me in June, and he has a great home studio set-up in his basement that he invited me to experiment with. I've been trying to find the right recorded sound for my voice... it might just come down to the right microphone... but I need a bit of trial and error at this point. While testing out a few songs, we detected an unsettling rattle in my keyboard. Upon further inspection, we discovered a collection of fun little pieces of hardened wax underneath some of the keys... biproducts of the night I wrote "Bartered" and leaked a blazing candle all over my beautiful instrument.... it was not pretty. Fortunately, we got it all cleaned up thanks to Kyle's trusty "Emergency Fix-it Kit" (ie. some extended tweezers), and the keyboard is good to go. Kyle... we really appreciated the hospitality... and the company (Kyle came out to Cochrane when my Mom was still out, and stayed up 'til 5:00am with us, discussing numerous philosophies on human behaviour... solid memories :) We'll miss you Kyle! And on we went to become extensions of Adam and Joc's couch in Edmonton while we utilized every last second of their free wireless access. Our butt prints can still be found on cushions 1 and 3. Our initial reason for heading back to Edmonton was because of the "Heavy Beavers Golf Tournament and Social" - the "Heavy Beavers" being Adam and Todd's hockey team, originating in Manitoba I do believe. Anyway, we turned the visit into a week of sport tributes as we collectively watched 7 nights of Olympic action from their living room. Joc and I became jogging partners too... inspired by the athletic spirit. Counteracted by the bulk candy we consumed I guess... the candy Darryl and I finished off long after the trio had left. As always, words cannot express what it means to have family as great as mine. I look forward to the time we spend together so very much. I also look forward to any and all opportunities to return the hospitality... you guys like camping? August 6th, 2008 - One of those weeks...I'm very close with both my parents (I'm told my Dad checks this website three times a day... *Hi Dad*... If I had a spelling mistake up here for half an hour before changing it, Dad would catch the change I'm sure :) Since it's been nearly two months since I've seen my family, my Mom decided to take her vacation this summer as a "roadie" on-board our tour. Sooo great. A long-time dream of some sort for both of us. It really was one of those weeks...
After that incredible night in Golden, we swung down to Calgary to pick up our new passenger at the airport, and off we headed to Banff for a few days. I didn't want Mom to be shocked into the touring culture too early, so I made sure the beginning of her visit had access to showers :) Groupie Heather was in full form.
Playing at Cafe Soleil was a delight as usual. Mom wanted to stand outside the restaurant, handing out fliers, "selling" the evening of music and cuisine (I wasn't sure the pitch would be as strong when they found out the whole mother daughter thing.... a mother's love goggles can be pretty thick sometimes :) But fortunately, Cafe Soleil was packed without the promo. Leo, Hayley, and Matt - it was great to see you again. Kristen, Zach, Brooke, Sandrine, and Richard - new faces we'll look forward to seeing again in the future. Thanks to Kate for taking care of us both nights I was playing... your restaurant is a lovely hidden treasure in Banff - I will tell all I can about this fantastic place.
My Mom was so cute... she would be the first to clap after every song - spelling out to the rest of the dining crowd that there was important music being played... NOT to be ignored... haha... you tell 'em Mom! I learned a long time ago that in bar/pub/dining atmospheres, I am merely making an offering with my music... and it is not up to me to decide - or expect - that everyone will take. The ones who are meant to always do. I say this as a musician who has had the privilege of countless concert-type audiences - attentive, engaged, and there for the music. It wasn't the easiest transition beginning to play in venues where a background buzz of chatter was expected.... but it has been an experience that has not only heightened my appreciation for a listening crowd, but has also allowed me a chance to learn NOT to take the chatter so personally. In the end, it always seems to be the loudest rowdies who buy the most CDs...
With some encouragement, I finally got a haircut in Banff. The situation with my mullet had finally become unmanageable. When I sat down in the chair at the Hair Company, I knew what I thought I wanted.... little did I know my hairdresser would convince me otherwise. She was an artist after all, and I really understood that. And now I have an asymmetrical hairdo - I've never gone in this direction before - and I have to admit... I feel pretty awesome. I feel like I've entered the realm of cool hair. One side is cropped up a little short, and the other side has this funky tail extension. It's the kind of decision one looks back to question (that was the early 90's for me) but right now... I'm really into it.
On we went to leave the mountains for the last time (*single tear*) and headed into Black Diamond, Alberta. Quite a neat little town. I played a show at The Stop, and I must say... this was probably one of - if not THE greatest cafe venue I've visited this whole tour. The crowd was modest but every person there was there to hear the music... and I felt their welcoming energies. Ken, Val, Kevin, Tanya (and your fantastic company!) - thank you for sharing the space with us that night. Thank you to Kate and Karl for - first of all - managing such a quality venue that directly supports musicians in so many ways, and secondly - for inviting me out to play. The Stop will definitely be a place we'll always return to as long as you'll have us :)
Following that performance, we went for a late supper at Grillo's Pizzeria.... and seriously had the best pizza I've ever had after a show... or really... EVER. It was so good. If you're looking for an excellent feeding, this is the place to go in Black Diamond. Try the 'Mecca'... I think that was the name of it... mmmmmm..........
The final show along my Mom's short touring visit was in Cochrane at the Blue Dog Cafe. Unbeknownst to the crowd that night, I had personally had a really awful evening leading up to the show... I wasn't feeling really well among other things... and I didn't know how it all was going to go. The first set was during the dinner crowd, and the response was very warm, but somewhat unfulfilling for me. But something magical happened during the second set... I'm not sure what exactly... but I suddenly found myself feeling the music so intensely....and at the same time I noticed everyone in the room was feeling it too. By the end of the night, I felt like I had connected with every person in the room. I sold CDs to 75% of the audience members, and left a noticeable impression on the Blue Dog Cafe. To the Ontario folks who were listening all night - I'll hopefully see you again out east! To Mike in the front row... your enthusiasm for my music was very uplifting... thank you for that. To Helena and the other staff members... thanks for your support. To Jenny for inviting me to the Blue Dog Cafe - thank you for taking a chance on me with such short notice. The meal was wonderful, the space was beautiful, and I had one of the most inspiring nights of my whole tour. We'll be seeing you again soon!
As a side note to my Blue Dog Cafe appearance, I experienced another really cool moment there that night. Apparently, a family I had played for way back in June at the Beach Club in Clear Lake, Manitoba, had been through Cochrane and had stopped off at the Blue Dog Cafe a few weeks prior. They had noticed my name on a list of upcoming shows and wanted to leave me a message. So the kids, Cally and Lawson, left me a drawing and message of encouragement. A message to tell me they loved me and my music, and how much they had enjoyed my time with them last month. What an unexpected and truly awesome experience. To Cally and Lawson and their wonderful parents.... thank you. Thank you for taking the time to write me such a beautiful, inspiring note. It truly lifted me up! I felt you with me that night :) Maybe that was the magic...
My Mom has now long since boarded her plane, and is probably enjoying a long, extended sleep (we stayed up well past 5:00a.m. on two occasions this week.... visiting, laughing, sipping away, playing games, enjoying each other's company. It really was a dream experience to share with a mother). Mom... I just want to say that I know how lucky I am to have a relationship like this with you. I just love being around you, and I know that just isn't the reality for so many people. Thank you for your loving energy, your inspiring insights, your warm and non-judgmental perspectives. Thank you for being fun, easy-going, and flexible. Thank you for making way more financial contributions than were necessary. Thank you for supporting my dreams by living them with me. I love you. Please don't let this be the last time we tour together... here's to many more adventures!
And to Dad... I'm sorry you had to spend your birthday alone!!! Hopefully Nathan took you out somewhere nice. We were definitely thinking about you that day. It'll be your turn next... maybe you'll want to visit somewhere warm for the winter.... ;)
August 3rd, 2008 - Golden, BCThank you Golden, BC! When we stopped in at The Lyric to drop off posters on our way through to Vancouver, we happened to walk in on a heavy metal Saturday night band... a dingy, dark, and boisterous atmosphere strewn with rowdies.... couldn't really be further from my typical scene, but I agreed to the gig anyway... hoping a Monday night would have a different feel, and luckily, that's exactly what we found last night. I played three sets beginning at 7:30pm, on the patio overlooking a gorgeous free flowing river along a mountainous backdrop, and kept playing into the later hours of the evening as new travelers (none of them actually from Golden) strolled in and were coaxed into staying by the rest of the listening crowd. It might have been the alcohol swimming in their generous veins, but when the audience heard we had busted yet a third tire not too long ago, they opened their hearts and their wallets... it was really very touching. Thank you to all the encouraging people we had the pleasure of meeting last night... thank you for your support and for enjoying the music with me! Sean... thanks for getting up and doing a few tunes with me... you have a tremendous talent. A shout out to our new friends traveling to Kelowna who got stranded in Golden after a similar tire malfunction...we will see you in Maple Ridge someday! Thank you to Corey (of the reggae band "The Solicitors") for the drinks and the chat.... and the advice on touring in the east... we're sold! And finally, thank you to Dave for setting us up last night... we will definitely keep The Lyric in our plans the next time we're through!
August 1, 2008 - Here's to July!I love BC... plain and simple. I say this as a passenger and not a driver... as my driving privileges were taken away after I admitted to having visions of driving the motor home off the side of a mountain. haha... I was just being honest. I'm sure I'm not the only one. Anyway, I left off last time in Squamish, where the wonderful Howe Sound Inn and Brewing Company invited me to do a set during their open mic night.... quite an event in Squamish. Thank you to Bob who hosted the evening... you are a great talent, and I look forward to the next time around. Thanks also to Bob (a different Bob... the Bob who arranged the gig...) for the fantastic hospitality.
It was actually in Squamish that we bit the bullet and bought ourselves a dust buster. The carpet in our humble abode was starting to scare me. We also splurged and got ourselves some measuring cups for when we bake bread in the bread maker (didn't have room for much when we packed this thing, but we made room for the essentials... aka. a bread maker, and a blender of course). Off to Vancouver we went... and what a fantastic week it was. Beginning with a visit to see Caitlin (a childhood family friend) and her adorable little girl Maggie. Caitlin... you and Chris sure know how to make 'em! She's beautiful. Thank you for the chat.... for the amazing breakfast we have now integrated into our regular diets... for being a warm and familiar face so far away from home *smile* The next morning - after scouting out the perfect place to land our ship... in a rich residential area with a great view of some award winning landscape designs... we set off to the station of GlobalBC to do the Morning News Show. I can't complain - the chance to perform on morning TV for thousands of new potential fans is an opportunity I will never pass up... but cripe... it's more than just a little nerve wracking. Maybe it's because last year when I performed on Breakfast TV in Winnipeg, my voice cracked this awful sound that shocked me into nearly stopping my song. Or maybe it was my traumatic experience on Edmonton's BTV last summer, when I used the word "girth" to describe the incredible characteristics of the grand piano I was playing. Yep... "girth". A thousand people simultaneously choked on their Mini Wheats that morning. It's live, uncensored, breakfast TV... you ain't gettin' it back. But this time... during my furthest reaching broadcast to date... everything went just fine. With a morning like that under our belt, we kept the gravy train moving. We sat in on a BNI meeting where we were introduced to a network of Vancouver's finest entrepreneurs and business people. Thank you to everyone involved for inviting us into your meeting and allowing us to showcase what it is we do... or what we're trying to do. Every connection counts, and that seems to be one of the foundation philosophies of this fantastic group. From this meeting, we managed to find parking in downtown Vancouver just in time to make our second meeting with Justin Sudds from Feldman. Thank you, Justin, for offering your time and expertise. At this stage in the game - for an artist like myself - laying the groundwork is so very important. We really appreciated being able to talk some things out with you. We'll certainly be touching base the next time we're through. And then... then... came the real adventure of our Vancouver vacation. Catherine and Nicole. CATHERINE AND NICOLE!!!! Who knew :) These ladies showed us the time of our lives. The food (homemade buttermilk pancakes, chicken fahitas on the barbecue, wild ginger glazed salmon, endless bowls of pistachios, cake and ice cream, and on and on. ) the hot showers for the week, a freshly made bed, a walk to the beach where we listened to Aimee Mann playing at the Vancouver Folk Festival while sipping wine and eating cheese and crackers, the stories, the late LATE night conversations, the life changing advice.... what a beautiful stay. Thank you. Thank you so much for your hospitality, your openness to life, your pleasant company. We love Catherine and Nicole! We didn't leave Vancouver without contributing to a wonderful night of music at the Backstage Lounge. Thanks to Derek, Adrian, and Matt for welcoming me into your songwriter's circle... I was missing that atmosphere on stage. I have to send a shout out to Meghan for coming out to the show.... sooo very great to see you as always!! Good luck in Beijing! I'll get to say I rowed at the same club as an Olympic Champion :) Make us proud, Meghan! Thanks also to Laura Smith for setting up the show... you rock Laura! And finally... to Catherine and Nicole... thank you for the great company that night. And after filing up our water tanks and saying a heartfelt goodbye to C&N, we took off to Langely for a show at the Wired Monk... where C&N met us anyway :). One more chance to hang out... and a show I'm glad they didn't miss. The Wired Monk turned out to be a pleasant surprise. A really cute little place with an outstanding staff (Cassie, Mia, Evie... thank you for the message and for being such wonderful hostesses. Don't think I didn't realize you gave me your tip money that night. You said it wasn't much... but it sure meant a lot to me :). Also, thank you to Chet for letting us set up that night... I know you don't do shows like that all the time, but I think you should... you've got a great thing going on in Langley. Finally.... thanks to everyone who mede it out that night... the ones who saw me on TV and made a trip of it... the ones who were just sipping coffee... I am grateful for the energy you gave me that night. Getting a crowd that wants to sing along and make requests is like finding the prize at the bottom of the cereal box.... you love the cereal... the cereal sustains you and fills your belly for a meal, but the prize... the prize fills your heart for days afterward. Thank you for being my prize. Here officially ended our trip to Vancouver (since we classified Langley as still part of Van... we never found a boundary). Thank you, Vancouver, for your cheap sushi, your ocean waters which I swam in for the first time this trip, your mountainous landscape, your relaxed attitudes, for letting us essentially camp for days in your streets, and for giving us just enough sun that my pale, opaque, white skin shifted to a slightly darker shade of.... off white. Hedley... The Hitching Post... who knew? When we said to our BC friends that we were playing in Hedley, they said.. "Hedley?? Where on earth would you play in Hedley??" Well... we played at the Hitching Post, and it was grand. The quaint little restaurant reminded me of something Treherne would have set up... the waitresses knew every name... every regular order. Thanks to Tanya, Jessica, and Wendy for making us feel so at home. Thanks especially to Wilson and Brenda for having us out to your fantastic establishment... for the food, drinks, fresh seafood lasagna, and all the extra frills. :) We'll stop in next time we're through for sure. On we went to Fibonacci's in Penticton to try it out again. Such a beautiful venue and great people.... we've just got to find a way to reach the "Pentictonites." I'm guessing that will mean playing a show on the beach... that seemed to be where all the action was. Regardless, we LOVE Penticton... one of the most picturesque towns in all our travels... and thank you so much to Mike and Trisha for having us out again. Bob and Vicky... it was great to see you again! Such a pleasant surprise. And Hoa... like you promised, you made it out in fine form :) I'm so glad you checked my blog... haha... next time we come through, we'll definitely have to hook up in Kelowna! Thanks for your support :) And on to Kelowna we went... for another amazing stay with Jen and Matt. You two are fantastic... plain and simple. You allowed us some much needed rest and relaxation. Thank you for essentially lending us your home for the weekend, and for inviting us to hang out with your family.... so great! It made me miss home like crazy, but I appreciated being in that environment for a while. Thanks to Jen and Matt's family and friend circle... it was a pleasure to meet you all and enjoy a summer evening together like that. And to top off the night... an hour sprawled out in front of the TV watching a wicked Bruce Springstein concert... Jen - I've never met anyone with a love and appreciation for Bruce Springstein like you have, but it totally rubbed off on me. I'm a fan of The Boss now too!! :):) Our last show was in Vernon at the Bean Scene... also an adorable little place in the heart of Vernon. I'm beginning to believe we have good luck in picking venues. We haven't been disappointed yet. To Danielle and Kate - thanks for your company that night, and for being such wonderful hostesses. The next time we come through, we should definitely make it an event. I LOVE the feel of your place, and Darryl was right... I don't think we've ever been anywhere where the coffee has smelled so good. Seriously. I'm getting ready to set up my show in Golden at The Lyric, so I have to sign off for now. We're heading back into Alberta now... check back soon for my next novel entry... :) Posts 1 - 12 of 26
|
|
    |
    |
|
||||||||
.gif)
.gif)
.gif)
.gif)