Oh What a Night!

What a great night! We raised $1055 in donations for Tsunami Relief and Breakers Pub is going to match that amount dollar for dollar. We started out the evening at 7:30 watching Shane Phillips from Smithers perform digery-doo wonders at Cowpuccino's Coffeehouse and then raced across the street for the soundcheck at 8:00pm. After a few equipment false starts we got the show rolling at about 8:45pm. That's what happens when you do your own sound using rented equipment. It was a good learning experience. Russell Bowers from CBC was our MC for the evening and did a superb job as always. Frances Riley, Sarah Foster and Eric wove fabulous harmonies as they performed crowd favorites such as Stayin' Alive, Sarah Harmers Basement Apartment and their original Paradise Mountain. At around 9:30 Gary and I took the stage and we had a great show! It would have been hard not to. The crowd was in great form and the energy was impossible not to catch. I will post some photos as soon as I can.

A special thanks goes to Sherrie, Gord and all the staff at Breakers Pub' Sean Pottle from Digital Printing for the posters; Sarah Foster, Francis Riley, Eric and Gary Malton for being the spectacular musicians they were born to be, Steve Barre for doing the sound, hauling the gear, putting up posters, and dealing with my pre show craziness; Russell Bowers for MCing; and Bernadette Saquibal, Shane Phillips and Chris for their guest set.

Like a Pendulum I Swing

Things are looking up this balmy rupert winterday since I decided to stop tripping over my lower lip and suck it up. It's funny how quickly we adapt to our surroundings and become acclimate to the beauty. If it was six years ago, I would be outside walking in the fog loving every minute of it. I remember when I first moved out here how different everything smelled. Low tide, Skunk Cabbage, salt water all of these things I had never experienced the scent of. I remember how every day the landscape seemed to change depending on the weather. You can see different ridges in the mountains depending on how much moisture is in the air and the angle of the sun. I am going to make a conscious effort to appreciate the rugged beauty again. Open my eyes and get outside more.

January Blues

With a title like that, and this being a music site, I bet you are expecting me to write about 'The Blues'. Today, however I feel like ranting about the late winter phenomenon that turns the 'cheeriest bloke' into a 'miserable Joe'. I am not immune to this cyclical condition, that each post Christmas season I swear I will not return to. But yet again, this mid-January I feel as blue as ever. Partly I am sure, it is due to the unsettled feeling one gets when a departure from the norm is imminent. You see for me (hmmm rhyming words) the countdown to unemployment has begun. In just less than 9 months I will be voluntarily casting myself out of the world of the regular paycheck to frolic amongst the other 'ambition-filled-stary-eyed and hungry musicians' that roam the planet in search of the elusive agent and career boosting gig. Please do not misinterpret what I am writing. On any given day I can whip myself into a euphoric frenzy discussing or dreaming about becoming a full time traveling musician. But today 5lbs of Christmas eating heavier and low in blood sugar from the abrupt departure of any glucose in my house (going cold turkey)I feel blue and unsettled. The artist in me says to 'harness the emotion''pick up you guitar and write is away' but the girl that just about died running a 5k that 4 weeks ago was a walk in the park, says hostile things that can only be described as 'bitchy'. Hmmmm I usually hate that word. But it is seeminlgy appropriate today.

Milestones

Nervous! I have to admit I was nervous walking in to the spotlight at the PAC on Thursday night. I only hesitated for a second, but it felt like a lifetime. Once the moment passed I felt right at home. Since I moved to Rupert I have wanted to perform on that stage and opening for 'The Jenny's' made it all the more memorable. Ruth, Nicki and Annabelle are super nice and I am very thankful they agreed to me opening for them. We made the front page of the Friday paper (another milestone for me). After my set I sat backstage and watched the Jenny's weave unbelievable harmonies. Apparently the girls are going to be nominated for a Juno!

Whats upcoming this month? Well there is the open mic tomorrow night (9th) at Cowpuccinos and then the Acoustic Night at Tom Rooney Playhouse on the 15th. Tickets are available at Teddy's Music. The following weekend (22nd) Frances Riley, Sarah Foster and I along with Breaker's Pub are putting on a Tsunami Relief Benefit Concert starting at 8:30. And then to wrap up the month on the 29th the Commercial Pub along with a local community group is putting on a Amateur Night Competition where those entered can win a trip for two to Vancouver. It will be my first time playing with a house band which should be a new experience.

I am in the middle of festival application time again. I have my fingers crossed for a buisy summer.

Gd' Night
Sall

Resolutions and all that Jazz

Its Jan 1st and here are my New Years Resolutions:

** Play as many places as I can - never turn down a gig
** Learn the art of busking
** Play more outside of the northwest of BC

1) Run at least 4 times a week (no excuses about the rain)
2) Practice at least 1 hour a day
3) Learn to tune my guitar on stage
4) Laugh more
5) Eat less junk and more veggies
6) Do all the touristy things that I intended on doing when I moved out here 6 years ago.
7) Learn to play the piano (not just plunk around like I currently do)
8) Learn to play the ukelali. I don't think that I spelled that right but it is great for party's and camping.
9) Travel