Year in Review aka Procrastinating

Well I'm just sitting here procrastinating. I've got a million tiny things that need my attention over the next week. It's hard for me to look back (ever) and even more so with the amazing things that January is dangling in front of me. A week from today I leave for Mississippi with the Amazing Sufferin Bastards to make an epic record in a most awesome place with some really, really cool people. If that wasn't stealing enough of my attention I can't help but think about what a crazy time we'll have on the way home when we stop in Memphis to perform on Beale Street and more importantly hanging out in one of the most musically significant cities in the world with friends like Matt Andersen, Steve Marriner and Keith Hallett. Sounds like BBQ'd trouble to me!

To put off the meanial little tasks I have like wrting out all the lyrics to my songs and documenting my gear by serial number, I've been reading top 10 lists of 2009...you know, Albums, shows, movies....I was gonna write one. Then I realized a lot of the albums I was blown away by in 2009 were released before then, ie: Consolers of the Lonely by The Raconteurs and Faith Cola by Sisters Euclid....2008 and 2006 respectively....thats not to say there wasn't a pile of awesome music released this year...I'm sure if I went through my itunes I would find some stuff but lets be honest folks, I listen to a PILE of tunes...to whittle it down would be tough.

So instead I thought I would just touch on some of the high points of 2009. I toured a lot and met a lot of folks and saw a lot of good music and I just can't fit it all in here so these are the 'best of'' for me.

So these things come to mind as totally awesome moments:

- Preforming at The Capital Theatre in Moncton

- Securing the late great Jim Dickinson to record our new album at Zebra Ranch. The thought ofsomeone who played with the people he did liking my songs almost makes me cry every time I think about it.

- Seeing Neil Young at Harbor Station. Simply amazing. Neil has it more than any other artist. An inspiration for sure.

- Sister's Euclid. Saw 'em twice. Once in the late winter, my first time, and again with the bastards at one of their last performances at The Orbit Room. Sick Sick Sick. If you haven't seen them, seek them out. They will change your life.

- Visiting Tofino for the first time ever. Majestic.

- Watching The Black Crowes from backstage in Fredericton.

- Having Cody Dickinson from the North Mississippi All-stars (one of my fav bands) offer to take over the recording only days after the passing of his father.

- Having supper sitting beside Los Lobos at the Delta then going to see them open their show with 'There goes the neighborhood". Thanks Brent!

- The most amazing weekend of performing at Blues on Whyte in Edmonton.

- Getting Nominated for the Maple Blues Best New Artist.

- Halloween in Tofino. WOW.

- I'm sure I am forgetting a lot of fun times I had but these ones definitly stand out in my mind....

The best memory I have of '09 is the way our community (and folks from a far) rallied behind us to help us raise money to go to Mississippi and record aour new album. It blew my mind how much support folks gave us. Can't wait to deliver the best album of material (so far) to all your ears. Thanks so much all!

Now I must prepare for a crazy weekend. New Years Day Levee at Dolans Pub 2-6 and then our full on show Friday and Saturday night. starting at 10pm. This is our last weekend of fundraising before we split next week so I hope to see y'all out at Dolan's.

We're gonna rock 2010 in hard!!!

before I go here is a promo clip for our Mississippi trip. It was graciously put together by Robb Lepper at Certified Media Group for Hip e Bikes. Check it....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXeUez10VVA

Best to you all in 2010. It's gonna be a gooder.

Ross

7\11 Don'ts

1. No toilet seat contact. Ever.
2. NOT checking yer sandwich expiry date.
3. Eat anything that comes out of a pump.
4. Eat meat in a cheese bread.
5. A la Joel Leblanc (hot toddy, Joel leblanc quartette) "I would not eat a hot dog".

Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

Top Five Things to Eat at 7/11 Whilst on Tour.

Ok, I know everything in this store is not made of anything decent nutrition wise BUT......late at night when you're strolling home from good times, there it is.......gleeming like a beacon in the night. How could you resist? you are, after all a little hungry and you KNOW you need something to soak up the hops n barley in your belly.

so here it is, my personal fav's:

1. Jalepeno and Cheese Taquito. Few things at the ole sebun elebun compare. AND there is no meat in it if you are the squeamish kind who must know if everything has been properly cooked.

2. Chicken and Cheese Taquito: A close second to the J & C Taquito. It must be noted that there are a couple kinds of Taquito's with chicken and cheese in them....I have tried them all. They are all pretty much the same and in a pinch any will do the trick!

3. The Smokey. oh yeah. Big ole hot dog. a personal favorite of Karl Bastard.

4. Mini eggs. Not just any mini eggs. CADBURY mini eggs. One of the finest chocolate treats of the 21st century without question.

5. Sausage Cheese Bread Stick. I don't know what the real name of this disgusting treat is but it is essentially a pepperoni stick INSIDE of a cheese bread stick thingy. YEAH BABY! they make a delicious marriage! HAd my first one in Calgary. They aren't found in EVERY 7/11 though. dunno why not cause they kick ass. If you are feeling crazy try heating it up in the microwave. Yup. I know. Wicked.

Well there you have it folks. I'm pretty sure you'll see the numbers 7 & 11 in another upcoming blog so stay tuned......

MB

Beercan chicken pt deux

Questions?
-ummm what is That blackened part on top!?!
-very keen observation. Congratulations. That my young grasshopper is bacon!
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

Beer can chicken

One for the chicken one for me!
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

Top Five Gigs on the Canadian Tour

Well, i put some thought into it....here it is....in no particular order.....these shows all just stand out in my head as real fun ones....

1. Blues on Whyte, Edmonton Saturday night: This show was off the hook. packed full of people who were ready to rock! One of the most memorable shows of my career.

2. Weigh West Marina, Tofino: Tofino is the most amazing place without having a gig there. Playing in Tofino makes it even MORE awesome. The fact that this was a Halloween show just blows it off the hook!

3. Mikey's Juke Joint, Calgary: This little roadhouse really knows how to treat a band. We always have a bunch of Maritimers there as well which never hurts the party atmosphere!

4. The Press Club, Toronto: I think every single person there except the bartender and owners were from Fredericton or at least NB. Not too shabby for a wednesday!

5. The Local, Toronto: I can't say it enough. I love this place. The people here are awesome. Not like being in Toronto at all!

Well there you have it. Of course there were other fun ones but for whatever reason I'm still thinking of these shows! Thanks to all who made it out to shows all over Canada. Can't wait to see you all in the Spring/Summer with our new album!

R

Yes I'm still here

Hi there,

well i've been home a week. Life hasn't slowed down any thats for sure. We've played a few shows. I took one whole day off work and then starting Monday I went right back at it. I've been busy working on my solo tour which starts at the end of February this year. I've also been busy getting things in order for our New Years shows. What's That you ask? Well, we're hosting the first ever New Year's Day Levee at Dolan's Pub. This is going to be an afternoon (starts @2pm) of jamming and drinking! We'll be inviting all of our musical friends to come take part in our extravaganza! We'll also be performing our full show Friday and Saturday night. Cover for the jam is a suggested $5 buck donation.   This will be the last  weekend of Fundraising before owe leave for Mississippi on the 7th. We hope folks come out and shake the New Year cobwebs out!

Over the past few days I've been reminiscing about our two month tour and how awesome it was. Over the next few days I'll be posting some top fives from the tour. Here's one to get you started......

TOP 5 Meals: (these go in no particular order of fav because they were all awesome)

1. Thanks  giving dinner at the Whittaker's. KILLER!

2. Ham dinner at our Edmonton Compound. Thanks Lyn!

3. Dinner at 100 Georges in North Bay. Great food here. Weird vibe or not.

4. BBQ'd Fajita's in Calgary. Thanks Michelle and Jon

5. The Shark Club. Great pub food and ( . Y . ) as big as yer head!

off to Sussex now to rock!

later.

MB