I think I was home for 42 hours. Long enough to say hi, do some laundry and repack. I realized that I've been home a total of three weeks-ish this year. That can take its toll. Gotta be careful about keeping your brain plugged in right. Its easy to let work slip. Don't worry though....I'm on the job!
First couple shows on the solo tour were fun. Both towns\gigs have a similar laid back vibe AND good food. Nice to see old friends again too.
The Past few days Neil Young has been on my mind. He sneaks to the surface a few times a year and it seems more prevalent lately. Must be the Olympic fever draining off. Anyhow.
Few things make me happier than watching\listening to Neil Young.
One of those things though, is watching Neil Young with my uncle Pat. We watched the PBS documentary tonight. Of course I can't remember what it's called but I CAN tell you it was awesome. If you like Neil, you should check it out. If you don't like Neil you'll freaking hate it....but...you should watch it anyway 'cause it will give you a whole bunch more reasons to go on about how you can't stand Neil young.
MB
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Friday, March 5, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
olympics: NFLD Dayze ....educational photo booth
My Favorite story of the whole two weeks......It's Friday past...we've already had a fantastic day what with seeing the art gallery, and getting a guided tour by a local....we hop the water bus to Granville Island to check on our cheques. It's Newfoundland Day at the Pavillion. Awesome. While in the upper room where they do the food tastings we are waiting to see about final payment. I notice acouple gals in some 'weird' uniform. They look like 'bobbies'. Hard not to talk to a gal in uniform wha?
Also in the room is one of those "stand in front of the fake icebergs and get yer photo taken" thingys. well Mike "white tiger" Dixon and I are all over that shit. I think....may as well ask these gals to get in the photo too! Here is a recount of our convo as I recollect it.....
Ross - "So, what are you gals all dolled up for today?"
Gal - "We're part of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulatory."
Ross - "The Wha?"
Mike Dixon - "The NFLD provincial police...Rossy"
Ross - long pause......."you ladies are officers of the law?"
Gal - "yes. This is our dress uniform. We are police officers".
Ross - "Where's yer weapons?"
Gal - "We don't wear them in our dress uniforms."
Ross - reality sinking in...."SO, you girls are police officers in NFLD, and these are your dress uniforms?"
Gal - "Thats Right."
Ross - "ok then. well. I didn't realize that NFLD had their own provincial police force. It's all RCMP'd up in NB. I'm glad I didn't say anything stupid then. I bet you gals haven't been hit on once today eh?"
Gals - much laughter and shaking of the head coupled with rolling of the eyes.
Mike Dixon - "You idiot."
Ross - leaving, feeling right smrt. "Well I didn't know what they were. They look like bobbies."
Yup.....so just to be clear...NFLD still has a provincial police force. Not just RCMP like in NB.
Never know what you'll learn when you go to the 'Lympics.
NB here I come......
Wonderous invention!
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Saturday, February 27, 2010
olympics: Days blur together: Fear & Loathing in Vancouver
So Thursday night I got to reconnect with my old Friend Gord Robert who I know from back in the Kelowna days. We went to the Yale and saw Wide Mouth Mason. WWM is probably the band I have seen the most in my life or very close anyway....the show was alright. I was a bit underwhelmed. They played well for the most part but it was just short of spectacular. I had to consider that this is a band that now plays less than 50 shows a year and when I saw them they played 200 plus shows a year. Either way it was good to catch up with old friends.
Friday we hit the Art Gallery where there was a Divinci Exhibit. We met Gord outside and hopped in line steeling ourselves for the hour plus wait in the rain sans umbrelly. As soon as we got in line a man asked us how many in our party and then gave us VIP tix to the front of the line!!! SCORE! The art was incredible. It blew my mind. I can't grasp that he was doing this shit 400 years before it was released to public and that most of his inventions and theories were 200 years ahead of their time. All in all a great time a the gallery. Really really cool. Couldn't get any divinci pics but here are some others....
this weird dinosaur thing is made from lawn chairs.
This made me miss the Bastards.
We then got a short guided tour of downtown from Gord before heading across the bay to pick up cheques and find banks. Here is a short Video of the Zipline in robson square. The folks lined up for this string at 5.30AM !
After banking we ventured to commercial drive to hook up with my very dear old friend and his fiance Mike and Lucy. We went out to watch the hockey game and make some friends in the local bars. On our way we were strolling and thought nothing much of the water stream that was pouring onto the sidewalk. As Mike Dixon looked up thought (just in time) we realized the stream was steaming, yellow and smelled like pee. There was a dude standing on his roof peeing onto the sidewalk very casually. He was at least nice enough to pinch it off as we got closer and walked around. After the game we hit Falconetties. A neat little bar with a weird live band. Lots of folks in there and most of them were having a great time. Some were having to good of a time and were (ahem) asked not to stand on the seats and tables. oops.
Catching the late night train is always funny as there are lots of characters and people passed out everywhere.
Here is a rare hot of the PEI White Tiger. Stand back folks. This thing is WILD!
Today is my last day on Granville island and I can't wait to get home tomorrow. It's been great here but I miss home. It has been a long two weeks but a good one. The weather has been nice and I've had a great time in Vancouver. I got to play to thousands of people over the last two weeks and I must thank Darcy Campbell bringing me out here. It has been a real blast!
Well I'm off to nap before my last set in Vancouver for this trip.....
MB
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Olympics: Day ....i'm not sure anymore
Hey all
Yesterday was awesome! Got ot go sit on the blue line at the USA/Swiss Game. USA won but it was still real exciting to watch. All the late nights have pretty much taken the party out of my sails though and even though I wanted to get down to the ACH to see Chris Kirby, once I was in my amazing hotel room it was hard to get out.
Tonight me and a few of the other folks are gonna try and go see Wide Mouth Mason who are performing at the Yale. I'm a big fan so I'm looking forward to it all. I think we even have VIP tix but we'll see when we get there!
The weather has switched back to lovely here and I'm starting to get bummed that I have to leave Vancouver VERY soon. Mind you I am SUPER STOKED to get home to family friends and loved ones!!!!! Won't be much of a visit though as I am home for 48 hours before I have to hop in Rub and set out on my solo tour of Ontario. No rest for the wicked.
In other news the album "Redemption" is slowly coming together. The liner notes will be finished this weekend and Mastering and Artwork will be complete the following weekend. We are getting so excited to release it and take it across Canada in the Spring. It's also looking like there will be a 'special release' event in Fredericton on April 24th. This will be before the official release date but Fredericton deserves it what with all the support the area has shown us. We wanted to get it to you guys first! Stay tuned for more detail on that.
I'm off to adventure through the airport to try and find good eats before I head out tonight. Wish me luck, airport food ain't so grand....
Stay Tuned,
MB
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
olympics: Day 11 or 12???
Wow. I barely know what day it is anymore. Usually I know because I play on the weekends typically so it's easy to know when sunday/monday hit. This playing through the week is really screwing me up....
Last night was so awesome. Matt Andersen decided to perform an electric set to compete with the party crowd at the backstage lounge at the Atlantic House so he recruited Mike Carrol, Brian Bourne and myself to help him rock it up. What a great time. So much fun. Afterwards we grabbed the acoustics and hung out in the theatre dressing rooms and jammed with Jessica Rhaye and had some late night bevies. I do believe a full bottle of jagr was consumed in minutes. Amazing people to hang with and play with. I don't get to do that too much anymore with a lot of my musical friends as travel interferes with that so its nice to be in a place like this with folks popping in for a few days here and there.
Needless to say 11am set came early today. When our driver (the awesome Dave from pei) picked us up we also had to stop to get the lovely Catherine Maclellan but her flight was late so we had to wait. This allowed me to miss my first set of the day outside so I had a little head down time in the rehearsal hall before my afternoon set inside. The evening set was a special function upstairs. A hobnob thrown by NB for NB day at the pavilion. Lots of Moosehead, Covered Bridge chips and even Ganongs candy. While these sets are typically "corporate" feeling (no one listening) it wasn't so bad. I sold a good amount of CDs and ran into a bunch of Frederictonians.
I am fairly burnt out now though so I opted to not hang out at the lounge tonight. I'm back at the ole Fairmont in my robe. About to crawl onto the ole king size bed here and stare at the tube. Might do the same all day tomorrow too. Could be room service involved. A true day of rest. Stay tuned......
Monday, February 22, 2010
Olympics: Day 9, 10
I have been relocated. Exiled to the airport. I will live in the airport for the next week. Fortunately I will live in the FAIRMONT hotel in the airport! check the video!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Zebra ranch
A month past our sessions I still think about the zebra ranch and what we did there, every single day.
Our connection with the people we met there is beyond deep. It is eternal. Music aside we will forever be connected. Something happened there beyond making a record. I can't speak for the bastards but it definitely changed me. I learned things musical and cosmic. I have come to the realization recently that I will be going back there many times over the course of my life, for reasons musical and other.
Here is a link to a great interview with the first lady of the ranch. Mary Lindsay Dickinson. A couple generous nods to the suffering bastards in there too.
http://www.swampland.com/posts/view/title:a_report_from_the_zebra_ranch_studios_an_interview_with_mary_lindsay_dickinson
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Saturday, February 20, 2010
Olympics: Day 8
day off today. a real beauty too! Strolled downtown to the ole sacred heart tattoo parlour as you may know if you saw the pic from my previous post....
I saw these trees with blossoms.....amazing. Spring in February.
I've been thinking about a small piece that would represent my roots as an east coaster for sometime and then jus tbefore I left home for Vancouver it hit me. Simple and to the point....
Sacred heart
506 y'all
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Olympics: Day 7
Hi foks,
great day playing in the sun today. Lots of families out and about which is hilarious for me as the little kids really seem to like my tunes and aren't afraid to boogie!!! I sold some Cds and made a little "guitar case" cash to boot! Not too Shabby!
So as promised, a little history of the awesome hotel I am in. The Sylvia Hotel. Located at Beach Ave and Gilford. Right across the road from English Bay. Very scenic. As I mentioned before I can see the ocean from my bed! Awesome. What I didn't mention was.....
The Sylvia was built in 1912 by a Seattle fellow. Named after his daughter it was an apartment building first but eventually turned into a hotel. In 1954 Vancouvers very first cocktail bar was opened in the Sylvia. It was the tallest building in Vancouver until 1958 and it's slogan was 'dine in the sky'.
The Gilford st. side of the hotel is COVERED in Virginia Creeper where I have witnessed a half dozen raccons creeping around up high on the third and fourth floors!
The hotel is quaint and has really nice staff who make sure you get what you need. Being here for two weeks, I of course wanted a fridge and kettle etc so I could have a few groceries and what not. Sure enought the front desk provided. A fridge was soon delivered to the room and I soon was making the best coffee in Vancouver with my aero press and kettle!
It was rumoured to me recently that Errol Flynn had actually died here. With a little research I'm not so sure that is true although there does seem to be a link to the then Manager Art Cameron who was at the party where Flynn may have actually passed....Truth? Fiction? Who knows...
Thursday, February 18, 2010
olympics: Day 6
Hi all. MAN! Another amazingly sunny day here in Vancouver. My good friend Keith Mullins and I ventured over to the Vancouver Aquarium today . It was so nice we decided to walk as it's only a couple clicks from my hotel. Incredible walk! Check the views!
big ass bridge to the west side(?)
a bunch of VERY cool Totem poles!
Say, is that an octopus on your head?
cayman! snap!
The sign for this little guy said the "chicken" of the frog world
RIBBIT!
Keith & Ross in their "happy" Picture
Here are some Video's
Ok so that was our aquarium trip. We topped it all off with a little Sushi feed! Delish!
Back to work tomorrow.
MB
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