News
November 18th
I just returned to the studio to start demoing songs for a new album with my long-time friend and music partner, Greg Langille - Not surprisingly I felt compelled to start off with a jig - I guess that the sounds of Ireland are still ringing in our ears. Given the current economic situation on the East coast and our attachment to it through friends and family ( Tonya and I own property on the Nashwaak River in New Brunswick and Greg comes from a Nova Scotia coal mining family)- I wanted to write something for those of you longing to go back home and those who wish they didn't have to consider leaving - It's a bit of a fight song called "Never Go Out West" - thanks to Nicola, Joe, Ryan and Karolyn for lending a hand - Click here or on the image below to download it for free and sing along - Here are the lyrics - if you like it let us know ... Thanks
Never Go Out West
Friend/Langille
They closed the plant for good today
the Government took my stamps away
how will I eat without no pay
I'll never go out westBeen down this road a time or 2
I sent my cheque back home to you
This time don't know what we'll do
I'll never go out westThe children they'll need this or that
A toy, some food - clothes on their back
I can't even afford to keep the cat
but I'll never go out westShould I leave my family for a spell,
Spend my days drilling oil wells
Stephen Harper can go straight to hell
I'll never go out westThey had this plan all along
How'd they get it so damn wrong
they rob the weak to please the strong
I'll never go out westI know the prairie skies are nice
But down home is where I've lived my life
They made their choice - let em pay the price
I'll never go out westThey closed the plant for good today
the Government took my stamps away
how will I eat without no pay
I'll never go out west
November 17th
Pete's benefit went really well - His sister did a great job of organizing the 9 band event - lots of people came out to help out - It was an awesome night of cheap drinks and rock and roll - She managed to raise $15, 000 for Pete so wow
November 11th
Greg and I have begun to work out a new song and lay down demo tracks - should be cool and seems to be the start of the new album
November 6th
I agreed to play a benefit "peteapoloooza" to help a friend of ours get back on his feet - He had a brutal accident at work and subsequently can't work but of course the bills keep coming in no matter what - Anyway, I'm going to do the benefit show on November 16th at the Montgomery Legion - should be a blast!
November 1st
Had a great weekend playing with the Bible All-stars - Thanks to everybody that came out last night and on Thursday. Always a blast to see and play with John - they put on a great show and are headed off to play in Germany... Halloween is always fun but I love it when I get to hang out with Miss Maureen and Good2Go - awesome show and a great crowd - I think my pope outfit was a good choice - I'll see if I can dig up some pictures - thanks for coming out.
August 15th, 2012
Just got back from wine country (Prince Edward County) - brought 14 bottles of wine and a bottle of Heritage Gin home with me - not including the copious amounts wine that was merely 'sampled' while we were there. I was at Shattered Studios to see Vanessa Pandos - Love her art work (glass sculptor) Every time I see her it inspires me to get back to work on my own sculptures - Here's a picture of one of them. Just found out that the Bible All-Stars are playing at the Rainbow with our good friends the Reverb Syndicate on September 8th - which is the 5th anniversary of the BAS - BAS CD release.
August 5th, 2012
Happy to be back performing - took July off to write (back in the studio soon) - Glitch 2012 was a blast - hot punk rock girls in bikinis is always a good thing for me! I was really happy to have the Ottawa Valley burlesque girls back on stage with me - Nothing goes better with Bible All-Stars than tassels and lingerie. Thanks for coming out - sorry about the technical problems that shortened our show - outdoor show always a challenge - John Wenzel shot some amazing footage - here's some to check out - and check out the iPhone concert videos from that night.
June 18th, 2012
Thanks to everyone who came to see us last night - We had an awesome time and we hope that you enjoyed our music. We videoed some of the performance so, you can hear the live sound of the Clock Tower - so I'll spend some time sorting through the footage, so that it can be put online. I'm notoriously bad at getting these things done, so it may be a while before I upload anything. Anyway - I'll try to upload some footage soon.
Special thanks to Good 2 GO for having us out again - always a blast guys! And I'd like to say thanks to my Mom and Dad for celebrating another anniversary (46th) at one of my concerts! Again, thanks so much for your support.
May 13th, 2012
Thanks to everyone who made it out to the Elmdale Tavern last night. You guys were a lot of fun. We hope you all had a wicked time. It was a good first show for No Kinds of Love and the whole night felt like one big party of old drunken friends. It was awesome to be playing with the Bible All-Stars after months of solo shows - This will be the start of more BAS gigs this summer, so thanks for making the first one back in town so memorable.
May 4th, 2012
I'm back we had a great trip to Ireland - I've been doing a bunch of interviews about the tour since I got back - The interviews are available on CKCU interactive if you missed them - here are the links: http://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/366/7768.html an interview with Marth Walsh on Mars Connection and an interview with Dick Altavista on Both Kinds of music - http://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/87/7706.html - I'll be doing an interview with Dave Yazbeck on Thursday stay tuned 93.1 at 9:00am - I charted while I was away - here it is - I'm going to try to post a bunch of tour photos so, check out my tour blog next week and I'll be doing a show on May 12 at the Irene's as a Bible All-Star - hope to see you all there ...
April 28th, 2012
We were lucky enough to have some photos taken in Dublin by awesome Irish photographer Griff - here's some photos
March 30th, 2012
I've arrived on the emerald isle! Check out my tour blog to follow me and the guys as we get folked up in Ireland.
March 18th, 2012
I'll be travelling around Ireland for a few weeks in April. If you happen to be anywhere nearby and want to get together for a pint or 5. I'll be checking my email from the road and I'd love to hear from you! It's actually a cool timing thing as I know a bunch of friends will be in various places around Europe at the same time. If I don't see you on March 24th at Irene's I hope to see you in May at the Elmdale!
March 9th, 2012
With all the crap going on, I decided it was time to put pen to paper and poke the bear a little bit - I put down a little ditty called "They Can't Be Trusted At All" - about our current Canadian struggle with democratic values - It's yours for free - I dedicate it to all the "Dishonourable" Members of Parliament (you know who you are!)
Here are the lyrics:
We didn't care about their breach of trust
or Tony's spending spree as we all went bust
but sometimes - man, enough's enough
They can't be trusted at allSo I gotta candidate on Election Day
And I thought my vote would give me a say
But in Harperland it don't work that way
They can't be trusted at allThey say, "you didn't vote so you can't complain"
Then you find out there's a robo-call to blame
If this is democracy, it's gone insane
They can't be trusted at allEvery single day they confirm my fears
And I just can't imagine 3 more years
If we don't speak up it'll end in tears
They can't be trusted at all
They can't be trusted at all
They can't be trusted at all
They can't be trusted at all
I've got lot's a shows going on in and out of town so, keep your eyes and ears open - If you're in Ottawa, please come down to Irene's on March 24th listen to some tunes and have a few drinks. If you're a Bible All-Stars fan, I'll be getting together with the boys to do a few gigs in Ottawa in the spring.
March 1st, 2012
As many of you know - I will be on tour in the UK in April so, I'd like to invite you to come out to the kick-off party on Saturday, March 24th at Irene's - The show will help pay for Max's keep (well... beer) in the UK - Legendary one man band Marc Charron will be on hand to get the evening going and after that who knows - I'm sure it'll be a crazy unpredictable night of special guests, drinking and debauchery - doors open at 8 - I expect to hit the stage with Greg and Max around 10:30ish. Hope to see y'all there with everybody you know and some of their friends and/or pets. Here's the poster
January 25th, 2012
I won't be able to play the Toronto show on Friday after all. Would have been a blast but sometimes things go like that.
January 12th, 2012
I'm heading to Toronto on Friday, January 27th to play a show with my good friends Littlefoot Longfoot and Charming Ruins at the Cadillac lounge. If you happen to be in Toronto and want to catch a great show... pop on down or hey, why not drive to T.O. and have a drink with us? I'll buy a beer for the person who spends the most money getting to the gig (with written proof ). Check out the poster here.
January 4th, 2012
As you may know, my good friend, Lefty McRighty filled in for MJ Houle at my CD release party at the last minute - This Saturday the 7th, I'm returning the favour and opening for his band, 90 Pounds of Ugly and Ol' Savannah, at the Rainbow Bistro - Hope you can make it out.
December 12th, 2011
Just got a very cool review of "Angel Goin' Down" - Music blogger, Jim Testa reviewed the CD and said that "it’s tuneful, clever, and leaves us with a smile."
Download the full text here. (pdf)
December 6th, 2011 - Morgans's XXXmas Party
Come on out to Overkill (56 Byward Market, Ottawa) on Sunday, December 11th @ 8 - I'm having an XXXmas party for fans and friends - Max, Greg and I will be putting on our last concert of 2011 for free to thank you for your support for the new album, "Angel Goin' Down". Our good friends At Jagermeister and www.wickedwandas.ca are even providing some prizes for some of the lucky guests!
November 04, 2011 - Kandahar
My song Kandahar has been donated to the Royal Canadian Legion for its Remembrance Jukebox Initiative. The song will be accessible through the Remembrance Jukebox on the Royal Canadian Legion's website during the Remembrance Period. The Jukebox makes over fifty songs of Remembrance available for download, replay or use at Legion Branches across Canada through the Legion's website: www.legion.ca.
The song "Kandahar" differs from most other songs of remembrance as it takes a very upbeat approach, musically resembling a Maritime pub tune while remaining respectful of the subject matter. I wrote the song for my friends (Seamus, Sebastian, and Yves) who are serving members of the Canadian Forces. One night I was thinking about the possibility of them having to serve in Afghanistan where soldiers were dying in poppy fields. That was really an eye opener for me and made me think of John McCrae's poem, "In Flanders Fields" , so I used the poem as a starting point to make the connection between soldiers of today and those of the past. I didn't think much about the impact of the song until recently when I was playing a gig in Petawawa and decided to play it - I was shocked at how many servicemen and women approached me after the show to talk about the song and their experiences.
October 29, 2011 - Thanks to everyone who came out on Friday night
The CD release Party was a great success. I'd also like to thank Lefty McRighty and Ray Harris for filling in for Marie-Josee at the last minute - You guys are awesome. Not that it needs to be said but really is any party complete without the Sin Sisters, I don't think so ... Thanks Girls!!! Hope to see you all soon.
October 28th, 2011 - The Elmdale Tavern hosts the official CD Release Party
I expect that some of the crazy punk rock antics of my past will somehow creep into this performance. Hopefully, I'll see you all there - It's the Friday before Halloween - I haven't confirmed my special guests yet but I'll keep you in the loop - stay tuned for more news!
Update: Confirmed. The lovely and talented Sin-Sisters and Marie Josee Houle will be joining me.
I decided to take a completely different approach to this recording project in order to showcase raw music - the kind usually reserved for unsuspecting family, band-mates and close friends during the writing process or at rehearsals. The project was recorded to tape with everybody crammed into a small room using a minimal number of microphones to create an authentic live experience. The recording is an attempt to capture the musical moments, warts and all, that exist between musicians as part of a broader artistic dialogue - with flaws, laughter and a comfortable looseness.
October 5th, 2011 - Songwriter Circle with Ray Harris and Lefty McRighty
I will be playing my dulcimer and singing a few songs at the Elmdale's first Wednesday of the Month thing - Come and down and have a couple of drinks with me and sing along or throw stuff at me - whatever.
September 26, 2011- First Solo Show at the O-Town Hoedown
I will be playing the new songs in front of an audience for the first time at the Manx Pub (370 Elgin St.) on Monday, September 26th - I haven't decided on a line-up for the performance but I will likely have percussion (Dave Cooper), upright bass (Joel Carlson) and some surprises along the way. Hope to see you there!
July 1, 2011 - Solo Recording Project Moves into Post Production
The CD is now fully recorded! The new CD is a collection my off-the-cuff,
unrehearsed, acoustic songs recorded with a variety of friends over the spring
of 2011 at Little Bullhorn Studios - I'd like to thank everybody involved -
Jarrett Bartlett, Joel Carlson, Maxim Cossette, Rob Porter, John Cockburn, Danny
Deville, Dave Cooper, Dave Kerr, Ray Harris, Luc Gervais, Greg Langille, Steve
Donnelly, Mica Matsubura, Joe Flynn, Janice Fitzsimmons, Kelly Pettit, Chase
Marlene, Nicola Morry and my lovely wife Tonya.