A couple shows to report on. I played out in Etobicoke at the Brickyard BBQ - an awesome big fun place filled with nice folks. Despite the giant my-name-in-lights sign outside, it was a wintery day and not many people came - but the lovely Karen Lynne Sinden came out with her posse and a guy named "Shakey" danced right in front of me by himself for about half an hour. Due to Shakey's awesome dance moves, I'm booked back in there for Jan. 18th and... wait for it... May 30th! One of the waitresses liked me a lot and booked me for her grandmother's birthday party this Summer.
Next stop, the NOW lounge - my last show there, since they're closing it Dec. 31st. Matt Humphreys had invited me to join him for a Christmas party - we'd postered, we'd facedbooked, and we promoted our hearts out, even getting lots of presents for everyone who came (the grand prize was cool drum sticks that you can plug into your ipod and drum along... and a pretty sweet M&M dispenser). Still, despite our best laid plans, we only got a small crowd - which wouldn't normally be a problem, but 2 days before the show I found out that Matt had put down a $260 deposit based on making back $750 at the bar - kinda scary - so even after our nice crowd downed a number of drinks we were still out a fair ways. So we both paid about $85 to play a show... yeeeeeha...
Next day, I headed to York U, my alma matter to play a Winters College anniversary show... unfortunately I got stuck playing in the lobby with a nice guy... who graduates in 2010. Had a generally good time but felt slightly ancient.
Okay - on to the good shows. I picked up the lovely and talented Ms. Evalyn Parry (
www.evalynparry.com) and we cruised up to Ottawa where we were sharing a houseconcert. We got in just in time to hit the Canadian Folk Music awards with performances by the Duhks, Tamara Nile, and many other amazing folks. I got to sit next to my old friend, Alan Neal, CBC radio personality extraordinaire, who was presenting 'best kids album' - and cheered for some favourites - The Gruff, Anne Lindsay (congrats, Anne!), Oh Susanna, etc. Unfortunately, we hadn't eaten and Evalyn and I got plenty tipsy and almost starved to death waiting for the sumptuous sandwich platters afterwards.
Next day, I'm at Chapters for an afternoon show - the Rideau Center has one of my favourite Chapters - they position me at the top of the escalators and I get plenty of shocked "wait... wasn't I just in a bookstore" faces as people arrive on the 2nd floor. Outside as I'm coming in, I meet a homeles guy named "Crazy Dave" who sells poetry - I buy one of his tunes for $5 and turn it into a song later - "In The Rear View" - soon to be a huge co-writing hit for both of us hopefully. I play for a while for some old friends and new, make up a bunch of songs including an "I hate working retail at Christmas" tune which the Chapters employees all seem to relate to...
That night, Evalyn and I play our house concert at my Moms - best venue ever - you get to play in socks and go to sleep at the venue. The show goes great (despite a sad, sad attempt to make up a song about my moms' house plants... although a new tune called "My Mothers' Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding" seemed to be a hit) - anyway, the audience was lovely and Evalyn was amazing as usual. Next day, we dig the car out of a snowstorm and slip n slide our way back to Toronto.
