So the first week of solo tour 2010 is done. Good times as per usual. Played the Local on Ronces in Toronto Friday night. I love this joint. It’s so laid back and usually full of nice peeps. Got to catchup with some friends and had a fun time performing. I was super stoked to have my friend Ian Sherwood come out and play sax on a couple tunes too! Ian is a killer songwriter and it’s always a treat to get a chance to play with him. We haven’t crossed paths for some time so it was fortuitous (did I just use that word in a sentence?) that he happened to be up here recording his new record.
Yesterday I shared an afternoon with Aaron Griggs at the Moonshine Cafe. Aaron is a great finger style blues-y guitar guy. Good times all around. A small but appreciative crowd. It’s always nice to catch up with my old friend John who owns the joint.
With the evening off I don’t think I have to tell you what I would get into…..but i will……
I was lucky enough to have a night off and even more lucky that my old friend Sean Donaldson is house sitting in Oakville. So after my gig I went over and we had steak dinner with proscuitto wrapped asparagus, baked potato and greek salad. Serious dinner! Of course we got into the beer and wine and flammables too. I usually only see Sean at shows so it was great to hav a night to catch up. Sean also has one of the most ridiculous music collections of anyone I know so we spent the night going through the ipod checking out great tunes. Highlights for me were DJ q-bert (just sick) and Donny Hathaway’s live album. If you haven’t heard Donny you gotta check it out. AMAZING old school soul. He pumped a couple albums out then died sadly. A real talent. I can’t believe I’ve never heard him before. And of course who couldn’t count the Reverend Horton Heat as a highlight. Brian Setzer – you wish!
Here is a pic of our party animal, Chico the dog. He’s a wee little thing. Acts and looks pretty tough but really he just wants to party too!
We topped our morning off with a nasty Smitty’s breakfast to counteract all that good food we ate last night. I also had my first Toronto Star sighting. Ole Pinball Clements, owner of the Toronto Argonauts and former football sensation. He didn’t seem to recognize me though.
Well it’s chill time now. A beautiful sunny day might get me out for a walk thought. OH! I also want to say good luck to all my friends at the ECMA’s tonight. I wish you could ALL win. What a talent pool we have there in the east eh?
Tomorrow I’m gonna go register for Canadian Music Week and try and track down my hero Slash!!! Then I’m gonna spend the night at the Glenn Gould watching my good pal Matt Andersen rip it up. Have a happy monday all.
talk soon
R