Richard Manuel
I’m performing in Stratford soon, the town where Richard Manuel first learned how to turn feeling into music. It’s strange and moving to bring my songs into the place that […]
Performing
the hurt
To her, these were songs about the world being wrong. About gatekeepers misunderstanding originality. About experts mistaking sensitivity for weakness. She took pride in her resilience, in the fact that […]
what a long strange trip it’s been
The high school performance was like that Dead song – what a long strange trip it’s been. I sat there listening to them grind through songs from the ancient record, […]
best email ever
My favourite moment organizing 30 dates Mike and I are doing in Western Canada next winter, came from Lorna Evans. I have had terrific exchanges with her but the first […]
grammys
I watched the footage of the Grammys. The Brian Wilson, Joe Cocker and Warren Zevon tributes did me in.
someone new
There was a new couple who played the open stage. She is from Toronto originally and has a nice voice. The melodies were angular and unexpected as was his guitar […]
spam
UNEXPECTED TEXT: Good day! I am Reid I wish to ‘cover a new ‘role that has come lately opened up. I’m around-can we talk when you are? ME: Reid. You […]
the singer songwriter
A few weeks ago I told a friend I would help her with the sound at her show. I didn’t want to, truth be told. I am not a sound […]
Sammy Davis Jr’s Vancouver pad
I thought I knew it all, the Railway, the Commodore, the Naam, the Cultch, that place on Granville, the two older places in Gastown. Looks as though the show in […]
take your clothes off when you dance
About thirty-five years ago I played the Moers Music Festival in Germany. The band was one of Eugene Chadbourne’s wild inventions. Ashwin Batish, Jonathan Segal, Brian Ritchie, and, most importantly, […]