Facebook Live: Maple Leafs post-game

 If you read the description I wrote of this blog when I started it a decade or more ago there were promises of hockey writing. I may have let you down. 

Recently I have taken to the airwaves (sort of) and started a tradition of going live on Facebook after the Toronto Maple Leaf games. It wasn't and isn't something I gave much thought to. I felt the urge to do it. I knew that I had a lot of energy post-game and often find myself alone (especially in pandemic times). 

I am hoping that it is something that brings a smile to some faces (maybe even a couple little laughs). 

I do try to watch every Leaf game and have for years. As a matter of fact, on game days it is the first thing I think of when I wake up.  I even managed to watch some or all of most of the games while I was on tour in Europe with Ronley Teper a year ago for five weeks. (have you heard our new single?) Watching hockey on my tiny ipod touch wasn't the best but I was happy to keep up with the boys in blue. 

Anyways, I have chosen a great year to be blabbing about them in public as they are in first place and Auston Matthews (my fave player!) is leading the league in goal scoring. 

I don't consider myself to be a great hockey mind or anything. I can barely remember who is playing on the fourth line some nights. (Not sure why I still remember that Dale McCourt wore number 12 in the 80s) I certainly have my opinions and often joke that the Maple Leafs are probably trolling Facebook looking for people like me with good ideas for their future lines etc. 

It has been fun to connect with some folks during the post-game FB Live that I haven't seen in a while. Some new people that I don't know are tuning in too and that is fun. I love reading and reacting to people's comments. 

I have received some emails with criticism and praise and I appreciate both. 

A few people requested I play some banjo so I started doing that at the end of each show for a quick improvised banjo theme (new one each night!)

 I guess somehow this is all making sense somehow since my first record I ever made as a leader was called Hoser City and many years later I made one called Banjo Hockey. 

Drop by for some Leaf chat,  post-game on Facebook! 

new record coming soon!

I thought I would jot down a few words here as I do it so rarely now. This is an important time for me as I am heading into the studio with So Long Seven tomorrow. It is not my band...we are a collective but it is certainly the centre of my musical life.

I love playing with these guys. We just did a little tour in Quebec and it was so much fun. This new record is going to be really good. We have to special guests and some brand new tunes that have hardly been played live.

Did I mention we are recording at the legendary Grant Avenue Studio in Hamilton. (I was born in Hamilton!!)

I guess you could say this will be my ...let me see...Hoser City, Mit, An Eager Leap, Jazzstory, Tim Posgate Hornband featuring Howard Johnson, Banjo Hockey (featuring Howard Johnson), So Long Seven and now this new one from SL7 (doesn't have an official title yet) I guess this will be my 8th recording as a leader or co-leader.

It is a lot of work to make a record. I am really excited that we have our pal Anthony Michelli producing this time. I have worked a lot with him in the past but this is the first time he has produced and mixed.

I am really excited about the way my banjo is sounding today too (good timing!) as I took it to my fave guitar guy, friend and neighbour Mike Zimmerman. He gave it a quick cleanup, fret fixup etc. Thanks Mike!!

As always I couldn't do much of anything without the support of my fantastic wife; Julie. (I promise, I will come back when we are done!)

Ok, goodbye for now Toronto, hello Hamilton!!

So Long Seven live concert video

This is one of the pieces will be including at our upcoming showcase in Montreal for Mundial Montreal.

It is actually a free concert too!
Friday Nov 18, 230pm, St. John the Evangelist Church, 137 Ave. du President-Kennedy (red roof church)

These days I find I cling to moments that make me feel youthful or even ageless. Tonight was one of those nights. Biking around on a hot summer night in Toronto (even though I had my I'm-a-Dad helmet on) was just what I needed. I bolted up to the Tranzac to try and hear David Woodhead's Confabulation with the few minutes I had before my gig. It is a fun band and I know all the guys. Unfortunately I was only able to hear the last 15 seconds of music before their break. After a little chatting with David and Rich Underhill (my hockey pal forever) I made it down to Dundas and Bathurst to play banjo at a poetry reading.

Tonight was part of the week long wake for the Scream in High Park. All three former artistic directors were going to read. I have attened almost every one of these poetry festivals over the last fifteen years or so. You may or may not know that I have also performed and recorded a fair bit with poet Peter Mcphee, the second AD in the history of the festival.

We made a record together called In the Future of Your Dream and I have played on his record and even more recently he wrote the poem Banjo Hockey inside my latest CD, of the same title.

Being in that hot, sweaty, packed bar for a poetry reading brought back memories of days gone by. Everyone is happy and there for the beer and the art. I had a couple pints and chatted with a number of friends from that scene that I am always glad to see. It was great fun playing the banjo with Peter and people seemed to love it which will never cease from making me feel good.

I beat my 12 year old home from the movie he attened with his pal but tonight I felt like I was the young one, out on the town having a good 'ol time.

I am excited to share a track of Sorry Cousins online today. Hope you can check it out. Even better, maybe you can leave a comment or "like" us on Facebook.

If you haven't watched the Sorry Cousins documentary scroll down for that too:

NAKED SCORPION HUNTING by tposgate

Hey, you want to be in my movie?

I have been making a documentary about Sorry Cousins (hot new Toronto band!) and I need your input. I want you to be in the doc!

The idea of this documentary is that it keeps changing (growing?) Version 2.0 (below) has followed us and all our gigs up until now including performing with a 30 piece choir. Now I want you to record your impressions of the band and/or the film and I will put you in the movie! You don't have to be positive. I can take some criticism (I think).

I want version 3.0 to star YOU. So...record a quick soundbite of your impressions of this little movie, the music etc. and send it to me at: tim@guildwoodrecords.com

Watch for the updated version in the next few weeks.