So Long Seven video from Hugh's Room

Some of you know that I have been playing with a group called So Long Seven. At the end of March we had our Toronto CD release concert at Hugh's Room.

Here is a video (shot by Ed Hanley) of a tune from the show. This is one that is not on the album. It is written by Neil Hendry and called Banjo Tequila. (nothing I would be interested in. Ha!)

So Long Seven features Ravi Naimpally on tabla, Neil Hendry on guitar, William Lamoureux on violin and me on the 5-string banjo.



Among other upcoming shows we are performing at this summer's Hillside Festival in Guelph, Ontario.

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 quite enjoy making music videos. I have considered making some new ones for Banjo Hockey since I have a little time on my hands here in Mexico.

Yesterday, we had a power outage for the better part of the day here so it forced us to think outside the box a little. This week I bought banjoist Danny Barnes' new record Pizza Box on itunes and it has become a bit of a favourite around here. I decided we should make a silly video for the opening track; Caveman which features Dave Mathews on bg vocals.

I always thought it would be neat if someone made a video for one of my songs. To tell you truth; when you play fringe music like Danny or myself, any kind of attention given to your music is special and appreciated. You don't get the web-traffic or sales etc. that bigger artists like Pat Metheny or Bela Fleck would have. The great thing about their success is that they really are great artists and I am glad to see them in the limelight as often as possible. (as a matter of fact, I would barely exist if it weren't for both those guys!)

We had a blast making this silly little video. Julie and the kids have a similar wacky sense of humour and were game all the way for it. As a matter of fact it was them that came up with some of the better ideas for the video.

Here you, hope you laugh out loud. (or at least enjoy the song...the whole record is really good!)



Oh yah...the backstory on the spinner thing at the end of the video: Apparently Julie saw the creator of this crazy exercise gadget Twister Motion on the CBC hit entrepreneur show Dragons Den. When she saw it for five dollars at the local grocery store chain she just couldn't resist.

I was going to sit down and watch a few episodes of The Office as I have been doing over the last few nights but then I thought of you dear blog reader.

I have not been much of a blog-friend; this I realize. Why, you ask? I suppose it is partly because we have not had much internet convenience and when I got on it I was often doing some Facebook time and then catching up with a few business emails etc. (yes, that is a subtle request of my few friends not on Facebook to join)

Anyhow, it is all chugging along just fine. Recent realizations include having convinced myself (for real) that it is summer as well as waking up with a fairly empty mind. By this I mean that I have little to do, little to worry about and no deadlines to meet. Yes, that is pretty great. (now the dark complaining part....) But, I do realize that I miss some of the deadlines and things on my mind. For example, I used to wake up back in Toronto thinking about nothing but how soon I could get on the banjo. These days those types of thoughts are a bit clouded by my love for playing the fiddle. However, all you banjo fans out there will be happy to know that I am traveling with my Gold Tone (hand carved!) and play it a fair bit.

As I have mentioned on other social networking devices; the thing we really like about our spot here in Telchac Puerto is that we have all the conveniences of home. By this I really mean; Wifi and a nice couch and TV. (I have watched an NHL game every second day since we arrived!!)

It was pretty neat to drive for less than ten minutes to a very interesting Myan ruin today. (yes, there are pictures on my Facebook page) I am less than thrilled that our next destination is only about five doors down the beach from here but that is out of my control and really I have not much to complain about.

So...NOW I will go and watch Dwight, and Jim and Pam and .....I never worked in an office myself so I will just assume that this is a reasonable representation. (love the themesong!!)

On this journey to Mexico I have read more books in the first two months that I have read in the last two years.

It has been a nice coincidence that some of the books and my activities here in Mexico have been somewhat connected. Especially memorable was the transition from Tom Robbins' Still Life of the Woodpecker to my friend Larry Gaudet's Safe Haven.(Random House Canada) Robbin's Pyramid, to Larry's travels to the Greek Parthenon to the Myan ruins that we are exploring right here in our own back yard.

I really only knew Larry as a hockey Dad. However he is not just any hockey Dad as he has two kids that play and Larry is always the first to add fun, optimistic banter before and after in the kids dressing room.

Safe Haven is Larry's personal journey towards Sanctuary that mostly included his experiences in Foggy Cove Nova Scotia where he had a house built on the ocean for his family to live in over the last few years. (including one full year retreat to the house)

I could relate to so much of his personal journey with his family as I too am searching for sanctuary here in Mexico. It was both the outer more obvious family stories and the inner search for something that I relate to.

His day to day challenges with being an artist and an indivdual while bonding with his wife and kids really hits home. At times he knows he should be listening or at least more connected but his mind is elsewhere. The playful moments he describes with his kids are quite beautiful and would make anyone with or without kids a little jealous.

Also, Larry is not afraid to mention the negative parts of their seemingly idyllic life in Nova Scotia such as the occasional tension between him and his wife Alison. I laughed aloud a few times when these moments arose as he really describes them well. There is a feeling of comfort knowing that everyone goes through that.

The parts of the book I enjoyed the most took part in what feels like the present in Toronto or Nova Scotia. It is an interesting idea the way he tied in his honeymoon trip to Greece to talk about ancient sanctuary but I often wished they would be back in Foggy Cove.

Anyone who travels, has family, is considering moving out of the city to their dream-environment or wonders about sanctuary in their own life will enjoy this book.

My own search for Sanctuary continues here in Mexico however I am realizing more and more that any transformation profound effect this trip may have will be somewhere down the road after our return to the hectic Toronto that we so love and miss.