Alan's From the Road
2009
Tour Diary - January 5, 2010 - Toronto (Pearson Airport)
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
I just had a man’s hands in my pants.
In full public view. I don’t recall that ever happening to me in the past. Sure, there have been many hazy after parties, where things for a little out of hand, but I think I’d remember having some dude fish through my drawers while in full florescent light for all the world to see. Heightened security is in full swing at the US Flight gates these days. Getting my private parts pawed by a security gent who must be hating his job just a little bit more today, is the price he and I share for yet another dudes political and/or religious agenda.
Could be worse I suppose. If a gentle probing public feel is the worst thing that happens to me in 2010, I’m in good shape. Not to mention the fact that his bashful, ‘sorry about this, sir’ whisper as he went 360 round the gear was actually kind of tender and heartfelt.
As I start this entry, I am sitting at Gate 168 in Toronto Airport awaiting a flight to New Orleans via Chicago. As noted a while back, GBS is in the midst of the recording tracks that should make up the bulk of a new CD that we hope to have out there for all to enjoy in early Summer 2010. I had a grand break home with the family and honestly can’t wait to get back at the new tunes to get them up to their full potential.
But enough about me. Dear Reader, if you don’t mind a shameless plug in this forum, I’d like to give you the heads up about a TV show that debuts tomorrow, Wednesday night on CBC TV at 9pm EST.
The Republic of Doyle, was created by Allan Hawco and Perry Chafe. Some of you may recognize Allan as the pouty actor in the GBS “Clearest Indication” video. But that’s hardly at the top of his CV. He is also the Director of the Company Theatre Troupe in Toronto, and has starred in a variety of Films and TV shows and series. For those of you who read all the liner notes (I do) is the bro of Greg Hawco who played percussion on the first GBS CD. Allan graduated from National Theatre school, Greg has a Masters in Percussion from McGill. Talented buggers those Hawcos.
Perry Chafe is might be funniest person I’ve ever met. And I met him a long time ago. Before Kindergarten, if memory serves correctly, as we both grew up in Petty Harbour and went through every year of school and University together. I stood pretty close to him when he got married, and he stood pretty close to me when I did the same.
So full disclosure, before the plug. The boys are my friends.
That said, I can tell you with all honesty that I have seen one advance episode of this show and it is very funny, engaging, and shows St. John’s in a light that has never been seen on film before now. Our quaint little fishing city backdrops this Father and Son Private Detective Comedy/Drama as a town in transition. Big oil and prosperity has come to town and brought with it new world problems to an old world mentality.
The characters are as real as I know from St. John’s and it will give you a dandy view of the underbelly of the town I love so well. I am not a TV Promo guy, so I’ll leave the cool descriptions to the pros.
Check out the Website here: http://www.republicofdoyle.com/
Check out the Trailer here: http://www.cbc.ca/nl/blogs/seen/2009/11/trailers.html
By the way, to keep this somewhat self-serving, you might notice a familiar tune for the opening and closing credits of the show. Thanks to the gents for including us in the project.
In any case, congrats to the lads. This is a massive achievement and I’m proud of them hope sixty million people watch the show for the next 12 weeks.
Off to New Orleans.
Cheers,
Alan
