Alan's From the Road
2009
TOUR DIARY - DECEMBER 31, 2009 - HOME
Where did that decade go? Feels like not so long ago me and Sean and Bob and Darrell were nervously gathered in an old house on Gower Street awaiting to play for what would turn out to be the largest gathering of people in Newfoundland history.
A decade and a million gigs, flights, recording sessions later, we are still at it. I guess you could say that GBS is about work in our third decade. Our first item on the to do list is to finish what we started before Christmas. We all head back to New Orleans in a couple of days to spit and polish 13 or 14 new tunes for what should be our 10th CD. Should be fun.
Here’s a look at the team assembled to build the new GBS offering.
From left, our Bob, Kyle from the Music Shed, Engineer Mike Napolitano, our Magoo, Yours Truly, our KMac, our Foster, and Producer Steve Berlin.
I am very grateful for all your attention and support over the past year. It’s been an odd one that found me on the saddle as much as the stage. I feel very fortunate for too many things to mention. I would just like to say Thanks to you, Dear Readers, for your company here.
Happy 2010 to you and all your Loved Ones.
Cheers,
Alan
Tour Diary - December 17, 2009 - New Orleans (Recording Studio)
All hands been held up for a couple of weeks at this marvelous recording studio in the Garden District of New Orleans. We’ve recorded 15 bed tracks (drums, bass, rhythm guitars etc) and a few lead vocals and background parts. We hope to be about three quarters finished by them time we break for Christmas in a few days. It’s a great studio. It’s a real pro place that just housed the likes of REM and Robert Plant.
We have a big 6 Bedroom house about 20 minutes walk from here to accommodate the five GBS dudes and Uber Cool producer Steve Berlin. The path between the studio and the house is lined with cool shops and houses and bars. After a 14-hour day in the studio, it is easy to find a spot to and chat with the lads or cool locals. Some nights it goes later than it should.
We’ve done a noble job of avoiding lost nights in the infamous French Quarter, though I have a sneaky suspicion that restraint may fall tonight as there is a plan to eat a late supper in that area of town.
Been getting to see the real New Orleans. The city that lives beyond the Mardi Gras and the boobs for beads exchange of Bourbon Street. Have seen the fortunate and not so fortunate mingle and intermingle in a way that does not happen in big cities. Million dollar mansions next to empty lots and a stone’s throw from sketchy housing areas. High-end restaurants with $5 Po Boy menus. And everyone united and strong in their love for the Saints. Very cool.
I saw a brass band the other night called Rebirth. I’ve never seen anything like it anywhere. Trumpets, trombones, a sax, a tuba, bass drum and a snare. All crammed onto a stage in a smoky indie music bar that was jammed to the doors with onlookers. They played the coolest mix of powerful jazz to hip hop-ish tunes and cool arrangements of funk and pop songs. I chatted to one local dude and told him I felt like one of the most special musical evenings I’d ever lucked upon.
He replied, “Dude, they play here every Tuesday, and have for over a decade.”
Jaysus, what a town.
Not without it’s problems. Big problems, too. But still a National Treasure to be guarded and protected.
I was running this morning and bumped my foot on one of the many heaved up sections of sidewalk. A result of flooding, I suspect. I went down in a heap. Rolled once I think and would have slipped into the oncoming traffic if not for a sign post. I quickly gathered myself, as I am generally clumsy and am thankfully well used to falling down. When I stood, I noticed three different cars had stopped to make sure I was alright. One gent got out of his big expensive SUV and was coming to pick me up. At the same time, another gent who appeared to be homeless walked from a park bench to help me. Friggin nice people here.
I grinned and said thanks and gave them a thumbs up and a wave and continued on.
I’ve said it before, so forgive my repetition.
I love New Orleans.
Cheers,
Alan
Tour Diary - December 6, 2009 - St. John’s-Toronto-Chicago-New Orleans
Played the last of the Fortune’s Favour Tour dates in Calgary last weekend. Frolicking at the Grey Cup, Canada’s Super Bowl, has become a near annual bash for GBS and our close buds. Word has circulated that the Grey Cup weekend serves as an excellent platform for a few boys nights out and we were joined by an All Star cast of foolish dudes. Had a fun night Friday at the pub, then the big gig on Saturday night, then all hands; me and Sean and ten others to the Football Game.
As fortune would have it, we ended up with one more person than game tickets, so I called in a favour with Jim from Blue Rodeo. The boys were slated to play the halftime show and they graciously allowed me to tag along with them. It was all good chatting with Jim and Greg and watching the opening and first half from the sidelines. As the second quarter drew to a close, the BR guys headed back to a dressing room to get ready for the Halftime show. It would be a big gig for the guys with nearly 7 Million Viewers.
I lagged behind a little, and made my way back to their dressing room about five minutes later. The mood in the room was noticeably tense and something was not right. Baz, the bands bass player was doubled over in pain in the corner, as a few folks attended to him. Apparently he had been having recurring internal attacks from a temporary, but nasty ailment. This attack was a bad one.
Someone knocked on the door and said, “Blue Rodeo. Ten minutes”.
Musicians are generally a compassionate bunch, I’d say. And you learn that you have to look after your buds in sickness and in health if you are going to last the long run. This was very apparent in the dressing room as all hands did what they could to get the patient what he needed quickly. But musicians also learn another truism:
The Show Must Go On.
I think it was Glen, BR drummer, who finally said what was on everyone’s mind. “What if Baz can’t play?”
What Jim Cuddy said next, nearly knocked me off my feet.
“Alan will play bass.”
I nearly shite myself, but of course, nodded and said if Baz can’t play, I’ll step in.
Let’s be honest here. I can play rhythm guitar fairly well, but am not a shredder by any sense. I could fake my way through many last second gigs on guitar and not trainwreck the whole shebang. I say this so you understand the situation, and don’t confuse this for some false modesty. I am a professional guitar player. But I am not a professional bass guitar player. At all.
But still, if the boys were stuck, I’d give it a go. Not ideal to have your professional bass playing debut to be on live TV, but what do you do. To make a short story short, I spent the next six to eight minutes going over the chord changes to the three BR tunes they were about to play…for 7Million people. All the while Baz is being tended to and all hands had their fingers crossed that he’d be ok.
We all got in a van and rode to the back of the stage at center field. With less than a commercial break to go, Baz said he wanted to give it a go and they asked me to stand close by in case something went amiss.
Baz made it to the stage in time and rocked the house. I’d forgotten how complex and full of melody his bass lines can be. I confess I’ve never listened to him quite as closely as I did on the field in Calgary. 7 million viewers watched Baz and BR rock blast through their tunes. What they did not see was a scared shiteless rhythm guitar player from Petty Harbour about twenty feet from the stage nervously hoping to not have to pick up a bass after Bazil Donovan had played it.
Baz went to doctor right off the stage and is doing much better now, by the way, according to sources.
Fun times. By the way, I’ve been practicing bass all this week in case Jim and the boys, or anyone else calls again. I’ll be ready.
Had a very welcomed week home. Made up for some lost time, but the scale of home and gone is tipped hard to the latter for 2009 and I’m out of calendar days to level it off.
Finally got to have a look around Daffodil Place. For those of you who don’t know, Daffodil Place is a residence for Rural Newfoundlanders who need to stay in St. John’s while receiving longer-term cancer care. I was on the fundraising board and along with the rest of the team, managed to raise almost 8 Million Dollars to build the facility. The grand opening was earlier in 2009 while I was working on the Robin Hood film in England. Despite my desires, I could not get away to attend the festivities. I got my first glance of the fruit of our toils the other day.
It is fantastic. Very cozy rooms, with all the modern kitchen and laundry facilities available to the residents. The meeting rooms for support groups are large enough for the guests and there is even a dandy outdoor garden with lovely plants and chairs. Many of you should feel good that your donations went to such a great cause, which has been almost 90% full since opening. I spoke to a few people who are using Daffodil Place while undergoing treatment and they were so happy to have such an option available to them.
Great Big Sea donated the proceeds of our Christmas Concert to the cause and thanks to kind folks like some of you who attended; we raised over 50k, and named one of the Guest Suites. It felt good to finally see it in person.
Currently in a recording studio in the Garden District of New Orleans. GBS will be here for a couple of weeks before and after the Christmas break, hoping to make the new opus. But more about that later.
The Road is Long.
I hope.
Cheers,
Alan
Tour Diary - November 19, 2009 - Somewhere in the Hills of Washington
Some days go as planned, some do not. That is the wonder of this job. You most often wake to a day completely different than the one previous. I expected to wake up this morning parked behind the theatre in Wenatchee, Washington. Instead I woke to the sound of our most excellent driver JP, and multi talented stage manager Brit, struggling outside the bus with what sounded like shackles. This was too curious a sound to doze through, so I stumbled to the front of the bus where practically the full cast and crew were gathered a blank faced malaise that can only mean all is not well and the drive is way behind schedule.
As I slept through our slated 5am departure, JP discovered that snow in the mountains meant that we should wait out the storm to avoid the tedious and sketchy job of putting chains on the tires and driving through inclement winter weather with a 45 foot bus and an 18 foot trailer loaded to the roof with heavy audio, lights, and instruments. Hour after hour we tried to wait it out, but the forecast was not our friend and alas we had to bolt. Sure enough at the top of the hills there were snowdrifts and warning signs that the road ahead was not passable to trucks and busses without chains.
So I wake to JP and Brit sounding like the Ghosts of Christmas past just outside the wall by my bunk. They applied the chains and we made our way through the mountains at a snails pace, but safe and sound. Our delay meant for a mountain pit stop that resulted in the inevitable Canadian Boys will be Boys activity. [Click for video!]
When the world hands you lemons, you make snowballs.
You can see the missing fender from when the bus blew a tire a few nights back. Hard times in Bus Land.
As I type we are about four hours behind schedule and will be lucky to get the gear in the theatre and set up on time for the curtain call. No sweat to the boys. I bet the show starts on time and without incident.
The interesting news is that out route to Edmonds for the show tomorrow night takes us right back through these hills. The forecast call for snow. Jaysus.
No two days the same. Gotta like it.
Cheers,
Alan
Tour Diary - October 12, 2009 - AC 692 (YYZ-YYT)
I wonder how many tours GBS has done? By ‘tour’, I mean a block of gigs where we left home and drove from city to city in a car, van, or bus and did a bunch of our own gigs in pubs, clubs, or theatres.
I do not mean weekend summer festival appearances or one-off corporate gigs. I am curious as this most recent tour finished in West Hampton Beach NY, as to how many times myself and Sean and Bob, and a varied cast of others have enjoyed, or just survived a band tour.
It’s a cool vibe on the bus after the last gig of a tour. It is usually not a party type atmosphere as we normally have a long drive to an airport and everyone has organizing and packing to do. Often, there’s a handshake or two, especially for the crew, who work so hard to make the shows look and sound as good as possible. Their day is much more laborious than ours, and if we want some time off after a three week run, they need it.
If we call a tour a run of five consecutive dates or more, I wonder how many we have done. I recall our first real Newfoundland tour when we played Stephenville, Corner Brook, Grand Falls, Gander, Clarenville, Marystown and Carbonear, I believe, before returning home to St. John’s. We had no crew, so it was just the four of us, carrying our instruments, and a PA System in two compact hatchbacks; Sean’s Ford Festival, and Darrell’s Honda Civic, I think. (The wipers broke in one of those cars, and remained dysfunctional for the whole run; no worries, it does not rain that much in Newfoundland.) There were festivals before that and a weekend trip to Corner Brook or Gander, but that was our first real GBS tour and that would have been in the fall of 1993, if memory serves correctly. (And it often does not)
It is reasonable to estimate that we have done three to five Canadian Tour Legs for each of the CD’s. It is also reasonable to assume the same for the US for the last seven CD’s. Likewise, we toured Germany and Denmark on four or five CD’s. You add on a few opening tours for Blue Rodeo in Canada, a couple with the Oysterband in Europe, and Runrig in the UK, and the number of complete tours really adds up.
Is it possible that we’ve done just below or above 200 tours? Jaysus. Have I gone on tour, not gigs mind you, not weekends here and there or fly-in corporate dates or summer festivals, on tour over 200 times? That is a staggering number to me. In my teenage years as a member of Uncle Ronnie’s band doing dances and weddings up and down the Southern Shore, or as a University student playing solo gigs in the pubs of St. John’s, I literally fantasized about touring in a real band. A real band with records and fans who would buy tickets in advance to your shows. A real band with a crew of dudes who would set the gear up and tune your guitars for the next song on the set list. Jaysus, a real band with a set list!
And now I sit not long after my 40th Birthday, and I literally can’t count how many tours I’ve done. How lucky am I? How many people get to do what they really want once in their lives? Very few, I imagine. Even fewer are those who get to do it time and time again.
Brilliant.
Cheers to Johnny, the newest dude on the GBS Bus. He was the audio technician on the most recent tour, and I hope for many more to come. He is quite a talent despite being only 9 or 10 years old, compared to the rest of us.
Special thanks to the gent in Tarrytown with the endless supply of Margaritas.
Curses on the gent in Tarrytown with the endless supply of Margaritas.
We debuted a few new tunes and hope to have a few more up and ready by the time we reconvene in San Diego in a few weeks.
Many thanks to the kind folks who made this recent run grand fun on stage and off. As I said, I’m not sure how many tours have passed. Let’s just hope there’s at least as many more to come.
The plane is slowing down and descending. We’ll soon enjoy the charms of our sweethearts and our friends.
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving.
Cheers,
Alan
Tour Diary - October 1, 2009 - On the Bus (Between Chicago and Milwaukee)
Just passed the skyline of Chicago en route to Milwaukee. A longer stint than usual at the US Border has turned long drive into a marathon. Days like these, I kneel and give praise to whatever God provided us with the good fortune to advance to the tour bus level. We’ve done drives as long as these in vans and it is no fun at all.
Had an enjoyable week of Rink Rock in Canada. Sarnia, Sudbury and Sault St Marie. Great nights. I should note however that one of the great fears as a live performer is to stand on stage and say, “Its great to be here in Denver!”, when you are actually in Dallas. This fear is heightened significantly when you do three towns back to back to back whose names start with the same letter. The alert is higher, of course, because the chances of a slip of the tongue are so greatly increased when alliteration comes into play. An internal monologue is required.
“Great to be here in SSSSSSSS….think about it now……Sudbury!”
It was grand to have Jeremy Fisher on board for those days. He is a grand fella. I’ve has my super portable recording rig on the road and have been writing and recording demos for the new GBS CD as much as possible. Sat in the back lounge of the bus and wrote with Sean and Jeremy on a tune that Sean debuted in the Solo Slot last night. Caught a wee vid of the first demo recording of it on my iPhone.
Click the image below to watch the video!
Oh the technology. My education continues.
Speaking of higher learning, I learned that ‘midget’ is a derogatory term last night. Unfortunately, I learned this after blurting it out in front of 1000 people. Apparently, “Little People” is the preferred term. Apparently there is a reality TV series of the same name. Hmm. It is not my place to judge one’s chosen nomenclature. But it is my place to apologize for my not keeping up to speed on Political Correctness. Much apologies to Little People everywhere. Rest assured it will not happen again.
Rolling to Milwaukee. Sounds like a Blues song doesn’t it? Perhaps another back lounge writing session is in order.
Keep you posted.
Cheers,
Alan
Tour Diary - September 7, 2009 - AC Flight 692 (YYZ-YYT)
What a grand weekend.
Played Clayton NY, on Friday night in a small and dandy room pack with 500 hundred folks eager to kick off the last weekend of Summer 2009. Funny to type a sentence that indicates that the summer is over as for me it is really just beginning. Playing festivals, outdoor concerts and frolicking in the long warm evenings of July and August, has been such a part of my life and my commitments elsewhere meant I missed most of the frolicking season this year. So, I was very grateful for the concert in Clayton, as it gave us a grand chance to sing with some lovely people, but even more grateful to the revelers who joined us in this years only real opportunity to dance under the Summer Moon. A grand night for sure. I’d love to go back to Clayton.
We rolled over night to Buffalo and spent the bulk of the day around downtown. A few of us made use of the well-equipped hotel gym and sweated away some of the sins of the night before. The gig went amazingly well as over 5000 people paid to see the show. I think that beats our US paid attendance record from a week or so previous at the show at Wolftrap. Incredible attendance really, for a band without a current release, with no National US record label, publicity, radio, or video play of any kind. Just to put it into perspective, a pop band played the same venue the previous night. A band with all of the above, including some top ten hits and did less than half the attendance of the GBS Concert. Thanks to all hands for such a show of support.
Rolled almost directly from the stage to Rhode Island. The drive took almost 11 hours and I confess that I missed every kilometer of it. I slept the entire journey. I cannot remember the last time I honestly slept for more than 8 hours on one go. I woke like a man ready to run a triathlon. And Sean and me almost did just that. We ran around the Festival grounds near Charleston clicked off about 10 k’s before finding a swimming hole, peeled of our shirts and shoes and dove in the welcome cool water.
Hung on the bus most of the afternoon and watched The Story of Anvil. This film is easily the best rock documentary I’ve ever seen, and will introduce you to one of the most endearing and unlikely heroes you’ll ever see on screen. I won’t say too much about it other than to say it is a must see, regardless if you are a Heavy Metal music fan or not.
Got to see Jerry Douglas at the Festival. For those of you who don’t know, he is the worlds best dobro player and is a superstar in the folk music world. He may very well be the most recorded musician in history as he is reported to have played on over 1600 records, including many with the likes of Allison Krauss, Dixie Chix, and many more acts that span the music landscape. He was incredible and is truly one of the best instrumentalists in history.
Following a very well received set of mostly folk songs, we rolled to Pearson Airport in Toronto and dashed for the flight that is now dipping it’s nose to home. It’s not quite supper time so I should get to do story and bed with the Prince.
The perfect end to a great weekend.
Thanks again to all hands for making a grand time.
Cheers,
Alan
Tour Diary - August 7, 2009 - London, UK (Pinewood Studios)
This is Friday, August 7th. A day that I’ve had highlighted on the calendar for many weeks. After a month of training and around twenty weeks of filming, it has come to this, my last day.
I’m awash with varied feelings and emotions today. I am feeing great because I’ve been ill for about a week and today, I finally feel healthy and strong. I am a little melancholy that today I’ll most likely hug and kiss some very lovely people for the last time. Talented people that I’ve had the pleasure of working with and learning from. People that have been with me for 50-60 hours a week since March. I will miss them.
I feel so relieved that this job is hours away from being done. This task and the steep learning curve that came with it is about to finally be complete.
I am a little sad about leaving Richmond. I’ve been living in Richmond, a small city completely on its own, yet still a part of Greater London. I’ve been quiet about my exact location till now for the privacy of many of the other actors who’ve been staying there as well. It has one of the only hillside views of the Thames. It has Great Richmond Park, which one of the biggest parks in the UK. It is so big that it has its own flock of deer. The walks along the Thames in Richmond are like an English postcard. Drinking a pint from the Cricketers on Richmond Green is like walking backing time, and the High Street of Richmond has everything a man, woman, or child could want. This project has afforded me one of my life long dreams of living in, not visiting, living in England. What a treat.
That said, I am so excited to go home that I can barely contain myself. It’s tough not to break into smiles or tears. It’s tough to remember that I have to stay in character and shoot a very important scene today. I left home on January 3rd for the first training session for this film. Between the gigs early in the year on the cruise and at the Junos, and the commitments to this project, I have been in my house 11 days in 2009. I am more homesick than I’ve ever been. I miss my family. I miss my friends. I miss St. John’s. I miss my dog. I miss my bed.
As I said in the last post, I am in no headspace to give you a decent description of the past few months. I need a few weeks to let the dust settle. I can say that Robin Hood and the other Merry Men have been so generous with their talents, and so patient with the Rookie, that I can never thank them for the opportunity to walk on their stage and to share in their work. It has been the experience of a lifetime for so many reasons.
Just Scene 52 left to shoot till Max calls the final cut. There’ll be a few celebratory song and dances I hope, then, quick as that, the detour will wind its way back to the main road. And right back in the fast lane. I’ll be flying to Halifax in the morning, and hope to meet Sean and Bob and the guys for a chance encounter for a very special reunion. I’ll tell you more about that later. Then on Sunday morning, at 6:50AM, all things being well, I’ll be flying to St. John’s.
Home.
Cheers,
Alan
Tour Diary - July 31, 2009 - London, England (Darrin’s Car)
It’s a sunny Happy Hour here in London. Friday faces everywhere. The streets are packed with thirsty looking folks with wearing their best work/out clothes. You know, the outfit the ladies save for Friday at work in case they go for a pint right after the whistle blows. All hands walking with purpose to their chosen local, here in the Heaven of Pub Culture.
I am a big fan of this time of the week, when the people who just can’t wait for Friday Night, race from their desks to the bar. But I am not joining them today. Whist they have their workday behind them, mine is just beginning. Myself and Scott Grimes, who plays Will Scarlett, are working the night shoot tonight. We get picked up at 5pm and must be made up and camera ready for dark. We are shooting a fight scene, but I can’t tell you anymore than that about the action. I can tell you that I’ll probably work till 4am, then hope to turn the body clock around enough have a normal Saturday and Sunday.
Like I said, this is Friday. This is a significant Friday. This is the last day of the second last week of filming. All things being well, in exactly 7days, the Assistant Director will shout, “Cut. Checking the Gate. That’s a picture wrap for Allan A’Dayle.” And that will be it. Quick as that all my scenes will be shot. All my involvement in the principal photography will be complete. There may be some postproduction to follow in the months to come, but as of one week from now, the twenty week mountain will have been climbed.
And not just by me, of course. Many folks have worked many more hours than I on this massive project, and all hands will be delighted to call it a day.
I’ve been consumed by this project since the first week of December, 2008, when, some of you may recall, I jetted from the GBS SmilingLand gig in Toronto for a meeting about this film. Since then, I’ve pretty much been awash in a boys dream, of fight school, sword lessons, archery competitions, horse riding, training and admiring the skills of the amazing actors I’ve had the pleasure of studying.
I’ve walked in a Ridley Scott Medaevil Set designed and built by the best in the world and filled with folks in full period garb. This is as close to time travel as one could hope to experience. I have felt the Earth move beneath me as a hundred plus horses and riders stormed a breathtaking Welsh beach.
I cannot begin to describe this whole experience yet. Give me a few weeks and I’ll have a better perspective. Because right now I’ve got my eye hard on the prize, and there’s no prize I want more than to sit in my kitchen and watch my little fella play with his trains. Hopefully, AC Flight 861 is on time this weekend, and after a brief stop in Halifax, I’ll get to eat Sunday Brunch at home.
Look forward to seeing you all at the shows.
Cheers
Alan
Tour Diary - July 20, 2009 - Surrey, England (On Set)
Three weeks to go. I have recently learned that principal photography will wrap on Friday, August 7th. All things being well, I’ll be home by Sunday the 9th.
Since my last post the entire production shifted to Wales and we had a blast on the beach I Pembroke shire. As many have documented on the net, we shot some scenes of epic proportion. One day, I rode my horse, Arthur, across the beach amongst a group of nearly 200 other horses and riders. I was part of a fight scene with several hundred soldiers, half dozen boats, and several hundred archers.
Many of us stayed in our trailers on the beach and had a great time ‘roughing it’. We bbq-ed each night and rode our bikes along the beautiful Welsh coastline. There were rumours around that some of us sat around the fire and sang songs till the wee hours, but I cannot confirm or deny these allegations.
We’ve since moved back to the greater London area. We filmed on a river at Virginia Water and currently I am sitting under a massive French castle and am watching a few hundred fully costumed medieval archers prepare to attack. I might even join them.
Bob and brother Bern are in town and hope they will come down to check out the whole spectacle today. Had a grand night out with our Bob as he was passing through the UK over the weekend. Had not seen Bob since we were on stage at the Juno’s in March. That is about 17 weeks ago. I have not gone that long without seeing Sean and Bob, since I met them in late 1992. I managed to talk him into staying a couple of extra days so he could come check out the set.
It should not be long now, till the whole team is reunited as this grand detour is winding its way back to the previously planned route. We should be rolling on the 15th or 16th as we head to Cape Cod.
Keep you posted.
Cheers,
Alan
Tour Diary - June 8, 2009 - Surrey, England (On Set)
Today marks the beginning of the second half of this grand adventure. I believe this is day one of Week 11 of what is officially a 20 Week commitment. So, there it was, quick as that, more than half done. Funny what routine teaches us to accept as normal isn’t it? This whole Film Unit, from the actors to the grounds keepers has grown into a very familiar workplace. Folks discussing their weekend’s activities over Monday morning coffee and hoping for the weather to be suitable for the days ahead. All very routine and regular, till you step outside of it for a moment and realize that the person next to you chatting about their local laundry supplies store is driving a bloody arrowhead into some dude’s neck. Same old, same old. Funny.
Also funny is the fact that I have a whole group of friends and colleagues who have only known me as a bearded person. Several times over the past weeks, a person from the production has approached me explaining that they googled the band, or myself and saw all these pictures of me without my beard. They find it very weird to see me with no facial hair.
Many funny and odd aspects to this wonderful detour I find myself exploring.
Funny hearing people from the UK speak of the ‘great’ distances across this Island. Coming from Newfoundland or anywhere in Canada for that matter, there are no great distances in the UK. Everything is really close to everything else. Not the way the locals see it. Londoners talk of taking the train to Scotland, like it is to be a barefoot walk across the Sahara. They think Belfast is a remote and isolated place that one could only hope to see once in a lifetime.
The entire production shifts to Wales next week. It is charming to hear all the Londoners making plans for the big trip and how they will pack for the journey. I’m sitting there in the middle of it nodding, when I really want to smirk, and say,
‘Guy’s its Wales. It’s right there. We can almost see it. It is closer to here than Gander is to St John’s. It’s like shifting from Toronto to Kingston. It would take a few days, but we could walk there. Literally.’
But of course, that would be rude. So, myself and Kevin, who plays Little John, who grew up in Thunder Bay, Ontario, which for those of you who don’t know, is a full day’ s drive from everywhere, just wink at each other and have our own little Canadian in joke. Sneaky, I suppose, but better than the alternative.
Looking forward to the stint in Wales. We should be there for two weeks and the change of scenery is welcomed. Especially considering we are headed to South Wales, which has some of the mot spectacular coastline in the world. I’ll be bringing the Mountain Bike, for sure.
After the Wales trip, there are a few weeks of filming back here and then that’s it. Jaysus, how fast time flies. I am due to be here till the 15th of August, then home for a couple of days before joining up with the GBS bus on the 18th to make our way to Cape Cod.
Looking forward to a concert, I guarantee you. Might sing a few extra ones that night.
Keep you posted.
Cheers,
Alan
Tour Diary - May 27, 2009 - Surrey, England (On Set)
Currently listening to English rain dance on the metal roof of my trailer. I am waiting for the weather to clear so we can get on with our planned scenes for the day all of which are outside. As a Newfoundlander, I am genetically programmed to be unfazed by wind and rain and general inclement conditions. But, of course, horses and slippery muddy hills do not make for good traction, and the rain will shag up the continuity of the sequence, so we wait.
I’ve come to learn that this is a big part of the film making business, this waiting. Countless hours can pass while you sit and wait for the knock on the door. So how to pass the time? I am usually in full costume and make up, which makes exercising nearly impossible, and seriously frowned up by a couple of the departments as sweating and banging about can ruin some excellent hair, make up, and costume work. Some of the other actors watch TV, read other plays or film scripts they are considering. Others work on fights or dances or dialects. Others practise horse riding, or swordsmanship or whatever. It all depends on the day, really. The trick is to make good use of it and be ready for the call when it comes.
Something like being the back up goalie, I figure.
I’ve spent a bunch of the downtime writing and recording music. I’ve got a new software program called Logic Pro that allows me to record decent multi-track demos of songs to sing and tunes to play on the lute right here in the trailer. It’s been quite a productive time actually, as I’ve managed to have a few new songs and instrumentals worked up while waiting for the knock. Hopefully, some of this music will see the light of day on the next GBS CD. We hope to gather after the late Summer and Fall touring to get the ball rolling on the next project. Not sure what shape it will take yet, but I’m really looking forward to getting back home and in the friendly and familiar confines of GBStudio to mess about with the lads.
Looks like there will be a few weeks of dates in the Fall following the Summer gigs that have already been announced. I’m very eager to do a concert or two, I must say. Stay tuned here for more gig announcements.
Speaking of big announcements, I am very proud and pleased to let you know that, Daffodil Place is set to open in a couple of weeks. I’m even more pleased to tell you that the members of the fundraising committee, myself included, have reached the goal of raising 7 Million Dollars to construct this 24 Suite Residence for Cancer Care Patients. We planned to raise the money in three years and, thanks to the kind help of the band, and folks like many of you who have supported the cause, we have raised the required funds in only two years. Quite a feat, I think. Especially in such a small Province and in these tough economic times. I have to offer my congratulations to the other members of the committee, and in particular, John Steele, our leader who put the whole campaign together and brought us to such an early success.
I’d also like to thank the cast and crew and management of GBS who gave so much of their time and talents to a few big events that raised a pile of money for and even more awareness of this worthy effort.
Working on this project has been my first time sitting on a board of any kind, and I am grateful to the other members for showing me the ropes in a few cases. I wandered into unfamiliar territory a few times, standing in from of Government and Bank executives and the likes, doing Power Point presentations on the project and answering some tough numbers questions to the best of my BA ability. I actually bought a suit. And almost, but not quite, bought a tie, for a few of the meetings. I learned a lot from the other members and have been honored to be a part of what I consider to be one of the most classic demonstrations of the kindness, generosity, and hard work that have long been defining points of where I belong.
The official opening is set for Friday, June 12. Looks like I may have to miss it as I am slated to be here in Movie Land on that day. I hope to get home just before then for a day or two, and will drop by the facility to check it all out. I’ll bet it is grand.
Well done.
Cheers,
Alan
Tour Diary - May 11, 2009 - Greater London - Rental House
My horse’s name is Arthur. Unlike myself, Arthur is a veteran of many films. For fear of breaking some protocol, I won’t list Arthur’s credits but trust me; this dude has been on screen more times than anyone else in this film. He has carried Roman Soldiers, Crusaders, Cowboys, Knights, and now, Merry Men.
I am a very unaccomplished horseman. Thanks to some clever instruction over the past few months, I can honestly say that I know how to ride a horse, but I will not be anywhere near Arthur’s list of favorite passengers. I’ve done six or seven riding scenes now where we trot canter or gallop on or off screen and all of them have gone well, with all the film folks satisfied or delighted with the results.
A few days back, we were doing a scene where we ride down a road lined with…oops, should not say what…site this is hard. In any case, after a few takes bolting down the road, I was starting to get very used to the whole thing. Arthur did the exact same steps every time and his rhythm became very smooth. I almost felt like a real rider.
The AD (Assistant Director), called ‘Action’ and off we went one more time. Again, Arthur pushed along like the best drummer in the world and I fell into his perfect tempo, ta da dump, ta da dump. This would be like all the other takes, I figured. Just sit up straight and stay in the moment.
But then a sudden burst of power that I had not felt before; not a real jerk or stammer, just a gear that Arthur had not yet chosen to show me. I was a little spooked, I confess. Then, a half second later, I become aware that there is no sound. Nothing but air and wind. No reassuring backbeat of Arthur’s horseshoes hitting the ground. Then a bit of a lurch forward as the momentum of whatever the frig just happened came to a bit of a crashing end. I felt my whole self lurch forward over Arthur’s neck and head; not where you want to be. I felt my left foot come out of the stirrup; not good. I felt my weight slide to the right but managed to keep that foot in that stirrup and keep myself aboard. Then, another half second later, we are right back into his familiar gate and all is well.
A few hundred meters later, when some one yelled ‘Cut’, I came to a halt with the other riders and was just about to ask, “What the f@#k just happened?”, when one of the stunt dudes came over and noted, “That was cool the way you jumped that puddle.”
Excuse me? Jumped?
Apparently, just before the last take, the special effects gents, must have re-wetted the area and apparently, a puddle had formed in the path where one had not been till now. Arthur must have chosen, as it is a film veteran’s right to do, that he did not want to get his feet wet this late in the day, and leapt over the puddle instead of running through it.
I did not see the playback of the scene, but I can’t imagine proud warrior Allan A’Dayle stayed on that horse in mid flight. I suspect shitbaked folksinger Alan Doyle made an appearance somewhere in there, and he does not belong in the 12th Century.
Speaking of the ages, I am in the dying hours of my 30’s. In just a few days, I’ll say goodbye to my thirty something’s, which served me very well. Many thanks to all of you for your part in making the past decade so outstanding.
Wishing the same for the next one.
And the one after that.
Cheers,
Alan
Tour Diary - April 15, 2009 - AC Flight 657 (St John’s-Halifax)
Hey All. Apologies for the tardiness of this, the first, FTR from movie land. I’ve been eager to get this rolling since arriving on set on day one, but the truth is, I’ve struggled with what to write. You see, I should not mention anything about costumes, daily events while filming, or music, or whatever, as I may give away something about the film that is meant to be kept secret. Likewise, I would not want to create an impression or expectation of one or another aspect of the final product that may or may not ultimately make the cut. To be honest, the first two weeks have been a bit all consuming, and I’ve not been certain how to fairly document the comings and goings.
I can tell you that I rushed from the plane from Canada to the set on day one, and was whisked in to ‘the works’ (film speak for costume, hair and make-up), and was promptly whipped off to set where cameras and a fallen tree in the woods were awaiting the Merry Men’s first take. I was made aware of some dialogue changes that now included me speaking in this scene, while peaking over the fallen tree. I swear to Jaysus, I near shite myself. I won’t tell you the line, as it is important to the plot, but suffice it to say that on Take One, my voice cracked like that adolescent dude on the Simpsons who asks “Would you like Fries with that, Sir”. No one seemed to notice but me.
We did a two or three more takes of that shot and moved on to making a Major Hollywood Motion Picture. Everyone one has been very kind to me it is apparent that making a film of this size is a massive team effort. Everyone wants to help as much as possible to make the film a success. I am especially indebted to Russell (Robin Hood) Kevin Durand (Little John) and Scott Grimes (Will Scarlett) for imparting onto me their extensive knowledge and experience in this field. They have all been good to the Rookie. Thanks Merry Men.
I have a stand in and a stunt double. There is a good case to be made for everyone having these support staff in all walks of life. Imagine if you had a stand in for sketchy dates. A stunt double to shovel the snow off the second story roof. Brilliant.
Some of the surreal moments have happened in situations that I did not foresee. On day two or three, I was standing near a coffee station and a few feet away two gents were chatting about having found a great garage near their home town that offered a spectacular deal on oil changes. Not so bizarre, you say? Well, consider the fact that they were both in medieval garb, and splattered in blood as we had been filming a fight scene in which these dudes obviously faired poorly. One of them had an arrow sticking out of his neck and the other appeared to be missing an ear. The make-up is so convincing, that I don’t expect to ever get desensitized to it. There they were, mangled. The walking dead. Casually sipping tea from paper cups and delighting in affordable auto repair.
I have been put up in a house in a suburb of London. I lucked out and scored a large enough pad to accommodate the Fair One and the Prince when they come for extended stays over the next few months. I have spent eight or ten nights there already. Alone. I am living as a bachelor for the first time in my life. I have never lived alone. I usually spend my working days and nights on a 45-foot long, 8-foot wide bus with 11 other dudes. I lived my entire University career with at least three other people. I grew up in a small three bedroom with six people a dog and a cat or two. I never had my own room till I was 20. And now, weeks from my 40th birthday, I am sleeping single in a double bed above two floors of empty house. Can’t wait till the family comes, but I have not found it as lonely as I expected. I suppose that is due to the fact that the shooting days regularly run 14 hours and start at 5am. By the time I get back to the house and have a Skype session, I am knackered beyond repair. No time or energy to get lonesome. Quick to the bunk to get ready for the next day.
As noted above, I am on my way from home. I flew back to St John’s on Friday past as the film shut down for the long Easter Weekend. I was not slated to shoot on Tuesday or Wednesday, so I am overnighting back to the Mother Country to resume training and shooting tomorrow.
A few days at home was a glorious holiday. My wee fella is getting less and less wee.
I am bound for Heathrow Airport via Halifax. Hoping to catch some of the hockey play-offs before the redeye carries me across the pond. Go Habs.
Stay tuned. More to come from Sherwood Forest.
Cheers,
Alan aka Allan
Tour Diary - March 30, 2009 - AC Flight 868 (Toronto-London Heathrow)
0-10 at the Junos. Oh well, could be worse I suppose. Could be 0-11. Or worse again, 0-0.
Truth be told, I heard a while back that the Group of the Year Award was based on CD sales, but I could not get anyone to confirm that this was the case. This was probably intentional as knowing this in advance would confirm the winner instantly. Fortunes Favour has sold very well, approaching Platinum Status, but still nowhere near Nickleback or Simple Plan numbers. Congrats to the Nickel Boys. They work like dogs, and I’ve heard their single in taxi cabs in five countries on four continents in the past few weeks. Their Juno is well deserved.
GBS’s triumphant dance on the Juno podium will have to wait for another year at least.
Thought our performance went well, as Sean’s pipe ripping lead vocal lead us through the show’s finale. Not bad for a fella with a lung infection. Really enjoyed playing with Hawk, who is quite a guitar shredder, especially considering he is a drummer by trade. Bastard. The Ecco dudes are real gents and would love to get them on a CD soon. If you missed the show, you can see it on the CTV website and keep an eye on www.greatbigsea.com for details about how to purchase last nights song online, with all the $$$ going to charity.
Had some serious pangs of reservation and loneliness as I bid a quick ‘Cheers’ to the GBS Cast and Crew last evening. I had to dash to the airport right off stage to catch a red-eye to Toronto to connect with this flight to make it to London in time for the film. All hands sad to acknowledge that we won’t be together for a few months and last night could be our last tune together till August. Four months is far less than most bands breaks, but this feels like a lifetime for GBS. I am not certain, but strongly suspect that this will be the longest gap between performances since the band’s debut in 1993.
That said, our Agent, Jack Ross, informed me that our August date in Toronto is off to a roaring start, selling several thousand tickets in the first few hours since going on sale. Many thanks for those of you who have planned to attend that weekend. There should be more August and Fall dates announced in the coming weeks.
Back to my moonlighting as a 13th Century Troubadour, with a sword in one hand and a Lute in the other. Equally ready to flay you open with steel or song.
Stay tuned.
Cheers,
Alan
Tour Diary - March 26, 2009 - AC Flight 855 (Heathrow-Vancouver)
I may be flying too much. I have read the Enroute magazine cover to cover twice, and could tell you now, without checking, the list of Movies and short Comedies available on the Air Canada in flight Entertainment system. I can tell you that I currently on an Air Bus 330 which is a large aircraft but not quite as big as the Boeing 777 that Air Canada flies to Sydney, Australia. I am certain that in almost every conventional economy seat on Air Bus or Boeing planes, you can find a way to lift the armrest that borders the aisle. I always thought that one could not be lifted, but there is almost always a way to do it. If you put the lie flat Business Class seats into the flat position, without lifting your head, long hair will get caught in the crease between the headrest and the seat back as it reclines. All kinds of details of flight have become apparent to me in these past few weeks.
Had a great few days with the Film Folks. It has become obvious to me that I am about to work on a major motion picture with the best in the business. The costumes, the sets, the archery supervisor, the fight guys, the stunt dudes, (yes I have met my stunt double, I will be very nice to him for sure), the audio techs, the prop department…all the behind the scenes folks that work never-ending hours to make the movie and the performers on camera look amazing. How lucky am I? I have a chance to walk in the shoes of one of the most Iconic figures in literary and music history. Wow.
Speaking of lucky, I am really glad to be off to Victoria and Vancouver this weekend for the grand Canadian Music celebration known as the Juno Awards. I missed the East Coast Music Awards this year and really missed the chance to see the other bands and catch up with everyone on the circuit. Hope to do just that this weekend. Would be nice to take home a trophy, but as per usual, we are up against some very deserving competition, so I would not bet the bank on graduating from our Juno Nominee status just yet. But, you never know. It would be a very nice punctuation mark on what has been the most successful tour of our career.
By the way, I did just fly over the top of the Earth…sort of. Our flight path went right over Greenland and the Northern Territories of Canada. Not far from Yellowknife as I type. Really glad we did not fly over Newfoundland. Just hurts the guts too much to see the out of proportion digital airplane on the moving map track over the Rock without stopping down for a visit.
About two and a half hours to go before touch down in Vancouver. Have to dash through customs and then across the airport to catch a connector to Victoria and pretty much straight onto the stage.
C’mon that’s friggin’ Rock and Roll.
Cheers,
Alan
Tour Diary - March 22, 2009 - AC Flight 868 (Toronto-London/Heathrow)
What an exceptional week of Rink Rock. This must be how Trooper’s career was in 1988. Hockey Rink after Hockey Rink stuffed with partiers ready to go long before the first chord is struck. Sitting backstage in Windsor, hearing the excitement of the folks about to enjoy the Christening big show in their new rink was a cool rush, I must say. I felt a little like a Beatle or Bon Jovi or someone like that. I actually wished I had a wireless mic and guitar in a couple of this past week’s shows. I swear I would have pranced my way all over the place and did my best Bono-esque wandering into the crowd. Cool.
Had a grand night out in Montreal. No big surprise there. All hands down to Hurley’s for hugs, pints and songs. Hurley’s is easily my favourite pub in the world outside of home. It just has the most options available to you. You can saddle up to the bar and chat with the able bar staff, wander to a quiet corner with your mates and chat quietly, or stand in the middle of the dance floor and sway with the revelers as Jonathon or Dave or one of the other accomplished musicians whip the crowd into a frenzy. And, of course, they serve the best pints on the mainland of North America. Grand spot.
We are playing a gig in Victoria on Thursday as we make our way West for the Juno’s, but effectively last night’s performance in the Nation’s Capitol was the last night of the Fortune’s Favour Tour. How cool that we basically ended with the biggest night of the whole run with almost 6000 folks singing along in the Civic Center. Ottawa remains the single biggest city in the world for GBS. How cool to finish there.
Now, astute readers will notice I mentioned heading West in the paragraph above, while the Flight path of this aircraft noted further above has me heading anything but West. In keeping with the March Madness, I am flying right over the Rock and am bound for London to continue pre-production for the Robin Hood flick. I hope to reunite with RC and the other Merry Men for four days of rehearsal and training for all that is to come. As noted in the last FTR, on Thursday, I fly direct from London to Vancouver, (will I go over the North Pole or something?) and connect to Victoria. In true International Rock and Roll fashion, I’ll arrive just in time to sound check and gig. The adrenaline of the event should be firing hard and high by then.
Miles to go.
Cheers,
Alan
Tour Diary - March 17, 2009 - Highway 401 West (Mini Van)
Happy Paddy’s Day
The Fleet Foxes are carrying me West from Pearson Airport to Windsor for the first of five gigs on the extended Paddy’s week run with GBS and Spirit of the West. Holy frig these dudes can sing. I bought the CD on iTunes a few days back and cannot stop listening to it. Muso’s around the globe have been listening to The Beach Boys “Pet Sounds”, for decades trying to capture the secret to the textures and layers of vocal harmonies that Brian Wilson and the lads managed to record all those years ago. In truth, no one has managed to top the singing genius of that project, including bands like the Beatles and so many others who’d gladly admit that they fell far short in their efforts. This Fleet Foxes CD is the closest thing I’ve heard to “Pet Sounds” in a long time. Gorgeous singing.
Thought the gig at Mile One was a real success. Difficult to party in the wake of the Chopper accident that has the entire city of St. John’s and indeed the whole NL Province in mourning. Sean had the idea of singing a tribute to the fallen before the main body of our set commenced. His kind words and expressive vocal delivery of England made for a fitting acknowledgement of the situation and a delicate condolence to the victims and their families. The Telegram erroneously credited me with the opening dedication, when if fact the whole thing was Sean’s idea and he deserves all the credit for it’s delivery in such a delicate moment.
Great to have the SOTW dudes on stage for the Finale. Is there anyone who plays the flute as well as Geoffrey Kelly?
Grand few days at home. Looks like they will be my last few days at home for a few weeks as the March madness travel continues in the weeks to come. There should be much dashing back and forth across the Big Pond and the entire North American Continent for yours truly in the days to come. I am to spend the days following the Ottawa gig in London training and prepping for the Robin Hood Film, before blasting over the North Pole to Victoria for a gig at the rink. Principal photography for the movie starts on March 30th, about 11 hours after I am to be on stage at the Juno’s in Vancouver. Rock On.
Not much snow out the window of the Van as we tear West through pale sleeping fields. Spring is not far for these meadows, though, and a wake up call for their Summer’s work is just around the bend.
Like us all, I suppose.
Cheers,
Alan
Tour Diary - March 13, 2009 - AC Flight 662 (Halifax-St. John’s)
Finally homeward bound after more than three weeks on the move. I think this is the longest stint away from H since he was born. Hard on the head. Skype helps, but it is no replacement for the real deal. Almost there.
Sad news from home with the North Atlantic seems to have claimed a few more of Newfoundland’s own. A chopper bound for a couple of offshore oil stations went down yesterday and it appears only two of the 18 people aboard will be found and only one clinging to life. As many of you know, we folks of the Rock have had a give and take relationship with the sea for over 500 years. Mother ocean has been our chief source of food, employment and commerce, and in reality her bounty is the solely responsible the existence of our Colony, Nation, and Province. Yet she has claimed more than a few of our sons and daughters over the years, and it looks like the song remains the same.
Sean sent out a tune to the families and indeed the passengers of the Chopper themselves last night. Very appropriately, he chose ‘England’ from Fortune’s Favour, a song he penned about the hardships of living off the angry brine.
Class act. Well done
Both the Halifax and Moncton shows were a thrill. We have not played a big gig in New Brunswick in a number of years and we were so pleased with the considerable turn out and response on a Cold and snowy Wednesday night. Halifax continues to be our home away from home. Last night we beat our indoor paid attendance record for Halifax with almost 5000 folks in the house. That’s an astounding show of support for a band that has been playing regularly in the city for a decade and a half. I am so grateful.
No late night shenanigans last night, however as I was too eager to get home in a fresh frame of mind. Shame to miss a night on the town in Halifax, but I confide that my mind was one Province east as soon as the show finished last night. I would have red-eyed if one was available.
Hope the wee fella is not spooked by the bearded dude who wakes him up from his nap this afternoon. He’s seen the facial hair grow on daily Skype sessions, but I fear the in person effect might be too much.
Here’s for a big gig on Saturday in the town that matters most.
Cheers,
Alan
Tour Diary - March 10, 2009 - Richmond, England (Hotel Room)
I’m pretty sure today is Tuesday. It is 4:45 am and I have been wide-awake for almost two hours. I have finished reading the only novel I have with me and have seen the BBC news run through its 20 minute news reel at least three times. Thankfully, my Mac has some battery left and I can turn to this blog for some chat.
It’s been a pretty crazy week, even by my travel standards. Last Tuesday, one week ago, I awoke at 5am near Coff’s Harbour, Australia, and was driven to the local airport for a flight to Sydney, where I would board the Air Canada flight to Vancouver and Toronto. I met up with Sean and Bob and the lads a few hours later and the GBS bus rolled overnight to the US Border and onto Bloomington, Indiana.
Immediately following the show that night we rolled to Cedar Falls, Iowa, where Sean and I played on a local lunchtime TV show. After a sound check and a show in Cedar Falls, we bolted overnight to Chicago and at 4:45 am loaded into a morning TV station for another TV appearance. Following two shows at the legendary House of Blues, I dashed to Chicago Airport and flew to London Heathrow and started two days of meetings, fittings and training for the Robin Hood film project.
In a few hours, when the rest of the area wakes up, I have more film commitments to meet before boarding a flight to Boston, where I’ll overnight to catch an early morning connection to Halifax where I’ll meet the lads again and drive to Moncton for the start of the Atlantic Canadian weekend of the Fortunate Tour, which, should place me on Newfoundland soil at noon on Friday. Crazy days.
Jet lag and missing the Fair One and Prince aside, its been a really fun time. The shows at the HOB were fantastic. We did back to back days and I figured there would be a lot of folks who’d attend both nights. So I ventured to feature almost completely different set lists each performance. I believe, Tonight and Here and Now, from the FF CD, along with Paddy Murphy, Consequence Free, and Ordinary Day were the only tunes to be played both nights. Quite a testament to the catalogue that 16 years on the road affords a band, I suppose. Grand nights, both of them. Many thanks to all hands for coming out.
Really looking forward to the dates to come with Spirit of the West. They have been friends and heroes of ours for a long time. I know that John and Geoffrey and the gents are big fans of the East Coast, especially St. John’s so it will be quite a treat to host them in the town we love so well.
5:04 am. Still dark outside. Should not jog in the dark in a strange place. Two hours to go before breakfast. Everyone I know in North America should be fast asleep.
Back to the BBC, I suppose.
Cheers,
Alan
Tour Diary - March 5, 2009 - Cedar Falls, Iowa - On the Bus
Back on the bus following an interesting few weeks around the BNL Cruise.
First of all let me say that I’m sad to hear Steve Page is leaving the Ladies, but wish him and the remaining lads well in their endeavors. With their talents and energy, I am sure we’ll be hearing a lot from all hands for a long time to come.
Now to get some news off my chest. I’m terrible at keeping secrets, so this announcement comes with great relief. Yours truly has been cast as the Troubadour, Allan A’Dayle in the new Universal Pictures Untitled Robin Hood Film. The film is to star Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett, and to be directed by Ridley Scott. If you recall, I had to scoot to LA after the big fundraising gig in Toronto last December. I went, Lute in hand, to read and sing for the part and must have done all right, as I’ve been offered and accepted the gig.
For a number of days prior to and following the BNL Cruise, I was in Australia with Russell, and some of the other Merry Men, training in Horse Riding, Archery, Weapons Training and a few other skills required for the role. It was great fun, I must say, to look at your schedule for the day and have it read like a 12 year old boy’s fantasy; bows and arrows at 10am, sword fighting at 11am etc.
Like all good things, this opportunity comes with some sacrifice. GBS will have to bow out of this year’s Merlefest, Chautauqua and Iowa Irish Festival gigs, as the film’s shooting schedule does not allow me to make it to the Festivals from the sets in the UK. Too bad, as we all wanted to join up with the long list of heralded music at those events. The organizers have been very understanding and all hands hope we can make it there as soon as possible, maybe even 2010.
Filming should take up the bulk of the second quarter of 2009, so our March concerts in the US and the Canadian Dates with Spirit of the West will be the last chance to see us for a few months. It will be business as usual in the GBS camp in the second half of this year as we plan to tour and record as per normal.
I am very grateful to the Cast and Crew of GBS for their permission and support for this sabbatical, and hope you’ll continue to join me here as I hope to post regular blogs throughout the film shoot. Don’t expect me to give away the plot or anything, but I hope to share as much of this experience as possible with everyone who enjoys this diary.
Should be fun.
Cheers,
Alan
Tour Diary - February 7, 2009 - Fort Lauderdale Airport
Happy New Year.
Just sitting near Gate F6 in the airport awaiting flights to Toronto and St. John’s. Grand fun on the Ships and Dips V. Really enjoyed Butterfly Boucher. She reminds me of early Billy Bragg and Elvis Costello, but her guitar playing seems more influenced by the Celtic dudes like Paul Brady and Folkies like Richard Thomson. She was my favourite musical discovery of the trip, for sure.
Saw the BNL Snacktime show and hummed along to just about every tune. Snacktime is the most played CD at my house lately as the Prince loves many of the tracks and has invented dances and wee pieces of theatre to go along with the music. The BNL should be proud of the career they’ve amassed so far. They have earned the trust and support of legions of fans that gladly follow them from one genre to another, one journey to the next. I am very grateful to the lads for including us on the way.
I had not really seen Sean, Bob, since Christmas Day and the rest of the GBS cast and crew since early December. Since the end of the last Fortunate Tour Leg, all hands dispersed to their own corners. All hands really looking forward to the March date in the US and with Spirit of the West in Canada. The Ottawa date should be the official last show of the Fortunate Tour, which leaves us to ponder what lies ahead.
I don’t know about you, but I’m diggin’ Sean’s new ‘do.
Keep you posted.
Cheers,
Alan
