Hey All,

Just thought I’d keep all hands up to speed on the recent happenings in the GBS Camp.

Bob, Sean, and I just finished another round of demos for the new CD(s).  Kris and Murray were in St. John’s for the first round a few weeks back and we hope to have at least one more session before the Summer touring begins in late July.  The plan is to have a couple dozen songs ready to record in September/October with hopes of the top tunes making the cut for a release in early 2008.  Some tunes that you may have heard in concert, like Straight to Hell and Walk on the Moon remain intact following close inspection under the microscope of the studio.  Others have changed in part or in full, so you may have to learn a new chorus or two to sing along at future shows.

A few weeks back we three, along with gals and pals, had a group birthday dinner at a new restaurant called Atlantica.  It is located in the Beach House B&B in Portugal Cove, about 15 minutes drive from Downtown St. John’s.  Kory, the owner, built the place literally hanging over the Atlantic Ocean as the Dining Room sits on reclaimed land on the beach.  The many large windows give a dandy view of the water, icebergs, whales, and the charming going and coming of the Bell Island Ferry.  One of the nicest places to sit in the country, for sure.  Jeremy, the chef, is a well traveled local who I met at a GBS show in Chicago a few years back when he was employed as a private chef by someone rich enough to afford a private chef.   The food is world class.  The service is just as good.  We had a grand night there and were the last to leave before they turned out the lights.  

‘Southern Shore’, the new Irish Descendants CD was released a few weeks ago.  I produced the CD at GB Studio with Con and the lads.  It features mostly traditional songs from Newfoundland and Ireland as well as a song that Con and I wrote about cutting out cod tongues as boys, and a fun cover of Jim Fiddler’s song ‘Downtown Girl’ that has Sean, Bob, and I singing a verse or two.  Check it out if you get a chance.

Once again, I have triumphed over my counterparts in the GBS Playoff Hockey Pool.  Two years in a row, the Doyle Team has crushed the opposition.  The other participants (also known as ‘losers’) of the Pool made a donation at Daffodil Place in lieu of bowing to the champ.

I am pleased to announce that the leaves on the Beech Tree outside my office window have multiplied to the point that many of my neighbours’ backyards are no longer visible to me as I sit and type at the computer.  My nosy spying is annually hindered around this time and for this, I am delighted as it can only mean that Summer has finally come.
 
Everything is gonna be alright.
Hope all is well wherever you are.

See you on the road in July.

Cheers,
Alan