And there it was.  Gone. 

The three-day blitz in Central Canada came and went like a Tornado.  As expected, it was a weekend of notable occurrences and stats.  On Thursday, we played for our biggest crowd ever in Quebec.  We’ve done a few big things in Montreal, but as headliners we’ve never drawn a bigger Quebec crowd than at La Festival d’Ete.  I spoke with some kind folks who were visiting the hidden jewel of North America for the first time and they agreed that Quebec City is fabulous.  I would move there tomorrow if I did not love St. John’s so much.

All hands figured Ottawa would be big.  But no one could have predicted the record breaker that occurred on Friday night.  I’m told that we had just about 30,000 people singing along at the Bluesfest gig.  According to all reports, that is the biggest audience in the history of the Festival, and certainly would be the biggest paid audience in GBS history.  A sea of bodies was all I could discern each time LampieJayrock swept the field with the spotlights.  It was truly an amazing feeling.  I normally leave my in-ear headphones jammed in pretty tight, but I confess I pulled them out several times to hear the roar of the crowd.  I’m sure this did nothing for my timing or pitch, but I just had to hear what General Taylor sounds like, supported by so many voices.  Glorious.  Thanks to everyone.

And if Ottawa was not enough to give a God-like Rock Star complex, we dashed overnight to Toronto to the Molson Amphitheatre to a near 10,000 people packed into the Premiere concert venue in the country.  There were six video cameras, a separate recording truck, a cool walk on from Hawksley, and a PA and Light rig fit for Bon Jovi.  By the time we rolled to the airport at about 4 am, I had myself fully convinced that I was the biggest Rock Star on the planet and nothing could ever slow me down again.

No worries, this delusion quickly passed as I arrived home and checked my long list of domestic duties that had built up over my three or four day absence.  Nothing like scooping Molly’s poop to bring you down from a foolishly inflated sense of self.

So I was doing a press thingy for Daffodil Place yesterday with my Aunt Maud.  She has lived in the States for a long time but still holds Newfoundland close to her heart.  Her and some friends gathered together around $2500 for Daffodil Place.  Very cool, thanks Aunt Maud…see you in Altamont.

Anyway, after Aunt Maud and me finish our little press scrum, the CBC gal pulls me aside and asks me on camera I’d like to comment on the Page incident. I’m like, “What? Page incident? ...like paper incident?”  She rolled her eyes a bit and looked at me like I must live under a rock or something, as I did not know that the news of the day involved Steven Page getting arrested in NY State for possession of drugs.  I told her I could not comment on the matter as I knew nothing of it and merely insisted that Steve is a good guy and I hope this whole thing resolves itself to the betterment of him and all the BNL Camp.

Then she says, “Would you care to comment on the appeal of drugs in the music business?” 
Now, you guys know me.  Conservative comment is not my forte and my first instinct was to exclaim…

“Are you kidding, drugs are f%^&ing awesome.  I’m high as a kite right now.  I couldn’t walk on stage without a serious dose of smack.  If it weren’t for the dandy hookers, drugs would be the best part .”

You know, some ridiculous answer for a ridiculous question.

But, alas, my Mom and Aunt Maud were about six feet from me and I just did not have the heart to risk shocking the Dolls, so I said something polite and politically correct, and insipid and boring.  

I’ll try not to make a habit of it.

Rock On.

Cheers,
Alan