Digital clock in the upper right hand corner of the MacBook Pro reads 5:58. I’ve been up for an hour, making it a 5am rise, give or take a moment or two. That’s 3:30am EST. We hit the stage in Kingston at 8pm EST, but have a bunch of duties to fulfill en route. Before the first chord is struck in song #1 of tonight’s soiree, I have to take a near four hour flight, drive downtown Toronto and tape a songwriters show called “Drive” on CBC 2, do two other radio shows, drive from Toronto to Kingston, doing phone interviews wherever cell service will allow, meet several press commitments in Kingston upon arrival, and host a Soundcheck Party, at the hockey rink, shower, change and get myself to stage side for 7:55pm.
Gotta Love it. Days like this energize me in a way that a rainy day on the bus in the middle of a tour does not. It’s such a privilege to still be operating at this level in the troubled music business, which has eaten many of its young and promising acts in recent years.
GBS played a gig in St. John’s on Saturday night for a private, ‘win to get in’ kind of event and I had the rare opportunity to roam around George Street late night. I got to see five or six bands playing the clubs. I recognized many folks who had been playing the circuit when I started there as a solo singer in 1989. Three or four of the folks I saw, sing and play much better than I ever will, but have not had the good fortune and savvy partners like Sean and Bob, or a Manager as good as Louis, and have never got beyond the pub level. Here I am about to start my umpteenth Canadian tour with full production and crew. Bring it on.
Just heard the flight called. Must dash to the gate.
More later.
Fell asleep on the fight; have no memory of it whatsoever.
Just recorded CBC ‘Drive’ show with Rich Terfry. You might know him as Buck 65. He’s a great music mind and worldly chatter. I really enjoyed the banter, I must say.
Currently on the 401 bolting East to Kingston in a mini van with all 5 band guys and Ken Greene from Warner Music. It is amazing to consider how much of my adult life has been spent in a minivan crisscrossing Canada, the US, UK, Germany, or Scandinavia, in this fashion.
Feels very good to be back on home ice traveling these old familiar routes.
Oh Canada.
Cheers,
Alan