It's a busy time for us as we try and keep the momentum rolling from the cd release at the Horseshoe a few weeks ago. Thank you to all the kind souls who came to show support at the party. I can't tell you how inspiring it is to see a legendary bar like that full of people bopping their heads to the beat and occasionally singing along. Scrumtralescent.
The summer and fall will see us touring the bejesus out of Ontario so keep checking in to see when we're coming to rock your town. Hopefully it's soon. Take care.
25 Jul 2008 Live Lounge, Ottawa 16 Aug 2008 Jimmy Jazz, Guelph 22 Aug 2008 The Boathouse, Kitchener 23 Aug 2008 Pepper Jack Cafe, Hamilton 29 Aug 2008 Bassline Station, Ottawa 13 Sep 2008 Johnny O’s Fantastic Fun Farm, Kitchener (Private Party) 19 Sep 2008 Maxwell’s Music House, Waterloo TBA Sep 2008 The Harbor, Owen Sound TBA Sep 2008 The Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto 11 Oct 2008 Cafe Campus, Montreal TBA Oct 2008 Peterborough TBA Oct 2008 The Townehouse, Sudbury TBA Oct 2008 Norma Jean's, London TBA Oct 2008 Bombshelter, Waterloo TBA Oct 2008 Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield, QC
Cost is $30 and includes your ticket for the show. You must purchase your ticket in advance. The bus will be a Grey Hound Coach. You can purchase tickets one of the following ways:
1. Buy a Ticket at any The Free Press or Joys show
2. Send a cheque payable to The Joys to (6337 – 2100 Bloor St. W, Toronto, On M6S 5A5) Please include your full name and contact number as well as your departure location (London, Woodstock, Brantford) Cheque must be received before July 11th.
3. Send an e-mail money transfer to mark@watsonentertainment.com
Tonight marked the last night of the tour (apart from the appalling 20 hour drive home, of course). We had a late departure from Liverpool (what a surprise) and after another great meal at the Mersey house we tasked our GPS system (Tom Tom) with the top priority of finding us a DQ. Glenn and I had been jonesing since the US when he discoverd the M&M Blizzard (superior, I am told, to the Smarties Blizzard) and I discovered the Butterfinger Blizzard (superior to the Crispy Crunch Blizzard). Now, Glenn had been a little 'off' altogether since the 'accidental' freebasing accident that occurred shortly after he bought a 4 lb. bag of M&M's in a Walgreens for $4.99. But every man has his vice so we all sought the DQ with the help of the Tomtizzle.We had success about 45 minutes out of Liverpool (and halfway to Halifax) and we gorged ourselves on frozen, sugary goodness. You know - what all bands who have 5 guys that sing should do. Why didn't we just pour cream and wax down our throats as well? Dusty and one of his groupies.
It got really, really cold as we pulled into Halifax and a fog fell over the city. I've not been to London but it's as I imagine the London fog would be. We had trouble backing up the van (and trailer) because we could barely see 6 feet behind us. The venue was pretty amazing. We played in Hell's Kitchen which is the baby bar associated with the Marquee Club (the gorgeous upstairs room that has an 850 person capacity). Jesse described it as 'strangely reminiscent of Jabba's palace' and he couldn't have been more right. It was well documented on video but we won't see that until Alex gets off his lazy bum and edits some video (in his defense this IS a tedious endeavour because we swear like a thousand, angry truckers all the time we're on the road).
The show itself was great. In the classic tradition of east coast generosity, our friend Jason MacIsaac (who got us on the bill) switched the order of the bands. We were set to go first but he said, "Nawww. We'll go first. We play here all the time and if you guys go second there'll be more people here to see you." I assure you that kind of thing never happens in Ontario. That was the best night of music I've been a part of in a while. As good as some of the bands were that we played with on the road, these guys were the most honed, the most entertaining and the most enjoyable. The other two acts (Jason's band, Silvergun and a great local act called, Alert the Medic) were just fantastic and I think we played our best show of the tour. It was a proper farewell show for a good crowd that will included a classic - almost Gord Downielike - rant from yours truly. I highly suggest searching for the bootleg. If you can't find that, just buy the record and I'll come to your house and do a rant in person. I don't know what happened, but the spirit just moved me and I went on a little sojourn in the latter part of 'The Beginning of the End of the World.' I had the crowd shouting, "I feel good! I feel strong! I feel good! I feel strong!" just before Len channelled the remainder of his M&M sugar-high into a face-melting solo. Seriously. Some folks left there with less than half a face. Just some folks that were at our show in Halifax. (Actually they're from the exhibit at the Smithsonian I saw in Washington - sad that with a space shuttle next door to me I was more excited about R2, 3P0 and the original Kermit the Frog puppet.)
This is an appendix to the note known as 'Prepare to be Destroyed.' It occurred to me (as I flipped through my pictures) that I had failed to give context to the evening. Perhaps this is why it seemed so funny to us and so bizarre to the other 99.999999999% of the populace. Now, I hate to behave like a teenager and boast about how badly I hurt myself but I believe this is one of those situations where I should save my thousand words. I'll put the picture in the note, too, for future generations to enjoy and puzzle over. Welcome to Saint John! Prepare to be destroyed.
I know. The titles are getting lamer and lamer. This has to do with a complex math equation:Less sleep + More booze + Even more paperwork + Too much driving + Writing blogs in a van = A serious decline in the quality of pretty much everything.Pretty much everything except the rock and roll, that is. Amazing how the circumstances just get more and more stupid and the band gets better and better. We played for 3 hours last night and though it wasn't remarkable for the WHOLE 3 hours, there was certainly some of the best individual song performances we've ever had.
As you may have guessed the camera still isn't working. This kitten's name is Earnest T. Bass. What a great name for a cat. Can you dig him?
Today began (for me) at 9am. This is particularly unfortunate because I went to bed at 7am. I was up doing FACTOR paperwork. Seriously. It had to get done because we (and by we, I really mean our producer, Rick - he's a genius with the material but he's not terribly interested in semantics like paperwork and deadlines) blew out 4 deadlines in the last year. If someone gives you five figures of money I suppose it's reasonable to expect they want a product no more than a year after the original deadline (and three subsequent). So, I stayed up late doing paperwork and got up early to find a Staples in Saint John to finish it. It got done. Like the titles of these blogs, it's not pretty but it's done.
After that is was the long drive to Liverpool. We had originally intended to take the Ferry but were a bit naive about the cost of it. For 5 blokes and an extended-mini van hauling a trailer the cost was $495. Unless they serve champagne, caviar, steak and high priced escorts on the trip it just didn't seem worth it. And I could find no literature on the internet that guaranteed those things were included. As such, we drove.And when we arrived - six hours later - it was just the homecoming we'd hoped for. Michael & Heather were just as entertaining and generous as we remembered. The show was supposed to start at 9 but no one was there. So, we waited. The show was pushed to 10 but no one was there. At this point Len & I went out on the deck of the Mersey (which faces the main street) and began - essentially - to busk. We played two or three tunes and by the time we had finished the house across the street (that was having a party) had a crowd of people gathered at an open window to hear us play. By that time a small crowd had grown inside and we played the show proper. The first set was for a relatively intimate group but it swelled for the second half and all kinds of folks were dancing, grinding, drinking and singing along with the band (our hostess included). It was a great vibe and a great group of folks and once again I was really happy with the way the boys played.I think I found my bed @ 5am. We were - boy this is getting old - once again up until 4am with our host and hostess and a few others just having a good time. The acoustic guitars stayed out after the proper show and we went through what was essentially a 3rd and 4th set as we sat around, caught up and told stories. I guess we'll sleep when we're dead.
This kitten may look confused because he saw an unusual sight at 5am. Whoever said rock and roll was glamourous did not draw the short straw and have to sleep with a Portuguese man in a king sized bed with red, satin sheets. This cat is now a believer.
We have never failed to have a great time in Saint John. Tonight we played at the Blue Olive again. Probably the nicest stage we've ever played. The sound system is top notch, the stage itself is roomy and there are LED lights, a hazer and a mirror ball. In short, everything that you want (apart from the crowd) in a rock and roll show.
The camera wouldn't work today (kind of like the band in the late morning/early afternoon) so I've decided to sprinkle the note with kittens instead. Cats are very rock and roll. Seriously. They're independant, sort of disinterested in you and all they want is to be fed and given attention on their terms.
Chris – the proprietor of the Olive – has been in a longstanding email and phone argument with us over who's more awesome. We think he's more awesome and he thinks we're more awesome. He's wrong. He wrote an article about us in the local paper discussing how he's been in the music business for a long time. He claims to have a good eye for talent and a good track record for success stories. He also promised to buy a drink for anyone who didn't think we were great. I have to tell you that was a lot of pressure on us. That could have been a lot of drinks for Chris. There's no greater endorsement than someone who sees that much music and puts their money where the mouth is for a band. In fact I had several folks tell me they were going to buy HIM a drink because they were so happy he'd coaxed them down to see us. I've got to tell you that's truly affirming as an artist to have that kind of feedback from an audience member and that kind of belief from a bar owner who has earned your respect. And the thing is he means it. Sincerely. He's a quiet, gentle and incredibly generous person. Every band comes across a handful of people that help them rise from the bogs of obscurity to the lights of the marquee. Chris is one of those guys. He will be mentioned in the book. He will be forever posted on a website (because the food is EXCELLENT in addition to his kindness and thoughtfulness). He will be played by George Clooney in the movie version of our lives. That's just the kind of guy he is.
This guy is particularly fierce. Sort of like Glenn after a few beers.
We had a great show and – despite our plans to leave early and get some work done – we stayed until the wee hours of morning laughing, telling stories and enjoying the company of Chris and his lovely head bartender, Kathy (who incidentally boosted the dead battery in our car and found us food at 3am in addition to caring for us all night). Kathy suggested a place called the Colonial Inn for good eats and crack whores (seriously). Being as we're a rock and roll band it seemed like a pretty obvious decision. But we've never been content to make the obvious choice. We make our own destiny. As such, we chose the FAR more rock and roll decision to head back to the hotel and finish the mountain of paperwork that was due in less than 18 hours. We are sooo badass.
Fredericton is a great, little city. I'm continually awed by the size of the country and the stark contrasts that occur with geography and season. The last time we were in Fredericton it was bitter, cold and dark. This time it was light, warm and welcoming. In fact, due to the civility of the town I can write and upload this little journal as we sit parked on the street and I can post it as we sit and eat in the delicious Pizza Delight. Apparently Fredericton decided that the whole city should be Y-Fi and that everyone should have wireless interest for free. Last year they implemented such practice and now we enjoy the benefits. Toronto councilors take note.
We made the easy push to Saint John after the scrumtralescence of Pizza Delight. Tonight was to be a re-union with an old friend, Jeff. Jeff used to have a Celtic band called Finnigan. Three TFP members are alumni of said band and a good deal of tomfoolery, dirty jokes and alcohol went into the forging of that friendship. Having met Jeff's two brothers (one in Fredericton and the other in Saint John) AND his mom all in 12 hours, it's easy to see where he comes by his generosity and kindness. Maybe it's just something in the water here. If it is, it should be pumped into the Great Lakes as well.
Jeff, his wife and their three kids put us up for the night. Unless you've ever been camping, sailing or backpacking for more than a week you can't imagine the relief that comes with four proper walls and a stove to cook your own food on.
Several things happened after the agreement to put us up.
1. Jeff put for the idea of a bonfire but confessed that they almost lit the bell phone line on fire the last time such a blaze was set (it probably didn't hurt that there was a giant dresser on the top of the fire).
2. Jeff brought for a great deal of alcohol. When that seemed to slow, Mark (Jeff's brother) magically created more. Like stupid, foolish, nineteen year old boys – we consumed all of it. When several of us declined a beer, Jeff brought one anyway. This happened on at least a dozen occasions. Somewhere in there came the quote of the night. Jeff said, "You don't fucking come to fucking Saint John and not get fucking destroyed." Testify.
3. Jeff was discussing the 'culture' of Saint John (see above) and had a suggestion for its new tourism campaign. The provincial license plate (and perhaps the commercials) should read: Saint John. Prepare to be Destroyed.
We left the confines of our homey hotel in Wakefield, MA and made the long drive to Fredericton, NB. Needless to say that with 5 imaginative men in an enclosed space (that's hurtling along at 100 km/h) for more than 8 hours terrible things were discussed. Chose an offensive topic, multiply the darkness by a factor of ten and you probably have a van ride with a band that's been on the road for a week. We've all agreed that we'd very much prefer it if someone was driving the bus the next time we make such a drive. So, if anyone has a bus lying around, please let us know.
We had no show booked tonight but we headed down to a place called The Capital to hit an open mic jam. In Toronto that means a host will stand up and play his own material (or 5 Zeppelin covers) and then you get to hop up and play a couple of songs before someone else has to get up and do a few of their Zeppelin covers. Again I bring up the stark contrast of societies and behaviours in the same country. When the host, Richard, heard we were from Toronto he got very excited. We asked if we could play a few tunes and he said, "Sure – you can play 5 or 6 if you want." So we ended up playing a stripped down acoustic set for a nice sized crowd and had a blast. It was one of those nights that's heartening. Just to see strangers listening, drinking, dancing and enjoying the music. We've all decided to make a conscious effort to bring some of that kindness, generosity and agreeable temperment back to Toronto. Can you smell what Barack is cooking?
Sunrise started at 4:02 am today. No shit. I can say that because I was driving a van full of drunken idiots back from Brattleboro, VT. After all the villagers captured, stuffed and hung the dwarf we celebrated until the wee hours of the morning. I abstained from the alcohol in case they tried to steal, sacrifice or slice one of us up into little pieces. They did no such thing. They showed us nothing but kindness and generosity. Shame about their little people prejudice.But I digress. I was talking about the sunrise at 4:02 am. Everyone in the band dislikes STILL being awake when you begin to hear the birds chirping. If they wake you up that’s one thing. They’re a nuisance you can feel justified berating. If they start their incessant chatter when you’re still awake it feels like you’re being both taunted and chastised. Well, the birds can suck it.I still digress. I was driving the bus through the mountains in northern Massacheussetts and the sky began to lighten. At 4:02 am. It was eerily beautiful to see the trees silhouetted in the morning light while dipping and diving across the state road that took us back to the hotel. It looked like the trees were very slowly being set on fire.We got back to the hotel shortly before 6 am and everyone was in bed pretty quickly. There was a fun surprise waiting for us in the parking lot, however. There's a video (that Alex still hasn't posted) from our last tour where I talk about the concept of 'F*$k You parking.' The concept is simple: If you're vehicle is big enough you can park wherever you'd like to. Usually we think we're being dinks because we take up 3-5 spaces. Imagine our surprise when we discovered a large tour bus (clearly parked by a master of the FYP philosophy) taking up TEN spaces! TEN!!! We had a good laugh and then went to bed. The work of a master.
It was a rest day for us, so we got up late and did all the usual things one is supposed to do. We went to the mall, we went to a movie, Alex killed 23 moose in one sitting and we went to the city for a walk around Boston commons and the downtown core. It’s amazing how desolate American cities become after the sun goes down. Perhaps we’re just ignorant of the dangers (and maybe that’s for the best) the city holds or maybe it’s just a cultural difference. Regardless, we had a meal about a block from the Orpheum theatre (bigger than Massey Hall and a venue we fully intend to play in less than two years. ☺) After that it was back to the hotel and a bit of work; making plans for the summer tour, sussing out some new material (Len & J.D.) and the continuation of the Derek & Clive bender (both the booze and the comedy) that Mick & Alex have been on for about 72 hours now. Tomorrow we head back to Canada and terra firma. Let the good times roll. Alex and the moose hunt. The Orpheum Theatre in Boston, MA. See you in a couple of years!
