just Who is Blake?

Undaunted, Blake retreated to his living room to record his first album, Geek in Love, on a 4-track cassette(!) unit. Some copies of Geek in Love survive to this day, but most were sold in a “package” deal along with Blake’s now-famous underwear on e-Bay.

After several years performing solo in such redoubtable Ottawa institutions as The Cajun Attic, The Elbow Room, The Dunvegan pub, and the Parliament Pub, Blake assembled a crack band of professionals to record his 1st “proper” album. The well-meaning, but sometimes-disturbing Downtown Baby (2004) is a rollicking celebration of a man’s descent into psychosis, a re-evaluation of his life, his return to health, and his subsequent descent into psychosis again. Featuring such oft-requested tunes as “Mr. Exorcist”, “Romeo”, and the title track, Downtown Baby has proven to “have legs” as they say in forensics.

Returning to the solo scene, Blake made inroads playing in such venerable venues as Trio Bistro, The Elgin St. Freehouse, and the Aloha Room and was a featured act in the “freaks” section of the Ottawa Fringe Festival.

When it came time to record his 2nd “actual” album, Blake opted for a more intimate, stark approach that would capture his solo sound. Recorded from a wooden chair in the middle of Ross Murray’s stately Wakefield studio, Music for (4) Misfits (2007) features acoustic guitar and vocals with no overdubs (except for 1 scream). Like pillow talk from a David Lynch movie, M4M is by turns harrowing and humorous and, according to more than one listener “disturbing but in a good way.”

Since recording Music 4 Misfits, Blake has returned to the stage, formed a band, disbanded, and formed a band again. He can be seen at such estimable establishments as Daniel O’Connell’s, the New Edinburgh Pub, and University of Ottawa’s Cafe Nostalgica, often sharing the bill with other singer/songwriters from the Ottawa scene. Increasingly confident as a performer, Blake has become legendary in the region for his willingness to bare his soul and other body parts at the drop of his drawers.

In late 2009, Blake felt an itch to record once again. Initially dismissed as a minor skin irritation, it turned out to be the early symptoms of another full-blown album. Once again repairing to Ross Murray’s studio, this time with drummer par excellence, Mike Bellavy, and session bass wiz, Joe Hincke, in tow, Blake laid down the foundations for what he feels is his most definitive musical statement yet. His 3rd “real” album, Together Again, features Blake’s trademark wit enrobed in a sumptuous pop melody nougat served with a compote of distilled emotional essence.

Works in Progress