archives

Works in Progress

Sometime, somewhere in early
May ’09

Hit the open stage for the quick ‘n brutal 3-song set. The nail sticking into the bottom of my foot reminds me to be present and not LOSE IT! Of course, it’s all made tolerable when you’re playing side-by-side with an amazing guitar player, like Hugo Bouchard, and when the stage (this time at the Chateau Lafayette) is hosted by the incontrovertible John Carroll.

Drunk’s eye view of Hugo & Blake at the Chateau Lafayette

Thanks to everyone who came out to see me and Alex play at Umi Cafe on June 5! Your love seeped through the cafe like a cup of lukewarm herbal tea spilled in the lap. You are the beast...I mean, the best!

We’ll definitely be playing there again, probably later this summer. In the meanwhile, I’m getting busy preparing the preparations for the pre-recording...Did I say I’d be recording in June? Haha, it is to laugh.

09/09

I’m trying to galvanize this trio before I drag them into the recording studio. C Mon out, everybody, and watch us whip ourselves into shape! Hairshirts available at the door.

Band of Miscreants: Mike Bellavy on drums, Joe Hincke on bass and Blake Walters singing

11/09

We’ell, kids! Thanks for coming out to see me play at Daniel O’Connell’s this past Friday (Nov. 20). And for those of you who didn’t come out or couldn’t make it out because you live hundreds to thousands of of kilometres away and I’m not Celine Dion or Zamfir, thanks anyway for the supportive thoughts. ‘Cause I know you were thinking them. Right? Right?
Anyway, whatagig. It was spirited, intense, introverted, extroverted and perverted all at the same time. A new religion was invented. I’m learning that every gig has its own character, largely defined by the characters who show up intentionally and/or just wander in off the street. And this show was no exception. Very nice!

12/09

From the wilds outside Wakefield, Que, amidst the tall pines and birch watching, sentinel-like, over their own lengthening shadows come the snarl of the bobcat, the screech of the great horned owl, the grunt of the arctic mongoose...and the sound of Mike, Joe and I recording in Ross Murray’s studio in the woods. Yes, it has finally begun. Four tracks so far. Oxygen running low. But I think we’re gonna make it. Actually, it’s the down time that’s killing me. I can’t wait to get back and record some of the ideas that keep seeping into my brain at inopportune moments as I go back over these tunes in my head again and again. Must remember to keep it simple. Patience. Enjoy the process. It’s about the journey, right? Auuuugh! (photos of the entire creative process from conception to mental breakdown to come).

Meanwhile, go on over to Works in Progress for something new....

News:

I’ll be playing a fundraiser for Ottawa’s Cornerstone Women’s Shelter this Friday (Jan. 8, 9pm). The bill features poets Jill Anne Chouinard (who just happens to be my wife and, heh heh, got me the gig) and Jennifer Gibson with Alex Mann and me as the musical sweeping crew. Come on out for a fun, conscience-filled evening of poetry ‘n song! We’ll have a jar for contributions.

Dear Recording Diary:

Yesterday, Ross asked me what the hell I was thinking when I wrote the song, Proud Man, and, after my fifth attempt at adding an electric guitar part that made sense, I was inclined to see his point of view. The song seemed so meaningful and ironic when I first thought of it, and it’s always been one that I’ve loved playing live on my own. But now, emerging from the tar pit of the full studio treatment, I’m afraid it’s morphed into something other. Yes, Newton, it’s a prog rock song. Oh what a world! Some pictures of the process...

the Sonic Isolation Booth

on my 112th cup of water of the day...

By the end of the day, Mike had learned to discipline himself.

And, of course, thanks to Joe who took all the pictures and, hence, isn’t in any of them.

01/10

18/01/10

News:

An excellent turnout at Cafe Nostalgica on Jan. 8 resulted in us making $500 for the Cornerstone Women’s Shelter! Yes, the music, courtesy of the redoubtable duo of Alex Mann and me, ranged from the sublime to the silly (we are each getting to know the other’s ways on stage), but the true stars of the evening were poets Jill Chouinard and Jennifer Gibson. Their seductive turns of phrase left no head unturned, no knicker untwisted. There was even a poetry encore (unheard of outside Eastern Bloc countries)! I think I speak for everyone in attendance when I say: Whooo! Oh yes, and let’s hope I get these people out to perform again soon. Thanks to everyone who came out, donated, bought raffle tickets (sorry, no refunds on prizes) and otherwise added to the spirit of the night. Give yourselves a pat on the back (if accompanied by a cough, see your physician). Also, special thanks to Alex, Jill and Jennifer who donated their earnings from the evening to the shelter. As for me, I spent mine on this wicked ass gaming system...

Joe, and me in the booth.

Joe leans into the groove.

Ross threatens to turn me down, or off.

A rare moment of respite for Mike. We gave him water

Me at the entrance to Sterling Sound. Used to being Photoshopped in, physically being there was a mind-blowing experience.

After shave balm or lotion?

30-30-10

Happy New Year, everyone! May 2011 find you in a version of your heaven.

As many of you know, Together Again is now out. You can listen to some songs on Myspace, you can buy the album online at CD Baby, but I’d really prefer to see you at a gig, where you can have the more interactive experience of me getting you a hard copy all the while complaining about my carbuncles.

Ah yes, here are some pictures from the album release party on Dec. 3 at the Mercury Lounge, during which the band--Joe Hincke and Mike Bellavy reprising their roles on the album, along with the guitar virtuosics of Alex Mann--basked in the warm, red glow coming off you, oh awesome audience...

That’s right, this year marks the long overdue return of GoatFest, Ottawa’s best festival for the world’s most environmentally-friendly pet. The interspecies love affair continues! And who says it’s wrong?

This special GoatFest revival is a fundraiser to help send rising young development superstar and goat enthusiast, Isabelle Jones (who completely by coincidence is Jill’s niece), to Botswana on a three month development partnership co-ordinated by the Queen’s University Project on International Development.

Featuring the poetry of Jen Gibson, Jill Anne Chouinard and music by Al Wood, Alex Mann, and me, this GoatFest is, in the words of William Shatner, “Not...to be...missed”.

The Goat:
Eat it
Milk it
Love it

Whoah! That last month of my life went by incredibly quickly. If life keeps up this pace, soon I’ll be 99 years old and waving back at you from the future. At least I’ll be able to tell you what iphone apps become available and if it’s true that David Suzuki plans to have his body cryogenically frozen and blasted into low Earth orbit...

Anyway, I just wanted to take time out from your busy schedule to say thanks to everyone who came out to GoatFest 2011--GoatsWanna aka The Return of the Goat on May 6 at Daniel O’Connell’s. Because of your enthusiasm and support for the cloven hoof, we managed to raise over $700 to help Isabelle Jones join the the Queen’s University Project on International Development in Botswana, where she’ll be working on an AIDS education program.

A huge thanks, too, to the artists who participated and brought their talents (and their friends) out to the ‘Fest: Poet Jen Gibson subdued the bucking herd with her evocative and lithe turns of phrase, prompting more than one regular to look up from their cups as if to say, “Poetry? This just isn’t done here. What have I been missing?” Jill Anne Chouinard deftly brandished her passionate and provocative polemic like a leather switch, urging the assembled flock into a froth of pent-up energy. Al Wood and his Woodsmen then took to the stage and with effortless cool had all goats hypnotically swaying to the ancient rhythms of their capric forbears. All this made it easy for Alex Mann and I to shepherd the flock home, as it were. At one point, I looked up from the Adim7 chord I was trying to wrap my fingers around and I swear Alex, mischievous grin on his face, was sprouting horns....

Thanks to everyone who took my email seriously and made their one gig of the year Sat, Aug. 27, when I opened for the talented Lauren Mann and her band, from Calgary, and Handsome & Gretyl, all the way from Nashville, TN. It’s an excellent gig, indeed, when not only do I get to phret my phorty minutes onstage at the Mercury Lounge but then I get to be part of the audience for an inspiring show as well! Kind of like the classic surrealist’s dream in which you become a big piano playing your own teeth. Anyway, Lauren & Co. are now on the final part of their tour of Eastern Canada, but here’s hoping they make it back this way in 2012!

Happy August, everyone! And for this month’s special, I’ll be opening for the talented Lauren Mann from Calgary, already on the second leg of her tour of Eastern Canada and fresh off the Calgary Folk Festival. She writes great songs and has an excellent, natural voice to go along with. Also on the bill are Handsome & Gretyl, a husband-and-wife duo out of Nashville, TN. Nashville. Say, isn’t that where music comes from? Anyway, I’m really excited about this one, so, come on out!

Showtime: Aug 27, 7:30pm
Place: Mercury Lounge
Cover: $7

On Nov. 25 I’ll be playing at a Christmas fundraiser for Harmony House, Ottawa’s only second stage women’s shelter. Joining me on the bill will be Diana Young, a jazzy electro folk songstress who puts the “cool” back in cool, the uncontainable Alex Mann, of alt psych rock fame, surrealist minimalist author, Andrew Simpson, and of course, what must-attend event would be complete without the seductive, incendiary, political-but-not-politic poetry of Jill Chouinard!

There will also be raffle prizes, and a silent auction, featuring a growing number of items donated by local businesses.

So come at a walk or half run, half runts, have fun, and raise funds!

Thanks everyone who came out to our fundraiser for Harmony House second stage women’s shelter. We raised over $1600 for the cause, much of this coming from our not so silent auction of incredibly generous donations by local businesses, restaurants, artists, bakers, salons, fitness centres, and bon vivants! And an extra special thanks to those who helped out by approaching businesses for donations, selling raffle tickets, and otherwise concerning themselves with the logistics of the evening while I paced nervously in the bathroom...

And now, the donors:

Studio MCM, Cara Rowlands, Kaitlin Wainwright, Agave Grill, Cyclelogik, Saab Salon, Second Cup Westgate,Viva Loca, Destination Hair, Napoli’s Restaurant, Critter Jungle, Dr. Barbara Houle D.D.S., Helena Ghosn, Alicia Borisonik, The Secret Garden Hair Studio, Marshall’s Gym

On top of that, it was a great night for the performers: Andrew Simpson kicked off the evening with 5 short, sharp tales from Surreal Urbia, followed by Jill Chouinard, reading a selection of seductive paeans to sex, self-awareness and social activism. I provided the soundtrack for most of the heavy bidding, accompanied by Steve Mallette on percussion. Then Alex Mann bathed the collective eardrum of the crowd in the warm miasma of his alt folk rock tunes.

Also, the executive director of Harmony House showed up and stayed for most of the night, something I take as, perhaps, the greatest indication of the success and overall palatability of our event.

So, Jill and I have promised we won’t hold another fundraiser until at least next year. In the meantime, here are some pictures:

Wake up from your winter torpor and come out and see me open for Lauren Mann and her traveling band on their latest tour. Lauren’s a talented singer/songwriter from Calgary, and anyone who saw us play last August at the Mercury Lounge will know that this is a show Not To Be MissedTM! Also joining us will be Ottawa singer/songwriter, Neil Gerster, a musical maelstrom in his own right. We’re playing at The Elmdale Tavern, a great Ottawa venue known for its character(s). Admission is $8, or $5 for students. And if this doesn’t fill your plate, there’re some profiteroles over at the dessert table...