2am - just in from an evening with Blue Rodeo - a veritable
institution on the Canadian scene for years. Coming up in Quebec, This
was a party to launch their DVD. I think I missed the true impact of
this band, but there was a room full of youngish people digging their
hits. I recognized the songs of course. As I looked around, I made a
game out of trying to find one person (besides myself) who didn't have
a youthful bushy head of hair. The only guy that had a bald spot - not
as prominent as mine - was Jack de Keyzer.

I saw Jack at the back of the club (Lee's Palace) and reminded him
that he had wriiten some kind words about my playing ("You sounded
wonderful") and made sure it was OK to put that up on my website. Then
he said some other nice stuff but I can't remember.

So now I'm gathering quotes from guitar players, media and fans for
some promo piece that I must finish......TONIGHT!

Also seen this week, Don Giovanni performed by Opera Atelier and
Tafelmusik - beautifully done.

Sun I played at a benefit concert for Project Ploughshare with Lily
and Michelle. Raced back to town to join some friends for a small
birthday dinner and then caught the very end of Phynix's multimedia
performance - amazing and beautiful visuals. Great photography. The
vocals with Maggie were soaring. A huge screen and state-of-the-art
projector.

Saturday night I could have gone to see Michael Kaeshammer or Paul
Reddick - I would have really enjoyed either, but I just couldn't get
myself up and out the door. I wonder if they brought in a real piano
to Hugh's Room? (If any of the distinguished readers of this blog
know the answer, please let me know.)

Every night there's some amazing music somewhere in this town - and I
get to hear about most of it.

My new road car, a big Buick LeSabre, did 575 km on 61 litres of gas
(which cost $45.00 at 73.7/ltr) This is the first time I kept track
of the mileage. I'll have to start factoring this into my touring
budget

Wed Night - Downchild's 35th anniversary party & CD release

Next Saturday, I play with Downchild bassist Gary Kendall and former
Downchild drummer Jim Casson at the Double Olive Matinee in St
Catharines (call Deborah Cartmer about doing a radio interview)

Mid week I should know about a mixing schedule for the album. I've
told Fred that the worst case is having it mixed by Mid Jan - now it
looks like we might be able to tackle it earlier. Part of me want to
mix it myself. Another part of me wants to leave entirely in Rob
Heaney's hands. Then there's Paul Benedict's original mix which may
well be as good as this can sound (he thinks so). I thought Rob
brought something to the music beyond his ears. His mind is always
trying to figure out different ways to make a "nice noise" (as my
friend Frazier Mohawk calls it).

Driving to a gig yesterday I was thinking it's about time to post a
blog on all the great stuff that happened in October, for all three of
you who like to keep up on ole Colorblind's shenanigans, but let me
start by telling you about the gig yesterday.

It was a return engagement as the matinee guest at the Liquid Lounge
in Brantford. Mike Fitzpatrick, who I played with a lot in the past
had to sub out because he had a goig with Downchild, but the drummer
he got was great - Chris Nemeth is his name. Dennis Rondeau was the
bass player - he's a great musician, didn't have to give much
direction to him. In fact, I had tried to position myself so he could
watch my left hand, but all he ever saw was the back of my hand.
Anyway, this rhythm section didn't need any drection. And what a
pleasure playing with Rod Phillips again - he brings every song to new
heights. One of the great organists in our town. Rod, Mike and I had a
little organ trio going for a couple of years - hope we get to do it
again sometime. Rod's coming over to do some overdubs on my album
tomorrow.

But the big surprise of yesterday afternoon was the presence of Hubert
Sumlin. There's a big show in town today, and he came in a day early
and wanted to check out the local scene - probably coming to see Larry
Goodhand who has been the house guitarist at the Liquid Lounge but
who's been under the weather for the last couple of weeks. As we were
chatting, someone asked if he was going to sit in and he said no -
that he had not checked in to the hotel yet, but then as we were about
to start the set, a young woman came up to thye stage and said Hubert
was going to play a tune...just for her.

So we called him up and I relinquished my stool handed him my Strat
and moved off to the side of the stage. But then Hubert called me back
and just wanted to back me up so I did a couple of tunes and he played
some laid back rhythm and a couple of tasty leads. I realized after
that I didn't give him much volume, but he sounded fine and obviously
he though I sounded fine because he was so complimentary. I wrote down
what he said, told him I was going to put it on my website...he said
"You got something. Something good! I got ears. I listen...I'm not
gonna forget you..."

And they guys sitting with him said he couldn't stop talking about my
playing. This from the guy that backed up all my heroes, Howlin' Wolf,
Muddy Waters.... A great old guy, 73 years old, One lung left but he's
going strong. I gave him a stoll to sit on, but he'd rather stand.

I think Larry's supposed to be playing with Hubert today - I stuck
around Hamilton so that I could check out thye show. Alvin Youngblood
Hart is on the bill and he's a guy doing some interesting cotemporary
blues.