Brian Blain

Welcome to my Blog

2020-02-10T04:05:00.005-05:00

I've been chronicling my time in Toronto since I got here. And if you scroll down you can read all about the ups and downs of this old blues guy trying to break into the music scene in Toronto as well as videos and tour date. Click through to MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Reverbnation, Itunes and NorthernBlues Music. In addition to my guitar playing, I am also resident desktop publisher for the

The Maple Blues Awards

2012-01-21T20:53:00.001-05:00

Monday night was the annual gathering of Canadian blues musicians, promoters and uber-fans. It's held in the newest and fanciest concert hall in Toronto, Koerner Hall. Pretty ritzy. I had intended to buy a new suit for the occasion, well, mostly for the Folk Awards event that I hosted last month but in the end it was black jeans for both. A lot of good lookin' bluesers in the hall. The

The Delta Blues Campfire

2012-01-16T15:14:00.003-05:00

The Delta Blues Campfire on Sunday afternoon was the perfect way to get in a blues mood for tonight's Maple Blues Awards. Pictured above (photo by Stilleto Rose) is the rhythm section, yours truly on bass and Malcolm Gould on drums along with Nanaimo's David Gogo, nominee for Guitar Player of the Year and Electric Act of the Year. Later were joined by Steve Marriner of Monkey Junk (7 nominations

2012-01-09T00:43:00.004-05:00

Come to the Delta Blues CampfireSunday, January 15 3pmMonarch's Pub - Delta Chelsea Hotel33 Gerrard St W.A nice warm-up to the Maple Blues Awards gala on Monday NightThe First Delta Blues Campfire was held in January 2007 as part of the Blues Summit. Pictured above (l to r.) Ken Whiteley, Mark "Bird" Stafford, Mr. Rick, Rick Fines, Danny Marks and host Brian Blain.The Maple Blues Awards week-end

The Stringbuster's Rant of the Month

2011-12-17T01:46:00.001-05:00

a lot of response

2011-12-11T16:22:00.001-05:00

minor collision at the foot of my street = towtrucks coming from every direction, police cars blocking all the streets, streetcars stopped in their tracks, not because of the accident but because of the congestion caused by an ambulance, more police cars and 3 fire trucks with at least a dozen firemen all standing around watching. When a gawker tried to take a photo of the firemen one of them

Memories of Hubert

2011-12-04T17:27:00.001-05:00

Hubert Sumlin passed away this morning. I've been reading Holger Petersen's new book and I'm going to flip ahead in the hopes that one of those interviews is with Hubert. Back in 2007 I was the special guest at a blues matinee in Brantford and after the first set I was caught up in conversation with some of the locals and finally noticed that Bruce Hall was trying to get my attention and when he

MJB at the Gladstone

2011-11-09T00:49:00.001-05:00

a week of large casts

2011-10-27T21:05:00.002-04:00

Monday night was the tribute/celebration for Daisy DeBolt and she wouyld have approved of the "cast of thousands" that gathered on the stage at Hugh's Room to sing some of her tunes. When we were planning, there wasn't really anybody that was going to try to cover Daisy's vocals on anything so we were focusing on instrumental medleys and I was going to do a song I wrote about Lenny Breau, her

Blainletter #46 Oct 22, 2011

2011-10-22T16:19:00.001-04:00

In This Issue • Brian Blain Upcoming shows • Daisy DeBolt Celebration • Out and About I write this Blainletter with a heavy heart. Just when I arrived back in Toronto from Donna Louthood's memorial service (she was Allan Fraser's wife of 30+ years) only to wake up next morning to the news that Daisy DeBolt, Allan's partner in Fraser & DeBolt, had just passed away. Both were gone before the

Another Side

2011-09-29T23:20:00.001-04:00

Why does the universe conspire to prevent me from hearing african music. It's happened for at least half-a-dozen world famous African and I always missed them because I was out of town or once I had a gig. Tonight takes the cake. I make arangements to see Sidi Toure but I'm not sure of the start time and I get there too late. Which got me thinking...How come a guy who's always late be so far

Another quote for the Day

2011-09-27T01:18:00.001-04:00

"Each of us has the potential of being given a gift by the divine, which results in the body and soul becoming unified ... a great many people will experience the blessings of the divine ... Through it, the human being will first be made healthy, and then peace of mind and joy in life will be increased." Dr Mikao Usui

Quote of the Day

2011-09-26T11:59:00.000-04:00

"My number one commitment is to promote inner peace based on warm heartedness" Dalai Lama

This is the funniest press release in ages

2011-09-12T22:13:00.001-04:00

(forwarded by Richard Flohil - I guess this what they call "going Viral")THE JITTERS, SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 17, C'EST WHAT (67 Front Street East, at Church) ***EARLY SHOW*** 8 pm start Aww, come on. THE JITTERS again? These one-time 80s radio kings HAD a reunion already, didn't they? Isn't once (or twice) enough?? Surely they did well on their "If We're Going to Sell-Out, Let's At Least Make Some

Quote of the Day

2011-09-12T22:05:00.001-04:00

"A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do." - Bob Dylan

Quote of the Day

2011-08-24T21:42:00.001-04:00

"The entertainment business is a carnival barker, enticing you to pay first before you see the man behind the curtain, who's too often a disappointment. Now it's try before you buy. People take the music out for a test spin, and unless it's really damn good, they pass." - Bob Lefsetz

Blainletter #44 and Blaincast #2

2011-08-08T13:57:00.001-04:00

In This Issue • Upcoming gigs • The Inaugural Blaincast • A Little Internet History • More Facebook angst • Out and About • Tweets from the Streets • Nice Review in Penguin Eggs Upcoming Gigs: TOMORROW – Monday August 8, 3pm Blaincast #2 direct from oceanside at Provincetown, Mass. w/special guest American folk music pioneer Alice Brock (of Alice’s Restaurant) streaming live at

2011-08-04T23:36:00.003-04:00

Brian's Backyard BlaincastAin't technology a wonderful thang! Last month we did a little test of uStream from my backyard with Mojo Willie. It went pretty smooth except for the end where I thought I had turned off the microphone but I hadn't. Still working on a better audio sound - there's extra noise from the laptop's built-in mic.You can view an archived version of the last Backyard Campfire

Around the Jazz Festival

2011-06-28T09:23:00.001-04:00

Hearing some amazing music, starting with Aretha. Now that I've heard my two musical icons, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles, and basked in their presence I can die happy. And both of these performances were part of the Toronto Jazz Festival. The first week-end has been amazing. Being blown away by a band I had dismissed (The Average White Band), being a little disappointed by lame performances by

The Queen captures Toronto's Soul

2011-06-25T03:02:00.001-04:00

Young Jordan John, opening for Aretha, was not about to leave that tent until she had sung her very last note. Jordan and dad, Prakash John, with Al Cross on drums and a special appearance by Toronto's gift to the B3 organ, Michael Fonfara, were very well received by the huge crowd that spilled out into a solid mass right across King Street - a crowd who had come for one reason, and one reason

Blainletter #42 June 21, 2011

2011-06-21T04:37:00.003-04:00

In This Issue:• Upcoming Gigs and Cancellations• New Folk Blues gets nice review• No campfire tonight• Toronto Jazz Festival• How hi-tech are we, really?• Out and About at NXNE. Luminato, MMVAs• Tweets from the StreetsSun. June 26, noon to 3pm, Toronto Jazz Festival, Boiler Room Stage in the Distillery (with Brent Titcomb)Sat. July 2, 3-6pm, Toronto Jazz Festival, Distillery Mainstage (with

Out and About

2011-06-15T01:15:00.002-04:00

Just in from my second round of Luminato. Tonight it was Yemen Blues, a huge ensemble from Israel with all the world music components like unusual drums and percssion, an oud-like instrument but surrounded by conventional western instruments, many played by young white women, probably not from Yemen. There was cello and violin on one side and flute, trumpet and trombone on the other. It was quite

Memorable gigs in May

2011-06-01T01:35:00.009-04:00

That's me jamming with Brent and Liam Titcomb along with a bunch of others. It wasn't a "gig" per se, it was the conclusion of an amazing afternoon in the country where I took part in a native-style pipe ceremony where we asked the water for forgiveness. It's not something I had thought about much, but when you think about it, mankind owes an apology to the water when you consider what we've been

The New Eye of Toronto

2011-05-13T16:23:00.001-04:00

Eye Magazine has been re-branded as "The Grid". I have not been an avid Eye reader of late but I just went through the inaugural issue of The Grid from cover to cover and though it has a little more "edge" I can't see how this is going to give the ubiquitous Now a run for their money. How could the cover of their premiere issue look like such an afterthought. Two people (I think it's two of

Quote of the Day

2011-04-24T01:03:00.001-04:00

"My idea is that there is music in the air, music all around us; the world is full of it, and you simply take as much as you require." ~Edward Elgar

Reminiscing about Toronto

2011-03-26T20:00:00.001-04:00

Just watched "Yonge Street," the Bravo documentary on the Toronto music scene in the 60's and right now we're in the middle of 40th Anniversary celebrations of JUNO Awards. I was in Ontario between '67 and '70 and visited many of those venerable music venues - even

On Ghosts

2011-03-24T00:06:00.002-04:00

Last Thursday (St Patrick's Day) I did a guest spot at Clinton's Tavern performing, you guessed it, "The Ghost of Clinton's Tavern," and in the course of the tune I even tried to invoke the ghost himself, who all the staff claim is quite real with manifestations such as ashtrays flying across the bar and feet appearing (and disappearing) under the mixing console. I was trying to be tuned in to

Upcoming gigs, Quebec tour, Memphis, Mississippi and more music back in T.O.

2011-03-14T12:42:00.008-04:00

I'm at the Gladstone Hotel Melody Bar for another "Blues Campfire" on Tuesday night (8-11pm, March 15). You never know who will show up. There's always some great players but we could use a few more listeners. Dropped in to the Gladstone last night and was amazed to see the room absolutely packed for….karaoke! Please come on Tuesday and support live music. The Gladstone Hotel is a beautifully

New CD In Store Now

2011-02-10T15:40:00.001-05:00

Maybe it's in more than one store, but I know for sure it's in the blues section at HMV on Yonge Street, Toronto. I also found it at Amazon.ca. Not on iTunes yet but that's supposed to happen any day. I've been hearing it on the radio, CBC has it in their "system" now so it may make its way onto some CBC radio shows. Speaking of CBC, I found myself walking alongside Jian Gomeshi on Frnt Street as

Quote of the Day

2011-01-30T21:29:00.001-05:00

From Hubert Sumnlin (pushing 80 yrs young) playing San Diego tonight: "I'm enjoying it better than ever, man," Sumlin said. "I'm so glad that people recognize and believe in me. I'm doing God's work, man. I'm doing the peoples' work. I'm doing the world's work. I've got everything I need, and I ain't got a quarter. And I mean that." Source: Hubert Sumlin's Still Howlin' | NBC San Diego

BLUESMAN BRIAN BLAIN RELEASES A WHALE OF A SINGLE TO LAUNCH NEW CD - THREE-MONTH CD CELEBRATION BEGINS @ GLADSTONE HOTEL JAN 18

2011-01-15T03:03:00.005-05:00

TORONTO -– WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12TH, 2011 -– Singer, songwriter, storyteller and bluesman Brian Blain kicks of his three-month “CD Celebration and Tour” with the release of the free online single "THE OLD WHALER'S CONFESSION" on Tuesday, January 18th, 8 pm, at the Gladstone Hotel Melody Bar. Guitar-picker Blain and renowned jazz bassist George Koller will perform selections from the upcoming album

How True It Is

2010-11-02T22:16:00.000-04:00

From Bob Lefsetz today: talking about LA venues when they had tables"...before it was necessary to stand to hear rock and roll"

Robert Randolph at Mod Club

2010-10-28T01:25:00.000-04:00

Robert Randolph always struck me as a guy they had things pretty well planned, coming from the church and all. But his show at Toronto’s Mod Club could not have been less planned. Word on the street was that some band members didn’t make it across the border, but all Randolph said from the stage was that they had a drummer who wasn’t really a drummer and that they had just called him at six o’

Blainletter #33 – September 28, 2010

2010-10-01T14:39:00.005-04:00

In This Issue:• Blues Campfire moves to Gladstone Hotel, Tues Oct 19• Tuesday, October 5 7pm Brian Blain with George Koller, bass (Live Recording) at Rebas Café & Gallery 3289 Dundas St. W.• December 11 – Oliver Klaus reunion concert, Waterloo, Quebec• Out and About• Last Night I had the Strangest DreamWhat have we here, two Blainletters in the same month? Well I thought I should get the word

Where's the Next Mayor of Toronto?

2010-10-01T01:03:00.000-04:00

So I decide to check out the Mayoral Debate because the theme this time is the Arts (and who will support it) but they sure don’t make it easy. First they advance the time by one hour at the last minute and then they do it in a space way too small to accommodate the “stakeholders”, a room at the Art Gallery of Ontario. I get there in time, line up with everybody outside and make my way in. They

On Public Transit

2010-09-03T18:02:00.001-04:00

Today I thought I’d take the streetcar downtown and I figured on a busy Friday afternoon I would not have to wait too long. It seems every time I decide to take public transit I end up spending an inordinate amount of time waiting. Maybe it’s just me. Am I too impatient? Maybe this is the flip side of what my friends jokingly call my “car-Karma”. I have never wanted for wheels even though I’m

Hello new facebook friends

2010-08-24T01:38:00.000-04:00

Greetings. I've confirmed our facebook friendship but I’ve placed you on my "Friends to Meet" list. Please disregard if we've already met, but if we haven't, I look forward to meeting you in person, maybe at one of my gigs. Please come up and say hello. If you're here because you like my music, then please go to my facebook band page

Will you shudup about facebook

2010-07-29T02:13:00.000-04:00

Regular readers of my blog have probably heard enough about my trepidation about confirming any new “friend” unless I’ve met them. Or is it “know” them? And whether I “like” them...but that’s whole other story. There have been a couple of occasions when I didn’t confirm a friend request even though I’ve met the person...but they had to be pretty crazy to have me avoiding them because I’m actually

Festival over - almost

2010-07-04T22:54:00.001-04:00

It’s the last day of the Toronto Jazz Festival and I am still left with making some a hard decisions. Guitar maniac Fred Frith is playing tonight at a non-festival event and a wild and crazy bunch of Yugoslavians called the "No Smoking Orchestra". Frith played a solo set in the festival a couple of nights ago but I opted for John Scofield’s Piety Street band and I’m glad I did. Scofield and

Jazz Festival - Day One

2010-06-26T14:21:00.001-04:00

As I made my way to Nathan Phillips Square at 9 am, it was like driving into a ghost town (not that I ever find myself driving downtown at 9 am but I know that it’s usually much more congested than this). But thanks to the dire warnings of G20 protests (peaceful and otherwise) most people stayed home. The square was very quiet as I scrambled from one trailer to another installing phones, modems

Blainletter # 29 June 6, 2010

2010-06-06T01:55:00.001-04:00

In This Issue:• Upcoming Gigs • Accidents, Thefts, Allergies, what next• Campfire adventures• Recording update• Festival fun• BLAINBLAIN rides again• Out and aboutI am posting this dispatch from the wilds of Orangeville, looking out into a cedar forest and breathing that fine country air. I’m here for the Orangeville Blues and

When's that guy gonna make another record?

2010-05-22T15:23:00.000-04:00

I get asked that once in a while - less often than "we still play your album" (or some variation thereof) but it's going to be 5 years and I've been feeling the pressure. A recording fund is in place, thanks to a couple of generous benefactors, and I've downloaded some grant applications...we'll see what happens with that! I've got a new batch of songs - well not that new anymore - and the good

Brian Blain Missing

2010-05-20T16:23:00.003-04:00

Everytime I walk into the Silver Dollar Room, the first thing I see is this picture of myself hanging in its long-standing place of honour at the end of the bar. Until last night, that is. I dropped by the Silver Dollar to hear the bluegrass guys and noticed that my portrait was missing from its spot. It wasn't replaced with anything else - there's just a big blank space where it used to be...

Blainletter #28 May 10, 2010

2010-05-10T01:49:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow’s Campfire at Highway 61 (maybe today’s by the time you read this) is my “Motherless Day” Special with the inimitable Carrie Chesnut as special guest and who knows who else will show up. That 7-10 pm at 1620 Bayview. Every year on Mother’s Day week-end, or close to it, I like to have a special show for folks who no longer have their mother, like myself or orphans who never knew their

What are the odds?

2010-04-30T19:38:00.001-04:00

I used to alternate years that I would apply to play the summer festivals and it seemed like even when I did a big blitz of submissions I would get a handful of gigs and then when I did absolutely nothing I would still get a handful of gigs. I think somewhere along the line I just gave up entirely (well, at least until I have a new CD to flog) but wouldn’t you know that I get two offers a day

Quote of the Day

2010-03-30T10:34:00.000-04:00

"Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love." (Lao Tzu)

Upcoming Gigs

2010-03-22T00:59:00.004-04:00

The Mighty Duck Blues Band w/Brian BlainSaturday Mar 27 2:30 PMThe Duck (Golden Pheasant) 244 Ontario St. St. Catharines 905-687-9505For all my fans and Blainletter subscribers in the St. Catharines area (you know who you are) Mose Scarlett & Brian BlainSaturday, April 24 8PMGlass Onion House ConcertsWallaceburg, ONAfter getting musically re-acquainted at Winterfolk, I get to play again with

2010-03-22T00:48:00.003-04:00

The campfire is in the shop. Hopefully just a power-cord issue. Our regular Tuesdays at Highway 61 BBQ have been great – full of surprises. Last Tuesday it was the “two Charlies” (pictured). Nova Scotia Music’s Entertainer of the Year Charlie A’Court and an 11-year old wunderkind whose blues moniker is "Sir Charles". The kid sat in on a couple of blues tunes then asked if he and his teacher Ted

Blues in Montreal

2010-03-22T00:45:00.000-04:00

Wish I had been there for a gig, but it was for a funeral, regrettably. The night before I headed back to T.O. I decided to drop in to Bourbon Street, one of the clubs that presents blues on a regular basis thanks to promoter Brian Slack and the Montreal Blues Society. I was finding it hard to gather the energy, but when I saw legendary Quebec guitarist Jimmy James on the bill I decided if I want

I've written more songs than...

2010-03-21T16:50:00.000-04:00

...more songs than even I remember. My oldest musical friend, Sue Lothrop, called the other day and said she was working on an old tune we had worked up together a long time ago (that would be the early 70s). She said it was called “Blown Away Again” and recited a few lines on the phone but I drew a total blank. In fact I denied writing it and when she told me she had me on cassette singing it I

Notes from Music Week

2010-03-17T02:40:00.001-04:00

Music Week was really only a couple of days for me and maybe that was one day too many but I always get somethin out of it - even obvious stuff bears repeating: “Better to have no website than a dormant website” was a good tip. “Be the kind of person that others want to see succeed” - Now there’s a good one. I think that came from networking guru Dan Kimpel. He was hilarious and knew all about

Dear Bob Lefsetz

2010-03-17T01:51:00.000-04:00

In the elevator at the Royal York Hotel I find out I’m riding with the “merch lady” who you beat up in the Q & A after your rant at Canadian Music Week. I thought she would be bummed but she had a great day and was now a celebrity of sorts at her merch booth. You made her day, maybe her year! What the Buddhists call “turning poison into medicine”

A Day in the Life of The Stringbuster

2010-03-02T14:56:00.001-05:00

Tonight I was supposed to Open for Alfie Smith at the Free Times but the way I heard it, Alfie ended up opening for a big show in Hamilton (turns out it was April Wine). Who’s to say which would be a better payday. There was not a big crowd at Free Times. Alfie’s last minute sub was a wonderful singer called Laura Aidanblaise. We swapped CD’s (always a delicate bit of backstage etiquette – when

Winterfolk moments

2010-03-02T14:42:00.001-05:00

Day One: I take the stage in the back room of the Willow and after the first song I realize my shoes are stuck to the floor. Then I'm stepping up and down and the audience is breaking up with laughter because I'm making these crazy sticky sounds. I couldn't continue with that and I didn't want to inflict it on the next group so I got the waitress to take a moment to pass the mop. Mose Scarlett

Blainettin #1

2010-02-23T04:57:00.001-05:00

For those who are not familiar with the (mostly)monthly Blainletter, it’s a long rambling chronicle of my attempts to develop a music career in the Toronto music scene. This is an abbreviated version with less stories and gets right down to the blatant self-promotion: Tuesday Night (tonight!) it’s the First Anniversary Campfire at Highway 61 Southern BBQ. Actually, the Campfire has only been

Winterfolkin'

2010-02-11T16:20:00.001-05:00

It’s Winterfolk week-end (a long week-end this year) and for those not glued in front of their TV watching the Olympics, the Danforth/Broadview area will be brimming with folk music lovers...and there’s quite a bit of great blues too, including moi on the following occasions... 11pm Friday at The Willow I’ll be subbing for host Howard Gladstone at the late-night Toronto City Roots Presents in

What Happened to January?

2010-02-11T01:04:00.000-05:00

I woke up on New Year's Day feeling sick as a dog (no, it wasn't because I overindulged on New year's Eve - I had a very quiet night at home). I was supposed to play at the wedding of friends Paul and Debbie but had to bail and for the next two weeks I was nursing a nasty cold that wouldn't quit. Then, just when I got back on my feet I was felled by a gall-bladder attack and missed out on the

Eno Speaks

2010-01-26T11:28:00.001-05:00

On a celebration of human frailty"The other day I heard a band who had the worst singer, the most out of timedrummer and most out of tune guitarist I've ever heard on a professionalrecord, and I thought, at last, the reaction against pro-tools perfectionhas set in. A pro-tools engineer would have sorted it all out, but this bandwas an actual celebration of human frailty. It was so rough it was

Overqualified featured on Itunes

2009-12-05T00:56:00.001-05:00

Just got a Google Alert and when I clicked through I discover thatOverqualified For The Blues is an "iTunes Preview" (whatever that means!).Interesting to note than when I click again I get a little message tellingme I can't buy it because I'm not in the right country - despite the factthat it was made her. Go figure!Out and About: Just in from seeing Pork Belly Futures playing in a noisy baron

Blainletter #25 December 1, 2009

2009-12-02T01:00:00.000-05:00

In This Issue:• Season’s Greetings• Colorblind Brian's Blues Campfire (that’s TONIGHT – grab your guitarand come on down to Highway 61)• Yes, there will be a new album in 2010• Women’s Blues Revue, Downchild and Massey Hall• Overqualified still spinning• Out and About• Thelonious Monk’s advice for musicians (via Steve Lacey)

Women's Blues Revue & other stuff

2009-11-30T01:24:00.001-05:00

This month the gigs have been going away as fast as they show up. There'sband gig on the calendar for the end of January but I hestitate to advertiseit because the venue is not convinced they will continue presenting livemusic. Meanwhile the Tuesday Blues Campfire at Highway 61 has been goinggreat. Interesting guests...many of them part-timers or hobbyists but I lovehaving them around the

Quote of the Day

2009-11-24T09:22:00.001-05:00

There are moments where the connection between one full heart and the nextis so close and quick that singing is the only possible expression. I reallybelieve that the spontaneous intimacy and joy of moments like that can showus what we are for: it's like having, just for an instant, the attention ofthe universe, discovering itself. ~Alexander Waddell~

Downchild at Massey Hall

2009-11-21T20:46:00.001-05:00

After a solid solo set from Colin Linden with some fine pingerpicking,Downchild took the stage and gave their (typically) flawless performancewith guest appearances by Dan Aycroyd, Colin James and young wunderkindJonah, from Montreal. Packed house, they were hanging from the rafters.

Pick A Niche And Dominate It

2009-11-09T19:19:00.001-05:00

Indie artists must break from a niche. That niche must be well delineatedand can be very very small and still be effective. The mistake most artistsmake is making a pop record that does not have a niche to break out of.The adage, think globally act locally can be re-stated think mainstream, actniche. The newer your niche, the greater your chance of becoming identifiedwith it. Almost every Tommy

Advice from musicians from Steve Lacey (chanelling Thelonious Monk)

2009-11-09T12:45:00.000-05:00

Just because you're not a drummer, doesn't mean that you don't have to keeptime. Pat your foot and sing the melody in your head when you play.Stop playing all those bullshit notes. Make the drummer sound good.Don't play the piano part, I'm playing that.Don't listen to me, I'm supposedto be accompanying you.Don't play everything, let some things go by. Some music is just imagined.What you don't

Quote of the Day

2009-11-02T22:50:00.000-05:00

What if democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what's for dinner

Where is the audience?

2009-11-02T02:07:00.000-05:00

Here I am pictured with JW-Jones and Jesse Greene, winner of Ottawa's BluesChallenge competition. We had just been jamming at a club called Irene's inOttawa where I landed to attent the Ontario Council of Folk Festivalsconference in Ottawa. The OCFF had five or six hundred earnest folkiesshowcasing mostly to themselves and the odd festival director or bookingagent. I had not arranged any showcase

ADISQ

2009-11-01T23:48:00.000-05:00

Through a rather unfortunate turn of events I have ended up with a TV in myroom, having been TV-less for many years. There's a reason I didn't have aTV, and now I'm remembering why. I tend to give the TV "first refusal" on mytime - always checking to see if there's something interesting. Usuallythere isn't (I don't have cable) but tonight I caught the last part of theADISQ Awards gala (Quebec's

You can't give it away

2009-10-31T15:40:00.001-04:00

I just got another Google Alert pointing me to a blog where someover-zealous blues fan has ripped all his his favourite blues albums (and Ihave to compliment him on his graphic treatment of the album covers - tasty3D effect) and offers them as free downloads. Part of me is flattered to beincluded in such illustrious company but my the business side of my brain(all 10%) feels rather ripped off. I

Quote of the Day

2009-10-14T13:11:00.001-04:00

"I always had the notion that I had a tiny garden to cultivate."-Leonard Cohen.

Around the Campfire

2009-10-08T11:56:00.002-04:00

Tuesdays are full of surprises since I started the Blues campfire at Highway 61 BBQ. Last Tuesday I looked up at the doorway (which is right in front of the stage) and it was mostly filled by the legendary Big Dave McLean. Right behind him was Doc MacLean. They're one-third of the way through their cross-Canada "Century Tour" - playing over 100 dates. They were not looking the worse for wear -

Quote of the Day

2009-09-14T18:58:00.001-04:00

"MTV is about fame. For a while there, the two merged, music and fame wereinterwoven. But then fame came to rule. 'Look good, be a pawn in our gameand we'll hook you up with songwriters and stylists, we'll create a productthat will make you famous!" - Bob Lefsetz

Quote of the Day

2009-09-13T23:42:00.000-04:00

"The joy of playing is liberation. The joy of practicing is concentration."- Kenny Werner

re-learning

2009-08-21T01:06:00.001-04:00

OK, this is bad. At my Campfire last Tuesday I decided to pull out a song Ihadn't done in ages - One Way Ticket - and would you believe I justcouldn't remember how it went. That's bad. I'm going to have to go back andlisten to the CD. This is like when I forgot the words to "The Story of theMagic Pick" and had to get the lyrics off the sleeve!

gigs and gab

2009-07-08T16:24:00.001-04:00

Brian and the Blainettes at The Silver Dollar Room, Saturday July 18 (showtime 8:00pm)Looking forward to playing with two of the top sax players in town, Colleen Allen and Carrie Chesnutt. Colleen will be playing baritone, not her main axe but she loves the change and I love the driving sound of a baritone and tenor pumping together. If you've heard James Hunter, you know what I'm talking about.

More jazzfest

2009-07-04T16:25:00.001-04:00

The Brandi Disterheft Sextet kicked off the Dave Brubeck show...actually it was Brandi herself who started the set with a lengthy bass soliloquy that set us up for some of the most inventive and adventurous music to be heard in the course of the festival. Everything had her unique stamp on it - something every musician strives for and she has reached it at a rather early stage in her career. It

Always bring one more power bar than you need

2009-07-01T05:31:00.002-04:00

Just back from my festival "Gig" which was my ambient electronica personaalong with my son the DJ (COI) with the addition of Rob Gray and a couple ofkeyboard interventions by John Farah - a brilliant musician...and I think heknows it. I don't know enough keyboard to say but I think this guy is thenext Keith Jarrett or Chick Corea - with an nuclear arsenal of modern soundsto satisfy the dub-step

Festivals, festivals

2009-06-13T15:09:00.001-04:00

Festival Fever: The photo above was taken at the Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival last week-end. That's me on the left and Larry Kurtz ion the middle surrounded by the FATHEAD fellas.I had a great time kicking off the Acoustic Stage (or should I say, the TD Canada Trust Acoustic Stage) and was followed by some old pals from the Montreal scene. Michael Jerome Browne who figures prominently on

way out west

2009-05-23T13:45:00.003-04:00

Flying over the rockies on a clear day was quite a 3-D experience and doing my Tai Chi in the morning air on Harry's deck on Salspring Island facing the tall pines with hummingbirds buzzing around..that's a great way to kick off my great escape to the West. Ran over a couple of tunes for the show tonight...I get the feeling half the hall will be musicians. This is a little piece of paradise...

Quote of the Day

2009-05-12T15:46:00.001-04:00

"the sounds which are audible are *not* the music, but build the frame thatcarries the music, or not, as the case may be". - Polish composer WitoldSzalonek

Mission Accomplished

2009-05-11T15:12:00.001-04:00

I know I did OK when I find out that someone said "Who is that guy?" or whenthere's a audible display of approval after a guitar solo. I got a bit ofboth yesterday at my gig at the Sky Restaurant and Lounge in Mississauga. Iwas guesting at Jerome Godboo's Sunday Matinee (I believe the Sockman saidit was the 14th edition). Great to play with Chris Burgess, one of thecity's least recognized and

Quote of the Day

2009-05-11T14:32:00.001-04:00

"Im an artist. I don't want to be dealing with all that tech shit."My son the DJ

the new paradigm for performing

2009-04-30T17:09:00.000-04:00

I was hesitant to put the club's name, but if you ever thought a club hadthings stacked a bit too much in their favour, check this out:The following explains how a CABARET @ STATLERS operates successfully forboth artist and venue (the establishment). You promote to your family, friends, fan club, loyal followersŠ.throughyour Website, MySpace, Facebook, etcŠ.The following information must be

Quote of the day

2009-03-23T12:42:00.000-04:00

"The artist is here to give the listener the opportunity to dream, a veryprofound and special gift even if he's minimally successful." JohnMellencamp

Canadian Music Week - Short Takes

2009-03-14T03:14:00.001-04:00

I'm sitting in the same spot in the rivoli where I wrote the lyrics for "OneMore Weasel" a few years back. It was a CD launch for a hot act and peoplewere talking so loud you couldn't hear the earnest young folksinger who wasdoing an opening set. Now I realized that I was surrounded by industry typesand if the music hadn't started I was about to take out my phone then Ireally would have looked

Morgan Davis tribute to Rod Phillips

2009-03-10T00:00:00.001-04:00

Rod Phillips was a heart and soul kinda musician. His joy came from playingthe music, not playing the "industry" game, consequently, he was not ahousehold name. Nevertheless, musicians knew about Rod, and it was always agas to share the stage with him.I came to know Rod by sitting in on the Sunday matinees at the Blue Goose.He and the Pie Guys would kick things off with a few standards and I

Jerome at the Sky

2009-03-09T23:49:00.001-04:00

Last Sunday I took a trip out to the hinterland of Mississauga where I haverarely tread. I saw Gary Kendall's matinee at Hollywood on the Queensway(though I missed their special guest, Steve Strongman) and I visited a newvenue, The Sky Restaurant out at Eglinton and Renforth. There on a bigstage with great production was Jerome Godboo and Friends including theamazing Dave Murphy on keyboard and

My encounter with A432

2009-03-09T23:48:00.001-04:00

A couple of months ago I received a call from a rather intense young man whowanted me, as editor of the Toronto Musicians Association newsletter, toknow about from a gentleman who was very excited to let all musicians knowthat they should tune their instruments down to A 432 hz (from the standardpitch of 440). It's a miniscule difference but you can hear it

Treasa, the guitar workshop and words of wisdom from Richard Bell

2009-03-01T00:03:00.001-05:00

Last night I went to the jazz hang out where the old Montreal Bistroregulars get together on Fridays, "Quotes" on King Street. The bandleader isthe wonderful drummer Don Vickery and his guest this Friday was the *very*lovely and talented Colleen Allen and there she was playing all these verylegit jazz standards...that girl can do it all! If you haven't see her withthe fabulous Blainettes horn

Where is Brian Blain?

2009-02-24T22:01:00.001-05:00

I hope that my absence at the two big folk music conferences, OCFF in Ottawaand Folk Alliance in Memphis did not lead anyone to believe I'm out of thegame. Let's just say I'm taking the year off to make a record.I applied to two festivals and was invited to two festivals (but not thesame two). I don't know that I've got it in me to start writing/calling.When I have a little music time, I want to

The Grammys

2009-02-09T00:30:00.001-05:00

*****I think I've got a new conspiracy theory: I was just watching thiscommercial for a cell phone service and the slogan was something like "wejust got friendlier". Well it depends what you mean by "friendlier" - itoccurs to me that with all these touch screen phones it means now they canprove whether or not someone made a phone call because they'll have hisfingerprint recorded.I saw the

My memories of Eggerton's

2009-01-31T01:20:00.001-05:00

I've just been reading a few list serve comments sharing memories about aclub called Eggerton's. I lived in Toronto for a short stretch in 1973-74but before I moved here, I came up from Montreal on a promotional tour for asingle I had just released on GoodNoise/Polydor. I met a promo gal calledLori and we went around to a few radio stations but on one of those nightsin Toronto I was going to play

Things are not so bad

2009-01-13T21:08:00.001-05:00

This is the year of the earth Ox (also called year of the Bull or Buffalo).It looks like we may have an honest, candid and open natured year ahead.The earth Ox is dependable, calm and modest, unshakably patient, full ofhard work and tireless. Darlene sent thatToday was probably the last day for me to decide if I was going to the FolkAlliance conference in Memphis next month. It would wipe out my

The Story of Fleetwood Mac

2009-01-09T13:19:00.001-05:00

Here's a great link (courtesy of Bob Lefsetz) of a lecture by an academicnamed Gladwell who illustrates the development of the band Fleetwood Mac. Heuses many examples to support his theory that it takes "10,000 hours" (orten years at 4 hrs a day) to get to the "top" level. http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/video-gain-2008-gladwell

Holiday Blainletter 08

2008-12-23T12:22:00.007-05:00

Despite my best intentions to send out personal greetings to friends, I've dilly-dallied and now the holidays are upon us...so pardon the group greetings. I'm at a bit of a loss about all this friend business. When I was a kid I had two or three friends. Sometimes one, and glad to have him. Now I've got my Facebook backing-up with fifty or so friend requests from people I've never really met and

The sensational Johnny V

2008-12-15T17:17:00.002-05:00

I love it when I hear a guitar player who can do things with the instrumentthat no one else can. I'm sure there are many guitarists out there whoqualify, but in my universe the two that stand out in that respect are KevinBreit and Amos Garrett (and even Amos had a little trouble covering hislandmark solo from "Midnight at the Oasis" last time I saw him with MariaMuldaur). But last night I saw

blainblain

2008-11-11T01:09:00.001-05:00

My gig at Free Times was not very well attended but in my heart I know thateven if I had postered College Street and sent out all kinds of internet gigannouncements I wouldn't have done much better. I decided to cast fate tothe wind and have Joel join me with his arsenal of electronics. I just sitthere and play guitar and he grabs a MIDI signal from my guitar andprocesses and loops the sound -

Take Me Home

2008-11-02T01:22:00.002-04:00

I should be rehearsing right now but in a classic move, I spot something inthe CD shelf - a DVD still in the shrink wrap and I see that it's some kindof compilation of Quebec bands. I just put it on and the first band was punk- Lel Vulgaires Machins and it was recorded in the Granada Theatre inSherbrooke - my home town and the theatre where I had my first date, takingGloria Davey to see "Around

Blainletter #16

2008-10-30T20:13:00.003-04:00

Here come blainblainThe big news is that my prodigal son Joel (aka, DJ Coi) is back – he's been out at the Cape all summer but he's back now and we both have a renewed desire to make music together (he's more on the electronica side of things but we are finding some common ground). We had a good run through last night. Come to Free Times next Friday and check it out!October was fine despite the

My Open Letter to Jack Layton

2008-10-15T00:42:00.001-04:00

Dear Jack, Congratulations. I just listened to your victory speech and asyou listed all the things you will fight for, I was waiting to hear "artsand culture"...particularly since it was Harper's marked disdain for artsand culture that cost him a majority.I voted for you (yes, I am a constituent) because I think you can be a realchampion for the arts - many of us expect that of you. The first