I've been getting a little lazy with these Blainletters but I'm sure that some of you out there are fine with shorter and less frequent...
Of course there's some gigs to promote up front. Once I wrap this up I'll loading up for a gig in Barrie with Larry Kurtz. Details below along with info on other upcoming gigs.
Sat Apr 30
Bull and Barrel, 75 Cedar Pointe Drive
Barrie, ON, CA | 8:00pm
Sun May 8
The Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Avenue
Toronto, ON, CA | 5:00pm
Celebrating Mother's Day with Max Layton and Robert Priest
Fri Jun 3 12:00pm
TD Bank
Orangeville, ON, CA |
Busking in the Bank w/Larry Kurtz
Fri Jun 3 8:00pm
Orangeville Blues and J…
Orangeville, ON, CA |
guesting on main stage with Larry and the Lawbreakers
Sat Jun 4 2:00pm
Aardvark Boutique Audio
Orangeville, ON, CA |
part of Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival
Sat Jun 4 2016 6:00p
Steakhouse 63
Orangeville, ON, CA
I had some plans for another Motherless Day Blues Concert but Max invited me to sit in at his monthly residency at the Tranzac and that seemed a lot easier to manage for this semi-retired, part-time, barely-managing...But next Mother's Day I'm going to make a special event and invite a lot of my favourite musicians to play with. I've been doing something special on Mothers' Day week-end for the last 12 years and if there's anybody reading this who doesn't know why it's throwback to the song that provided my "fifteen minutes" way back in the 70's. There are lots of stories surrounding the recording of that song, record company horror stories, illicit bi-coastal love affairs, drugs, loss, betrayal and even murder. I'll save that for the gig but if you want to hear "Don't Forget Your Mother" click here.
The rest of the gigs are part of Orangeville Blues & Jazz, the perfect little blues festival which never fails to introduce me to some great artists (and maybe my music gets introduced to some new folks, too!)
On The Radio
People are always telling me I have a good radio voice so I got work it a bit this month guesting on Catwoman's funda-raising show on CIUT then an hour-long spot on Steve Fruitman's show with Allan Fraser previewing the just-released double LP of Fraser & DeBolt on Roaratorio Records in the US. You can hear the archived show here: http://www.backtothesugarcamp.com/campstreams.html#121
TheStringbuster.com
My electronica alter-ego now has a website. There's not much there except for a few tracks of me jamming in the basement (some with Joel) but it's an HTML5 template so it was quite straightforward to put together, a flashback to my days as an HTML code-warrior. I should have cleaned it up before announcing it like this but it was that or get this Blainletter out before I head to Barrie. Ignore the greek text. We're all friends here, eh?
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Friday, April 29, 2016
Friday, April 22, 2016
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Streaming comes of age
Just watching the East Coast Music Awards - on my computer. They don't have enough of an audience to rationalize prime time on TV but streaming to the internet they can have as much time as they want - even streaming different events simultaneously on different channels. The production values are top notch with 3 or 4 cameras and some fancy switching (a little too much switching at times). The local production company has done a great job and the stream on YouTube is rock solid. There was one time when it choked up and the sound was not perfectly in sync with the video on the live feed but it looked fine when you looked at the video after (yes, it;s instatntly archived on YouTube) Amazing. I also watched a lot of SXSW from Texas and also the JUNOs, who used YouTube for some stuff and Livestream for others. Everything worked out pretty good.
Back to ECMAs, I was introduced to some great Atlantic electronica artists like Pineo & Loeb and The Scientists of Sound. But I have to say on the roots side I was mostly underwhelmed with the succession of earnest young singer songwriters - even the local heroes like Jenn Grant and Amelia Curran. Maybe we have great expectations from East Coast musicians - there's been so many that broke through in recent years. But when I did hear something that perked up my ears, I quickly realized he was an Australian (?) And when I dug up his name, I thought it was familiar then remembered I last saw it on a USB stick - he had been handing out his EPK on a USB stick at some event I attended last year. I'm still using it, though I erased the EPK right after I looked at it...but at least I looked at it!
ECMA Late Night Electronic Showcase: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UlVrqqmErE
Back to ECMAs, I was introduced to some great Atlantic electronica artists like Pineo & Loeb and The Scientists of Sound. But I have to say on the roots side I was mostly underwhelmed with the succession of earnest young singer songwriters - even the local heroes like Jenn Grant and Amelia Curran. Maybe we have great expectations from East Coast musicians - there's been so many that broke through in recent years. But when I did hear something that perked up my ears, I quickly realized he was an Australian (?) And when I dug up his name, I thought it was familiar then remembered I last saw it on a USB stick - he had been handing out his EPK on a USB stick at some event I attended last year. I'm still using it, though I erased the EPK right after I looked at it...but at least I looked at it!
ECMA Late Night Electronic Showcase: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UlVrqqmErE
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Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diary
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Out and About - Cold Weather Blues Fest
It was a chilly Friday Night and part of me (OK, most of me) wanted to stay in and listen to the always excellent blues show on French CBC radio, but I made my way out - after 9 (and this was an 8-11 event) so I knew I wouldn't hear a lot. The first place I headed was Castro's which I figured would be the anchor venue (it's Castro's owner who created the festival - albeit with a whole team!). They had an artist I had not heard of but was told later he was quite remarkable - playing exotic instruments. Anyway, at Castro's and at the next club they were both on so I just kept moving. Got to hear Paul Reddick then Mike Daley & Terry Wilkins. Everybody playing in the dark with pretty noisy crowds. This was not a festival savvy audience but hey, it's just the first year. These venues don't usually have live music and if there was, it would not be a listening crowd. Julian Fauth had a little more attention from his audience - he had Drew Austin on drums and Ken Yoshioka on harp. I was already glad I got out when Tracey, my photogtrapher friend told me the Weber Brothers were playing up the street at the Linsmore Tavern - I decided to check it out. An amazing band, and who's front and centre but Emily Burgess and her red ES-335 (the guitar I've always lusted after). I knew the Weber brothers story (coming on a pilgrimage to Canada to meet - and ultimately play with - their idol, Ronnie Hawkins.) You can tell these guys rehearse - everything so tight, harmonies, endings...but that's not what makes them great. Every song took the crowd to the "next level" great energy and dynamics as well as superb musicianship. They could have been mainstage headliners for that little blues festival - in fact there had been talk of bringing in a big name to the local theatre but I guess that was not to be...but it's only their first year. Next time, they should do like Winterfolk and bring in sound & lights to all the participating clubs, though. Maybe I'll get back for more tomorrow night but it will only be for somebody's last set.
See below for a taste of the Weber Brothers and a few instagram clips from Queen Street as well.
See below for a taste of the Weber Brothers and a few instagram clips from Queen Street as well.
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Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diary
Friday, February 26, 2016
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Bharath at 2016 TBS Harmonica Workshop
This year's Harmonica Workshop had a packed house at a great venue, The Paintbox Bistro. Three very different harp players. Jerome talked about working on technique. "You're always going to sound like yourself but it helps to have a larger pallet of textures to choose from." Bharath was all about the feel - letting your breathing guide the melody and the sound. Carlos showed his mastery of the instrument - even doing a solo where he played in all 12 keys. Jerome's band with Shawn Kellerman was solid - Gary Craig on drums and, wait for it, no bass player. The second guitarist is Eric Shenkman - of the Spin Doctors. He was using an octave pedal (sounded better than my Boss Octave Pedal - must find out what he uses)
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Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diary
Saturday, February 20, 2016
some fine guitar too @TObluessociety Harmonica Workshop. @ Paintbox @shawnkellerman
via
They had to open up the back section and bring out more chairs. That's the glass panel that you see sliding by.
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Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diary
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Saturday, February 13, 2016
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Monday, February 8, 2016
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Thelonius Hank does Elvis @castroslounge
via Instagram @brianblain
There's going to be a new blues festival in town - it's called the Cold Weather Bluesfest and I had dropped by Castros in the beaches to speak to the owner Anthony because he's organizing the festival. I had seen Thelonius Hank once before but Mike Daley was subbing on guitar. I couldn't resist asking for "Round Midnight" and sure enough he knew it. I've been working on that tune myself.
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Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diary
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
@EricBibb & MJB @HUGHSROOM
via Instagram @brianblain
Everybody who was there will tell you this was one of the best blues shows of the year. Eric Bibb is a bona fide blues star and Michael Jerome Brown is no slouch either. Together it was quite special - and that was the best acoustic guitar sound I've ever heard at Hugh's (thank you, Ann). Had a chance to visit with MJB after the show and reminded him about an impromptu recording we did on the last day of the "Overqualified" sessions in Montreal. I had this chord change and we just jammed on it - he played slide and mandolin. He didn't remember doing it, so I've dug it up here and Michael, if you're reading this, take a listen...
I call it my Tai Chi Timer because it lasts exactly 10 minutes and has the perfect rhythm for my Tai Chi set which, when done at the correct speed, should last about ten minutes. So if I end before the music, I know I was rushing. The images are from a lovely walk with Harry Manx in a park on Saltspring Island.
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Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diary
@Sugarbrownblues @tobluessociety hump day @jazzbistroTO
via Instagram @brianblain
Sugar Brown is an artist I've admired for a while. He was pretty rough around the edges when I first heard him but I always thought he was "official" (as Professor Piano used to say). I was a little shy to come down and see him at the Bistro because I had sat in with him a couple of times recently and the last time I have to say that I was not "in the pocket" like I usually pride myself. In fact I had bugged Michelle Josef, his drummer, to get me a shot playing bass with Sugar and had even said to Sugar himself that not many people would be able to follow him but that I was one who could. Well, WRONG! Maybe I was just having too much fun. Anyway he was a real gentleman about it (I kidded with him that he was a "scholar and a gentleman" because he is actually a college professor with a PhD.)
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Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diary
Monday, January 18, 2016
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
@24thstreetwail @TObluessociety Hump Day Blues @jazzbistroTO @sugarbrownblues next wed
via Instagram @brianblain
The Jazz Bistro blues series (Hump Day) kicked off its 2016 season with the 24th Street Wailers and that band continues to grow since I heard them when they were just starting out. Their new guitar player, Mark Doucet, has that official Texas sound and fits in very well. I had been quite knocked out by the guitar player that joined after Emily Burgess. He was American – I forget his name (Elliot??) but I remember telling him that he had a really distinctive sound and that nobody around here sounded like that. Mark is more of a "Classic" player, and that works great for the band.
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Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diary
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Doin the Rounds in December
The holidays are approaching and I even heard a Christmas song tonight at the Tranzac where I dropped in to see Bob Cohen, David Woodhead and Doug Wilde (aka 3-Ring Circus). I was with my old buddy Allan Fraser and we both got up and did a couple of tunes. I couldn't resist pulling out an old chestnut of mine that I recorded in 1972 - Don't Forget Your Mother - because Bob Segarini was in the house and had just performed a heartfelt Stormy Monday Blues and I remembered when he pulled me aside at the Black Swan when I was newly arrived in Toronto and told me how that song had been a bit of a soundtrack to a rather stormy chapter in his life. We were both recording at André Perry's Studio (the original one in downtown Montreal) where Bob had a "meeting of the eyes" with one of the girls who was singing back-up for me, the beautiful Laurel Massé who was part of Manhattan Transfer at the time. It turned out to be a meeting of more than the eyes as they tucked themselves away in the small booth that overlooked the studio and kicked off a long, intense bi-coastal love affair. All while they listened to take after take of "Don't Forget Your Mother" being put together. Bob says that song still drifts into his consciousness once in a while - so Bob, here's a link if you want to hear the full production. Anyway, I did perform it at the Tranzac - though I fumbled some words - and we all had a wonderful trip down memory lane. Quentin Meek, a great recording engineer from those days in Montreal was also in the house and did a couple of tunes on...wait for it...autoharp! There were many great musicians in the house - I met Fergus Hambleton for the first time and Ed Roth and Franki Hart and a new friend - a great fiddler called Tom Hamilton (I hope I've got that right) who sat in with me when I played the Vino Rosso "salon" last Saturday. See a clip of Allan performing Northumberland Straits" below:
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Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diary
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Sunday, December 6, 2015
On Blues Nicknames
I think I have a new blues moniker (as if I didn't have enough already). Joel was calling me "Two Lane" Blain - a reflection of my driving style, I guess. It has a good ring. When I was starting out in music (50 years ago) The Kreklo brothers used to call me "Nappy". When I was a little kid, my father called me "Butch." Other kids called me "Bucky. "When I got into the blues I picked up the nickname "Colorblind". "Buddha of the Blues" was a short-lived moniker. Now Stringbuster is my new "brand" - it'm my ambient electronic persona. Watch this space for upcoming podcasts and vlog posts.
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Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diary
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Matt Andersen Talks Road Gold
Quote of the day from Matt Andersen: "I believe I’m in an industry that you get out of it what you put into it."
How true it is.
Matt Andersen Talks Road Gold
How true it is.
Matt Andersen Talks Road Gold
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Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diary