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February 16th – 22nd, 2010
Wednesday morning Lindsay, Carson, and I woke up early enough to go see a free Davinci exhibit going on downtown at the VAG / Vancouver Art Gallery. Being as Lindsay is a terrific artist herself, she was excited to take us there and show us around the museum. Knowing personally some of the artist which had exhibits on display, I knew she would also be a great guide and would be able to offer insight on what it was exactly that I was looking at.
We made our way as close to downtown as we could, before entering the pay-park areas, and took the skytrain to the heart of Vancity. As we emerged out of the earth and onto the streets, we still had a bit of a walk. Carson and I were carrying: guitar, djembe, mic stand, mic, patch chords, and a mini battery powered amp to maximize on sound. I didn’t want to kill my voice while singing since it takes a bit more vocal projection to get on top of the street noise, and also because we had a show that night at Nyala’s. We arrived at the art gallery only to find we’d have to stand in line for quite some time to get in but we had anticipated this.
As we were waiting I noticed I’d received a text message. My good friend Jay had sent out a generalized text to some of our friends stating he’d arrived in Vancouver and was enjoying the Olympics so far. In his message he mentioned he’d been taking in the sights of the city as well as the pavilions set up for the Olympics. He ended his text by saying he was currently in line at the Vancouver Art Gallery to see the free Davinci exhibit. I called him up and told him I was in line for it too! He didn’t believe me at first so I asked where he was so I could go find him. Thankfully, he and his friend were further ahead in line than us so we could cut in!! We both couldn’t believe we’d ended up in the same place downtown, 4 provinces away, at the same time of day. I went back to get Carson and Lindsay and then we were five.
Walking in to the gallery we had to check our instruments and backpacks as part of visiting protocol. The curator saw this and asked us what it was we were doing this afternoon after visiting the art display. We told him we had simply planned on doing some busking around the city. He was happy to hear this since the Davinci exhibit had been attracting such a crowd that there was a line outside the gallery all day long. I guess they had talked about hiring a busker to accommodate their patrons. He told us he’d watch for us once we came back to claim our instruments to see if we were interested and that he would talk to his manager in the meantime.
Jay and I caught up a bit as we hadn’t hung out since I left Toronto on October 10th. Lindsay did a great job of showing us around and pointing out the subtleties in the displays we would have missed otherwise. Some of my favourites included the life size whale skeleton made entirely out of white plastic lawn chairs; and, the staged pictures in which an artists uses leaves, water, trash, anything natural to the environment of his picture to make it look natural, even though it was put together to look this way.
We claimed our instruments and gear as we walked out and, as promised, he offered us the busking spot outside. He also informed us that someone would come by to see us play and make sure everything was okay, but I never did see this person if they did in fact come. Jay said he was going to get some lunch but he’d text me later for directions to the show at Nyala’s. Carson and I played for about 3 hours to the slow moving crowd. The circumstances were much better than a few days ago because we were amplified and people had a chance to listen to the songs. We made a killing that day! After tearing down later in the afternoon, we went inside to thank the staff for having us. They thanked us in return as they’d heard good things from the people walking in, they invited us back if we wanted the spot again during the games. We accepted his offer and did in fact go back again.
The three of us went walking to a music store downtown in order to return a defective patch cord. I grabbed something to drink out of the vending machine as I had enough change. Singing for most of the three hours had left my voice pretty dry and raw. Carson and Lindsay came walking back out and to our surprise again we spotted Jay and his friend stepping out of a city bus right in front of the store. Twice in one day, it was little too weird we all admitted. We separated again before the show that night in order to get ready. The guys from the band would be at the Embassy a little later to pick up the equipment and we still had to get some food in us.
We arrived at Nyala’s at around 8pm. An Ethiopian restaurant/bar with great food and great staff! We were invited to feast on the buffet which is spread out every Wednesday before their show. A tad spicy it was but I ate it all regardless, one of those hurt so good situations. I was set to open up the evening and play a few songs with the band before they went on to rock the roof off the bar and socks off their faithful fans and friends.
It was a pleasure to share the stage with a band of their calibre. Playing groovy funk beats and fat pocket grooves were what we both liked to do, and they did a great job with my songs even without much practice. The band themselves entertained us all with their eclectic array of originals and covers ranging from Fleetwood Mac to Stevie Ray Vaughn and Sade’s Smooth Operator.
Everyone meet Jackie Treehorn!!!!
Photo courtesy of Facebook!
We played another show on Friday night at the Bottle Tipper. This time their were two opening acts, myself and Shirley Gnome as well as a planned after party back at the Embassy after the show. It was Jay’s last night in town. He had tickets for the events in Whistler and had to leave at 5 in the morning to catch the bus up to the grounds; so, the plan was not to fall asleep that night.
On Thursday night we’d spent some time catching up and wandering around the city. Carson had brought us down to Commercial Drive, a hipster hot spot in the city, to check out the stores and enjoy some great food and different beers the drive had to offer. Ends up we were sitting next to the lead singer of the band Mother Mother which we’d watched perform downtown a few nights ago.
Friday night, Shirley Gnome opened up the evening. Her music is quite special because her voice is the prettiest but her lyrics are the raunchiest! Writing songs like “Masturbation Over Breakfast” and “Old Man” a song about “loving” the elderly, Shirley had us in tears, making us laugh so hard I sometimes wanted people to stop laughing so I could hear all the lyrics, but I was as guilty as anyone! Shirley is actually travelling to Ontario with her music this summer. I’ll keep you posted as soon as I know when and where to direct you!
Photo Courtesy of Facebook!
We had an amazing night, the venue had filled up and the last song of the night was the address to the after party! Everyone who had attended the night was welcome back, in true Embassy fashion! I know this sounds like a disaster plan if someone were to try this in Ontario, but everything worked out. When we woke up the next morning the house was not a mess, everyone had been respectful and used the garbage, they had avoided trashing the place, and there was not one fight or altercation at the party either. I woke up early to go see the damage but there wasn’t much to do apart from sweep and move the furniture back into place.
This was the last massive hippie party I would attend in Van before my final destination, Victoria. The date had been set and I’d have a partner in crime, B.B., the King of the blues djembe!
February 12th -16th , 2010
I left Hope late morning on Friday. I was overwhelmed with the fact that I would get to reach the Pacific ocean, the destination in mind since early October. I had been on the road for 4 months, 1 week, and a day. My friend Matt who rode his bicycle from Guelph, ON all the way to Vancouver had actually done it in less time, which made me chuckle as I was exiting the mountain ranges of the interior.
I didn’t even bother powering up the GPS as I drove into the heart of Vancouver, I just wanted to get to the ocean. Downtown was getting ready to start the opening ceremonies for the Olympics but it wasn’t my objective to take part of it just yet, this day was about more than that for me.
I looked up at the compass in the van and pointed myself west. I figured that if I drove west long enough, I would happen upon the ocean and I did. It was like seeing the mountains for the first time, the immense feelings of accomplishment, relief, and humility were too much to handle as I made my decent towards the untamed beach. I thought I’d go dip my toes in the water, but realized that it wasn’t enough to just get my feet wet, as it never is, and decided to submerge myself in the cold February waters because I would only be here, for the first time, once.
I must say it was cold; but, what kept me warm momentarily was the flood of memories going through my mind: sitting in my grandmother’s living room and learning how to play the guitar I had been carrying with me this entire journey; nights spent with my uncle as he taught me how to sing and be more than a hobbyist with my music; writing the songs with my friends in Toronto which fuelled my vehicle, my body, and my passion while bartering my way through the country. I felt like a reborn musician. I sat on the beach for a while, looking out to the city from a distance and with Olympic security helicopters flying overhead, patrolling the coast, I made a quick sandwich lunch and enjoyed the moment.
I managed to get a hold of Carson a little later, after walking back up the hill to the van. He had gotten a hold of me a few weeks prior after receiving an email from a friend saying I was in town. This is an interesting story I must say….here goes.
After meeting Suzie in Thunder Bay, back in October, at Colissimo’s music store where I’d bought my guitar 9 years previous, she was kind enough to take it upon herself to contact some of her good friends in the Vancouver area and let them know about the Good Faith Tour. Her good friends then took it upon themselves to contact the band Jackie Treehorn to let them know I would be coming to town. Carson, drummer and extraordinary human being, took it upon himself to look up my myspace and listen to my music. He then sent me an email through my website saying that I was welcome to come and jam with him and the band during the Olympics. They had a few gigs lined up and if I needed a place to stay, I’d be welcome in their home. I quickly responded to this random act of kindness and informed him of my approximated date of arrival.
I called him that afternoon after my swim. I drove through downtown to see some of the excitement of the opening day and then drove over to “The Embassy” where I could have a quick shower and some dinner.
The Embassy is the name given to the house which used to have Thunder Bay tenants. That night I met his awesome girlfriend Lindsay/lead singer/artist, and roomates Kyle/last of T-Bay tenants and Lindsay K., or simply Zee. I met some more band mates that night too: Chelsea/vocals, and Loric/saxomophonist. Bass, keys, and guitar couldn’t make it out until the next day for the gig but we still jammed, ears wide open.
The next day we were getting geared up for a house party, Jackie Treehorn was one of the bands set to play that night. I found out through the guys that the city has quite the house culture. People get together at each others’ homes instead of meeting at the bar all the time. An old idea but a great one at that, I found it made for a huge circle of friends as they round robin each others’ places for hosting.
I met the rest of the band, Kirby/Keys, K-man/guitar, and Geoff/bass. All the guys were really great players and equally great people. We had a blast jamming some more all the while inviting musicians up to play. I soon realized that everyone was invited to the party, from hipsters to punkers, point dexters to lawyers, programmers and seniors. Nobody cared about the walk of life you’re from or how you look while you’re there, they’re just happy you’re there! The night’s event was called the “Bro-lympics” and some were dressed in athlete attire for a little satire regarding the protest that revolved around the games.
Photo by: Steven
I wasn’t able to go see sporting events during the games because they were a little out of this barterer’s budget; but, we went downtown quite a few times during the week. The sky trains and streets were always full but this only meant the party was still going on downtown.
The first night we went down was for one of the many free concerts being offered. By the time we got in line and stepped on to the grounds we caught the Vancouver act Mother Mother, a pop rock band which has been acquiring some fame in the area in the past few years. Still wanting to walk around the festivities, we decided to keep doing so after their set. The energy buzzing through the downtown core was inexplicable. Everyone was in their best of moods. We met so many people that night just walking around. Strangers making friends as friends met strangers. In a way it was bittersweet because, though you hoped this would never end, the Olympic spirit would probably leave with the games for most, unfortunately.
One evening, Carson and I decided to go do some busking on the streets to pass the time and hopefully make a bit of money. Busking passes had been issued for the events but since we knew we didn’t suck, we thought we’d try our luck anyways. No one came to shut us down, even the cops were stopping to enjoy some of our songs. I think the passes were a way to evict unwanted pests who might be bothering the city’s guests if this were the case. We, on the other hand, ended up making enough to cover our expenses for a few more days but it wasn’t the best of busking scenarios as people were mainly walking by to get somewhere specific, not having enough time to stop and listen like on a leisurely Sunday stroll. We needed a different strategy, so we set another busking day with hopes of trying a better spot.
For any musician reading this who hasn’t tried the street side of their art, I highly recommend it. Imagine playing in a bar where the crowd is changing every 5 seconds. You only have five seconds of your music to engage them and sell them on your craft. It makes showmanship and performance depth much more pertinent, though we would catch a bit of a break on this end of things later on that week.
