St. Mike's Reunion
I have never been to St. Michael's University School in Victoria before and yet there were two reunions for Voyageur there this morning.
Donna Williams is a music teacher there and enthusiastically welcomed the guitar to the school in a beautiful lecture facility in the heart of their splendid campus. Donna is friends with the school's part time guitar instructor, Paul O'Brien, whom you might recall from our trip to Haida Gwaii last year. He played Voyageur at the 2008 edition of the Edge of the World Festival in Tlell. He's just back from a tour of Europe and Donna called upon him to play for the students as part of today's presentation. Paul is a great guy and – like so many I've met who are from elsewhere but have chosen Canada as home – he brings a real depth of feeling to his appreciation of the Six String Nation.
So that was one reunion. The other was with Dr. David C. Lai. He's the person who contributed the piece of the doorway from Victoria's Fan Tan Alley and I'd called to give him a heads up that I was coming to town. Just as the presentation was about to begin, he arrived at the back of the hall. It was our first face to face meeting and I'm so glad he got to see the guitar in person.
The project was really well received by the students and we're already talking about a return visit to share the story with an even larger group from this extraordinary school.
Thanks to Donna Williams, Paul O'Brien, Sherry, Mary and all the staff and students who attended the presentation. A special thanks to Kent Leahy-Trill who took photos for the school and posted this gallery.
Posted at 4:40 PM
Longevity John's "Garage"
I'd heard about his venue in Duncan BC long before I met Longevity John in an elevator at the Brooke St. Hotel in Nepean during the Ottawa Folk Festival. Lots of musicians had told me what a great place it was to play and that it has quite a magical feel. It is everything it's cracked up to be and then some.
First of all, the building that houses the Duncan Garage Showroom is pretty extraordinary itself – a variety of retailers scattered at interesting angles through a two-storey heritage building that looks pretty square from the outside. The Showroom shares the second floor with a hair salon and other tenants but feels entirely self contained. John runs the place as (his words) a "benevolent dictator" but it's a bit mad-scientist as well, with partner Georgia adding the even keel. It's full of crazy curios but it's also got a state-of-the-art sound system and a raked seating arrangement cobbled together from an old Jehovah's Witness church and the local Legion.
Tonight was open-mic night, which actually worked well because I often like to have a few different people bring Voyageur to life after the presentation. Tonight, nine different people stepped up to do the honours and we heard everything from David-Gray-like originals to Pink Floyd to Blues to Hula music!
Thanks to everyone who came out and to all the musicians who stepped up. A special thanks to Longevity John, Georgia, Bill, Doug, Sean and Volume One Books. Bob Stamp – you were missed!
Out bright and early in the morning to make a morning school visit to St. Michael's University School in Victoria. Sleep well!
Posted at 1:44 AM
A Duncan Alternative
Longevity John from the Duncan Garage set up a visit for me at the Cowichan Valley Open Learning Centre, an alternative studies high school here in Duncan BC on Vancouver Island.
Fantastic group of kids - super attentive and appreciative and a whole bunch of guitar players to boot - especially with the tutelage of their guitar teacher Bryon.
Henry was first up to play Voyageur after the presentation. My goodness, you wouldn't guess it from this picture but what a voice! Nailed his Johnny Cash intonations effortlessly.
Thanks to Bryon and all the staff and students at CVOLC and to Longevity John.
If you're in the area, come by John's Duncan Garage Showroom for the show tonight!
Posted at 4:23 PM
Courtenay Comes Out
First of all, a travel recommendation: if you're ever driving from Campbell River to Courtenay on Vancouver Island, forget the Inland Highway – the coastal drive is a little longer but totally worth it.
I could easily have spent a few days here in Courtenay, BC on Vancouver Island.
The weather was perfect, the location is gorgeous and the community turned out in force at the Comox Valley Art Gallery to see the presentation this afternoon. I know a lot of people couldn't make it because of the hours so I do hope we'll be back to we can share the story with everyone who wants to hear it.
The Comox Valley Art Gallery is a beautiful new space kitty corner from the public library and just around the corner from our book-hosts for the event, Laughing Oyster Books.
For some reason, things were extra emotional today – both on my part and with the audience as well. I don't care how many times I tell the story, it always effects me - but today there was some kind of resonance going on in the gallery that turned things up a notch (to coin a phrase).
A few people came up to play but it was especially great to hear Al Jossel playing. He played Voyageur as part of the presentation but he also stuck around as people were heading out just to play for himself and those who hung back to hear him. Thanks Al!
Thanks also to Robin, Meaghan, Emily, Anh, Angela, Evelyn and Clive.
Posted at 1:58 AM
Coho Books
Insolvable trouble with FatPort at the hotel yesterday (I always have trouble with them) so I couldn't post when I was still glowing from the day's activities at Coho Books. Actually, I suppose I'm still glowing because it was a very nice event.
Owner Pirkko Anderson got the word out and the bookstore filled up for the presentation, which went over very well. I think I may have even sold a few of John Vaillant's book as well as my own!
Apart from Pirkko and her family being so nice and the assembled group so appreciative, the real delight of the afternoon was hearing Rodrigo Figueroa play Voyageur. He's a local guitarist with some serious chops. And yet he wasn't flashy for the sake of it.Just well executed, sensitive playing that brought out the best in the instrument. In fact, he liked Voyageur so much we've arranged to record him on it tomorrow in Courtenay. Meanwhile, his lovely mother – visiting from Chile – is taking a copy of the book back home so word of the Nation continues to spread.
Thanks to Rodrigo, Pirkko, Jason, Erica and baby Kai.
Posted at 2:22 PM
Richmond Expressions
I know that sounds like a coffee flavouring but in fact it's Cherelle Jardine's series at the Richmond Cultural Centre and tonight's edition included my presentation, a short set by Cherelle and a full set from the truly dynamic duo of Holly Arntzen and Kevin Wright.
The publisher was very optimistic sending almost 100 books to the folks at Black Bond Books – an independent bookseller in Richmond who set up to do sales – but the room just wasn't that big. There were about 40 people in the room (actually a lecture hall) and it was reasonably full. At least the book display looked impressive!
As usual, met all sorts of nice people - one of the consistent joys of taking Voyageur around the country. Cherelle had appeared with me yesterday morning on CBC Radio's Early Edition, where she only got time to play an excerpt of a song so it was great to hear her do the whole sung in full voice.
Holly and Kevin will be in Duncan when I'm there on Tuesday so it will be another chance to meet. They do a killer version of "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" and Holly can make a mountain dulcimer sound like Led Zeppelin!
Yikes - look at the time! Only a few hours before I have to catch a ferry to Vancouver Island!
Thanks to Doug, Ricky, Murray, AJ, Lou, Connie, Cherelle, Kevin and Holly and all the folks who came out to the show – including cousin Bruce, his friend Brook and the kids.
And a special thanks to Paolo and Natasha for the warmth of home here in Vancouver.
Posted at 3:43 AM