Here’s a look back at what I did this summer :
June 16th- Yeah! What a show… the best one yet. It was good to be back with amplification. The stage was kind of sticky with some kind of goo…. weird but the show went well and we were all happy. Here is the setlist:
Wheel This One
Something Solid
I’ll Damn You To Hell
The English House
Free Man
345 Days Away From You
Koto
A Man Named Kennedy
Like A Wave
Inland Sea / Boats
The Traveler
National Pinetop
California
For Kirsten
Dry Martini Parlor
Tokyo 2 A.M.
Shigoto
The Stream
Sayonara Baby
encore:
Bela Lugosi
Câline De Blues (Offenbach)
June 20th- Two days after the show, I was on a plane to France to play my first shows overseas, visit family and promoting my CD to distributors and musical types in Paris.
This summer was turning out great. The amazing thing was that even before the trip, I have been on an intense writing period where I am coming up with some amazing tunes. This continued during my traveling. You will have to be patient for these songs cause it will be a couple of years before there are ready to be listened to.
July 1st – There we go. My first official gig outside Canada! Obviously, I couldn’t afford to bring the band with me but that did not deter my enthusiasm. Playing solo was fine. The show took place in a town called Montauban, a semi-large city 50 km north of Toulouse in southern France. The venue’s name is “Le Son de L’Innocence”…the sound of innocence. It was a very eco-friendly hang out where local independent bands came to play…. punk bands, metal bands…all sorts really. …Yet with a very relaxed atmosphere. The show was a double bill. I was sharing the stage with a local heavy band called Du Orden.
Before the show, I was invited to play an impromptu set. Just outside the venue was a town square in front of a church where some festivity was going on. I took my acoustic set and played a 4-song set out there totally unplugged. The crowd seemed to enjoy and I invited them to the performance inside the venue.
Finally, back at le Son, it was time for me to go on. Here’s the set list:
Outdoor performance :
You Gotta Move (Mississippi Fred McDowell)
California
Untitled Song June 30, 05
Like A Wave
Koto
Something Solid
A Man Named Kennedy
I’ll Damn You To Hell
The Traveler
Wheel This One / Inland Sea / Boats
Dry Martini Parlor
The English House
Like A Wave
You Gotta Move
Bela Lugosi
Sayonara Baby
encore :
National Pinetop
with Du Orden :
Lucky (Radiohead)
Rape Me (Nirvana)
Afterwards, Du Orden came on. During their set, I joined them onstage and we covered Radiohead’s “Lucky” and Nirvana’s ” Rape Me.” The nirvana cover was a blast as we got in heavy metal screaming mode….
A good time was enjoyed by all…
July 2nd. This time, I was in another town called Gaillac where I performed at “Le Bel Aspect.” Gaillac is sort of the hometown on my mom’s side of the family. My grandpa who is 93 still lives there. A hall was rented for the 50th wedding anniversary for my aunt and uncle. A good 60 people were there. A dj provided the entertainment…and I was part of it too… I played a quick set with just guitar and vocals.
For Laura
Bela Lugosi
The English House
Like A Wave
Free Man
California
Inland Sea / Boats
Sayonara Baby
encore :
Together
The rest of my trip was great. The weather was fine, the food terrific although it was not just play and visiting relatives since I took the opportunity to make some contacts with music people over there. It’s too soon to tell if anything will come of it. We shall see.
Back home, I resumed work on some of my songs for the upcoming album. Also, I started working on the details in order to shoot my first video. The director will be a gentleman by the name of Ian Morin. More on him later. The song that will be featured will be Bela Lugosi. WE worked on the concept and the script and we are presently looking for the technical team and the actors.
Also, I will get back to you about the Zeke CD…. promise…
September 1st- Next show… at L’Alize this time… This show featured 2 other artists, Dan Potvin and Gerald Cabot. This time I had the band with me…well, almost… Stephane was away in B.C. and could not be part of it so this was my first time as a trio. It went very well… actually, this was the heaviest show yet. For the first time, I played California and Superblack in a band context. I can’t wait to record them. Both songs sounded awesome. Here’s the setlist for that one…
Free Man
Something Solid
California
Shigoto / Wheel This One
Tokyo 2 A.M.
Like A Wave
Sayonara Baby
Superblack
Bela Lugosi
Finally, here are the latest big news… I will be performing at the Pop Montreal Festival. The show will be at Missy Bar ( 250, Rue Mont-Royal Est ) on September 29th with Drew Danburry and The Remains of Brian Bordecht for a measly 5 $. Again, it will be a trio show since Stephane won’t be back till late October. Big names are performing at that festival: Beck, Interpol, Sam Roberts and plenty of local, national and international talent. I don’t think I’ll get to jam with Beck but hey…it’s a start… my first festival. Hope to see you there….
