Music is a Gift

the special C by Jesse

and by gift, I don't mean my gift. It's been a special little gift given to me by different people who have peppered my life.

I was given my first guitar by my sisters. Or maybe I just claimed it as mine. It had been given to her when she was 16 years old by a boy who she dated. I call that guitar Winnie, and he is a little warped, a little old and I spent my whole life messing around with it until I though about seriously considering doing something useful with it.

Then, on my 30th birthday, I was given one by my BFF Laura. A year later when I was wondering to the museum, I met a boy who lived near me and after spending some time talking at the pub, he said he could teach me to play. The following week, there I sat in his living room. It took a few hours but it was enough. Enough to get me started.

I practiced for a year, almost every day so when it came to a year I decided it was time to get a real guitar. It was this year that I was given my own guitar,  Strawberry Jam. She's beautiful and will be with me for a really long time.

I have received other gifts along the way. Songs to learn, songs to play. Different ways to play this chord or another. Different ways to strum and even different ways to hold my guitar. I can't really say that I have a talent, I just love to play. And it's special that my hobby isn't just mine, it's a collective effort of those who have touched my life musically over the last few years.

Last Wednesday, when I was jamming with my friends, Jesse taught me a different way to play a C chord and a G chord. It's beautiful and I'll never forget it. I'm even using my pinky (which I usually never do). Sam taught me some basics of plucking which I am still working hard at learning.

Music is a gift, and the gift isn't in my simple ability of playing. The gifts to me are in the moments and time spent with these people and their support in this new found love of mine.

and I will keep playing.



(whoa, this is a rusty post. I haven't written in a very long time)

Mr. Richie

I can't help it, this morning as I listen to an interview on Q, I hear Lionel Richie talking.

I love him.

He's great.

His songs are amazing to drive to becasue they are so great to sing along too.

He just released a new album yesterday-- gotta buy it.

Strawberry Jam Came Home

last night I brought my baby home. I call her Strawberry Jam. She's an Art & Lutherie and she's a spruce Burgundy with built in electronics. I didn't buy her myself. She's a collection of effort and love from some of the most important people in my life.

My parents, my sister, two of my BFF's Laura and Reena and Mr. SL.

This guitar makes my heart sing, just like they do. What could be more special then that?

It's been a year long trek. A year of woes, joys and other such adventures. I always turned back to my guitar though and so it was time to buy one for real. She's big, but I can handle her. She's rich and soulful.

She's a ginger too.

Welcome to the family, Strawberry Jam-- big red.

At Last

That's where it begins and ends for me and these songs were the ones that touched me the deepest. It was like I was laying hold of some part of me that I didn't even know was there until I let it out.

- Etta James

January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012

**

At Last--

it's time for you to rest that beautiful, soulful voice.

Thank you for singing the blues when I wasn't able to find the words.


**

Don't Call

Don't try and call me at work today because I won't answer. I'll be on the phone. Lots. And you can blame Hall and Oats for that!

Callin' Oats: The best emergency telephone line ever.

A Note from Feist

Because I am a lucky girl who has some amazing people in my life, I've been listening to Feist's new album non-stop since Friday. I can't wait for it to some out so I can buy it. It's beautiful. It's music to walk too, to work too, to think too, to kiss too, to eat too, to live too.

So excited for the concert in November. SO exited. *swoons

Stream the album now

MOM: Mountain Man

I haven't done a Music Obsession Monday in... years maybe.

I have a reason now. A beautiful reason. The reason is Mountain Man.

How Come You Never Go There

It's here:



The first of many wonderful tracks from Feist's new album Metals. It's for sale on iTunes.

Hell but fudge YES!

It's already on repeat...

Electric

Feist
Monday, November 21

Jack Singer Concert Hall
(thank you GOD for not letting her play at the Saddledome again)


Presale starts today at 10AM

Use Password: electric


(oh my goodness SO excited!!! tick-tock tick-tock)

Do You Realize?

Do You Realize - that you have the most beautiful face
Do You Realize - we're floating in space -
Do You Realize - that happiness makes you cry
Do You Realize - that everyone you know someday will die


And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun don'-go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round


Do You Realize - Oh - Oh - Oh
Do You Realize - that everyone you know
Someday will die -


And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun don'-go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round


Do You Realize - that you have the most beautiful face
Do You Realize

**
It's funny the things I dream about. Songs, flavours and feelings. Last night I dreamt of this song. Not sure why. It's been so long since I've even thought about it.

But looking at the lyrics, it resonates with my simple, superficial, views on life. I go deeper then that but this is where I begin.

Confession: I'm a Tarpie but I'm Nice

Mike Bloggity is a fantastic blogger who is always on the ball about all the hottest events in the city. It was no surprise to me that he would be reposting on Folk Fest. It's a life changing event every year (no, I am not exaggerating). The days are spent wandering around from side stage to side stage, enjoyed all the talent. The nights are always spent at your tarp set up in the main feild to enjoy some of the bigger names in the festival. Your spot is marked by your tarp and the quality of the spot all depends on how early you get up and how determined you are. People usually camp out at the gates Friday to Saturday and Saturday to Sunday.

On Thursday... I had a moment. A nice half hour long moment of mad and crazy bitch. It's my duty on Thursday and Fridays to stand in line with the rest of the "tarpies" and find a close to ideal spot to watch the main stage. There are specific guidelines to participate in this practice. First of all... the front gate only allows so many people in first. Second, you are not allowed to run. Third, you have to pack up your tarp at the end of the night only to do it all over again in the morning. Your chair must be short (beach size. If you can roll a basketball under it, it's too big.) and your tarp must be smallish. 6 feet by 8 feet I think. Because the whole main stage field it covered in these tarps, it can be hard to maneuver around. Care should be taken though NOT to walk across them.

This is where my inner bitch came into play. We had set up our tarp on Thursday night in the same area that we always set up. It's fun because you see all your usual regulars who come back every year. We are after all creatures of habit. The first night I was beyond excited, I am not kidding when I say that I had tears flowing from my eyes because I was overwhelmed with joy as I sat, waiting for the gates to open. When I got in and put down the tarps, I looked around-- pleased. This was going to be a great year. We had new neighbors, a guy named Claude from Winnipeg. He just moved here 6 months ago. Some nice people sitting behind us. As the night went on and we got closer and closer to the final act. A group called City and Color, more and more people started walking over my tarp. Some when as far as to move my chair and walk directly across with their muddy feet. The annoying thing was, there was a path about 6 feet away. They didn't need to walk on the tarp. Wanting to create more room we rolled up our one tarp when the others had gone home and moved everything onto one. This steady stream of City and Color fans would not get off as I started rolling-up. I finally had to yell at them. I felt like a crotchy old man as I waved my hands and lectured them on patience and manners.

"It's rude to walk across the tarps. Stop it. If you would have a little patience for a moment I will toll this up so you can get to where you need to go." I know, doesn't sound that ferocious now but it was then. I commanded my respect and got it.

The next day I saw this post by Mike:

Taking on the Tarpies

Which I can relate too. Some of the people with the tarps are kind of rude. Too big tarps with no one on them for the whole main stage event. It's a waste of space. People with tall chairs. People who fight over spots. It's folk fest. Share. It's community people. Check your entitlement at the door.

I am all about sharing my space. I have done so every year I've gone. With friends and strangers. The only thing I ask is you help me eat my food, you keep the tarp clean and you don't smoke or talk too much loudness during shows. If you have loud kids that won't sit down, sit near the back or the sides. And watch them. That's all I ask, in turn you can share my space and be my friend.

For the people who don't want to sit on my tarp or have one of their own either leave your shoes off when you tarp hope OR keep your shoes on and walk along the edges while making the "I'm sorry, I'm really trying to be respectful of you space" face. Is that too much to ask? If you are going to stand, do so on the sides OR when everyone else is doing so. It's that easy. Is that too much to ask?

We can exist. As a tarpie, I am proud of my spot and will enjoy it all through the night. I waited a long time to get this spot and really, this spot isn't that good. Haha. I'm not that hard core. Depends on the act to be honest.

As a trap crasher, always ask. Don't just plunk your butt down with your muddy feet on my tarp.

The end!

Picture borrowed from Mike's Tarpie post

It's been 1, 2, 3, 4, long years...

After 4 long years this super fan has been waiting with bated breath for my most favorite songstress to come out of hiding and release some new sounds. When her Reminder album came out I was disappointed. Most of the material was old to me. Things I had heard in concerts or off of bootlegged albums years prior to the release. One song I have been waiting for is one called Anti-Pioneer. Well, my wish has been granted. Due out in the fall, Feist has an album coming out called Metals featuring a remastered version of Anti-Pioneer. Oh yeeeeeah!

To go along with her new album there is a new and remastered website as well as some coy teaser videos.

She's back and I'm excited. That means a tour and hopefully a return to Calgary Folk Fest. This is her home town. (hint hint Leslie Feist)

Article about Feist's return in Spin Magazine along with a review of a few of the tracks included on Metals.

October is so long away.... *sigh

Going Back to Black

14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011

One can not forget the talents and gifts a person possess just as a result of their personal conflict. A well written, simply put, tribute to Ms. Winehouse by The Clever Pup.



27 Club
image credits

Folk Fest 2011: Begin

I'm beyond excited today. It's the first night of Folk Fest and I am so excited that I was late to work. I was late because I was dancing like an maniac when I should have been getting dressed. I cut my toe nails, exfoliated my heals, waxed my eyebrows, applied a little bronzer, bought new lipstick ( I haven't bought lipstick in 2 years.. I hardly wear the stuff), did some yoga, danced, baked, stocked my fridge and cupboards, cleaned and vacuumed, bought 2 different types of bug sprays and 4 different types of Sun screens. I bought a backpack cooler. I ever have an overnight guest on Saturday who gets to use my couch. I am ready and so excited.

Plus, not only am I excited about Folk Fest but Atlantis landed today and that was pretty cool too so I have double reason to be jumping off the walls.

I plan to dance, eat, laugh and have as much fun as possible. Then on Monday I get my hair done. I was supposed to get it done last night but my stylist's girlfriend was in town, he hasn't seen her for 3 whole days, so I changed my appointment. Who am I to stand in the way of love? It's just hair and it's not like it's going to make or break my life having it done.

Do's and Do Not's of Folk Fest

DO

• Bring sunscreen and avoid the public mocking that comes with looking like a boiled lobster.
• Bring bug spray. The lush greenery of Prince's Island is a haven for mosquitoes.
• Channel your inner child. Play. Nap. Leave worry and stress on the otherside of the gate
• Bring rainwear. Remember, we're in Calgary. A sunny, 25 C day can quickly turn into ferocious, monsoon conditions.
• Talk to strangers.
• Bring a reusable water bottle. In its commitment to be more environmentally responsible, the Calgary Folk Fest is no longer selling any bottled water on site. But water-filling stations will be available.
• Check out the workshop stages and concerts by artists you may have never heard of. Who knows? You might discover your new favourite band.
• Make a tarp marker, mine is a giant fish stuck in the stop of a torch with tassels hanging off of it. Every year we add something new to it.

Bring your own food and have a picnic.

• Have a partner in crime. Fun is more fun when there are two + of you getting in trouble.
• bring your boke, they have a space for you to park it and it's safe.
• Log onto www.calgaryfolkfest.com for schedule and artist info.

DON'T

• Spend all day in the beer garden. Yes, it's fun and they make a mean sangria, but it's not worth missing out on all the great performances around the island.
• Bring camping chairs. If you can roll a basketball under it, it's too tall. Buy a festical chair or just chill on a tarp or blanket. Otherwise, you'll get told...
• Bring your dog, cat, ferrit, money, pet... it's not allowed. Kids yes, pets no.
• Dress like a skank. It's the Folk Fest, not the Stampede.
• Act like a douchebag. It's the Folk Fest, not the Stampede.

(do's and don'ts borrowed from The Calgary Sun and my own experience)

and most importantly... HAVE FUN! See you there

Calgary Folk Fest 2011

Stampede (AKA: Cowboy Halloween) is DONE and the 2011 Calgary Folk Fest is on the way. If you have been following my blog for at least a year you will know that I love live music and I love Folk Fest. It's amazing food, stellar music, Sangria in the beer garden, afternoons playing with bubbles, meeting people young and old, sharing tarps, dancing barefoot in the grass, hula hooping in the field, it's being a hippy and holding hands and making peace with the Oil Sands executive sitting beside you. It's community, it's fellowship, it's a city team building event that repairs all the damage that Stampede does to the good nature of people. It's like Harry Potter and Dumbledores Army just came into town Wednesday and started casting enchantments all around Princes Island so by Thursday, when the festival opens up everyone is feeling safe, protected and kind. It's like a village within a city. People camp out at Folk Fest lounge out front (run by super hipster Duck Man - he walks around making duck face all day long), it's the safest place I've ever been. This year I have no idea what most of the music is about, but I always find something new to love. Matt Andersen will be there, I'm excited to see him!

This transient community starts with smiles and ends Sunday night with a feeling full of heart and new members in your circle of friends. Not even friends, you have new members in your family.

My friend ZT will be working at Stage 6 (as he did last year) so I always go for a visit over there. Last year stage 6 was my favorite. They have Hill Country Revue jamming with Debashish Bhattacharya (an Indian artist who played sitar on a table), Konono no°1 and Etran Finatawa from Niger. It was all sides of the earth together as one making some damn funky music (that's right, I used the word "damn" and "funky") that was so good I danced like a crazy women for a whole hour. By myself. At 11AM in the morning.

So excited for my favorite weekend of July.

Katy Perry

The tickets were free, they got me into the Stampede Grounds for free. I sat in the Telus box and drank free drinks, ate free food and enjoyed all the company. I don't think I own anything by Katy Perry or about Katy Perry. I know more about her husband then I do about her. OH! The only thing I like about Katy Perry are her pajama's! I've seen a lot of live music but I've never been to see a Top 40 artist from my generation (all those 60's and 70's artists were big before I was even born. Before I was even a twinkle in my daddies eye!). Actually, I've been to award ceremonies but even that was nothing like this concert.

I've said it before and I'll say it again... I have NEVER in all my life been to a spectacle like that before. There were lasers, not just pew-pew-pew lasers but it actually created a hologram effect. There was glitter and other pretty things falling from the roof, there was foam being sprayed and bubbles being blown and fireworks being shot off INSIDE and beach balls and other inflatable animals and 25 different costume changes and goodies being thrown into the audience and flying trapeze and candy money and cotton candy. Some of the BEST cotton candy I have ever had. There were glowing sticks and glowing hats and the whole thing was amazing. Vegas meets Disney. It was unreal.

And people were actually standing and dancing. FINALLY. I behaved because I was a guest in a high end company box but I still got up and wiggled my butt and danced the night away.

Reason why Katy Perry was great:

1. Live.  Do you know how many pop acts can sing and dance and still live nowadays?  Not very many.  The fact that Katy really sang throughout the entire show, was impressive, which is really a sad statement on today’s entertainment, but that’s something Rolling Stone can write about.  For me, it was amazing to hear that she actually has a great voice that was all too often drowned out by the huge production numbers. There were moments when she wasn't singing her hits, when she was delighting the audience with karaoke versions of Rebecca Black and that Friday Song that you could hear just how good her voice is.

2. Theatrics. Speaking of the big production numbers, the set was like a giant Candy Land game.  (Not that I’ve ever played Candy Land….) I can only describe it being as like a show on Broadway but with thousands of people screaming, yelling, dancing and taking photos. Rarely did we sit, mostly because we were having too much fun, with my short attention span, that my friends is a miracle. It was amazing. I can't begin to recreate what it was like to see something like his. The pictures don't even do the experience justice.

3. Fans. One thing that Katy Perry loves are her fans and it shows.  It’s no secret that the music industry is in trouble, people don’t have to buy music anymore, so if you don’t love and support your fans, why should they support you.  The show was filled with special moments just for Katy’s admirers.  Calling up a “hot cowboy” or instigating an impromptu dance party with dozens of fans on stage, are moments that many who saw the show won’t ever forget. She floated on a cloud made of cotton candy and went past her stage and sang to audience members who were in cheaper seats. This concert was for her fans. I can't even begin to imagine how amazing it would have been for people who love her music. The concert started at 7:30 and went all the way to 11:30. That's getting your moneys worth that's for sure.

For years I had mistakenly put Katy Perry in the same crowd as Lady Gaga, but now I see how wrong I was.  While Gaga relies on shock value to keep your interest, Katy Perry does it by just being herself. An interesting night to say the lease.

AND on a side note, I also go to see Janelle Monae live WOW, now that is a performer! Stunning voice, amazing songs, dance moves to put James Brown to shame. She was a stunner and I plan to buy everything she's put out. Mind you, the recorded stuff is often not as good as live but I'll take a listen. I'm sure it's amazing.

Wicked Night

Last night, I saw Wicked. Yes, this does indeed deserve a second mention. I haven't seen a Broadway production like in years. The last time I was wowed this much by anything other then an opera was when I saw The Phantom of the Opera when I was 8. I learned the whole production (London Cast), word for word, note for note and dreamed that I would be the worlds first female to play "the phantom". I've seen so many over Broadway productions but none moved me as Phantom did and now Wicked.

Watching it you would be attracted to the melodies, the costumes, the smart writing, the wonderful acting and the full theater production spilling out in front of you. With a bit of attention you will see that it is a story laced with lesson and opinion. The line between what defines good and evil isn't black and white, it's grey. It has to do with our perception of the facts and getting the whole story. The people who you thought were evil actually only had good intentions and unpopular ideas. The ones who you think to be good are really just weak minded and dishonest with themselves and those around them. Wicked navigates the politics of race, it represents a remarkably appealing girl protagonist, and how it interpolates its audience through old conventions to tell a new and progressive story.

Are people born Wicked? Or do they have Wickedness thrust upon them?
-Galinda (the "Gaa" is silent) the good witch

Guitar Pride

I've been practicing my guitar lots over the last week. I started to loose my callouses and I swore to myself that I'd never go through the rebuilding stage again. So, I had to force myself to really return but all it took was one night and I guess a nice break to capture the passion I had last month. I'm actually doing really well. I know this because I'm not as shy about people hearing me, my mistakes are there but it doesn't matter. I think to an untrained ear they might not be as obvious. My chords are flowing quicker and my strumming has a confidence it hasn't had before. I'm still very beginner but the easy songs I am playing come much easier now. I need to work on my bar chores but I'm proud of where I am and excited of how much better I'll be as I keep practicing. I'm already able to write songs (bad songs but a girls' gotta start somewhere!) and I have just about enough basic knowledge to play by ear. Just about... hee hee.

My favorite songs to play are Joni Mitchell songs because they are the easiest and I love retelling her tortured stories. I also have returned to the first song that I was taught, Cupid by Sam Cook. I struggled my way through it all those month ago but just the other day I opened it up to look at it for the first time in a while and I was able to play my way through it effortlessly. It's become my new favorite.

I have enjoyed Sam Cook since Feist introduced me to his one of his less popular songs. She has a soft place for him as she often talks about him. Hopeless romantics.

Can't Stop Me Now

Can't stop me now hear what I say
My feet wanna move so get out my way
I'm gonna have my say
I'm going to every discotheque
I'm gonna dance dance dance dance ooh
Till the break of day I say

Life, I Love You

 

Life feels so good, it usually feels good to me but it really feels good right now. One of the best things I could have done was stop taking those sleepy time pills. I felt good then but now I feel amazing. They are finally out of my system, I think they left on the last day in Maui because since then, I've only had one bad sleep. I haven't been sleep walking, I feel fresh, alert and amazing. I feel amazing. I can't get over how good I feel even with some of the texture going on I still feel good. It's like underneath all the waves I can feel how warm and comfortable the earth really is. It doesn't have anything to do with the changes in my life or the luck that I've had. It's just me. I'm just content, excited and so in love with life and everyone around me. Even when I get a little down (one can't be happy all the time. Actually, one can't be something all the time... our emotions wax and wan and change. It's healthy. To be stuck in one emotion is like painting with one color.) I still know that inside I feel good. I respect myself and the people around me. I am optimistic.

Am I bragging? I don't mean to be. I just wanted to share how I was feeling.

Yesterday I enjoyed the afternoon reading my book at the park. I talked to interesting people, ate tasty things and took in all the sunshine. I walked and bought something more to eat (Cream Puffs) plus some tooth past and then went home to play guitar. I fell asleep at midnight as I have been the last few weeks and woke up well before my alarm. My sleep was good, my dreams were amazing and I just felt great. I felt great at the start of the year as things started to fall off my shoulders but now. I'm enjoying that feeling and appreciating it everyday. I know there are amazing things a head of me. There are amazing things right in front of me now.

Thank you life. Thank you friends. Thank you world and thank you Blanche. I am just so full of love that I swear, I'm ready to move to Savary Island and be a hippy.

When I went through my oldies soul/rhythm and blues phase in my teens I was the hugest fan of Bill Withers.

When I wake up in the morning
love
and the sun light hurts my eyes
And something without warning
love
bears heavy on my mind.
Then I look at you and the world's alright with me
Just one look at you and I know it's gonna be -
A lovely day - lovely day

When the day that lies ahead of me seems impossible to face

And someone else instead of me always seems to know the way
Then I look at you and the world's alright with me
Just one look at you and I know it's gonna be -
A lovely day - lovely day