Orillia, Drum Kits, Weddings, Music Schools

Hello! We just got back today from a 5 day weekend in Orillia with my folks. On Saturday we drove to Owen Sound to attend the wedding of our good friends Andy and Candace. Andy was the first bass player who ever played my songs in a band, and was always awesome to play with. Congrats guys!

Peja is standing next to a giant guitar art thing on the main street of Orillia. We bought an awesome little premier jazz kit, which will join my kit in the drum room of my. . . wait for it. . . NEW MUSIC SCHOOL!

After 4 amazing amazing years out in the township at The Dorian School of music, I'm opening my own shop downtown. It will be called "The Sleeping Giant School of Music", and there will be website links and all the rest posted when I get around to it. I'm still at Dorian for the summer, and the new shop will open Sept 1st! A huge thanks to Tim Tran, my friend and my boss, for working with me all these years at Dorian.

Hope all is well with you,

Jay.

Jay and the Kevins Reunion Show!

We've been asked back to the Island Grill, so this coming Saturday, the 26th, ride the 7, 8, or 9 o'clock boat out to Wolfe Island and catch the show. Me Man Jack and other special guests will also be performing.

Damian can't make the show, so crowd favourite Kevin Cooke is flying back from Ottawa to rock the lefty 6 string bass. Yeah, Kevin Cooke!

Peja turned 6 this past Sunday, and she shared her day with my 7th father's day, which is pretty fun. It has been so cool getting to know her. The day before was the awesome Skeleton Park Music Festival, and Peja and I danced up a storm to the awesome music. There were even some Taiko drummers for Echo to hear -- one of his middle names is Taiko, so it seems like he should be exposed to it. . .

SHOW!

Peguin Le Pas

Fear not.

Things are afoot.

We just can't talk about them right now.

But they are afoot.

In non-music life news, we tore down a wall in our house. The house is still standing. I even moved some switches to a new location without electrocuting myself.

Got some sweet new hats for Peja's drum kit. Our band is reforming this summer. Look for us busking.

Oh, hey, I played a gig at the Chilean Relief Show. It was awesomely busy. The Speaker of the House of Commons, and one of The Tragically Hip guitarists were there. And me. Playing the song "Peguin Le Pas" that Peja and I wrote, while she stood beside me, happy but frozen in front of the crowd.

Me: "Uh, Peja are you okay?"

Peja: (frozen, smiling, barely audible) "Yes"

Me: "You want to stay up here with me"

Peja: (same) "Yes"

And so it went. I played a set on Bass with Kyra and Tully, which, aside from some sound issues, was good times.

Two of my favourite bands, Skeleton Park, and The Trash Daddies played sets as well, and they were rad.

Alright, off to teach some lessons.

Again, things are afoot.

Mid-Early-Morning Nap

Hey, look, we used our tent! Alright, so it was a bug-shelter at a party. But it does have awesome round hobbit-like doors.

It is 8am. Echo fell asleep about 10 minutes ago. He often has a mid-early-morning nap, especially if he gets up early. He will likely sleep for 20-30 minutes. The clock is ticking.

Hey, did I talk about this yet? I'm going to record a single at an awesome recording studio that a friend of mine runs. I've spent a lot of time listening to old demos trying to find a good track to work on, and then, since this is a family-financed project, Sienna picked a track called "Empress of India" which didn't quite make it onto the "Echo" project. She says it's "catchy".

I'm playing at "A Roof For Chile", a relief effort fundraiser at The Mansion on May 8th. It's an all-day thing, so I'm not sure when I'm playing - I'll post set-times when I have them. Kyra and Tully are playing as well, so you might see me on Bass with them as well.

Oh, I hear little footsteps on the stairs!

Oh, it's Sienna heading out for a run. We're going to rock the Beat Beethoven run together in June. Well, we're going to start together. I feel like I might finish a few days later.

Hope all is well with you,

Jay.