Inverary Post-Show

It's Sunday morning, and Sienna and Peja just headed out to hang out with some of Peja's little friends.

The Lady Racers were totally amazing, and I hope I get to play another show with them in the future. Thanks to Kyra and Tully for putting on the festivities, thanks to the Inverary Playhouse and it's operators, and thanks to Paul who rocked the bass and helped a lot with the sound. Huge thanks to everyone who came out and gave their money and their time and their applause.

The play house is a beautiful room, and our hosts gave us a great deal. The draw wasn't as big as we hoped, but if you could fill the place, it is a fantastic venue.

This was the first big show I've played without a sound-guy, and I have a new respect for the craft -- it's a real f'n hassle to be messing with unfamiliar sound gear in a short time-frame while you're trying to get ready to perform. I'm wondering if I should make a new plan for the Wilson room show -- I hadn't totally decided what to do, but I think I might check out the cost of having a sound guy who isn't me.

Saturday, 7pm, Inverary!

One more rehearsal before the Inverary Show -- (Saturday, Inverary Play House; Lady Racers, Kyra and Tully, Jay and the Barn Flyz!) The show starts at 7, so I think we're heading out there around 4:30 to set up sound gear and stuff. There's suppose to be an article in the Whig this weekend about the show, so look for that.

After this weekend, the media blitz will start for the Wilson Room show, so look for the posters all around. I'm still up in the air about the exact sound lay-out, but the room has been booked and paid for, so everything should be cool. The only sad note is that Grady Kelneck will not be gracing the stage (did I mention this before? I really have to start reading the blog. . .), so the Barn Flyz will be a trio; but that's kind of cool to.

See you in Inverary,

Jay.

Quiet Power Jam. . .

Starting jamming for the Wilson room show -- Derek and Anthony came out to Dorian last night, and although I forgot my microphone, necessitating a fairly low volume, I think it was a really productive jam. Despite a 4 month lay-off, the boys still know their parts.

Grady can't make it down for the show, so it's going to be a 3 piece special (plus Kyra and Tully on vocals and keys). The set list is up in the air, but songs that should make the cut include: Society Dames, City Lights, and Red Flag.

Derek starts at Queens in the fall, and Anthony's talking about commuting back for the occasional show, so the band should be able to keep gigging in the fall without too much trouble. Nick's back in September, so we'll have the piano man too. Tim at Dorian and I want to do a big show at the Wellington Street Theatre, so stay tuned for news about that.

This Saturday is the Inverary Playhouse show with The Lady Racers and Kyra and Tully. I'm opening with a few tracks, and with some help from Kyra and Tully and Paul (who's playing bass to my drums in Kyra and Tully this time out).

Congrats to Tara and Denton on their first house!

See you on Saturday in Inverary!

Take care,

Jay.

Basssss Ammmmmp

Drove up to Ottawa on Wednesday with Sienna, and visited songbird music, where I got this great old yamaha bass head and 1x15" cabinet that shakes the house in pretty great ways. I've been wanting a bass amp almost since I sold my old one to my cousin Tom, and this one, aside from not being tubed, is pretty perfect.

Rehearsal tonight with K&T, we're trying some of my tunes so they can back me up in Inverary and the Wilson Room show. I don't even know what instrument I'm bringing anymore. . . I'm playing drums at that show, but my stuff too. . .

Planning for the Wilson room show continues, I'm debating sound options. Tim's kindly offered me his sound gear, so I might just do a simple set-up, just mic the vocals and have everything pretty quiet -- it's a bright sounding room, so that might be the best option.

Take care,

Jay.

No Rain!!!

Like Woodstock before it, this years Elphin Roots festival nearly floated away -- right after Kyra and Tully's set. Tully's last lyrics before the deluge? -- "and it feels like it's gonna rain".

Sienna and Peja and I took off for K-town, but Kyra and Tully reported that everything was cool, and the festival continued in a nearby hall late into the night. Congrats and thanks to Jenny Whitely and all the bands who played. Thanks also to the vendor who sold me the old Ray Charles records.

We played a benefit concert today held to help a family on the island who lost their house to a fire. Despite the sullen cause, the community was out in cheerful force, and I got a good reminder what I miss about Wolfe Island. The show was great, lots of cool acts, and after a quick stop-in at a potluck, we made the 6:30 boat back home.

Busy weekend. Sleep now.