So Let's Go - An Evening with Alan Doyle

So Let's Go - Alan Doyle

So Let's Go is the new CD release from Great Big Sea former frontman and founder Alan Doyle. Alan Thomas Doyle! 

By coincidence, "Let's go" was the first full sentence my baby girl uttered some 26 years ago. And being Mothers' Day it all seems to be falling together that I write today. When you can't spend the day with your children on Mothers Day the next best thing for me is to spend the day with music. Wait that's every day...lol!

Alan Doyle and I at his book launch in Dartmouth Oct 2014

I bought my tickets for Alan Doyle back in November of last year when they first went on sale. Up early with the alarm set I was clicking furiously to nab a couple of good seats. I had no idea who the other ticket was for but the show was 6 months away. There was lots of time to decide and the person who joined me was a great pick for she has the love of music like I. We have shared a lot of musical experiences, with more on the horizon. 

A personally signed book for me

It was birthday last November when a friend told me that Alan Doyle would be at a book signing in the area if I was interested in going. My son (God bless his soul) sent me early birthday money so that I could buy his memoir and get it signed. What a thrill that turned out to be! We got to hear Alan reading from his book and I'm tell you that his voice and accent was so captivating that when I read the book for myself I could hear his voice in the back of my mind. 

Where I Belong is a fabulous read. One of those books, I couldn't put down. Alan Doyle and I grew up in the same era but with lives as different as night and day. All right I admit that he is younger than I am. But growing up in Petty Harbour, as he did, was nothing like my existence with indoor plumbing in the bustling metropolis (in comparison) of Thunder Bay. It's funny how no matter what we think about it as adults, home is home. There is always an attachment to this place where your life began. I recommend picking up Alan Doyles book for a light summer read and some personal reflection on growing up in a small fishing village in Newfoundland. The man and the music were born there. I should note that this is not a memoir of the band Great Big Sea. The story ends before the musical wave of GBS broke.

Great Big Sea burst onto the mainstream musical scene in 1995 with the release of Run Runaway from the album Up. Their first album which was self-titled and self-produced was released in 1992 and included several traditional folk songs as well as original compositions and although it produced no chart topping hits at the time it did lead to a recording contract with Warner Brothers Canada. The climb to the top was not a gentle slope however and included extensive touring about the land which could include up to 300 days a year. Two decades later and 10 full-length releases among other projects and the band is now on hiatus. I missed my chance to see the whole band, but I have seen 2 of the founding members solo performances.

I was a fan from my first experience with the lively, move your body to the music and sing along style of Up. I was drawn to the East Coast traditional folk music that spoke of water, sailing and fishing...and rum! :) Alan Doyle has a voice that I wish I could hear whispering sweet nothings in my ear and when he speaks with that devil may care spirit and Newfoundland accent...it's all there.

And that is how the Friday night show at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium started. Alan walked onto the stage alone, carrying a red Solo cup, he approached the microphone and began to talk to the assembled masses like he was welcoming us to his home. He then broke into song. Just him, no instruments but that velvety smooth voice with the long hair framing his face and that ready smile. You feel the passion in the words. You are drawn into his world as you, too, Dream of Home. 

The Beautiful Gypsies were the back up band that soon joined Alan on stage and what an amazing assemblage of musicians. Cory Tetford on guitar is a name I am familiar with because of his association with the band Crush and his other stints with Barney Bentall and other musicians. And a beautiful smile and ready wave to an eager audience member! ;) Kendel Carson is a very talented fiddler and singer who was a part of the Paperboys, and Belle Star. I was mesmerised watching her, worried that her long blonde locks would get tangled in the bow or the strings. The hair was flying, the feet were tapping, there was energy in her performance. Kris Macfarlane took the sticks to the skins as he had done for many years with Great Big Sea. He has spent more time looking at my backside than anyone else, quipped Doyle. Plucking the string on the bass is Shehab Illyas a multi-talented filmaker, composer, photographer and musician from Halifax. And finally there was Todd Lumley who alternated between the horizontal keys on the keyboard and the vertical ones on the accordion. Todd Lumley was a member of the Canadian alternative rock band The Waltons (1987-2001) and also Hawksley Workmen. 

The Waltons along with 54-40 and Spirit of the West are sadly severely underrated Canadian bands. Love them! Always and forever. 

The show which marked the final stop on a North American tour celebrating his second solo album, was high energy and interspersed with thoughtful ballads. And fair warning future audience members, Alan does not like to be the only one in the house rocking it out! But with so much of the music being top-tapping infectious you can't help but want to join in the dance. So when Alan like a preacher raises his arms for his flock to stand, they do...nay they jump up ready to dance! The set list was planned perfectly for a great mix of audience participation and always beautiful music. 

Young and old and everything in between, couples, partners, friends and groups. The full house was stomping and clapping, hands in the air, singing along. But it wasn't just fans in the audience, in Halifax (his home away from home on the mainland) Alan's friends and family joined him. Yes, the "fairest in the land" was in attendance. How proud she must be watching her hubby on stage. And jealous listening to all the "I love you's" screamed at him? Could've been me? 

In a recent newspaper article (Metro News) Alan was quoted as saying, "I loved all my time playing music in those rooms (referring to smaller area pubs like The Lower Deck) and I always thought it was a really beautiful thing to be the powerhouse of an Atlantic Canadian pub." He still is and has that power, but now his pub is a little bit bigger. His fans are greater in number and the love fest shows no signs of slowing. Thankfully!  

Taking no hiatus, Alan will soon be on the road once again, supporting The Barenaked Ladies. But before that look for him at Music Festivals happening near you. Thunder Bay, I'm jealous.

On a personal note, I want to thank my best musical friend, who has given me the courage to pursue my musical passion as a solo listener, a duet or with a band of merry followers. Thanks Debra. I am grateful.

*As always, please do not steal my words or pictures. Thank you. 

The drum kit with that iconic self-portrait Alan draws :)

Alan Doyle come out with his red solo cup to greet the audience and wow them with a solo performance.

L-R: Todd Lumley, Kris MacFarlane, Cory Tetford, Shehab Illyas, Alan Doyle, Kendal Carson

Getting the crowd going

A pause for a beverage and a chat :)

Singing with passion

I was able to get a guitar pic, set list and venue poster! :)
Now I must persue some signage...

Alan Doyle
http://alandoyle.ca/
Cory Tetford
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crush_(Canadian_band)
Barney Bentall
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_Bentall
The Paperboys
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Paperboys
The Waltons
http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/W/Waltons.html
Hawksley Workmen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawksley_Workman
Kris MacFarlane
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kris_MacFarlane
Shehab Illyas
http://www.shehabillyas.com/
The Waltons
http://www.maplemusic.com/artists/wal/bio.asp
54-40
http://www.5440.com/
Spirit of the West
http://sotw.ca/
Halifax, Metro News
http://metronews.ca/news/halifax/

Tour de Force

Bicycle Race - Queen

There are many articles that you come across during the course of a day whether from the television news, printed newspapers or facebook posts. Some just make you shake your head and question the mentality of society. There are many behaviours, choices and customs that I personally disagree with but I freely respect the freedom and ability to make your own decisions. There are times though that those decisions can affect my right to life as I choose it. That is different. 

                                                                                               

Livestrong

Like the helmet laws. You must by law where an approved helmet when operating a motorcycle and even bicycle in some parts of Canada. And no a turban does not qualify as an approved helmet. But there was a challenge to the law on religious rights. Quite frankly I don't care if you chose not to wear a helmet save for the fact that if there is an accident and injury because of the lack of helmet, I will pay for that in the insurance claim. Now it is my problem. Even if I don't have a physical encounter with an un-helmeted rider, my insurance rates are likely to go up because of the likelihood and the payouts the company must make. We all know that the corporations always pass on additions expenses to the consumer rather than absorb any increases. 

Just as absurd but not affecting me at all anymore due to my advanced age is Trevor. Trevor made a life decision to "become" a man after being born a woman, but while he took medication to shrink his breasts, he still maintained his birth reproductive system due to the cost to alter. This allowed "him" to become pregnant and consequently breastfeed. Maybe because the concept is so new or maybe because of a generational gap, I can't wrap my head around this one. In the privacy of your own home your choices are yours and yours alone, but I don't think I want this visual. Growing up in today's society is tougher and tougher with the division between the perception of normal and not is wider and nothing seems to be private anymore. Like the photo on the magazine cover of the school age child perched on a chair to suckle at his mothers breast for a quick drink, it gives new meaning to the phrase "belly up to the bar." How is this child going to deal with this infamy 10 years hence? And the infant in the photo below? I feel for him. For all the world to know, he is forever the baby who sucked on daddy's nipple. We all strive in some way to be normal to fit in. This type of parental publicity will hinder not help this quest.  

                                                          

from MetroNews.ca 

http://metronews.ca/news/winnipeg/341567/breastfeeding-dads-bid-to-become-lactation-coach-rejected/

But it is Lance Armstrong whose recent public humiliation led me to ponder these quirky news items. I don't follow the sport of cycling and barely notice when the Tour de France is occurring, but you would have to live in a cave not to know of the name Lance Armstrong. Lance was diagnosed with testicular cancer and raised more than $325 million from the sale of his trademark yellow Livestrong bracelets to fund cancer research. Throughout his cycling career, Armstrong won an unprecedented 7 Tour de France championships and an Olympic medal. After years of fighting doping allegations, Lance recently went on record to state that he was not longer going to entertain the allegations against him. The United States Anti-Doping Agency officially charged Lance with doping in June 2012 based on allegations from 4 years prior.

I suspect that within the sport of cycling, as with many other sports, drug use is commonplace in the quest to be at the top of the game where the money and adulation is. There are many scientists who are working diligently to perfect the fool proof performance enhancing scam. Coming soon to a gym near you - gene replacement therapy to enhance muscle growth and performance and stem cell therapy to repair injuries quicker. My issue isn't so much with the performance enhancement aspect - for I don't idolize athletes for specific accomplishments nor elevate them to hero status based on standing of a particular sporting event. Additionally, for the most part, athletic competition is marked by 100th of seconds between 1st and 2nd etc. If the winner is alleged to have engaged in illegal habits, what does that say about the second place finisher? If a team or country is dominating a sport...what should that be telling us? 

My issue is with the USADA actions against Lance Armstrong. They stripped him of his 7 Tour de France titles and banned him for life from all competitive cycling and included forfeiting all medals, winnings and prizes that he had been awarded. This is to me another fine example of the United States trying to exert their power and might where it doesn't belong. The Anti-Doping Agency has every right to ban Armstrong and take action against any accolades he may have received performing on American soil or as part of a National team, but beyond that....they have no business. If the organizers of the Tour de France wish to levy charges against Lance, they are within their right to do so. And the USADA has no jurisdiction from banning Lance from competing in another country either - again, unless he is intentionally representing the United States. 

Like him or not, Lance Armstrong should be recognized and admired for what he did not only for the sport of cycling but for cancer research. I may be wrong, but it seems to me that it was the yellow Livestrong rubber bracelets that set off the craze for similar "Cause" bands. Cheap to produce and generic, I can't even imagine how much money has been raised from the various bracelet sales. Bravo to Lance Armstrong and his foundation!

--------------------- SPECIAL NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER ----------------

No offence to all my American friends for you are respected on your own merit like every other person on the planet and not as an extension of your Governments will and actions - whether or not you agree with their policies. :)

(Originally published August 27, 2012)

UPDATE (January 19, 2013)

So Lance Armstrong has now also been stripped of his Bronze Olympic Medal that he won in 2000. And he has participated in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that was apparently televised over a two night period (to bolster ratings no doubt) in which he confessed to using performance enhancing substances throughout much of his career. I still stand by my opinion that unless he won by a landslide, he was likely not the only person competing who used banned substances. Not only should public opinion be altered concerning the ability and suitability of Lance Armstrong as a role model but so should every other competitive athlete who is at the top of their game assisted by more than luck and talent. As for the Livestrong Foundation, undoubtedly it has improved the lives of many suffering from cancer and if it took Lance's own bout with cancer (that may or may not have been "triggered" by the very substances he was banned from using) Well, at least something good has come out of this latest sports fiasco.

Downsizing an Upsizing World

You're Beautiful - James Blunt

So does anyone else find it ironic that while the population as a whole is up-sizing, things around us are down-sizing. There is a lot of talk in the media about the increasing mass of the world, and I'm speaking of the numbers on the scale. 

I don't live in the city of Toronto but close enough that the mayor is featured in the news on a regular basis. Personally, I am not a fan because I find that his ego needs to be shrunk more than his belt size. It was the Mayor Rob Ford who at the beginning of the year issued a challenge to the citizens of Toronto and a select few other city leaders to join in his "Cut the Waist" weight loss challenge. I don't know how successful he was in his recruitment parade, except for signing his slightly smaller brother (who also happens to be a member of council). Initially the weekly weigh-ins were going well and had all the media buzz to keep the momentum going, there there was a plateau, a few pound weight gain and poof! Well he didn't exactly vanish into thin air but for the past few weeks he has skipped his climb onto the scale. Interestingly just before posting this blog I heard that he has finally made an appearance at the public scale and I offer my congratulations on his further two pound weight loss. It's not easy, especially wen facing public criticism for being caught on video while stocking up on a late night snack of KFC. A recent poll conducted by Metro News, showed that 58% people believe he invites public opinion on what he eats since he made this goal a public affair. But really, I don't care either way how successful his venture is. Enjoy the Double Down Mr Ford...it's only here for a limited time. 

We all know about height, age and health restrictions on some amusement park rides. Some are banned for the very young, pregnant and those with health concerns like heart irregularities, how about weight constraints. No, I don't suppose that they are going to start installing scales at the entrance of the ride, but there are other ways that may have you uncerimoniously turfed from the ride once you have been seated. How embarrassing! As it turns out, not everyone can play. Some of these rides are not built for the differences in the population - but rather for what the designers deam as the average user. This morning during a promotion to herald a new roller coaster at Canada's Wonderland (located just outside the city of Toronto), a number of people were given free passes to give the train on rails a go. Some people couldn't get enough after riding two times and were ready for more. One fellow didn't even get one ride, for after taking his place, he was escorted off since the safety harness could not accomodate his Molson Muscle. Come back when you lose a few pounds the host suggested - although not in those exact words.  And this is not exactly the type of thing that you would no ahead of time. Maybe soon, they will need to advertise weight size restrictions. I feel more sorry for the young children who seem to have expanded in GIRTH, would they fit on the kiddie rides. I recall my daughter being iffy on some rides because her legs were so long that her knees were almost touching her ears when she sat. Do you as a parent stop your child from riding the kiddie coaster or flying airplanes and put them on the motorcycles or bumper cars instead? 

Parking lots are a particular sore spot with me. As cars got smaller, the spots to park them at the mall got smaller also. Not a bad idea initially but in the beginning when there were still alot of big sedans on the road, the average vehicle was subject to a lot of door dings. Now, with the exception of a few oversized SUV's and Hummers, who's drivers have egos bigger than their rides and who feel some sort of warped sense of entitlement that affords them the right to use two spaces, cars are narrow enough to fit nicely. It's the people who can't get out without opening the door all the way that are the problem. It's the ones who prop their car door against yours while they try to get junior in or out of the car seat, or worse the ones who have to open their door to the maximum to heave their bulk out of the smallest compact car on the the market. And with the fluctuating weight change in the vehicle the shock absorbers are working overtime stabilizing the car and scraping their door against the side of your car. It's not their fault, so much as the fact that there really is no room. Never mind if you have carrying extra fast food weight...what if you are pregnant?

Okay, I am sure that any man reading this wouldn't understand but being in the latter stages of pregnancy is not a lot different than being very overweight. You get first hand knowledge of what daily life is like for the extremely obese. Regardless of the size you start off at, when you are 9 months pregnant carrying what amounts to an unweilding beachball in front of you, getting in and out of a car is a challenge without adding the confinement of the public parking spaces. Now, obviously someone recognized this predicament for they have created Pregnant and Family parking spots nearest the door, next to the Handicapped spots. But what about public washrooms? Installing wheelchair accessibility was a good thing, but in doing so, some stalls became smaller to accomodate. I don't know about men's facilities but woman's facilities not only have the toilet rolls mounted on the walls, but sometimes a purse shelf and waste receptacle. I recall being pregnant myself - some 20+ years ago and having to go in and straddle the toilet to have the manoueverability to close the door. There simply wasn't enough room to step in, turn and close the door without some gymnastics. It was then that I got a new-found sympathy for the obese that must do this dance each and every time and some I would think may never make it in and be resigned to using the accessible facilities. Does anybody remember the day when you went into a stall with your mother and there was room for both of you in there? 

I often find that I am more likely to use the spacious facilities given the chance of a little breathing and elbow room, if you will. I am not alone, I often see mothers and their children exiting from there, and people just like me. The most used stall I would bet. Having frequented a number of them, there is something that I have noticed that bothers me. If, you were physically challenged and entered a designated stall, there is no means with which to close the door once you have entered. Think about it...most of the doors swing out, in order to pull it closed, you must grasp the bottom of the door (the top of the door if you are standing). There is no handle. Unless, you live in the province of Nova Scotia. Perhaps other locations have also considered this dilemma and have handles in consideration of the wheelchair bound, but not so if you live in the Southern Ontario area. There is an accomodation that should be made for the service of the handicapped. While they are in there fixing them, maybe they can alter all the doors to swing out so we can stop this potty dance! 

No one is suggesting that public areas are able to accomodate every size and shape of person on the planet. The large, the small, the short and the tall...We must recognize that there is no such thing as one size fits all. One size doesn't even fit most anymore.