WWW.PINKPANTHERFAN.CA That is about me! This blog is my view of the world around me, the absurdity of the inhabitants and how we fit in. I have written diaries for nearly 30 years of my life, at times this will be an extension of that in so much as I will be writing about life as I experience it. Mostly just my personal musings about whatever thought(s) pop into my head and flitter there until I let it out. ENJOY!
What we have here is an perfect way to describe the career of The Skydiggers. A Slow Burning Fire that leads to a lifetime of satisfying passion.
The irony is that this song is a cover of a Tammy Wynette and George Jones original duet. Can't imagine it eh? Me neither. But the versions are like night and day - one is sultry and seductive the other is country fluff. Sorry, country fans no offense intended. But you know, it's like the Neil Diamond song Red Red Wine covered by UB40. More people know and recognize the cover version. The same is true for this song. Two completely different takes on the same song with amazing results.
Back to the career and song analogy, The Skydiggers have been a fixture on the Canadian music landscape for nearly 3 decades, releasing a total of 15 albums. The "fire" that is their career has burned brightly if not furiously and I (for one) am eternally grateful that Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson (two founding members) have patiently stoked and cared for that fire through all the unintentional attempts at putting it out.
It's almost a comedy of errors, the unfortunate demise of the record labels that the band signed with in the early years. Both Enigma Records that initially signed the band and FRE Records that signed them after, both went bankrupt throwing the distribution of albums in jeopardy. Promotion was almost non-existant. It was in 1995 with the release of a fourth album when the band signed with Warner Brothers that the tide seemed to turn. However, the availability of their previous releases including their most popular Restless was sketchy at best with the ongoing legal limbo.
I can't help wonder that with some solid distribution and promotion if this band might not have become more than what it is today. I am personally disturbed when I mention this band and so many people look at me like I am speaking a foreign language. There is some recognition when you remind them of I Will Give You Everything but I want more energy and enthusiasm! This band deserves so much more recognition than they have and I pledge to do my best to change that. I am elated when I introduce a friend (or two) to the band and they are hooked. Amazed and blown away they become new fans for ever!
Some Say - The Skydiggers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BctkiiWdBEg
I've been a music fan all my life and began my love affair with this band in the early stages of their career when I heard the single I Will Give You Everything and had to have the album. Yes, I had to! Of course with time that album was replaced with a CD version because like many of the best bands I've heard, I fell in love with all the other tracks on this release. Some Say remains one of my all-time favourites.
But a groupie I am not. I am far from a teenage girl and my interest in following bands is primarily for musical enjoyment although the odd fantasy never hurt anyone ;). I have an intensely keen admiration for the singer/songwriter/musician that is able to transport me to another time or place or grasp my heart and soul with a healing touch. A life long lover of music my live music passion and attendance has only become a contributing factor in the past 5 years or so. You could say I'm making up for lost time.
But like my new friend said of seeing The Skydiggers at the Carleton Music Bar and Grill the other day, it is quite a different experience all these years later and in a smaller venue. The music is the same if the band members are not, but watching Andy Maize "perform" with his entire body on stage is such a pleasure. There is NO ONE quite like Andy in talent and antics!
I go to live performances early. I sit close to the stage where the acoustics aren't the best but the view can't get anymore up close and personnel. If you hang around like an ardent fan you often get to meet other like-minded people as well. It was great to meet Shawn and hear about his passion for the band and share some knowledge and pics. And of course I met one of my best friends, Debra because of shared musical passion.
Many times I have raved about how much I enjoy The Carleton Music Bar and Grill for live music events. Every time I go my admiration for Mike, John and all the staff grows. I like the personal touches, I like the tables underneath the stage, the beer flows cold and the atmosphere is familial. And after almost every show I have attended, you can belly up to the bar with the members of the band you just heard! It's the night cap on a night that you often don't think can possibly get any better...and then it does! Because when a show ends the burning desire to fill my soul with music doesn't end. I leave warmed by the fire and the passion and left to kindle the flames with the pictures and the conversation. But could somebody please help me out, I forgot to ask about the origin of the band name. I love it and would like to know if there is any significance to The Skydiggers name that Andrew Cash coined.
The "Marquee" outside the Carleton Music Bar and Grill
The stage set up
Jessy Bell Smith and Andy Maize do a little Shimmy :)
And they are so happy doing it...joy!
Seriously hard to capture this guy standing still on stage
Got 'cha!
Derrick Brady baritone on the bass
Josh Finlayson Co-founder and guitar and vocals
Andy Maize in I in the dark lol
Jessy Bell Smith, me and Josh Finlayson
First set list
Second set list
Promotional Poster signed by the band
Please check out my YouTube Channel for more musical videos and live performances
The Skydiggers - official website
http://www.skydiggers.com/
Wiki - The Skydiggers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skydiggers Photographs are the property of Liz Gigi Sdraulig and may not be reproduced without permission. Please and thank you.
I am just going to give a shout out to this band because I think they are amazing. If you know me, you know I am passionate about music and I especially love Canadian talent. What can I say, musicians and comedians you can't compete with the originality and style of our own home-grown Canucks. Not everyone will agree I am sure but I find that for the most part, there is something that I cannot pinpoint or define in words that when I hear a song I feel like it has a uniquely Canadian style...and with the exception of some San Francisco bands...I am rarely wrong. I know it is weird, but it is true.
I first heard Walk Off the Earth and this particular song when someone posted it on facebook. I was enthralled and shared it on my wall. I wasn't alone, within a day or two, this video was being talked about on Breakfast Television and the Toronto newscasts. In less than a week, they made an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show boasting 32 million YouTube hits! I laughed when Ellen presented the band with 5 electric guitars and amps so they wouldn't have to share a guitar anymore. Made for good television and it was comical but having watched all of their other videos they have posted on YouTube, it wasn't necessary. Making what they hope will be a "catchy" video for their audience, Walk Off the Earth routinely throw guitars, ukuleles around the set and share instruments. It seems they would do anything to make a video that is more than just a band sitting/standing with their instrument making music. But comedy routines aside, you wouldn't bother watching if the music wasn't good. Admittedly, I have never been a huge fan of covers as I generally prefer the original version. Although UB40's version of Neil Diamonds' Red Red Wine was a notably exception. UB40 never tried to make it sound like Neil's and I think that was the appeal. It was completely different, they took a ballad and gave it a reggae and feel. To this day, I can't decide which one I like better as they both have their merits, but they are like two completely different songs.
Back to Walk Off the Earth. While they do write some of their own songs, I have to admit that most of my favourite songs in their repertoire are the covers that they do. They don't make drastic beat changes like UB40 but they do make it their own, so much so that I prefer their version in most cases. It is the quality/richness of their voices and their harmonies. They have a unique sound to their voices and something that pulls you in. And yes, I admit the fact that they are all easy on the eyes sure doesn't hurt. Even the seeming stoic "bearded guy" draws people to want more. The talent of the band is outstanding, They play a multitude of instruments and aren't afraid to think outside of the box and use household objects to get just the right sound, like the microwave opening and closing. Watch closely and you will even see a drumstick attached to a mandolin so more than one instrument can be played simultaneously.
Without a label backing them up, and using their own funds and in some cases decidedly unprofessional equipment, Walk Off the Earth has put out 3 albums and over 60 videos on YouTube. They hail from Burlington, Ontario, which is between Toronto and Niagara Falls in the Golden Horseshoe. You don't have to like them but if you do, let them know and subscribe to their channel. Give them a chance. You will know which songs are covers, listen to both versions and then decide if what I am saying has any merit :)
Here are a few of my favourites (beside the one at the top of course):
Home - Mumford and Sons cover
Sunburnt Hands - Danny Tieger cover
Backin' Up Song - Gregory Brothers cover
Corner of Queen - original composition
Enjoy and always - share the music with the world!
The irony is that this song is a cover of a Tammy Wynette and George Jones original duet. Can't imagine it eh? Me neither. But the versions are like night and day - one is sultry and seductive the other is country fluff. Sorry, country fans no offense intended. But you know, it's like the Neil Diamond song Red Red Wine covered by UB40. More people know and recognize the cover version. The same is true for this song. Two completely different takes on the same song with amazing results. 
It's almost a comedy of errors, the unfortunate demise of the record labels that the band signed with in the early years. Both Enigma Records that initially signed the band and FRE Records that signed them after, both went bankrupt throwing the distribution of albums in jeopardy. Promotion was almost non-existant. It was in 1995 with the release of a fourth album when the band signed with Warner Brothers that the tide seemed to turn. However, the availability of their previous releases including their most popular Restless was sketchy at best with the ongoing legal limbo. 
But like my new friend said of seeing The Skydiggers at the Carleton Music Bar and Grill the other day, it is quite a different experience all these years later and in a smaller venue. The music is the same if the band members are not, but watching Andy Maize "perform" with his entire body on stage is such a pleasure. There is NO ONE quite like Andy in talent and antics! 
