Guitar Licks and Tips

As you know the good people at Luminato Festival got together a bunch of like minded souls to gather together and attempt to break the Guinness World Book of Records for the most guitarist in a musical ensemble. We did set a Canadian record in this category in the process.

This is just a small sample of the atmosphere at Toronto’s Yonge-Dundas Square on Saturday June6th, 2009. This was when we were attempting to break the Guinness World book of Records for largest guitar ensemble. For more pictures of the event take a look at our flickr account.

The weather couldn’t of been better. I was to meet up with a buddy of mine, Sean, who works with me at the hospital. We also played a talent show at work a couple of years ago and we came in second place for the show. The winner was this lady playing the saw, yes a saw! In her defense it was very unique to say the least!

I ending up getting there early so I thought that I’d go to the Hard Rock and get us a seat on the patio. It took Sean and his beautiful bride to show up, so I had to earn my keep outside and started having a few light refreshing liquid beverages. Man that was fun!

I met tons of interesting people there. Also on the patio, there were tons of musicians hoisting pints before the show and we showing off their acoustics to anyone interested. I came across this guy named Mark McCreary who walked past my seat. He was carrying around a custom made guitar case that he created. This one was made of shaved bark and pine cones, REALLY COOL LOOKING! If you are looking for something like this for yourself or that special guitarist in your life, then give him an e-mail. uniquelydown@hotmail.com

This is a sample of the work that this guys does for his custom made guitar cases.

I remember this tall guy standing at the front of the stage with a hollow body guitar. He had his buddy there video taping the event. As it turns out, this video was taken by him and his buddy!

You can see Sean and myself on it at counter number 0:05. The counter is located on the bottom part of the video, and when the video is playing you will see numbers moving. I’m the guy with a white baseball cap on backwards with rectangular dark glasses. I am in the bottom part of the screen. I am holding up my beige top Larrivee. I am holding the guitar upside down and my guitar strap is hanging at the back of it. I’m wearing a light blue shirt. Sean is behind me directly to MY right YOUR left, with dark hair taking a picture with his head turned back to the crowd. He has a blue wristband on his right hand. You have to freeze the tape in order to see us.

The suspense was so think you could cut it with a dull butter knife! At one point, the announcer said that we were 5, YES 5 people short for the record. I looked back at Sean and the excitement level in our eyes was off the radar screen! Surely we can find 5 people at the busiest intersection of Toronto, Canada’s largest city, 5th largest in North America that plays guitar that wants to join in!

Then after performing the song, some guy from The Guinness Record group said that we were short 123 people! what the F–K! Didn’t they say we were 5 guitarists short a couple of minutes ago?!

At that point we quickly departed back to The Hard Rock Patio. Sean’s wife graciously was waiting for us, along with our guitar cases, I really appreciated that young lady!

Just a side note here, while in the head, I met this really excited guy. He told me that when he was on the patio and he heard that we only needed 5 more people for the record he begged and pleaded with the Hard Rock’s manager if he could get a guitar down from the wall and go over to join in. The manager hemmed and hawed for a split second. He then proceeded to grab this guitar off the wall that they used for employee of the month and let him go over! Can you believe it!

After a couple of drinks and some crying in our beers we headed off home.

We were sooo close but … Well there’s always next year!

P.S. Pinhead, you better show up for next years attempt, got it!!!

Keep on Jammin’

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The Nuance Festival was at the Black Swan on The Danforth and this year and the talent did not disappoint us at all. At this years show, Counterpoint opened up the seminal event!

To illustrate CounterPoint’s musical prowess in detail, takes up way too much time and I’ve been on the old soap box so many times that I’m getting dizzy … but to me it’s more then worth it! They are pure progressive rock god’s! At last years showcase, they kept me at the edge of my seat all night and this night they added even more dept and colour to their musical masterpieces.

They have now added another layer of sound to their arsenal with a Toronto guitarist called Neil Harvey.I’ve only seen them live twice, and I am eager to see what happens when all their magical alchemy comes together. If you love this genre, then just go out and see them live to fully understand what I mean.

First tune they did was Track 9. The intro to this one, in comparison to last year, was very refreshing in many ways! Some new portions were quite inventive. Chris Noto pulls these bass harmonics right out of thin air it seems. Without notice, Led Zeppelin has made an entry into their sound?! During Chris’s solo, Rick and Neil do some fine and very tight harmonizing together. Neil will finish this one with a solo that rounds it off nicely! Neil just adds a nice intrinsic feel to the band.

The next one up is Morphine. For some reason, the boys didn’t put this video up on there site so I can show ya. Once again, they pull this one off flawlessly. Rick changes up some keyboard parts that tend to make the song flow in subtle ways. Joe is the backbone on this one, he keeps it all together. Chris is … well Chris. He gravitates in and out of the limelight like only he can.

Ritual is next on their set list. The beginning is something right out of a RUSH, Farewell to Kings or Hemisphere’s album. All that is missing on this one are some wind chimes and wood boxes played by Joe the drummer! I am really looking forward to watching this guy do a drum solo, on his own kit someday. At this point, Chris is using a wah, wah pedal and performs with it to perfection. There tends to be this 70′ish sound rising in the background with some Nirvana thrown in for good luck, admirably done boys.

Now the original Ritual rears it’s mighty head! This Ritual of old has all the early ear markings of the embryonic sound and feel to it. Rick’s keyboard has that primitive Hammond B3 ambiance and aura to it. Rick has introduced some subtle suspended touches to it, skillfully done sir. His sound is building up gradually throughout the piece. You’ve got to see these guys live to bring into context what I am talking about.

Then to finish off the night, the audience asks them for one more! CounterPoint then decides, reluctantly I think, to just jam.

So that is what I experienced that night. Next Nuance, I hope to see ya there!

Keep on Jammin’

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I can not begin to tell you all about this MUST SEE Progressive Rock show, being held on the Danforth on Sunday, April 26th at the Black Swan! The event will showcase the best of Progressive (Prog.) Rock bands that Toronto has to offer the world, really! This is the consummate environment for the uninitiated to become exposed to the Progressive Rock experience!

This musical plunge into the open waters of Prog. Rock, will have a bit of everything splashed in to it to wet even the most ardent listeners whistle. This I say with no reservation!

The bands in the lineup are Wilton Said, Half past four and CounterPoint. You may have noticed that Wilton Said and CounterPoint played at last years Nuance Festival so I don’t have to explain the level of musical integrity that will be forwarded to this celebration.

The other band is called Half past Four. This band has high levels of Prog Rock purity. They have quite the well rounded sound to their style. I’ve never seen them live but I’ve heard nothing but great things about them. Check out their link and hear for yourself!

I will also try to encourage an old friend of mine to show up, Carl Wilson! He is the great music critic from The Globe and Mail who just came back from taping a episode on the Corbert Report. His new book was even commented on by James Franco while he was on the Red Carpet during the 2009 Oscars!

If you want to be apart of this acumen, then don’t miss it! I promise it will be a music spectacle that you’ll remember for a long time to come!

Sunday, April 26, 2009
Time:
7:00pm – 11:30pm
Location:
THE BLACK SWAN
Street:
154 DANFORTH AVENUE

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Yesterday was a banner day in our backyard garden! The weather was BEAUTIFUL! Not a cloud in the sky and around 14 (C). I thought to myself, Gardening, bring it on!

It all started when the dog had to go outside for her, you know! We first encountered the blast of warm air and the heat of the sun. She hasn’t been in the backyard for some time now so she just walked around and took in the smells of the garden! During that time I dug through our back room and found a fold able chair and opened it up, directly in the line of sunlight.

She sat at my feet, beside me on the chair, and it was one of those Rockwell moments you see as we both were in ahh of our surroundings. It was everything that we could of asked for, especially after the long winter that we were exposed to. So what else could be added to this perfect moment right now in my terrace oasis? My Larrivee acoustic!

So I quickly ran upstairs and brought my axe out for the first time this year! As the song goes oh what a felling, what a rush!

Our dog midnight still doesn’t quite know how to take this thing I have on my lap. When I start playing, she sits up straight. Looks at me with those intense puppy eyes and tilts her head sideways. She reminds me of Edith Bunker when midnight does that!

The only song I played in the backyard was from Bruce Cockburn titled Going to the Country. I just love that on! I unstand why repeating a song over and over drives some people nutz, but I have to play it RIGHT!

So that was my day yesterday and I thought that I’d share it with you! So go out there and ENJOY it … while you can.

Keep on Jammin’ (in the backyard)

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I want to give my city, Toronto, the proverbial pat on the back for it achievements in the past and to many more in the future. As for you Dave. W., I don’t mind zigging and zagging while crossing the streets! The name of the post is like that song that Frank Zappa did when the US was celebrating it’s 200 years as a country in 1976?

Toronto really is a great place to live and grow up in. One of the best things this city has going for it is the mind boggling amount to different ethnic restaurants that are at your finger tips here! Seriously, Google it!

We have a great sports enthusiast here. There is one team that probably comes to mind when you think of Toronto and it’s the Leafs. I use to like them, but they are now considered to be like the little slow kid that was in one of your elementary class’s and they MADE YOU cheer him on! They are kinda like that I’m sorry, that comment was in bad taste. That child should not be lumped in with the Leafs, for that I am sorry.

Most cities have their pro’s and con’s and Toronto is no exception. If you’ve never been here before come on up, down or over to my neck of the woods and see what I mean! And don’t listen to Dave in Hamilton or where ever he hangs his hat!

Keep on Jammin’ Toronto

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