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Pylis and Vigilants at SJC Dufferin Campus

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My old band Pylis and this other great band called Vigilants, another of Brantford’s many fabulous 80’s bands, planned on playing this tune called Battle Scar at the old St. John’s College Dufferin campus gym. It was a big deal back then to all of us from a rather smallish town with not all that much to do.

We practiced in this really cool, old meat locker beside a now defunct Roller Town in Brantford. We played this song together to death at this location and it was perfect. To all you musicians out there, imagine the sound you would get with 2 drummers, 2 bass players, 1 great keyboardist and 3 guitar players playing one tune together… does REALLY LOUD COME TO MIND!!!

After many months practicing in the same facility, we decided to do a concert together and this was going to be the last song of the night. As luck would have it, Vigilants had so many unforeseen soundboard problems that cut short the night dramatically. I felt so bad for them … and for the song Battle Scar!

Keep on Jammin’





What you can get for 40 bucks and a smoke

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This is a true story from a buddy of mine. He sent this to us and with his permission, I JUST GOTTA share it with you!

So let me tell you the story of how Scott gets a Martin.

I was downtown ATL about 6 weeks ago having a smoke outside when up from the ground comes a bubblin… wait not that story..

So I’m having a smoke when I see a homeless guy walking down the street with a dobro (acoustic slide guitar) over his shoulder. He comes walking up to me looking for a smoke, I was hoping that he played this thing and might play me a tune. No luck there, he said that he had just found it in the garbage at the children’s museum. To which I offered hm 40.00 for it. He said “and a cigarette ?” “Of course” said I, “you can have the rest of my pack”.

I researched the guitar when I got back to the office and it turns out that it is a hand crafted dobro made here in ATL by Ralph Luttrell(he’s the guy playing slide in the video). So I emailed him, explaining what had just transpired and if the guitar was stolen I would gladly give it back.

He responded with “it might be stolen but let me check” …. it wasn’t stolen, the museum had in fact thrown it out… its worth 3k new.

I brought it up to his shop and since I don’t know how to play slide and have been looking for a nice guitar. He asked if I would be willing to trade it for a new Martin.

So I am getting a Martin D18 for 40.00 and a half a pack of cigarettes !!

Not bad Scotty, not bad at all! See it pays to be honest.

Scotty, Keep on Jammin’

A Canadian band called Helix

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Helix is one of those long lost and forgotten great Canadian acts. They were one of the great big hair bands of the 80’s!

The best song on their first album Breaking Loose, was a classic rockin’/country style called Billie Oxygen, it’s number 5. You’ve got to listen to the guitar/bass/drums solo at 02:07 of the song, tell me what you think of it!

I use to play this one with some guys back in Brantford. It was the first rock band that I played in right after leaving Pylis. Domenic was on drums, Eddie on guitar and Jon (the same guy I’ve talked about before on this and my other blog) on bass!

It took me a while at first to get my musical mojo back, but after playing this tune, I was back in the saddle again! This tune has everything in it to bring a crowd to it’s feet, in my eyes. The harmonizing guitars are fabulous, the bass is just a jumping, the keyboard is nicely accenting in the background with the booming drums kicking up a storm. Oh what a feeling!

I just heard from Domenic while writing this post and he said he does not have the band on tape, but he may have some pictures from that time period. He has in his possession a copy of a talent night that we were playing at, but in different bands! He’s well on his way to sending them to me as I write!

Keep on Jammin’

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