Wednesday Show

At long last: an update!

I will be playing at the Company House in Halifax, this Wednesday night. Also on the bill are Penny Blacks and Adam Mowery. I've known Adam since I was in a band called the Maughams and he was in the Port City Allstars. I don't want to think about how much time has passed since then. Oh wasted youth! It seems like only yesterday I was wearing a mask of Mao Tse Tung and doing a choreographed dance to Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.

I had a lovely time in Yarmouth, NS, during Nova Scotia Music Week. It was fun to be in a small place with a tonne of other musicians. I ate lots of trail mix and even watched some Mantracker in the hotel. Although I didn't win any awards, I feel like I won some friends. Or something. Anyway, I'm glad I know so many great people.

August Funtimes

Hello friends, I hope summer has been treating you well.

I have a couple of exciting little performances coming up very soon in Halifax.

On Friday, August 19, I will be participating in a unique art project in Point Pleasant Park.  Essentially, I will be playing an old upright piano in the woods for anyone who cares to listen (or stroll by angrily).  I'll be there from 11 am to 1 pm, playing a mixture of original songs and songs from the days of old.  Check out the Parchetypes site for more information.  This project is the brainchild of local cool dude Will Robinson.

On Saturday, August 21, it's the Incredible Picnic, a celebration of local food.  I will be doing a show on the Halifax waterfront sometime between noon and 2:00 pm.  The Picnic is always a fun family time where you can eat lots of goodies and feel good about yourself for supporting farmers.

Oh, and one more thing: I will be playing a showcase at Molson Canadian Nova Scotia Music Week 2011 in Yarmouth.  I have never been there before, so I'm very curious about the town.  My show is on Saturday, November 5 in a place called Rudder's, at 5:00 pm.  I expect to serenade patrons as they wolf down seafood dinners.

Tour is Done

Hello hello, I am back in Halifax, sitting at work in between phone calls for Travis Tritt tickets (I work in a box office).  I had such a nice time on my tour.  Here are the obligatory pet photos to round out my collection; these beauties belong to my mom.

Here's Pitseleh, the troublemaker:

Simon, who is about 18 years old:

Theodore, the perpetual kitten:

And my mom!

The Toronto show at the Horseshoe was a bit strange because I was on so early, but I had a good time nonetheless.  There was a nice mixture of old and new friends in attendance.  Playing in Toronto always feels like worlds colliding for me.

After I played, there was a stoner rock band from Baltimore.  They were super loud, but good at what they were doing.  Some friend of theirs kept harassing me and my friend for not dancing with him, claiming we were being "typical Torontonians."  He had the nerve to say that he had "supported" me by listening to my songs, so I was obligated to support his buddies by dancing.  His dancing style, by the way, involved lots of flailing about like he was at a rave.  It was ridiculous.

I went out for drinks with my pals Brent and Carly and got all caught up.  I was lucky to see so many friends and family members on this tour.  You guys rule!

That's all for now.  Thanks to everyone who gave me a drive, came to a show, gave me a place to stay, and otherwise helped me out.

Day Off

I am at my mom's house in Scarborough, where I grew up.  I was super lazy today and it felt great!

Here's what happened since my last update.  We stayed with a really fun couple in Quebec, just across from Ottawa.  Jenn and Jamie are party animals with a beautiful house and two overly-loving cat brothers.

We had a lovely breakfast, and then took a creepy group photo on their back deck. 

Left to right that's me, Jamie, Laura and Paul (Dog is Blue), all touching Jenn, who was a good sport.

After the long drive back to Toronto, I was dropped off at my mom's place in Scarborough.  I got to see some of my favourite ladies, Highland Creekers I've known since grade school.  We sat around and chatted all afternoon.  It's always so grounding to hang out with people I've known for so long.

Catch Up

Hmm, I haven't updated my bloggins in a couple of days.  Here's what I've been up to...

The show in Hamilton was a no-go, so I took the bus back to Toronto and stayed at my brother's place again.  I had a nice relaxing afternoon on Friday.  Here I am having some quality time with Ella.

Then around 2:30, I met Dog is Blue, who were doing the London and Ottawa shows with me.  They have a car!  I didn't care that it was tiny, it was still better than the Greyhound.  Paul is very funny and Laura is a real sweetheart.  We got stuck in brutal rush-hour traffic getting out of the city, but made it to London in time to do the show.

This was a house show put on by Paterson Hodgson, who is doing lots of amazing things for the London music scene.  She also excels at sass-talking performers in a hilarious way.  We had a good time playing an intimate little show in her living room.

We stayed with my aunt and uncle at The Farm, their beautiful old house and property just outside of the city.  I find that place really inspiring, so I took lots of pictures.  Bear with me here!

My aunt Muriel (my mom's sister) and my cousin Sylvia.

Kira!  She's a lovely dog.

So many gorgeous flowers.  Muriel is quite a gardener.

Cows next door!

Frog pond!

Yesterday we drove to Ottawa.  I managed to fall asleep for a while so it didn't seem like as long of a drive as it was.  Our show was at the Raw Sugar Cafe, which is one of my favourite venues around.  It looks like my dream living room, full of awesome formica tables, interesting lamps, and mismatched chairs.  They also have vegan treats, which instantly makes me love a place.  

We had a great show.  There was a nice turnout of very attentive and sweet people.  I felt very at home.  

Slamilton

Well, here I am in Hamilton, and alas, I have no show to play.  There was a mix-up with the booking and it looks like I am out of luck.  Fortunately, it's a beautiful day and I managed to get some stuff done in this city even without a show.

Last night's show in Waterloo was good, and a bit strange.  I was paired up with two acoustic guitar-playing ladies to do a songwriter's circle.  Things were going fine until the ladies decided to do a raucous version of "Down By the Riverside."  I was promptly booted off the piano bench so one lady could lay down some impromptu religious revival-style playing.  It was confusing, but done in good spirit, I think.  Then HOTCHA! played and they were super entertaining; they make old timey music at fast tempos.

I lucked out on billeting once again.  This time I stayed with Penny, Gary, and their funny dog, Buddha.  Here he is demonstrating his new trick called "Two Paws."

As you can see, he is a very good boy.  Here is Penny sitting with him.  She even gave me breakfast!

I took the GO bus to Hamilton via Mississauga (not the most direct route, but the only one that worked with my timing).  I did a little in-studio performance at CFMU and had a great time chatting with James, the Program Director there.  It's funny how campus radio stations are remarkably consistent no matter where you are in Canada.  

I experienced probably the lowest point of the tour so far when I had to navigate the McMaster University campus all alone with my heavy piano.  I have a hundred broken blood vessels in my shoulders from lifting that thing.  I laid down on the grass and really thought I wasn't going to make it.      This picture is entitled "Why God, Why?"

After I recovered I made my way to the main road and was pleased to find a Lebanese restaurant where I promptly ordered an enormous veggie combo platter.  Tasty food will fix almost anything.

I shot a segment for the amazing Southern Souls website with Mitch Fillion.  He does great work and always finds interesting ways to shoot bands.  

Now I'm sitting upstairs in the bar where I was supposed to play tonight, trying to figure out what to do with my evening in Hamilton.

Waterloony

I'm in Waterloo now, waiting to set up for my show at Maxwell's.  Fortunately, the weather has changed from a humid soup to more of a warm consommé.  The only problem is that the wind keeps attacking my skirt while I'm carrying the piano.  It's a terrible pin-up painting waiting to happen.

The show in Windsor was what I would call small but mighty.  Some great people came out and were very supportive.  Tom at the Phog Lounge is such a hilarious and vital guide to the Windsor experience.  There were sketchbags-a-plenty wandering the streets.  The humidity seemed to flush them out of their hiding spots, and we had lots of laughs watching them amble by.   I regret that I don't have any photographic evidence of these characters, but frankly, I was afraid of them.

I was fortunate enough to stay with the lovely Crissi Cochrane, former Haligonian and fellow craft- and cat-lover.  Here she is, looking good in her deluxe armchair.

Seriously, what a great host.  And her kitties!  This is Connor, who has a large stature and a sturdy muzzle.  He also likes to stick his tongue out.

And this is Jenny, who does a sort of kitty Olympic routine each morning.

It was such a treat to hang out with Crissi and her beasties.  I took the bus to Kitchener-Waterloo and that's all for now.

Kenny Bloggins: My Ontario Tour Blog Begins!

I'm sitting at the lovely Phog Lounge in Windsor, ON, where I will be playing later tonight.  There was a  little dog named Bridget hanging out.  She's an Italian Greyhound and I pretty much wanted to sneak her into my backpack.

So I flew to Toronto yesterday evening, where I was met by my awesome brother, Jamie.  He was nice enough to let me sleep at his apartment downtown.  His girlfriend Lynda made us vegan moussaka, and then we went out for beer on the warmest night of the year.  There were lots and lots of people out even though it was a Monday.

I fell asleep (kind of) to the sound of garbage trucks banging around.  The mattress had a weird denim print! I believe it was the mattress I used as a small child, although I don't think I appreciated the rad design back then:

Here's Jamie having breakfast with me.  We had to sit on the kitchen floor because the mattress took up too much space.

This is his kitty, Ella, or Wobbles, as I like to call her.  She tips over easily.

Today I took the Greyhound from Toronto to Windsor.  The air conditioning stopped working and it was brutally hot.  I thought there was going to be a mutiny, but then they opened the ceiling vents and everyone calmed down.  

More updates to come!

Toronto show update

For my Toronto friends, the show at The Horseshoe on June 7 will be an early one!  I'm on at 8:40 pm, of all times.  So please come by and hear some music and have a drink with me.

Tour Coming Up

My little tour of Ontario is fast approaching, and I'm busy finalizing details.  I will be doing most of my traveling by the oh-so-glamourous Greyhound bus.  Hopefully I can get lots of reading, knitting, and napping done while I make my way from city to city.  I will be taking photos of people and places along the way, so check back for updates!

On Canvas Closing Gala - Apr. 29

This Friday (Apr. 29), I will be playing at  FRED in Halifax.  It's part of the Closing Gala for "On Canvas - Art for the Planet," an event organized by the Ecology Action Centre.  The event runs from 8 to 10 pm.  Tickets are $10 at the door.

Halifax Shows for April

April 7 - The Company House, w/Alana Yorke - 8:00 pm, $8.00
April 10 - Lost & Found - Benefit for Japan - 2:00 pm, by donation
April 29 - FRED - Ecology Action Centre Gala - 8:00 pm, $10.00

New Video

Globe & Mail Review

Key
Laura Peek (Just Friends)

3 STARS

The gracefully accurate indie-pop singer, songwriter and pianist Laura Peek from Halifax took three years to make this, her second album. And that seems about right. Her untangled songs, marked by somewhat informal lyrics and a nursing assurance, seem strikingly unforced – politely dancing melodies must come to her in dreams, complete with gentle but committed arrangements involving cellos and alto flutes. Where you and I may try at a frustrating deadbolt futilely with everything we have, Peek instead holds one key, waiting for the right lock to make its way to her.

--Brad Wheeler