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Tuesday, November 26, 2013

I forgot how to get back to the Internets.

Hi, remember me? The classy guy who may have slept on your couch last summer.

I've been out of the the social media world for a little bit, during the East half of my Canada tour I just stopped blogging altogether.
Aside from the odd tweet I've been laying low.
But here is what I have been doing.
Since I got back home I've been working paying off bills and such.
The day job (teaching) and selling comics with my side business The Canadian Comic Bin
Recording and touring music is pretty expensive stuff so I've got to fill the pot before I empty it.

I've been sober for the month of October. "Sober October" I calls it. Not a whole lot happened that month.

In November I jumped gracefully back on the Booze Train!
Shaved the face and started the Movember 'stache. I'm quite glad I've only a few days left with this guy.
I've Checked out Chris Tucker in Toronto.
He was doing some stand up to help pay his IRS bills.
Afterwards we went to a rip joint and I got in a fight with my lady.
Who knew such a thing could happen in such a magical place?
Also checked out  a Fashion show here in Barrie and did not have a fight with my lady.
Success!
      I like them eye goggles Gyna!

I've been writing songs for the new album that has begun recording.
It will be a slow process.
I've been playing bass and some electric guitar for a change so the new songs will definitely sound different from what you may of heard on the road.

A friend of mine Chris Kaplinski is recording and mixing He's done sound for a ton of bands all of the world (Matisyahu, Gogol Bordello, Bedouin Soundclash, I Mother Earth, Dub Trio and much more) He's a busy fella currently on tour with Monster Truck.
So when he's done touring Europe We'll attack a little more of the album.
It's been a lot of fun so far. I can't wait to get the other musicians in to fill out the tunes.

I've also started playing bass again with another band. (It actually started before I went on tour) We're putting together a set we've got a handful of songs and I can't wait to start playing them! We just need a band name...

Last weekend I played my last show of the year in Gananoque and won't be playing until January 11th in Toronto. It was a weird and wonderful night I ended up jamming with a dude traveling Canda from Wyoming, The owner of the bar and another guy who used to be a guitar tech for a shit ton of bands back in the day Pat Benetar, Dire Straits, Bonnie Riatt and U2 during there Achtung Baby tour. Totally unexpected. I'd grab a pint and lay on the floor (it was carpeted) with Gina and listen to someone else entertain the crowd.

I really want to have a completely different set from what I've been playing this year.
Working on some new covers I wouldn't mind putting a bunch in to retirement.
Here's one I may or may not stick with a little Queens of the Stone Age.
Vampyre Time and Memory

Lastly it's almost Christmas and I'll be heading North to Thunder Bay, ON in less than a month. I've decided to not play any shows over the holidays. It's going to be all about food, drink and snow.

And speaking of Holidays
What a perfect time to plug the Classic Christmas song You're A Mean one Mr. Grinch
available for purchase HERE
This was recorded for PIE Media's Christmas issue in 2012

If you don't dig mine perhaps you'd rather listen to Rupaul's version
Remember the transvestite model from the 90's?

Alright that's it for me, most likely I will not have another blog posting until the new year but you never know...
Safe holidays everyone!

-Neil


Thursday, July 25, 2013

East Vs West Tour Blog: Day Number COWS!

Before I played at The University of British Columbia's Dairy Farm Research Centre I had a day off and thought I'd splurge on a day at The Harrison Hot Springs resort. It cost $150 but the front desk woman upgraded me and gave me parking for free.
Not too shabby, It had an adults only hot spring pool and and after 10 until 1 it was also adult only in all the pools.
I thought, Awesome! I might have some, fun party it up a bit. Have some drinks.
Get my robe on...

And head to the pools.
All old people.
Mostly Asian old people.
I was a white pail giant swimming back in forth of a pool edged with cranky looking elders with the occasional pot bellied balding man.
Also the "Pool side bar" was in a building beside the pools and no alcohol was permitted in the pool.
Alright.
Let's get out of hear and head to the local Pub. It's a tourist town. Gotta be something going on there.
Nope 5 dudes sitting at the bar playing Keno Poker.
I had a Beer and a whisky and back to the resort and after a quick look back at the pools again to find nothing. To bed I went.
In the morning I went for a jog. out on the lake they had a crazy inflatable jungle gym thing.
but it was closed.

One more dip in the pool with the elderly Asians and it was off to The Dairy Farm.

THe farm is filled with 19-25 year olds who are getting a degree or doing research on how to better the milking procedures of dairy cows or how to make them comfortable.
People are watching them eat, sleep, graze and running different kinds of tests.
Every Thursday the kids have a big dinner and stay up to party despite half of them having to get up at 6 to feed or chase the cows. Also despite the fact that they have the weekend off and could hold off their weekly dinners by a day and not have to get up.... Kids eh?

I was shown around and had to wear these killer blue plastic booties. So I don't spread my disgusting Ontario disease to the calfs.

Calfs have a tendency to get sick. What kind of sickness? Diarrhoea (hard word to spell) and pneumonia (another hard word to spell). So they keep them separate for a while.
THis guy was born 6 hours ago.


I heard lots pissing and shitting by the cows and found that they love these grooming brushes.

This one pushed another cow out of the way so he could buff his head.


After the tour we went to the pool.
Hay bales placed in a rectangle covered with a tarp. It was quite nice but needed to be continually refilled because of a hole in the tarp.


Slowly as work was ending more people showed up.
Everyone who was there was from other countries, Germany, Brazil, UK, France.
and soon after a slip and slide was created.
the Brazilians got hand soap and spread it out around the tarp when that ran out they got dish soal then laundry soap and even used powdered laundry detergent.


 butt shot
laundry detergent.


I played songs into the night which was very dark as there was no real light where I was playing and made an amazing meal to a flurry of mosquitos. Not the best situation for the performer (i.e me)
But a fun time was had. after the show we blared dance music from the speakers which drew the cops over. I went to bed in the front yard in my tent around 1 the same time they started up the slip and slide again.
They stayed up dancing until 3 or 4.
Sleeping was difficult, but I had a show to get to the next day.

Here's the Moose Jaw Karaoke I promised

Also here is my youngest nephew incorrectly saying Truck Boat.



Right now i'm in Regina for a house concert I'll be in Saskatoon tomorrow at Lydia's Pub. 
Manitoba's gig was cancelled. 
MANITOBA! Why must you forsake me to drive across you every year?

You should know the drill.
Twitter @eyeswidemusic
Facebook www.facebook.com/eyeswidemusic
Bandcamp www.eyeswidemusic.bandcamp.com
www.eyeswide.ca

-Neil "Crabapple Pucket" Crowe




Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Tour Days ...... Do I have Diabetes? Maybe, the answer lies below!

No.
But I thought I did, for two days.
Couldn't stop peeing. Every hour and a half the urge would come on sudden and I'd have to go right away.
I immediately googled  "can't stop peeing" and The computer said: YOU HAVE DIABETES.
I was playing a house concert in Calgary and it came on mid song I started hopping left to right. The people probably thought he's really grooving to this song.
Nope, that was just the pee dance. After the last chord I put down the giutar and ran into the house.
Came back out picked up the guitar again and said sorry but I really had to pee and continued on with the show.
I even started a chart on my iPhone entitled Pee.
It had one entry.
Then my Diabetes got cured.
Yup, I cured it.
I assume.

Clearly I have given up on the daily blog. That lofty pledge should never have been made.
Right now I'm in Okotoks, AB just south of Calgary, I had planned to pitch my tent on the local camping grounds but it seems it is severe thunderstorm warning. I just sat in my car for 20 minutes waiting for the hail and rain to end before running into a local pub.
I don't remember what my last post was and refuse to check.

THe camping gods have been with me so far. as I've been able to sneak in to camp sights late at night and leave in the morning with out having to pay.
I did put in my dues in Red Deer when I had to set the tent up in pouring rain and found that there was a leak over my face.

Swift Currant was a fun gig just like last time everyone was drink and we went out afterwards to a local karaoke bar. I walked in to two boys "singing" To the Windooooows! To THe Walls! Til the Sweat drip down my balls!"
Gotta be the first time I heard Lil' John on the ol' karaoke box.

I've been in mostly anti party mode for this tour. I've turned down numerous shots and usually sneak away from the after show shenanigans. I'm trying to make these touring ventures a profitable venture and the less hangovers I have the better.
I still drink everyday though.

THe house concert in Calgary was fun. Kids are hilarious. they love music they don't care if you're playing a slow song they still stomp and dance like Lady Gaga was blaring on the stereo.
One weirdo sat right in front of me with a bowl of raspberries and used a stuffed bears paws to mash them into paste. when that was done he got up and left leaving the bowl and the bear.

I've just finish playing 5 shows in BC.  I really like driving around BC the mountains are fantastic and the shows were a lot of fun. I think White Rock was my Favourite even though I was competing with the Vancouver Folk Fest and Bruno Mars.
I spent to much time by the water as you can see from this photo of my leg. the top part is vanilla the bottom is hellfire.

OK I'm going to figure out what I'll be doing tonight. 
Next blog I will write about my gig at the University of British Columbia's Diary Farming Research Centre. It involves a Slip and slide. 
PLus I may have a video compilation of my 3 attempts at singing a sugar Ray song at a Karaoke bar.
Fun stuff!
- Neil Crackowe!
twitter @eyeswidemusic
facebook www.facebook.com/eyeswidemusic
Buy my music www.eyeswidemusic.bandcamp.com





Thursday, July 11, 2013

East Vs West Day 5 6 7 -Brandon, Moose Jaw, Swift Current

So The Daily Blog is hard to do.
I've missed two days already.
After Kenora I drove out to Brandon, MB no gig just a stopping point on the way to Moose Jaw.
found a trailer park that had the most mosquitos.
Because it's just not camping if you can't get bit multiple times.
Setting up the tent was horrible and every time I opened the car door to get something ALL the mosquitos would go into my car. The morning drive was interesting. Since the 1st 2 hours was me battling the little bugs.
Stopped in Regina for some Busking and it was pretty good because I found a Farmers Market. but as soon as the market ended it cleared up and 3 young fellers sat beside me rolled 3 joints and started smoking. I guess this is allowed in Regina as there were families and police around.

Moose Jaw, you are classic Moose Jaw.  A low turn out at the cafe lead to an early evening. I went back to my friends who I was crashing with and we drank home brew beer then got the clever idea of going to Champs a local bar/club.

It was Karaoke night and had a bout 10 people in the place.
More beer and we were singing songs we didn't know. everyone was horrible that night.
Pilsners'

singing partner



THis lead to a drive through burger king via a racist cabbie. Smoking in the car telling us jokes that involved the N bomb. Classy place this Moose Jaw.
Right now I'm in Swift Current, waiting for the evening I've got a few hours to kill I'm extremely hot and tired I need a nap this booth looks comfy....
-Neil "Crackajack Collins" Crowe

Twitter my shit! twitter.com/eyeswidemusic

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

East Vs West Day something....Day off, Blog meh

I had a great day off breakfast, a work out at Crossfit, boat out on the lake, Seadoo, I got to cook dinner and playing dominoes.
I'll be leaving Kenora tomorrow and heading to Saskatchewan.
I'm not sure what city I will be in tomorrow but Wednesday I'll be in Moose Jaw for another gig.
Here are 2 photos.


Lake of the Woods is grand, And I'm ready for sleep, sadly leaving tomorrow but I'll stop in when I return from BC.
-Neil Farson Crowe (anyone know what I'm referencing to with Farson?)
Twitter me hard at www.twitter.com/eyeswidemusic 


Sunday, July 7, 2013

East Vs West Day 5 a few days off in Kenora now that I'm 33.

I have played 2 shows and now i'm taking a few days off. not by choice.
But had  I made the decision of the western part of this tour earlier I would have locked in more gigs.
But a few days off are alright since this is a momentous occasion. I turn 33 today. I'm sure drinks and glutenous behaviour are in order... and a recovery period may be needed.
Last Night!

I forgot to mention this about Wabigoon...
Pappy's Cafe takes a loss on every show they put on. Yet they still put them on to help out touring musicians. and the feel it's good for the community. It's extremely rare to come across on a venue like that.
There's a chance I may have to rethink this Blog a day I have trouble thinking of funny things to write about everyday. Maybe you readers can suggest some things you would like me to write about on the road. Yes I think you should do that.
Let your suggestions begin!

I just looked on facebook and saw this dustin Hoffman clip and found it quite touching.
Definitely worth a 3 minute watch.

I'm out,  every one have a whisky, a beer, and a hug for me.
-Croizar the Spectacular, or just Neil


Oh, what's that you want to creep me just a little more?
OK, follow me on TwitterFacebook, 
and buy the music on Bandcamp.
The event page for the tour is Here.




East Vs West Day 4 Kenora

I played the Bijou tonight. Wasn't sure if I was just going to jam or have a set to myself or what. but it ended up me playing all night. also some street toughs put 2 holes in the wall (Street tuffs being brightly coloured, baggy tank top wearing 20 year olds whose dads own/rent a very expensive cottage)
I am making this incredibly short because I don't want to ruin my Blog a day rule but after it was known that my birthday is sunday I was given tequilla, more than one time, so I'm tired and ready for a nap. this blog post blows and I know it.... Happy Brthday me.
go here and like things I sAY FROM TIME TO TIME WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/EYESWIDEMUSIC
-Love, Chinchilla Hobart Crowe aka Neil

Friday, July 5, 2013

East Vs West Day 3 WabiGOOOOOOOON!

Not many people know of Wabigoon's existence.
But it's there an hour before Kenora.
Pappy's cafe the 1st official show of the tour.
I was set up in my rock star motel called Evening Star Motel
I was fed and on went the show.
It's a small cafe and they have locals that come to most of the shows. 
It was a good start small and intimate, I regaled them with tales of my life. 
Teased a 10 year old that sat front row and sold a handful of CD's. mixed in with the $10 door charge not a bad night. 
Before the show I downloaded a book called A Career In Music specifically for the CAnadian environment, apparently the first of it's kind. I started reading it before the show and it was beginning to make me feel bad like I haven't done all of this I should have done to prepare for this tour! What am I doing? So I put it down. Not the best thing to read before the 1st gig of the tour.

I've got to say I'm quite tired right now and am not in a blogging mood. 
I have some notes in my phone from yesterday that I forgot to put in yesterday's blog. 
So you can have that. 

Every time I look at a music mag and I start to read A Tribe Called... I get excited! 
Is A Tribe Called Quest Touring again?!? 
No. No they are not.
It's always A Tribe Called Red.
It saddens me to no end.

MC Hammer.
Yes, Mc Hammer.
He had a cartoon. It was playing soundless on a tv in a bar. I tried to follow what was going on.
Hammer hangs out with an old dude might be his dad or a future him. He moves he same way.
and Hammers shoes have eyes, I guess they are alive or magic.
Scene change
There are 3 villains a man dressed as a witch,  a round eye patched evil doctor, kind of like Dr Robotnik from the Sonic video Games, and an evil Fashionista. The worst of them all!
She was just a lady in a trendy business suit with glasses.
Scene change.
There are 2 boys in a building Hammer floats up to... rescue them? when he gets up in the building the 3 villains, (Man Witch, Evil Dr, and Fashionista) are crammed in a machine with a big boot swing from the bottom like a pendulum, they drive to the building and the boot starts kicking and knocking down or shaking the building and Hammer and the boys jump out of the window.
I look down to type up this amazing show and look up to see the Evil Fashionista walking Hammer into a jail cell and then his eyeball shoes now have a mouth and bite Hammers fingers.
I felt I may have missed something so I stopped watching.
The end for to night.

-Tired Crowe Crowe


Oh, what's that you want to creep me just a little more?
OK, follow me on TwitterFacebook, 
and buy the music on Bandcamp.
The event page for the tour is Here.


Thursday, July 4, 2013

East Vs West Tour Day 2 Thunder Bay

I actually played my guitar today.
But first the beginning.
I woke up saw it was dark and thought, ah hell, it's cloudy. Looked at the clock. It was 4:30am.
Those clouds were actually night.
I managed to get back to sleep but only until 5:30, and that was it.
So I hit the road fairly early. by 6am.

about 7 hours of unhindered drive time.
Here 's the driving action taking place.
If you drive with a smile the time it takes you to get from point A to point B is the same as if you were not smiling.

Pretty exciting stuff.

I was in Thunder Bay and as always it hit TACO TIME. (this time no celebratory photo was taken.)
arrived at my mothers house, where she had a list of things for me to do. Trim the tree move this downstairs, put this on the thing...
Followed by you're only here one day? but I had other things...
Went for a jog then tried to go to work (work meaning play music)
Headed down to the waterfront where people were walking hither and tither. set up my busking gear (guitar and guitar case) and played some tunes.
I chose a spot away from the people due to the loud fountains and construction work.
I thought that being near the monuments was a good place, but people. 4 songs deep no one would come near me. They would take the path around as to not have to feel the guilt of not throwing my some change.
I found a different spot over looking the Sleeping Giant and earned..... $2!
After I packed my gear in the car I came back to take this photo. 20 people were walking by....

So today was a flub, thank God I only spent $100 on gas in the last 2 days :/

After my musical defeat I  headed to Granny's house. we had a walk.
I think she's giving my camera attitude.

Then followed it up with a scotch. 

And yes a digestive biscuit.

This book was my grandfathers shelf. I found the cover amusing.


Every time I come back to my home town I forget alcohol is cheaper. $5.50 pints.
I gave it the old college try to find some drinking friends venturing to 4 venues but alas I was always sitting alone. 
Just as well, I don't know why I was wanting to go on a tear since my tour profit is only $2.00.

Alright. that ends #2 I'm going to go read Questlove's autobiography Mo' Meta Blues.

Also if you follow my tweet you now realized I lied. 

Tomorrow Wabigoon! For the 1st Actually gig!

-Percival "Neil" The Crowe 

Oh, what's that you want to creep me just a little more?
OK, follow me on TwitterFacebook, 
and buy the music on Bandcamp.
The event page for the tour is Here.




Wednesday, July 3, 2013

East Vs West Tour: Day 1 Sault Ste Marie

Last night had a few beverages with so friends before I pulled a runner from Barrie.

It was a grand old time.
Best part  of the night was that I learned my friend Ian's License plate says Boys 424
I asume that means he's had 424 boys and counting.

Then I had to get up early and pack the road weary Mazda.

And drive away from these two.



I am not playing a show Tonight, nor will I tomorrow.
Some would say "that's not a good tour."
And I say "You try booking 2 months of shows and have everything line up perfect!"
The only place worth playing is Loplops but being a mid northern Ontario venue (the only cool place to hang and listen to original acts between Sudbury and Thunder Bay.) Makes it difficult to get a gig. I played here once with a sour turnout on a Wednesday night. Which I predicted.
 New city, solo acoustic player, people of the town are not too keen on new music at first. Plus I have went to a Free show at a hockey arena where Bedouin Soundclash and Broken Social Scene played. There may have been 200 people there. (The same arena where Kiss has played and sold out or close to , I'm guessing)
but with such a bad turnout for those 2 well known Canadian bands what hopes does li'l ol' me have.
Not much as it turned out.
So every time I come through I swing by have a few beer and chat with Steve the owner or his dad and be on my way.
Maybe I'll play there again maybe I won't who knows.
Here's me drinking a beer.

I had planed on busking for a bit, but as I cruised the main strip and waterfront areas I realized no one was anywhere. 
Really. Downtown I saw 4 people. 
Waterfront had about 6 fisherman in different spots and the odd old lady every 150 meters. 
No real point other than practice. 
So I went for a jog instead.
I told Steve about the busking dilemma. 
He said "Ya, It's a lazy town."

Saw this while running the waterfront. (Gotta stay active while touring, sitting in a car and drinking beer at night does some physical damage I've learned)

I wish I had been quick enough to take a photo of the large woman who was clearly only in an electric wheelchair because of her weight. Legs splayed out left and right jetting across an intersection holding 2 large pizza's on her shoulder. It reminded me of the Disney movie WALLE, where the humans let themselves go and can't do anything for them selves also restricted to electric wheelchairs.

So there you have it Blog number 1 on Day number 1. 
Who doubted me?
Ya I figured it would be you.
So look forward to my 2nd post about Thunder Bay where I also do not have a gig. 

Oh what's that you want to creep me just a little more?
OK, follow me on Twitter, Facebook, 
and buy the music on Bandcamp.
The event page for the tour is Here.

-King Neil Crowe the 14th




Wednesday, June 19, 2013

The Proposal!

Not that kind!

I promised myself (and the people who read my post on Facebook) I would try to blog every day while on my 3rd Cross Canada tour.

I have a half written Cuba trip blog where I mainly make fun of my girlfriend.
I started it in January.
I have not written any thing since.
Good Luck Neil! (said in a mocking tone)
Myself doesn't believe in myself.
Look forward to my attempts. 
Any guesses at how many of my proposed blogs will be written under the influence of alcohol?
You can join the Facebook event page h'rrrrr

-Neil
www.eyeswidemusic.bandcamp.com

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Fractured Tour Notes and I Quit Reverb Nation

So I did some touring last year, and I have to say it tuckered me out.
The summer lasted from the beginning of July to the end of September, a break in October then back out to the East coast for my yearly Movember Tour.

But First, I quit the music site Reverb Nation.
It's purpose is to be another fan site where people can like your page, buy songs, you can try and book gigs and promote yourself. Being a musician you need to spread yourself around to try and get discovered by others. I've been on the site a few years and really it's done nothing for me.
A few months ago they had a campaign running. Sign up for their promotional package and get 30 day free trial your page will be advertised on amazon, Jango,  and all sorts of other sites.
I thought 30 days free, why not?
Signed up made a note in my phone that 4 days before the 30 days ends I would cancel it so I don't get charged for advertising past the 30. I see the add pop up on a site or 2 and it was only the top half of my logo so you only saw the top have of the letters of "eyeswide" needless to say not impressed.
Then after a week I get a charged $40 dollars to my Paypal for this promotional campaign, before I contacted them to ask about it, a few days later another $40.  So I email whomever, and they said it was not a 30 day trial and the money had already been spent on advertising although they did have $8.40 left they could refund me.
Great!
I said I want it all back or I'm quitting Reverb Nation and I would write about the horrible service I received on my Blog (I'm not a liar).
Needless to say they would not so I ended my account but they have a side note that any money they receive for my music goes to them completely, because I ended my account before the end of the year I paid for. So I'm wondering if they will be taking any iTunes money since I put my latest album on iTunes through their site...
(If so I urge anyone buying my music to do it from Bandcamp rather than iTunes right now, that way you and I both know money is actually getting to me.)
I went through Paypal to make a claim but only had 1 of the payments refunded to me.
Reverb Nation and me are not on speaking terms. And most likely never will be.
End Reverb Nation rant.

I had a look at my last blogs to see what I last said about my summer touring and I still had a lot left to say, but got quite lazy and wrote not a word on it.

I'm glancing at my notes and some makes sense some doesn't.
"Playboy and tampon wrappers" I don't recall what this meant. I'm sure it led into a glorious tale of tragedy and redemption.

Some notes remind me of a certain moment but not really sure why I made note of it at the time.
So I'll pick out a few random things as I scroll through the iphone.

I was in Alberta last if anyone was keeping track and heading east. my notes jump from this point all the way back to Ontario. So I assume nothing happened between Vancouver and Toronto. So here are some landscape photos I took...



 I slept in an orchard in the Okanagan Valley and woke to these guys. I followed them around eating cherries and peaches.

The Chickens got loose. They are hard too catch I later realize.

I have this short conversation written down I had with Daniel Greer of The DGB. He's a great guy and pretty fun to talk with, he doesn't seem to like newer technology. His room has a record player, an old nintendo, and a tv that may or may not work.
We were talking about the movie Ted, which I had not seen at the time.
DG- I'm waiting for the VHS to come out.
Me- They don't make VHS anymore.
DG- Well I hate dvd's because they scratch, and I hate going back to Blockbuser to return it.
Me- They don't have Blockbusters anymore either.
Later we had a USB and he asked where it went in the tv.

I also wrote "Cross legged Indian style spraying water bath"
I remember this. It was at Daniel's house, I packed up my tent and was going to have a shower before leaving but they only had a tub with those with a spray hose. So i sat down, in the fashion I had just stated, and water sprayed all over the bathroom floor from a leak in the tap. It was great fun...

In Cornwall there were a few of those 19 year old youths out and about.
this is what I heard them say.
"I'm a really heavy drinker, so I get drunk real easy. I'm pretty wasted right now."
No, you get drunk real easy because you're 19.
"Fuck vagina's in their stupid ass!" after being shut down from some vagina holding female.

My friend Alex Kelly called me up sometime in August, and asked if I could come to New York to be in her latest music video. Her reason for asking "I wanted to kiss someone who I knew didn't have mouth herpes." Which I would have loved to do (because it's true, I don't have mouth herp!). Sadly I had to decline I was on tour. Not only that, but I had been on tour for just over 2 months then, and had not been to the gym since the 1st week of July, add on all the greasy bar food intake, I doubt I was in my peak physical form for topless filmed shenanigans. Sad I know. But here is the video you can just imagine me throwing Alex in the mud instead of that other dude.  

I also wrote "What am I doing in this province?"
I don't know what province this comment was for, so I can not answer myself. But I'm sure I had a pretty good reason for being there.

And that's it! it seems I was heavy into note taking during the first stretch, then quickly tired of it or assumed I would remember.

In the middle of my tour I had a few days off between West and East Coasts for relaxation.
That didn't happen because My dog, Trail who is 13,  was bit by a brown recluse spider. We didn't know it at the time we thought it was a cancerous tumour that sprouted up on his head. after a few days and tests we found it was an infection and needed quick operation. Trail's head got a hole in it from the poison eating away his muscle tissue. He looks great now but during the time of the bite and operation he was in rough shape. so the next few pictures are kinda gross be warned....

                       Just after the bite.
                       Just after the operation. you can see the draining tube. It leaked puss constantly.
                      Starting to scab up.
    Back to normal! The Vet said it was a miracle.

It was a sad half tour I worried about him a lot, Gina, my girlfriend, was stuck taking care of him while I hit the road. The vet  pretty much drained me of all my earnings on the tour. But I'm very happy he made it through. He's a tough old man.


Moving on to Movember.
This was a weird tour. I have deemed it the bad luck tour.
Every show I had had a low turn out due to outside circumstance or because it was a Monday or Tuesday or something. In Moncton I was excited to open for The Stogies and The Regal Beagle Band. they have a following and it was assumed the night would be full.
Turns out that nobody told the bands I was opening the show. Not sure how they felt about it but, it wasn't greeted with excitement. The night started and and ended with no more than 20 people in the bar. Turns out Matt Mays was playing around the corner and everyone else went there.

I had booked this show a year previous. I was excited to go and play Fables in Tatamagouche, It's quite hard to get in to. The bar itself was amazing and so were the owners. What wasn't amazing, was that they had closed the bar for 2 weeks prior to my show and when they opened most people didn't realize it.

In Woodstock I played to 4 people, which was weird for a Friday, someone told me that Woodstock is a religious area and there was a religious thing happening that night.
Next time I go through I'll promote myself as a Christian rock artist...
.
In Belleville, The Trews played an acoustic show across the street. needless to say, The Trews won.

In Campbellford it became so cold that night that no one went out the only 2 bars in town had a combined total of 7 people all night.

I'm glad that I had a guarantee pay at 80% of the shows or I would have lost a lot of money on this tour.

And now I'm here taking a break writing some new songs learning some new covers but very slowly.
I'm not in any rush.
I had planned on doing a full band tour this March but my friend and sometimes drummer is now unavailable. Which maybe is a good thing. I've applied for a small touring Grant form the city of Barrie. Since they threw a little money my way to help make the latest record, I'm hoping they will throw a little more to help me tour it proper around Ontario.
I heard Dan Mangan took out a bank loan to make and tour his record because he could never get a grant from Factor or any organizations of that ilk.
Seems like an idea.
I've also tossed around the idea of Kickstarter, but I'm not sure if my fan base is quite strong enough for that experiment.
So, as of right now I have nothing major booked. A show in Barrie and one in Toronto in Febuary. That's it.

I'm not sure what my Summer plans are as of yet, last year by this time I had shows booked around the country but I'm just going to take it slow right now.
I'll let out know what's going to happen next when I figure it out.

But here's this to look forward to I just got back from Cuba, and I plan to write about what I did, what I learned of the country, and of course I will make fun of Gina multiple times. Should start it up next week.
Look forward to it!

-Neil
www.eyeswidemusic.bandcamp.com