when I came out of the bar. all the cars on the side of the street(including mine) had been towed.
I had to walk to the lot in sporadic rain ( I refused to pay for a cab knowing I have a towing charge) and paid $109 to get my car out. they gave me this parking ticket as well. I'm glad I live in Ontario. I won't have to pay this.
I also got one in Saskatchewan for running 5 minutes past what I paid in the meter.
Young Steve Buschemi watched me sleep.
I never had such nightmares...
So Calgary was a fun gig. It was also quite a different gig than I'm used to.
Its a community of sorts. they have a self watering garden, fire pits, honey bees and a stage.
We stayed up until 4:30. Me sober waiting for everyone to leave so I could set up my tent.
I was exhausted. But sitting around the fire someone told this story or fable about someone who planted an acorn and danced around it. I'm sure there was a moral but it was lost on me. and then someone else read a poem from his iPhone. He was having trouble's of the heart (seems his older lady liked to hit him) and he didn't know what to do. but his poem was very long. VERY long.
I gave him advice that every girl you "fall in love with" will seem better than the last. even though you think you love this domestic abuser you will me someone else along the way and think whoa this is love, and then after that the same thing. It's a cycle says I.
So he thanked me and went on his way. I wonder what will become of him.
Again great time there but I was annoyed that I had to wait until the next day to be paid.
and at that 3 hours after the time we were to meet.
A frustrating time when you are used to being paid that night.
The Area
I had a few days off and spent them in Okatoks camp ground. $15 to set up my tent by the river.
plus use of a shower not to shabby.
I met the bass [player of Fludd. he is retired and lives by the river.
He told me how he did sound for the likes of Annie Lennox, Rod Stewart(who fired him twice in the same night), THe Beach Boys(who according to him were bad singers and needed click tracks to get through a show) and Fleetwood Mac.
He later built a sound system for a hotel in Vegas and then later a stroke lost the use of his left arm and is unable to play bass or do any real physical labour.
Quite an interesting fellow I hope to stope in Okotoks on the way back east and chat with him some more.
Okotoks
Topless Tent Whiskey.
I recorded a song (Brick) at Norwood Studios with James Murdoch. He played the tambourine and shaker on the tune. Tambourine is really hard to keep steady. I'd start off good then slowly start to fade.
So that will be online eventually.
James rocking the Tambo!
I played in Sherwood Park after this. It was another cafe tipping gig. After the last one I was weary of what I would make. It was slow but I did make $70 for the night. Had a group of people that sat in front of where I was playing and talked loudly the whole time. not a great feeling. But one of them did take me in for the night.
I went out with him to his friends place, to play Monopoly.
I was asked "How old are you?"
"32"
"Cool we're 19."
Cool indeed the girl kept making weird sound effects, deep guttural ones, talked about her camel toe and how she couldn't help it if she had her underwear was up her cunt. (her words!)
and on her playlist from her iPod was the sound track to Mario Brothers and the Legend of Zelda.
When I got back to the fellows house we had some of my Collingwood Whiskey and just chatted about travelling for a while.
I set up ,my tent on his back deck (as I was not allowed to build it on their immaculate lawn. (it was nice grass) and off to bed with me.
The next day was in Red Deer. I like red Deer
It's a quaint little place and The Velvet Olive is a great venue.
he owner kept trying to get me shots but I think I only had 2. She was on a mission to drink and have everyone else drink. Too bad I had a car full of equipment to take care of.
Coleman in the Crow's nest pass area. It was dead. I played to almost no one. Good thing there was a guarantee up front.
There was one fellow who asked me when I started and said he would come back.
and come back he did... for 2 songs. He walk in when I for whatever reason was having trouble with a song and messed up 2 times quite badly. He finished his beer and walked out.
I hung out with the staff afterwards and again they were buying rounds of shots and free drinks but I had to turn them down as to make sure my car load of equipment was taken care of.
We ended up by a camp fire of a New Zealander who came to Canada to study Native Medicine. after 5 years she is considered a Shaman of sorts. (I mean of sorts in that the actual shaman's don't really consider her to be one because she is not a Canadian First Nation, just a silly ol' kiwi who studied the stuff)
And now here I am in Coleman, AB I may have a place to stay tonight but not sure. I was told about an area near three witches that is not checked very often and I might be able to camp there.
The hard thing about being on the road with no hotel or guaranteed place to stay is that you have no rest in the day. I wake up early drive get to where I need to be then wander until it's time of the show (I'm not one who can sleep sitting up straight) and then play until late in the evening. It's tiring.
I'm tired right now.
My inflatable air mattress is not the most comfy thing in the world and usually creates a sore back in the morning.
And that's me winching.
All right I'm going to end this. Next post will have a plethora of dog photos as most people I stay with have dogs. It makes me miss mine
Trail
I'm out
Til next post...
-Neil
www.eyeswide.ca
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