When Wild meets Wyrd
Current mood: inspired

Carolyna 'On The Road With The Wyrd Sisters'

I am playing with a goddess. A group of them - and i am about to gush lyrical about this road crew of lovelies.

I am on tour, throughout BC, with the Wyrd Sisters.

The Fabulous Wyrds are: Kim Baryluk - vocal and Empress; Dem McLeod - vocal and Queenly duties; Marie-Josie Dandeneau - bass and extraordinary band leader; Johanna Hildebrand, vocals, violin and Earth-Angel.

The ladies invited me to join their back end, drumming along side Id Guiness - Piano/Tour manager; and Ledenhed - guitar.

In this series of Blogs i will address the "best of" the tour - as that is how I want to read it.

On with it then...... Enjoy








June 28th '08

Id Guiness - "Carolyna, our drummer quit and we have our first show on the fifth. Can you..."

Id sends digital files of 23 songs



June 30th

I roll up to Id's beautiful Mission, BC home to start first rehearsals with Id and San Fransisco guitarist, Ledenhed. Lovely space to rehearse. Id's family are so kind and hospitable and Id is patient in educating me in the Wyrd way, and accepting of the changes needed to accommodate my rather obscure kit of Snare, Hi-hat, Two Djembe, and a tambourine on my right foot.



July 1st

Lots of rehearsals and then a night of bonding with Id and Leddy, and Id's wife Sandra (a fabulous hostess and gentlewoman).





July 2nd

I turned 40 this morning. FUN!

I am now a Cougar and the planning of the Great Canadian Cougar Party is fresh in my mind... back to the Wyrd's...



Today we await the arrival of the Goddess, Kim Baryluk and band-mate Dem McCleod, brought from Winnipeg by the charming Darren Parfeniuk, our motor home-away-from-home driver, and all around go-to-guy that hands us money (I LOVE Darren).

Kim and Dem join rehearsals and change all the parts...lol.. no seriously. heehe



We roll a bit looser the next while, but then gel on enough tunes to see that progress is quick - that it will be a challenge, but doable.

After rehearsals i am so tired i do not notice that the lovely Sandra and daughter, Casey, and her friend Monique, have slipped out and bought Happy 40th napkins and table top settings as i just reach for vegetables and head to the patio.

The crew are amused and bring the party to me.

They are all singing "happy birthday", and I am given a lovely present by the girls... and Kim Baryluk is singing in my face.. :)

***I ate white things today - the cake was sweet and white and ice creamy - yummy but i see i will need a detox after this tour. I love these people.***
I am overwhelmed at the kindness of near strangers. I feel calmed and grateful that i was blessed with a conscious group of tour mates and that their loved ones embraced me so kindly. Id is a great man. His family adore him. He is a kind father. It is a joy to spend time in his home and in a band together. He is very kind to me.



Back to the Wyrds...

July 3rd.

2pm and MJ arrives fresh from Milwaukee and a tour with Toby (Aus) http://www.myspace.com/tobybeard

We set about to rehearse and MJ changes all the parts...lol.. no seriously... :)

we adjust.



We have the most delightful misunderstandings due to the mis-translation of certain words and expressions - MJ is Metis, and French her first language - and I am a hand drummer and percussionist and LIVE in 1 and 3 with African drum mates.



July 4th

Rehearsals and everyone is a bit stressed as our first show is in one day and its not gelling hard yet. Oh the expectations one places on oneself.



July 5th we hit the road

First Stop - Penticton, BC - The Can Can

We arrive at 5ish to set up and sound check. The place is cool.

Open to the outside.

Staff and sound man were great and we had a good first show. I could see Kim relaxing more after the first show was complete and that put us all a bit more at ease.

We stayed at Sound man Bill's house and awoke to a scenery that would rival the finest of Tuscany views. I am surrounded by cherry trees and water and olive gardens, and wineries and... i LOVE this place. Not the house...but i wont trash talk the place when a kindness was MEANT... only "the Best Of"...

Darren just about takes out a tree turning the motor home around. Once we replace the trailer on the hitch we are off to Oliver and to the Sold Out, outdoor concert at Elm Tree Farm and B&B.



June 6th

The scenery in the wine and alfalfa portion or this trip is magnificent and inviting and i feel i can live anywhere again.

Tom and Hillery's place, the Elm Tree Farm and B&B, was the comfort and hospitality we were in need of.

What a Fabulous group of people at the show. Hill's band, Doug and The Juggs, opened the show for us. Great fun!!!



July 7th

Our gracious hosts treated us to a great time and a second night at the B&B. We rehearsed in the great room - it has a tree growing through it.. Tom built it...WE LOVE TOM!

Tom took MJ and Johannah (herein referred to as "the girls") and Id and I for a tube ride down the River. 1 hr and a half of tubing and i was elated. The scenery in the Oliver area is much different then in my coastal BC.
Dry. Differently beautiful. I was having a wonderful day.

Johannah, however, was injured by a river-rock smash on the head and lost her glasses (they were hot on her, for sure). Id managed to carry "the girls" flip flops, his own glasses on his head, and not spill a drop of beer. Id is KING of the river.

Tom swapped tubes with Johannah and then it deflated just before we ended our trip. We giggled hard.. fun stuff.



MJ took good care of Johannah. I saw their protective sides this night.

I adore love.



I went for a night walk outside with Leddy. It was dark and I fell into the burn pile, complete with concrete to the skull and a smashing and bruising to the arms and legs that still make my calves look like those of a twelve year old boy on summer vacation. Better get back in the motor home.

Ledenhed is kind and talented and loves much of the same things as me - I am enjoying learning about him and his music. He and Id are long-time friends and it is really nice to see such strong ties between the men in the band. Good men.



July 8th

Off to Fort Socs Ranch,Kelowna, BC

*happy birthday, Monique*



It started out...well..WYRD!

But turned out to be a fabulous time



and a great place to hang for a day off on the 9th. Silverado, our hostess, led us through the "tricks" the horses performed and introduced us to Harley, her pig.

Big ol' boy that wandered through the audience throughout the show (i swear it is all true...lol).

Then... off to Karen's place.

With Bart their to greet us we were immediately welcomed and given a lovely place in the mountains outside of Kelowna, to relax.

Bart - what a character. And the Kind and generous Karen is a beautiful, articulate, accomplished woman. It was an honor to spend the evening talking and discussing our love of The Blues and the old-boy players.

Her cottages and the Tree House are filled with posters and signatures of the greats that stayed and PLAYED with Karen. She is a real GEM and i can't wait to see her again.



July 9th

Day off at Karen and Bart's in Kelowna mountains

Dem, "the girls", and I walked to the lake and drank in the fresh air and ate from the berry trees. Tonight we dine in. MJ and i played a bit as Dem and Johannah cleared away the dinner Bart and i prepared.



I Love playing with MJ. She is a delight - a rhythm head and a tech-head. The Nerd in her is similar enough to the nerd in me to find a common interest. FUN girl. And beautiful.



Her Love, earth-angel Johanna, is to me the strongest little bird on planet earth. I adore her beautiful heart. "the girls" are so very talented. I will post links to their sites here so you can listen to the lovely works of all of the gorgeous characters i am on tour with at this time.

Wait 'till you get a load of Id and Leddy's material.



Our fearless leader incorporates a song of each of ours into the show.

I will post podcasts of the live shows at the Wise Hall, Ashcroft Opera house, and a few more segments.

It is a delight to share this moment with the Wyrds. Where we all joined together in a version of each others tunes... and it goes off. The crowd gets hot for it all and then the gushing toward Kim and her band is in overdrive. I have not seen many command an audience to LOVE HER, and receive that love immediately back. Kim Baryluk is a powerhouse on stage and she puts together a team she is proud of.

I feel great!



July 10th

Happy Birthday Gumpy, David, and Chris

Lorenzo's Cafe, Enderby, BC

We LOVE Lorenzo.



Good show... crowd loved it. Heaps of kudos from owner Lauren.



July 11th

MJ recorded last night's show and Kim and i listened in morning...



Finally... "please Carolyna, play the 2 and 4 through the verses as the rhythm needs tightening... here".

Done! Now we are cleaner. Now there is more room for others.



WISE HALL show

Playing well this night. MJ smiles all night so i am feeling good...lol

We have learned who to look toward at this point.

And when the Goddess and "the girls" are happy... we are all happy.

heehe

This crowd IS the Wyrd Sisters crowd.

They LOVE her. And Dem's KD LANG cover of Crying is a hit with the women in the audience... i believe you call that "swooning" folks.

;)

I adore Dem and her beautiful pipes (she also has perfect feet and boobs... seriously... she a fox!)



The fans lined up for photo signing and cd's flew off the table. Kim was a perfect delight to all. She strikes some women dumb. I saw a girl lower her eyes after every statement. Intoxicating to watch Kim work. She singed and chatted an hour after the show - in TRUE Canadian Indie Godess style.



July 12th - Mission Wine Region

This is now called the Bugs and All Tour (MJ so named it this because we all look as though we have been buck-shot!

Kermode Wildberry Organic Winery. Mission, BC
Cost : $35.00

Sold Out

Joan Anderson was the CHAMP of the night here. A neighbor to the winery, she let us set up on her lawn rather than play in the area the winery thought to put us - too noisy and no atmosphere.

So good-neighbor Joan, allowed us to set up, took photos,

and blogged about the affair http://inanticipation.blogspot.com:80/2008/07/wyrd-sisters.html

... SWEET lady.



Great guys at the winery too. The band enjoyed the wines and i enjoyed the band enjoying the wines ( i am a tea-totaler ).

We had the next three days off so that night we all headed back to ID's and partied with Sandra and their son, Shawn, until the early hours. Even "the girls" stayed up and blew off a bit with us all. It was great to relax together.



July 13th-15th

Home to relax, do laundry ( it is not hard to become part of the Great Unwashed on tour, but we have been lucky at certain spots to have had laundry. I am tired. Sleep a bit - play my own guitar a while - sleep a bit more - eat at the local (i love the girls of Burgoo, North Van) - and walk my neighborhood. ang with some new friends.

I love Vancouver.



July 16th - Duncan Garage

Duncan, BC

I LOVE Vancouver Island, Duncan Garage, and Longevity John!

We had a great show tonight.

Loved it sooo much.

The audience was blissfully happy and Kim was on top of her game.

The band shot pretty hot and we all felt good after some time off. A little rusty in places, but overall, a good show. John was happy.

I'll see him again in the fall.

xx



July 17th - House Concert - Port Alberni, BC

I LOVE house concerts. This crowd was not the regular Wyrd Sister crowd and still Kim wowed them all into joy. We played well together.

What a spread here on Sprout Lake.

Christoff and his Daddy even made us a bonfire after the show. It was almost a full moon... and it was magnificently peaceful here.



July 18th - Ashcroft Opera House

Ashcroft, BC

We loved this gig.

We were happy with this show and felt great. Martin and MJ got us a fabulous sound in the opera house. Filled with history - greatness has graced this stage more than once and i felt honored to be playing here with such a strong presence as the Wyrd Sisters. I love this stage set up best... Id and MJ on my left and Leddy on my right.

It works best for cues from Id and MJ. They both smile when we all hit the shots. It is mostly common now. Feels great here.

Martin gave me his Poor Boy hat for the second set and Johanna loved it! We LOVE Johanna.



Musicians and producers, Leslie Alexander and John Ellis, moved here recently, and leslie picked me up to join her and 15 women for a full moon ritual.

We hiked to the Slew and howled at the moon and did laughter yoga and chanted and laughed at ourselves and graced each other with a truth and an intention... it was entirely girly and EXACTLY what i was in need of.

Sometimes being on the road can be like staying at your little brother's friend's house.

This was my kind of reprieve.

Les took me back to her palatial spread and i slept in a King size bed with fine sheets and my own bathroom... and i was comforted by womanly things around me.

Kim Baryluk to Carolyna - "you are such a girl".

xx



July 19th - Gumboot Cafe - Roberts Creek, BC

***Official Road Trash Talk ***

I have received the most phone s from this trip... giggle

Some of the girls have received Love Letters... sweet!

WHOTRSOTR



Loren and her beautiful sister greet us and scare the hell out of us, momentarily, as we see only 5 feet to play in - we are a band of 7 - not so much workable in 5 feet.

Then the place opens it up for us and we are pleasantly surprised at how much we all enjoyed this show.

Promoter Katherine pulled together a great group and Loren was a delightful hostess. Beautiful (girl crush).

We stayed at David Valentine's place. A kind guy with a great Zen spread tucked into the woods. He shared his home and his food and his great stories.

*** I want the French car, David. Love the racing truck, too. Let me know when we are taking it out to the track. I am so there.***



July 20th - McKinney's Pub (in the New Rodmay Hotel) Powell River, BC

This hotel is just shy of 100 years old and is haunted by an old Chinese man in the basement, a young boy child on the 3rd floor, and a woman who hangs out in the lounge and the bar.



We had a fun show. Dance floor Packed... the fine family of Shawn's (owner) was happy when the place filled as promoter Katherine, booked us on Sunday and the club is usually closed on Sunday... started out a worry - then it filled and the bar was happy... good showing by the band here...

**OFFICIAL ROAD TRASH TALK**

love notes from Wise hall and Mckinney's arrive in my facebook this morning. Nice!



July 21st- Long ride home from Powell River, Sunshine Coast

What beauty. Two ferries... hours of winding roads. I forgot my ginger and i am ill with all the weaving... but almost home for two full days.

Then back to Id's and off at 8:30 on the 24th.



July 22/23 - rest , laundry, playing slide, local food...ahhh home

Currently listening : Wholly Release date: 2006-12-01

12:08 AM - 0 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

’Never A Critic’ - Book Launch review- Marni Norwich
Category: Writing and Poetry

You know those nights where the last thing you want to do is
is to get into the shower after a hard, long day at work, just to get
all dolled up to go out again? If you are at all like me you want to
relax in the bath with great music playing, loud enough to fill the
house with sound... fall out of the tub and eat something fresh, drink
some herbal tea, and chill with a lover for the night.
But again, if you are at all like me, you would never miss this kind of
show.
Quiet and kind. That was the feel at the book launch of my very sweet
and articulately gifted friend, poet Marni Norwich. Marni read poems
from her first publication, Wildflowers at my doorstep, to a fabulously
grateful crowd at the Quaker House, in Vancouver on Saturday night.
Poems like "Sanctum", and "An insomniac's bed", ring so familiar to me that
I am moved to a silent giggle throughout the author's read, and at times
burst into laughter or applause with the rest of the crowd.
Marni is the voice of the 40ish and feminine: strong and kind,
offering her work with love and adoration for a lifetime of experiences.
Positive and not-so-much positive had their places observed by the poet,
the thoughtful, feminine creator, who then articulated her observations
without great judgment. Quite contrarily, Marni laughed at her life
with such gentle humor that I left feeling I could be a bit easier on
myself and laugh at my own mistakes more often. She was glowing with the
knowledge that she had created something so special for her friends and readers.
It was an extraordinarily good evening, bolstered by performers Joanna
Chapman Smith (guitar), Zoey Wren (piano), and Marni's great supporter
and friend, singer-songwriter, Tim Mar.
Publisher Harreson Sito, (Karma Press) gave a glowing introduction to
Ms. Norwich, as he walked the audience through a wonderfully
entertaining description of "how the universe came together to make this
happen..."
It was a great night, and a great read. I cannot recommend this poetic
offering enough. Wildflowers at my doorstep is a gem.
Congratulations to Marni Norwich and everyone at Karma Press. Continued
joy and
success.
Carolyna

www.inkcatmedia.com
www.karmapress.com
www.zoeywren.com
www.joannacs.com

7:49 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Take a look at this

11:57 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

The EXPECTATIONS of others can be sooooo offside.. chill!
Current mood: working
Category: workin’ Blogging

Sometimes it is just so hard to live up to the expectations of everyone. I don't care WHO they A+R for!
I receive more than 100 messages a day and countless comments..... I AM... SWAMP FOLK RECORDS and The Vanhattan Project and and and...
I cannot drop the work load - the 7 day a week for years workload - to address every comment personally... much less within days of receiving. I do try my very best. But i am a viral marketer. I am on numerous social networking sites, business centre sites, community sites, international music organizations... and i'm writing, setting up tours and writing marketing plans.
Please... do forgive my SELFISHNESS, mr. ArDoW for not dropping it all to respond... read on:


Received this from a guy who thought he was DUE...


RiCk ArDoW*'s Comment:

"When there.s no feedback from "artists" like u when someone like me has made a very nice comment... your sensibility for ur own music is none and your "virtual Friendship" is also none.
Thx.
Sometimes is better to be a chicks collector instead of mucisians... inside that meat market there.s more gratefulness for a nice commentary.
Be good Artist."

I wrote this..
"The arrogance! To know what my time is made up of and what is going on, perhaps harshly, in my existence at this time... that i should make the effort at this time because that is your expectation is selfish. You sir, have a heightened sense of importance in my life if you think you sit above any place i may be in at this time.
I need no "Friends" like you.
Carolyna Loveless

I already GAVE AWAY MY MUSIC... MY ART... what more do i OWE YOU, Mr. ArDoW?

4:29 PM - 4 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Never a Critic- Music Review - Ryan McMahon CD Release Party
Current mood: artistic
Category: Music

Mission Entertainment brought Ryan McMahon to the Media Club for the release of his most recent offering, "Weeks, Months, Years". It was great to catch Ryan mid-tour when the band had been hammering it out for a number of shows together. His performance was tight, and solid players joined Ryan to bring to life the party that was "packed to the rafters".

There are many types of music fans among musicians. Me - I'm the "If i don't like your live show i don't buy your product". Simple. I don't like the con-job bands that a producer pieces all together in a studio so they can grab their glam-rock 15 minutes and take work from the young and old masters among us. Let me say at this time, that Ryan McMahon is no poseur. This boy can write a beautiful song.. and rock it live. As the lovely Nat Jay said while selling HEAPS of merch for Ryan, "This is a compilation of 10 years of Ryan's work." You can hear it in the recording, i swear.

I find i either love the songs OR the production of an album. I am always delighted when the production of a well written and performed group of songs is complimentary and sparse. Only what the rhythm and melody demand and not much more (think Ray Lamontagne, and Johnny Cash...). "Weeks, Months, Years" has "Road Signs", "Good Timing", and my album favourite, "Lights Out in New Orleans". I look forward to catching the live show when the band has performed 200 shows together.

I reckon these boys did some good work on "W,M,Y"... but don't take my word for it. Keep an eye out for Ryan's show in your town. He is on tour across Canada at this time. You can find his music and tour schedule at: http://www.ryanmcmahon.com

*** I shot some live footage of Ryan and band, and interviewed him backstage where friends, producer Garth Richardson, and one of my favourite rock star locals, Ridley Bent gave shout outs to Ryan and his band. Said footage will be in the next season of 'The Vanhattan Project' Podcast, brought to you by Swamp FOlk Records. http://www.swampfolk.com

_________________
Shout Out your artist/producer friends on the FORUM at Swamp Folk Records... you may see them on the next episode of 'The Vanhattan Project' Podcast.

You can subscribe to my "Never a Critic" review at Swamp FOlk Records or read at:

3:45 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

’The Vanhattan Project’ Podcast NOW ONLINE! FREE on itunes
Current mood: busy
Category: Podcast

Welcome to ’The Vanhattan Project’ Podcast.


The first 5 episodes of our first season - "Mellow Hustlin’" are now online.



3 ways you can view/listen...
You can check out the videos at swampfolk. com
you can download the RSS feed at swampfolk. com
you can subscribe in iTunes (for free) at swampfolk. com
I recommend the last option to avoid missing any of the episodes.



Featured in these episodes: Carolyna Loveless interviews artists and musicians, directors, producers, studio owners, strange and wonderful people on the street, and a McCaw named Rocky, in a series of Podcasts from Venice Beach, California.


The Vanhattan Project Podcast

1:47 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Bob Lefsetz's
Current mood: electric

Album's Last Rites
by Bob Lefstez, from The Lefsetz Letters

We've got to kill the album.

Actually, it's already dead. It's just that the artists and labels don't know it.

Oh, don't get your panties in a twist. Just think about it. When cavemen started banging on rocks, was there somebody chewing a primitive cigar saying you've got to have TWELVE rhythms, broken down six to a side?

Actually, live performance eventually pervaded, and with concerts longer pieces were required. You ultimately had the classical composers, delivering long suites for paying customers.

But eventually it became about the song, And you had pluggers running around trying to get stars to sing them, to ultimately drive people to buy the sheet music.

Then we hit the era of the single. Which ruled until technology delivered a carrier that could hold more music. Which the Beatles ultimately employed to birth "Sgt. Pepper", the first CONCEPT album. You had something to say, you could stretch it out to a complete side. Which people would listen to while lying on the couch, while reading the paper, while making out. And never forget, THERE WAS NO SINGLE ON SGT. PEPPER!

The album was so successful that an entire radio format was created to service it, AOR. It was about the deep tracks, the deejay was a guide, turning you on to albums that you wanted to buy and play at home.

But then Top Forty came back, the single ruled in an era of longer discs (the CD!) Suddenly, people only wanted the track, because the rest of what was on the album sucked, and there was TOO MUCH OF IT! And once they had a way of ONLY getting the track they wanted, they took it. Yes, labels had discontinued CD singles, forcing consumers to purchase the entire album. But now the public could steal the one and only track it wanted, and eventually buy it, via iTunes and its brethren.

But the real change was the carrier, the playback system.

Used to be you were limited to how much music you could play at once. Maybe you had a changer, but that hurt the records. The goal was to have a turntable, which only played for twenty minutes before you had to get up and change sides. As for taking your music with you, you could carry a modicum of cassettes and CDs, but not your entire library.

But now you can. On the iPod.

And now people no longer listen to albums.

And the only people who don't know this is the purveyors.

Society is overwhelming. We've got 300 TV channels, if not MORE! We've got a bunch of new movies EVERY weekend. We've got video games. We haven't got time to sit down and listen to an hour of crap over and over again in order to get hooked. We want something ear-pleasing, NOW! We ONLY want GOOD STUFF!

Shit, that blows your mind.

You're creating hour long masterpieces that the public must eat like a day locked inside a McDonald's, but the public only wants some McNuggets and then a taco from Taco Bell, an ice cream from Cold Stone, a donut… THAT'S what iPods are like. They're MIX AND MATCH!

The goal is to get into the iTunes library. And you don't do this by releasing ten cuts, but by making ONE GREAT ONE!

Oh, it doesn't have to be catchy, just GOOD!

This is the labels' worst nightmare. This is not their paradigm. They pay a big chunk of money to an artist to get an album which they can sell for ten bucks to make their bottom line. They're not in the SINGLES BUSINESS!

And every act thinks it's the Beatles, that it's important, that it's got a STATEMENT to make.

But the audience doesn't give a shit about ALL of this. The public just wants quality. Well, something it LIKES!

Yes, the iPod has killed the album. Technology has changed the format once again.

And, since an iPod can contain MORE MUSIC THAN ALMOST EVERYBODY EVER OWNED, there isn't time for crap. You now have access to too much good stuff, WHY listen to the crap?

The album is OVER!

Start hyping one cut. And if that catches fire, deliver ANOTHER!

Hell, maybe the magic number is four. BECAUSE THAT'S THE QUANTITY MYSPACE ALLOWS YOU TO STREAM!!!

If you like one, you can check out a couple more. Maybe listen to four to find out if that one you like isn't an anomaly, and the rest are similar enough to your tastes.

This is economic death for the label. Unless it controls EVERY song. Because, after all, people want A LOT!

But the labels keep consolidating, keep releasing fewer records, keep ceding the marketplace to the independent. IMPALA worried about major mergers? That's like Olivetti worrying about Smith Corona. And if you have no idea what I'm talking about, THAT'S JUST THE POINT! These purveyors are HISTORY!

The money is in the aggregation. On a grand scale!

As for the act, the goal is a GREATEST HITS ALBUM!

Yup, release fewer tracks on a more regular basis. THEN maybe sell all your best at one cheap price…as a matter of CONVENIENCE!

I don't want to hear about economics, I don't want to hear about art, the album is history, FINITO! That's not how people listen anymore. And the public is always right. You've heard that axiom, HAVEN'T YOU?

c2007 Bob Lefsetz
Reprinted with permission
To read more from the well versed, and highly opinionated Bob Lefsetz, read more of his letters at
The Lefsetz Letters

Thanks for letting me share this BOB.
Carolyna

3:11 PM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Thanks Myspace fans. I'm up 900 spots on Neil Young's site
Current mood: peaceful
Category: thrilled Music

Thanks Myspace fans.
"Bullet (With My Flag On It)" is up 958 spots on Neil Young's site THIS WEEK!!!

In one week I have gone from # 1002 (I was last to be added to the list)
up to # 44 on Neil's list of songs of Living With War.

http://www.neilyoung.com/lwwtoday/lwwsongspage.html

Thank you so much to all of you who clicked in to listen, to those who passed it on to their own friend's list, and others who linked the site from their myspace site.... you are FAB 'friends' and fans and I'm thrilled we have connected.
Joy and best wishes this holiday season.

CarolynaLoveless
Swamp FOlk Records

10:38 PM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Ther L.E.G. - October - Official Newsletter of Loveless Entertainment Group Ltd.

In this update of The L.E.G.: Gig Listing; July to September Road trip; Links to Carolyna's Rock n' Roll Photography; Updated site news, and New Podcast reports.



Hi all! Glad to share with you the upcoming events and news of our most recent projects at Swamp Folk Records, Pollyanna Publishing, and Loveless Entertainment Group's Web Services Dept.

Let us Begin with the upcoming gigs.

You see.... while my peers are all getting ready for the BCMA's, performing and being rewarded, I slug away at the little gig still, as I didn't get my recording released...
Bad Carolyna *Carolyna slaps own hand*

There are three gigs that all are invited to attend this coming month.

Oct. 3rd
VACA PRESENTS:
Circle Of Songwriters
8:30PM
$5 at the door
Limerick Junction
315 Carrall St.
"on the edge of Gastown"

Oct. 21
VACA Fundraiser
Poets, Dancers, Songwriter/musician performances
12 Performers - Start Time: 8pm Carolyna - 10:40pm
$30. Donation - $25. with Student Card
Century Restaurant and Bar at 432 Richards, upstairs.

October 30th
Hallowe'en BASH
in support of the fabulous Tamara Nile and The Peals
Also on the Bill - ZENOBIA
Start Time: 9:pm
$5. members $7. non-members
The Railway Club 579 Dunsmuir St., Vancouver (@ Seymour St.)



Got my first American Music Magazine Cover on 4cdmusic.com (it's now in the archives but it was a lovely month!).
http://www.4cdmusic.com/v20/2006/07/16/carolyna-loveless/
A great review by Mike at Audio Trip Music Project moved traffic to my site for the month. Thanks guys!



There are a heap of stations playing "A Life Like This" at this time. This track has not been released anywhere but on internationally produced webcasts and podcasts.
You can find me spinning on some of the finer podcasts including Australia's Salty Dog Podcast which is also spinning "HUNGRY (84,000 downloads of last podcast in one month). This is my favourite 'Live' recording. You can see a video snippit for it in the Store section on my site when you select the DVD. Salty has a GREAT podcast filled with fabulous music from all over the world - Roots and Blues genres.

Daily Pod in Germany downloaded "A Life Like This" for their podcast from the new site I set up on PODSAFE only last week.

Saturday afternoon "A Life Like This" is spinning on www.awsomeradio.net (between 1-3pm). Shoshona has a great show on this indie station.

Jeff at "Confessions of a DJ Podcast" is spinning both " A Life Like This" "Just 'Till You Get A Plane Of Your Own" .

Mark at "Women of the 90's" webcast and Podcast is Spinning "A Life Like This" and "Something Else Goin On". I am in the BEST of company on this station ... http://www.myspace.com/wot90

Bernie at Future Radio in the UK is spinning "A Life Like This" and "Something Else Going On" on his Oct 13th release.

<

Tried to include a link in this newsletter to my podcast but it seems i have been hacked, AGAIN, by P.U.M.A.
I'll have it up and running before the night is out and will post the link in the newsletter on both my sites ... www.carolyna.com and www.myspace.com/carolynaloveless

So, this summer was a wild ride.
Long trip .... BC -AB - Sask - Man - ON - Que - NB - NS - Back to Mid Ontario and into the states in MI - IN - Ill - Iowa - SD - Wyoming - Montana - Idaho - WA - HOME!

Played a bit - Familied it up a bit - Drove HEAPS!
Played for and with some fantastic players this season. Have met and jammed with some new folks this summer and among my favourites was a Big ol' Blues man from Hamilton, Ontario named Alfie Smith.
Huge Voice and seriously sweet slide. Check him out here: http://www.geocities.com/bigdumox/


Been listening to HEAPS of myspace bands. YES, you have to search, but there are so many gems... it is well worth the hunt. Before my trip I loaded up my ipod with songs from artists i found on myspace. Some sent me their cd's... some i purchased.... some i downloaded from their sites.... all of it thriled me. I had that ipod and 30 cd's on my trip. Thanks to all of you for 'feeding' me on my journey.
br>


*** Arranged and recorded the BG Vox for Spirathon ( www.myspace.com/spirathon )in July - a song called "Green Olympics" , a BC-specific song protesting the debaucle that was to be the Green Olympics 2010. Good luck with the track Stephen. Ryen Froggatt from Komrade Studios did an excellent job on it. Love your work Ryen.


ON THE MOVIE FRONT!!!
The paint has not dried on either of the two film placements that Pollyanna Publishing found intrest in for "A Life Like This" and Stand UP". The legals are being done as we speak on one project that is actually deep in post at this time so at least it looks promising.
But... the one I was thrilled about (because the actually wanted me to perform my song in the movie) has not even begun shooting (which was meant to be finished by mid-OCT). I see the industry i am entering is much the same as the one i've been in for my own career.
lol
I'll keep you posted as Pollyanna Publishing continues to shop songs to the film companies.

The new carolyna.com site is almost finished. A new fresh face for the autumn. A downloadable hi-res EPK will be available for those who require it (I've done the work now stop making me go through Sonic Bids!!!).
lol


I'll be uploading a new link on my site to take you to "LEGS Rock n' Roll Photography".
My favourite Images that I ( and some from Mick) have taken over the years at international festivals and on this last toot cross the width of N.A.


On the lookout for new interns for all aspects of this company. Thanks heaps to the interns who worked hard this spring.

Hoping to raise enough $$ this winter to record in Jan. with all the boys and grrrls who have shown interest this year. Looking forward to working with all of you...

Don't forget to check out the blog on my myspace that says 'The Opening Act'... it is an excerpt from the talented Mr. Richard Flohil (used with permission).
It is a must read for all!

I'm going to leave it hear with a Big Shout Out To GEORGE CANYON.
He is my 'Gentleman Headliner' pick for the year... Those of you who have been the opening act and had to struggle through a set with !@..$^ sound because you HAVE to sing through the main acts settings... or have been banished to the Toilets as a dressing room so the Main act can have more space in the Dressing Room... on and on...
Well, Dave Gunning, a myspace friend, invited Mick and I to the George Canyon show at the Commodore this week (complete with backstage passes - thanks guys - i'll come backstage when you invite me onstage).
Half way through George's main set he introduces his long time friend, Dave Gunning, to the audience and they do a Johny Cash song... then... George sings the praises of his friend and fellow songwriter/musician ... and walks off stage leaving Dave with his audience for another 3 originals and a cover.... WHAT A KING of main stage chivalry.

Richard's article has some great headliner stories - both good and bad tales.
I enjoyed it so much I asked to share it with you all.
Enjoy your autumn!
Keep and eye on the sites for gig updates and recording studio tales.
Cheers,

Carolyna

4:59 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Richard Flohil's " Spare a prayer for the opening act!"

Spare a prayer for the opening act!
Richard Flohil
Re-printed with permission.

No introduction. A quarter of the lights. One third the sound. No place the park the van. Audiences that don't give a hoot. No mention in the advertising. Don't eat the headliner's food. There are four beers and some KFC for you; say thank you. Oh, and don't go any longer than 30 minutes.

Oh, I hear you say, that's rock and roll. Doesn't happen in the folk world.

Well, the law of supply and demand in the folk world says that opening acts play for nothing; if they want to sell CDs that's okay, but count this as exposure, as a rite of passage on the way to the big-time. And just in case that depresses you, note that in the rock and roll world, the opening artist's record company may even have to pay the headliner for the right to BE the opener...

Who the opening act is depends on the demands of the headliner. If you're Guy Clark, say, you don't want a nice young girl singing dear diary music to your audience before you go on, or if you're Gillian Welch you don't need another woman singing world-weary alt.country. A gender change is often necessary - er, let me re-phrase that: If the headliner's a male, it's often best to have a woman open, and vice-versa. The opening artist's music has to be complementary, but not similar, to that of the headliner.

Okay, you've been hired: You'll be opening for Guy Clark at Hugh's Room in Toronto. What can you do to take advantage of this?

1) Ask the promoter to include you in the advertising.
2) When the promoter has announced the show, you then announce your participation to your mailing list. Do not announce your involvement before then.
3) Make sure that you "sell" as many tickets by word of mouth as you possibly can.
4) Ensure that your friends and relatives are there for support, even if you have to buy their tickets.
5) Be on time for the sound check, and be brave is there isn't time for one.
6) Be friendly with the headliner, but don't fawn over him or ask him to sign your guitar.
7) Be totally rehearsed (with your best songs, and some positive upbeat chat).
8) Do not go over your allotted time.
9) Say nice things about the sound, the wait staff, the bar tender, and the promoter.
10) Stay for the headliner's set.

The prize for the classiest treatment of an opening act goes, without exception, to - of all people - Harry Belafonte. When he was the biggest star, and the most expensive ticket, on the concert circuit, he would always open the show himself. After half a dozen songs, he would bring out the "opening" artist with a fulsome, sincere introduction. The "opener" would finish the first half of the concert, and return for a finale with the headliner at the end of the second half.

In this way, back in the day, Belafonte introduced mainstream North American audiences to Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Nana Mouskouri, Lottle Mbulu, Miriam Makeba, Odetta and many others. He MADE their careers - and HE looked like the best guy, the least selfish guy, in the world for doing so.

The prize for the worst treatment of an opening artist? No contest: The Rolling Stones. Sure, they sometimes hired good people - among them, over the years, B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, Ike & Tina Turner and Lee Dorsey. (I once saw Chaka Kahn open for them at Maple Leaf Gardens; her wig came off in mid-song, and lay on the stage for the rest of the set looking a bit like a dead hedgehog).

At a Stones show, nobody announced the opening artist, and the sound and lights were the least they could get away with providing. The opener usually played to small audiences, since they were often not included in the advertising, and the Stones audience were only there for one act .. they didn't even arrive in time to hear the opening artist. And after the openers finished their allotted time-span, the Stones themselves waited for another hour before hitting the stage.

So, here's a question or two for headliners everywhere, what kind of music you play:

Why can't you go out and introduce the opening artist?
Why can't you arrange for them to be paid at least one-fifth of what you're getting?
Why not offer them their share of your food and drink rider?

Mike Plume, a wonderful songwriter from Alberta who now lives in Toronto, once opened, with his band, for a well-known Canadian singer who had a hit at the time .. oh, well, since you're asking, it was Allanah Myles. Mike later wrote a song about the bitter experience, and told how - so angered by their treatment - the band would wait til Ms. Myles was on stage, and then go and eat her food and drink her wine and beer.

A few years later, the band was playing at the Horseshoe in Toronto when the Ms Myles wandered in. She loved the band, and went directly to their dressing to invite them to open for her on her next tour. Needless to say, Mike and the band, having been there and done that, were not impressed.

But here's a story you can feel warm and fuzzy about. My friend Serena Ryder, on her first trip to Australia, got the opportunity to open for Steve Earle. Seriously jet-lagged, and suffering the cold she always gets when she goes anywhere in a plane, she stood in front of 5,000 rabid, screaming Steve Earle fans, already hollering for Copperhead Road.

Well, she survived, but Steve took her into his dressing room afterwards, and behaved like the classy man that he is. Henceforth of the tour, HE would go out and introduce her every night, and tell his audience to shut the f*** up and listen. Then he handed her three songs, and told her to learn them, and that she would be singing back-up with him during his show. Then he told her to return the rented van; she'd ride on the tour bus with him and his band. And finally, he said "Look, my contract says I have a two room suite in every hotel on this trip. If you want it, the second room is yours."

Being the opening artist is a thankless job, nearly of the time. But do it right, make friends, and do well, and you won't have the role in the future.

You'll be the headliner instead.

And when you are, treat the opening artist with the respect you would have appreciated when you were starting out.

4:44 PM - 2 Comments - 3 Kudos - Add Comment