Cheers to Scotty!

Well, I must say, my tenure as a bass player for Full Circle started unexpectedly, (after all, Im a keyboard player by trade) but its proven to be one of the funner most positive experiences of my Musical Career....

I got to play some really great venues, record in a real studio and met a TON of cool people.... More importanly, I made some great new friends with bandmates, Scott, Steve and Sandy....

But, alas, not even musicians are exempt from the great alberta brain drain, sucking mass amounts of our talented people out to the prairies....

Long Story Short, its looking like our Singer might be accepting a job offer out west which is suited to his degree and experience..

Were gonna keep our fingers crossed that maybe something will break for him here to keep him in NS, but its looking like Alberta will win another one of us Atlantic'ers

Oh well....

Scotty, I'm not mad at ya buddy....... nothing but love brother.. but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't seriously f__king bummed out to see ya go....

its been a great ride while it lasted.... I'm sure I'll get to tip back one with ya before ya go, but just want to say in advance, that I'll miss ya...

Ideas in motion

Well, its been coming a while, But I hope to have my "official" website up and running relatively soon and have done a few other things to give 'Bongwater Music Productions" more credibility...

Some might argue that the name itself might make that a challenge, but (a) its just a name and (b) its really not about what one might think....

How it actually came about was this....
we were sitting around one nite, me and a couple musicians, talking to a couple of "non-musicians" about the what some would describe as an "addiction" that we collectively share as musicians to all things music.. I mean its pretty serious.. and as we struggled with a word that could capture the feeling, that life long persuit for more things music.... the best analogy we could draw, at least that day, was to agree, that yeah... it is an addiction, and music is our drug...

But unlike a real drug or alcohol, Music is 100% healthy, organic, whatever ya want to call it, and all the side effects are postive....

Musician or not, think about how much music plays a part in an average persons life...
Do you listen to music...
-While you Drive
-While you house clean
-While you Walk and/or jog and/or Bike and/or run
-At Work
-At Home
or do you ever use music as
-Background for a nice dinner
-Mood Music for that special date
-Relaxing music for a hot bath
-Atmosphere for your place of business (i.e. a lot of clothing stores pump in tunes)
-Heck, even the movie soundtrack.. the whole art if blending music to video can help emphasis the directors message...

and I could go on and on.. My point, is that music affects us all... And For us Musicians, regardless of stature and/or talent and/or a lack there-of, it goes that step further...

For instance, given a choice between a new car, or a PA system, or a New Window for the house or a New Guitar, no big surprise what I'd chose... Speaking for myself, I love to listen, play, learn, talk about music and it never gets old...

So, round about the time of that conversation, we'd also recently watched the Movie "Almost Famous" again, and the band in that Movie was 'Stillwater" Anyway, we were talking how it was a great movie, and a Great band name, even if they are fictional... So, Borrowing somewhat from that band's name, and leaning on the "music is like a drug" theme, we then talked about cool band nameshad an idea that Bongwater might make a good one...

and then came the mission statement...

"what if we built a band that had no designs on commercial success, no stress about getting gigs, but just played all that really great music we've always wanted to play, but never could cause it was either too long, too hard, or to difficult to dance to"

we then went a step further to aggree to a list of "banned" tunes (i.e. Brown Eyed Girl, Sweet Home Alabama, Old time Rock and Roll) that we'd never play.. not that they're not good tunes, but as musicians, I'll be you've all played those and a few others so much that they are now like fingernails on the chaulkboard...

it would A Band for us musicians.. and to hell if we never get out of the house party circuit... But i also think that halifax is a big enuf market that it would eventually find an audience who would pay to hear it.....
anyway... its a cool name, and just how you'd never actually drink the Water from a real Bong, you just appreciate that it has a purpose, and leave it at that... This music would be music for Music's sake.. ... Not necessarily Dance music, but listen to and enjoy music... Music for Music's sake, and no other... A concentration of Great Music, that would be so potent you wouldnt need drugs or alcohol to enjoy listening to and/or playing it...

Ok.. I know thats a little or maybe a lot lofty, but bear in mind, this was a back deck 8 rum conversation at the time... But anyway.. while that band never got off the ground, the idea lingered, so when I had to register a company name for some of the stuff I've been working on... I stuck with it..

So I'm not gonna defend it.. Im just gonna roll with it..

More news to come soon, E.T.A. for site up and running, 2 months max....


In other news... Finally convinced my better half that a flat screen TV is a necessity for this new house!!
god love my wife, she's awesome, but when it comes to TV, Stereo, etc.... A)its just not her thing and B)it'd be like trying to explain fashion and color to me

Prime example.. the One and only time "we" let "me" pick out a color for the house, we painted the basement... and it was hard work.. and it wasn't dry before we both aggreed it looked like Sh_t and went back and bought 3 gallans of new stuff (picked out by my wife) and repainted the whole thing that very next day...

yeah... I'm that bad.. but thats cool.. I used that analogy in our "debate" and it does hold water...

So end result... She makes all decisions on color, fabric, fashion, furniture, etc.. and I'll do the TV thing on my own...


Whew!
P.S. Deep Purple are touring again.. they'll be at the Bell Centre July 28th...
Unfortunately, I wont be going.. (can't have it all) But I know it'd be worth the trip...

Hello, hello hello, is there anybody out there!!!

One of the jo0ys of getting older is your friends dont ask you to help them move nearly as much as when we were all in our 20's... seemed a weekly event back then.. Anyway, that said... We've stood put for 9 years, but now we have do that thing where we ask and/or guilt all of our friends in to helping us move..

So I'm Calling in a favor Bye's.... To ANYONE who can make it...

We actually Close on the new place on the 27th of June..

Now, thats a work day, and we don't expect anyone to take a day off work or get a case of fake flu just for us, so were gonna take wed and thur to just clean, prep, and do some advance stuff, just us.. If do any moving on those days it will be mostly light mini van loads, the rest of the time we'll be scrubbing, packing, ripping off wallpaper, and maybe some painting on so no panic for those 2 days ...(Although if your around and want to help, please feel free)


That said, We REALLY need some help for Friday the 29th and Saturday June 30th..

We've Rented the Cube van for Friday and Saturday the 29th and 30th.. and thats when we could really use some extra arms...

Were a fine pair, Trena and I, what both of us with bad backs, so we need all the help we can get...
So if you can, please let us know if you can make it on June 29th to help, either after work or as soon as you can make it and/or on Saturday to help us move....

We'd like to know in as much as advance as possible how many extra bodies we know we can count on, so let us know if your a definate, or a maybe... And we'll plan accordingly...

Email me and/or add a comment here below...

thanks in advance..

Rob

Retreat and Recharge

Im ashamed to say I dont spend as much time sith my friends as I think I should.. and there are some good ones I hardly see at all.. but I guess such is life, being a working parent, nowadays... etc...

Life's hard work... but Everynow and then ya need to stop and smell the roses... Um, un second thought thats a bad analogy cause no one smelled like roses on this trip!! ha ha...

anyway.. this weekend, a Bunch of my Closest and oldest friends, and a couple of new ones, all got together and rented a cottage on a lake in NB and Drank Like we did in College to catch up, and have fun.

We Played Cards, Ate like Kings, talked, and even did some jamming and did some SERIOUS OFF-Roading in a Luxury SUV!!! (and Were talking some Rally worth MudFlinging here! this pic of the MUD on the truck is AFTER the rain had washed most of it off)

We partied for 2 days straight! Just the guys... and It was awesome!

We always take guitars.. but this time, the rain forced the guys to abaondon any hopes of Golf, so we loaded up our music gear instead...

thats fine by me, I hate golf anyway, but it got me to thinking... While we did some good jamming, we didnt do nearly as much as I would of liked... (bear in mind I am a music Addict) but my thought (and I do have one) is this...

What if you got a bunch of musicians together... Musicians only, and maybe a few die hard music lovers and did the same thing.. but the entire weekend was about Drinking, eating, and MUSIC... jamming, writting, and recording!!!! No poker, No Hockey, No golf... Just Music... None stop... Like the Festival train

I think it'd be a freaking blast.. you'd have to have all the gear, drums, bass, pa, recording gear etc... but it'd be some freaking time I'm sure...

Anyway... thats my idea... any takers???

that said, ok... I know that I've been lax in my blogging lately, but its not for lack of potential content, its just a plain and simple lack of time... Which is ok by me, cause I'm having a lot of fun at least, and getting a lot of Stuff done thats been needind to get done for a while..

its been a long couple of months, with some hic-ups and stress, as I've already said, but things seem to find their own level in the end....

I'd like to think that Maybe its good karma finaly coming back to me.. In anyevent, Im so happy right now with how things have worked out that I feel like I should be touching wood or something like that, I'm just a F--king picture of Contentment and its a wonderful thing... Life is good... and as much fun as this weekend was, and it WAS a lot of Fun, in he middle of all thattestosterone stuff, last nite, about 2 am, I'm getting ready to sleep, and Im scanning through the pics on the digi cam, and there's one on the cam I'd taken of my daughter before I left that I'd forgotten was there.. , and those eyes and her smile just make me homesick for her and Trena, but in a good way... and as corny as it sounds, it made me appreciate them, the trip, and life in general, all that much more...

Anyway, we've got Some hard work ahead of us, but its all worth it! but that being said, that reminds me.

I think I'm up to like 7 or 8 regular readers now?? lol... so to you folks, just accept my appology in advance, as there were likely be a Decrease in frequencey and depth of content in the months to come... But thats a good thing, trust me.. and I hope it will be worth it in the end...

the New Job's gonna keep me preoccupied, as will some courses i'll have to take..
the new house, of course, the move, the reno stuff, unpacking, always hectic...
then, and dont forget, the documentary... Im still determined to keep that going, and I've not talked about it a while... Just playing my hand close to my chest there, but hope to get some REAL work done there soon, not just Blogging about what i'd "like" to do..... and also, Will be increasingly busy with Full Circle, what with the album coming out later this summer... and more...

anyway... Gonna flip over to facebook now, and see whats happening there..

Yep, I'm a member of the newesr fad, but I gotta admit. I like it.. its pretty freaking cool!!
as an enticement, I'll post some more pics of the weekend up there...

You'll have to find me there to see them..

Cheers for now..

Rob

The Gag order's been lifted!!

I've been sitting on this news for about a week now, but couldn't spill the beans until now for a few reasons...

First, the news... I have a new job, and have resigned my old one...

I got the offer last Wednesday, verbally, but didnt want to say anything until I had the contract in writing...
then, once I had that, I had to officially resign the job I had... and finally, at the request of my manager, had to keep it on the q/t until she had a chance to draft the formal announcement letter, etc.... lots of protocal, but all for good reason...

Anyway... it was not an easy thing to do... I mean I had a good job with a good firm, this new one is just a better fit for "me" .... for what's important to me, and what I'm good at, and what I enjoy... all the way around.. it was just the right call to make...

They were sad to see me go at the old place, but supportive and positive! Which is all anyone can ask for...

That said... its been a LARGE week, and a HUGE Month...

Bought a house,
Sold an house,
Got a new job,
had a Gig at the Casino! (and got a WICKED live recording there)
did a recording project with Terry Pulliam
got to see my brother for the first time since 2002! (albeit for all of 60 min, at least it was something...)
and there's more Im sure, I just can't remember it all...

anyway.. re: my bro... Good guy, but we've lost touch... but not for lack of effort on this end...

For reasons Known only to him... he's chosen to not keep in touch with the Whole Famn Damily.. Me, my sister, Parents, Grandparents... since Nov of 02 really.... to his Credit, he did call a couple of Xmasses, and after my daughter was born... and there have been maybe 6 emails and 4 MSN conversations... but thats about it.. Come to think of it... Yep... On the whole, I think our family puts the 'Fun' back in Dysfucntional... lol..lots of Drama... .

oh well.. those perfect TV familys only exist on TV anyway... no wait.. on 60's TV.... TV nowadays is more real... for better or worst.. So play the hand your delt I guess, and make the best of it...

Anyway... in other news.....

the band volunteered to play for free for my old works big Mega Auction Fund raiser last friday nite...

..I didnt record the nite, but I took the cam and snapped a few pics..

regretably though, I only got a few....

Chuck, our favorite Sound-Guy had a reunion of sorts with the daughter of one of his all time Favorite Booking agents/Promotors from back in the day...... she now organizes most of the events for my old work


We played a good two sets... and it was a nice way for me to finish out my tenure there, and say good-bye to all the great folks I've worked with these past 4 years.. I soooo wanted to tell people then the news, but I just couldn't... anyway.. it all worked out in the end..

So Im structurally unemployed until the 28th, and couldnt be happier..

I'm Gonna get some work done to my van, and my wifes car.. at the every least get the summer tires back on... I hope to catch up on Dr. Phil and Regis! (ok, just kidding about Regis) but I do need to get a head start on some courses I have to take... Have some extra naps, and maybe get a little further ahead with the documentary... maybe... its only a week, really... so I'm not gonna get to ambitous...

Maybe I'll get to see the new Spiderman! anyone up for a mantinee?

I can't remember the last movie I saw... hmm... Actually, I think it was Superman returns......

With Home theatre now so good, Im more motivated to wait and see it at home... few movies motivate me to get out to the theatre... but thats just me... Cheap... the only one on the Horizon i KNOW i'll stand in line for is Harry Potter on the 13th... but thats another story...

thats it for now...

More Pics from The Casino Gig..

I know its been like 2 weeks since, but we've been so busy it feels like yesterday....

While there's a lot of cool places to hear live music in Halifax, there are a few "rooms" that are sought after by musicians... They generally pay well, or are incredibly well attended or both...

While its not my music dream "Tri-fecto", there are a few venues in halifax I always wanted to play.... and I've now played 2 of them... (the Palace and the Casino)

Some of the others on my "goal list" include the Marque, the Fife and Drum, The Cohn, and the Metro Centre itself (ok, those last two might be a little lofty for me)

other venue's i've already played in Metro include (in no particular order)
-Copper Penny
-Big Leagues
-Seahorse Tavern
-Pogue Fado
-Pitchmens Pub
-Stayners
-North End Pub
-Bay Landing
-Timberlea Legion
-Shore Club (I guess thats technically not metro though is it??)
-Royal Nova Scotia yacht Club
-some little private club on the water, about 20 min past RNSYS

I think theres a coupkle more, but my brains still stuck in park...

so here's some pics from nite 3 of our Casino gig... I recorded it all, and will put some of it on my Myspace site

Where's captain Kirk when ya need em.... I love the 'toy's that we get to play with.. this stuff is FUN!!!!

some photographer dude was taking pics of us ... so we took some of him...

Hey... fair is fair..

"Ok, Where's the Limo"

As for my ultimate Music "tri-fecto" well.... If I ever had enuff guts to dive in to this music thing full time, there are "3" things I've always said I'd want to achieve before I could relax, and fell like I've "made it"
1. A Juno
2. your birthday announced on Entertainment Tonight (the US version, not just the Canadian spin off)
and
3. to be invited to Jam on Austin City Limits....


thats the pipe dream at least..... since I was 16 or 17...

for now, however, back to reality...

got a job to do, got a house to sell, got tires to change, (not to mention diapers) arrggg!!! At least the house is done now... Now I just got to clear the stuff I stored at my neighbors out and get it to the storage place.... .... ah.. F--k it.. it can wait another day... the couch is calling my name...

Offer, counter-offer... I need a smoke....

Well.. this has got to be the busiest two months we've had yet...

We've had multiple family members visit, birthday parties, gigs, my work crap, Trena's work crap (and by crap I mean stuff you got to do and/or go to beyond the regular 9-5 stuff) plus we looked at Dozens of houses, finally bought a house, essentially moved most of our stuff out of the one were in and put it in storage, repainted 70% of it, had 5 gigs with Full Circle, a "live from Peggys Cove" production meeting, recorded the 'Tupper Band" (big Glenn Millar style affair) with Terry Puliam, attended a concert, bought tickets for Aerosmith (and booked our hotel) and the list just goes on...

Now trena's in NB and Im mr Mom.... such is life



Anyway, the house aint sold yet... but we've had some good activity..
regardless, at the end of the day were not worried about it at all... we just got the palce on the market and its still early in the game.... So I really believe we'll have NO problems selling,

in other news... Full Circle has a gig May 11 at SMU, and I got some recording homework to do.....

who am I kidding... I'm mr mom today, with trena away... and Im beat...... its nap time..

later