IT'S A LONG, COLD WINTER

and I don't really have a lot to say, except
"Get me out of here!!!"
Really.  I'm ready for some warmth, although I have to admit skating in the sunshine does heat me up real good.  I'll post a little video of my outing last week, but if you want some action now, look at the youtube video "skating skating" that I did a little while back. It has my little song about keeping the feeling of love going, and is very short.

Otherwise, it's a bit slow these days.  I'm doing what they call "woodshedding" - working on some stuff on my own, in hopes that I will bring it all to public acclaim.

Next big gig is on March 22
Gate 403
Roncesvalles Ave., Toronto
9pm and on

BLUES AWARDS

Got out on Monday for the Maple Blues Awards, held in Toronto at the lovely Koerner Hall.
Lots of pretty folks, and lots of nervous stomachs, no doubt.  But for the audience, lots of great music, and I even had a little dance.  Check TorontoBluesSociety.com for all winners.
Got some photos:

Lance Anderson, David Vest & Jim Zemmer - the after-party

Sharon Evans, TBS, & myself

Paul Deslauriers, best guitar player; Forrest Angel, best female vocalist

Charlie A'Court - a selfie with my camera

Little Miss Higgins onstage - too far away for clarity

Me & Barbara Isherwood, TBS

ON BEING POSITIVE or trying to get this to work#$%%^^&*$@#

This is really the piece for the last post, which wouldn't let me write.  so.....on being negative:

Most people don't want to hear they're negative. It's just not on, you know. One must keep up the front toujours – hear, hear; rally on; jolly good; and all that. Be positive.




But there is such a thing as projection. The accuser being more negative than you, and dumping on your poor, unsuspecting psyche, for example. Very dangerous practice. R.D. Laing wrote a book called “Knots” about this very thing within families.



I think projection happens a lot, but there's another point to consider before you take offense, or accept someone else's verdict of you, and thus actually become negative, or worse, physically sick.



There's this: in this world, the way rampant greed, consumerism, obesity, waste, hate, corrupt power, and economics built on elite ownership rule things – you have to be sick NOT to be be aware; not to speak this raging negativity out loud. You have to be buying into it all; watching stupid TV sitcoms, and eating crappy synthetic foods, and following trends and lifestyles of “stars' or “experts” instead of looking and listening and learning for yourself. You have to be dead all over to NOT voice your negative observations.



Now I'm not saying that's all there is. I'm actually a bit of a left-over hippie-type idealist who still walks a lot rather than drives; and who while walking through the cancerous fumes and noise of city streets will hear the birds chirping and smile. I look for little things that celebrate life, and I actually do stop to smell the roses (or the juniper bushes, in winter). I do this probably more than most people, not because I'm saintly, but because i NEED that life and that reality. I NEED the basics of good food, clean air, clean water, plus music and love, of course. But you have to look for these things; protect them; create them, if necessary.



These simple things are the most important ones, but if we get lost in the race to have it all, that's negative. If we don't see what's really going on, and being sold, we live a negative life. If we don't speak up, we're negative people.



So I'll be positive by being negative to the negative. And I'll answer any accuser with the age-old witty rebuff: “I know you are, but what am I?”



**********************************************************************************************************



No big gigs coming up, but look on youtube for my latest, very short video:

“skating, skating”

and if you missed it, a little while ago:

“One-Night Stand”.



PICS:

Here's me with my green hair, faded a bit from aquamarine, and also one from my visit in November to Cascais, Portugal. That's the Atlantic Ocean reflecting the setting sun. I love it.

ON BEING NEGATIVE

A BLUISH CHRISTMAS

As I say, it's bluish, tending to aquamarine.

Christmas Day, and the power is still off in my house (big ice storm), but I am very blessed and lucky, and been warmed and fed (and had my hair dyed), by friends and family.

Merry merry to all

and this was my look only hours before.....how Canadian, eh?  jammies with feet in them covered by hocky-playing moose.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, TOO.  WE'LL BE PLAYING AND SINGING OUR HEARTS OUT.

OOT AND ABOOT

I do occasionally get out, but honestly, I'm not very inclined to do so in this extremely early winter weather.  Forty pounds of clothing reduces the spring in my step...
But Monday night I got over to Hugh's Room in Toronto for the Etta James tribute show, and what an amazing group of singers were there paying tribute.  A wonderful show, and here are some pics:

Sabrina Weeks; Andrew Galloway (Electofi Records); Shakura S'Aida

As above and Ross told me to get in there too

Dawn Tyler Watson in full swing

Cheryl Lescom and Sabrina Weeks

Again, but this time on stage with Carolyn Fe

Dawn, Shakura, Carolyn, Cheryl

Jesse Whiteley on piano and organ

meself and Dawn (no flash)

Dawn sings while Shakura tries to read her shirt

I seem to have left out a picture of Carolyn solo, maybe because it was a little blurry, but i'll bring it next time.
Cheers, and great job, everyone, including the band.

ALL IN GOOD TIME

and I'm all in, after my good time in Europe.
you can read all about it on my other blog:
zosogo.blogspot.com
Here and now, I'll just post the pictures of me singing in Barcelona at a great club - Jazzsi, with a fabulous band (i have a live clip which i'll post later).
and I'll mention the New Year's gig I have, although it's at a private party, so sorry to all my public who are wanting impatiently to see me perform.

i'm flippin' out....

i don't know why the computer switches these photos sideways

some of the crowd and stage