emblog

What Never Happened in Osnabruck, Stays in Osnabruck

2011-07-13T13:45:00.000-07:00

House Concert Osnabruck

Before picking Daisy up from the station, Karsten and I spent most of the day wandering the streets of Osnabruck, checking out music stores and having lunch in the beautiful old part of town. What a city! It's definitely a place I would like to get to know more in the future.

We had to cancel our Osnabruck house concert the week before because I got the flu and we rescheduled it, by the looks of it at a bad time during school exams so there was only a small audience but they were nice and all women! to Karstens delight :) What followed the concert after some people had to leave to get up early and milk cows ?!? were many hours of deterioration through alcohol playing 'I have never' in Sanja's kitchen. Didn't someone cook refried beans too? We purged all our naughty secrets and Karsten became the guardian of our toothbrushes only to leave them behind the next day when we departed. Sanja was so patient and good to us. I hope she lets us come again :)

Highlight: All the hat wearing and band bonding. I said bonding, not bondage!
Lowlight: The scattered mess next morning and ugh my head.

Nine Hours to Unna

2011-07-10T13:21:00.000-07:00

Spatz und Wal Unna

After 9 hours of train travel, terrible small town train station pastries, Karsten nearly leaving his bag on the platform (with his laptop and EVERYTHING in it) and numerous stops in shitty grey towns we made it to Unna and discovered to our surprise that it was actually quite pretty. We dragged all our shit through the cobble stone streets (the only thing that pissed me off about the place) and made it to the Spatz und Wal, a dark ye olde British type pub with a charming waitress and a relaxed feel. We discovered to our relief that we actually did have some accommodation arranged across the road. There had been some confusion with the booking agent who we met later in the night...seemed he had already thrown a few back before he got to the pub. Ah that's why ;P

The gig was actually really fun and it was a nice break from all the house concerts we had been playing which had started to go down hill a bit lately. I didn't mind all the talking in the audience, in fact it was refreshing and I felt free to try out some new stuff with my crappy Schlecker keyboard. Karsten also really let loose :) All in all a nice gig.

Highlight: We especially liked it when the waitress insisted we could drink all we wanted from the bar.
Lowlight: The breakfast the pub paid €11 for in the private house of the woman we stayed at...

The road to Penkun

2011-03-18T11:31:00.000-07:00

Homemade video up on youtube of 'The Miles' with more songs being recorded around Penkun in the coming weeks :) You can now also purchase a digital download and physical copy of the Everyday Ordinary EP at BANDCAMP.

The Grey Seal Hunt Opens This Week in Cape Breton

2011-02-18T10:10:00.000-08:00

The Grey Seal Hunt just opened this week in Cape Breton Canada. For those who don't know, the Canadian Seal Hunt is an inhumane and cruel practice that is subsidized by the Canadian government: your tax dollars! Quite often babies are only 12-14 days old and are killed right there in front of their mother and their fur sold to make coats and pelts. The meat and oil of the animal is barely used, in fact most of the time the carcass is left on the ice to rot! Imagine as a mother how you would feel. I find this disgusting, and although I love Canada, am a permanent resident and feel it to be part of who I am now, I don't understand how so many Canadians can just sit by and not give a shit. I beg my Canadian friends and other folk to educate themselves about this issue and take a stand. Read the link below for more info:

http://www.harpseals.org/about_the_hunt/index.php

Greetings from the Snow Desert

2011-01-21T14:47:00.000-08:00

What a busy month. I have played a few house concerts and a couple of clubs and it's been really great. I'm also getting to know certain cities quite well as passing through them a lot including the lovely Lubeck, Berlin and Hamburg where I even have a favourite coffee shop. Next month I do my first tour of the Netherlands and Belgium but this time I will have a violist accompanying me which is really exciting as I was getting quite bored with myself! My new friend Amon also made some nice videos from my Oldenburg show in December and you can watch 'Home' here. He will also be making the music video for 'Exorcism' in the next few months. 2011 has begun well!

room for the new

2011-01-01T23:31:00.000-08:00

When the clock ticks over into 2011, be brave and bold, throw fear over your shoulder and do not look back. Open your mind to the possibilities of love, growth, travel and challenges for the new year. This is YOUR time. Harness it and create something beautiful...

Christmas from the Caravan

2010-12-27T13:51:00.000-08:00

December has been a fun but tiring month. I visited Bowen Island BC and Portland with several weeks of shows in Northern Germany until a few days ago.
This was my first proper solo tour and I played some wonderful shows all over the place including house concerts, an alternative Christmas market, a TV show , music clubs and bars. During this period I also found time to move to my new home about 90 min North of Berlin, at least for the next few months. I am living in a rural village and living in a caravan I have called 'Magdalena' with my cat Reece. Over January I will play some more concerts in Northern Germany as well as work on some new songs and begin planning for the 'Exorcism' single which will be part one of a 4 CD single set for the new album. This song will also be accompanied by my first music video and will feature two non album b-sides with some very special cover art, more on that soon. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! x

This Halloween hasn't been all that's been cracked up to be

2010-11-14T14:44:00.000-08:00

I had to go and get sick on Halloween weekend so sat around watching Arrested Development with my friend in Cleveland for 12 days until my throat got a little better and I pushed onto the west. Unfortunately I had to cancel and postpone my shows as my voice has been taking it's time to come back but will be playing a handful of solo BC Canada shows from late November before heading back to Germany in early December. Thanks to all the folks who have been so supportive, letting me stay at their houses, sleep in their beds and put up with me :)

From George to Rupert

2010-09-20T01:48:00.000-07:00

We spent a lovely few days in northern BC and here is a little recap:

Thursday 16th September - Cowpuccinos Prince Rupert

Played our first show at lovely cowpuccinos in Rupert and sang backing vocals on Mudcat Joes 'Whoa that Chilli'. Emil and I hung out with Hailey and her friends after the show. Wish we could have stayed longer.

Friday 17th September - CafeNara Terrace

More people came than we thought. Lovely audience and good to see some familiar faces again. Sonny made me something yummy and Korean for dinner. Spent the night at Jims, what an amazing view in the morning!

Saturday 18th September - Hazelton House Concert

Played an intimate show in Charlotte's lovely house and she showed us around too. Bought some delicious raisin cakes in the organic bakery. This was one of the most beautiful places we went to and it was a shame to have to leave so early.

Sunday 19th September - Books & Co Prince George

Haha this was a fun show, our new friend Ray or Roy came down. What a character. A very intimate show even though space was bigger than previous concerts. Also stayed with lovely couchsurfers who fed us so much yummy food. We were like their children, it was sort of nice though

Em and Em riding the famous Cowpuccino's cow in Prince Rupert

Emil, Em and Mudcat Joe after Rupert show

The fun never ends, cross dressing cows

Em and an audience member in Terrace who took 'Spank me Man' a little too far ;P

Emil arrives

2010-09-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Emil arrived in Vancouver and I was relieved. I kept creating these scenarios that something would happen and then the bus was late but I am just paranoid. The day cleared up into a fine weather and we spent a few hours wandering around Bowen Island where I used to live including meeting some of the colourful locals. We also danced in the forest to traditional Swedish folk music, well Emil danced and I felt awkward. I really need to get over silly stuff like that. In the evening I had a small birthday gathering with friends ni Mik-sa...a day early as we have to leave tonight for Vancouver to get our early bus the next day. Didn't sleep so well because the cats kept wanting to go in and out all night. There are 7.

Oh we met a lovely guy called Jordan on the bus to Horseshoe Bay yesterday too. It was like Emil met his long lost brother or something ;P....K I am sure will have some more exciting and woeful tales soon including the awful 20ish hour bus ride to Prince Rupert tomorrow. Bye for now em.....emaline that is

until next spring

2010-08-07T11:18:00.000-07:00

my fingers pinch bruises
and thighs bending weight
underneath hips like knives
biting and stinging
but sweet

and when we leave here
it will be like my death
mourning for fall
until winter takes her place

you will do your very best
not to count our ages
to stop these moments taking over
leaving us possessed

but at the very end
i won't beg you to stay
and we won't speak of it
we will simply go about our day

until next spring
when the flowers
climb up through the dirt
longing for the sun
and the cycle begins again

life is gut

2010-02-02T11:35:00.000-08:00

I am writing this in the wee hours of the morning from a farm an hour from frankfurt which will be my home for a little while.

lots of exciting news!

playing guitar/keys at all shows and with two new wonderful musicians by my side: teresa on guitar/bass and nihan on cello. shows are going well, hopefully lots more to come, we are open for bookings in the UK and further abroad. so many new songs!

this week we have a couple of shows in reading and wootten bassett and we will be doing some recording a couple of days after that. have asked old friend/violinist emily mcmillan to join us for that as well as for some upcoming shows.

will play a show with lovely canterbury harpist cristyn williams in april, and hopefully some more in the summer. also doing some stuff with wonderful swedish singer songwriter emil brynge/maple mountain including uk/eu shows. working on that now and open for bookings for ireland/sweden/uk so drop us line for march/april/may opportunities :) we shared a sell out show at house concerts york, and spent the next day wandering around the old city searching for a roast and scones. we managed the roast but alas big bettys had sold out of scones, maybe next time?

yeah it's late and i am tired and having trouble completing sentences that make sense so here is some more randomness:

i have a sauna in my apartment

i've had two saunas this week already since moving in

i think i ate mashed potatoes from a box tonight

my cat went outside for the first time today since we moved in this week

i was meant to go back to my apartment to watch the long way around w/ stuart the liverpudlian but have been on this darn computer, i hope he's asleep

i went to see a german punk rock band playing johnny cash songs the other night

i think i have a crush

the shops are really hard to get to when you want chocolate and live in a forest

toronto seems like a lifetime ago, i'm so glad i'm here and not there but i do miss my friends and okonomi house

last night i wrote a song called 'bring me a viking'

i really want a celtic harp

it's time for bed, gut nacht!

x

mini uk tour recap

2010-01-26T02:34:00.000-08:00

live at the institute: essex

quick teresa and nihan, learn this song 30 min before the gig.
lots of lovely snacks for us. nice audience but couldn't see their faces. ladies, it was great to see some strong talented women in music. good first gig. sweet essex town. content.

the slaughtered lamb: london

so sick, so many pain killers. which song am i playing right now? friends came, really nice, wish they would come when i was playing better and could see straight. people laughed and liked. mule sounds. lloyd brought me sandwiches.

little george: chippenham

they got date mixed up. all men at bar, leering, maybe a little? but listening, into it, open and accepting. i played keys for the first time. someone stole a cd. they painted the room for us, we talked until we were so tired, paid in the morning but nice eggs for breakfast from barman.

york house concerts: york

spilled earl grey tea in car. to york via cornwall 6 hours?, delirious when arrived, so happy to see emil again, audience were sardines in a tin can but smiling, laughing so perfect. could not be more perfect. i was happy to share it with nihan, teresa and emil. they are brilliant. york is awesome. next day: roast with emil, walking, candy store, man playing piano on wheels, playing kate bush!, happiness, fat, giving emil oregano oil for a cold, why does he listen to me? that man staring and listening opposite us on the train. the magical weekend over :(

gallery cafe: bethnal green

short and sweet. the bathroom became a social club for us. walked to liverpool street station. i think there was chocolate?

black hole house concert: hackney wick

so much better than i thought. great night, courage was born. teresa's birthday cheesecake in everts room. interview, happy, really happy.

the ship inn: dorset

well there had to be one. but...soup and bread and loveliness from teresa's parents at 2am in dorset and a book from her mum on bach flower remedies. the next day a walk to the edge of the world, standing over the ocean. happy again.

the castle: north west london

guinea pigs, experiments but ok. maybe too complicated for them but the room was so beautiful. last gig for a while. after went to see emil with teresa. sebastian, lloyd, evert, oliver and anthony were there, met jamie n commons in person finally he is lovely. emil and his drummer sounded good. i forgot his candy again. chips and vinegar with evert and sebastian. i love my friends and london. i am so happy. this is living.

Skeena Rhine

2009-03-31T15:52:00.000-07:00

I added a ruff demo of Turmoil of Winter to www.myspace.com/emalinedelapaix from the collaboration with Evert (the Energizer in my top friends) as part of our electronic project 'Skeena Rhine'.

It's all very new but here is a little taste. You can hear a little more at www.myspace.com/skeenrhine

Enjoy :)

Recording Recording Recording!

2009-03-29T20:37:00.000-07:00

So I spent 7 hours today recording some songs for the very first time on my shitty computer but it behaved and I am so pleased with the results over on my shitty demos page: www.myspace.com/emalinesdemos

Ok so you can laugh, this is how I did it as I have next to no equipment:

I recorded piano directly into computer but the rest: the vocals, melodica, glockenspiel and egg beater (percussion on Take it Away) I recorded audio on a digital camera and uploaded all the files, importing them into the audio program. I recorded some of the vocals in the cupboard and others in the bathtub too lol!

It was pretty tough having to line everything up but I think I did a pretty decent
job. I am super excited about Perhaps Saskatoon. Take it Away is very rough and only has a chorus and bridge, I think lol.

There are are a few things I noticed when I uploaded the songs but I am far too
tired right now to fix them. I channeled my sadness and frustration today and created these songs. I hope you like them.

overdosing on the christmas cheer - from the land of oz

2008-12-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

it is 3:01am on christmas morning and i cannot sleep, just cannot sleep!

i think we are having pancakes for breakfast and i took a little peek under the tree. just a little one. i am very lucky, for later today i will be part of not 1, not 2 but 3 christmas meals all in the span of 24 hours. how does she do it you might ask? well for one, i am hoping that santa will be kind this year and gift me 'the button' pant and skirt extender to make the day run as smoothly as possible:

"The Button" Pant and Skirt Extender.
Don't suffer! Add an inch to your waistband! Adds comfort to any button waist jeans or slacks. Excellent for tight jeans, pants, dockers, and skirts.Why BUY NEW CLOTHESto accommodate a few days per month?!!! Transfers easily from one pair of jeans to the next with NO SEWING!!!

f**k me. who thinks of this shit?

we had a garage sale last week, to get rid mostly of my shit. and there was a lot of it.

i put out a vase, the ugliest fu**er you have ever seen. it was kind of pink. dead person pink with a bit of post mortem grey, and weird paper mache stuck to it. oh and shells! i put a sticker on it 'the worlds ugliest vase - 50c' and i was so pleased someone bought it within 9 min of opening our front gate to the maniacs who had been waiting there for an hour, i kind of blurted out my joy a bit too loudly 'hey you bought the worlds ugliest vase, that's priceless'. the guy was not happy with me. man people really do buy shit and it was my shit which is even worse. i guess i don't have a high opinion of my own belongings.

speaking of filling your house with more crap that you don't need. why not try something a little different this year? pics up top as I can't figure out how to get them down here.

Fundies (The Underwear Built For Two) - Some couples share everything. For the people who won't accept that there is such a thing as too much intimacy, there is Fundies.

WTF? Is that even hygienic?

The P Mate: Jesus I have been trying to convince everyone that this thing does exist. We were presented with a pack of these in Summer 2007 at a festival in SK and I talked about it on stage and everyone thought I was nuts and making it up. But here is the proof! Oh and just for the record, it works...

Freud would be proud. Now women can pee like men. That's right, women everywhere can experience the joy that is standing up while going #1. What woman wouldn't love the experience that comes from the P Mate?

I feel especially disturbed by this one:

Perfect Naked Body Double Duvet Cover - Look good naked under the sheets!

Slip under the sheets and as if by magic see your body undergo a radical transformation, no costly surgery or arduous hours in the gym required!

Merry Christmas to you and yours, and remember: the world is a very sick place.

Roots

2008-11-09T20:20:00.000-08:00

Today is the hottest day we have had since I have been back in Australia. Shirt sticking to my skin, the hot wind blowing my hair in my face, the red is fading to *almost* blonde.
This place I have come home to feels almost alien to me. Changes and accents overwhelm me. I feel lost in a sea of Aussie-Americanisms. I left the Northern Hemisphere, or did I?

The yuppie yobbo hairstyles remind me of 80's Japanese Pop replicated badly. Young people don't seem to smile as much anymore and 'Oh My God, Totally'! sounds extraordinarily strange in Melbourne twang. What happened since I left? Granted this country has been run by a government who sat by and did nothing for so long, but we have a new government now, surely that should stir up a good old fashioned Aussie debate. But I do wonder if many people care about the direction of this country, as much as they care about Australian Idol, The Melbourne Cup and keeping up with our American cousins. It makes me sad and I do feel lost. The telly is full of Australian cop shows copying their US counterparts, and painfully at that. Where is our original spirit and what is going on in the music industry? I just can't bare to listen. Australian films? Forget it, Aussies have to go overseas to make a real go of it these days. What a shame.
Will it get better? I don't know...I hope so but as a people I wonder if we no longer have the confidence and self worth to stand up and be original. I bloody hope I am wrong...

Glad to be in Deutschland

2008-04-04T13:26:00.000-07:00

Glad to be in Germany after some seriously long drives, stuff ups with the car we leased in France and a performance in a disco in a small town in Italy. Even though there were a couple of less than perfect days, the first show in Rome went smashingly and so far the shows in Switzerland/Germany have been wonderful.

Recap:

Tuesday 1st April: Hilzingen Germany, performance in the local church to an attentive and smiley audience with a delicious meal cooked by Priest Mathius before the show.

Wednesday 2nd April: Lohn Switzerland, just over the border, performance in church organised by Priest Hans, who passed on my details to Mathius. Lovely big audience, and yes we even played Spank Me Man at both shows and they enjoyed it! It was especially lovely to see some familiar faces and friends and share cake and wine after the show with them at Han's house.
Thanks for all of the chocolate and CD's Hans!

Thursday 3rd April: Feinkost Lampe Hannover, really hip underground club, packed and listening attentively, sold out of my home made European EP again, I am making these with stamps and recycled card for each show and can't keep up, it's good of course but I need some sleep lol!

Highlights this week include:

Friendly people dealing with our butchering of German, Swiss German, French & Italian

Ich Tarzan, Du Jane on tv in the hotel room, they actually made the losers sing 'that's what friends are for' at the end and Steph and I couldn't stop watching, like a train wreck...

Being able to find internet and decent food in Germany

The cool playlist by Pally? before our show at Feinkost Lampe, Anna Ternheim and lots of weird Scandinavian shit, I was in heaven....

Having my own room from time to time, no offence girls...

Rome, wow so beautiful but quite overwhelming for a girl who lives on an island with only around 4000 people

Real pizza in Italy

Watching Dr Who in the cool van on the road

People opening their homes and fridges for us

Appreciative audiences and selling out of the EP!

........CJ started a flickr account with photos, so hopefully I will have a link soon!

em

Nous Sommes Croutes Ensemble !

2008-03-25T00:59:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Paris airport yesterday morning after over 20 hours travel from Seattle, via Philadelphia airport (4 hours yuk!). Wow, what a crazy big airport, we had to take a train to get to the other side to find Cat and then had to navigate out of the airport and to the outer part of Paris to the B&B where we were staying.

What a relief to arrive at quiet corner of a picturesque village, and to lay down on a real bed and feel the touch of water on ones skin to clean off the traveling grime. Believe me, the smell was pretty special!

My favourite part of the journey includes the 'Daves Buttermilk Bar' that was presented to us as breakfast on US Airways, num num...I especially liked the line printed on the ingredients 'may contain one or more of the following ingredients'..... One woman in front of us wolfed it down like it was the best thing ever. How can people eat this shit? I felt like I needed a detox after all the crappy nutrition void airline food and I even avoided some of the food. My other favourite part was of course the usual search to find vegetarian food in the airport, oily vegetables was the best I could do, it's good to be in France!

Oh and I don't speak French except a few words here and there but managed to have a conversation with a woman walking her dog in the village this morning, that was a thrill.

I don't have much else to say as it's only the first day but it's beautiful here and the people are kind and patient.

Off to Nice!

emaline

the Everyday Ordinary European Tour EP is finished -check it out!

2008-03-20T13:53:00.000-07:00

I am REALLY excited about this EP. It’s the first time I have really experimented and am stoked to be on this new musical path.

Apart from the title track which I call 70’s Spoken Word and some piano and flute by Steph, I made all of the music using voices, omnichord and piano partly to push myself and partly because I didn’t have a lot of money to pay people but I surprised myself. And damn, I have a new found respect for singers like Stina Nordenstam and Anja Garbarek who use their voice as an instrument to back themselves up, it’s really tough.

Thanks to CJ for recording the piano and flute and Shael Wrinch for the rest of it, and for pushing me to sing my best so early in the morning and having patience with all of my weird ideas.

I think my favourite track is The Storm, though it may change tomorrow, lol.

Check out 3 tracks at www.myspace.com/emalinedelapaix

I hope you enjoy it....

x

em

ps)the EP will be available at shows in Europe and maybe digitally if I can figure out how to do it. Also check out 1 other track from the EP called Hibernate at http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3Lm15c3BhY2UuY29tL2VtYWxpbmVzZGVtb3M= it’s just me singing all parts.

2007: So many mistakes slung from shoulders

2008-01-12T01:31:00.000-08:00

So I will open my first post in over 5 months with a line from one of the first songs I wrote in 2007, oh the irony:

"So many mistakes slung from shoulders"

2007 was a year of growing and making mistakes and cleaning up the mess and then making another mistake and cleaning it up and so forth and so on. Let's get all the things I wasn't so crazy about out of the way first shall we? A purging of sorts!

Least favourite news of 2007: Masters for 5 tracks recorded for album in Australia went missing/were deleted/studio went out of business. Of course, this is my own fault. When I recorded these songs a few years ago I was very naive and didn't know that you should always keep a copy of your masters. Boy was this a hard lesson to learn.

Second least favourite thing of 2007: Recording with a few different studios in Vancouver and finding out that all of them lacked something that is needed for a successful recording including good hearing, patience, manners, confidence and oh a little thing called "knowing how to use your equipment". Do I sound bitter? Perhaps I am, just a little but I said I was purging, and it feels better already! Oh and one last note on this, why can't anyone record my voice to sound the way it sounds? They hear a high voice and automatically pour 80's compression and effects onto it. And these people were recommended. Recommendations schmecommendations...

So where I am I recording now? Well I have found a lovely studio in Vancouver where we have recorded all of the piano tracks but I am searching for an engineer/producer/studio to finish everything hopefully by March in time for the European Tour. Wishful thinking perhaps but there has to be an artistic, clever, patient, down to earth person out there who digs what I do right? I have a lead in Seattle, perhaps a change of scenery will do me good.

Third least favourite thing about 2007: Flaky BC musicians. Arrrgh!!! But it's ok, I imported some lovely Aussies and a Quebecois and one American so it all worked out.

OK enough of the spitting out of bitterness. Thank you for your patience :)

Best things about 2007: I got to play with a dream band this past Summer including Aussie drummer Cat Leahy who I hadn't played with since 2004 so it was soooo wonderful having her around again. K Phanie from Quebec joined me again as well as CJ from Seattle for her first tour. It was amazing how wonderful these three musicians played together even though it was the first time we played together. Emily McMillan an Aussie living in London flew over for the bulk of the shows to help us out yet again as I still hadn't found a regular violinist here. We had a wonderful time playing all through Western Canada from Vancouver through to Winnipeg and have a lot of drunken photos and *gasp* video as proof of the fun. It was the first time in a long time that I had felt that I was playing with people who I really cared about and who cared about me. What is better than that getting to hang out with your friends all Summer and getting paid for it?!? Things went so well, we will be touring Europe in March/April and then doing a bunch of stuff in late Summer/Fall in Canada and the USA including a tour to Alaska in September!!!

I'm so proud of these gals. I hope you can come to a show and meet them. For now you can check out their own pages: www.myspace.com/imkatephanie, www.myspace.com/cameliajademusic, www.myspace.com/catleahy as well as sometime pal and violinist Emily McMillan www.myspace.com/emilymcmillan
For the European tour, we will also be joined by Nice based US celtic harpist Megan Metheney who will be playing melodies as well as some bass lines for us. Check out all of the shows under gigs at my website or myspace, ooh and I have a swanky new design thanks to Ruth!

So I got off track a bit but hey it's been a long time since I have written anything, I guess it was bound to happen but continuing on with the good stuff:

I got an awesome electric piano in 2007 and discovered my inner pianist to my surprise. I have written over 30 songs since I got it and am very excited that at least one tune will be on the new album and I started to play piano at shows so it's a very exciting time for me musically. I have been very inspired by my own pianist K Phanie who has encouraged me (now she can play more flute, glock and sax!) as well as the lovely Amy Seeley from Portland who toured with me a bit back in 2005/2006 and played my tunes for me. She is an amazing pianist and if I can be as half as good as her one day, I will be very pleased.

I got my Canadian perm residence after a year and a half and what did I do the day I got it? We drove over the border to Bellingham and went to Trader Joe's to get some of that nummy oatmilk. I love Canada and all but I just needed to get out because I finally COULD! I am not very good at sitting still in one place for very long so it was very tough not being able to leave the country for so long but now I am allowed to be here forever which is wonderful!

Booking shows for other musicians through Candlestone Music. Wow this has really taken off and I feel honoured to be booking shows for other talented musicians. Check them out at www.myspace.com/candlestonemusic

Discovering Jenny Wilson. Thank you universe, I needed something a little different.
www.myspace.com/loveandyouth

Discovering the omnichord! Thank you Dave for lending me yours, come back from Mexico as I need to borrow it for some recording lol. I guess I better get on ebay and get me one quick!

Seeing Tori live for the first time ever! Thanks Steph and your mum for inviting me. Wow what a piano player.

http://www.freedocumentaries.org/ - The truth is free

Growing older. When I was 21, the thought of getting older horrified me. Now I am grateful for the wisdom that growing older brings and look forward to growing and learning a lot more in 2008.

Becoming a better songwriter and learning to write more about other peoples stories instead of just me me me. I can't wait for you to hear "Everyday Ordinary" a 3 minute saga about some of the people that I have met on the road as well as "Child of War" written about a boy in Iraq and the impact that this war has had on him and many of the other children living through it.

Having a partner who supports me and puts up with me. I know I wouldn't put up with me!

2008 I am so ready for you!

Red Necks, Too Many Veggie Burgers and Swingers

2007-08-21T00:08:00.001-07:00

Well a lot to catch up on.

1)All of the Prince Albert gigs fell through, weird
2)Where is the decent food in SK and MB? aaarrggh

Wrap up since last entry;

Saturday 4th August, was meant to be Beach Bash but fell through so we played in front of a nice block of toilets next to the beach. Turned out ok considering we slept in a fleabag, smoke ridden hotel in Regina the night before and hadn't fully gained the use of our lungs until many hours after the show but hey what can you do?

Sunday 5th August Moose Mountain Park

This was pretty fun even though we played a game of right speaker on, right speaker off for most of the show. Audience fun, had a nice meal afterwards and met some lovely people.

Monday 6th August The Slice Lethbridge

This was a fun gig and I think the 6 people in attendance really enjoyed it too.
It was the first night I played glockenspiel and maybe the last? Nice people in Lethbridge and the Ramada was nice enough to let us stay in their suite as well.

Wednesday 8th August Qualico Patio Series Sherwood Park

This was a really fun gig apart from the dodgy sound problems. Met John Wort Hannam and his crew, silly fellows. Nice audience. We did karaoke afterwards at the Coliseum Inn, wow I didn't think we could sound that bad and apparently the hotel have video footage, look out!

Thursday 9th August House Concert Millet AB

What an experience, I don't know if I have words for this...

Friday 10th August Interplay Festival Fort McMurray

Never shall I let Kphanie do me up so pretty in such a dangerous place with rampant men.
I was worried about my safety walking back to the hotel after the show. People weren't joking when they said there are a lot of men with too much money and time on their hands wandering the streets of McMurray and hell where is the decent food? Gig was good though, audience nice and into it. Hung out with John Wort Hannams band into the wee hours of the morning arguing about making babies and music.

Monday 13th August the Club/Exchange Regina

Fun gig with small but appreciative crowd, made some new friends who came along.
Nice place, hope we can get some more people out in the future.

Tuesday 14th August House Concert Ste Anne MB

This audience was one of the best on the tour, so into it and receptive and loved the spank me man song. Yummy food, ooh those devilled eggs were num.

Wednesday 15th August Out to Lunch series & Tryst Eatery Winnipeg

Never thought the lunchtime gig would start, grumpy old bastard sound man with something up his anal passage preventing him from being civil and 18 people wandering around seemingly not getting things done, shitting around really. Finally got to play with a shorter set and it was fun, crowd into it as much as people in offices can be you know, with the spanking solo and all, probably a bit of a shock coming out of the call centre, and seeing that. Funny band on afterwards, you would never have known they had a new album coming out in a few days, only mentioned it like 6 times during the set.....lol

Nightime gig was good but weird, audience talked a lot through the set which I am no longer used to as Canadians are usually very polite and don't do that but they still seemed to like it with the positive comments after the show. Yummy food too and lovely venue. KPhanies family came along too which was nice.

Friday 17th August Field Festival Craik SK

Oh my god, I sang a whole set with tonsilitis, though I didn't know what was wrong with me at the time. Sang my little vocal chords out until they became inflamed apparently. Luckily for me, we didn't have a gig the next night but the show went very well, we had a lot of fun and the festival organisers also loved it. Unfortunately one of the bands had an accident on their way back to Calgary after the festival and several members are in hospital, Ibo and Kindred, so we send them all our love and best wishes.....

Highlights from last bunch of shows?

Shaq who we met at toilet block show for letting us stay at his lovely house twice in Regina, healthfood stores whenever we could find them, sleep whenever we could get it, chloe in saskatoon for letting us stay at her house twice, saskatoon: awesome city, all the differerent folks from different cultures coming to house concert in millet, the devilled eggs at the ste anne show, the lovely folks at almost home and simply on the seine b&b's in Winnipeg, having my own room in fort mcmurray, making it safely back to the room in fort mcmurray lol, the enthusiasm of the folks at the millet show, the threat of being arrested for hanging out with cute 17 year old fiddle players at the Field Fest, awesome bands at Field Fest, hanging with John Wort Hannams mad crew

Non highlights? being sick for 8 hours yesterday after having a reaction to my medication

Wanna see some photos from the tour? They are here! Make sure you copy the link and paste as I can't remember how to do the hmtl to get it to pop up correctly at the moment;
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=34150&l=7bec6&amp;id=555910480

Saskatch and back again....

2007-08-03T15:36:00.000-07:00

Big crazy wonderful week!

wrap up from previous week;

Friday 27th July House Concert @ Scarecrow B&B McBride

We played and awesome fun show on an old wagon stage from 80 years ago that bounced when we did. Lovely crowd, wonderful beds and dinner.

Saturday 28th July Sasquatch Festival Easyford AB

This has definitely been one of my favourite gigs so far. Gig was fun but my fave part was the sweat hut and jumping in the river afterwards and the new friends I made. I feel like this festival woke me up from the sleep I have been in for the past year, I can't even explain what I mean but it is definitely partly surroundings, partly the company. What a magical weekend!

Wednesday 1st August Blue Chair Cafe Edmonton AB

Loads of fun as per usual and some of the Sasquatch crowd were there to make it even more fu n! Love Edmonton, did a little interview with the Vue too, will post when I get home. Here is a photo from the gig taken by Tracey Kolenchuk. You can see many more http://www.pbase.com/tracyk/2007_08_01_emaline_delapaix

Thursday 2nd August Calories Saskatoon SK

Played a nice show at this lovely restaurant and bakery, yummy food and cool people, even some familiar faces. What a darn cool city SK is!

Highlights from the last week?

Sweat hut and late night river swimming by moonlight, banjo and homemade wine, cute danish boys, nakedness at sasquatch (though not me as I am too lame), seeing Di in Calgary, crazy tuesday night Calgary drinks, talking and laughter, weirdass Prairie town names, Regina welcomes you sign (photo coming soon!), Saskatoon!, meeting many wonderful people, Edmonton, Grays Haven B&B.....more coming soon

On the road again....

2007-07-25T10:37:00.000-07:00

Wow getting back into the saddle this year seems hard.
We have been on the road for about 8 days and it already feels like weeks and I am exhausted, though some of that is my own fault: drinking too much in Prince Rupert, every year without fail this has happened.

A quick recap:

Wed 18th July Lorenzo's Cafe Enderby

Nice first show, with no KPhanie but still fun.
Smelly dog, playing whatever lola wants with DMWTP, chillin out on deck under stars afterwards with Lorne

Thur 19th July Flour Meadow Bakery Clearwater

First show with KPhanie! She flew in from Paris via Quebec.
She was picked up by a baker named Sharon in a pick up truck in Kamloops for us as we couldn't get there. Fun show, lovely people, saw a wonderful mullet, yuuummmy cake! Stayed at Sams beautiful beautiful house. So good to have Steph back.

Fri 20th July Cafe Voltaire Prince George

Crazy night, played just before new Harry Potter book came out, people dressed up like maniacs and two people dressed as some horse creature! Don't laugh, I don't know the name of it. Excellent show and went out for a few drinks afterwards. Used our sleeping mats for the first time, stayed with Eric and Neda who made us feel very welcome.

Sat 21st July Happy Jack's Pub Houston

One of my fave shows so far. Local Keith sure did like the Spank Me Man song, has a button to prove it. Lovely to see a few familiar faces. Meg from DMWTP got up and played some electric guitar on a few of my songs as Gracey the violinist couldn't make the show, loads of fun. I love Houston.

Sun 22nd July CafeNara Terrace

A delight as per usual. Several familiar faces, the Spank Me Man buttons were also popular here. Yummy meringue and lovely chilled audience.

Tue 24th July Cowpuccino's

I love Prince Rupert! Loads of fun, lots of ogling guys.
Met a photographer and biologist and had way too many drinks after the show. Argued with a drug salesman about drug companies while drinking a chocolate martini, hippocrate much? Oh and played a lunch time show at a Rotary meeting earlier in the day, that was strange but cool, they seemed to like it.

Highlights?

We have seen two bears so far!
Had a really cool night last monday with my girls on our day off. We made Cat into a gimp with electric tape and Kphanie invented crab rap!
our mascot is Toro Taurus, he hangs from the front mirror and has a cape.

More silliness very soon!

em

Piano Piano Banjo

2007-03-29T15:28:00.000-07:00

Last night we had dinner at a local diner that's just opened; french fries, coke and a grilled cheese sandwich. We finished off our meal with a leisurely stroll on the pier and met a funny fellow who lives in a very very small shed which he has set up as his home including the tiniest kitchen you have ever seen but room enough for the delicious nut wine he shared with us and his various musical instruments including a banjo and bed. Turns out he just returned from Mexico, so jealous and is a musician so I am going to visit him again, maybe I will take CJ down to meet him next week. We finished our evening with cheesecake and bread and butter pudding at a lovely pub on the main street which was surprisingly stylish upstairs; who would have known.

Speaking of pudding, I am starting to turn into one spending so much time sitting on the piano bench. I am currently working on "The Power of Orange Knickers" by Tori Amos and "In Search of Peter Pan" by Kate Bush. This new found freedom of playing an instrument is really lovely, well sort of playing ;) ah but I will get there. You think I would have started with something a little easier like Sarah McLachlan or something. Not that I like her music much but her piano parts are pretty simple.I am also working on a couple of tunes that still won't let themselves be completed including " the romantic novel me" which I am pretty excited about. Definitely got some early Tori Amos influences and well as my own sound on piano which is starting to really come out with all of the playing.

Ok, back to work!

Recording Update

2007-03-14T15:08:00.000-07:00

Sunday was spent recording the acoustic guitar, double bass and percussion/kit for Reins, Down This Road and Silently Sweet and it's coming along nicely.Playing with CJ is a delight, she's so easy to get along with and a wonderful guitarist, can't wait for you all to hear the tracks and her playing with me live in the next few months.

forgiveness by cable - unfinished spoken word piece

2007-02-06T03:02:00.000-08:00

they show it on tv
family, once rotten now sweet
the young actor plays out forgiveness
like its so easy
like letting go or something like that
and the old man smiles, no he was never a bad man
he didn't mean to break skin or batter bones
just made some mistakes
how can you hate him for mistakes

when his hip doesn't work anymore
and he carries a cane to help him move about the apartment
on tired feet
legs that once ran faster than little feet
fingers that once teared at hair
fists that once demanded respect
lips that sprung forth words
piece of shit
worthless
you are NOTHING
dirty whore

so when it is my time
will I sit by his bed
or just walk away?
because forgiveness by cable makes it seem so easy

.......................................................All Writing Copyright © Emaline Delapaix 2007

Soon I Shall Write

2007-02-05T01:39:00.001-08:00

We just moved and I have been getting to know the new house and electric piano but I promise to write a lot more soon. EU/UK tour postponed until Winter or Spring, not sure but still coming just a little later than originally expected. But a lovely Western Canada tour planned, dates starting to trickle in little by little. Lovely new musicians on this side of the country, much news. More soon :)

New CD Peculiar Places

2007-01-03T21:51:00.001-08:00

From Jan onwards I will be recording and finishing my first full length album finally, after such a long time, but I think it will be worth the wait and I feel like I am finally ready to put such a big piece of me out into the universe.

The CD is called "Peculiar Places" and will feature some of the tracks you might have heard on myspace including Bug Song, Enough For Me and High but will also include some newer ones I wrote in the past few years including "Friday Morning Lullabies" which will feature the lovely Sahra Featherstone on harp.

This CD is the story of my music, the people I have met, experiences I have had, from when I started 5 years ago until now. It will feature many dear friends, fellow musicians and some wonderful surprises and will be something you have never heard before. It's a mix of folk, jazz, intelligent pop/rock with a little latin, flamenco, roots and cabaret thrown in, with loads of piano, acoustic guitar, strings and celtic harp.

Check out the beautiful back cover that a local artist called Ray Sun did for me.

More updates as they come :)

What I did on Christmas Day, The Homeless, Bowen Island

2007-01-03T21:48:00.001-08:00

This year I decided I was going to be less wasteful and less selfish and spent all of christmas eve with my partner cooking food to hand out the following day to the homeless in Vancouver. We managed to find two other kind souls willing to help and the 4 of us chipped in and made christmas lunch bags with lovely warm potatoes in their jackets, mushroom nut loaf, fruit, juice, chocolate and homemade mince tarts.We handed most of the food out on West Hastings and man was it an eye opener. I had mixed feelings; both sadness and happiness, that I could make a few people smile and also, I am glad that I went out on that street and and faced my stupid fear, of it being dangerous and not a place I would want to be. All the people that we handed out food to were friendly, thankful and there were definitely a few characters, especially the dude smoking a a cigarette and reading maxim in his sleeping bag LOL!We promised we would do this more often, not just on christmas.
On Christmas Day we had the same food we gave out and it was delicious and the best christmas in a long time for me. We ate at the house I am house sitting on Bowen Island, looking out onto the harbour. It couldn't have been better.
I took some photos today, so hope to have some up soon.I hope you have had a good holiday and hey, if you have any left over food from the festivities, why not drop it at your local food bank? You can find a bunch of them on yahoo or google....
em

The World Through One Eye

2007-01-03T21:46:00.001-08:00

We got to Vancouver just over a month ago and it's been pretty tough. No drinking water, power outages and storms and 3 eye operations later, the last to fix what the first Dr screwed up it's hard to be positive but one thing is I have an eye patch, how cool is that?
I am in bed, as per usual, seems to be a running theme with me lately, and no not for any funny business, just resting and sleeping a lot. I have managed to practise my guitar a lot and added some links to my myspace page that matter to me. Once I am better I may even go out into the city and be a bit of an activist helping out handing out flyers about KFC's cruelty, but first things first.
They say there might be another really bad storm tonight, puhlease not now, it's not fun sitting darkness with one eye and a bad back in bed with no net or lights to read. I guess the planet is finally telling us how it feels. Is anyone listening? I hope so, if you are check out the link on my profile for an incovenient truth and pledge to see it and make sure you do, "hint" you can watch it on youtube.com for free in a bunch of sections.I am have been listening to a lot of Sophie Zelmani lately, she is nice during surgery and the wonderfully talented and still very sexy Tim Finn's new CD "Imaginary Kingdom" which has some really wonderful ballads on it. You know he was most favourite singer musician when I was 3. I used to stand in front of the TV enthralled by Mr Finn in Split Enz and wanted so much to be like him one day, he is my longest crush ;PSo it's christmas time again eh?If I am well enough this year we are going to volunteer some of our time at a local homeless shelter or something similar and pledge not to buy a lot of crap as we don't need it.
Over the holidays I will be house/dog sitting on a local island which will be really lovely, inspiring and restful I am sure after all this eye and back crap. I will be looking after a lovely dog with a big personality. The island looks so beautiful, I wish I could live in a place like that. I will take some photos when I am there and put them up when I can.
Ok so I should be the good little patient and eat and take my medication.
I hope you and yours are all well and remember this christmas week will be hard for a lot of people out there with less than us. Perhaps you too could spare an hour to help with a local charity gathering money, or helping with christmas lunches? Imagine how much your time would mean to those in need....xemaline

Recovering from two eye operations

2006-12-13T16:53:00.000-08:00

I am recovering from two eye operations so if I don't write anything or take a while to get back to people straight away that's why as I am really tired and spending a lot of time sleeping.

Life is a bit shitty at the moment, not feeling very anything except pain and fatigue but I look forward to when I will be feeling a lot better.
x

Finally in Vancouver!!!

2006-11-14T15:18:00.000-08:00

We arrived a few days ago, glad to have survived the backroads of Manitobe (new nickname) and Saskatchewan as well as the snow and goodbyes of Calgary.What a marvellous and brightly coloured city! On the first evening we went out for a special birthday dinner at the Modern Club, had yummy Okonomi's and to True Confections for dessert eating Pumpkin Pie, Blueberry Cheesecake and Fresh Berry Pie. After that we needed a few days to hibernate and just rest after an 11 day trip across Canada to get here. I am excited and looking forward to getting out and getting to know the city and have so many coffee appointments with people I can't keep up.
I am meeting with some other musicians this week and do expect to be out gigging in the next few weeks, just little intimate shows to begin with, to go with the weather and testing the waters. More news soon!
em

Emaline is playing piano, scary :)

2006-10-16T16:45:00.000-07:00

I got this electric piano just under a month ago and the songs have been pouring out of me like a fever and annoying the crap out of my partner, constant practise and refinement.

I am really excited as it's been over two years since I had a keyboard or piano of sorts because of all the traveling, moving about and I wasn't sure if I had any real skills on this instrument but it looks like there has been something hidden away in me and it's finally coming out.

I'm no Tori or Amy Seeley (nod to you Amy) but I am not too bad and I am confident I will be playing at least a song or two at the next bunch of shows.

I am going to do my best to get some demos of these new songs done on my 4 track and up on here before I head out to Vancouver in the next few weeks so you can hear what I have been up to, just don't ask me what key anything is in, I haven't the foggiest :)

Joanna Newsom Last Night & Guitarist Wanted for Summer Tour

2006-10-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

Are you obscenely talented on guitar and looking for a gig next summer?

Go here, read and listen; www.myspace.com/emalinesguitarsongs

Thanks!

Joanna Newsom last night!!!

I went to see Joanna Newsom perform at the Mod Club in Toronto last night with Sahra, Jason and Andreas and it was awesome.

She's a wonderful story teller and soooo cute, not to mention the amazing talent she has with the harp. I feel inspired.

The only thing thing I would say that could have been better was having the show at a different venue with more seating as it damn hurt to stand up for nearly 3 hours all squished up. Oh and the opening band were good too though I don't know their name, something weird. Will try and find out.

Winter Concerts!!!

2006-09-25T14:46:00.000-07:00

I will be doing a bunch of intimate, stripped back shows as part of a winter concert series with a few different musicians on piano, strings and vocals between December and February.

I will be concentrating on my more quieter material, new piano compositions as well as a few more upbeat tunes to make sure you stay awake!

I will be joined by various different pianists and string players at different shows and you will also get to hear some of their music as an added bonus.

For now, here is a little bit about the series;

Coming this cold season:

"in the winter dark"

A series of very special winter concerts featuring Australian singer/songwriter/artist Emaline Delapaix and special guest artists/musicians.

www.sonicbids.com/inthewinterdark
and www.myspace.com/inthewinterdark for more information

Enough For Me featured on "The Bleeding Edge" Podcast 22nd September

2006-09-22T07:50:00.000-07:00

Enough For Me is featured on "The Bleeding Edge" Podcast for 22nd September as well as a bunch of other awesome music.

If you have itunes, just click on this link to load it otherwise check out official site for "The Bleeding Edge" to find out more.

Thanks for your support!

there are many things i love (written @ the calgary airport, Aug 06)

2006-09-19T02:47:00.000-07:00

soy vanilla chai, airports, email, my monkey posing as a cat bag, digital photos, twinkling city sky lights, the blonde hairs on my arms, elastic bands, bare feet, sweet potato burritos, singing and making them feel something, my beaten up passport and it's many stamps, portable music, phoning home, london at 3am, grandmas cheesecake, australian summers, st moritz dressed in winter, teaching myself to forget, dogs running & smiling, flax & soy corn thins, making toffee after midnight over the stove, red wine with friends, the smell of the ocean, fresh flaky croissants from nice, the london 73 bus, her kindness, moondog parties, wild buffalo nights, postcards, sushi, damien's dress sense, venice in september, white peaches, cocktail onions, canolis from college st, the city when everyone's sleeping, fingers that tell a story, eating sweet pastries in zurich station, napping after dinner with a full belly, watching the sunrise in cornwall in december, paperbacks with well worn covers, richmond sunsets up on the hill, hari krishna melbourne lunches with tim and ambika, not speaking but understanding, hot chocolate on commercial drive, picnics in the dandenongs, curtains, swiss dark chocolate and most of all, socks with sandals... i'm sure there's more to come

on the eve of thirty years

2006-09-13T23:03:00.000-07:00

on the eve of my thirty years i am here listening to paper doll over and over by lovely uk friends "hush the many" and waiting from my okonomi to arrive.

5 wishes i have on this eve of my thirtieth year;

1)to make a lovely, moving record by early next year called "peculiar places"

2)to make up with people that i have been estranged from

3)to have a lovely peaceful day tomorrow, eat delicious food &
smiles lots

4)get my bubbles back

5)be happy

What is up?

2006-09-11T16:43:00.000-07:00

1)Touring in the summer was sweet and sometimes hard but in the end it was worth it and I learnt a lot.

2)New friends, old friends and some friends who weren't friends but now I know.

3)Growing up is hard but must be done.
I will be 30 in a few days, I am scared but glad, it is the year of the first album, I am finally ready.

4)Recording with Sahra soon, 3 songs for the new album, me on guitar, her on harp, violin and flute and others guesting, very excited.

5)Moving to BC in the next few months, again fear but excitement, and feeling that this is the right thing and there will be the right people for more music mayhem.

6)New songs!!! 5 of them, it's been so long, 4 on piano too, I am very pleased and working on finishing them now, one is called "Wanderlust"

7)A few lines from "Wanderlust"

I remember london with it's filth and exotic dreams,
moondog parties and living on sainsbury's baked beans

I remember stuttgart, that little boutique hotel with
cold cuts, boiled eggs and that nasty hard bread I despise
that obscenely large room with the stripper channel,
and laughing at the absurd with sara

I remember Venice, bus rides to who knows where,
writing postcards by the canal, the late september sunshine warming me,
lost in dark little lanes, arguing with daniela, silly,
then early morning kisses just out of town,
the quiet healing me

8)Spare a thought for those who lost loved ones in 9/11.

Quickie from Trail, BC

2006-08-17T23:53:00.000-07:00

Hey folks, just checking in from Trail, BC.

We have had some fun shows over the past week;
Kimberley Arts Fest: there was a spa and washing machine in our apartments, plural! and we met the Dave Ward Trio, awesome guys.=, cool town. Creston; lovely show at the Snoring Sasquatch, Nelson show was awesome as per usual, thanks Gary & crew and loads of loveliness and oh the new DR Who was on TV after the show so I stayed up enjoying it with root beer and snacks. Nakusp; LOVED the Spank Me Man song, shown by all the Spank Me Man buttons I sold afterwards and now in Trail, lots of fun, friendly kids who said I sound like Hilary Duff?!? & lots of older folks, nice to see you gettin into the Spank Me Man song, clappin and toes tapping, blue rinse rocks!!!

Ok we have a really long drive tomorrow to Ashcroft so I should get off here. Di from Kris Demeanor & his Crack Band is asking me for help on how to use myspace, oh the amusement never ends....

my first meeting with a chipmunk

2006-08-14T23:50:00.000-07:00

my first meeting with a chipmunk

at the edge of the sand
bathing on rocks
we watch each other carefully
curious and lonely for companionship

i speak softly to him
imitating, offering cherries
placing them on flat stones
sweet and accessible to his little hands

i hold my breath and finally he takes one
trusting and pleased
we share fruit in silence by the kootenay lake

Update, Smiles & Rain

2006-08-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

Oooh it's a lovely night here in Revelstoke.
Unfortunately due to bad weather our second show (first was last evening) was cancelled so we are holed up in the Minto Manor B & B in town all snuggled and warm.

Quick update, did some shows in Vancouver which were fun and caught up with some friends, one friend Jesse in particular I was especially glad and happy to see again. Really made my night. I hope to move to Vancouver later in the year so I am super excited that I might get to hang out with him a bit more, and perhaps record in his studio?

I spent Monday roaming around Vancouver, mainly on Commercial Drive buying far too much in the organic stores, greasy spoon breakfast and sushi for dinner. Also bought myself a Uke? Guitar and sat in the park for a while playing with the acrobats and merry makers as they went about their crazy day.

Stopped in Armstrong on Tues and played a show with fellow Australian musician Tessa Lee which was a lot of fun (slept in her funny blue van that night!) and then did 6 hours worth of shows the next day including a morning stint at the Kelowna Farmers Market (loads of fun) and Revelstoke Concert Series last night. It's so pretty here, even with the rain and we really appreciate the hospitality given to us by local sponsors Minto Manor and Nelles Ranch where we are staying.

I was feeling a little crazy over the past few days but think I have settled down again.

Tomorrow we head to Kimberley for a few days with a couple of shows at the Kimberely Arts Festival which we are looking forward to, as well as a nice night off tomorrow night checking out the town.

Have been a bit slack with the photo taking since Calgary but will have something up by the end of the weekend I am sure.

What else is new?
Tonight I learnt how to burp the alphabet, enough said....

ciao!

this isn't toronto - unfinished?

2006-08-07T23:25:00.000-07:00

another writer in another cafe
sweet pastries, organic french drip coffee
vancouver august summer breeze
mangos, fat beats
an old friend, an old lover
interpretive paintings, a lending library
my new green uke guitar
swaying hanging plants, dying cell phone battery
but not caring, butterflies flap in my belly
middle aged men philosophizing over green tea
downtown bus in a blue glow, fading black palm ink
relaxed in kindness, the promise of new comforts
this isn't toronto

I love aeroplane jelly - untitled song?

2006-07-31T21:55:00.000-07:00

i can't be expected to know
or smell it,
to sense the fever
with this calculated distance
stealing ice from your glass
just to be close to you

i won't pretend to understand
or carry these heavy stones
strapped across my back anymore
when it aches in all the wrong places

sugar high
crashing low
but still so many miles to go

when i am not allowed to speak
because my words chip away at your layers
jelly underneath
sweet and sticky
oozing between my joints

sugar high
crashing low
but still so many miles to go

so just let me speak...

Write while I can

2006-07-30T00:34:00.000-07:00

Hi all.

Hope you are doing well back in reality.

We have been on the road coming up two weeks on monday and having a fine time and seeing some beautiful and special places.

Since I last wrote we played a fundraiser for Women's Place in Kenora, and ice cream shop in Brandon, the Forget Summer Festival (where I accidentally got a little too stoned on Codein due to my injured back, but I managed to dance across the stage or something?, a fundraiser for Transition House in Regina, this show rocked!!!, I take it back, Regina doesn't really rhyme with vagina!, A median strip in Winnipeg as part of our to lunch concert series, house concert in Winnipeg (loads of fun!), Art Gallery in Saskatoon (lovely raspberry cheesecake to die for), bluechair cafe in Edmonton (cool folks and lovely to catch up with the lovely amy seeley and share a song), calgary farmers market during the day today and tea/wine bar in Banff this evening, sweet folks and rockin pizza and chocolate brownies! Phew, a lot eh?

We have two days off now, YAY!
We are going to the Calgary Folk Fest tomorrow to support dear friends Kris Demeanor & his Crack Band and oooh Dar Williams & Ani Difranco are playing too. Super awesomeness.

Well it's after 1am and we have to be on the road by 9am so until next time check out some of the tour shots so far at www.bugbitten.com/emalinedelapaix

:)

em

Review from Wawa show last week!

2006-07-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

To see article and pictures check out this link; http://www.wawa-news.com/Newspages/07-19/Emaline.html

Emaline Delapaix and the "The Delistocracy" Play Rock Island

Emaline Delapaix and her band of merry players as they are known (aka The Delistocracy) enthralled the full house at Rock Island last night. A tough thing as the audience must have been torn between the beauty of sound, and the beauty of the sunset as seen from the "Great Room's" picture windows. Even Emaline herself remarked that this had to have been the most beautiful place they had ever played in!

These five women who were playing their second concert together on this Canadian tour played well together, but also allowed their individual talents to shine. A wonderful pianist, a rocking guitarist, a viola player who wrung such sweet notes, and a drummer who kept fingers or toes tapping. And above all a singer imprisoned in a chair (due to a slight back injury) who struggled to sit still as she sang so eloquently.

It is quite difficult to peg down exactly what kind of music these talented women play. The audience was treated to a blend of traditional folk tunes to some comtemporary rock (well sorta). The best song, and the one that received the most applause was one that dealt with the issues of placing your resume online in the search for employment. Emaline related to us via music, the variety of jobs she was offered in London, England during a recent job search; a "spanking" position with no other strings attached, or perhaps as a topless limousine attendant (you can work as many hours as you like!). Every song had someone in the audience tapping fingers or toes.

But all joking aside, these ladies have lots of talent, and was remarked that it would be nice to see them perform again towards the end of their tour, as their talents and onstage rapport will meld them into a simply outstanding group.

First 3 Shows For Summer Tour

2006-07-20T17:29:00.000-07:00

I am way too tired to write a lot about the first 3 shows of the summer tour but it's been a lot fun so far; people are really digging the spank me man song, we slept in a yurt and we've even managed to do laundry this week which I think is pretty bloody amazing in itself. Beats last years record of 3 weeks!

So far we have played shows in Temagami (scenery to die for), Wawa (lovely exfoliating sand!) and Thunder Bay (jello shots with Toronto band Maps of the night Sky).

We now have the dodgy video camera I got off ebay working as well taking photos at shows so I will have this trip well documented.

Ok I am very tired and my back is hurting.

I feel very old and approaching 30 fast.

Come and see me perform in your town while you can, before I am old and grey and need depends.

Oh dear.

11 Performances in 9 Days

2006-06-27T12:18:00.000-07:00

1)Billy Bragg is a communist the man yelled from the audience
2)We escaped the Blue Mountain Storm safely and in one piece
3)TV is fun and scary and I looked like a big dork on the show
4)Nope, nothing is changed I still hate the sound in pubs
5)I still love playing in housing co-ops, and dutch exhange boys are cute
6)Are there any vegetables in Oakville ON?
7)You're a DJ and you will promote me on your show? which show? Oh you can't remember the name of it? How stupid do you think I am?
8)South River? South of what? It doesn't matter, you still rock!
9)Weird, Weirder but nice

First Shows with the Delistocracy!!!

2006-06-23T08:51:00.000-07:00

Hey there

Finally I have a little bit of time to write about the first shows on the tour with the Delistocracy are going.

After a very quiet start for the first show things have really started to pick up and wow what a wide range of audiences we have been having and lots of fun too.

The first show was very quiet and the second we were nearly blown off the stage at the Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood, but we survived and people seemed to enjoy it. Then we played at Artwherk Pride on Mon 19th. You may remember I had some of my pieces displayed there last year. It was loads of fun and nice to see the Artwherk boys again.

Tuesday was a hometown show for Aurora with a bunch of her buddies and her mum coming out to support us. Sound was a bit dodgy but we made it through and had a lot of fun and Aurora's mum brought us a bunch of groceries which was nice for the long journey to Ottawa the next day.

Wed we played the Terra Firm Housing Community in Ottawa which has been my fave show this week. Really fun people and they helped us with killer backing vocals on Down This Road! My dear friend Benoit filmed the night so I am hoping I can get that up on the web at some point. We hope that we made the first house concert at Terra Firma a memorable night and that they will continue to have such concerts in the future and we would love to come back again.

Last night, played at quirky little cafe in Oakville where we had loads of fun and the audience were really friendly and accomodating. Thanks to John for setting that up at such late notice.

We have a few more shows this weekend including FRWY Cafe tonight in Hamilton, Toronto Roots Fest tomorrow 2:30pm and Renees Cafe in South River in the evening and a very special open air house concert at the Mount Nemo Lookout B & B in Burlington on Sun with some delicious food and wonderful music. We hope to see some of you out there. It's gonna be a lot of fun!

Ok then, I will write more in a few days, enjoy your weekend :)

em

ps)photos from first few shows can be viewed here

Let Me Hear Your Body Talk

2006-06-16T06:41:00.000-07:00

I am waking up this morning with Olivia Newton John's most hilarious song "Physical".
Do you remember when that came out? The video is also a real laugh.

Anyway, we are going to be doing a bunch of fun covers on this tour including yes you guessed it "Physical" which is gonna be soooo fun, just gotta find some purple and pink sweat bands and leg warmers to top it off!!!

Oooh and I am excited to say there will also be a Tori Amos, Kate Bush and Ani Difranco song as well.

Tomorrow is our first gig together as a band so I am excited and nervous in equal amounts but happy to be playing again, and with some kickin new versions of the songs. Wait till you hear them. Silently Sweet is smoking and Melting Down is so fun.

I've also pulled out an old piano song and there is a new song, Balloon that I have been itching to play for ages. I also have a couple of other new songs that I want to try out in the next few weeks so I hope you like them.

I will write after the first couple of gigs at the end of the weekend!

Current Music: "Physical" by Olivia Newton John
Current Food: Raspberry Spelt Square from Little Stream Bakery

I Work Hard For The Money While Hitler Gives Speeches In The Square

2006-04-25T09:58:00.000-07:00

Anjuli and I played at Ladyfest in Lansing on Sat.
Bit of a shame that everyone was at the "NAZI" rally in town.
Can you effin believe that? I couldn't stop thinking about that on stage
while we were playing and trying to smile on "down this road".

The idea that people use their civil liberties to give speeches on hate
and racism boggles my mind no end even though I know everyone has a right to their opinion and beliefs. Oh and just to top it off they are apparently a traveling group touring all over the US to promote their hatred, Oh Joy.

I feel like I have been a bit protected coming from Melbourne, but who knows maybe my next door neighbour in Richmond was a Nazi, you just never know.

Lansing is a weird place.

We ate at this Carribbean/Mexican restaurant with the most awful but hilarious karaoke on tv that you have ever witnessed with shiny yellow jumpsuits and all.
Anjuli was laughing so hard she nearly couldn't go inside. You see we peeked inside to see if it was safe first. It was right next to a hair diner. What the hell?!?

But it is so unfair. In Rochester MI they have the coolest stores including Trader Joe's and Whole Foods which is much better than the Toronto lame ass Whole Foods that pretends to be a healthy store but sells the same junk as a normal supermarket but jacks up the price.

Lynda and I stocked up and spent a blissful hour gaping at all the cool things.
You see, I recently went to the naturopath and it seems that I have a crappy dairy allergy of sorts so I have had to cut back my dairy, I am nearly vegan and there isn't much for me to eat here in Toronto. No good vegan cheeses here but at Trader Joe's!

I would like to be vegan or close to it anyway so I guess these are the first steps.

Poem For Abandoned Cats

2006-04-12T23:45:00.000-07:00

once I was cute and little
and you were enchanted by my blue eyes
my sweet darling face

every night after dinner
you would let me fall asleep on your lap
and I felt safe and warm
special and loved

I didn't know that one day you would change your mind
growing tired of me when I grew into an adult
losing that baby charm
the christmas gift you no longer wanted

I am afraid of what will happen to me
because you sent me away to this shelter
You told the lady at the desk
I don't fit into your busy life anymore

I feel so sad because I am not an old pair of shoes
or a broken tennis racket that no longer works
I still have those same eyes and sweet face
but now that I am six, I am not so little or youthful

is that why you don't want me anymore?

Tired with open eyes

2006-04-11T02:12:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading "Zoya's Story, a woman's struggle in Afghanistan" and now I can't sleep, that and my eyes are swollen from crying. Check out www.rawa.org for more info.

I feel like there isn't enough of me to help all the causes I would like to in the world. It's like I have to prioritise and I hate having to do that with such important things.

This week I am starting in a fostering program for homeless cats.
Looks like we will be getting a little boy and girl if all goes well and
I hope I can help them have a little happiness in their lives.

There are so many homeless animals, so many dumped by assholes who should be forced to pay for a license before they get a cute kitten that grows into a cat that then isn't cute enough so they dump them. There are so many pets in Toronto and North America looking for a home. Check out www.petfinder.com

Ok now I am tired and the rant is over.

A Little Bit Of Country

2006-03-30T14:27:00.000-08:00

I thought I got country music out of my system with Maureen McCormicks (aka Marcia Brady) "When You Get A Little Lonely" CD many years back and now I discover Christian Kane (aka Lindsey from Angel) has a band and it's good, oh dear....

Don't laugh, "When You Get A Little Lonely" was one of the only things that could get me out of bed and off to the crappy day job I had at Kmart all those years ago when I was just a teenager, yes I worked at Kmart!, we all gotta start somewhere.

I have a half finished country song sitting some place, only has a chorus and a bridge but it's pretty good, anyone wanna crack at it? LOL :P

Current Music: The House Rules by Kane
Current Obsession: myspace music

On Waking

2006-03-29T08:58:00.000-08:00

wake up from hell
dragging loss of life
into the kitchen
feed the cat
brushing pound cakes and
naked breasts out of my head

turn on the computer
dream the email
spill yesterdays coffee refill
onto my socketts

looking like a cave woman
let the cat out
cover my face
bah! who cares

Getting Out Where The People Are

2006-03-23T11:41:00.000-08:00

Today I am very pleased with myself...

The tour is coming along nicely, my photography is coming out well, who would have known eh? And I started to write a new song, it's been sooooo long since I have been able to put music to words. I have been writing a lot of words, they have been pouring out but the music has been a bit of a struggle up until now.

I do however need to get out and do some stuff, meet some people, stir some trouble up or something. I am a semi hermit. A semi hermit that doesn't know that many people in this city. Anyone having a party or going out dancing?!? ;P

Current Mood: funky
Current Music: Disco!
Current Obsession: marmite on brown toast with nutritional yeast flakes, mmm

Sleep When I'm Dead

2006-03-21T12:46:00.000-08:00

So yes I am touring Canada again in the summer with most of the lovely new band that still doesn't have a name. There are a few dates booked so far, check them out on the gigs page on the site. Ideas for a band name are very welcome, I am stumped!

The Album:

Yes I know, it's taking far too long but these things happen, but I promise things are slowly moving onward. I am going to be recording a couple of tracks with friend and fellow musician Dean Wolfe at his home studio in the next few months and am going to be recording "Friday Morning Lullabies" with Sahra on harp sometime soon as well when we can get together. I am also looking for another studio to record a couple of the bigger, more demanding songs in Toronto and elsewhere.

Oooh and I would love to have Danny Michel work on a couple of tracks, playing, producing etc? Do you think I could afford him? And yeah I have a bit of a crush.
Bloody Canadian Men!

Current Food: Popcorn
Current Obsession: Danny Michel

New Band New Band New Band

2006-03-17T06:09:00.000-08:00

So I have been lucky enough to find nearly everyone for the new band including the following talented musicians;

Anjuli Dawn - guitar/bouziuki/vocals
Monique Giroux - viola/violin
Aurora Bangarth - percussion/kit/marimba if we can find one for her :)
Sarah Nematallah & Liana Berube - sharing violin duties
Lindsay Kotowich-Downes - trumpet

I am meeting with some pianists and cellists over the next week so wish me luck.

Oooh this summer is going to be so much fun!

Current Music: Francoiz Breut
Current Obsession: Saskatchewan

Untitled, Unfinished

2006-03-02T09:42:00.000-08:00

Can you remember when you were truly happy?
underneath all of this two ing and fro ing to be
the best, the best at what?
I am hurting, longing for simplicity.

Current Music: UNE SAISON VOLÉE by Francoiz Breut
Current Obsession: Dreams but not by my making

Everything, for a reason

2006-02-23T10:28:00.000-08:00

What I am creating, it's important.
It's not something that can be done in days or even months.
To get it right one needs to have the correct ingredients, the right people, the right time, the longing and the need, wanting to do good, give and take.

It's something that the world needs in this time of darkness, fear and sadness.
It's all that I can give really, for now anyway.
I think I was put on this earth for this reason and want to help heal with others who feel the same, slowly they are starting to creep through the door but we are all so afraid of being hurt.

Time and faith eh?

:)

"in delight and in regret"

i can see out onto the street
from this shambles, pretty on the outside,
the snowflakes escaping into the apartment on beverly

but everyone is too busy to notice
the little ex patriate
filling up the day by spreading out the chores,
lonely fingers longing for a piano

big cities lose me
and I lost you
but I try not to dwell on mistakes,
we are both who we are, in delight and in regret

forget, forge ahead
i don't subscribe to this self pity

so let me loose
out into the wide open fields
smattered with canola
in the albertan air

let me go
i will close my eyes when you drive too fast
on the saskatchewan highways,
it won't hurt a bit
if it gets me where I need, to b.c

Current Music: animus & singing to the bones by the lovely wendy rule
Current Obsession: listening to demos people have sent me

Peculiar Thoughts

2006-02-20T10:22:00.000-08:00

Wow, sitting still is really, really hard!

I have been conversing with many musicians about the supergroup I am putting together but I can't say anything yet until things are finalised but I can
promise you wonderful music, humour and talent beyond compare!

Last night I went crazy and baked lemon and almond cupcakes and chocolate chai cake, oh as well as mint lemonade. The homemaker in me went on a rampage and this morning I am paying the price after eating waaaay too much :)

I am currently reading the Poisonwood Bible and I am having the weirdest dreams including goats and boats and huge freeways and beaches??? I don't know what's going on.

Current Music: drive by bic runga & winter light by tim finn
Current Obsession: cooking desserts

Mmm Lemonade....

2006-02-08T11:42:00.000-08:00

Last night we had a right ol cooking fest making carrot & couscous pie as well as raspberry mint lemonade and mint lemon iced green tea which were delicious!!!

I got the recipe for the pie from a zine called ripe by jae and changed it around a little bit.

The lemonade/tea was inspired by some recipes I saw on you grow girl, an awesome gardening site for every day people with some really neat stuff on it.

As you can see there wasn't much of the raspberry mint lemonade left but not to worry, I have two other jars full in the fridge.

Raspberry mint lemonade (makes around 2 litres)

4 lemons
1 punnet pureed raspberries
handful of mint leaves
1/3 cup - 1/2 cup sweetener (I used maple syrup)
ice cubes (5-10)
water (add to taste)

Puree raspberries then place in saucepan on low heat on the stove and add sweetener cooking for 2-5 mins.
Juice lemons then add juice, a few bits of pulp, mint leaves, raspberries, sweetener and ice cubes to pitcher and stir.
Then to finish add cold water to pitcher until full or until it tastes good.'

Leave overnight if possible to allow flavours to soak and mingle, mmmm.

* Word of warning, don't overdo the drinking as I had about 4 glasses last night and have a bit of a tummy ache now but it was worth it!

Current Music: Danny Michel, perfect on repeat
Current Mood: lazy
Current Obsession: cooking, eating, making stuff

What The Hell Is Wrong With Us?

2006-02-02T13:24:00.000-08:00

The other night I went to see a documentary in Toronto called "The End of Suburbia" and it got my head spinning about the future of our planet.

What is going to happen when we run out of oil?
Reality now people! There will come a time when it will happen and that time will be soon if we keep using the resources we have as fast as we are today. We all know the real reason that George Dubbiyah sent troops to Iraq, so why aren't more people out there shit scared? I know I am.

So I ask myself;
are there enough people out there who care about the planet and our future to do something about this?

A recent vegetarian (just over 1.5 years) I have been slowly investigating how we really treat the planet and have been trying to change the way I live and do things so I don't take/use more than I need. Eventually I would like to be a sustainable individual, growing and making as much as I can and teaching what I know to others. I am re learning how to use books to write in, instead of the computer, learning how to make my own paper to make my own books, looking into natural therapies and re using, recycling as much as possible and so many other things.

Some questions for you;

How many things are using electricity in your house right now? Do you need more than one light on?
Do you know where your eggs come from and how the hens who lay them really live?
Do you really know what is going on in Iraq? I am the first to admit that I don't know as much as I would like but here are a few good places to start to educate yourself about what's going on around you;

peakoil.net
sleeping with the devil
newurbanism.org
alternet
downbound
freedocumentaries

Look out! I think something has switched on in my brain.

Current Music: danny michel & mia doi todd
Current Food: plum & walnut yogurt
Current Obsession: self education

Read Me

2006-02-01T10:08:00.000-08:00

Hey I am soooo tired this morning.
I have been staying up into the wee hours of the morning over the past week doing silly things.

Exciting news; I am a featured writer for online magazine Mosaic Minds this month.
They have included 2 of my poems and one prose including Lavish, In Truth, Poem For Australia so check em out.

Apart from that I have a few other features coming up for my photography/writing in the coming months. Also you can now buy a couple of pieces of my photography work in the store.

Today I am heading north to look after someones dog for the two days.
Will be a nice change of scenery and I hear it's a lovely apartment block.

First I must drag myself to the shower and eat something...

It's a hard life :)

Productive Week

2006-01-30T11:35:00.000-08:00

I spent a very productive last week writing, submitting artwork/writing to magazines as well as making contacts with new musicians. Some of my photographs and writing will be featured in online magazines Mosaic Minds and Empowerment 4 Women in Feb/March so be sure to check them out.

I made my first handmade card on the weekend and will be making my first recycled paper this week to add to future cards. I am hoping to add my photography and poetry to handmade gifts. I am also going to be taking a bookbinding workshop in a few weeks so I can put together my poetry/artbook "Hope Grows" all by myself with my own hands. I am sure it will be a very satisfying feeling once completed.

As you can see, the lovely Pamela has added some stuff to my website and there will be loads more in the coming month including photography available in the store.

Today is a lazy day, after the busy weekend.

This week I am looking into getting myself a decent electric piano to work on some new and old songs as well as something to record everything with as a lot of my belongings are still in Australia. I have been very lazy with the guitar practise but on the weekend I did have a bit of a break through on an old song that myself and others have had trouble playing over the years and somehow it just clicked and now I know how to do it. Sounds a bit silly doesn't it, since I write the songs but I am not the greatest at playing them the best they can be, with the best technique without mistakes but I will get there.

Pulled out some old self portait & other photos I forgot I took last year and will be adding them to the site as well soon.

:)

Current Music: Manzanita by Mia Doi Todd
Current Food: GoLean Crunch with Almond Breeze
Current Obsession: making handmade cards, poetry & fresh pineapple

Breath & Be Patient

2006-01-17T15:27:00.000-08:00

I am learning something new.
"Patience" and how to believe in my ideas, and goals and not to settle for anything
less than what my songs and I deserve.

I learnt so much on the last tour...

What the piano can do for me and my songs.
Where my energies should be directed.
That things aren't always my fault.
That I miss having a band and cello and sisters in music.

So I leave behind that old skin; grumbling, appologising, fearing,
instead looking for other people to whom music is just as important as it is to me, to form partnerships and collaborations, to help each other, really help each other this time..and to help save the world with music.

Current Music: If I Sang It Pretty by treasa levasseur
Curren Mood: Open

Farewell England

2006-01-12T11:31:00.000-08:00

I don't expect I shall be returning to England any time in the near future.
I feel that I have had my time there and am looking for other challenges in places
more suited to my music. That's something I discovered on this last tour.
Of course there are a few exceptions, you know where you are...

No more smoky pubs, drunken men leering.
Onward to a brighter, more confident future.

Thanks to Amy, Emily and Teresa for hitting the road with me.
We have some fond memories, and photos to prove it, so I will get them up on the bugbitten site in the links page in the next few weeks.

I am taking a break from performing and working on my guitar playing and songwriting.
I am looking for a guitar teacher and pianist and other musicians to put together a band again as it's lonely being the singer/songwriter/instigator.

10 Things That Tell You That Your Gig Is Really Going To Suck

2006-01-01T19:38:00.000-08:00

10 Things That Tell You That Your Gig Is Really Going To Suck

1.There is a bad shirt contest
2.They are playing AC/DC and choir music before you start
3.The crowd is older than all of your bandmates put together
4.Before the show even starts the barman asks you to play "lively music"
5.The barman is wearing a skirt
6.The owner is pissed by the time you take the stage
7.The owner tells you he booked you without hearing your music
8.You have to explain the difference between original music and covers to an audience member.
9.There are pubic hairs in the shower of the room you are staying in
10.It's New Years Eve!

My First UK House Concert

2005-12-21T15:07:00.000-08:00

My first house concert in the UK went smashingly last night accompanied by Amy, Emily and Teresa.

We drank mulled wine, ate mince tarts and had fun playing to the enthusiastic crowd.
After some of the stranger shows we have done on this tour, it was nice to play to a music loving crowd.

Here is a review by Healthy Concert organiser John Wadsworth;

"Great gig to warm the cockles on the eve of the Midwinter Solstice (fittingly rounded off by the line \'And the Sun will rise again\' in Emaline\'s song - Down this Road) Emaline kept promising us that her voice was going to fail her due to a sore throat, but happily it didn't and if she'd never have mentioned it, we'd never have known. Emaline has a quirky and interesting vocal style and gave an audacious performance, backed by three other musicians, including the superb pianist and singer-songwriter, Amy Seeley, who gave her own solo performance to kick the evening off. A great evening and thanks so much to Sarah and Kevin for hosting it in their fabulous living room. Over 50 people showed up!! Thanks guys! " - author John Wadsworth

Locked Doors, too many breasts and those lovely Germans

2005-12-19T23:23:00.000-08:00

We spent an insane weekend driving through countries in europe getting to a new gig and place each day this past weekend.

Amsterdam was difficult as per usual. Was hoping it would all come together this time but things went wrong as they usually do, I guess at this time, Amsterdam and I are just not meant to be. The gig was ok, they seemed to love spank me man, I wonder why?!? but the next morning we got locked in a tiny stairwell in a tiny apartment of splindly stairs with a lady blaming us for breaking the door which we didn't do. Nearly had the car clamped and towed but made it to it in time to then drive down a one way street on the wrong side, down the wrong way. Oh the joy.

Onto lovely steyberg, magical, snow falling, giant flakes, getting lost as per usual but finding Lebengarten just in time for lovely soup and sandwiches before the show. what a lovely show, Amy got to play a real piano and the audience were sweet, one lady requesting Friday Morning Lullabies as an encore which was wonderful as it's pretty mellow and new and it's nice that people are responding well to something I didn't know would go down well.
Can't wait to go back sometime in the future.

The last show for the weekend was one at the LAB in Stuttgart where I have played before. Great audience as per usual, and a lovely man gave me Vashti Bunyans CD which is so weird cause I was thinking of getting it, Amy was given Mary Chapin Carpenter too. It's nice to be able to go back to a place in another country where people love your music and you are treated with respect, I look forward to it each time.

Tonight we played a crazy show at London's tiniest music venue The Betsey Trotwood which was loads of fun, and my sore throat which has been playing up all weekend held out for me. Fun crowd, spankers and all. Hope to go back again in the future.

Tomorrow we head off to Bradford On Avon for a show as part of Healthyconcerts.com which I am really looking forward to.

Oh and Nizlopi are number 1!!! So proud of you!
Run out and buy the single or check out their page on my links page to find out more.

Got to get some sleep and let my throat rest.

Nunight.

London Still

2005-12-14T08:29:00.000-08:00

Here I am back at the old local net cafe in Stokey, London.
Things aren't breaking down every 5 seconds this time which is nice.

Spent an interesting week in the south west UK (Devon/Cornwall & Dorset), some shows were fun others not so much but what can you do?

Last night we played at the Moondog Loves You Xmas Factor and met some other cool musicians, ate some scones and did some spanking. Moondog shows are lots of fun to play and this one was no exception.

Tomorrow we head over to Amsterdam and Germany for the weekend and really looking forward to it as well as seeing some familiar faces in Stuttgart.

I am feeling a little bit tired today so I won't write much but I will say one thing.
It was lovely seeing Nizlopi on Top of the Pops on Sun night. We were playing at a pub in Paignton Devon and I blubbered as I was so happy and proud of them. For those of you who don't know them, we met at a London open mic back in 2002 and have since played many Moondog Shows together. If you haven't got your copy yet rush out and help the boys make it to number one this christmas.
www.nizlopi.com or www.myspace.com/nizlopi , don't try and link from this journal though as it won't work well, copy the link and paste into a new browser for it to work properly.

Exeter, Hospitality and Aussies

2005-12-07T09:46:00.000-08:00

Played a lovely show at the North Bridge Inn last night in Exeter Devon, my favourite so far on the tour.

Before the show I spent a few hours wandering through the city, which reminded me a little of Melbourne and made me a bit homesick. The audience were wonderful, lots of artists and musicians including talented Australian guitarist/singer/songwriter Nuala, we chatted after the show and are going to keep in contact in the future. We played Spank Me Man twice at their request!!!

Eddie and Willow, the hosts were also lovely and this morning I sang Under The Apple Tree to the hamster as they said he never comes out except for music. Before I knew it his little head popped out of the cotton wool bed, his nose twitching and he rested his head and his eyes closed and he fell asleep! :)

Now we are in a lovely village called Newton Ferrers in Devon, tonight playing at a pub called the Swan in Noss Mayo on the water. Have heard nice things about it.

Must go as the lady we are staying with Ann has made us a lovely meal :)

Write Write Write While You Can!

2005-11-28T15:29:00.000-08:00

Figure I might as well as write as much as I can now before the tour starts, god knows when I will get myself to a computer to write something in here then.

All the shows for the tour are booked and things are going splendidly.
We are playing a couple of shows in Holland and Germany, stopping over in Brussells
which I am very excited about and then Eurotunnelling it back to the Uk via Calais.
Good shopping there I hear!?!

Today I have been very crap and only ate blueberry pie for breakfast and lunch.

Yesterday Lynda and I went on a nice roadtrip to Stratford and St Mary's in Ontario.
We went to a farm where they sold crazy jams and pies and then spent 45 mins in a tea shop would you believe? I am loaded up with exotic teas for the tour and blue plum and raspberry chocolate jam, mmm. There was snow and a lovely early morning breakfast at Let Them Eat Cake in Stratford with a sweet waitress. I took some photos and ate samples as it was tax free day in downtown St Mary's. We listened to Sunset by Kate Bush
about 3 times in a row in the car. Of course it was only a matter if time before I managed to sneak Robbie Williams into the CD player but lucky for some I brought the wrong CD and we were nearly home.

We ate Kraft Dinner for tea, with some aged cheese melted in it from St Mary's, it's weird because I am so picky but not with Kraft Dinner. Tonight we are having sweet potato and maple bean burritos for dinner, one of my faves for the last time for a while, till I get back from the tour I guess.

Oh and the snow is gone in Toronto.
I don't understand, it just came! it made me cold and my toes froze and now it has melted.
Four Seasons in One Day (written about Melbourne by Neil Finn) should be lent to Toronto I think.

3 more days till I fly out, oooh did I remember to tell the airline I am a vegetarian?

Current Music: Still Guarding space on repeat, Anja Garbarek
Current Mood: Frantic & Lazy

The Last Canadian Show With Amy

2005-11-23T10:32:00.000-08:00

Last night Amy and I played a nice little show at new Toronto Bar & Eatery Rockie Raccoons on Yonge St. A bunch of friends came and I also made some new friends. Some of the songs were filmed by Tamara, perhaps up on the website at some point?

We said goodnight to Amy, she was getting a bus to the airport at 4:30am!
The next time I see her will be in London in 10 days, how weird!

So much to do before I leave.
The snow has just started to fall, seems like good timing to high tail...

Current Music: Give Me More Of Everything, Stina Nordenstam
Current Mood: Cold, busy brain

Chatham, ON

2005-11-19T19:10:00.000-08:00

Amy and I played to an attentive and intimate crowd at the lovely William St Cafe in Chatham last night. What a nice surprise it was after the venue in Windsor the night before.

I should have asked more questions about the origins of the cafe but the building had alot of the original features and one of the funkiest, comfortable places I have seen in Ontario.

Afterwards we went back to stay with our global freeloaders hosts in Tecumseh which I cannot seem to say properly! They had the most awesome bathroom with a heat lamp, a speaker system so you could bop with your soap in the shower and they left us muffins and nuts and port!

Current Music: Joanni from Aerial, Kate Bush
Current Mood: Peaceful

Windsor Doesn't Rhyme With Anything Dammit!

2005-11-18T11:59:00.000-08:00

Wow, Windsor, what can I say?
You have a stylish mall....

Thanks to the venue for the programming. Yes we have singer songwriters....
They especially like to stand under the big TV while there is a game on and have
peanuts thrown at them.

Though, real thanks to the 8 people who did enjoy the show, people who had never heard music like Amy's and mine before. Perhaps we will find a nicer, more suitable venue for you next time.

Hey Amy, who is that guy at the bar with the power?!?
Driving away like bandits after a stupid crazy, gig does feel good!

My Space, New live songs & a poem

2005-11-10T14:10:00.000-08:00

Hey folks

I have updated my, myspace page and you can see it at www.myspace.com/emalinedelapaix

I also made a special live songs page here; www.soundclick.com/emalinedelapaixlive which has two songs from a recent concert in Rasputin's in Ottawa for which I am accompanied by Dana Shellmire on piano/vocals and Sahra Featherston on harp/violin. You can dowload the cracking piano version of Melting Down there too.

I added Friday Morning Lullabies from the same concert to
www.soundclick.com/emalineandsahra , that was the second time we have played it, we're still ironing out the creases and I am trying to remember the words!

beautiful what ifs

what is this,
what we are?
with
these
stolen chances
stuffed in our pockets,
brimming and confused,
and my frozen crossbow
cold against your chest
leading you into
forgetfulness,
only senses
and beautiful what ifs

there's a la la
in your voice
and survival in your stride
because there's new wrinkles
around your eyes
and more afterthought than
you ever needed to want.

but don't think that I will love you less
because of your
mistakes
and
those
extra folds,
your face and skin,
delicately growing old.

you're in my blood
that's just how it is
I'll never be sorry for that...

Current music: Animus, Wendy Rule
Current mood: lazy

Kiwi's Are Not The Only Fruit (poem)

2005-11-08T17:33:00.000-08:00

she is the girl who broke my last straw
crushed the last memories
through your lies
for the newspaper won't lull me
to sleep at night
important stories,
knowing we belong together,
it's a heavy weight...
and your love is far away
over the ocean
yet again

I can forgive the dark faced girl
but not the kiwi
who grounds her feet where they are not wanted

you can tell me that you love her!
pining for love that grew roots in foreign soil
hiding my face so when you came inside of me you believed it was her
but I won't ever accept this
I've got a Canadian passport
and she has little time
so she has to make a choice
which drama will she lose?
and she will lose!
I just pray that it will be you...

REVAMP

2005-11-08T11:52:00.000-08:00

Lot's of news...

I will be doing a photoshoot with Toronto photographer Michelle Gibson on Mon 21st Nov and am very excited as her work is awesome and I so need a revamp. Check out her website at www.michellegibsonphoto.com, looks like Amy Seeley will be joining me for a couple of photos as well for use in upcoming promo for shows. What's this? we will have hair and makeup and borrowed jewelry and clothing too? ooh it's all so professional.

Speaking of revamp, in time for the upcoming UK/EU tour, the website will be overhauled and sweetened with the talents of designer Pamela Farber http://www.pamelafarber.com.
We have been working on the design together via email and wait till you see the new look, it's me right through! Also there will be new promo stuff like photos, posters and postcards, not to mention soundfiles from recent live shows and projects.

Spent yesterday meeting with Michelle and Pamela to discuss projects but also took a load of new photos down an alley off Queen Street West in Toronto, of mainly grafitti my new obsession perhaps? When I can get off my butt I will upload them to http://emalinejdelapaix.dotphoto.com

What else? Some new dates added to the UK tour including a house concert in Bradford on Avon, co-housing community concert in Sussex, show at the Green Note restaurant in Camden London, one of my fave places and a very special christmas eve show in Dorset. Oh and there will be a couple of Toronto shows added for the duo shows with Amy Seeley in the next few days too. Busy crazy busy and she will be here in a week!

For those who love good music, Anja Garbarek has a new album out, with the lovely "The Last Trick" single. Check out www.anjagarbarek.com finally, a website with more than two words about the super talented and beautiful Anja. Oh and also make sure you check out the new gorgeous promo photos of Anja, I hope my photos turn out half as good as hers.

Last night Lynda and I watched the Timothy Hutton film, Beautiful Girls.
He is my favourite actor and I had kind of lost touch with what he was up to but I guess I have been having a bit of a Timothy fest lately, catching up and remembering how awesome and CUTE he is with The Falcon & the Snowman with Sean Penn & Turk 182. We just got Ordinary People from the Library, also I had forgotten how awsome they are, free videos and CD's, not to mention the activities they have there including a poetry group, whoa who's a dork?

Anyway it's late as I still haven't had breakfast so must remedy that.

Hope it's sunny where you are...

Current mood: Hopeful
Current music: The Last Trick, Anja Garbarek

in truth she cannot pretend (new poem)

2005-11-03T10:36:00.000-08:00

the lier awakes
with knuckles between
her legs,
her mind dwelling
on superheroes...
men
with truth
strapped to their groins
cause it's been so long
since she came up for air

and in the moment of
real knowing
in sleep she cannot pretend...
tears swell and com-bust,
skin reddens, lips calm
after the final explosion
she loves as much as pain
and she knows she cannot stop it

North Melbourne Marshmallow Sunset

2005-10-21T16:24:00.000-07:00

your kiss seems stranger
missing my lips
and I fall onto my knees
wishing this was enough

and as far as I run
the night follows me
into the china town grit
and the east end out of sight

yet you can still hear me
standing so still against the filthy walls
I am hardly breathing
how is it that you know I am here?

I am the great unknown that you will never, never know
I am the love you swallowed
like knives, cutting you from the inside
I am the dust in that northern town
staining your skin
sweat, sticking, soft and lost blowing in the hot wind

I am the little girl you left behind
your friend, your sister
the lie you told us both
I am she who loves you, as I loved you then
I am your heartbreak
I am the North Melbourne marshmallow sunset
and I will never forget

Current Mood: Melancholy

Home Is Where I Can Stand Still

2005-10-20T15:46:00.000-07:00

In a few weeks a pianist/songwriter/singer by the name of Amy Seeley will be arriving here in Toronto from Calgary for an intensive song learning, fun having, gig playing 10 days.

We have some other plans up our sleeves as well.
Check out www.sonicbids.com/inthewinterdark to find out more as well as Amy's site http://amyseeley.com, her music is really lovely.

Some poetry;

my loyalty, your trigger

it's the end of the day,
the sun is slumping in the sky
setting faster than you dared to hope for

lies stain your mouth,
your pulpy hands took more than their share
and yet you still expect more

you thought I wouldn't see,
but I've lived too much life on these worn out feet
to be cheated by you

underneath the disrespect
you wished that you were me

coldly plotting,
with diminshed self control
my loyalty, your trigger
your jealousy, my sound mind

the only thing you can give me now is disappointment
you must be proud.......

Current Music: Through Your Eyes, Lunik
Current Mood: Indecisive

Meow

2005-10-06T13:52:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning, well actually late morning, to the cries of a wee kitten coming from the laundry downstairs.

I opened the door and there she was, tiny, not much bigger than my hand making a racket with no water, food, kitty litter or anything to sleep on.

I rang the landlord who lives upstairs but he knew nothing about it and he called the other tentant in the basement apartment but I haven't heard anything back. I tried to make her comfortable and played with her a little (she loves to chew on my hair) and decided since we have some cats here it might be best for her to stay there where it's quiet and safe for now.

I don't know what the person was thinking, leaving her there with nothing to eat or drink or sleep on. Sometimes I wonder what's wrong with people!

A Bright Future

2005-09-28T16:06:00.000-07:00

I left London, angry that she wasn't what I had hoped she would be, disappointed that I couldn't stand to live there anymore, among the hungry, afraid, arrogant and the brave.

Now that I can stand back and see her from faraway I am very grateful to have lived within her walls and to have learnt what I did from her. She is all of the things I thought she was; ugly, cold and hard but she is also more alive than any other city I have ever lived in and under all that grey are so many colours and so much hope.

I miss her and can't wait to go back with these new eyes in December.

Maybe I will be able to look at Toronto this way as well, or perhaps I still need some time so I can see her colours?

Current Mood: Hopeful
Current Music: Amy Seeley

Under the apple tree - demo

2005-09-26T10:23:00.000-07:00

Since I moved to Toronto I have started working with a lovely celtic harp player called Sahra Featherstone who I met when on tour in 2001.

We have been working on a few things together and she even played some shows with me at the Summerfolk Festival in Owen Sound in August which were awesome.

This is the first thing we did together and it's a demo for Under The Apple Tree which I am playing guitar on for the first time so be kind to me.

http://www.soundclick.com/emalineandsahra

I hope you like it

:)

Current Music: Pauline & Juliet, Dasent (Heavenly Creatures soundtrack)

Homesick

2005-09-25T12:38:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here listening to lovely friends and OZ musicians the Toe Sucking Cowgirls and feeling all homesick and wanting badly to go home to Australia for a bit.

Also just got an email from friend and Oz musician Rory Ellis who is currently based in the UK which I was surprised to learn. He tells me the state of live music isn't so great in Australia which makes me sad.

Yesterday Lynda and I had a lovely day, we went to the St Lawrence Market in Toronto and ate like a millions samples; honey, tofu, spaghetti, chips, jam, mustard, dip and god knows what else.
We came home with tofu, blueberries, raspberries, purple thai rice (it was soooo good) and loads more. Oh and we stopped in at Kensington Market along the way so she could get some more ginger beer, something she has only recently discovered and finished the night with yummy food (including Churro's - Spanish doughnuts) and some episodes of Buffy.

Will be adding some more UK dates in the next couple of days too.
We are playing at an organic farm in Cornwall!!! I am so excited as I've never been to that part of England before. We're also going to Devon, Lancashire and loads more.

Current Music: the Toe Sucking Cowgirls
(wishful thinking & tenant creek on repeat)
Current Mood: productive
Current Food: lemon & raspberry crepes

I hate teeth

2005-09-20T13:10:00.000-07:00

So I am sitting here back in Toronto, several days back from the tour and my wisdom teeth start playing up! One thing is good, at least they waited until after Waynefest, that would have really sucked.

I have been very lazy, doing nothing but a few things for the upcoming UK tour (yes I didn't tell you) and watching crap TV, eating and getting fat. I will be touring with Dana and Emily again and possibly with a guitarist, will know more info in the coming weeks.

Ooh and for those interested, you can now purchase some of my photography at http://www.yessy.com/emalinedelapaix

I will get the Delaphonic Tshirts designed by lloyd up on the website as soon as I can.
For now if anyone is interested, please email us at candlestonemanagement@yahoo.co.uk for more info.

Anyway I am feeling lazy and tired and the teeth hurt so I am going to rest now.

Have a good day :)

em

Current Mood: sick
Current Music: Tales from the invisible man - Danny Michel

Poem for Australia

2005-09-14T23:45:00.000-07:00

It's my birthday today today and look what I got;

Imogen Heap's new CD, cans of braised tofu from London (sooo hard to get), the sequel to Molvania (can't remember the name right now), sweets, Robbie Williams Swing While Your Winning CD plus his new CD, Be Natural bars from Oz, Natural Confectionary Co snakes & lollies, cannoli & a yummy dinner.

poem for australia

your tasty beams
salty, sweat framed faces
bleeding into me
collapsing under my weight

delighting in the silky dust
dry bones rub lustfully under my feet
I dream of you, I long for you
how could I have lost you?

I grew in anothers customs
but I didn't forget you
will you let me come home again?
I have so much to show you

you will remind me again
of the beauty

torn edges
rusty colours
and that dry wit
no comparisons can be made
we are all so Australian

the waves lap at my memories
but my love for you is strong
like the banksia brush
that will s c r a t c h
my soft forgetful skin in December

leave me for now
my antipodean dreaming
as I try to make friends
in this concrete jungleof forgotten kindess
seeds for growing
and the fast food life

Lavish (some creative writing)

2005-09-13T18:29:00.000-07:00

I could give him everything he wanted for a short period of time, maybe even months.
No questions, no promises, devoid of deflated childish jokes and cover ups. I could be the homemaker prettying the home with pointless garbage, the smell of freshly picked flowers invading my nostrils as I worked, plumping the nestso it would be soft on his return.

The house would be filled with organised baking smells. The recycling would be rinsed and put out on time, the hairs removed from the shower, the couch vacuumed, pillows beaten against a wall, dust free. There would be homemade ice cream in the freezer, intelligent literature left in strategic places through out the house, for visitors eyes, my dyslexia hidden behind my crest white strips smile, in my swollen and over loaded throat.

I wouldn't need anything else but his strong hands and sense of humour, his d**k inside of me and our pretty, sexy adult world where he would be braised tofu and credit cards and I would be swiss chocolate biscuits and thermal underwear.

When away from home, raw and delicious things would come out of my mouth in letters, postcards and emails. I would send photos of weird and beautiful places, foreign canned foods and we would indulge in sexual tension in late night, far away phone conversations, in filthy phone boxes, with tired voices and sweaty, sex smelling fingers.

And he would whisper forever and I would sing him stuff and nonsense, covering my ears for a second, pretending he is dead and I am lonely and this kind of life is exotic.

He will tell me his secrets but I won't know everything, only what he's careless enough to let slip, the tongue being most fertile after we have just made love again, for the 3rd time that night.

We will love and lavish third degree burns like presents, we will make the same mistakes every day but will like it that way because our selfishness is arousing, insuring we always come back for more.

Current mood: Wistful
Current music: Sophie Zelmani, Oh Dear

Waynefest & Goodbyes

2005-09-13T12:02:00.000-07:00

We finished the tour in true style up on stage with many wonderful musicians in the Gospel workshop on Sun at Waynefest.

I was lucky enough to play Reins and have everyone on it, and the rain had finally stopped!Brock did a great job organising everything and I especially loved the pancake breakfast! I am surprised I made it out of bed on Sun after the carry on of Saturday night, I know that I got all emotional at some point in the Last Chance Saloon and wandered back to the mainstage for some reason that is still unknown to me! A well known musician informed me that he knew I was attracted to him and I tried to convince him otherwise but he just wouldn't believe me. Keep in mind people this was the first time I had ever laid eyes on him and didn't know him from a bar of soap!!! haha. Jonny Nordstrom was kind enough to escort me back to the Last Chance Saloon at some point after this so bears or musicians wouldn't get me, LMFAO!

Also we slept in a tent that night, do you believe it? I woke up cold and had to get very close to Dana, hoping she wouldn't take it the wrong way :) On Sunday arvo after the festival, Emily, Dana, Kris and I watched Agassi get slammed in the US open at the Last Chance Saloon but my tummy was hurting a little so I wasn't a lot of fun. However later on I was more fun and we ate Indian, though I was a little drunk by then and couldn't eat much and there was bollywood music and songs made up about c**k blockers by Dana on Kris's guitar. Phew what a weekend!!!

Late sun night we said goodbye to tipsy Emily, put her in a cab and sent her to Calgary airport on her way back to London :( :( :(

Then Kris drove me to the airport on Mon morning and I had to say goodbye to Dana :(

Well it's over for now. But you shall see Emily, Dana, Emaline and Tyler (making special appearances) together again at a festival, pub, art gallery or back garden near you in the future soon!

Bye for now :)

Current Mood: tired
Current Music: Robbie Williams - Tripping

Calgary, and it's raining but I am warm so everything is ok

2005-09-09T05:45:00.000-07:00

Here I am sitting upstairs in Chantal Vitalis's lovely house, using her flash laptop to do some updating while I can.

We were going to head to Waynefest (near Drumheller) tonight for the jam but the weather is pretty crappy and Dana isn't feeling the best so she is sleeping in the bedroom down the hall, fighting flu or something like it symptoms.

I am listening to Melissa McClelland's latest CD and thinking about the future, musically and otherwise and enjoying the heating coming up through the wooden floorboards. We've had a hectic last few days, doing shows in WV last weekend as well as Williamsport PA (Steve's b'day was loads of fun, white sambuca & tabasco shots help you sing better!), Buffalo NY (It was also Tim's b'day and sorry we had to rush off so quickly) and lastly Hugh's Room in Toronto opening for the lovely Barrie Davis from Australia (Is it tea or wee? haha).

This weekend at Waynefest will be the last shows with Dana & Emily as it's the end of the tour and Kris Demeanor will also be joining us on stage for a few tunes on guitar so it's going to be a blast and a perfect way to end our adventures. Dana, Emily and I are thinking about doing a mini UK/Europe tour sometime later this year if we can get something together. Probably Nov if we can work things out but be sure you will see us together again some place!

Come to Waynefest if you are close to Calgary. www.waynefest.com I swear there are so many wonderful bands playing including Chantal Vitalis and Kris Demeanor, Melissa McClelland and more. Brave the rain, it will be worth it, I promise!

Damn that pecan pie is good!

2005-09-05T05:34:00.000-07:00

I tried my first pecan pie last night at the Festival of the Rivers.

Great pie and a wonderful festival with enthusiatic organisers and cool, varied bands. I am very pleased that I came to West Virginia and excited about heading back there as soon as I can to play more shows. Also organising to go back to the Festival of the Rivers in 2006 so that's something to look forward to and I hope to spend more time there next time.

Oh also the festival made a DVD of the show which I will be sure to get up on the website in the next month if I can work out how to do it. Well anyway the website is due for a huge revamp soon anyway.

Summerfolk Festival!!!

2005-08-22T03:24:00.000-07:00

Spent the weekend gigging at the wonderful Summerfolk Festival in Owen Sound On.

Took part in about 6 workshops over the weekend, getting to share song circles with such talent as Trout Fishing in America, Fig for a Kiss, Mark Reeves, Liam Titcomb, Pavlo and more.
We also took part in a crazy mixed up band thingy that Ian Tamblyn put together, 5 musicians from different bands thrown together, to play two songs in front of an audience!

I met two of my band members 5 minutes before going on stage and let me tell you it was chaos but a lot of fun. We named our band Sunspun off a bucket we saw backstage ;P
One of my band members included Tanglefoot double bassist Al who was a laugh and a half.
We did Money Money Money by Abba and a traditional tune called Stretched out on your Grave. It was VERY scary but loads of fun. I have some photos that I hope to upload as soon as I can.

It was a wonderful festival and Liz and all the organisers involved did a great job. I hope to come back again in the future!

HIGHLIGHT mixed up band songs for the festival were "Sweet Caroline" & "Rockin in the free world"

Current Mood: tired

We didn't break down in Wawa

2005-08-16T22:19:00.000-07:00

We were told that Wawa is a notorious break down spot for musicians while on tour but lucky for us, old dirty kept it together and we got to the gig and left without any problems.

Tonight we did a show in conjunction with the city of Wawa and the local women's shelter Chadwic, raising some money for our gas as well as their worthy organisation. We played on the Wawa beach front to a lovely crowd including many children as the sun went down. Bridget from the city was kind enough to bring us a yummy vege lasagna and peach crumble which we enjoyed after the show more than can be described, (there's only so much vege stir fry one can take while on tour!).

Winnipeg Beach

2005-08-15T22:39:00.000-07:00

Did a fun show at Winnipeg Beach yesterday. The people were fun and sold 4 tshirts!
I am happy to be helping spread Lloyds artwork around.

Afterwards we were put up at the lovely Hamilton House Hotel with Geri who was a riot.
I cooked stirfry and ate smarties and got to watch two episodes of Dr Who featuring the scrumptious Christopher Eccleston. And if that wasn't exciting enough, I made a passing comment to Dana at 1:55am that it would be lovely if Buffy was on and I turned over and there it was!!! How lucky was I?

Finished the night off with quirky cool Canadian show Robson Arms and another British detective show that I have seen before. Didn't mean this to sound like a TV guide, was just so excited to see TV, have a shower and a stove in our own room! Wow, I need to get home soon, haha, gee listen to me!

Books and Music

2005-08-13T20:00:00.000-07:00

This afternoon we played in Winnipeg and it was lovely and the people laughed at most of my jokes! Would love to come back next year and explore more if I can. Don't have much more to say about that.

Regina rhymes with Vagina

2005-08-12T15:27:00.000-07:00

Ok so just when I thought Canadian men were lovely I meet some after the gig that make me change my mind.I will get over it, just give me some time....;)

One of the worst gigs of my life!!!

2005-08-10T17:20:00.000-07:00

Ok so we had lots of people living in Lethbridge apologise for what happened last night at the T & G but it has still left a very bad taste in my mouth. I won't go into it but basically the sound was great in soundcheck. Unfortunately it didn't last as the sound guy began smoking joints during the show and kept getting more and more wasted until the sound was absolutely atrocious and Dana's singing sounded like it belonged in an episode of DR Who. I should have known by the negative remarks he made about several people from Calgary at the beginning of the show. Unbelievably unprofessional and upsetting and we won't be going back there!

Calgary and Vodka

2005-08-07T22:44:00.000-07:00

Karma Arts House...

We came, we blew the sound system and I slapped my ass to the spanking solo on Spank Me Man, up on a table. Tyler danced his little butt off, Dana sang till she became Tom Waits and the rest of the crew smiled and played till we couldn't play no more.

Afterwards we drank vodka, beer and bear something in the RV with Rae Spoon and his siblings, a lovely lot. Sorry Rae for getting so agressive about getting that $5 from you, I didn't really want it, just wanted to win, haha!

Slept in very late today, after a trip to Recordland in Calgary yesterday, I stayed up listening to the CD's I bought including Tanita Tikaram all night, twist in my sobriety is a tune (as Jo would say). I wrote some stuff last night too. Stories and songs, missing London.