Tuesday 14 October 2008

Empirical take on CANADA!!


We had the most amazing experience this summer – A tour of North America! We did some incredible gigs, and meet some wonderful people – mostly Jays Family! Check it….


19 June – Whiterock - Belles


We left sunny Heathrow mid morning to arrive in Vancouver around 4. Met by the incredible Aunty Brenda and her friend Mark, we got a whirlwind tour of Jay's hometown of Whiterock, before performing our first gig @ Belles. The food was incredible!!

Belle

The gig


20 June – Second Gig @ Belles


The second day at Whiterock featured more of Jays Family. We stayed at Aunty Shirly's, had massages, saunas, and life coaching from Aunty Brenda, the best chicken of our lives from Aunty Yvonne and taken for squishies by Cousin Ricky! Then the second gig at Belles!

That back rub

An Aunty Brenda Maassage

Squishys
Squishy's

21 June – Vancouver Jazz Festival, Gastown

Aunty Yvonne and Lauren drove us into Vancouver where the incredible Joan had sorted everything – parking, a place to change 50 yards from the stage some excellent local knowledge. The gig was great – really well received, despite being the loudest we've ever been on stage.

After the gig – massive hangs with Ricky and Lauren!! Some incredible food, great people, good drinking and endless jokes!!

22 June – Victoria, Centennial Park

After a beautiful ferry ride to Victoria, we prepared for our first gig - outside. The sun was shining, so Kit's keyboard didn't seem so bad (!!), we played and hung out. Then a few hours off – the usual gym and sauna time - and on to our second gig at Hermann's.

Victoria
Posing in the sun Backstage @ Victoria

A wicked bar, with a great bass (cheers – Tillah) meant a cool gig. A brief hang in the Hotel cocktail bar – Apple Martinis all round and jokes at a piano that played itself!!!

23 June – Travelling New York via Seattle!

Leaving Victoria, we split the group to ease the travel into America. We all went with Joan on the clipper except Shane who got to go on the sea plane!...unfair…Once again, Joan had totally sorted us out – a place to hang all day (with a piano!!) and some incredible food: Oysters and sea food! Whilst Shane slept we all got bargains on some noise cancelling headphones – ha! There is some justice.

Seattle

Hanging in Seattle


We Boarded our flight to New York at 8pm – tired but excited!!

24 June - Society for Ethnic Arts, New York


NEW YORK!!!! We arrived at 6am so stole some hours in a very cramped comfort inn. Having taken our time getting ready – we had to look bad – we sound checked and ate.


The gig was incredible – supporting the Bad Plus and Kurt Rosenwinkel! They were inspiriational. Fond farwells to Joan!!!!


Society for Ethnic Arts
Us mid flow at the Society

Having hooked up with our great friend John Escreet, we hung at Dizzy's for a bit before Shane and Jay went to check Greenwich Village. Knackered we slept at around 3am

Us and J Escreet

Us and John

25 June – Travel to Montreal

A dark morning – getting on a train at 8.20am!! A long haul train journey, back across the border, to Montreal. A lot of sleep….

Sleepy time!

sleepy sleepy

Met by Dani and Uncle Marc! Another generous member of Jay's family. Back to his for much needed Barbeque and Beer – and to meet Lorena, Tyler, Colin and Anne Darla!

26 June – Montreal Jazz Festival

Our first festival gig at Montreal – outside and right in the thick of it. After a rushed sound check and a replacement bass, we had the customary Swim and Suana. The gig was wicked – never seen some many people at a Jazz festival! Hung out with some scientists (…ooo...) and had a lot more jokes!!

Montreal Jazz Festival

Gig at Montreal


27 June – Toronto, Academy of Spherical Arts

Leaving out early once more, we took the train to Toronto, straight to the Hotel for more saunas! Then to the Belle Epoch room for our first gig. We had been there earlier in the year as part of IAJE. Amazing Steaks!!!

28 June – Toronto, Second gig @ Spherical Arts

The second day in Toronto – Chilling out, Shane went to meet some of his family. Our first real rest day since Whiterock. The second gig at Spherical arts, great fun, great to meet more lovely people – including Shane's Cousin Odessa!


Odessa

Odessa and Face

29 June – Montreal, Upstairs Jazz Club

Our last gig – an honour to play at the Upstairs club. Following the sleepy train journey back to Montreal, Marc dropped us at the club for some great Burgers. By the performance, the club was rammed with even more of Jays family, but also André Ménard, festival director, who stayed for the whole gig!

30 June – Montreal @ Uncle Marc's

Jay's cousin Tyler fancied himself as a soccer player – so an impromptu England versues Canada 5 a side was organised! HA! 6 – 0 England! And its football not soccer….

Kit left us mid afternoon to fly back to Blighty for some gigs. We chilled in his absence – much Wii, Pancakes, Jay and Tillah bought excessive Candaian Candy and we watched Cloverfield. Uncle Marc and Lorena are legends – has a bar in the basement where we were sleeping –safe.

Tillah behind the bar

Tillah behind the bar


1 July – Montreal

Feeling relaxed, Jay and Tillah hit some back yard Badminton whilst Face ran off to the park so assert some more English dominance on the Soccer pitch. Shane slept. Anne Darla took us to the hippest shops in Montreal- after a beer with Uncle Marc. Face got some Nikes!!

Us and Uncle Marc!

Us and Uncle Marc

We were treated to some fine Chinese dining – Lobster no less – by the generous Auntie Marlene and Luciano! He said he could get us some incredible suits – and hooked it up! Legend…

A great Hang at Upstairs Jazz Club again – a Jam session featuring Greg Ritchie, many beers, great fun.


2 July – Montreal

The suit hook up happened!! Luciano introduced us to Tony Tatkiss – importer of fine leathers and Suits! Everyone got seriously kitted out…

Enough choice

The Suits

Us and Tony and Luciano

Us Luciano and Tony

Back to Marc's to hang, more Wii, watching Nadal beat Murray, few beers a lot of Sun. Paradise!

3 July –– Montreal and home….almost

Our last day – Uncel Marc had promised to take us golfing, so we Jay, Shane and Tillah hit the range. Much harder than it looks, it pained us but we had to admit, Jay was best.

Some fond farewells, we were blown away by the warmth and generousity shown to us in Montreal. Thank you so much!!!! We headed to the airport.

Unfortunately, we were flying with the now defunct Zoom. Then plane never arrived, we were shuttled off to a hotel, annoyed and shattered.

4 July – Delays!

After a beautiful al fresco lunch, we drudged back to the airport to wait for another 8 hours! Jay and face were corralled into entertaining the passengers, which led to some upset security guards.



Finally boarded the plan, which signified the end of a highly successful tour. A Massive thank you to Dani (our tireless manager) who made this possible!