Dough Re Mi
Monday, July 18 2011
Posted by brockp
Johnathan Cummins used to say that when referring to money. Do-Re-Mi. I like that, so am using it again.

Further to my recent posting about Doughboys reuniting to support Foo Fighters in Montreal and Toronto August 9th & 10th, I am back again to shamelessly ask for help in raising the Dough (pardon the pun) for a flight back East.

The band, for those of you who are asking, will be the Happy Accidents lineup of John K, Jonathan Cummins, Jon Bond Head, and Paul Newman. I've been invited me to join them for a song, or a couple of songs, as the case may be.

The hitch for me is that the offer does not include expenses, so I have to pay my own way there. Without going into that at all, let me just answer by saying its just the way it is. Its certainly important enough to ME that I can get there and do these shows, but the fact remains that I am barely hanging on here in Vancouver and until the next leg of the Hats tour starts up in late August, am without gainful employment.

Anyways, if any of you are so inclined as to wish to help me get to Toronto and Montreal for these shows, I'm crassly placing a paypal donate button below. Seriously. I know its pretty shameless, but I'm already about to sell my 1953 Gibson L50, which is already in pawn, in order to get my car out of impound. See my previoussymmetrical bruising post for that story.

Eat my hat
Friday, July 15 2011
Posted by brockp
OK OK.

I now have to go back and say something else after my other Doughboys reunion rant from a few months back, I guess. The truth is, assuming I can actually afford to get back east again next month, I have been asked to join the band for a few songs.

John K and I working together on the Hats tour has been a real blessing for getting over the past.

We finished up the east coast leg at Monktropolis in Montreal on Canada Day, and I'm still kinda reeling a bit from being back in those neighbourhoods.

Our guest list for the last show had like 50 people on it, but being super busy with all the post show type stuff, I barely saw anyone. It was like, "Oh, there's Michel..." as I head back upstairs to shut down the laptops and strike the stage. So Hey, Michel, it was awesome to see your face again!

I did get to spend a bit of time with Carlos, my first time seeing him since... well... you know. Carlos is on my mind a lot lately, since he is by now evicted from his place and back in the street somewhere. That's about all I will say about that right now.

Transitioning from being back in Montreal eating Harmoon and hanging out at Casa has been a bit of a challenge, and has not been without casualty. So much emotion has been stirred up. At least it has got me writing again. Mark, Lou and I stopped at Tone Boutique on the way to the airport in a flurry, so's I could pick up the cigar box guitar. That has proven to be the instrument of choice for me lately. Only four strings and a mini-humbucker. That plus a few unexpected jams at Mani (Khaira)'s place. The last one a few nights ago, I found myself bowing my cymbals, and was again overcome with the chest exploding torrents of emotion. Who would have thought it would be bowing cymbals.

Anyway, about the Doughboys thing, yes, for those of you that have asked, I am involved in the upcoming shows, albeit in theory. I have yet to make it to a rehearsal, but assuming I can find my way to Toronto in a few weeks, I plan to take John up on his offer.

Hats Tour 2011
Sunday, June 26 2011
Posted by brockp
First off, tethering is great. As a result of this fabulous technology, I am now blogging on this site while sitting in the front seat of our Ford Econoline 12 passenger van. Moving. How cool is that? Thanks iLou!

So yeah, second off, I guess I should say something to account for the complete lack of anything new on here in ten aeons. Thing is, I pretty much always start off a new blog that way so... Yeah, not going to happen.

"You're gonna wanna let that one go, buddy". Kind of in the same way you have to let certain stuff go, when you're on tour in a van with a band. Not everything, mind you. For example, one thing that you're gonna need to let go of is not getting paid. Not that that would ever happen on this tour, mind you, but... just sayin...

One thing that it is not a good idea to let go of while on tour (or in general) is, er, bad aromas. Descendents have an entire album devoted to not suppressing flatulence (or two depending on how you count) but not in this van. In fact, I've just been notified that my old suitcase has been voted off the van. Its about a gajillion years old (I think it used to belong to Grandpa Redfern) and has a musty waft that just cannot be ditched, even with dryer sheets. So upon getting into the van this morning following checking out of the hotel, I was given the news. New suitcase. Today. The journey of that old one is done. In my defense I had to bring the damn thing because I had nothing else to carry merch in on the flight from Vancouver. Yes, I apologize if your new Men Without Hats shirt has a slightly strange, musty smell...