Return to Victoria: Longs and a House Concert

It's a quick run down to Victoria this morning. The Lincoln is sounding great- we give her a little test run into Ladysmith, where we stop for coffee and supplies.

Down the road we stop to look at the big trees. There are bigger, older trees than these in British Columbia- but these might be the largest next to a highway. The photo doesn't really give the scale of the tree the actual BIG that it is. We usually roll through here in late October or early November when the salmon are running the river, so the park is quiet today. We listen to the trees for a few minutes, and now it's on to Victoria!

Long and McQuade is waiting for us. It's a big store with a music education

facility.

We set up and do a mini concert in the guitar department. After answering questions and signing CDs we are on our way. We've got a house concert this evening!

Nice intro, eh?!!

Dave and I have a ball! We've got a full house at this house, and everybody is having fun.

Jacket winner!!!

Door prize! This photo captures us taking our "winner" blog snap!

After the show we hang out and socialize a bit. It's been another wonderful house concert event. Lots of new friends, and I can't help but think how lucky we are to be here, and to live this life.

Good- night!! This picture closes the kitchen, and it's time to catch some well deserved rest.

Outgoing!

A quick roll into Long and McQuade's Bloor St., Toronto location. I've got a lot of stops to make today, but this one is usually pretty easy. I'm around at the Rentals door- a place I know well.

The Lincoln is looking good, too. It has a pretty big trunk. I'm going to pack a smallish, back-up PA in there along with everything else. I always hope that it never will need to come out- but every Tour has it's equipment supply failures. If requirements come up short I'm ready with a back-up of every item. I was just reminded of touring England for the first time where "a full PA system" turned out to be a single mic on a cord!

That's not a problem here. Mike quickly helps me select what I'll need for this Tour. I'm taking out a little Yorkville System that packs nicely. It would not be great in a theatre, but it would cover our butts, and it will certainly sound very good in any smaller venues. Quite amazing to think how good modern gear actually is. Not so long ago a PA of this efficiency would of required large, heavy cabinets and probably a small van to move them around in.

Hey! This Tour is good to go! While Long and McQuade outfits us, I always buy extra insurance on all the gear. Tomorrow, the open road! Westward bound!

Posters Released

I know, you can't read it on here. But it's gone to print, and the first batch has already been mailed out to some of the September shows. The rest will follow in a few days time. DPI Graphics, of Mississauga is doing the print of the posters and banners. Wendy Walker produced the images, designed and maintained the brand.

Absolutely crazy times, but under control. The first proof lacked the Long and McQuade plate, so we went back and took care of that. And then a couple of shows came in. Added those. And then the press release went out. My friends in Quebec quickly reminded me that Ile Perrot was not spelled correctly! Called back the poster. Fixed it! Corrected the Blog, the future press releases, the calendar, the Tour Book. It's quite amazing how one little mistake can leak into so many places. I dread mistakes of any kind. I've been pretty lucky for most of the last 600 shows– hopefully all the dates on this Tour will be smooth.

I always delay the poster until the last minute- trying to get all the shows on it. In the end, there are always a few shows that don't get on the poster, and sometimes a TBA or a TBC that remains unsigned. All in all, it's a moment in time. It's what the Tour was on the day the poster went to print. And thank goodness Ile Perrot is spelled correctly! The schedule is pretty solid, but I know there will be a considerable number of Long and McQuade and media events added in the upcoming days. Meanwhile, I'll be licking stamps here in the National Steel mail room! See you out there on the Blues Highway!

Long and McQuade Back on the Tour

I'm very proud to announce that our partnership with Canada's biggest- and best- music facilitator, Long & McQuade, will continue for a fourth consecutive season. I'm going to say good things about them below because I am sincerely proud of this fact.

You'll notice I said "facilitator" not "store" or "music retailer," or something like that. That's because Long & McQuade is more than any of those things. It's a family business, deeply and sincerely committed to the many communities across Canada where it has a presence. You'll not only find it involved in all levels of music, but also in worthy causes.

Here we are in the Calgary, Alberta location. I like the way Long & McQuade does things, and I know Big Dave does, too. Everywhere we go we meet dedicated, long term staff, who love their jobs. It's not just about selling stuff, or giving lessons. I've also been a customer for about 40 years, and I've been in and out of most of their locations in the course of my touring. I remember being in the basement of their original store when I was about 12 and- for some reason- I remember the smell of some of the old drum kits they had down there... It was exciting to be there, it was the Big Time to us.

Charlottetown, PEI. As a company they have taken risks to develop all kinds of music in Canada. How many successful performers bought their first instrument on credit at Long & McQuade? Rented their first PA for their first gig? Longs has planted a lot of seeds for a lot of years, for professionals, amateurs, ordinary people and stars alike. I believe that their business model has significantly impacted Canadian culture. Probably more than some of the grant agencies.

Yes, it grew out of Toronto, but every community has it's own identity. Here Michael Pickett and I set up in Surrey, BC. Do you think it will be loud enough?!!

Guitar heaven in Nanaimo, BC. Our pre-show masterclasses have been very successful here!

These are only a few of the many Long & McQuade locations the Tour has visited in the course of doing nearly 600 shows across Canada. Expect at least a dozen Long & McQuade stops on the upcoming Tour. I'll post the times and locations as they are firmed into our Tourbook.