Pat Blythe – Time

“Time is the indefinite continued progress of existence and events that occur in apparently irreversible succession from the past through the present to the future.” — Wikipedia

Why is time so important? What is the value of time? What is the meaning of time in our lives? Can we really manage time? Is time a commodity to be bought and sold? Why does time go forward and not backward? Is time really the progress of anything? What is “wasted” time? What does time mean to you?

Palaeolithic man marked time by the moon over 6,000 years ago. Advance a few thousand years and lunar calendars were the first to make an appearance in various cultures around the world. Fast forward to the Julian Calendar (the first solar calendar) followed by the Gregorian Calendar, although the French Revolution tried to put a stop to that by creating their own French Republican Calendar which was eventually abolished in 1806. The majority of the world uses the Gregorian Calendar to this day. Today there are two distinct methods to mark time — the clock and the calendar.

Time – Pink Floyd

Every year, for centuries, humankind celebrates the end of one year and the beginning of another. Often viewed as a fresh start, a clean slate, an exciting new beginning, we are full of resolve and determination to improve and make better use of our time. The new year makes one feel somewhat revitalized and refreshed, like shedding an old skin for something clean, shiny and well…..new.  Time….we look back to the months of a year just gone and forward to the year ahead, already dreaming of spring and summer before winter has barely begun…..and time marches on.

Time…..measured in seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks…. How many aphorisms are there that are about, or refer to, time? “Time flies like and arrow”, “time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time”, “time heals all wounds”, “time is what we most desire….but we use worst”, “time flies while you’re having fun…..”, “time is the most valuable thing a man can spend”, and they go on. One of the most meaningful, “don’t put off to tomorrow what you can do today”. Listen up!

Time Marches On – Roy Hamilton

As I sit here listening to music and watching my mom do her Sudoku and crossword, I think of all the years that have passed, literally, in the blink of an eye. Time seemed infinite when I was growing up. At certain stages it couldn’t go fast enough.  Now it is to be savoured, enjoyed…..each minute, each hour to be embraced and cherished, like a lost love found. I am so very grateful, and fortunate to still have my mom in my life. At 88 she is definitely slowing down but she is still an active, vital person who figures prominently in my life and the family’s. It seems just minutes ago I was a little girl excitedly watching the thunderstorm come in. The three of us… my two younger sisters and I dressed in our bathing suits.… lined up along the back of the couch, chins in our hands, looking out the large picture window, waiting with anticipation for that first bolt of lightning followed by the booming crack of thunder.  Mom would join us as the dark storm clouds moved in. I still love a good thunderstorm but I don’t don my bathing suit anymore and dance in the rain. Maybe I should?

Day After Day – Alan Parsons Project

The Circle Game – Joni Mitchell

…and here we are….

2018 arrived with extraordinarily cold temperatures and many festivities totally or partially cancelled. Even the crowds in Times Square were rather thin for what is typically a tightly packed, bum-to-bum, shoulder-to-shoulder, security-laden audience for the ball drop.  The new year came in with more of a sneeze than a bang. I’m undecided on whether that “sneeze” has any significance or not.  So, it is farewell to a truly strange, bizarre, year. A year of great change, upheaval, chaos, death, stupidity, arrogance, inane banality, sandbox mentality, fear, backwardness, tight-assed attitudes, misogynistic stances, posturing, sex (the good, the bad and the downright ugly)…. I could go on. Attempting to remain optimistic and seek the positive in amongst the detritus of negativity in 2017…..challenging at best.

Apparently not much has changed in the almost 50 years since this song hit the charts….or maybe we’ve come full circle.  Maybe time really does go backwards….

Time Has Come Today – Chambers Brothers

On a more personal upbeat note, I photographed more musicians, bands and artists and listened to more music in 2017 that I did the year prior….and I wonder how that is even possible? I met some incredible people, made new friends, got all four appendages working in concert on the drums, performed live (on keyboard) for the very first (and last) time, celebrated weddings, births and birthdays, danced, sang and loved….. the laughter, the people and especially the music, It warms my heart and touches my soul like nothing else.

What follows here is a list and a pictorial “essay” of some the many makers of music I managed to snap in 2017….in alphabetical order.  Unfortunately if I include a picture of absolutely everyone I photographed last year my editor would be working on this column into 2019.

The List…..

A Fellow Ship, Against The Wind, Alex Black, Alysha Brilla, Anjulie, Becky McDuff, a birthday BBQ and birthday jam, Black Pussy, Blackdog Ballroom, Blushing Brides, Candy Apple Jazz Band, Cantorion Choir, Carpet Frogs, Cherry Cola’s 7th Anniversary, Chloe Doucet, Claude Jones, Craig Riddick Band, Crown Lands,  Dave Bailey Memorial, David Gogo, David McMichael, Def Bombs, Dirty Church, Eddie Bullen, Ember Swift, Ensemble Vivant, Eagles of Death Metal, Eric Mercury, Female Eye Film Festival, Francesco Yates, Frank Soda & The Imps, Frank Zirone, Freddy Pompeii Benefit, Galen Weston, Gene Pool, Ginger Ale & The Monowhales, Gowan, Graffiti Park, Herve Bassett memorial, Indie Week launch party, Indie Week opening night party, Jack The Lads, James Blonde/Xprime, J.C. Sandoval, Julian Taylor Band, Keith Hampshire, King Beez, Lily Mason, Low Orbit, Luke Austin, Maia Van Raes, Marsden Birthday Bash, Mastodon, Mercy Flight, Michael McKenna, Midnight Shine, Mushy Callahan, My Psycho Ex, One Bad Son, ONES, Pacanomad, Paul James, Rival Sons, River City Junction, Rob Szabo, Robbie Lane, Robbie Rox, Ruthless Ones, Sam Taylor, Sam Taylor and The East End Love, Sarah Smith, Sate, Sean MacLean, Secret Broadcast, SING Toronto, Stephanie Niles, Stumblin’ Blind,  The Alzheimer’s Appreciation Orchestra and Chorus, The Clockworks, The Divided Line, The Dreamboats, The Spoons, The Tom Waits Appreciation Congregation, The Treble, Thor, Tom Cochrane & Red Rider, Tom Wilson (book launch), Toney Springer, Tyler Ellis, Tyler Simmons, Uforia, Vinyl Ambush and Walter Zwol

…and then there’s the Festivals….

CMW (Whitehorse, Amelia Curran, Tanya Tagaq, Common Deer, Menage, Hello Delaware, Julian Taylor, Music Nova Scotia performers)

Indie Week (Connor Gross, Elyse Saunders, Matt Zady, Pat Robitaille, Talltale, Tokyo Taboo, The Implications, ETNO, Moon Tan, Luna Li, Single By Sunday, Trampa, Rochester, Danielle,  Ivy James, Chris Birkett, Brian Sasaki, Jessica Speziale, Glen Hornblast, Karen Zila Hays, Suzi Kory, The Free Label, HMS Morris, The Empty Page, Single By Sunday )

London Bluesfest (Burton Cummings, Bill Durst, Molly Hatchet, Robert Cray, Scott Holt, Wild T & The Spirit)

Beach Jazz Festival (Eddie Bullen, Quincy Bullen, Elyse LeGrow, Blue Room, Johnny Max, Paul Sanderson and others)

Silver Dollar Closing (Donnie “Mr. Downchild” Walsh, Spencer MacKenzie, Raoul Bhanea, Braithwaite & Whiteley, Cheryl Lescom,, Danny Marks, Robin Banks, Jerome Godboo, Michael Fonfara, Mike Fitzpatrick, Chuck Jackson, Darran Poole, Gary Kendall)

…..and I’m sure there are a number of MIAs, solely because some photographs came about by happenstance and I didn’t get their names.

The Pics….

Against The Wind

Alysha Brilla

Black Pussy

Blackdog Ballroom

Burton Cummings

The Carpet Frogs

Crown Lands

David Gogo and Sam Taylor

Dwayne Gretzky at the Q107 40th Birthday bash

Ember Swift

Ensemble Vivant at Grace Church on the Hill

Free Label

Jesse Hughes – Eagles of Death Metal

L-R – Roger Williams, Eddie Bullen, Eric Mercury, Liberty Silver, Ian Green  at the Eric Mercury Tribute held at BAND’s (Black Artists’ Network Dialogue) new headquarters, Brock St, Toronto

Freddy Pompeii Benefit

Sate

Gowan

J.C. Sandoval

Julian Taylor

Low Orbit

Tyler Simmons

Trampa

Vinyl Ambush

Belle Matthews of Vinyl Ambush

Secret Broadcast

Sam Taylor

ONES

Closing in on my third anniversary writing for DBAWIS and looking back to 2017 and even further to 2015, I have a difficult time believing how much has changed both personally, professionally and in the world at large. Time has seemingly sped by yet maintaining its fashionable pace, it’s dignity intact, moving calmly on its trek while we flail about in its wake, trying to make sense of the rapid, mind-boggling transformations happening all around us. Meanwhile broadcasters, news organs, commentators and even comedians provide mordant insights, the latter using their razor sharp wit meant to enlighten? inform? incite?  It’s all too overwhelming with misinformation flying around at warp speed thanks to social media and the “intertoob”. For many, to disseminate it all is nigh on impossible. No wonder many of us want to crawl back into bed and pull the blankets over us…..permanently. Let’s hope 2018 brings more calm, more humanity, more prosperity and dare I say……common sense.  Reminds me of my of one of my favourite quotes…..“stay sane inside insanity”. Wishing you all a sane, happy, healthy, peaceful, music-filled 2018

I am truly having the….

Time of My Life (Dirty Dancing) – Final dance

….. and dammit…..I’m going to dance in the rain again!!!

Tunes….

Time of the Season – The Zombies

Ball of Confusion – The Temptations

Body Go Round – The Wackers

Newborn Friend – Seal

Nature’s Way – Spirit

Crime of The Century – Supertramp

Teach Your Children – Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

Into You – Research Turtles

One Tin Soldier – The Original Caste

Dancing in The Moonlight – King Harvest

The House of The Rising Sun – Frigid Pink

All photographs © 2017 A Girl With A Camera “The Picture Taker” unless otherwise noted.

=PB=

Pat’s column appears every Wednesday.

Contact us at: dbawis@rogers.com

“Music and photography….my heart, my passions.” After an extended absence —  33 years as a consultant and design specialist in the telecommunications industry — Pat has turned her focus back to the music scene. Immersing herself in the local club circuit, attending the many diverse music festivals, listening to some great music, photographing and writing once again, she is eager to spread the word about this great Music City of ours…..Toronto. Together for 34 years, Pat also worked alongside her late husband Christopher Blythe, The PictureTaker©, who, beginning in the early 70s, photographed much of the local talent (think Goddo, Frank Soda and the Imps, BB Gabor, the first Police Picnic, Buzzsaw, Hellfield, Shooter, The Segarini Band….) as well as national and international acts. Pat is currently making her way through 40 years of Chris’s archives, 20 of which are a photographic history of the local GTA music scene beginning in 1974. It continues to be a work in progress. Oh…..and she LOVES to dance!