Pat Blythe – Indie Week…..Julian Taylor….podcasting……and music

I’m missing the live music, the clubs…..but most of all the people. It’s been two years now since I’ve trolled Toronto’s club scene, traveled with the ONES show and visited the many stages of the various festivals in Ontario. I loved it all….every second of it! I met some of the most incredible people, heard some fantastic music, and was honoured to a part of a scene I had been away from for so long. I made new friends (and lost a few), learned new skills, and was gifted with the opportunity to write this column…..it was a whirlwind six years. Then Covid decided to rain on our parade. The Pandemic Interviews allowed me to stay connected to many of the musicians I met during those five years.

Pat Blythe – For no particular reason…..Julian Taylor……and music

I woke up today (Tuesday) morning, late, thinking of the future and what lies ahead. Of England, of leaving Canada, of all the friendships and relationships I’ve built over the past five years and the very special ones in particular, of all the people that have come into and passed through my life since Chris’s death. I woke up reminiscing for some strange reason, looking around my home and feeling totally amazed at how much my life has changed in such a short period of time. My sons are in a good place with wonderful women. They have both make brilliant choices. I think of Colleen, the daughter-of-my-heart, half- way around the world building a new, exciting and fantastic life. I think of my mom and all that she has seen and lived through during her 90 years on this earth. I also see many of my friends leaving the city for calmer pastures and my eyes scan my comfy home and reflect.

Pat Blythe – Diversions, Julian Taylor Band, New Drums …and Music!

It’s Tuesday yet again. Apparently it repeats itself every six days. Bugger! This means it’s column writing day and I am not remotely focused on the task at hand. This could mean a ridiculously lengthy dissertation or stupidly short piece of nonsense. We’ll see where this one goes??

Pat Blythe – Canadian Music Week 2017….The Finale

Before I pick up where I left off prior to Bob’s computer turning into a brick, I shall sidestep a titch and segue, for just a moment, into sessions. Yes…those relatively educational, supposedly non-biased, informative, enlightening, seminars/panel discussions or summits, as CMW refers to them. This is the core stuff delegates are actually paying for when they purchase a ticket. I listed the several different streams one can chose from in last week’s column, so I shan’t bore you with the details here. However, suffice to say, there is loads of opportunity to learn as well as “button hole” and query those with a cumulative hundreds of years of experience, and educate yourself in everything that is the entertainment industry. From Mentor’s Cafe to SOCAN, from touring to ticketing, from writing, producing and publishing to understanding Indie labels and Indie rights….and that’s just the music stream.

Pat Blythe – Ginger Ale, Fat As Fuck and Freeman Dre…how’s that for a headline?

Enjoying today (Tuesday). Playing hooky from the computer for a while. 27 degrees out! and last time I checked the date it was mid-October. No coat, no sweater, no closed-toed shoes….wonderful. The cold will arrive soon enough so enjoy these gorgeous days while you can.

Pat Blythe – Discoveries and Julian Taylor

The days are getting shorter, the air is cooler…actually downright cold in the evening. Boots, gloves, toques and scarves are appearing and I’ve finally sucked it up and put the heat on. Warm-to-the-feet bathroom floors are just lovely in the morning. Halloween approaches, American Thanksgiving and then (dare I say)…..oh shush…..Christmas!!!!…73 shopping days left folks!!!

Frank Gutch Jr: Julian Taylor Has a Band, EIEIO; Wreckless Eric & The Case of the Not-So-Brave-New-World; From The Sally Rose Band To Shagwuf (with an umlaut); A Look Back at Audrey Martell(s); and Plain Old Notes

If I headed a bill, I wouldn’t want The Julian Taylor Band opening.  I mean, remember when Hendrix opened for The Monkees?   No, I don’t suppose you do.  Most of you, anyway.  Let us just say it didn’t last.  While Julian Taylor is no Hendrix (apples and oranges, really), he is a monster in the wings awaiting his chance and his new album, Desert Star, might just be it.  It’s a double album, I hear, and one with four distinct sides.  I have it.  I want to listen to it.  I will get to it.  But first I have to get past this performance of Taylor and crew at Lee’s Palace in Toronto.  Posted only a couple of days ago, it has been looping on my computer since.  I hear funk and I hear soul and I hear so much more.

Pat Blythe: Keeping the music alive…one “note” at a time

It has indeed been a busy summer for everyone. 2016 has been a peculiar, curious and rather dramatic year. A year of extreme change, upheavals, death, excessive busyness, new connections, sheer stupidity, life transformations and adjustments — nothing has been minor. It’s all been “in our faces”, screaming and shouting at us, begging us to take notice, pleading with us to address whatever is coming at us.  I think many will be glad to see the back end of 2016 and look forward with hope to 2017. No, this is not a ‘year-end’ column, just a bit of reflection on the summer that seemingly whizzed by and all that happened in just that short timeframe.

Pat Blythe – Celebrations…..

It’s Tuesday night and ain’t got no money…..no….wait…..wrong song! It’s Tuesday night and I’m just starting my column….that’s it. This one will be short and sweet (so to speak). My lovely daughter-in-law Colleen has just finished giving me a Thai “massage”. The word massage is in quotes because it’s not really a “massage”.