Pat Blythe – 365 Days …and Music!

When this column posts it will be exactly 365 days to the date the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. It’s been 365 days since the entire planet turned upside down, essentially transforming life as we knew it. There have been massive upsides and downsides, upheavals and confusion, disruptions and adjustments. As much as I have an intense dislike for the phrase “new normal”, that’s what we’re experiencing and there is no turning back. So, whether we like it or not, here we are.

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 – 2020 and beyond….HERE WE COME!!!!….and lots of music…..

A new decade! A new year! Purging, changing, modifying, exploring, new beginnings and some endings, recounting and remembering, wondering, searching, discovering, assessing…..all these and more as a new decade begins.

Pat Blythe – Until next year be safe, be happy, have fun……

This week of December 8 has got to be one of the craziest weeks yet this year and the month just keeps getting busier. Special functions to attend, birthdays, a show, baking, shopping, writing, editing, decorating, cleaning…..the list goes on. In the middle of this maelstrom I have to spend an entire afternoon at the ophthalmologist and another afternoon hanging around my doctor’s office (annual checkup). Time spent away from the computer and other “duties” is keeping me up until the wee wee hours of the morning.

Last week was all about the music of Christmas. Heading down that rabbit hole I learned about, and listened to, some amazing music while researching and selecting the tunes for the column. I’m not sure there’s much more I can add.

Pat Blythe – Mariposa 2019 …Day Two …and Music!

I’m burnt. A brilliantly sunny day spent covering 10 stages and finding shade. I forgot my hat and to tell the truth, it’s really challenging trying to take photographs while chasing an airborne hat or evening lifting the brim to see what the hell you’re focusing on.

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 – Indie Week, Jack The Lads, Loving Vincent…and Music!

 Indie Week in Toronto officially started last night with the big launch party at The Hideout starting at 7pm. Ran into (quite literally) Bruce Bradley of Slammin’ Media, Roxanne Tellier, Peter Montreuil, the man himself, Bob Segarini, photographer Micheal Macisaac, Hartley Pickens, owner of See Rock Live Magazine (whose huge RV was parked out front of the venue), producer/singer/songwriter Chris Birkett, Nadia Elkharadly of Addicted Magazine….and the list goes on.

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 – The Chains That Bind plus Bits and Pieces

I’m going to sneak one in this week. I miss writing and Tuesday’s column by fellow writer Frank Gutch Jr. has motivated me. “War stories” of a different type….addiction…”the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance or activity.” (Oxford Dictionary) In this case, I’m referring specifically to “a particular substance”.

Frank Gutch Jr: Getting Your Fa-La-La-Las (Christmas Compilations & Suggestions); Plus Notes

Nothing says Christmas like a curmudgeon and nobody is more of one than Jaimie Vernon which makes me wish I knew some of the stories behind his long career in music and, also, in life.  Regaling you with tales of chicken wire and whoopee cushions would make this a lot easier to write— nothing like fart jokes to liven up your reading— but it is Christmas season and I must put aside the slings and arrows, as humorous as they might be.