Pat Blythe – England, a surprise…..and Christmas music

I’m supposed to be writing a column today (Tuesday). I almost forgot. Not because I don’t like writing (I love it), I’m in the middle of a swarm of projects, and it currently looks like Christmas exploded all over my house. As well, getting back into my former world of telecom is akin to performing the Highland Sword Dance which involves finesse, footwork and a delicate balance, making sure you don’t touch the swords. Now that it’s “end of year” for most businesses, the almost palpable whoosh of calendars rapidly opening has generated a ripple effect creating a tsunami of meetings and conference calls. “Man the decks…..it’s everyone for themselves!”

Pat Blythe – Today’s column is brought to you by……and music

That one just popped into my head as I’ve just finished posting this week’s podcast.  I’m now 36 podcasts in, 36 conversations, 36 artist voices, 1,100 downloads, 29 followers and over 3,000 “listens”. People from all over the world including Australia, Europe, UAE, South America, the U.S. and Canada have been tuning in.  The purpose was to check in with local artists. As a neophyte podcaster, I had no expectations. Ten downloads made me happy to know someone was listening. Even though I’m still small potatoes, it’s like the little engine that could….it keeps growing by leaps and bounds. Still a guppy in the ocean of podcasts; but folks ARE listening and the music is being shared.

Pat Blythe – Will we ever learn? Kensington punks……and music

As I write this, today is the 21^st day of September in the year 2021…..twenty-one years into the 21^st century already! If we take a hard look back in the history books, has humankind really and truly changed? Are we more civilized, more intelligent, more advanced, more knowledgeable (or better at using the knowledge we have accumulated); more accepting, more just…..? I’m not so sure. Appearances can be deceiving!

Pat Blythe – It’s a Love Revolution Down on Main Street…..and music

I’m loving September. Warm(ish) days with cool nights are just perfect. Grape jelly made, herbs harvested, spaghetti sauce jarred (soup is next), podcast published and now it’s column time! In between all that is photo editing, cross stitching and a few telecom projects. Running around at Mariposa and Summerfolk; meeting new people and listening to new music during Canadian Music Week and Indie Week; dodging bodies, running into my friends and hearing more new music at the clubs…..I’ve missed it all. Fingers crossed we have some semblance of normal next year.

Pat Blythe – Boom boom tsst…..Part One……and music

Why not?! I’ve covered the guitar, the violin, drums, the cowbell, all things keyboard and synthesizer….so why not the cymbal? There’s nary a drum kit or a percussion setup without them. From marching bands to the person in the back of the orchestra who sits patiently, waiting for the build-up and that one moment when they can leap to their feet to crash those two giant cymbals together for that dramatic crescendo……and then (like Christmas) it’s suddenly over. I can’t think of one child who doesn’t love banging and clanging those noisemakers together. So let’s delve right in, shall we.

Pat Blythe – The Pandemic Interviews – Conversations in a changing time…..and music

Tuesday, January 26 at 6:01am my first podcast was posted on Podbean. It’s been a work in progress since last May….well technically last August/September. Let me ‘splain…..

Pat Blythe – Mind F*ck Monday…..loneliness and loss…..and music

This is supposed to be a music column. I should be regaling you with all the Indie bands I’ve seen, the venues and clubs I’ve sashayed through, the festival stages I’ve covered, the photographs I’ve taken and cities I’ve traveled to (not to mention the food). The unfortunate thing is, for the past seven months I’ve done none of that (except for the food) and it’s starting to get damn frustrating!

Pat Blythe – The summer of 2020…..and music

“Heeeeere’s Fall”…..my favourite time of year! Yes, I’m an autumn baby (and so are my kids) so maybe a yearly “rebirth” is what I’m feeling. The season of autumn, to me, is the sensation of new beginnings. The air is lighter, fresher and crisper. We can sweat off a rather thick and muggy, “I can’t even think I’m so hot” summer. The lounge lizard days are behind us. We’re back to work. A new school year begins. The lush vegetation is offering us the fruit of its summer labours, ripe for the picking and ready for us to savour. The trees slowly paint a riot of colour against striking blue skies, something Tom Thompson captured so perfectly in so many paintings. Drives through the country are invigorating and somehow more liberating.

Pat Blythe – A salute to women (of a certain age)….ONE WORD….and music

Another Tuesday and again it is a mishmash of what pops into my mind or maybe I was prodded by something I read. Anyway, I’m currently keeping company with my mom in London and have a watcher keeping an eye on the place. Hopefully the indoor plants will receive a little liquid refreshment tomorrow….I’m sure they’re a little parched by now. My front lawn will need a serious haircut (not unlike myself) this coming weekend after all the rain that’s heading in our direction. My tulips are blooming and Chris’s Forget-Me-Nots will be out in full force. The lilies were already poking through as was the Star of Persia. Snow or not, spring is definitely here according to the plant world. We humans will just have to be patient.

Pat Blythe – All That Jazz…..and music…..

I have been itching to write a series on jazz for quite some time. When I started writing for DBAWIS five years ago I not only wanted to feature the local music scene but dive into the music itself as well as feature the artists who provide us such pleasure. My first series was Women in Song. This was followed by Women of Blues and finally a third series, Women of Rock. I’ve researched and written about the drums, the guitar and how music itself affects the brain and body for both the listener and the writer. Now it’s time for a little jazz.