Pat Blythe – ON THE ROAD: With ONES, In England, At the London Bluesfest Finale…and Music!

Guess what? I have to write a column today. It’s supposed to post tomorrow (Wednesday). I should have it done today but……. I don’t have writer’s block. In fact, I have far too much to write about. All kinds of music and such I’d like to share. Events past, just happened and future. Problem is, it doesn’t in fit in a single piece. This is not a “one size fits all”, the old 500 words or less…. Nope, I’m beginning to feel like the late, great, Frank Gutch Jr. I don’t think anything less that 5,000 words could pour out of his brain. I think he got up to 13,000 at one point. I’m neither that verbose or knowledgeable but we did share a deep passion for music and for sharing it. I fear it’s gonna be a very, very, very late night…………………….

Indie Peter Indie Music Indie Launch

About ten days ago, I was at “The Hideout”. The band spent about 10 minutes warming up, then did a song. During the song, the drummer asked for an adjustment to his monitor, as sometimes happens during an opening number. The band finished and I applauded warmly. The lead singer said “Thanks. Warm up!” Oh well, you can’t be right all the time 😉.

Pat Blythe – London Bluesfest — Savoy Brown, Foghat, Mark Farner…..and Music!

I’m leaving my personal thoughts and musings to the end time……I’m still catching up with the summer and all the wonderful music I heard, the people I met and all those little moments in between.

So….starting with London Bluesfest….my inner teenager was agog, amazed and humbled by the lineup this year. Performers I never had a chance to see and performers that brought back some wonderful memories. I arrived in London on the Friday, just in time to pick up my badge, connect with friend Elaine Sawyer (whose company Wich is Wich was catering the event) and catch Savoy Brown and Foghat.

Peter on Crooked Politics and Crooked The Band

Democracy is in peril, threatened by apathy. We have elected unqualified fools, both in America and here in Ontario, much to my chagrin. How could these accepting and accommodating nations welcome these wolves into their doors?

Peter Brings The Latest Buzz Bands

I hope that no one thinks that I was angry when I wrote my last column. If anything, I was just disappointed, especially with the Hall and Oates concert which we attended last year. I had paid a fair bit of money, (and don’t get me going on the ticket reseller scam, or I WILL get angry!), for some ostensibly choice seats, only to be confronted by a writhing geriatric “mosh pit” poised between the stage and ourselves. Anyone who reads this and who wishes to assail me with accusations of “ageism”, I am 63 years old, so take your best shot, although the ice beneath your feet will be very thin indeed 😉!

Peter Forgives Hall and Oates and Billy Joel

I hope that no one thinks that I was angry when I wrote my last column. If anything, I was just disappointed, especially with the Hall and Oates concert which we attended last year. I had paid a fair bit of money, (and don’t get me going on the ticket reseller scam, or I WILL get angry!), for some ostensibly choice seats, only to be confronted by a writhing geriatric “mosh pit” poised between the stage and ourselves. Anyone who reads this and who wishes to assail me with accusations of “ageism”, I am 63 years old, so take your best shot, although the ice beneath your feet will be very thin indeed 😉!

Q: Are He Not Peter Montreuil? A: He Are Indie!

Thanks for the responses to last week’s column. I realize that the column was a little disjointed, or more disjointed than usual, but it was a very frightening time for me, and I had to face some demons head on, so the structure of that column accurately reflected my mental state at the time.

Peter (Beer) Barrels through CMW 2018

Armed with my “media” credentials, my guidebook and my Metropass, I took on Canadian Music Week. (Note that all of the bands/artists that I mention in this column have Facebook pages, and are well worth further study, should you feel so inclined. It was a very busy week!)

Peter Falls for Local Music

Friday night at Lee’s Palace,  there was some outstanding musical talent on display. I was there for most of it. The show marked the public debut in Toronto of “My Favourite Filter”. I had seen “MFF” previously, at a small venue, and I am pleased to report that their performance translates well to a larger venue.  Expect big things from them, my friends.

Peter Gets Crooked and then Sets You Straight

Last Thursday, while the editor was valiantly attempting to “loose the Gordian Knot” of my purple prose, absolve me of my syntax and find pictures that were not only relevant to my column, but also tried to make me look brighter than I actually am, I was “trodding the boards”. My friends from “The Crooked” were filming a video and requested volunteers to be extras. Now, there is acting in my background. I remember my father telling me about being in a play in university. To his delight, there was a movie made of that very play, and he eagerly purchased a ticket, eager to see which Hollywood Heavyweight would try to fill his thespian shoes. Alas, his part was written out of the film. I myself once played Joseph Haydn in a grade 3 class play. I remember the pained look on my father’s face when I asked if I could borrow one of his prized violins as a prop. (In the event, I used a stringless plastic ukele and employed a ruler as my bow.) I also have had a lot of experience acting interested and engaged during meetings at work.