Pat Blythe – Dear Frank

Preface …..

The loss of Frank Gutch Jr. has affected so many people both in and out of the music industry. For many, it’s a deeply personal loss.

Frank was a prolific writer and reviewer and there weren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish whatever he wanted to do. There was always a new artist, brand new music or a new release from someone he was following. His dedication was and is unbeatable. His love for the music and for those who created it yet went unnoticed who, in his estimation, should be world famous by now and “why weren’t they?”  There was absolutely no one like him. Irreplaceable, unique, exceptional, matchless…..Frank would blush, lower his head and say he was just doing what he loved and believed in. (I can hear his “aw shucks”) and then change the subject. He had an intense and genuine curiosity about other people’s lives and not only loved hearing about them but in many respects took great joy in living vicariously through all of us.

Frank Gutch Jr: The Non-Science of Record Collecting; A Tip o’ the Hat To Dave Gray (RIP); and a short look at the Notes…..

I’m cleaning out portions of my record collection, or what is left of it.  At one time, I had over 10,000 albums (according to a friend who spent a couple of days counting them).  Over 10,000!  I woke up one day and realized that no one in their right mind would have that many, which brings me to the now-occasional columnist for DBAWIS, Darrell Vickers.  I am sure he has over 10,000 which proves that mental imbalance runs in his family.  He is the perfect dumpster for many of the albums I still have and will be a recipient of a few.  I kid, of course, because for both of us, record collecting has been and still is, in his case, an adventure.

Pat Blythe – Appreciating Tom Waits, “The Bout” at The Hideout and More…

Brrrrrrrr…..the cold weather has been keeping many folks inside, even with the brief break of a balmy five degrees! Inviting sun…..frostbitten tootsies. The live music scene, however, is not slowing down and is, in fact, just starting to heat up. Behind the curtains local clubs, bars, concert halls and music festivals are busy sprucing up, prepping, and booking music that will make your ears dance.

Pat Blythe – New Discoveries and a little Musical Therapy….

New discoveries, right in my own backyard. Two of these in town, the third in Brockville. The cast and “crew” of the ONES show stumbled upon this gem after the evening’s performance.