Gleðileg Jól!

That is Icelandic for Merry Christmas and I'll be practicing it over and over again this week as I prepare for the Framfari dinner this Saturday. I'll be playing some Christmas songs and 40's tunes for the folks from the Icelandic National League. I've also been given a huge honour, I've been granted a seat at the head table with the Icelandic Consulate General Mr. Atli Ásmundsson and his wife.

Gleðileg Jól everybody!

Gig Poster for JUKE NIGHT

Here is the poster for JUKE NIGHT - Dec 10th at Academy Bar & Eatery. I've got a four piece band playing with me. Drums, Bass, Harmonica and Guitar. It's going to be a down and dirty Greasy Electric Blues Night and I am soooooo excited about it.

My friend Brenda Neiles is going to be opening the show. She is such a terrific writer and has that Gillian Welch, Lucinda Williams vibe. It is going to be a fun night!!!

See you there.

Last Minute Gig Announcement

Stop the Presses! Hold the phone! This just in! I've picked up a night at the Academy Bar & Eatery on Saturday Dec 10th at 8pm. It will be JUKE NIGHT featuring my electric band and a special guest opener. We're going to bring the blues big time to this club so get yer best gal and put on your sunglasses and yer best bootlegger outfit and lets pitch a Wang Dang Doodle!

A Christmas of Ukulele

This week I spent my free time playing the ukulele and working on arrangements of Christmas tunes. I've decided that this coming week I will record an EP of ukulele Christmas tunes that I can provide at a couple Christmas parties I'm playing this month. The first two songs arranged for the CD are Mele Kalikimaka (thanks Jennifer and Christy) and God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman. I am still looking for the other 4 so if you have a suggestions please post it here so that I can consider it.

The CD will be recorded at my new home studio (Hal's Kitchen) and produced entirely in house. Since it will be for limited local release initially, don't expect some deluxe amazing graphics. This will be all about the Christmas tunes and the ukulele. Later this winter I'll probably do the work to make it a full release next year.

Oh well, back to strumming the strings.

One more hero takes a dirt nap

Link Wray - May 2, 1929 - November 5, 2005
Early rock pioneer Link Wray, who invented the power chord and thus influenced some of the genre's most famous musicians, has died at the age of 76. If you've ever played a power chord then you've been influenced by this man. If you enjoyed the soundtrack to Pulp Fiction or Desperados then you've heard this man. The world is now a poorer place.

Project for a snowy winter day

Yesterday I spent the day wiring a telecaster guitar. Earlier this fall I decided that I should learn how electric guitars work on the inside and so I've been slowly building a telecaster (from pre-fab parts). Yesterday was the final step and the wiring of the electronics that make it work.

I'm pleased to say that the operation was a success and the patient lived!!!! The guitar works well and will take it's place in my shows starting with this sunday's worship band service at Central Baptist Church. I'm still waiting for the custom volume and tone knobs that I ordered but here is the guitar with 'stock' Strat knobs.

Buses vs. Cars - you decide

Okay I admit it. I wanted to be eco-friendly this week and take the bus. I thought "my car is in the shop, so I'll take the bus". All well and good, but then one of the biggest snow storms in recent memory hits Winnipeg. So I took the bus yesterday and rode all 2 1/2 hours of it. Yes 1 1/2 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening. Last night the garage called and said that they found and fixed the major problem with my car and it would only cost fifty bucks.

So I told them to keep the car and call me with a quote today for another problem and once I had that info I'd tell them to go ahead. But once I got up this morning I started thinking about riding the bus again and instead went and got my car. The drive took longer than usual (not unexpected) but was much, much shorter than taking the bus. I guess I suck at being an eco-friendly green traveller but I don't care. I'm warm and dry (unlike yesterday) and I know that tonight I'll get home in a resonable time frame.

just deserts

Two of my ukulele students showed up yesterday with a rendition of Happy Birthday and this lovely Pumpkin Pie. Let me tell you this is one of the best gifts I've ever recieved. Thanks so much Jennifer and Christy! You ladies rule! Now go practice your ukulele!

The birthday boy's weekend

Tommorow is my birthday. Not the actual date of birth mind you, that happened 40 some years ago. But the anniversary of the date is tommorow. I usually make no plans for my birthday. I try to sleep in. I like having pumpkin pie (mmmmm my favorite) and I like to watch movies. But not this year. I'm working during the day and teaching ukulele at night. And after that I have a 'do' to attend at my church.

Friday is of course Rememberence Day and I also have a ukulele lesson to teach early in the day and then a show at night. Finally on Saturday I get some time to myself. I will sleep in and maybe get that pie that I want. Maybe I'll even rent some movies? Who knows? There is a great documentary I want to see on Sunday at the local theatre. And that brings us back to doe, doe, doe a deer.....

The electric uke ROCKS!

Yesterday I went into the studio with Judy Cook to record a song for our upcoming EP. The song is called "Raiders of the Night" and it is about Cockroaches. So after we had recorded the bones of the tune and some vocals I entered the booth to lay down some electric uke on top. OMG it was amazing. The RISA uke was loud and proud through the Blues Deluxe amp and held together with no feedback. So I laid down some crunchy ROCK ukulele on top of this driving cockroach tune. Hey the song even has "beat box" vocals and a slight rap verse. Tres cool.