An Evening With Faye Blais, Tricia Foster and Tony Clement and Drummer Adam Fisher; A Gravenhurst Evening For The Record Book

Tricia Foster, left, and Faye Blais, right, during their performance Saturday at St. James Anglican Church. Photos by Bet Smith

Muskoka-Parry Sound M.P. Tony Clement on guitar and Adam Fisher on drums Saturday evening at St. James Anglican Church. Photos by Bet Smith

ON THE ROAD AGAIN - PICKING ANTIQUES, LISTENING TO OUR NEW, FAVORITE CD, "ON THE BRIGHT SIDE," BY FAYE BLAIS

IN-CAR MUSIC OF HUGE IMPORTANCE WHILE ANTIQUE HUNTING IN REGIONAL ONTARIO

     I'M NOT AT ALL SURE, SINGER-SONGWRITER, WORLD TRAVELLER, MUSICAL ADVENTURER, FAYE BLAIS, WOULD BE THRILLED TO KNOW HER CD, "ON THE BRIGHT SIDE," HAS MADE THE CUT FOR OUR FAMILY'S SPECIAL ROAD MUSIC, FROM WHICH WE GET OUR INSPIRATION TO HUNT FOR THE HOLY GRAIL OF CANADIANA. SON ROBERT IS IN IRELAND, AND WHEN HE IS TRAVELING WITH US, HE HAS EAR-PHONES AND HIS OWN MUSIC SYSTEM. ANDREW, HIS MOTHER AND I, DEPEND ON THE COLLECTION OF CD'S TO KEEP US ROAD-WORTHY. BEFORE YOU JUDGE US, COME ON; BE HONEST. WHEN YOU'RE HEADING OUT FOR A DAY'S WORK, AND NEED SOME SOUL MOVING MUSIC, WELL, WHAT DO YOU JAM INTO THE CD PLAYER. I MUST FOOTNOTE THIS, BY ADVISING THAT WE, AS A FAMILY, FIND IT EASIER TO AGREE ON A CD TO PLAY, VERSUS CHANNEL HOPPING EVERY MILE AND A HALF, FROM CBC 2 TO ROCK 95, TO "THE DOCK," "THE MOOSE," AND OCCASIONALLY, WE'LL LAND ON A COUNTRY MUSIC STATION, BUT NOT FOR LONG. WE LIKE THE GOOD BROTHERS AND HAVE SOME OF THEIR CD'S. NOW FAYE MAY THINK THAT REPLACING WILL MILLAR'S (FORMERLY OF THE IRISH ROVERS) SOLO CD, ISN'T MUCH OF A COUP IN THE CURRIE CAR. SUZANNE, MY CHARMING BRIDE, IS AN ENTIRE WILL MILLAR, IRISH ROVERS FAN CLUB, UNTO HERSELF, SO YES INDEED, FOR HER TO REPLACE WILL MILLAR TODAY WAS QUITE A MOMENT IN TRAVELING MUSIC HISTORY. LET ME EXPLAIN.
     FOR THOSE FOLKS, WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO HUNT ANTIQUES, COLLECTABLES AND VINTAGE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, IT'S PROBABLY A LOT EASIER TO DIG DITCHES, BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN AND END. IN THE PURSUIT OF THE TRULY BIG FINDS, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE FOCUS OF AN NHL NETMINDER (SAY FOR EXAMPLE FOR THE LEAFS, EXPECTING TO GET A BARRAGE OF RUBBER SENT HIS WAY), AND THE PATIENCE OF A PRO GOLFER MAKING THOSE BIG MILLION DOLLAR PUTTS. WE AREN'T THE FRIENDLIEST FOLKS OUT ON THE HUSTINGS, BECAUSE WE ARE ON A MISSION. LIKE QUESTING FOR SUNKEN OR BURIED TREASURE, WE HAVE TO EXERCISE AN UBER-DUE DILIGENCE, WHEREVER WE ARE HUSTLING, AND IT CAN BE FREAKING CRAZY IN TERMS OF CONCENTRATION. IF THERE'S A GROUP OF SEVEN SKETCH, AMONGST A THOUSAND PAINT MY NUMBERS, WE'RE GOING TO FIND IT! I FOUND A RARE BIOGRAPHY OF A.Y. JACKSON TODAY. THAT WAS CLOSE, RIGHT? TODAY FOR EXAMPLE, ANDREW FOUND A RARE BRITISH COLUMBIA MADE CONSOLE ORGAN, WITH ALL THE BELLS, FLUTES AND WHISTLES; A NEAT VINTAGE SNARE DRUM, TWO VINTAGE WESTERN STYLE JACKETS, OLD LEATHER COWBOY BOOTS; SUZANNE FOUND A WONDERFUL EARLY 1900'S GERMAN-MADE DOLL, TO ADD TO HER COLLECTION, SOME INTERESTING ART GLASS, COSTUME JEWELRY, AND I FERRETED OUT SOME OUTSTANDING ANTIQUARIAN BOOKS, ONE BEING AN 1850'S JUBILEE OVERVIEW OF A BOSTON RAILWAY LINE WITH COMPANION MAPS, A NICELY BOUND, GOOD CONDITION COPY OF VICTORIAN POETRY, CIRCA 1895, WHICH BELIEVE IT OR NOT IS VERY DESIRABLE TODAY, A 1930'S GUIDEBOOK TO MADAME TUSSAUD'S GALLERY IN ENGLAND, AND TWO AUTOGRAPHED AND INSCRIBED HISTORIES, ONE OF THE ST. JOHN'S RIVER, CIRCA 1967, AND A CATHEDRAL HISTORY, FROM ENGLAND, ALSO SIGNED. I THINK THE MOST INTERESTING PIECE WAS A NICE VINTAGE CANADIAN "CARON" WOOD CARVING, DEPICTING A TEXACO GAS PUMP, WITH GAS SIGN AND FULL UNIFORMED GAS JOCKEY, WHICH IS JUST AN AMAZINGLY NOSTALGIC PIECE OF CANADIANA; (I'LL INCLUDE A PHOTOGRAPH FOR TOMORROW'S BLOG.)
     HANG ON HERE. I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK I FORGOT WHAT I WAS WRITING ABOUT, BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, LIKE IN CONVERSATION, I CAN GET OFF THE BEATEN PATH IN A WELL INTENTIONED HEARTBEAT. WE HOSTED FAYE BLAIS LAST EVENING, AT THE GRAVENHURST ANGLICAN CHURCH, AS PART OF OUR MONTHLY SESSIONS CONCERTS, AND SUZANNE, AFTER THE SHOW, WHICH BY THE WAY EARNED FAYE BLAIS, AND TRICIA FOSTER, A STANDING OVATION, HAD TO BUY ONE OF HER CD'S. THE REST IS HISTORY. IN THE DRIVEWAY OF BIRCH HOLLOW, OUR MODEST IN-TOWN HOMESTEAD, WE UNWRAPPED THE CD, POPPED OUT WILL MILLER (POOR FELLOW), AND INSERTED "ON THE BRIGHT SIDE," A WONDERFUL COLLECTION OF SONGS SHE WROTE, AND PERFORMED, THAT MADE US WANT TO DRIVE, AND DRIVE, ENJOY THE SIGHTS OF THIS BEAUTIFUL PROVINCE, AND YES, HUNT FOR THOSE ELUSIVE ANTIQUES. I'M WILLING TO BET FAYE BLAIS HAS NEVER HAD A MUSIC REVIEW LIKE THIS. BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT. IT IS A GREAT HONOR, AS FAR AS OUR RESPECT FOR MUSIC, TO BE CONSIDERED THE NUMBER ONE CD IN A ROTATION THAT INCLUDES BRUCE COCKBURN, DUNN AND BROOKS, ANDREA BOTICELLI, THE GOOD BROTHERS (BECAUSE THEY'RE FRIENDS OF OURS), AND GREAT BIG SEA. ARE WE CRAZY OR WHAT? BUT WE GO WITH WHAT WORKS, AND GIVES US THE INSPIRATION TO HUNT FOR WHATEVER HOLY GRAIL PRESENTS ITSELF IN A SEA OF SHOP INVENTORIES. TODAY IT WAS BIG. REAL BIG. SO FAYE BLAIS MAY FIND THIS ODD, AND EVEN A LITTLE DISTURBING, BUT SHE LED US ONWARD, TO A FRUITFUL DAY'S WORK, IN THE BUSINESS WE ADORE. WE ARE COUNTRY TRAVELERS, WHO SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN OUR FAMILY TRUCKSTER, SO THE ENTERTAINMENT HAS TO PASS A LOT OF TESTS, TO HIT TOP SPOT.
     WE JUST WANT FAYE TO KNOW, THAT WITH HER MUSIC PLAYING, LOUD AND BEAUTIFUL, AND WATCHING THE COUNTRYSIDE ROLL BY IN ITS OWN OCTOBER SPLENDOUR, BY GOLLY, IT WAS SURE A PLEASANT DAY, WITH GREAT COMPANY. HOW COULD WE NOT BE INSPIRED. BUT WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT FAYE BLAIS TO STOP TOURING, AT LEAST FOR TOO LONG, AS SHE DID MENTION AN UPCOMING HIATUS FROM HUSTLING GIG TO GIG, BECAUSE WE WANT HER TO COME BACK TO GRAVENHURST AGAIN SOON. AND BRING TRICIA FOSTER, HER TALENTED GUEST PERFORMER, BECAUSE YOU ARE A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH; AND STANDING OVATIONS ARE AS SCARCE AS HENS' TEETH IN GRAVENHURST.
    I ALSO WANT TO OFFER A PREAMBLE APOLOGY, ABOUT THE REVIEW BELOW. I WRITE DURING THE CONCERT, FROM THE DARK, MYSTERIOUS UPPER CHAMBER OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH, AND LAST EVENING, I DECIDED, AS I HAVE BEFORE, TO GO WITH MY FEELINGS OF THE MOMENT, THE ACTUALITY OF WHAT THE SONGS CONJURE-UP IN MY COBWEB-FILLED MIND; IN OTHER WORDS, INSTEAD OF MAKING NOTES, AND THEN WRITING UP THE REVIEW AT HOME, I USUALLY OPT TO WRITE WHAT INSPIRES ME, AND SOMETIMES THE COPY WILL READ AS IF I'M NOT CRITIQUING A CONCERT AT ALL. BEING UNQUALIFIED TO REVIEW A CONCERT, BY A GENERAL LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN MUSIC COMPOSITION, AND EXECUTION, THE ONLY TRUE MEASURE OF HOW A CONCERT SOUNDED, AND WAS CONDUCTED, IS HOW FAR AFIELD I CAN DRIFT VIA IMAGINATION. I LET THE MUSIC MOVE ME, AND IT MAY BE QUITE SHOCKING TO THE PERFORMERS, TO FIND OUT, LIKE THIS, HOW THEIR MUSIC REMINDED ME OF SITUATIONS THEY COULDN'T IMAGINE OTHERWISE. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, MAYBE IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO FAYE BLAIS AND TRICIA FOSTER, TO KNOW HOW THEIR FOLKSY-POP, COUNTRY ROADS MUSIC, STIRS THE SPIRIT TRAVELLER, IN AT LEAST SOME OF THE VOYEURS, WHO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THEIR MUSIC. SO PLEASE, WEIRDNESS ASIDE, ACCEPT THE REVIEW BELOW AS HEARTFELT, AT THE VERY LEAST, THE RESULT OF AN OVER-ACTIVE BUT KINDLY IMAGINATION, MOST DEFINITELY. FOR ANY WRITER, FINDING MUSIC THAT TITILLATES, AND OPENS DOORS, IS THE ALIXIR WE RETURN TO TIME AND AGAIN, TO GET JUICED FOR THE NEXT JAG AT THE LAPTOP (OR IN MY CASE, THE OLD REMMINGTON TYPEWRITER).
  

IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT - SPENT WITH GOOD FRIENDS, SHARING NEIGHBORS, SIGNIFICANT OTHERS, AND THE OH YES, OUR MUSIC PARTNERS

"SESSIONS" CONCERT, AT ST. JAMES ANGLICAN CHURCH, A NICE SOJOURN ON A BLUSTERY OCTOBER EVENING - WE WERE ENTERTAINED!

     MOST OF THE EARLY EVENING CONCERT-GOERS CAME INTO THE CHURCH FOYER, COMPANIONED BY A BURST OF AUTUMN WIND DRIFTING THROUGH THEIR HAIR, AND THE CASCADE OF SPIRALING LEAVES FROM THE VENERABLE HARDWOODS, FRAMING THE PICTURESQUE CORNER LOT, OCCUPIED BY THE HISTORIC, AND DID I MENTION, CHARMING ST.JAMES ANGLICAN CHURCH; NESTLED LIKE A GIANT ACORN INTO THE STORYBOOK LANDSCAPE ON HOTCHKISS STREET IN GRAVENHURST.
     IT WAS ONE OF THOSE BLUSTERY MID AUTUMN NIGHTS, WHEN THE INVIGORATED IMAGINATION DETECTS MOMENTARILY, POSSIBLY, THE ESSENCE OF ICHABOD CRANE, THE FIREBRAND HEADLESS HORSEMAN, AND THE THUNDERING HOOVES FROM THE SHADOWS, ON THE APPROACH TO SLEEPY HOLLOW; WITH A COLD WIND AND ICY DRIZZLE, THAT SENDS A SHIVER JUST THINKING ABOUT IT. LET ALONE TRUNDLING THROUGH THE LEAF PILES, AND SLIPPERY PINE NEEDLES, CAST DOWN BY THE STORMY WEATHER. WHAT A NICE, WARM, AND INVITING VENUE TO HOST AN EVENING CONCERT, THIS TIME OF THE ROLLING YEAR, IN THE SOFT GLOW OF OVERHEAD LAMPLIGHT, AND THE GENTLE REFLECTIONS OFF THE STAINED GLASS; AND THE STRONG CONTRAST OF LIGHT AND SHADOW, RUNNING NORTH AND SOUTH, ACROSS THE HAND HEWN TIMBERS. THE FAITHFUL STRONG ARMS STRETCHING OVER THE PEWS, IN THE FRIENDLY INTERIOR OF A STORIED CHURCH BUILDING, LESS THAN A FULL BLOCK FROM THE MAIN STREET. THE WELCOMING ENVIRONS, THE SOUND CHECK, STIRRED THE PASSIVE MOOD FOR A RATHER UNIQUE EVENING OF MUSIC; A CURIOUS MIX OF TALENTS, A BLEND OF CONTEMPORARY AND FOLK, AND THE OPENING EXPECTATION, OF AN ENJOYABLE EVENING WITH OLD FRIENDS AND NEW. MAYBE THIS READS A TAD SYRUPY, (NOT EVEN A REAL WORD) BUT IT WAS ALL OF THE ABOVE AND MORE, FOR THIS FIFTH SESSIONS CONCERT, AT ST. JAMES ANGLICAN CHURCH; OFFERED SO GENEROUSLY BY THE CHURCH BOARD, FOR THESE MONTHLY CONCERTS, CELEBRATING INDIE MUSICIANS OF CANADA, AND THE HOMETOWN INTEREST IN EVENING-SOCIALS THAT CENTRE AROUND GOOD AND SOULFUL MUSIC.
     THE OPENING ACT, AND HIS ADMITTED, AND PROUDLY EXECUTED STAGE DEBUT, WITH DRUMMER-FRIEND (AND NEIGHBOR) ADAM FISHER, WAS PARTICULARLY SPECIAL FOR THE PROMOTER, ANDREW CURRIE; IT WAS A NEAT CONCERT SERIES HIGHLIGHT, WHEN MUSKOKA-PARRY SOUND MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, TONY CLEMENT, TOOK THE STAGE, AND CRANKED UP HIS SHINY RED AXE, (I THOUGHT I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF IT A COUPLE OF TIMES) WINDING-OUT ON THOSE OLD TIME, GOOD TIME, ANY TIME, CONTEMPORARY FAVORITES; POPULAR SONGS FROM THE CLASH, GREEN DAY, AND EVEN AC / DC. WHO KNEW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A POLITICIAN, FOR GOSH SAKES, FRESH FROM PARLIAMENT HILL MEDIA SCRUMS; HERE, IN UPTOWN GRAVENHURST, HOISTING-UP AN ELECTRIC GUITAR WITH A ROCK DRUMMER ITCHING TO BEAT ON THE SKINS, BOLDLY STARING DOWN THE AUDIENCE, AND STATING BLUNTLY, "THE REAL PERFORMERS WILL BE COMING UP SOON." YOU HAVE TO ADMIRE HIS HONESTLY. OF ALL THINGS WILD AND CRAZY, IT WAS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT LET LOOSE FOR A FEW MOMENTS OF MAGIC TIME. A CHAP WITH A LOT OF UNTAPPED ENERGY FOR PUTTING ON A HECK OF A GOOD SHOW. NO, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, WHEN HE ACCEPTED THE GIG, TO KICK OFF THE EVENING PERFORMANCE OF WELL KNOWN CANADIAN MUSICIANS FAYE BLAIS AND TRICIA FOSTER, TWO EXCEPTIONALLY GIFTED PERFORMERS I MIGHT ADD. WHAT WE DOUBTERS WERE TREATED TO, WAS OUTSTANDING STAGE PRESENCE, THE WAY TO SOFTEN THE AUDIENCE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN EXPECTING A DRY, RIGID, NO FOOLING AROUND ACOUSTIC, FOLKSONG PERFORMANCE, CELEBRATING, FOR EXAMPLE, THOSE HARDY VOYAGEURS AND THE QUEST FOR THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE. THERE WAS NO STAN ROGERS IN TONY CLEMENT ON THIS NIGHT. INSTEAD THE AUDIENCE GOT A LESSON IN THE UNEXPECTED, AND THE REASON, GIVING THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, IS A REALLY SWELL IDEA. I CAN'T READ MINDS, BUT WOULDN'T THAT BE NEAT; BUT THE AUDIENCE SEEMED TO ENJOY THE BREAKING NEWS, THAT THIS FELLOW, THEY SEE AT SPECIAL CEREMONIES, CUTTING RIBBONS, AND HANDING OUT PLAQUES, AND HUDDLED IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, IS REALLY A FUN GUY, WHO DOESN'T TAKE HIS MUSICAL PROWESS TO SERIOUSLY. ADMITTEDLY, HE JUST LOVES TO JAM, AND AFTERALL, IT'S ONLY BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE HE BEGAN LEARNING HOW TO PLAY. HE WASN'T FEARFUL OF TACKLING CHALLENGING SONGS, MADE POPULAR BY ELVIS COSTELLO. IT WAS A TITILLATING OPENER, BY A PRETTY DOWN TO EARTH FELLOW, WHO I THINK WOULD LIKE TO PLAY A LOT MORE, AND FIND AN EVEN BIGGER STAGE. THERE WAS NO GRANDSTANDING, NO POLITICAL STRIPE SHOWING, JUST A RAW BUDDING OF ENTHUSIASM FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC; CLICHES ASIDE, HONESTLY, IT WAS A LIGHT, LIVELY, ELECTRIC, AND A VISUALLY ECLECTIC INTRO TO A HUGELY ENTERTAINING EVENING. WHEN HE PERFORMED "SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO," BY THE CLASH, HE NOTED BEFORE-HAND, THAT IT DIDN'T REFLECT ON HIS DECISION FOR THE NEXT FEDERAL ELECTION NEXT OCTOBER.

FAYE BLAIS AND TRICIA FOSTER; THE MASTERS' STROKE OF STORY TELLING FOR A STORMY NIGHT

     The blowing, weaving boughs of the near bare hardwoods, the silhouette in the stained glass panels, willowy, taunting, rattling clumsily at the mercy of the wind, and the sound of rustling leaves along the walk, were the background realities of a hauntingly glorious performance, by two solo artists, who have played together often over the years; but performed an enchanting duo for, what they admit, may be the last time for a long while. By any other description, a creative hiatus, where one calms to the simple tasks of homestead pleasures, and subtle urging, to explore old digs and YET new realities, for unique music from deep roots, newly explored, but fondly recalled of once upon a time. What a rare honor then, to have had the chance to see these two exceptional talents together again, unfolding the allure of all folkish lore and mainstays, to tell a story; for what was, all told, a storied evening, of imagining all the places these musicians have found their wells of inspiration; because it is all truly global, but universally homespun, with character influences of all the good folk who have crossed their respective paths; playing a gentle part in the not so fictional depictions, of a traveling way of life; where one pleasant scene drifts into another, then another, like a whipping film strip in a vintage projector; snapping in its over-run, like a spent movie reel that never stops in its momentum, that begs to be rewound and watched just one more time. Over and over but never quite the same as the first time, being the lasting impression. There is something sage yet ageless in their music, as if it has been playing in our minds since childhood; when we'd sit on an evening like this, on the hillside of the sandpit, and swear the wind, through the dry, tall grasses of old summer, were singing to us of joys yet to come, of miles yet to travel, people to meet, times of farewells, new roads to imprint upon, and old footsteps to follow back, in time, in culture, in the social anxiety of right and wrong; and the story loops around us, but is it just the sound of the wind through the autumn boughs, on a night like this. Alone, but feeling the presence of everyone you have ever known. It is the spell of the singer, to play us like a guitar, on a long and winding trail through experience, they so generously have offered to share. The haunting chance meeting, of folk singer, singers, who like the silhouettes of willowy boughs on a windy night, take us to enchanted places we have never been alone; but with eyes wide open. Like the Faye Blais songs, Sleepy Hollow, the spirits were at play, and it was the sweet music that set it all in motion, all the magic, all the anticipation, met with grateful refrain, of an audience swept into the whirlwind of tender imagination. Like discovering all over again, how liberating it is to dream in technicolor, and sing in harmony, kicking leaves along the path, kicking up heals in a moonlight revel, with nary a fret, someone might be watching. Oh glorious youthful spirit, unfettered by a musical fantasy, that, well, was very, very real. The delicate handiwork of musicians, who know the truthful vibe of the heartstring, and don't mind hammering down to make a good point; that we should all forget our hallmarks for a few moments occasionally, of imposed identity confusion, to hasten self discovery of a better kind. This is my music review of two Canadian folk singers, as modest and whacky as it is, who held us spellbound for several hours, and the fantasy was free. The standing ovation was stirring. But well deserved.