Li'L Andy and Zachary Lucky Perform At St. James Anglican Church

Li'L Andy Performs Saturday night at St. James Anglican Church in Gravenhurst. Photo by Bet Smith

Zachary Lucky performs Saturday night at St. James Anglican Church in Gravenhurst. Photos by Bet Smith

LI'L ANDY AND ZACHARY LUCKY, BRING THE WEST EAST AND THE EAST WEST ! PERFORM FOR APPRECIATIVE AUDIENCE AT ST. JAMES ANGLICAN CHURCH, IN GRAVENHURST

THE CANADIAN COUNTRY MUSIC SCENE, A NICE CHANGE OF PACE FOR CHURCH SESSION'S EVENT

     Note: We went to press without all the names of the back up musicians for both Zachary Lucky and Li'L Andy but we hope before long to have at least some of the names.

     WRITER'S PRE-BLOG: TODAY, FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY IN QUITE AWHILE, SUZANNE AND I HAVE OPTED TO SPEND OUR WHOLE DAY HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW. SHE WANTS TO CATCH-UP ON SOME ACCOUNTING WORK, AND OTHER SUNDRY TASKS, YOU CAN'T DO MOTORING AROUND THE REGION, (AS BEAUTIFUL AS IT IS) AND TENDING THE FAMILY BUSINESS. I OFTEN HOLE-UP ON THE VERANDAH, WITH WARM ATTIRE, AND MAYBE EVEN A WOOLEN BLANKET FROM THE CAR, SOON, IF THE WIND DOESN'T CEASE AND DESIST. I WILL GLADLY VENTURE OUT HERE, EVEN ON THE COLDEST DAY OF THE WINTER, IF I'M SNUGGLY-CLAD IN COATS, BIG TOQUE (FOR A SWOLLEN HEAD) AND SUZANNE'S SPECIAL MITTS, SHE KNITS WHILE SHE THINKS. I "THINK" THEY'RE PRETTY GOOD! AS IT TURNS OUT USUALLY, FOR MY LESS THAN CRITIC-QUALIFIED REVIEWS, I OFTEN RETREAT TO MY VERANDAH LOOKING OUT OVER THE BOGLANDS ACROSS THE LANE, AND TRY TO MAKE SENSE OF THE NOTES I MADE DURING THE CONCERT THE NIGHT BEFORE. AS I'VE EXPLAINED MANY TIMES PREVIOUSLY, BUT STILL FEEL THE NEED TO MAKE IT CLEAR, I AM BUT A POET IN THE GUISE OF A GENUINE MUSIC EXPERT. I JUDGE EACH CONCERT, BY WHAT IT INSPIRES IN THE AUDIENCE, OF KEEN ATTENTION, OR NOT, AND HOW THE PERFORMERS MESH WITH THE PATRONS IN THE SEATS OUT FRONT. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A STUDENT OF MUSIC, BUT ONLY IN THE SENSE, OF HOW THE VARIOUS GENRES OF MUSIC INFLUENCE MY IMAGINATION. I WORRY LESS ABOUT STYLE AND CAPABILITY, AND MORE ON EFFECTIVE USE OF MUSIC TO ENTERTAIN. FOR ME, I WANT TO SEE THE MUSIC BEYOND THE OBVIOUS MUSICIANS, STANDING IN FRONT. I WANT TO FEEL THEIR MUSIC, ALLOWING MYSELF FULL LIBERTY TO GO WHERE IT TAKES ME, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. WHAT THE PERFORMERS MAY READ, AS A RETROSPECTIVE OF THEIR WORK, MAY, AT FIRST, SEEM A TOTAL MISDIRECTION FROM THE INTENDED, OR HOPED-FOR, POINT OF THE SONG, OR SERIES OF SONGS. LONG BEFORE THE INVENTION OF THE MUSIC VIDEO, I WAS PUTTING SCENES AND ACTIONS TO THE MUSIC I HEARD; INCLUDING THE WILLIAM TELL OVERTURE. MAYBE, AFTER SEVERAL READINGS, AND LESS THAN SERIOUS OVERVIEW, THE MUSICIANS WILL AGREE, THAT PEAKING AN IMAGINATION, AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THEIR OWN CREATIVE ENTERPRISE, IS PRETTY COOL AS WELL. LIKE THE PATRON IN AN ART GALLERY, STARING UP IN WONDER, AT AN ABSTRACT ART PIECE, IN THOUGHT AT LEAST, IT'S UNLIKELY TWO OPINIONS WIL BE THE SAME. I ASK OF MY MUSIC, WHICH I FEEL INTIMATELY CONNECTED, TO TAKE ME ON AN ODYSSEY. WHETHER IT IS DOWN THE SILVER RAILS ACROSS THE PRAIRIES, PART OF THE HISTORY OF STEAM LOCOMOTION, OR ON A PRECARIOUS MOTOR TRIP THROUGH A WINTER STORM, AND RESULTING STAY-OVER IN A SMALL TOWN IN IDAHO. I WILL GO ANYWHERE WITH A MUSICIAN, WHO DOESN'T MIND ME TAGGING ALONG. WE MAY HAVE TWO DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS OF THE MUSIC, AT THE END OF THE PROVERBIAL DAY, BUT THERE'S NO RULE I'M AWARE OF, THAT WE HAVE TO SHARE THE SAME OPINION.
     I HAVE WORKED ON THE NOTES FROM THE CONCERT, WHILE HUDDLED IN MY OLD THEATRE CHAIR, UNDER BLANKETS ON OUR FRONT VERANDAH, LISTENING TO THE BIRDS CHATTERING AT THE FEEDER, AND HEARING THE GUSTY WIND, WASHING THROUGH THE DRIED GRASSES OF THE LOWLAND, IN A STRANGE SYMPHONY OF WHICH I AM REGULARLY INTRIGUED. PLEASE ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING OVERVIEW, AS THE MUSINGS OF A MUSIC LOVER, BUT DEFINITELY NOT THE SENSIBLE ARTICULATIONS OF A QUALIFIED CRITIC.
     IN THE TEETH OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, THEY WERE BITING DOWN THIS MOONLIT NIGHT. A BITTERLY COLD START TO THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, WITH A TRACE AMOUNT OF SNOW, JUST TO WARN US OF THINGS YET TO COME. IT WAS THE OUTDOORS BACKDROP, AND THE INDOOR ALLURE, FOR THE BIGGEST CROWD FOR A CURRIE'S MUSIC, "SESSIONS" EVENT, TO THIS POINT IN ITS YOUNG HISTORY. THE EAGER CROWD PASSED THROUGH THE DOORS OF THE HISTORIC ST. JAMES ANGLICAN CHURCH, IN UPTOWN GRAVENHURST. THE AUDIENCE, A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY, A LITTLE BIT CURIOUS, CAME TO SEE THE WESTERN AND EASTERN CANADIAN MUSICIANS, L'IL ANDY, OPENING FOR ACCOMPLISHED COUNTRY MUSIC ENTERTAINER, ZACHARY LUCKY, ON TOUR IN ONTARIO. "WE WERE LUCKY TO GET THE SHOW," ANDREW CURRIE (ALSO DOUBLING AS MY SON) TOLD ME, BEFORE THE EVENING SHOW BEGAN. "THEY PUT ON A GREAT SHOW AND THEIR REVIEWS ARE OUTSTANDING (THE NIGHT BEFORE THEY PLAYED IN PETERBOROUGH); SO I THINK THE LOCAL COUNTRY MUSIC FANS ARE GOING TO HAVE A BLAST TONIGHT. I THINK EVERYBODY, DESPITE THEIR MUSIC PREFERENCE, WILL FIND SOMETHING TO LIKE ABOUT OUR SHOW. WE PLAN TO INTEGRATE QUITE A BIT MORE COUNTRY CHARACTER, FOLK AND BLUEGRASS, INTO OUR SHOWS DURING THE COMING YEAR. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE LEFT THE FOLK GENRE, TO TRY SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT. IT'S THE BIGGEST AUDIENCE WE'VE HAD SINCE WE BEGAN THE SESSIONS EVENT OVER A YEAR AGO, AND CERTAINLY THE LARGEST SINCE MOVING FROM OUR STUDIO ROOM, IN OUR MUSIC SHOP, ACROSS THE ROAD, TO THIS MAGNIFICENT HEIRLOOM ARCHITECTURE OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH. IT DOES SET A TEMPLATE FOR OTHER SHOWS WE'D LIKE TO BRING IN, SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE. THIS YEAR, WE REALLY HAD TO CRAWL ALONG, TO SEE WHAT THE PUBLIC WOULD THINK OF US, AND THE TYPE OF SHOWS WE COULD BRING-IN ON A BUDGET. WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO SPEND ON SHOWS, BUT WHAT WE'VE FOUND OUT, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IS THAT MANY PERFORMERS REALLY WANT TO PLAY OUR VENUE, ESPECIALLY IN THE CHURCH, WHICH HAS EXCELLENT ACOUSTICS. BY WORD OF MOUTH, AND DOZENS OF REFERRALS FROM THOSE WHO HAVE PLAYED HERE, AS PART OF OUR PROGRAM, WE'RE GETTING AN EXCITING FUTURE LINE-UP, AND THIS IS GOOD NEWS FOR GRAVENHURST AND AREA MUSIC LOVERS. WE'D REALLY LIKE TO THINK, THIS WILL BOLSTER GRAVENHURST'S CULTURAL PROFILE, IN THE CONTEMPORARY MUSIC SENSE, AND MAYBE ONE DAY, A GRAVENHURST COUNCILLOR OR TWO, WILL WANT TO SEE WHAT ALL THE FUSS IS, AND ACTUALLY ATTEND A CONCERT. NOT ONE COUNCILLOR HAS ATTENDED A "SESSIONS" CONCERT, AND THAT'S TOO BAD FOR THEM."
     A performance, as deliciously memorable, as the recollection of a night walking the ribbon rails. Up ahead, at what you believe is a curve of the tracks, you detect a very distant, even marginally eerie glow of a penetrating train light; a tiny but brilliant orb, cutting through the blackness of night, as if a bouncing ball, highlighting over lyrics, in one of those old-time television sing-a-longs. Yes, the opening act, was gently, smoothly and socially tantalizing. Like being subtly mesmerized, watching the train light approaching, getting bigger and brighter the closer it gets; the opening act began softly, but gained in momentum for us, like an old steam locomotive clack toward home, on a cold November night. It was a cross country traverse, as if a haunting echo of very distant train horns, on silken voice, with the rushing sound of wind through the window of the car, cool against the brow, tossing our hair a little, to and fro in refrain, as we frame the newest version of horizon, and become acquainted with yet another mile of historic Canada; its old architecture, boats, bridges, barns and mainstreets. A landscape familiar by its rolling pastures, and evergreen borders, up one hillside, down another, into the cascade of azure blue over green, and blazing sun, of all four seasons at once. Montreal's effervescent "Lil Andy," his upright bass player, and guitarist, from Ontario and Quebec, opened the show with some traveling, and well, a little breakfast music, of the bacon and egg variety; and an older song with a Gravenhurst mention, entitled "The Powers of Our Day," with a little bit of Canadian rail heritage rolling through the melody. You can feel its distant rumble. Watch its silhouette moving down the silver rails, sparking orange in the moonlight, and feel a little lonely momentarily, thinking it won't ever come back to town. Li'l Andy and the lads put on a great show, with an array of songs that were as beautifully hewn, rich and enduring, as the crossed timbers, of the church ceiling directly above.  It was the first time, I'd ever heard auld lang syne worked into a country song. We liked it, and remembered back to the turn of the century, via one of his unique songs, when nothing actually happened with the computers of the world; and we were all spared the inconvenience of having the precariously balanced globe, tip, and spin off its axis. Folk stories with the dust of a country lane, blowing up over the willowy field grass, the wind in our hair, what trip is this? Then we stop at a church, and by the squeak of shoe leather, it is the place to play for awhile, stay and enjoy the spiritual ambience; not lingering too long; the liberated soul travels along, a mile further down the road, to another place we were told about. A comfortable burg, with good folks to entertain, that will remind us, once again, about what we miss most of home. We have travelled across these November fields, burdened down by the weather, visible in the lamp light of the automobile. Our narrow focus must suffice until sunrise, when we look back at what we missed. The music by Li'l Andy, and gents, was a terrific enterprise of technicolor imagination, and traveling music of the kindest order. What an alluring, deep, satin voice, he possesses, making us feel glad we're sad, and then the reverse; when we turn that corner into the valley, and pop up on the horizon highland, understanding the links of life and the joys of good music, inspired by a good country song.
     To end the set, Li'l Andy, asked the audience, if they would allow him an opportunity, to sing, without instrumental backup, a beautiful song, he felt would blend perfectly with the historic architecture of St. James Anglican Church. Meaning a sort of collaborative effort, with every relic, every historic fibre of the old structure, from the huge bracing timbers above, to the beautiful stained glass windows. The old song, the young voice, the historic venue. The concert patrons, welcomed him, and it was soulful and fulfilling, high into the rafters of the old building, and back to earth, as pleasantly as it had risen in spirit. The music was entitled, "Not a Soul in This World is a Stranger to Me." A beautiful ending to a beautiful story in music, presented by Li'l Andy and company. Thank you for warming the hearth on a cold November's eve.

A WELCOME FOR ZACHARY LUCKY AND BAND - ALL THE WAY FROM SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN

     I had left the church for just a moment, to get some fresh air. I stood on the treed grounds of the Hotchkiss Street Church, watching the plume of steam rising from my breath. The moonlight was visible, at that moment, as were the stars in its region, and the silhouette of the church stood out against the evening's natural illumination. The town lights shone down along the street, making it look curiously picturesque, even in the modest glow, and the brightness of the church interior, was strikingly diffused by the stained glass windows. When the second act of the concert began, it became my first impression, of the work of Saskatchewan singer, guitarist, Zachary Lucky. It was a scene of very real nostalgia, at that moment of connection, between a November night, the embrace of a small town church, and the style of music, that makes you think about one's place in the universe. In the starlight in which I was basking, for those few moments of contemplation, I got my first opinion of this well known country singer. He had engaged my night, from the outside in, you might say.
     His first song, a sort of casual lament, half-confessional, declaring his rambling days are done. We hope this is just the lyrics of a song, and not the revelation, Zachary Lucky plans to stop traversing his music sea to sea. "Saturday night at church," he quips, pondering if this was a provincial thing. The audience?  "Welcome to the days of our lives. Yes, a perfect venue on any night of the week!" His brand of country music permeating, a generous sensory remembrance, profoundly induced, by the singer / guitarist waxing a little nostalgic. Recalling how the prairies are so sweetly scented; as the cold mountain lakes mirror heaven, the meadows deep, earthy bosoms, fully braced by venerable old hardwoods and stately tall pines; the lakes and rivers that flow to the sea, and the sparkling mountain creeks that run shallow but smooth in the shadows of folklorists, who tell of legends with a wink and a twinkle of the eye. Landscape painters infill the lowlands with a fringe of leaning birches, and gnarled cedars, flanked by maples "of the ages". It all blends seamless in our perception, of what this music, this visitation tonight, is all about. Country pride. The appreciation for the inspiration we are gifted by the Canadian landscape; its clusters of picturesque hamlets, thriving villages, humble towns and pulsing cities, bold and beautiful in the illumination at sunrise. The awareness that we are all travelers, in this ramble of imagination, and we welcome the music that makes our heart, our souls restless, to move on down the road, when home becomes too comfortable. And who really knows, how the artist might paint us into the scene, we are passing, looking from a passenger car, on a snaking train, from here to there; following the weaving, threading silver rails; watching out over the half fallen, relic cedar rail fences, of another era; when farms were farms, and farmers were plentiful. Zachary Lucky is a painter in music, and his colors are rich and vibrant, and the blending a perfect inner rage of ambition. As we pass farm after farm, pasture and hillside, valley and lowland, we discover by the immersion offered us, just what we have been missing in the poetry we never quite understood, until now. Thoughtful, rich music with a message. Enjoy life, build relationships, maintain friendships, appreciate where you live, and where others dwell, and write songs to reinforce strong values; and they will come!
     Zachary Lucky's record, in new vinyl, is entitled, "The Ballad of Losing You."
     The evening of country music, with a dusting of folk stylings, was very much appreciated by the Sessions event audience, gathered as good friends, at St. James Anglican Church. It was a warm way to welcome in the cold season. Sincere thanks is offered to all the talented musicians who travelled long distances to entertain us; and thanks of course, must be extended, to all those concert goers, who supported this new mission, to bring Canadian artists to our home town. I think we showed them what a Muskoka welcome means, up close and personal.

WE'RE IMPRESSED BY TRAVELING MUSICIANS, AND WE HOPE THEY ENJOY GRAVENHURST HOSPITALITY

     I can't tell you, or offer much concrete evidence, how many traveling musicians we've played host to, in the past eleven years; some in the early going of our music enterprise, when we could only offer a discount on some vintage equipment they've needed, and a comfortable chair and warm room to have a sandwich and a coffee. We've had quite a few musicians stop in for a visit, because they heard about us from other traveling entertainers who had met us earlier, and it's always been the case, that they will state this, as if it is a ticket to a free homemade cookie. Truthfully it is. There are fresh cookies once a week, but Suzanne always makes enough to cover most of the coming week. In our experience, those who live on the road, to hone their profession, long miles between gigs, are greatly appreciative of a cookie or a half dozen, and a little respite from the miles and miles yet to traverse, north, south, east and west. A little homespun atmosphere is what we have lots of to share. Some of our friends calls us the "Gravenhurst Waltons," after the television show from the 1970's. I consider it a compliment. Well, we are a family business, and Suzanne and I were big fans of John Boy Walton, and his close knit family up there on Walton's Mountain in Virginia. We have always found a little nook or cranny at the shop, for these road weary musicians to enjoy a little quiet time, play some of our vintage instruments, listen to some old records, and if they're up for it, a conversation about their careers, and what they hope to accomplish a few more miles down the road. We don't want them heading out when they're exhausted. There's always a couch for a short nap.
     It's been fascinating for Andrew and Robert, proprietors of the music component of the shop, but equally fascinating for Suzanne and I, to also meet these contemporary minstrels, and listen to their amazing stories of industry survival; tales about the communities they've played, the bar-rooms and community halls, they've performed in, and the interesting folks they've met all over North America and beyond. It's enlightening to hear their accounts of the indie music circuit, and they're often joined in our shop, and studio, by other local musicians, who are enthralled to learn more about their coast to coast travels. The visiting musicians want to know about us, and are amazed by the collection of old instruments, and sound equipment, which, if they stay long enough, they get to play around with, even on our back practice stage in the "nostalgia" room, at the back of our building.
     We get musicians dropping in, from all parts of the country, and even Europe, who are stuck for equipment, having lost an important piece, or suffering damage at a venue, and having no money to replace what they need in order to perform, at the very next gig. Andrew has been asked to make emergency repairs to guitars, amps, drums and microphones, on a tight budget of time, and loaned out pedals, and just about anything else, for making music, including his on-site expertise, as a sound technician, to get the performer and show up and running. It happens even more frequently than I thought, because I just asked Andrew this moment, if he could tell me the occasions when musicians have found themselves in dire straits, that he has been able to provide cables, strings, drum skins, jack repairs, and guitar neck adjustments, only hours to even minutes from an actual performance, in and around our community. We've had to open the shop late at night, and sometimes in snowstorms, because a musician has run into problems with equipment failure. A pretty large portion of these folks don't have a lot of money on them, and we understand this; so a lot of the work and loans are free. And I can't tell you how many friends we've made in the music industry by understanding these limitations. Many will come back, the next time they're in town, with the money they owed, or to take the boys to lunch, or bring them some equipment they no longer use, in exchange for the kindness bestowed earlier.
     We are always being reminded in this business, of vintage instrument sales, and concert hosting, in our free time, that indie musicians, especially, are some of the most kindly, polite, thankful folks in the entire music profession. They don't have a big pot, but they're willing to share it with others, a little down on their luck. When they visit with us, the most amazing reality, is how quickly they become one of our music family members, and Facebook friends, always feeling welcome to drop in any time their in town, and join the lads for a musician's dinner, that somehow or other involves pizza, and listening to vintage vinyl on a 1960's vintage sofa and chair. We are continually impressed by their generosity, and willingness to suffer for their craft; and it must be character building, because boy oh boy, do we ever run into some unique individuals. We have great respect for these traveling minstrels, and understand how difficult their lives are, living out of suitcases and motel rooms, and doing a little couch surfing with newfound friends to save a few bucks, in order to buy food for the next day. Some of the younger indie musicians, just staring off, are just happy to make gas money from gigs, and have no problem at all, adjusting to sleeping in recreation rooms, and spaces no bigger than big closets, in a generous citizen's basement, in order to be faithful to their mission, of being a professional musician. It's a hard life, but what an amazing way to enrich your days, and see the country sprawling out in front, and getting this rare opportunity to meet a lot of good folks in so many interesting communities. It is most enriching, I think, for us, at the shop, because they are willing to share these stories with us, and our shop cronies, who work for free, just to hang around with this company of musicians. I find myself frequently in the middle of this music folk history looping around, and it's pretty amazing for an old reporter, columnist, who thought he'd heard everything.
     We're playing host to musicians from around the world, who have heard about the shop from others they meet during performances, in other communities stretched across the continent. It's another added bonus for us and them; because these fine talents are often meeting other musicians, and music techs, for the first time, in our studio shop. New friendships between performers are being hatched here in Gravenhurst, on a regular basis. You're going to have to take my word for it. When have I ever lied about things like this? We have a few choice examples that we can claim, were composed in our studio, the result of what was clearly a case of accidental meeting. We are proud to say, Currie's Music was the place where new acts got their start. Now that is neat. One is coming up real soon, and there are several more to follow. Pretty exciting stuff for all of us, and the citizen of Gravenhurst, because we think it's going to be big for all concerned. A few of our detractors have scoffed at our claims, and wouldn't give us the time of day, as contributors to the well being of local cultural recreation. We've got news for them. There's still time to give us the benefit of the doubt; and then stand back, because there's a locomotive coming down the tracks. I will make sure you folks are the first to know, when all the plans have come together, and the new group is ready for their first paying gig. You'll get a chuckle at how history is going to repeat, for all the right reasons. It will be a robust foray into country music with a Gravenhurst background.
     We really like putting on community concerts, and always have, dating all the way back, to when the boys were performing in the Gravenhurst High School, "Pure Gold," variety nights, at the Opera House. Our contemporary concert series, held at St. James Anglican Church, gives us all a chance to work with some of these young and emerging talents, plus some veterans of the industry, and share their experiences; and offer a few of our own. The boys contacts in the industry are pretty impressive for their young age; and so many of them, are now such close friends and performing colleagues, they text us, to let us know they're coming to Gravenhurst, for a visit, but ask first off, what kind of cookies Mother Currie has baked for the "studio tin." We like that comfort level. Being called Grandpa Walton is kind of endearing you know. "Goodnight John Boy!"