Summer Sunday

summer’s peak here in toronto

rain today

put on some doobie brothers and started in on the chores

it’s been a trip not having cable

i’m way behind on news

the papers are good

but i always drift to the entertainment section

cbc no longer cares if i listen - they’re adrift today as well

to our american cousins

fear not

while all the rumble sends mixed messages here north of the border

we canadians know that no matter what

the american spirit is tough 

and kind

it’s been one of the great joys of my life to play in the CAL CCR band

cowboy chords for me

i’m good at those

but i’m nowhere near the level of musicianship that the others are at

mark stewartson did some things on this show

that rivalled hendrix for innovation

time passes and things change

i now live in cabbagetown 

right down the road from maple leaf gardens

there’s an opera outside the window

there’s a ballet being fought in the alley

this is how a neighbourhood should work

old historic houses

trees

up and comers

down and outers

all getting along

and using the neighbourhood

it’s gritty

and beautiful 

this is my favourite part of toronto

and my boys are walking distance from me now

it’s all starting to work out

i’ve been working with some new musicians

some of us are getting old

we don’t sound like 20 year old men

onstage it’s nice to see young people playing alongside some oldies

that is the new face of rock n roll

i may have overstepped my opinion

sometimes i should keep my mouth shut

who am i go give advice?

i’ve been telling the musicians to stop buying gear

and stop spending money on studio time

of course this is wrong

but i only want what’s best for them - especially in the long term

my argument is sound

while new gear is always a plus

will it translate to better sound? audibly?

if you haven’t got the sound by now

a new pedal isn’t going to fix it

and regarding the studio time

i’ve been recording with garageband

this is a powerful piece of software

and i’m very happy with the sound

recording studios are of another time

certainly the big acts can afford this luxury

but i’ve never met anyone whose gotten signed or sold a song based on a good sounding demo

that said

we all have our weaknesses 

i should keep my mouth shut

the upcoming show at maple leaf gardens is going to be heavy

the 50 year anniversary of the beatles playing there

it’s my understanding that this show was the show that changed toronto’s state of mind

the show happened on august 17, 1966

the next day it was as though a collective coolness came over the city

the 60s kicked in

time had passed

things had changed

we’re tapping into that

we’re going to be performing studio versions of their set list

then our outro set is going to blow some minds

50 years to the date

if anyone from melbourne reads this

what do you think of this years new years eve party

CCR and stones?

it’ll have a real party vibe

i think steve is going to take out the front seating

and put a dance floor in

share your thoughts!

my closest friend had a terrible death in his family

his young nephew didn’t wake up one mornig

so many of us have had life altering events 

it brings out our best - our compassion

but i don’t know what to say or do

i always defer to music

that’s a comfortable way for me to communicate

i wonder if i should start a thread 

where everyone can tell a story and remember friend through music

too heavy?

it would rattle some us

force us to feel some real
go kiss your kids!

and it’s been a few months since david bowie passed

it feels a bit empty doesn’t it?

my vibe changed 

sure i miss him

but i didn’t really know him

i know him like i’ve always known him

through his music

and that’s still here

what his death did for me

was start my own meter

and it’s clicking away

my mortality has been awakened

i’m going to continue to use up the days

like there’s no tomorrow

love big

and go to bed tired overnight

happy

and full of life

craig

july 30, 2016

coffee and ginger nut biscuits