Things are well... very well. And they've been taking me away from the computer which in many ways is a very good thing right now. I can get so obsessive about watching my email, waiting for feedback on this CD. The best thing for me right now is to be so busy that I rarely have time to check.
It's truly been a great week. Last Friday night Chandra, Joanne and I celebrated our recent successes with a girl’s dinner out on the rooftop deck of Sandbar, overlooking my former home of False Creek. A glass of champagne, candles flickering in their wrought iron candelabrums, and fires blazing in the stone fireplaces. A beautiful setting to reflect on this happy time.
Chandra recently landed a job at the Chan Centre and I am so proud of her. We all knew she was going to get it. I mean, she has the perfect name for it! Joanne's cover illustration for Pique Magazine came out last week too. So amazing to see her get the recognition she deserves. And my bit of news? The CBC music resources department sent me a little email with the title, "CBC likes Any Given Night". They're picking it up for national distribution to all their music libraries which means radio airplay across the country for yours truly!
The next night Joyelle and Rob invited Tony and I to the symphony. I love, love, love the Orpheum. I'm fixated on playing there someday. I just sat there gazing happily at the swags of red velvet and the gilded everything. We took a tour of the place one summer. We've actually walked the catwalk above the ceiling facade. I want to spend more time there exploring. I hear there's a ghost...
Imagine playing with a symphony! That really would be something. Next life I'm coming back as a cellist. I promise.
The gig at the Railway Club on Tuesday night was a bit of a disappointment in terms of the turn out, but I'm really happy I had the chance to play there again after all this bloody time. Nice to have an excuse to play with the boys too. Allan, Boris and Gary joined Tony and I on stage. A rare treat.
The Railway seems like one of those places that has always been there and will remain. I'm amazed that in the 6 or 7 years since I last played there it has changed so little. Yes, there's no smoking in Vancouver venues and they built an outdoor deck to accommodate, but they left the yellowed walls and ceilings as they are, looking the way only tobacco-cured paint can look.
We got to bed at 3am that night and had to be awake and functional quite early five hours later. Nothing like a photographer and interviewer showing up to your house when you're tired and puffy and in need of caffine. I was rushing around before they arrived with frozen spoons on my eyes to make me look bright-eyed and awake. That, coupled with some Visine did the trick!
Last night Tony and I had a duo gig at a gala at Hycroft Manor. I'm quite ready to move in. We were treated so well... enjoyed wine and food in this amazing mansion from 1911. I still can't get over the green tiled solarium. The whole thing was done up in hand-made tiles with beautiful stained glass windows and ceilings.
We performed in the foyer near the entrance to the back yard terrace. I loved the room we were in... near the amazing arrangement of Casablanca lilies. My very, very favourite. I really don't mind being background music to events like these. It's a VERY nice way to make a living. Chances are good we'll be back for other events. The staff seemed to enjoy us quite a bit. And I'd like that. It may not be as artistically fulfilling as a club/bar gig because the focus isn't on the performer, but you know... if I had the choice between getting stuck in the bar scene or getting stuck in the gala scene...
Bring on the chandeliers!
