tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614212024-02-19T05:31:04.214-05:00 Brian BlainBrian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comBlogger326125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-68550074629516952052020-11-19T15:20:00.001-05:002020-11-19T15:20:29.964-05:00Brian Blain • I'm Not Fifty AnymoreBrian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-22405625249851423542013-12-19T19:14:00.003-05:002015-04-18T01:51:49.646-04:00What's New in Version 2.0?
Brian Blain's "living" album (which started life as a solo "live" recording with bassist George Koller) has been "sweetened, stacked, mixed and mastered with new instrumentation
on all the songs. It starts with New Orleans marching horns from Alison Young and Colleen Allen on "Forgotten", “Alice“ gets violin and
banjo from Drew Jurecka and Tim Posgate. There's a reggae percussion Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-86821533313205843572012-08-30T14:39:00.000-04:002014-01-10T21:25:10.064-05:00
Brian Blain, born in rural Quebec and active in the music scene
for forty years, possesses a “northern“ style that gives him a cool edge that just can't be found in any other artist. His easy blend of folk and blues is a running commentary on life as he sees it. He combines his sardonic wit with his soulful guitar skills and crafts it into a unique musical perspective. (VERONICA TIMPANELLI, Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-34907356662597340872010-06-06T01:55:00.001-04:002010-06-08T02:50:47.825-04:00Blainletter # 29 June 6, 2010In This Issue:• Upcoming Gigs • Accidents, Thefts, Allergies, what next• Campfire adventures• Recording update• Festival fun• BLAINBLAIN rides again• Out and aboutI am posting this dispatch from the wilds of Orangeville, looking out into a cedar forest and breathing that fine country air. I’m here for the Orangeville Blues and Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-2255227920694878622010-05-22T15:23:00.000-04:002010-05-22T15:24:26.517-04:00When's that guy gonna make another record?I get asked that once in a while - less often than "we still play your album" (or some variation thereof) but it's going to be 5 years and I've been feeling the pressure. A recording fund is in place, thanks to a couple of generous benefactors, and I've downloaded some grant applications...we'll see what happens with that! I've got a new batch of songs - well not that new anymore - and Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-19036355538664620112010-05-20T16:23:00.003-04:002010-05-21T02:16:47.032-04:00Brian Blain MissingEverytime I walk into the Silver Dollar Room, the first thing I see is this picture of myself hanging in its long-standing place of honour at the end of the bar. Until last night, that is. I dropped by the Silver Dollar to hear the bluegrass guys and noticed that my portrait was missing from its spot. It wasn't replaced with anything else - there's just a big blank space where it used to be.Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-44527970876378967452010-05-10T01:49:00.002-04:002010-05-21T01:55:36.610-04:00Blainletter #28 May 10, 2010Tomorrow’s Campfire at Highway 61 (maybe today’s by the time you read this) is my “Motherless Day” Special with the inimitable Carrie Chesnut as special guest and who knows who else will show up. That 7-10 pm at 1620 Bayview. Every year on Mother’s Day week-end, or close to it, I like to have a special show for folks who no longer have their mother, like myself or orphans who never knew their Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-23601818680374965052010-04-30T19:38:00.001-04:002010-04-30T19:38:28.645-04:00What are the odds?I used to alternate years that I would apply to play the summer festivals and it seemed like even when I did a big blitz of submissions I would get a handful of gigs and then when I did absolutely nothing I would still get a handful of gigs. I think somewhere along the line I just gave up entirely (well, at least until I have a new CD to flog) but wouldn’t you know that I get two offers a Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-91866565153787010412010-03-30T10:34:00.000-04:002010-03-30T10:35:00.381-04:00Quote of the Day"Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love." (Lao Tzu) Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-47115986527767529502010-03-22T00:59:00.004-04:002010-03-22T01:37:14.191-04:00Upcoming GigsThe Mighty Duck Blues Band w/Brian BlainSaturday Mar 27 2:30 PMThe Duck (Golden Pheasant) 244 Ontario St. St. Catharines 905-687-9505For all my fans and Blainletter subscribers in the St. Catharines area (you know who you are) Mose Scarlett & Brian BlainSaturday, April 24 8PMGlass Onion House ConcertsWallaceburg, ONAfter getting musically re-acquainted at Winterfolk, I get to play again with Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-71920914410709757912010-03-22T00:48:00.003-04:002010-03-22T00:56:36.285-04:00The campfire is in the shop. Hopefully just a power-cord issue. Our regular Tuesdays at Highway 61 BBQ have been great – full of surprises. Last Tuesday it was the “two Charlies” (pictured). Nova Scotia Music’s Entertainer of the Year Charlie A’Court and an 11-year old wunderkind whose blues moniker is "Sir Charles". The kid sat in on a couple of blues tunes then asked if he and his teacher Ted Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-24274207185014004732010-03-22T00:45:00.000-04:002010-03-22T00:46:01.358-04:00Blues in MontrealWish I had been there for a gig, but it was for a funeral, regrettably. The night before I headed back to T.O. I decided to drop in to Bourbon Street, one of the clubs that presents blues on a regular basis thanks to promoter Brian Slack and the Montreal Blues Society. I was finding it hard to gather the energy, but when I saw legendary Quebec guitarist Jimmy James on the bill I decided if I wantBrian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-27603219413656382652010-03-21T16:50:00.000-04:002010-03-21T17:12:52.880-04:00I've written more songs than......more songs than even I remember. My oldest musical friend, Sue Lothrop, called the other day and said she was working on an old tune we had worked up together a long time ago (that would be the early 70s). She said it was called “Blown Away Again” and recited a few lines on the phone but I drew a total blank. In fact I denied writing it and when she told me she had me on cassette Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-23635058680783351172010-03-17T02:40:00.001-04:002010-03-17T02:40:56.395-04:00Notes from Music WeekMusic Week was really only a couple of days for me and maybe that was one day too many but I always get somethin out of it - even obvious stuff bears repeating: “Better to have no website than a dormant website” was a good tip. “Be the kind of person that others want to see succeed” - Now there’s a good one. I think that came from networking guru Dan Kimpel. Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-32008208002711614362010-03-17T01:51:00.000-04:002010-03-17T01:52:12.656-04:00Dear Bob LefsetzIn the elevator at the Royal York Hotel I find out I’m riding with the “merch lady” who you beat up in the Q & A after your rant at Canadian Music Week. I thought she would be bummed but she had a great day and was now a celebrity of sorts at her merch booth. You made her day, maybe her year! What the Buddhists call “turning poison into medicine” Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-15672415975660995372010-03-02T14:56:00.001-05:002010-03-02T14:56:27.970-05:00A Day in the Life of The StringbusterTonight I was supposed to Open for Alfie Smith at the Free Times but the way I heard it, Alfie ended up opening for a big show in Hamilton (turns out it was April Wine). Who’s to say which would be a better payday. There was not a big crowd at Free Times. Alfie’s last minute sub was a wonderful singer called Laura Aidanblaise. We swapped CD’s (always a delicate bit of Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-29798030024483227252010-03-02T14:42:00.001-05:002010-03-02T14:42:15.391-05:00Winterfolk momentsDay One: I take the stage in the back room of the Willow and after the first song I realize my shoes are stuck to the floor. Then I'm stepping up and down and the audience is breaking up with laughter because I'm making these crazy sticky sounds. I couldn't continue with that and I didn't want to inflict it on the next group so I got the waitress to take a moment to pass the mop. Mose Scarlett Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-87311464689632789592010-02-23T04:57:00.001-05:002010-02-23T04:57:30.292-05:00Blainettin #1For those who are not familiar with the (mostly)monthly Blainletter, it’s a long rambling chronicle of my attempts to develop a music career in the Toronto music scene. This is an abbreviated version with less stories and gets right down to the blatant self-promotion: Tuesday Night (tonight!) it’s the First Anniversary Campfire at Highway 61 Southern BBQ. Actually, the Campfire has Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-78838412161688628692010-02-11T16:20:00.001-05:002010-02-11T16:20:14.230-05:00Winterfolkin'It’s Winterfolk week-end (a long week-end this year) and for those not glued in front of their TV watching the Olympics, the Danforth/Broadview area will be brimming with folk music lovers...and there’s quite a bit of great blues too, including moi on the following occasions... 11pm Friday at The Willow I’ll be subbing for host Howard Gladstone at the late-night Toronto City Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-43342700331153631232010-02-11T01:04:00.000-05:002010-02-11T01:05:03.804-05:00What Happened to January?I woke up on New Year's Day feeling sick as a dog (no, it wasn't because I overindulged on New year's Eve - I had a very quiet night at home). I was supposed to play at the wedding of friends Paul and Debbie but had to bail and for the next two weeks I was nursing a nasty cold that wouldn't quit. Then, just when I got back on my feet I was felled by a gall-bladder attack and missed out on the Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-78698902613673184242010-01-26T11:28:00.001-05:002010-01-26T11:28:18.428-05:00Eno SpeaksOn a celebration of human frailty"The other day I heard a band who had the worst singer, the most out of timedrummer and most out of tune guitarist I've ever heard on a professionalrecord, and I thought, at last, the reaction against pro-tools perfectionhas set in. A pro-tools engineer would have sorted it all out, but this bandwas an actual celebration of human frailty. It was so rough Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-53008936026732609122009-12-05T00:56:00.001-05:002009-12-05T00:56:54.928-05:00Overqualified featured on ItunesJust got a Google Alert and when I clicked through I discover thatOverqualified For The Blues is an "iTunes Preview" (whatever that means!).Interesting to note than when I click again I get a little message tellingme I can't buy it because I'm not in the right country - despite the factthat it was made her. Go figure!Out and About: Just in from seeing Pork Belly Futures playing Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-10168650544500301452009-12-02T01:00:00.000-05:002009-12-02T01:02:31.201-05:00Blainletter #25 December 1, 2009 In This Issue:• Season’s Greetings• Colorblind Brian's Blues Campfire (that’s TONIGHT – grab your guitarand come on down to Highway 61)• Yes, there will be a new album in 2010• Women’s Blues Revue, Downchild and Massey Hall• Overqualified still spinning• Out and About• Thelonious Monk’s advice for musicians (via Steve Lacey)Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-10183828649133727152009-11-30T01:24:00.001-05:002009-11-30T01:24:12.073-05:00Women's Blues Revue & other stuffThis month the gigs have been going away as fast as they show up. There'sband gig on the calendar for the end of January but I hestitate to advertiseit because the venue is not convinced they will continue presenting livemusic. Meanwhile the Tuesday Blues Campfire at Highway 61 has been goinggreat. Interesting guests...many of them part-timers or hobbyists but I lovehaving them around the Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3761421.post-90627965359125917152009-11-24T09:22:00.001-05:002009-11-24T09:22:15.546-05:00Quote of the DayThere are moments where the connection between one full heart and the nextis so close and quick that singing is the only possible expression. I reallybelieve that the spontaneous intimacy and joy of moments like that can showus what we are for: it's like having, just for an instant, the attention ofthe universe, discovering itself. ~Alexander Waddell~Brian Blain's Toronto Blues Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09782465212424085004noreply@blogger.com