Richard Pepper's Recent Solo Gigs

Piggies (Harrison), Now and Then (Lennon)*, Christmas Vacation (Mann, Weil)**, TV Show "Arthur" Theme (Henderson/de Villiers), and The Urban Spaceman (Innes).

* I usually do oldies, but this is a recent #1 !!

** At its end, I quoted Cousin Eddie, but no one seemed to get it

2023

Tue. Dec. 19/23: Advent Mass For Pope John Paul II School at St. Pat's Cathedral

Taken by the school photographer from approximately where I stand to accompany the choir.

Thu. Dec. 14/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme was Christmas:

Christmas Is All Around Me (from Love Actually), It's Christmas At Ground Zero (Yankovic), and The 12 Days of Christmas (McKenzie version).

Review: Not much applause for ... Ground Zero. Perhaps they were actually listening to the words.

Now I know why the McKenzies say their 12 Days ranks up there with Stairway to Heaven. They are both so freakin' long!

Thu. Nov. 9/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme was Remembrance:

I'll Remember You (Dylan), Justice (Cockburn), Rosie the Riveter (Evans/Loeb), and Peace On Earth (U2).

This was taken by Shan R. who tried to get a good shot of me, and then gave up.

Thu. Nov. 9/23: Remembrance Day Service at Pope John Paul II School

I play guitar for the Pope John Paul II Senior Elementary School. For this service we did O Canada, Let It Be (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), You've Got a Friend (King), Count On Me (Mars), Rosie the Riveter (Evans/Loeb), and If I Had a Hammer (Seeger etc.).

Thu. Nov. 2/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme was Clowns:

Send In the Clowns (Sondheim), Mr. Tambourine Man (Dylan), You've Got to Hide Your Love Away (LENNON/McCartney), I'll Be There For You (Willis/Crane/Kauffman/Solem/Wilde/Jay)*, Three Little Birds/Rivers of Babylon (Marley/Dowe/Farian/Reyam/McNaughton), and Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da (Lennon/MCCARTNEY).

Review: "Thank you for letting me use your music stand." - Zoe of Kyle & Zoe.

*In Memoriam Matthew Perry

Thu. Oct. 26/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme was spooky/magical things:

Scooby-Doo/Buffy Themes Medley, Love Potion #9/The Witch Doctor (Lieber/Stoller/Bagdasarian), and Werewolves of London (Zevon/Marinell/Wachtel).

Review: "Your spooky tunes were awesome." - a young woman.

Highlights: When the crowd actually recognized my "campfire" version of "Buffy".

Shan & Sterling duets.

Thu. Oct. 19/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

Again my theme was songs we used to sing in the LU Agora from the little brown book(pictured):

Both Sides Now (Mitchell), Leaving On a Jet Plane (Denver), and Sunshine On My Shoulders (Denver/Kniss/Taylor).

Leaving... sounded good when John and Kris were singing along.

Thu. Oct. 12/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme was songs we used to sing in LU Agora in the 70s from a little brown book:

Rich Man's Spiritual (Lightfoot), Mr. Bojangles (Walker), and Grandma's Feather Bed (Connor).

Review: "Great job" -- youngish couple as they were leaving.

Thu. Oct. 5/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

I sang songs from the White Album ("The Beatles"): I Will (Paul), Revolution #9 (Excerpt) (John, some George & Yoko), Rocky Raccoon (Paul), The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill* (John), Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da (Paul, intro by John).

* A masterpiece up there with Strawberry Fields and Imagine.

I was going to be bring a copy of The White Album, but I showed them a picture instead.

Thu. Sept. 28/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

I sang some originals:

Hurting Song, Peter Hart, Bob From Nunavut, and I'm Too Old (For the NHL).

Review: "Good show, man!" - some relatively young guy when I was on my way to get my free beverage.

Highlights: Bernie invited me to play harp in his set.

I invited myself to play harp in John's set (Copperhead Road), Two harp players (Shan and myself) in the finale, and "Blu Lemon", an instrumental blues/jazz/rock group.

Thu. Sept. 21/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

I sang:

My Back Pages (Dylan), Wild Horses (Jagger/Richards), Superman's Song (Roberts), and Yesterday (Lennon/MCCARTNEY).

Review re. Superman's Song: "Any dummy can play that song." (No one said this, but someone should have.)

Thu. Sept. 7/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

There were not many performers, and so Bernie allowed me to sing six songs, out of desperation:

Seventy-Six Trombones (Willson), Over the Rainbow (Harburg/Arlen), The Light of the World (Schwartz/Schwartz), This Wheel's On Fire (Dylan/Danko), Eight Days a Week (Lennon/McCartney), and Norwegian Wood (LENNON/McCartney).

Highlights: Frank who actually knows how to play harmonica,
New stage lights!

Sat. Sept. 3/23: Campfire at the Tonkens House

I came straight from improv (after 2100h), partway through the jam.

I sang:

The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Linda/Weiss), Three Little Birds/Rivers of Babylon (Marley/Dowe/Farian/Reyam/McNaughton), and Threw It All Away (Dylan).

Photo by Sterling before I arrived:

Highlight (for me): During the Lion/Babylon medley, John beside me was holding down the Reggae backbeat, and singing harmony, while Jules was drumming on the box, allowing me to really get into the singing.

Thu. Aug. 31/23: "Cheer's Open Mic" at Lakehead Beer

I sang:

Feed the Birds (Sherman/Sherman), Edelweiss (Rodgers/Hammerstein), and Every Grain of Sand (Dylan).

Thu. Aug. 24/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

I sang 3 Dylan songs:

You Ain't Going Nowhere, Make You Feel My Love, and Forever Young.

Review: "That was dope." - a young lady in the audience re. my off-stage harmonica playing during Clay Breiland's set. I believe dope is a good thing, that is, the word is.

Thu. Aug. 3/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

I saw this "long-haired freaky person" actually paying attention as I sang. It turned out to be Stu MacLean whom I knew when he was a staff-kid at Camp Gitchigomee. He performed an impressive set, including two originals featuring finger-picking.

I sang 3 Dylan songs:

I'll Remember You, All I Really Want to Do, and Threw It All Away.

But then my cheat-notes were blowin' in the wind, and so I sang from memory What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele).

Highlights: Stu.
Frank, a harp player who blows me away.
Various other new-to-me performers whose names I've forgotten.
The little boy who wanted to be part of every act, starting with John.

Sat. July 15/23: Campfire at the Tonkens House

I sang:

The Witch Doctor (Seville), Count On Me (Mars), Love Minus Zero/No Limit (Dylan), and Three Little Birds/Rivers of Babylon (Marley/ Dowe/Farian/Reyam/McNaughton).

Thu. July 6/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme was originals:

Blowtorch Cat Blues, Caffeine (parody), Monsters in the Sky, and Before Dawn.

Highlights:
A one-eyed dog on their way to Toronto to start their own CBC show (apparently,
The return of Sterling, and
Jules on drums (making his Mom cry).

Thu. June 29/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme was originals:

Laughter Heard Through the Wall, Underneath This Tree, Bob From Nunavut, and Don't Be Afraid.

Highlights: Bernie plays piano!
Debut of Jules and Maeve,
The young couple who sang oldies (including Dylan) with finger-picking,
Matteo had me play harmonica on Handle With Care,
Matteo's rendition of Oh, Pretty Woman*, and
Two harmonicists (see photo) on The Weight.

* Yes, you file it under O, not P.

Thu. June 22/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

I sang (or attempted to):

Heart of Glass (Harry/Stein), Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (Michael),* Karma Chameleon (O'Dowd/Hay/Craig/Moss/Pickett), and Istanbul Not Constantinople (Kennedy/Simon).

* I did not "hit that high".

Highlight: The return of Matteo.

Thu. June 15/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

I sang a medley of excerpts of songs (in D):

The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Love Me Tender, Don't Be Cruel, Where Is Your Heart?, If I Had a Hammer, Bad Moon Rising, and With a Little Help From My Friends.

Reviews:
One guy started clapping partway through, presumably meaning "This is great! Keep on singing!"
"Nice medley" - Bernie

Highlight: hug from drunk lady who bumped into me accidentally.

Thu. June 8/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

I missed most of the event, as I was at Dress Rehearsal for the 10x10 Play Festival. However, they did let me play harmonica on the Finale (The Weight).

Unfortunately, I missed Katelin Middaugh's debut, but I was glad to have caught Tina Flack's set.

Thu. June 1/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme was (mostly) folk songs (which are usually about death):

Danny Boy (Weatherly), John Henry (Trad.), I Can't Help Falling In Love With You* (Creatore/Weiss), and St. James Infirmary (Trad.)

* by request, and with BGVs.

Sat. May 27/23: The Alzheimer's Society Walk For Memories at Prince Arthur's Landing

I sang:

If You Could Read My Mind (Lightfoot), The End of the Line (The Traveling Wilburys), Karma Chameleon (O'Down/Hay/Craig/Moss/Pickett), Vincent (McLean), Medley in D: -- Three Little Birds (Marley), -- By the Rivers of Babylon ((Dowe/Farian/Reyam/McNaughton), -- What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), -- Don't Be Cruel (Blackwell), -- Love Me Tender (Darby/Poulton), -- The Lion Sleeps Tonight (The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Linda/Weiss), -- All I Want Is You (U2) -- With a Little Help From My Friends (Lennon/McCartney).

Thu. May 25/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

Because of Bob's birthday the day before, I sang all Dylan:

Love Minus Zero/No Limit, In the Summer Time, Subterranean Homesick Blues, I'll Remember You, Absolutely Sweet Marie, Simple Twist of Fate, and Rainy Day Women #12 & 35.

Sat. May 20/23: Open Mic Gang's Campfire at the Tonkens House

I sang:

When the Ship Comes In (Dylan), Echo Beach (Gane), and The End of the Line (Traveling Wilburys).

Highlight: AMPW singing "Flowers".

Thu. May 18/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme was The Traveling Wilburys (who are mostly dead):

Handle With Care, Congratulations, Tweeter and the Monkey Man, and The End of the Line.

I was also invited to use my new harmonicas on "I Shall Be Released" by two hairy guys with guitars, and the Finale "The Weight" (E and A respectively).

Highlight: harmonicas that are not flat.

Thu. May 11/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme was sad songs:

If You Could Read My Mind (Lightfoot), Softly Every Day (Pepper), and Vincent (McLean).

Highlights: Bernie's anniversary song.
Jenn's first time on-stage at this venue.

Thu. May 4/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme was (mostly) Gordon Lightfoot songs:

Did She Mention My Name?, Black Day in July, and Rich Man's Spiritual.

2nd Set by "popular" request*:

Sundown, In the Early Morning Rain, and Puff the Magic Dragon (Lipton/Yarrow).

Review: *"We want Pepper!" -- Big John.

Photo by John P-W. "Richard in a nutshell":

PICTURES TO BE ADDED

Thu. Apr. 27/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

I sang:

The Theme From Friends (Willis/Crane/Kauffman/Solem/Wilde/Jay), Sweet Caroline (Diamond), and Tubthumping (Chumbawumba).

Review: Half the room cleared out while I sang Sweet Caroline, including people I know.

Thu. Apr. 20/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

I sang:

As Tears Go By (Jagger/Richards), Happy Together (Bonner/Gordon), If I Had a Hammer (Hays/Seeger), and What a Wonderful World (Cooke).

2nd Set!!:

Her Majesty (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Bob From Nunavut (Pepper), For What It's Worth (Stills), Edelweiss (Rodgers/Hammerstein), and Que Sera Sera (Livingston/Evans).

I also joined in the Finale: The Weight on harmonica, which went better than I expected.

Review: "Ba ba ba ba." Andrea D. during Happy Together.

Thu. Apr. 13/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

I sang:

Smelly Cat (Chase/Borns/Kudrow), Rock and Roll Song (Valdy), We're Not Going to Take It (Snyder), and Medley: Three Little Birds (Marley)/ Rivers of Babylon (Dowe/Farian/Reyam/McNaughton)/ The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Linda/Weiss).

Open Mic Tip: How to play 6 songs -- include a medley.

Sat. Apr. 8/23: Gathering Table Easter Vigil

I led the singing. We started outside the building & moved inside gradually turning on the lights as we entered. Then I took my place and led the songs.

Thu. Apr. 6/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme was songs I sing at Senior Homes:

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), I Can't Help Falling in Love With You (Creatore/Weiss), and (believe it or not) Satisfaction (Jagger/Richards).

Highlights: "The Jordanaires" sang along. Olivia on violin.

My closing comment: Keith also plays his guitar out of tune.

Thu. Mar. 30/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme was songs by Bruce Cockburn that I can actually play:

Justice, Anything Can Happen, and Tie Me At the Crossroads When I Die.

Review: Hey, may I borrow your guitar? (See collage by Kris.)

Thu. Mar. 23/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme was my birthday (later that week). I sang:

When I'm 64 (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Birthday (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), and In My Life (LENNON/McCartney).

Review: Nice job -- a guy passing by.

Thu. Mar. 9/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme was songs by U2:

Love Is Blindness, All I Want Is You, and I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.

Highlight: Sterling singing I Kissed a Girl and I Liked It.

Photo by Kris.

Sun. Mar. 5/23: Gathering Table Church Service

As substitute preacher for Gathering Table, I included two of my songs: The Man Who Died For You, and Micah 6:8.

Thu. Feb. 23/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme was songs by Leonard Cohen:

Bird On the Wire, Tower of Song, Anthem, So Long Marianne, and Dance Me to the End of Love.

And NOT Hallelujah!

In honour of Leonard deigned to wear a Montreal jersey.

Tue. Feb. 21/23: Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper For Gathering Table Church

I sang:

What a Wonderful World (Brimhall/Weiss/Theile), Que Sera Sera ( ), Bird On the Wire (Cohen), Anthem (Cohen), Love Rescue Me (U2), Put a Little Love in Your Heart (De Shannon/Holiday/Myers), All You Need Is Love (LENNON/McCartney), Eight Days a Week (Lennon/McCartney), Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), and Tower of Song (Cohen).

Set 2:

Make You Feel My Love (Dylan), The Big Bang Theory (BNL), Norwegian Wood (LENNON/McCartney), Happy Together (Bonner/Gordon), and Both Sides Now (Mitchell).

Review: No one "stood up and walked out on me".

Thu. Feb. 16/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme was love:

Love Rescue Me (U2), Put a Little Love in Your Heart (De Shannon/Holiday/Myers), and All You Need Is Love (LENNON/McCartney),

Highlight: My Cheers Gang horn section during "All You Need Is Love".

Thu. Feb. 9/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme was songs that are to make you laugh at me:

Gimme Some Money (Spinal Tap), Cowboy Lament (Pepper), and (Always Look On) The Bright Side of Life (Idle).

Review: You look like Valdy - Bernie.

Thu. Feb. 2/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme this week was original Pepper songs:

Laughter Heard Through the Wall, I'm Too Old (For the NHL), and Don't Be Afraid.

Photo by Melissa's sister, Miranda of F#m during "Don't Be Afraid":

OUT ORDER

Jan. 19/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme was the 90s:

In the Garage (Cuomo), All-Star (Camp), and Make You Feel My Love (Dylan).

Review: "Good set." - Matteo

Photos by KC Westfort.

Jan. 26/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme was Beatles songs sung by Ringo:

With a Little Help From My Friends (Lennon/McCartney), I Wanna Be Your Man (Lennon/McCartney), Don’t Pass Me By (Starkey), and Yellow Submarine (Lennon/McCartney).

Review: "Great job." - Some guy who looked way younger than a Boomer.

Highlight: The return of John #1.

Photo by KC Westfort:

Jan. 12/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme was hockey:

The Hockey Song (Connors), Free Stanley (Pepper), I Wanna Drive the Zamboni (Gear Daddies), and Nobody Talks (Pepper).

Jan. 5/23: Open Mic at Lakehead Beer

My theme was TV:

Scooby-Dooby-Doo/Scooby-Scooby-Doo/Buffy Medley, Hey Hey We're the Monkees! (Boyce/Hart), The Big Bang Theory (BNL), and "Encore": Eight Days a Week (Lennon/McCartney).

Highlight: The return of Kris's voice.

Lowlight: I flubbed the lyrics to Eight Days, but no one could hear me over all the screaming girls anyway.

2022

Thu. Dec. 1/22: Cheer's Open Mic Gang at Lakehead Beer Open Mic Night

I sang:

Caffeine (parody of JJ Cale's Cocaine), Blowtorch Cat Blues (Pepper), Bob From Nunavut (Pepper), and Clothes Line Saga (Bob).

My theme was Blues in E.

Highlight: Return to live open mic.
Lowlight: Kris, our leader, had lost her voice.

Tue. Nov. 22/22: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Jam

I sang:

Motorpsycho Nitemare - this week's lesser-known Bob song, You're So Vain (Simon), Joy to the World (Axton), I Heard It Through the Grapevine (Whitfield/Strong), Taking Care of Business (Bachman), and Big Wind (Terry/McGhee).

Tue. Nov. 8/22: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Jam

I sang:

Subterranean Homesick Blues* - this week's lesser-known Bob song, Werewolves of London (Zevon/Marinell/Wachtel), (Ghost) Riders in the Sky (Stan Jones), Karma Chameleon (O'Dowd/Hay/Craig/Moss/Pickett), El Condor Pasa (Simon), and You Are the Light of the World (Schwartz).

*I might have fumbled some of the words.

Sat. Sept. 17/22: Alzheimer's Society Duck Race* at Trowbridge Falls

* no race due to high/fast water; so the winning ducks were just drawn.

I sang:

A Hard Day's Night (Lennon/McCartney) with Jim 'n' I*, Happy Together (Bonner/Gordon), Eight Days a Week (Lennon/McCartney), Put a Little Love in Your Heart (De Shannon/Holiday/Myers), Scooby Doo/Buffy Medley, Hey Hey We're the Monkees (Boyce/Hart), I'm a Believer (Diamond), With a Little Help From My Friends (Lennon/McCartney), Blowin' in the Wind (Dylan), and What a Wonderful World (Brimhall/Weiss/Theile).

Review: No one "stood up and walked out on me".

* or with Jim 'n' Me if you prefer to be grammatically correct.

Mon. Sept. 12/22: Cheer's Open Mic Gang (2 of us) Campfire

I sang:

Open the Door, Homer* - this week's lesser-known Bob song, The Phony King of England (Harris), Let It Rain (Clapton/Bramlett), Peter Hart (Pepper), Underneath This Tree (Pepper), Refugee (Petty/Campbell), Empty Places (Pepper), and There Goes a Cigar Smoking a Man (Gary S. Paxton).

*Dylan & The Band actually sing "Richard", not "Homer".

Highlight: Kris sang several of her own early songs, which I've never heard before.

Pic by Kris.

Mon., Sept. 5/22: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Campfire

I sang:

Tell Me That It Isn't True - this week's lesser-known Bob song, 9 to 5 (Parton), Back in the USSR (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Spanish Is the Loving Tongue (Charles Badger Clark), We Shall Overcome (Tindley/Seeger), and Good Night (Lennon/McCartney).

Review: A string broke during "Back in the USSR". A sign?

Vid by Kris.

Mon. Aug. 29/22: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Campfire Sans Fire

I sang:

You Ain't Going Nowhere - this week's lesser-known Bob song, In the Summertime - another even-lesser-known Bob song, I Wanna Be Your Man (Lennon/McCartney), Rocking in the Free World (Young), and Satisfaction (Jagger/Richards).

Review: "Here. Have some cucumbers." - Kris (Thank you.)

Photo by Kris (obviously):

Sun. July 24/22: for Gathering Table (Camp Sunday)

For some reason the video starts partway throug the opening song, and then ends halfway through the service.

I led:

Pre-Service: The Steadfast Love of the LORD (Daniel) -- not seen, Lord, I Lift Your Name on High (Founds), Jesus Loves Me (alt.) (Warner), Man Gave Names to All the Animals (Dylan) -- not seen, You Are My All in All (Jernigan) -- not seen, and Day Is Done (Horace Lorenzo Trim) -- not seen.

Tue. July 12/22: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Campfire

I sang:

Just Like Tom Thumb Blues - this week's lesser-known Bob song, Called Me Back (Cockburn), Get Back (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), My Old Friend the Blues (Earle), I'll Remember You (Dylan), and The Safety Dance (Doroschuk).

And at some point I sang Blueberry Hill (Domino).

Highlight: First-time performance by a new participant.

Sun. July 10/22: Song-Leading for Gathering Table

Tue., July 5/22: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Campfire

I sang:

Do Right To Me, Baby - this week's lesser-known Bob song, Strength (The Alarm), Complicated (Lavigne), Congratulations (DYLAN/Harrison/Lynne/Orbison/Petty), Happy Together (Bonner/Gordon), and Feed the Birds (Sherman/Sherman).

Mon., June 20/22: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Campfire

I sang:

What Was It You Wanted? - this week's lesser-known Bob song, I Will Survive (Fekaris/Pemen), Cal(i)purina Dreamin' (Pepper Parody), Best Day of My Life (Barnett/Shelley/Sanchez/Rublin/Goodman/Accetta), Helter Skelter (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), and As Tears Go By (Jagger/Richards).

Review: "Woo woo woo" - Kris, during Best Day of My Life.

Performer pix from vid by Kris. I took the one of the audience.

Thu., June 16/22: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Campfire

I sang:

Tombstone Blues - this week's lesser-known Bob song, Sweet Caroline (Diamond), True Colours (Steinberg/Kelly), and Hava Nagila (Trad.).

Highlight: Four Bob songs were sung: Tombstone Blues, Down Along the Cove, Forever Young, and Wagon Wheel (the chorus).

Sat. June 11/22: Wedding of Melissa (Tempelman) and Michael Hinsperger @ Urban Abbey

I was honoured to accompany Austen Finlay in Lean On Me (Withers), and Maranda Dumas in I Get to Love You (Ruelle).

Photo by Greg Ribotto.

Mon., June 6/22: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Campfire

I sang:

Shelter From the Storm - this week's lesser-known Bob song, Que Sera Sera (Livingston/Evans), Ring of Fire (Carter/Kilgore), With a Little Help From My Friends (Lennon/McCartney), Monsters in the Sky (Pepper), Three Little Birds/The Rivers of Babylon (Marley/Dowe/Farian/Reyam/McNaughton), Handle With Care (Harrison/Dylan/Petty/Lynne/Orbison), and Hallelujah (Cohen).

Highlight: Ice cream sammiches!!

Photo by Kris Tonkens:

Wed., May 11/22: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Jam ... on the Back Deck!!

I sang:

Everything Is Broken - this week's lesser-known Bob song, My Baby Loves a Bunch of Authors (Moxy Fruvous), Purple Haze (Hendrix), Down on the Corner (Fogerty), and So Long Marianne (Cohen).

Highlight: Mushroom tacos by Kris!!

Thu., Apr. 28/22: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Jam

I sang:

Lenny Bruce - this week's lesser-known Bob song, Beds Are Burning (Garrett/Moginie/Hirst), You Can't Always Get What You Want (Jagger/Richards), and Goodnight Irene (Ledbetter).

Highlight: Choir voices on the keyboards during YCAGWYW.

Thu., Apr. 21/22: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Jam:

I sang:

All Along the Watchtower - this week's well-known Bob song, often misattributed to Jimi. Wonderful Tonight (Clapton), A Routine Day (Woloschuk), and The Drinking Song (Moxy Fruvous).

Highlight: "What song is this?" - SF (You had to be there.)

Sun. April 10/22: Song-Leading for Gathering Table's Palm Sunday:

Guitar is sometimes too loud.

Wed. Apr. 6/22: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Jam

I sang:

I Don't Believe You - this week's lesser-known Bob song, Unchained (Johnstone), Caldonia (Jordan), Wasn't That a Party! (Paxton), and Bright Side of Life (Idle).

Thu. Mar. 31/22: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Jam

I sang:

Heart of Mine - this week's lesser-known Bob song, When the Night Feels My Song (Malinowski/Pengelly/Sinclair), and Lean on Me (Withers).

Highlight: When John 2 Rick-rolled us.

Thu. Mar. 24/22: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Jam

I sang:

Heart of MineWith God On Our Side - this week's lesser-known Bob song, Heart of MineI Never Cry (Cooper), Heart of MinePeggy Sue (Holly), Heart of MineSpiders and Snakes (Stafford), and Doin' It Right (Powder Blues Band).

Highlight: Wings and pizza thanks to KC!!

Tue. Mar. 8/22: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Jam

I sang:

It Takes a Lot to Laugh; It Takes a Train to Cry (Dylan), We're Off You Know (Woloschuk/Long), The End of the Line (Traveling Wilburys), and You've Got to Hide Your Love Away (LENNON/McCartney).

Wed., Feb. 2/22: Cheer's Gang On-Line Open Mic

I sang:

Pledging My Time - this week’s lesser known Bob song, Love Is Blindness (U2), Wake Me Up Before You Go Go (Michael), Speak Softly Love (Kusik/Rosa), and Farewell to Nova Scotia (Trad.).

Highlight: John Jr. played all his songs on the kalimba.

Tue., Jan. 25/22: Cheer's Open Mic Gang On-Line Jam

I sang:

Cold (Pepper), Flip Flop and Fly (Turner), The Wanderer (Maresca), Things Have Changed - This week’s lesser known Bob song, and Love Rescue Me (U2).

Tue., Jan. 18/22: The Cheer’s Gang Back on-Line Again Open Mic

I sang:

One (U2), Love Stinks (Geils), As Tears Go By (Jagger/Richards), and Hwy 61 Revisited (Dylan).

Tip: At an open mic, remember to “open” your mic.

Sun., Jan. 2/22: Lessons and Carols at Gathering Table

I sang the carols, accompanying myself on guitar.

2021

Wed., Dec. 22/21: Alzheimers Society Christmas Social on Zoom

I sang:

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Trad.), Jingle Bell Rock (Lanning/Beale/Boothe), The Christmas Song (Torme), White Christmas (Berlin), I'll Be Home For Christmas (Gannon/Kent/Ram), Stille Nacht/Silent Night (Mohr/Grueber), The Little Drummer Boy (Orante/Simeone), Please Come Home For Christmas (Brown), Blue Christmas (Hayes/Johnson), Cantique de Noel (De Roquemaure/Dwight/Adam),* Good King Wenceslas (Svoboda/Neale/Trad.),* Deck the Halls (Trad.), Angels We Have Heard On High (Trad.), O Little Town of Bethlehem (Brooks/Redner), Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Martin/Blane), and We Wish You a Merry Christmas and Me a Figgy Pudding (Trad.).

* by request.

Review: "Fantastic" (Someone in the Zoom chat).

I had fun, but I did not get any figgy pudding.Then it began to rain.

Tue. Dec. 14/21: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Indoor Distanced Campfire Jam Sans Campfire

I sang:

Must Be Santa (Moore/Fredericks), Surfing Safari (Wilson), The One After 909 (Lennon/McCartney), The Christmas Song (Torme), and I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day (Longfellow/Marks).

Highlight: Jules' drumming on Dance Monkey.

Tue. Dec. 14/21: Pope John Paul II School's Advent Play

I played guitar for these recording sessions over a period of lunch hours at Pope John Paul II School

If the video doesn't work, try here.

Tue. Dec. 7/21: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Indoor Distanced Campfire Jam Sans Campfire

I sang:

Christmas at Ground Zero (Yankovic), Please Come Home For Christmas (Brown), Little Drummer Boy (Orante/Simeone), All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth (Gardner), and Handle With Care (Traveling Wilburys).

Highlight: Pizza and wings provided by KC!!

Mon., Nov. 29/21: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Indoor Distanced Campfire Jam Sans Campfire

I sang:

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Easter (my parody of Willson), White Christmas (Berlin), Handle With Care (Traveling Wilburys), and Farewell Shanty (Holdstock/MacLeod).

Highlight: Kris's son, J. on the drums. Handle With Care became a real jam.

Mon., Nov. 22/21: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Indoor Distanced Campfire Jam Sans Campfire

I sang:

Man of Peace (Dylan) - this week's lesser known Bob song, St. James Infirmary (Trad.), Born to Be Wild (Bonfire), and Close Every Door (Webber).

Highlight: Sourdough bread from Kris's brother-in-law!!

Photo by Kris:

Nov. 17 - 21/21: Cambrian Players' Production of Treasure Island by Bryony Lavery

As Blind Pew I led the singing of Farewell Shanty (Dick Holdstock and Allan MacLeod), and played guitar for the Curtain Call: Rio Grande.

Photo by Matt Goertz:

Tue., Oct. 26/21: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Outdoor Distanced Campfire Jam

I sang (originals only):

Bob From Nunavut - Not a song by Bob, but about a Bob. '69 - '74, Acadia Dry, and Benediction.

Highlight: Cheer's Crew tshirts!! and people laughed at the right places in '69 - '74.

Sat. Oct. 23/21: Farewell to Porters at Suttons'

I sang a few songs that George and Nancy like:

Anthem (Cohen), Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (U2), Tie Me at the Crossroads When I Die (Cockburn), and I Want Jesus to Walk With Me (Trad.).

No Bob songs.

Wed., Oct. 20/21: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Outdoor Distanced Campfire Jam

I sang:

Apple Suckling Tree/Froggy Went A-Courtin' (Dylan) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song, Rasputin (Farian/Reyam/Jay), Echo Beach (Gane), Bird On a Wire (Cohen), and Let It Be (Lennon/MCCARTNEY).

Highlight: My fingers didn't freeze and fall off.

Mon., Oct. 11/21: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Outdoor Distanced Campfire Jam

I sang:

Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar (Dylan) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song, Video Killed the Radio Star (Horn/Downes/Woolley), One More Minute (Yankovic), The Fool on the Hill (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Top of the World (Carpenter/Bettis), and Threw It All Away (Dylan).

Highlight: John joining in with the doo wop BGVs for One More Minute, as I knew he would.

Mon., Oct. 4/21: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Outdoor Distanced Campfire Jam

I sang:

In the Garden (Dylan) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song, Put a Little Love In Your Heart (De Shannon/Holiday/Myers), Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Mercury), Not Your Stepping Stone (Boyce/Hart), Softly Every Day (Pepper), In Heaven There'll Only Bae Bagpipes (Pepper), and Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da (Lennon/MCCARTNEY).

Highlight: Indestructible Dollarama marshmallows.

Mon., Sept. 27/21: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Outdoor Distanced Campfire Jam

I sang:

You're Going to Make Me Lonesome When You Go (Dylan) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song, A Certain Love (Terry Taylor), Norwegian Wood (LENNON/McCartney), Blowtorch Cat Blues (Pepper), and King of the Road (Miller).

Wed., Sept. 22/21: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Outdoor Distanced Campfire Jam

I sang:

Simple Twist of Fate (Dylan) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song, All the Way Home (Spinal Tap), For What It's Worth (Stills), What a Wonderful World (Cooke), Yesterday (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Wade in the Water (Trad.), Mayfly Mush (Pepper), and The Day in the Life of a Mayfly (Pepper).

Review: Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr - (neighbour's lawn mower).

Mon., Sept. 6/21: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Outdoor Distanced Campfire Jam

I sang Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (Harbach/Kern), Political World* (Dylan) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song, and We're Not Gonna Take It (Snider).

Then it began to rain.

* 11 stanzas; 1 chord.

A still from the vid Sterling took of WNGTI:

Mon., Aug. 30/21: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Outdoor Distanced Jam

I sang Tweeter and the Monkey Man (Dylan/Traveling Wilburys) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song, Can't Buy Me Love (Lennon/McCartney), Each One Lost (Cockburn), A Blessing in Disguise (Lost Dogs), and Three Little Birds/Rivers of Babylon (Marley/Dowe/Farian/Reyam/McNaughton).

Review: "That was morbid." (re. "Each One Lost") -- everyone else.

Photos by Kris:

Mon., Aug. 23/21: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Outdoor Distanced Jam

I sang The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll (Dylan) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song, Eight Days a Week (Lennon/McCartney), Both Sides Now (Mitchell), and Don't Be Afraid (Pepper).

Review: "Good tune." (re. Eight Days)

Photo by Kris:

Sat., Aug. 21/21: The Transparencies Perform at DBC 75th Reunion

Today the Transparencies (Darren "Shroom" Foulds on drums, Robin Harbron on bass, & yours truly) performed at Dorion Bible Camp, as part of their 7th Anniversary outdoor celebration. We did the same set twice (songs written by me unless otherwise noted):

The Pillow-Fighting Champ of Dorion Bible Camp, The Christian Beaver, Mayfly Mush, THE Day in the Life of a Mayfly, Your Clothes, They Need A-Changin', I Will Put My Faith in You, Medley of Monty Songs in D (various), and The Camp Song (Parks, Mouland, Claman).

Review: "I like your self-deprecating humour." - Charles Snell. (I was actually trying to deprecate Shroom!)

Mon., Aug. 16/21: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Outdoor Distanced Jam

I sang Where Teardrops Fall (Dylan) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song, Love Potion Witch Doctor (Johnson/Alexander), Satisfaction (Jagger/Richards), Peter Hart (Pepper), Wasn't That a Party (Paxton), and May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose (Merritt).

Personal Highlight: Satisfaction Sing-a-long.

Photo by Kris:

Mon., Aug. 9/21: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Outdoor Distanced Jam

I sang Every Grain of Sand (Dylan) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song, Nobody's Fault But Mine (Johnson/Alexander), Do You Want to Know a Secret? (Lennon/McCartney), 40 (Ps. 40/U2), Feed the Birds (Sherman/Sherman), At This Moment (Vera), and We Shall Overcome (Tindley/Seeger).

Personal Highlight: "Peaches" (The POTUSA) by John 2.

Photo by Kris:

Mon., Aug. 2/21: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Outdoor Distanced Jam

I sang Gonna Change My Way of Thinking (Dylan) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song, Laughter Heard Through the Wall (Pepper), Edelweiss (Rodgers & Hammerstein), For No One (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Count On Me (Mars), and Don't Be Cruel (Blackwell).

Highlight: Ice cream! (hypothetically).

Fri. July 30/21: Victoria Inn

I performed with the Cheer's Open Mic gang for kids/youth from Poplar Hill FN.

I sang (assisted by Kris) Down By the Bay, Little Cabin in the Woods, On Top of Spaghetti, Baby Shark, and Yellow Submarine (Lennon/McCartney).

Along with the Two Johns and Kris & Kid J, I jammed along with various pop songs including:

Crazy (Barkley), Umbrella (Rihanna), Shallow (Gaga/Cooper), Old Town Road (Lil Nas X), I'm a Believer (Diamond), All-Star (Smashmouth), Blank Space (Swift), Photograph (Sheeran), Grenade (Mars), Wrecking Ball (Cyrus), Shotgun (Ezra), Dance Monkey (Tones & I), Let It Go, and How Far I'll Go.

Review: "Do you know the Drowning song?" - little girl.

Anyone know what this might be?!

Mon., July 26/21: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Outdoor Distanced Jam

I sang Doo Wah Diddy Doesn't Remind Me of Anything (Barry/Greenwich/Audioslave), and Somewhere Over the Rainbow ( Arlen/Harburg ) -- cut short due to rain!

No lesser-known Bob Song this week.

Wed., July 14/21: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Outdoor Distanced Jam

Lo and Behold (Dylan) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song, Fixing a Hole (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), I Am a Poor Wayfaring Stranger (Trad.), The Poker Faced Gambler (Lady Gaga/RedOne/Schlitz), Before Dawn (Pepper), Ruby Tuesday (Richards), and Route 66 (Troup).

Review: "That was a long song!" - Sterling left to buy coffee, as I started Fixing, and returned during Wayfaring Stranger, both in Dm.

Tues., July 6/21: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Outdoor Distanced Jam

I sang Clothes Line Saga (Dylan) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song, The Big Bang Theory (BNL), Oh! Darling (MCCARTNEY), and If I Had a Hammer (Hays/Seeger).

Review: Everyone seemed to like "Clothes Line Saga", a quirky talking-blues description of a family, who do not particularly care that the Vice President has gone mad, as they are busy doing laundry.

Fri., July 2/21:Cheer's Open Mic Gang Outdoor Distanced Jam

I sang Clean Cut Kid (Dylan) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song, Justice (Cockburn), Motherless Child (Trad.), Walking on Sunshine (Rew), and The Good Ol' DRE (Pepper).

Tues., June 22/21:Cheer's Open Mic Gang Outdoor Fewer Than 10, Distanced Jam

I sang One Too Many Mornings (Dylan) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song, Rosie the Riveter (Evans/Loeb), You've Got to Hide Your Love Away (LENNON/McCartney), The Hippopotamus Song - Mud, Mud (Flanders/Swann), and Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport (Harris).

Review: "Noice." - re. "... Kangaroo" - what I wish Kris had said.

Tues., June 15/21: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Outdoor Fewer Than 10 Distanced Jam

I sang Close Every Door (Rice/Lloyd Webber), Jokerman (Dylan) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song, I'm Into Something Good (Goffin/King), Haleluya (Oshrat) - winner of Eurovision 1979, Handle With Care (Harrison/Lynne/Dylan/Orbison/Petty), and Across the Universe (LENNON/McCartney).

Review: "I like that song." - re. "... Something Good", Kris's Mum, who was gardening & dancing in the background.

Tues.,June 8/21: Cheer's Open Mic On-line

I sang In the Summertime (Dylan) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song, Where No One Stands Alone (Lister), Penny Lane (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), and You Can Hold Only What You Let Go (Pepper).

Review: "Nice" - Kris re. "YCHOWYLG".

Tues., June 1/21: Cheer's Open Mic On-line

I sang Birthday (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), You're a Big Girl Now (Dylan) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song, Snowbird (MacLellan), Would They Love Him Down In Shreveport? (Braddock), and Acadia Dry (Pepper).

Review: Thumbs up. - John 2 re. Would They Love Him?.

Tues., May 25/21: Cheer's Open Mic On-line

I sang When the Night Comes Falling From the Sky (Dylan) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song, Painted Ladies (Ian Thomas), Here, There, and Everywhere (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), and Love Makes Me Barf! (Pepper).

Review: "You've been holding out on us." - Kris re. "Love Makes Me Barf".

Tues., May 18/21: Cheer's Open Mic On-line

I sang Tiny Montgomery (Dylan) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song, Some Enchanted Evening (Rodgers/Hammerstein), Dedicated Follower of Fashion (Davies), and Ain't No Cure For Love (Cohen).

Review: "You butchered my song." - The Ghost of Leonard Cohen.

Tues., May 11/21: Cheer's Open Mic On-line

I sang I Believe in You (Dylan) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song, Manic Monday (Prince) - yes, Prince wrote it, Seventy-Six Trombones (Willson), I'm So Tired (LENNON/McCartney), and Country Gospel Song (Pepper).

Review: "Good job!” - Sterling (aka Hairless Glabella) re. "I'm So Tired".

Tues., May 4/21: Cheer's Open Mic On-line

I sang Odds and Ends (Dylan) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song, Eleanor Rigby (Lennon/McCartney), Down By the Riverside (Trad.), and Shalom Chaverim (Trad.).

Reviews: "Amen!” - John 1 re. "Down By the Riverside". .................“L’chaim!” - John 2 re. "Shalom Chaverim".

Tues., Apr. 27/21: Cheer's Open Mic On-line

I sang Silvio (Dylan) - This week's lesser-known Bob Song -, John Henry (Trad.), and Time Tears Us Apart (Pepper).

Review: "That was awesome." - KC (re. Silvio)

Tues., Apr. 20/21: Cheer's Open Mic On-line

I sang Love Potion/Witch Doctor (Lieber/Stoller/Seville), Get the Jab (Parody by Pepper), and I and I (Dylan).

Tues., Apr. 13/21: Cheer's Open Mic On-Line

I sang Senor (Tales of Yankee Power) (Dylan), Before Dawn (Pepper), Swing Low/Swing Down Sweet Chariot (Trad.), and If It Be Your Will (Cohen).

Tues., Apr. 6/21: Cheer's Open Mic On-Line

Tech issues were solved, and the Cheer's Open Mic Gang met virtually.

I sang Maggie's Farm (Dylan), When I'm 64 (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), The Big Rock Candy Mountains (McClintock), Anthem (Cohen), and Abide With Me (Lyte/Monk)/Taps.

Tues. Mar. 30, 2021: Cheer's Virtual Jam

I sang Maggie's Farm (Dylan), When I'm 64 (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), The Big Rock Candy Mountains (McClintock), Anthem (Cohen), and Abide With Me (Lyte/Monk)/Taps (Trad.).

Review: "I was singing along with every word." - Emily re. "When I'm Sixty-Four".

Photo by Kris Tonkens.

Tues. Mar. 30, 2021: Cheer's Virtual Jam

I sang Sgt. Pepper's LHCB (& Reprise): Lennon/McCartney, Ballad of a Thin Man (Dylan), and Wayfaring Stranger (Trad.).

Graphic by Kris Tonkens.

Tues. Mar. 23, 2021: Cheer's Virtual Jam

For the first time we had a virtual Cheer's Open Mic night.

I sang I Wanna Be Your Man (Lennon/McCartney), You Got to Move (Trad.), We Shall Overcome (Tindley/Seeger), In My Life (LENNON/McCartney), and Absolutely Sweet Marie (Dylan).

Review: "Good song." (re. You Got to Move)

Dorion Bible Camp Songs Home Recordings

Six years ago I began recording Dorion Bible Camp songs (the "card" songs). Recently with "Stay at Home", I've begun catching up.

To Playlist on Youtube

Fri., Feb. 5/21: Pioneer Camp Coffee House

Via Zoom I participated in the annual Pioneer Camp Manitoba Winter Coffee House. The theme for the evening was "boats" and so my contribution was a sort of sea shanty: Gilbert and Sullivan's "Pirate Chorus", previously recorded for the Cheer's Open Mic Gang Quarantunes.

Tue., Jan. 12, 2021: Cheer's Open Mic Jam at Kris's

Note that this was outdoors (where 10 are allowed, but we had only four, plus one dog), and we kept our distance from each other.

Note that this was outdoors with fewer than ten, and we kept our distance from each other. However, next week will be "stay at home".

I sang 40 (U2), I Want You (Dylan), Eight Days a Week (Lennon/McCartney), Is Your Love In Vain? (Dylan), Kum Bay Yah (Trad.), and Caffeine (my parody of JJ Cale's "Cocaine").

And of course I joined in the finale: Country Roads (Denver).

Tue., Jan. 5, 2021: Cheer's Open Mic Jam at Kris's

Note that this was outdoors (where 10 are allowed, but we had only four, plus one dog), and we kept our distance from each other.

I sang The Christian Beaver (Pepper), I Can't Help Falling in Love With You (Creatore/Weiss), The PFC of DBC (Pepper), Wade in the Water (Trad.), and I Threw It All Away (Dylan).

And of course I joined in the finale: Country Roads (Denver).

And then I played the Buffy TVS Theme (Nerfherder).

Review: "I regret that." (re. Buffy). - Sterling (I'm still not sure what he meant.)

2020

Tue., Dec. 22, 2020: Cheer's Open Mic Jam at Kris's

Please note that this jam as all the others below in the Green, Yellow, or Orange stages followed the Covid protocols (big space, distancing, fewer than 10, sometimes fewer than 5, hand san, pre & post cleaning of the room).

I sang Snoopy's Christmas (Weiss/Creatore/Peretti), Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (Marks), Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Martin/Blane), Stille Nacht/Silent Night (Mohr/Grueber), I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (Marks), Cry of a Tiny Babe (Cockburn), Coventry Carol (Trad.), and Jingle Bell Rock (Lanning/Beal/Boothe).

Group Jams: Happy Xmas/War Is Over (Lennon/Ono), and Country Roads (Denver).

Well, because all 4 of us did Winter/Christmas songs, they were pretty much all jams.

Tue., Dec. 15, 2020: Cheer's Open Mic Jam at Kris's

I sang Christmas Is All Around (Reg Presley/Curtis), Man in the Long Black Coat (Dylan), Things We Said Today (Lennon/McCartney), All I Want Is You (U2), "Campfire: Version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Theme (Nerfherder), All I Really Want to Do (Dylan), and Gabriel's Message (Trad.).

Group Jams: Happy Xmas/War Is Over (Lennon/Ono), and Country Roads (Denver).

Dec. 12/20: Jam With Friends

Not really a gig, just a jam session in Urban Abbey's basement with Brian Dunn, Darren Foulds, Robin Harbron, and Tim Lappala.

I led us in the following:

Man in the Long Black Coat (Dylan), What Do You Think of Me, Jesus? (Pepper), and Laughter Heard Through the Wall (Pepper).

This was also a late birthday party for Brian (and his new grandson).

Review: "Shut up and play the song!" -- Shroom.

Tue., Dec. 8, 2020: Cheer's Open Mic Jam at Kris's

The Fortieth Anniversary of John Lennon's death.

I sang Strawberry Fields Forever (LENNON/McCartney), The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll (Dylan), Tower of Song (Cohen), The Hockey Song (Connors), and Revolution (LENNON/McCartney).

Group Jams: The Stage (Tonkens), Happy Xmas/War Is Over (Lennon/Ono), and Country Roads (Denver).

Tue., Dec. 8, 2020: "Should I Stay Because of Snow?"

My contribution to the "Come Play With Me TBay" 12 Days Countdown to Christmas:

Link to it on CPWMTB's Facebook Page

Tue., Dec. 1, 2020: Cheer's Open Mic Jam at Kris's

I sang Try to Remember (Schmidt/Jones), Idiot Wind (Dylan), and With a Little Help From My Friends (Lennon/McCartney).

Group Jams: The Stage (Tonkens), Happy Xmas/War Is Over (Lennon/Ono), and Country Roads (Denver).

Tue., Nov. 24, 2020: Cheer's Open Mic Jam at Kris's

I sang Hotel Liverpool (Felder/Henley/Frey/Lennon/McCartney) Kicks (Mann/Weil), and Dark Eyes (Dylan).

Closing Group Jams: Wagon Wheel (Dylan/Secor) and Country Roads (Denver).

Tue., Nov. 17, 2020: Cheer's Open Mic Jam at Kris's

I sang ABBA medley [Take a Chance/Super Trouper/Money Money Money/Dancing Queen], Hey Hey We're the Monkees (Boyce/Hart), and Another Cup of Coffee (Dylan).

Closing Group Jams: Country Roads (Denver), Wagon Wheel (Dylan/Secor) and I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) (Reid/Reid).

Nov. 11, 2020: Remembrance Day "at" PJP2 School

I played guitar for a few of the singers at Pope John Paul II School for their Remembrance Day video, organized by Mrs. Cain:

Tue., Nov. 10, 2020: Cheer's Open Mic Jam at Kris's

I sang I and I (Dylan), B.B. King Medley: The Thrill Is Gone (Hawkins/Darnell)/Darling, You Know I Love You (King/Bihari)/Please Accept My Love (Garlow), Gimme Some Money (Spinal Tap), Tie a Yellow Ribbon (Levine/Brown), Across the Universe (LENNON/McCartney), and Van Diemen's Land (U2).

And, of course, I joined in the finale: Country Roads (Denver).

Tue., Nov. 3, 2020: Cheer's Open Mic Jam at Kris's

I sang Wasn't That a Party! (Paxton), Shot of Love (Dylan), Integrity (Pepper), Anything Can Happen (Cockburn), and Yellow Submarine (Lennon/McCartney).

And, of course, I joined in the finale: Country Roads (Denver).

Tue., Oct. 27, 2020: Cheer's Open Mic Gang at Kris's

I sang Love Minus Zero/No Limit (Dylan), Little One (Pepper), Born to Be Wild (Bonfire), and I'll Remember You (Dylan).

I joined in the finales as well: The Weight (Robertson) and Country Roads (Denver).

Highlight: Little M toddling around stealing my hat and song sheets.

Tue., Oct. 13, 2020: Cheer's Open Mic Gang Campfire at Kris's

I sang Masters of War (Dylan), Bird on a Wire (Cohen), Monsters in the Sky (Pepper), Nobody Talks (During Coaches Corner) (Pepper) (by request!), and I Threw It All Away (Dylan).

However, I had to leave before the finale: Country Roads (Denver).

Fri., Oct. 9, 2020: Cheer's Open Mic Campfire at Kris's

I sang Black Day in July (Lightfoot), Dance Me to the End of Love (Cohen), I Will (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), I'm Too Old For the NHL (Pepper), Tie Me at the Crossroads When I Die (Cockburn), If I Had Hammer (Hays/Seeger), The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Linda/Weiss), and Make You Feel My Love (Dylan).

And, of course, I joined in the finale: Country Roads (Denver).

Highlight: Big strong wind and flame. No speaking in tongues, however, (though mentioned in one song).

Collage by Kris.

Wed., Sept. 30, 2020: Cheer's Open Mic @ Kris's

I performed Tub-Thumping (Chumbawumba), Anthem (Cohen), Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds (LENNON/McCartney), After Midnight (Cale), and Laughter Heard Through the Wall (Pepper).

And, of course, I joined in the finale: Country Roads (Denver).

Wed., Sept. 23, 2020: Cheer's Open Mic @ Kris's House

Around Kris's campfire, I sang Sugar Sugar (Barry/Kim), Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again (Dylan), What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Good Enough For Now (Yankovic), and Eve of Destruction (McGuire).

Highlight: Kris trying to set me on fire in revenge for knocking over her guitar.

... and pizza!

Wed., Sept. 16, 2020: Cheer's Open Mic @ Kris's House

Around Kris's campfire, I sang Junk Food Junkie (Groce), You May Be Right (Joel), (with others) Come Together (LENNON/McCartney), Three Little Birds/Rivers of Babylon (Marley/Dowe/Farian/Reyam/McNaughton), Knocking on Heaven's Door (Dylan), and Don't Be Afraid (Pepper).

I also joined in at the end with Summer of '69 (Vallance/Adams), and Country Roads (Denver).

Highlight: John's home-made beer explosion.

... and wings and doughnuts!

Wed., Sept. 9, 2020: Cheer's Open Mic @ Kris's House

Around Kris's campfire. Lots of chatting in between songs, and so I sang only three:

Eleanor Rigby (Lennon/MCCARTNEY). Istanbul (Not Constantinople) (Kennedy/Simon), and my own '69 - '74.

Instagram collage by ladyjonkens.

Wed., Aug. 26, 2020: Come Play With Me Campfire Stories

I sang The True and Terrible Ballad of Evil Ed Gooch. At the end of the campfire I attempted to lead "Zoom Bay Yah".

Click here for a blog post with more pix and info.

This link might still take you to the Facebook video of the entire show. Ed Gooch starts around 26:24, and then I was asked to lead a non-rehearsed Kum Bay Yah at c. 2:05:00. Advance the cursor to locate these, if you wish.

Wed., Aug. 19, 2020: Cheer's Open Mic @ Kris's House

Another physically-distanced session in Kris's sun (rain) porch.

I sang Another Brick in the Wall (Waters), Black and White (Lambert/Potter), The Safety Dance (Doroschuk), That Thing You Do (Schlesinger), Complicated (Lavigne), Ruby Tuesday (Jagger/Richards), Make You Feel My Love (Dylan), and Eight Days a Week (Lennon/McCartney).

There were many other jams led by others, including Copperhead Road (Earle), Brown-Eyed Girl and Into the Mystic (Morrison), and our usual finale: Country Roads (Denver).

Collage by ladyjonkens (Kris).

Tue., Aug. 12, 2020: Cheer's Open Mic @ Kris's House

Some of the Cheer's Open Mic gang, after months of sharing songs on-line, met in person, physically distanced in Kris' screen-windowed porch.

I sang One Tin Soldier (Lambert/Potter), The Safety Dance (Doroschuk), The Bright Side of Life (Idle), and then led jams of Rocking in the Free World (Young), Folsom Prison Blues (Cash) with solos by Sterling, and Happy Together (Bonner/Gordon).

There were many other jams led by others, including Lost Together (Cuddy/Keelor), and our usual finale: Country Roads (Denver).

It was great to see/hear one another in person again!

Collage by ladyjonkens (Kris.

Sun., May 31, 2020: Alzheimer's Society [Virtual] Walk For Memories

I usually am one of the buskers along the route of the actual walk, but this year I was asked to submit a couple of videos. I repurposed a couple of my Quarantune Open Mic vids. Click on either of the photos below from the Thunder Bay A.S. page to be taken to a blog page with the videos.

Thu., May 14, 2020: Almost Lost in "Lost Together" Singalong

Click the picture for more info about my singing along with Greg Keelor, Jim Cuddy, and hundreds of fellow Canadians.

The video at CBC.ca The video on YouTube

Mar. 23, 2020 until ????: Cheer's Open Mic Crew On-Line During Isolation

Because of the need for social isolation, and physical distancing, the Tuesday Night Cheer's Open Mic Crew chose to post songs on-line. An artist or theme was chosen for each day, with Fridays being a day for originals or your own choice. I've not been able to post every day, but see my blog for an almost complete collection of my videos. Included are original songs, and covers, medleys, and mash-ups by artists such as The Beatles, BNL, The Eagles, Alanis Morissette, Bob Marley, Gilbert and Sullivan, John Willams, Tom Petty, Billy Joel, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Madonna, Spinal Tap, The Wonders, The Turtles, Peter Paul and Mary, Barry McGuire, Bruce Cockburn, Flanders & Swann, Bill Haley, Neil Young, Smashmouth, Buffalo Springfield, Leonard Cohen, and Abba.

A blog post of most of the videos

Or go straight to Youtube:

To Playlist on Youtube

Tue., Mar. 10, 2020: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I performed three songs on piano: The Marines Hymn, A Little Waltz I Wrote in High School and my contest-losing song Cold.

See how fast my hands are moving in this Instagram collage by @ladyjonkens (Kris Tonkens).

Fri., Mar. 6, 2020: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Route 66 (Troup), You Won't See Me (Lennon/McCartney), Bad Moon Rising (Fogerty), Blue Suede Shoes (Perkins), Both Sides Now (Mitchell), You Can't Always Get What You Want (Jagger/Richards), I'm Gonna Be (Reid), Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Mercury), Fixing a Hole (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Wait (Lennon/McCartney), I Need You (Harrison), Old Man (Young), I'll Cry Instead (Lennon/McCartney), Dark Eyes (Dylan), Hey Good Looking (Williams), and P.S. I Love You (Lennon/McCartney).

Review: "Do you want seconds?" - Megan, serving lunch.

Tue., Feb. 25, 2020: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic & Song-Writing Contest

Collage by Kris Tonkens

Congratulations to Emily who was the well-deserved winner of the Cheer's Song-Writing Contest on Tuesday. I played my entry Cold on the piano!

As part of the Open Mic I sang my songs Bob From Nunavut, Acadia Dry, Free Stanley, and (by request) Nobody (and I mean Nobody) Talks During Coaches Corner.

Review: "You must have been told before that you sound like Randy Bachman." [!!!] - a patron *

Collage by Kris Tonkens

*or did he say Burton Cummings?

Fri., Feb. 21, 2020: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang Honestly (Sweet) - before guests arrived, What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Linda/Weiss), Three Little Birds (Marley), The Rivers of Babylon (Dowe/Farian/Reyam/McNaughton), Four Strong Winds (Tyson), Laughter Heard Through the Wall (Pepper), The Blowtorch Cat Blues (Pepper), If I Had a Hammer (Hays/Seeger), The Hockey Song (Connors), Mothers of the Disappeared/40/Still Haven't Found (U2), All I Want Is You (U2), Old Man (Young), Right Side of the Grass (Pepper), Anything Could Happen (Cockburn), Across the Universe (LENNON/McCartney), Love Minus Zero/No Limit (Dylan), Happy Together (Bonner/Gordon), and For What It's Worth (Stills).

Review: "That was awesome" - guest, after U2 medley.
"That was nice." - same guest, after Dylan song.
"How is the weather?"- another guest, singing along with "Happy Together".

Tue., Feb. 18, 2020: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

Photo by Kris Tonkens

I sang Laughter Heard Through the Wall (Pepper), I'm Too Old (For the NHL) (Pepper), Life Is Good (Pepper), and What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele).

Later I sang The Hockey Song (Connors), Gimme Some Money (Spinal Tap), I've Just Seen a Face (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da (Lennon/MCCARTNEY). and Yesterday (Lennon/MCCARTNEY)

Later I sang I'll Remember You (Dylan), I Shall Be Released (Dylan), Dance Me to the End of Love (Cohen), Bird on a Wire (Cohen), and Mothers of the Disappeared/40/Still Haven't Found... (U2).

Then Kris and I closed the evening with Let It Be (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), and Country Roads (Denver).

Sat., Feb. 15, 2019: Open Mic Comedy Night & Weird Al Karaoke Night @ The Fastlane

I was asked to be the closer, and so I sang my Sound Check Song, Caffeine, Calpurnia Dreamin', You're In Love (With Your Smart Phone), and Bob From Nunavut.

Review - "Please scratch me behind my ears." - Karen*

- "Sing some Ed Sheeran" - Crystal**

* Carole's chihuahua
** someone yelling from the bar.

Tue., Feb. 11, 2020: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

Collage by Kris Tonkens

I sang Lennon McCartney's Eight Days a Week, Yellow Submarine, and Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds.

Later I sang my own Bob From Nunavut, Hurting Song, and (yes) Love Makes Me Barf.

Review: "Me, too." - Emily (re. Loves Make Me Barf).

Collage by Kris Tonkens

Fri., Feb. 7, 2020: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Mothers of the Disappeared (U2), Old Man (Young), Laughter Heard Through the Wall (Pepper), All I Really Want to Do (Dylan), You've Got to Hide Your Love Away (LENNON/McCartney), And I Love Her (Lennon/McCartney), Right Side of the Grass (Pepper), Girl (LENNON/McCartney), The Band Played On (Palmer/Ward), The Sidewalks of New York (Blake/Lawlor), In My Merry Oldsmobile (Bryan/Edwards), Michelle (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), The Urban Spaceman (Innes), Bird on a Wire (Cohen), I Threw It All Away (Dylan), Country Roads (Denver), Annie's Song (Denver/Tchaikowsky), Leaving On a Jet Plane, and Dark Eyes (Dylan).

Review: "Thanks for the John Denver songs." - Donna

Tue., Feb. 4, 2020: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

Collage by Kris Tonkens

I sang from the 90s (the 1890s): The Band Played On (Palmer/Ward), The Sidewalks of New York (Blake/Lawlor), and In My Merry Oldsmobile (Bryan/Edwards), and then my own Right Side of the Grass.

Later I sang Lennon/McCartney's Girl, Michelle, and Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, and You've Got to Hide Your Love Away (with "Hey"s by John & Larry in the crowd).

Review: "Good job with the Beatles songs. - Henry (whose parents were from Liverpool).

Collage by Kris Tonkens

Tue., Jan. 28, 2020: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

Collage by Kris Tonkens

I sang Caffeine, A (Relatively) True Story, and Old Man (Young).

Later I sang 3 Dylan songs: Every Grain of Sand, Forever Young, and Make You Feel My Love.

Review: "'Old Man' needs work." - me.

Collage by Kris Tonkens

Tue., Jan. 21, 2020: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

Collage by Kris Tonkens

I sang Acadia Dry, Anglo Saxon, and Right Side of the Grass.

Later I sang St. James Infirmary (Trad.), I Threw It All Away (Dylan), For No One (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), and Monsters in the Sky.

Finally I sang With a Little Help From My Friends (Lennon/McCartney), All I Want Is You (U2), and Across the Universe (LENNON/McCartney).

Review: "Whoo!" - someone in the crowd.

Tue., Jan. 14, 2020: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

Collage by Kris Tonkens

I sang Cowboy Lament (Pepper), The Urban Spaceman (by the "recently late" Neil Innes), and The Biggest Toy.

Later I sang Integrity, Before Dawn, Mothers of the Disappeared (U2), and Let It Be (Lennon/MCCARTNEY).

Fri., Jan. 10, 2020: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Mellow Yellow (Donovan), The Hockey Song (Connors), All I Really Want to Do (Dylan), Mothers of the Disappeared (U2), Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Norwegian Wood (LENNON/McCartney), Integrity (Pepper), All My Loving (Lennon/McCartney), The Unicorn Song (Silverstein), For What It's Worth (Stills), Strawberry Fields Forever (LENNON/McCartney), I Threw It All Away (Dylan), One More Cup of Coffee (Dylan), Hallelujah (Cohen), Tower of Song (Cohen), and Let It Be (Lennon/MCCARTNEY).

Review: Applause for each Beatles' song by one particular guest.

Lyrics video of my E.P. of some of my oldest songs (recently recorded).
Listen for the vibra-slaps.

Tue., Jan. 7, 2020: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

Collage by Kris Tonkens

I sang You're In Love (With Your Smart Phone) (Pepper), I'm Too Old For the NHL (Pepper), and Tower of Song (Cohen).

I didn't stay long because I was getting sick, and I ached in the places where I used to play.

2019

Tue., Dec. 24, 2019: Christmas Eve at Gathering Table

I sang Bruce Cockburn's Cry of a Tiny Babe. (In this picture I am actually singing a stanza of the self-contradictory Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence).

Mon., Dec. 23, 2019: Surprise Mini Concert in Wal*Mart

At the Sally Anne kettle, Don was taking a break, and invited me to use his guitar. I played Deck the Halls, Rudolph, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, Joy to the World, Silent Night, and Jingle Bells.

Sat., Dec. 21, 2019: Open Mic Comedy Night & Variety Show @ The Fastlane

I sang It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Easter and my parody of Let It Go. I know the tune to the latter was "approximate" -- so as to avoid trouble with those scary Disney lawyers. ;)

Review: "It's time for Karaoke!!!!" (while I sang).

Fri., Dec. 20, 2019: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (Willson), Angels From the Realms of Glory (Montgomery/Smart), I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (Longfellow/Marks), Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (Marks), Angels We Have Heard on High (Trad.), God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Trad.), Winter Wonderland (Bernard/Smith), You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch (Geisel/Hague), White Christmas (Berlin), Snoopy's Christmas (Gernhard/Holler), So Many Years Ago (Pepper), The Angel Gabriel (Baring-Gould/Trad.), Cry of a Tiny Babe (Cockburn), Deck the Halls (Trad.), Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (Lennon/Ono), Silent Night (Mohr/Grueber), The Christmas Song (Torme/Wells), I'll Be Home For Christmas (Gannon/Kent/Ram), Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Martin/Blane), and We Wish You a Merry Christmas (during the opening prayers).

Review: �Very nice.� - guest.

Tue., Dec. 17, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I sang my parodies: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Easter, Let It Grow, and Check the Malls, followed by Don't Be Afraid.

Later I sang It's a Wonderful World (Thiele/Weiss), Bird on a Wire (Cohen), Cry of a Tiny Babe (Cockburn), and When I'm Sixty-Four (Lennon/MCCARTNEY).

Then I joined Kris in Happy Xmas/War Is Over (Lennon/Ono), I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas (John Rox), Silent Night (Mohr/Grueber), Auld Lang Syne (Burns), and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Martin/Blane).

Review: "You have a wonderful voice." - Stan (to Kris).

Tue., Dec. 10, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I sang Bob From Nunavut, Give It 110%, and my mashup of Should I Stay or Should I Go? with Let It Snow.

Review: "Hey, remember that week you sang all those Beatles songs? That was good. :) " - K.C.

Fri., Dec. 6, 2019: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), What a Wonderful World (Cooke), Edelweiss (Rodgers/Hammerstein), I Will (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Don't Let Me Down (LENNON/McCartney), Cry of a Tiny Babe (Cockburn), Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (Coots/Gillespie), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Marks), It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (Willson), Jolly Old St. Nicholas (Trad.), Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (Marks), Frosty the Snowman (Rollins/Nelson), The Christmas Song (Torme/Wells), Christmas in Killarney (Welden, Cavanaugh, Redmond), A Holly Jolly Christmas (Marks), The Little Drummer Boy (Davis/Onorate/Simeone), Silver Bells (Livingston/Evans), Silent Night (Mohr/Grueber), O Holy Night (De Roquemaure/Dwight/Adam), and We Wish You a Merry Christmas (during the opening prayers).

Review: "Happy Holidays." - Guest.

Tue., Dec. 3, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I sang Caffeine, The Blowtorch Cat Blues, and NOBODY Talks During Coaches Corner (with epilogue). Later I sang Lennon/McCartney's Things We Said Today, and I Will, and joined in (on harmonica) the finale: Country Roads (Denver).

Review: "You didn't write that Coaches Corner song, did you?" - Steve.

Tue., Nov. 26, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I sang 3 Dylan songs: When the Ship Comes In, This Wheel's On Fire, and Make You Feel My Love. I also sang (with much harmony from the crowd) Lennon/McCartney's With a Little Help From My Friends, and Yesterday.

Fri., Nov. 22, 2019: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang (hoarsely, and with a lot of on-the-fly transposing) What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Tower of Song (Cohen), Folsom Prison Blues (Cash), Little Sister (Pomus/Shuman), King of the Road (Miller), Three Little Birds (Marley), The Rivers of Babylon (Dowe/Farian/Reyam/McNaughton), Don't Think Twice (It's Alright) (Dylan), You Ain't Going Nowhere (Dylan), Knocking on Heaven's Door (Dylan), I'll Remember You (Dylan), Hallelujah (Cohen), For No One (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Bird on a Wire (Cohen), What a Wonderful World (Cooke), Don't Be Cruel (Blackwell), and Love Rescue Me (U2).

Review: "That's a good song." - Guest (re. Folsom).

Tue., Nov. 19, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I wasn't able to sing, as my voice hadn't recovered yet from my cold, but I did join Kris and her dad, Ian (visiting from Oakville) on harmonica for a couple of songs.

Fri., Nov. 8, 2019: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

Despite a horrible cold, I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), (Tuned down half a step) Folsom Prison Blues (Cash) (in Eb!!), Love Me Tender (Darby/Poulton), I Shall Be Released (Dylan), King of the Road (Miller), St. James Infirmary (Trad.), Let It Be (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Where Is Your Heart (Engvick/Auric), Blowin' in the Wind (Dylan), Girl (LENNON/McCartney), You've Got a Friend (King), Three Little Birds (Marley), and The Rivers of Babylon (Dowe/Farian/Reyam/McNaughton).

Tue., Oct. 29, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I sang My Sound Check Song, Caffeine, Bob From Nunavut, Nobody Talks (During Coaches Corner), You're In Love (With Your Smart Phone), I've Just Seen a Face (Lennon/McCartney), and Girl (Lennon/McCartney).

Later I sang: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For* (U2), The Blowtorch Cat Blues, Norwegian Wood (LENNON/McCartney), '69 - '74, Let It Be* (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), and Country Roads* (Denver).

* along with Kris.

Review: "You did an awesome job." - Hipster Dude

Fri., Oct. 25, 2019: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Deep Calls to Deep (Sister Estelle White), Norwegian Wood (LENNON/McCartney), Teach Your Children Well (CSN&Y), You've Got a Friend (King), When I'm 64 (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Where Is Your Heart? (Engvick/Auric), I'm Into Something Good (Goffin/King), Black Fly (Hemsworth), I Saw Her Standing There (Lennon/McCartney), Let It Be (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Michelle (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), You Can't Always Get What You Want (Jagger/Richards), This Wheel's on Fire (Dylan/Danko), Here There and Everywhere (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Handle With Care (Traveling Wilburys), Strawberry Fields Forever (LENNON/McCartney), Yesterday (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Dance Me to the End of Love (Cohen), and And I Love Her (Lennon/McCartney).

Review: "You did a good job." - Guest

Tue., Oct. 22, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I sang Nobody Talks (During Coaches Corner), Black Fly (Hemsworth), and my new Closing Song. Later I sang three Beatles' songs sung &/or written by Ringo Starr: With a Little Help From My Friends, Octopus's Garden, and Yellow Submarine -- and finally There's a Tavern/Beer Barrel Polka for Stan.

Tue., Oct. 15, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I sang I'm Too Old (For the NHL), You're in Love With Your Smart Phone, and Nobody Talks During Coaches Corner. Then I sang three Beatles' songs: Across the Universe, Norwegian Wood, and Yesterday. Finally I sang a U2 Medley: 40, I Still Haven't Found..., and All I Want is You.

Review: I could hear the choir in your voice. - KCDC (during Across the Universe? The Phil Spector Wall of Sound?)

Fri., Oct. 11, 2019: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Count on Me (Mars), Folsom Prison Blues (Cash), For What It's Worth (Stills), Norwegian Wood (LENNON/McCartney), Both Sides Now (Mitchell), Things We Said Today (Lennon/McCartney), Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da (Lennon/McCartney), Happy Together (Bonner/Gordon), Penny Lane (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Put a Little Love in Your Heart (Holiday/Myers/de Shannon), Yellow Submarine (Lennon/McCartney), Country Roads (Denver), and Only You (And You Alone) (Buck Ram).

Tue., Oct. 8, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I sang Caffeine, Free Stanley, and Nobody Talks (During Coaches Corner). Then I sang some Lennon/McCartney: I�ve Just Seen a Face, Things We Said Today, and I Will for John because he likes them, but he wasn�t there.

Not THAT John.

Sat., Oct. 5, 2019: Comedy Open Mic @ the Fastlane

I sang Sound Check Song, Nobody Talks (During Coaches Corner), and Free Stanley.

Review: one of the women in the bachelorette party laughed the first time I sang the line �Don't ever talk during Coaches Corner".

Video by Mike Hurlbert

Tue., Oct. 1, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I sang Gimme Some Money (Spinal Tap), When First My Old Old Love (Gilbert & Sullivan), and Nobody Talks (During Coaches Corner).

Later I sang Bob From Nunavut, Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), and Strawberry Fields Forever (LENNON/McCartney).

I also joined in the closing jam on The Weight, and a song by Audioslave.

Review: "I liked the Beatles songs." - John

Tue., Sept. 24, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I sang Laughter Heard Through the Wall, I'm Too Old (For the NHL), and Nobody Talks (During Coaches Corner) with audience handclaps. Later I sang Van Diemen's Land (U2), Bird on a Wire (Cohen), and Tie Me at the Crossroads (Cockburn). I joined Kris for the final singalong of Country Roads (Denver).

Sun. Sept. 22, 2019

From my Richard Pepper Myoozishun Facebook page:

"So, last night I was at The Fastlane, singing Caffeine as part of the Weird Al Karaoke night. This morning I was at the West Thunder Community Centre leading Give Me Oil in My Lamp, He's Got the Whole World in His Hands, This Little Light of Mine etc. for St. Thomas' Anglican Church."

Tue., Sept. 17, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I sang Pillow Fighting Champ, Your Clothes They Need a Changin�, Mayfly Mush, and The Day in the Life of a Mayfly; and then Calpurnia Dreaming, and Nobody Talks (During Coaches Corner).

Tue., Sept. 10, 2019: "The Tokes on You" Show at Trixxx Lounge (not a strip club!)

I performed: Sound Check Song, Caffeine, You're in Love (With Your Smart Phone), Bob From Nunavut, Free Stanley, and Nobody Talks (During Coaches Corner).

Review - "I enjoyed that." - Megan's Mum, Cheryl. - "We want you to be our future kids' honorary grandpa, the singing grandpa." (Eep!) -Dylan Jay Williamson.

Tue., Sept. 3, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

Collage from Instagram by @ladyjonkens

I sang Hurting Song, Bob From Nunavut, and Cowboy Lament.

Encore (requested): Nobody Talks (During Coaches Corner).

Review - "I should write a song about baseball." (RP)

Tue., Aug. 27, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

Collage from Instagram by @ladyjonkens

I sang Caffeine, The Blowtorch Cat Blues, and You�re In Love (With Your Smart Phone); and then What Do You Think of Me, Jesus?, and Don't Be Afraid.

I also joined in the closing jam of Santeria, I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles), and Country Roads.

Review: [thumbs up] - Joe.

Tue., Aug. 20, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

Collage by Kris Tonkens: ladyjonkens on Instagram.

After a 2 week hiatus, I returned to sing at Cheer's Open Mic: Mothers of the Disappeared (U2), and my own Salome, and Integrity.

Tue., July 2, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

Mike joins Graeme on "It Hasn't Hit Me Yet" (Blue Rodeo).

I sang The Hockey Song (Connors), Free Stanley, Nobody Talks, and Bob From Nunavut. Then I sang With a Little Help From My Friends (Lennon/McCartney), Hallelujah (Cohen), and I'll Remember You (Dylan). I also joined in on guitar in House of the Rising Sun and Crazy, and on harmonica on Stand By Me.

Review: "Nice set" - American guy.

Tue., June 25, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I sang Caffeine, You're In Love (With Your Smart Phone), and Nobody Talks, then Blowtorch Cat Blues, Hurting Song, May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose (Merritt), and Underneath This Tree, then Happy Together (Bonner/Gordon), If I Had a Hammer (Hays/Seeger), and Tie Me at the Crossroads When I Die (Cockburn). I joined in the final Country Roads (Denver) jam on harmonica.

Review: Fist bump from Marvin.

Tue., June 18, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

Due to pneumonia my voice is still very scratchy and so last night at Cheer's Open Mic I performed a medley on my harmonica, Beethoven's 9th on harmonica, and a gravelly Bird on a Wire (Cohen).

Tue., June 4, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I jammed with Dana & others on House of the Rising Sun, then I croaked through Rocky Raccoon (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), A (Relatively) True Song, and Nobody Talks.

Reviews: "You sound awful." - Dana. (I had a cold which later developed into pneumonia.)
"The lyrics to the 2nd song reminded me of David Wilcox [I think that's what he said]. - Marvin

Sat., May 25, 2019: Folk'n Sat. Afternoon at The Foundry�

Dana Swarbrick kindly invited me to start her second set with my song Nobody Talks. Then I handed her guitar back to her before anyone else could leave.

Sat., May 25, 2019: Alzheimer's Society Walk For Memories @ Marina Park�

As one of the buskers, I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Knocking on Heaven's Door (Dylan) (a bit grim perhaps), The Big Bang Theory (BNL), Eight Days a Week (Lennon/McCartney), and then I jammed (on harmonica) with Jim 'n' I*, and Larry Dustin.

* Not "Jim 'n' me" as it would be normally (as the object of the preposition "with"), because that is their group name.

Fri., May 24, 2019: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch�

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Knocking on Heaven's Door* (Dylan), Tiny Montgomery (Dylan), Do You Want to Know a Secret? (Lennon/McCartney), The Big Bang Theory* (Bare Naked Ladies), The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Linda/Weiss), 40 (U2), Can't Buy Me Love (Lennon/McCartney), And I Love Her (Lennon/McCartney), All-Star (Greg Camp), Eight Days a Week (Lennon/McCartney), You're a Big Girl Now* (Dylan), Tie a Yellow Ribbon (Levine/Brown), Bird on a Wire (Cohen), and Penny Lane (Lennon/MCCARTNEY).

* with harmonica.

Review: "You sing nice." - guest (after I'd botched All-Star).

Tue., May 21, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I performed The Big Bang Theory (BNL), The Ballad of Ed Gooch, Nobody Talks, and Knocking on Heaven's Door (Dylan), then Make You Feel My Love (Dylan), Oh! Darling (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), and '69 - '74.

Review: Good songs, buddy. - Sterling F.

Tue., May 14, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I performed Nobody Talks, Anglo Saxon, Caffeine, and Beethoven�s 9th on Hands-Free Harmonica.

Tue., May 7, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I performed my Sound Check Song, Ageing Stones bit (don�t die, Mick!), Don�t Think Twice (Dylan), Life Is Good, Nobody Talks, and Free Stanley, then Caffeine, Hurting Song, You�re In Love, and (by request) Bob From Nunavut.

Review: I love that song about Newfoundland!

I also jammed on 3 songs with Dana.

Tue., April 30, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I sang Taxman (Harrison), Life is Good, and Nobody Talks, then Caffeine, Free Stanley, and Little One.

Review: "I love this song." (re. Nobody Talks) - someone who, I think, may not have been born yet when I wrote it.

Dana, Kelsey, Stu, and Chris doin' a little Country Roads.

Fri., April 26, 2019: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch�

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), What a Wonderful World (Cooke), If I Had a Hammer (Hays/Seeger), Hallelujah (Cohen), Teach Your Children Well (CSN&Y) (sung to a screaming baby), Count on Me (Mars), My Back Pages (Dylan), Don't Think Twice (It's Alright) (Dylan), We Can Work It Out (Lennon/McCartney), I and I (Dylan), and Something (Harrison).

Review: "Wow, it sure emptied out quick." - a guest.

Tue., April 23, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I sang my Sound Check Song, You're in Love With Your Smart Phone, Scooby Doo, Nobody Talks, What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), then My Sound Check Song Again, The Blowtorch Cat Blues, my Saturday Night Parody medley, and St. James Infirmary (Trad.).

Tue., April 16, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

That's my shoulder at the bottom right.

I sang Caffeine, Bob From Nunavut, and Nobody Talks.

Then I joined in a group sing-a-long of The Weight (and added bad harmonica).

Lastly I sang Hurting Song, Cowboy Lament, and I'm (Obviously) Too Old For the NHL.

Review: Local comedian Ken Horton laughed at the right places (mostly).

Photo by Megan Geddert.

Fri., April 12, 2019: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), The Hockey Song (Connors), Mellow Yellow (Donovan), St. James Infirmary (Trad.), Stand By Me (King/Leiber/Stoller), What a Wonderful World (Cooke), Eight Days a Week (Lennon/McCartney), Every Grain of Sand (Dylan), All I Want Is You (U2), I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (U2), Hurting Song (Pepper), Van Diemen's Land (U2), Bird on a Wire (Cohen), Penny Lane (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), P.S. I Love You (Lennon/McCartney), All My Loving (Lennon/McCartney), Michelle (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Yesterday (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), and Happy Together (Bonner/Gordon).

Review: "Why are you wearing that Tampa Bay jersey?" - a client.

Tue., April 9, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I sang my Sound Check Song, Hurting Song, Free Stanley, and Nobody Talks.

Highlight: Hallelujah (Cohen) sung by Denise K-K and the Applauze choir!

Tue., April 2, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I sang Blowtorch Cat Blues, Nobody Talks, Country Gospel Song o' Death, Monsters in the Sky, Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da (Lennon/McCartney), You're In Love, and Don't Be Afraid.

Tue., Mar. 27, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I sang Nobody Talks, You're In Love... and Caffeine, and then 3 songs by Zimmy: I'll Remember You, Make You Feel My Love, and One More Cup of Coffee.

Fri., Mar. 22, 2019: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Dance Me to the End of Love (Cohen), Folsom Prison Blues (Cash), Do You Want to Know a Secret? (Lennon/McCartney), For What It's Worth (Stills), Here, There and Everywhere (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Handle With Care (The Traveling Wilburys), Bird on a Wire (Cohen), What Do You Think of Me, Jesus? (Pepper), Stand By Me (King/Leiber/Stoller), Chimes of Freedom (Dylan), Three Little Birds (Marley), The Rivers of Babylon (Dowe/Farian/Reyam/McNaughton), St. James Infirmary (Trad.), Count on Me (Mars), I'll Remember You (Dylan), Make You Feel My Love (Dylan), Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da(Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Hallelujah (Cohen), and Tie Me at the Crossroads When I Die (Cockburn).

Review: "I love Noel Coward songs: Hallelujah etc." - one of the kitchen helpers.
"I love your music ... in the background." - another one.

Tue., Mar. 19, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I sang Nobody Talks, My Aging Stones Medley, Cowboy Lament, and Calpurnia Dreaming.

And then '69 - '74, Tie Me at the Crossroads (Cockburn), What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Theile), and Benediction.

Tue., Mar. 12, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I sang Blowtorch Cat Blues, Nobody Talks, and my new Aging Stones Medley.

Then Cal(i)purnia Dreaming, Country Gospel Song (o' Death), Commercial Song, and You're in Love (With Your Smart Phone).

Then Chris, Graham, Megan, and I played Stand By Me and Three Little Birds/Rivers of Babylon.

Later I sang Caffeine, In Heaven There'll Only Bae Bagpipes, '69 - '74, Benediction, and my new A Minor Song.

Review: "Great songs -- but you gotta do something about that f---ing Leafs jersey." - Marvin

Fri., Mar. 8, 2019: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Windy (Friedman), Stand By Me (King/Leiber/Stoller), House of the Rising Sun (Trad.), Dark Eyes (Dylan), In the Garden (Dylan), Hallelujah (Cohen), (during Lent!!) I've Got a Feeling (Lennon/McCartney), Happy Together (Bonner/Gordon), Those Were the Days (Raskin), What Do You Think of Me, Jesus? (Pepper), Both Sides Now (Mitchell), Don't Be Afraid (Pepper), Let It Be (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Tie Me at the Crossroads (Cockburn), and Forever Young (Dylan).

Review: "Thank you for the music." - some Swedish guy.

Tue., Mar. 5, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I sang Sound Check Song, Free Stanley, and Nobody Talks, then Sound Check Waltz, Caffeine, Country Gospel Song (o' Death), and Don't Be Afraid.

Review: "Let's hear it for Richard and his music stand." - Dana

Tue., Feb. 26, 2019: Cheer's The Village Pub Open Mic

I sang Sound Check Song, You're in Love, The Blowtorch Cat Blues, Caffeine, then Cowboy Lament, Commercial Song, Bob From Nunavut.

Then all the musicians had a blues jam. Finally I sang Free Stanley and Monsters in the Sky.

Review: "Thanks for bringing the music stand." - Dana

Fri., Feb. 22, 2019: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), If I Had a Hammer (Hays/Seeger), Love Me Tender (Darby/Poulton), Where Is Your Heart? (Engvick/Auric), Count on Me (Mars), What a Wonderful World (Cooke), Do You Want to Know a Secret? (Lennon/McCartney), Tie a Yellow Ribbon (Levine/Brown), Windy (Friedman), Here, There and Everywhere (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), I'm a Believer (Diamond) (for Peter Tork), Annie's Song (Denver/Tchaikovsky), I and I (Dylan), Three Little Birds (Marley), The Rivers of Babylon (Dowe/Farian/Reyam/McNaughton), Yummy Yummy Yummy (Resnick/Levine), Michelle (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Mr. Tambourine Man (Dylan), and Bird on a Wire (Cohen).

Review: "What I could hear sounded good." - Heather (who does play guitar FWIW).

Fri., Feb. 6, 2019: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Do You Want to Know a Secret? (Lennon/McCartney), I and I (Dylan), Integrity (Pepper), Handle With Care (Traveling Wilburys), Tower of Song (Cohen), Here, There and Everywhere (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), All I Really Want to Do (Dylan), Clean Cut Kid (Dylan), Tie a Yellow Ribbon (Levine/Brown), I've Got a Feeling (Lennon/McCartney), Don't Be Cruel (Blackwell), Stand By Me (King/Leiber/Stoller), I'm a Believer (Diamond), Where Is Your Heart? (Engvick/Auric), Love in Vain (Dylan), Let It Be (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), and Oh! Darling (Lennon/MCCARTNEY).

Review: "Here. Have a free head of lettuce."

Fri., Jan. 25, 2019: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Edelweiss (Rogers/Hammerstein), Folsom Prison Blues (Cash), You Ain't Going Nowhere (Dylan), Bird on a Wire (Cohen), I've Got a Feeling (Lennon/McCartney), Cat's in the Cradle (Chapin), Count on Me (Mars), Love Me Tender (Darby/Poulton), Stand By Me (King/Leiber/Stoller), Blowin' in the Wind (Dylan), Teach Your Children Well (CSN&Y), Little Sister (Pomus/Shuman), Eight Days a Week (Lennon/McCartney), Where Is Your Heart? (Engvick/Auric), Got to Get You Into My Life (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), For What It's Worth (Stills), Both Sides Now (Mitchell), and Four Strong Winds (Tyson).

Review: "Were you playing the blues?" (Yes) - Someone watching me noodle during announcements.

Fri., Jan. 11, 2019: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), What a Wonderful World (Cooke), Some Kind of Wonderful (Ellison), Hallelujah (Cohen), Three Little Birds (Marley), The Rivers of Babylon (Dowe/Farian/Reyam/McNaughton), Can't Help Falling In Love With You (Peretti/Creatore/Weiss), Don't Be Cruel (Blackwell), Love Me Tender (Darby/Poulton), The Hockey Song (Connors), Stand By Me (King/Leiber/Stoller), You've Got to Hide Your Love Away(LENNON/McCartney), All-Star (Greg Camp), I Will (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Where Is Your Heart? (Engvick/Auric), Make You Feel My Love (Dylan), I've Just Seen a Face (I Will (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Things We Said Today (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Let It Be (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Happy Together (Bonner/Gordon), and The House of the Rising Sun(Trad.).

Review: "...wonderful..." - Someone singing along with one of the first 3 songs.

2018

Fri., Dec. 21, 2018: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang O Little Town of Bethlehem (Brooks/Redner), O Christmas Tree, Winter Wonderland (Bernard/Smith), Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)(Greenwich/Barry/Spector), Snoopy's Christmas (The Royal Guardsmen), Mele Kalikimaka (Anderson), Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, Christmas at Ground Zero (Yankovic), Deck the Halls, So Many Years Ago (Pepper), Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (Marks), What Child Is This? White Christmas (Berlin), All I Want For Christmas (Gardner), Ding Dong Merrily On High (Woodward/Arbeau), Feliz Navidad (Feliciano), The Angel Gabriel, O Holy Night/Minuit Chretiens (Dwight/Roquemaure/Adam), Old Toy Trains (Miller), Here Comes Santa Claus (Autry/Haldeman), The Christmas Song (Torme/Wells), Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Martin/Blane), Silent Night/Stille Nacht (Mohr/Grueber),and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Marks).

If no songwriter is listed, then it's by that fella named Trad.

Review: Guest: "Gracias por la m�sica. Vaya con Dios."
Me: "Y tu tambien." (thinking "Oh no! He heard my attempt at Feliz Navidad!")

Fri., Dec. 7, 2018: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang Go Tell It on the Mountain, Blue Christmas (Hayes/Johnson), Angels We Have Heard on High, Cry of a Tiny Babe (Cockburn), Jingle Bells (Pierpont), God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, The Christmas Song (Torme/Wells), Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (Lennon/Ono), I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (Longfellow/Marks), Deck the Halls, Mary's Boy Child (Hairston), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Marks), Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (Coots/Gillespie), I'll Be Home For Christmas (Gannon/Kent/Ram), Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Wesley/Mendelssohn), Jolly Old St. Nicholas, So Many Years Ago (Pepper), It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (Willson), Joy to the World (Watts/Mason), In the Bleak Midwinter (Rossetti/Holst), Jingle Bell Rock (Lanning/Beal/Boothe), A Holly Jolly Christmas (Marks), Silent Night/Stille Nacht (Mohr/Grueber), O Holy Night/Minuit Chretiens (Dwight/Roquemaure/Adam), Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Martin/Blane), and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

If no songwriter is listed, then it's by that fella named Trad.

Review: "Beautiful music." (Same review [or request] as last year)

Fri., Nov. 23, 2018: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Stand By Me (King/Leiber/Stoller), Born To Be Wild (Mars Bonfire), The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Linda/Weiss), Some Kind of Wonderful (Ellison), When the Ship Comes In (Dylan), All-Star (Greg Camp), Count on Me (Mars), Teach Your Children Well (CSN&Y), My Old Friend the Blues (Earle), Got to Get You Into My Life (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Where Is Your Heart? (Engvick/Auric), Love Minus Zero/No Limit (Dylan), Both Sides Now (Mitchell), The House of the Rising Sun(Trad.), Four Strong Winds (Tyson), A Hard Day's Night (Lennon/McCartney), Octopus's Garden (Starkey), Hallelujah (Cohen), Tie Me at the Crossroads When I Die (Cockburn), and All I Want Is You (U2).

Review: There were no complaints.

Fri., Nov. 9, 2018: Remembrance Day Service at Pope John Paul II School

Sat., Oct. 13, 2018: 10x10 Play Festival Writing Workshop at Urban Abbey

As one of the exercises, I wrote and premiered The Blowtorch Cat Blues.

Fri., Oct. 12, 2018: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), What a Wonderful World (Cooke), Edelweiss (Rodgers/Hammerstein), Three Little Birds (Marley), The Rivers of Babylon (Dowe/Farian/Reyam, McNaughton), St. James Infirmary (Trad.) Folsom Prison Blues (Cash), Don't Think Twice It's Alright (Dylan), Bird on a Wire (Cohen), I've Just Seen a Face (Lennon/MCCARTNEY). I Will (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), At This Moment (Vera), I'm a Believer (Diamond), Hallelujah (Cohen), Where Is Your Heart? (Engvick/Auric), Little Sister (Pomus/Shuman), Yellow Submarine (Lennon/McCartney), The Hockey Song (Connors), Can't Help Falling In Love With You (Peretti/Creatore/Weiss), For What It's Worth (Stills), Make You Feel My Love (Dylan), This Wheel's On Fire (Dylan), I Shall Be Released (Dylan), Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Let It Be (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), and You Ain't Going Nowhere (Dylan).

Review: "I like that one [I'm a Believer] by the Monkees." - a guest.
"You know they don't write their own songs, or play their own instruments!" - little girl.
"No! Nooooooo!" - young Marge Simpson.

Sun. July 29, 2018: "Special Music" for Lakehead Baptist Church

I sang What Do You Think of Me Jesus?.

Review: "When you play a chord and sing a note, it lands right on the chord." - Dan Whatley.

Mon. July 16, 2018: R.S.V.P at West Thunder Rec Centre

I sang my new(ish) songs The Biggest Toy and What Do You Think of Me Jesus?.

Review: "I really liked your sound check song." - Val Miller (professional musician).

Sat. May 26, 2018: The Alzheimer's Society Walk For Memories at Prince Arthur's Landing

During registration time I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), What a Wonderful World (Cooke), Can't Help Falling In Love With You (Peretti/Creatore/Weiss), Edelweiss (Rodgers/Hammerstein), Don't Be Cruel (Blackwell), If I Had a Hammer (Hays/Seeger), Mellow Yellow (Donovan), Bird on a Wire (Cohen), Monsters in the Sky (Pepper), Don't Be Afraid (Pepper), Cowboy Lament (Pepper), Bob From Nunavut (Pepper), Caffeine (Parody of JJ Cale), One More Cup of Coffee (Dylan), Van Diemen's Land (U2), Make You Feel My Love (Dylan), For What It's Worth (Stills), Both Sides Now (Mitchell), Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), and I Will (Lennon/MCCARTNEY).

During the walk I busked by the path: Hallelujah (Cohen), The Rivers of Babylon (Dowe/Farian/Reyam, McNaughton), Three Little Birds (Marley), Eight Days a Week (Lennon/McCartney), Gimme Some Money (Spinal Tap), At This Moment (Vera), Can't Help Falling In Love With You (Peretti/Creatore/Weiss), My Back Pages (Dylan), and I've Just Seen a Face (Lennon/MCCARTNEY).

The order of songs is approximate.

Fri., May 18, 2018: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), What a Wonderful World (Cooke), Don't Be Cruel (Blackwell), The Rivers of Babylon (Dowe/Farian/Reyam, McNaughton), Three Little Birds (Marley), Mellow Yellow (Donovan), Roads (Tolkien/Laws), One More Cup of Coffee (Dylan), Hallelujah (Cohen), Michelle (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Things We Said Today (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Both Sides Now (Mitchell), Tie Me to the Crossroads When I Die (Cockburn), I've Just Seen a Face (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), I'm a Believer (Diamond), Can't Buy Me Love (Lennon/McCartney), We Can Work It Out (Lennon/McCartney), and Oh! Darling (Lennon/MCCARTNEY).

Review: "Thanks for the music." - Walter (who was out of the room the whole time).

Sat. May 5, 2018: Len & Diane Hartley's 50th Wedding Anniversary

I sang O Perfect Love (Gurney/Barnby), Come Share the Lord (Leech), Lamb of God, A Common Love (Brown), and Can't Help Falling in Love with You (Peretti/Creatore/Weiss).

Fri., Apr. 20, 2018: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Three Little Birds (Marley), The Rivers of Babylon (Dowe/Farian/Reyam/McNaughton) Those Were the Days (Raskin), Tower of Song (Cohen), Put a Little Love in Your Heart (Holiday/Myers/de Shannon), Man of Peace (Dylan), Every Grain of Sand (Dylan), You've Got to Hide Your Love Away (LENNON/McCartney), Roads (Tolkien/Laws), Tiny Montgomery (Dylan), Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Mercury), Yellow Submarine (Lennon/McCartney), Four Strong Winds (Tyson), I've Just Seen a Face (Lennon/McCartney), St. James Infirmary (Trad.), Don't Be Afraid (Pepper), and Annie's Song (Denver).

Review: "Sit down, and have something to eat!" - one of the regulars.

Fri., Apr. 6, 2018: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Girl (Lennon/McCartney), Three Little Birds (Marley), When I'm Sixty-Four (Lennon/McCartney), The Hockey Song (Connors), Edelweiss (Rodgers/Hammerstein), All I Want is You (U2), My Back Pages (Dylan), Don't Be Afraid (Pepper), Van Diemen's Land (U2), Hallelujah (Cohen), A Hard Day's Night(Lennon/McCartney), Little Sister (Pomus/Shuman), and Let It Be (Lennon/McCartney).

Review: "That was perfect!" - one of the guests. (I guess I've arrived, and don't need to practise.)

Sun., Mar. 25, 2017: "Tolkien Reading Day" at Brodie Street Library

I sang That's What Bilbo Baggin Hates by JRR Tolkien and Maury Laws from the Rankin/Bass animated version of The Hobbit.

Photo by Lisa Klymenko

Sun., Mar. 25, 2018: "Special Music" for Lakehead Baptist Church

Backed by Robin & Rianna Harbron for Lakehead Baptist's "special" music I sang a medley of two melodies: If You Cry and What Do You Want From Your Life?, songs I wrote in the early 80s.

Review: "I don't know if the old people liked that, but I did." - Dan Baxter.

"My daddy thought it was funny." - Dan's granddaughter.

Fri., Mar. 23, 2018: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Route 66 (Troup), Love Minus Zero/No Limit (Dylan), Folsom Prison Blues (Cash), All My Loving (Lennon/McCartney), Both Sides Now (Mitchell), Put Your Hand in the Hand (MacLellan), Little Child (Lennon/McCartney), Saving Grace (Dylan), Make You Feel My Love (Dylan), King of the Road (Miller), Man Gave Names to All the Animals (Dylan), Leaving on a Jet Plane (Denver), El Shaddai (Thompson/Card), A Hard Day's Night(Lennon/McCartney), Yesterday (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), and The Hockey Song (Connors).

Review: No one said anything bad.

Fri., Mar. 9, 2018: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Dance Me to the End of Love (Cohen), A Hard Day's Night(Lennon/McCartney), I Need You (Harrison), I'll Remember You (Dylan), What a Wonderful World (Cooke), Can't Help Falling in Love (Peretti/Creatore/Weiss), You Ain't Going Nowhere (Dylan), Revolution (LENNON/McCartney), I'm a Believer (Diamond), For What It's Worth (Stills), Blowing in the Wind (Dylan), Threw It All Away (Dylan), Happy Together (Bonner/Gordon), Bird on a Wire (Cohen), and Tie Me at the Crossroads (Cockburn).

(Break for Grilled Cheese)

Don't Be Cruel (Blackwell), Let It Be (Lennon/MCCARTNEY),and Yesterday (Lennon/MCCARTNEY).

Review: "Good job. God bless you." - a client.

Fri., Feb. 9, 2018: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Don't Be Cruel (Blackwell), If I Had a Hammer (Hays/Seeger), Country Roads (Denver), I Need You (Harrison), A Hard Day's Night(Lennon/McCartney), St. James Infirmary (Trad.), All I Want Is You (U2), Revolution (LENNON/McCartney), Little Child (Lennon/McCartney), I'm a Believer (Diamond), The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Solomon/Linda), The Hockey Song (Connors), Hallelujah (Cohen), Cat's In the Cradle (Chapin), I Will (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Penny Lane (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), and Happy Together (Bonner/Gordon).

Review: "Wonderful singing. Thank you. That was great." - a client, to me while my mouth was full.

Fri., Jan. 19, 2018: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Don't Be Cruel (Blackwell), Feed the Birds (Sherman/Sherman), Can't Help Falling in Love (Peretti/Creatore/Weiss), Both Sides Now (Mitchell), All You Need Is Love (LENNON/McCartney), Happy Together (Bonner/Gordon), One More Cup of Coffee (Dylan), When I'm Sixty Four (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Cat's In the Cradle (Chapin), Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Mercury), Annie's Song (Denver/Tchaikovsky), Penny Lane (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), All I Want Is You (U2), Van Diemen's Land (U2), Hallelujah (Cohen), Follow Me (Denver), Put Your Hand in the Hand (McLellan), and I Will (Lennon/MCCARTNEY).

Review: "Just beautiful." - Donna (re. "Hallelujah")

2017

Sun., Dec. 24, 2017: St. Luke's Anglican 6PM Christmas Eve Service

I sang Cry of a Tiny Babe (Cockburn) before the service, and various songs with the worship team during the service.

Fri., Dec. 22, 2017: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

Silver Bells (Livingston/Evans), It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (Willson), The Little Drummer Boy (Onorate/Simeone), I'll Be Home For Christmas (Gannon/Kent/Ram), Angels From the Realms of Glory (Montgomery), O Christmas/O Tannenbaum (Anschuetz), Deck the Halls (Trad.), Do You Hear What I Hear? (Regney/Shayne), Jingle Bell Rock (Lanning/Beal/Boothe), White Christmas (Berlin), Silent Night/Stille Nacht (Mohr/Grueber), Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Martin/Blane), Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (Lennon/Ono), Christmas in Killarney (Weldon/Cavanaugh/Redmond), Blue Christmas (Hayes/Johnson), In the Bleak Midwinter (Rossetti/Holst), Cry of a Tiny Babe (Cockburn), So Many Years Ago (Pepper), Angels We Have Heard on High (Trad.), Mele Kalikimaka (Anderson), O Holy Night/Minuit Chretiens (Dwight/Roquemaure/Adam), The Christmas Song (Torme/Wells), The Coventry Carol (Trad.), I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (Connor), I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (Longfellow/Marks), Go Tell It on the Mountain (Trad.), Jingle Bells (Pierpont), What Child is This? (Dix), Mary's Boy Child (Hairston), O Little Town of Bethlehem (Brooks/Redner), Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Wesley/Mendelssohn), and We Wish You a Merry Christmas (Trad.).

Review: "Do you know where I can buy a left-handed guitar?" - Patrick.
"Beautiful music." (This may have been a request, not a review.)

Sun., Dec. 10, 2017: Lakehead Baptist Church Christmas Pageant

I sang Bruce Cockburn's Cry of a Tiny Babe (even though it was pretty much a spoiler for the plot-line of the pageant).

Review: "I like your enunciation." - a congregant.

Fri., Dec. 8, 2017: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Put Your Hand in the Hand (MacLellan), Cat's in the Cradle (Chapin), One More Cup of Coffee (Dylan), Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Mercury), The Hockey Song (Connors), Cry of a Tiny Babe (Cockburn), God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Trad.), Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmad (Martin/Blane), Jingle Bell Rock (Lanning/Beal/Boothe), The Little Drummer Boy (Onorate/Simeone), Silent Night/Stille Nacht (Mohr/Grueber), So Many Years Ago (Pepper), What Child is This? (Dix), Snoopy's Christmas (The Royal Guardsmen), White Christmas (Berlin), Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (Lennon/Ono), I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (Longfellow/Marks), Jingle Bells (Pierpont), and We Wish You a Merry Christmas (Trad.).

Review: "Thanks for singing. It was good." - Volunteer wiping tables.

Mon. Nov. 20, 2017: Guest of "Country Rose" at the Walford Home

I sang If I Had a Hammer, and What a Fellowship/Power in the Blood.

Fri., Nov. 17, 2017: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang:

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Solomon Linda), Three Little Birds (Marley), The House of the Rising Sun (Trad.)*, I'm a Believer (Diamond), For What It's Worth (Stills), Don't Be Afraid (Pepper), Girl (LENNON/McCartney), The Hockey Song (Connors), Both Sides Now (Mitchell), Saving Grace (Dylan), Happy Together (Bonner/Gordon), I've Just Seen a Face (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), What a Wonderful World (Cooke), King of the Road (Miller), Little Sister (Pomus/Shuman), Let It Be (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), I'll Remember You (Dylan), Eight Days a Week (Lennon/McCartney), The Unicorn Song (Silverstein), Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Annie's Song (Denver/Tchaikovsky), Country Roads (Denver), Follow Me (Denver), Leaving on a Jet Plane (Denver)**, and Van Diemen's Land (U2).

Review: "May I play your guitar?" - Brayden

* Yes, I did tack on a verse of Amazing Grace.
** Yes, I did sing "heaving" in the final chorus.

Fri., Nov. 3, 2017: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Dance Me to the End of Love (Cohen), You've Got to Hide Your Love Away (LENNON/McCartney), St. James Infirmary (Trad.), Jambalaya (Williams), The Hockey Song (Connors), I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (U2), Both Sides Now (Mitchell), Flee As a Bird (Dana), Hallelujah (Cohen), I'm Gonna Be (The Proclaimers), I Will (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), At This Moment (Vera), All My Loving (Lennon/McCartney), I Threw It All Away (Dylan), Oh! Darling (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Can't Help Falling in Love (Peretti/Creatore/Weiss) Things We Said Today (Lennon/McCartney), Don�t Think Twice (It�s Alright) (Dylan), When the Ship Comes In (Dylan), and Amazing Grace (Newton).

Reviews: "Thank you for the music." - a volunteer. (Now I have ABBA stuck in my head.)

Thu., Oct. 26, 2017: Brodie St. Library

As part of the Brodie St. Library's "Shetland Tea Murder Mystery" (written by Ann Cleeves), I (as young stoner "Andy Hay") sang Loch Lomond, In Heaven There'll Oonly Bae Bagpipes, and Cowboy Lament.

Fri., Oct. 20, 2017: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), You Ain't Going Nowhere (Dylan), Wonderful World (Cooke), St. James Infirmary (Trad.), For What It's Worth (Stills), I Will (Lennon/MCCARTNEY), Every Grain of Sand(Dylan), In the Early Morning Rain (Lightfoot), Don't Be Cruel (Blackwell), Little Sister (Pomus/Shuman), Happy Together (Bonner/Gordon), Across the Universe (LENNON/McCartney), I'm a Believer (Diamond), Van Diemen's Land (U2) Can't Help Falling in Love (Peretti/Creatore/Weiss) Annie's Song (Denver/Tchaikovsky), Anything Can Happen (Cockburn), This Wheel's On Fire (Dylan/Danko), and Forever Young (Dylan).

Reviews: "I enjoy your songs ... especially the Christian ones." (!!?) (One of the workers) ("Jai guru Deva. Om")

Fri., Oct. 6, 2017: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Wonderful World (Cooke), I'm a Believer (Diamond), For What It's Worth (Stills), I Will (Lennon/McCartney), Teach Your Children Well (CSN&Y), Little Sister (Pomus/Shuman), Happy Together (Bonner/Gordon), Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da (Lennon/McCartney), King of the Road (Miller), I've Just Seen a Face (Lennon/McCartney), Annie's Song (Denver/Tchaikovsky), Let It Be (Lennon/McCartney), Mr. Tambourine Man (Dylan), Bird on a Wire (Cohen), and Hallelujah (Cohen).

Reviews: "Thank you for the singing. It was very nice." (One of the clients)
"You have a new guitar." (Brady, who used to go to Camp G)

Sun. Sept. 10, 2017: "Special Music" for Lakehead Baptist Church

I sang the song I wrote in 1992 for camp: I Will Put My Faith in You.

Sat. July 8, 2017: Cambrian Players Improv Show at the Finlandia:

Before the show I sang some of my blues-type songs: Hurting Song, You're In Love, and Cowboy Lament.

At intermission I sang Bob from Nunavut, and Calpurnia's Dreamn'.

Sun. May 28, 2017: "Special Music" for Lakehead Baptist Church

I sang my setting (in English) of the Sanctus/Benedictus/Osanna.

Sat. May 27, 2017: Busker at Alzheimer's Society Walk for Memories
(at Prince Arthur's Landing)

I sang:

Mainstage (as people registered):

Folsom Prison Blues (Cash), [sound check while train passed], You're In Love (Pepper), Cowboy Lament (Pepper), Caffeine (my parody of JJ Cale's "Cocaine"), Calpurnia Dreaming (my parody of Mamas & Papas' "California..."), I'm Too Old for the NHL (Pepper), What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), If I Had a Hammer (Hays/Seeger), Make You Feel My Love (Dylan), Hurting Song (Pepper), In Heaven There'll Only Bae Bagpipes (Pepper), Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (Lennon/McCartney), Bob From Nunavut (Pepper), Monsters in the Sky (Pepper), I'll Remember You (Dylan), and Don't Be Afraid (Pepper).

Busking During the Walk:

Things We Said Today (Lennon/McCartney), Jambalaya (Williams), Hallelujah (Cohen), Blowing in the Wind (Dylan), Eight Days a Week (Lennon/McCartney), All I Want Is You (U2), and Let It Be (Lennon/McCartney).

Review: "We have Richard Pepper AND some excellent musicians." The M.C.

Fri., May 19, 2017: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Folsom Prison Blues (Cash), Teach Your Children Well (CSN&Y), St. James Infirmary/House of the Rising Son (Trad.), Let There Be Peace on Earth (Miller/Jackson), 40/All I Want Is You (U2), Things We Said Today (Lennon/McCartney), Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (Lennon/McCartney), Michelle (Lennon/McCartney), and Yesterday (Lennon/McCartney).

Review: "Nice strumming." (One of the clients)

Sat., May 13, 2017: Blue Sky Healing Centre Open Mic

My Sound Check Song, Get Thee Behind Me (Pepper), Cowboy Lament (Pepper), Bob From Nunavut (Pepper), and With a Little Help From My Friends (Lennon/McCartney). ------- And then Bob From Nunavut (again, by request), Bird on a Wire (Cohen), The Black Velvet Band (Trad.), and You Won't See Me (Lennon/McCartney).

Review: I really liked the song that I thought was about a girl, but wasn't. (Thatcher Rose)

Mon., Apr. 24, 2017: Guest of "Country Rose" at Glacier Ridge Home

It's a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele) and my own setting of Micah 6:8.

Review: "Louis Armstrong looking down would have liked that (Wonderful World)."
My Response: "He didn't write it." (I can be a jerk at times.)

Fri., Apr. 21, 2017: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), The Black Velvet Band (Trad.), Van Diemen's Land (U2), You Won't See Me (Lennon/McCartney), All I Want is You (U2), Blowing in the Wind (Dylan), St. James Infirmary/House of the Rising Son (Trad.), The Unicorn Song (Silverstein), Wait (Lennon/McCartney), The Hockey Song (Connors), Let There Be Peace on Earth (Miller/Jackson), and Peace on Earth (U2).

Review: No one complained.

Sat., Apr. 15, 2017: Great Easter Vigil for St. Luke's Anglican Parish

I led the worship music, including my own setting of Lamb of God/Give Us Your Peace.

Mon., Mar. 27, 2017: Guest of "Country Rose" at Hilldale Gardens

I sang Monsters in the Sky and a medley of morning praise songs.

Sun., Mar. 25, 2017: "Tolkien Reading Day" at the Waverley Resource Library

I sang Roads by Maury Laws from the Rankin/Bass animated version of The Hobbit.

Photo by Lisa Klymenko

Fri., Mar. 24, 2017: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), If I Had a Hammer (Hays/Seeger), Three Little Birds (Marley), I Shall Be Released (Dylan), Michelle (Lennon/McCartney), All I Really Want to Do (Dylan), Love Rescue Me (U2), Can't Buy Me Love (Lennon/McCartney), Dance Me to the End of Love (Cohen), Yesterday (Lennon/McCartney), In My Life (Lennon/McCartney), Van Diemen's Land (U2), Country Roads (Denver), Annie's Song (Denver), Garment of Praise (Ingles), I'm Gonna Be (The Proclaimers), Things We Said Today (Lennon/McCartney), and Bird on a Wire (Cohen).

Review: "Was that a Beatles song?"

Mon., Mar. 20, 2017: "RSVP" (formerly Christian Women's Club) in the Georgian Room of St. Joe's Heritage

You're In Love (With Your Smart Phone), The Gossip Song, and Benediction.

Fri., Mar. 10, 2017: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Less of Me (Campbell)/ Try a Little Kindness (Sapaugh/Austin), I Shall Be Released (Dylan), Tower of Song (Cohen), Michelle (Lennon/McCartney), Fixing a Hole (Lennon/McCartney), Johnny B. Goode (Berry), The House of the Rising Sun (Anon), Let It Be (Lennon/McCartney), and Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da (Lennon/McCartney).

Sun. Mar. 5, 2017: Mae Mouland's 90th Birthday Party, hosted by Lakehead Baptist Church

Happy Am I, The Dorion Bible Camp Song, I Just Keep Trusting My Lord, and Melody of Gladness.

Please view, like, and share my Star Trek song:
"Commodores Are Dumb"
(recorded Feb. 2017)

Sun. Feb 26, 2017: "Special Music" for Lakehead Baptist Church

I sang an acapella medley of songs I use for morning/evening devotions, which I learned at Camp Dorion, Camp Gitchigomee & Manitoba Pioneer Camp.

Thu., Feb. 23, 2017: "Busking For Alzheimer's [Research]" at Intercity Mall

Caffeine (my parody of JJ Cale's "Cocaine"), You're In Love (Pepper), I'm Too Old (Pepper), Commodores Are Dumb (Pepper), Bird on a Wire (Cohen), Monsters in the Sky (Pepper), Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (Lennon/McCartney), I'll Remember You (Dylan), and Don't Be Afraid (Pepper).

Review: "Keep on improvising!" (William Roberts)

Fri., Feb. 10, 2017: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Solomon/Linda), Three Little Birds (Marley), Teach Your Children Well (CSN&Y), Don't Take Your Guns to Town (Cash), Don't Be Afraid (Pepper), You're In Love (Pepper), I'm Too Old (For the NHL) (Pepper), Dance Me to the End of Love (Cohen), In My Life (Lennon/McCartney), Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da (Lennon/McCartney), I'll Remember You (Dylan), I Threw It All Away (Dylan), When the Ship Comes In (Dylan) Garment of Praise (Ingles) Love Rescue Me (U2/Dylan), and Annie's Song (Denver/Tchaichovsky).

Review: "I love that song!" - Donna (re. Wonderful World)

Sat., Jan. 28, 2017: CommuniTea Open Mic

Tower of Song (Cohen), Integrity (Pepper), Little One (Pepper), Ob-La-Di (Lennon/McCartney), and '69-'74 (Pepper).

Fri., Jan. 27, 2017: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da (Lennon/McCartney), I've Just Seen a Face (Lennon/McCartney), Bird on a Wire (Cohen), If I Had a Hammer (Hays/Seeger), I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (U2), All I Want Is You (U2), Let It Be (Lennon/McCartney), Eight Days a Week (Lennon/McCartney), Mr. Tambourine Man (Dyl>an), When I'm Sixty Four (Lennon/McCartney), Yellow Submarine (Lennon/McCartney), Van Diemen's Land (U2), and Every Grain of Sand (Dylan).

Review: Thank you. - one of the clients. (I had watched his stuff while he was out of the room.)

Sat., Jan. 21, 2017: Blue Sky Healing Centre Open Mic

I sang:

Integrity (Pepper), Tower of Song (Cohen), and Little One (Pepper).

It was great to see friends, Bedford Level Experiment, and Neil Burke perform as well.

Fri., Jan. 13, 2017: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Wings of an Eagle (Steve Bell), Tower of Song (Cohen), Can't Buy Me Love (Lennon/McCartney), Van Diemen's Land (U2), Leaving on a Jet Plane (Denver), Things We Said Today (Lennon/McCartney), Hallelujah (Cohen), We Can Work It Out (Lennon/McCartney), When I'm Sixty Four (Lennon/McCartney), Got to Get You Into My Life (Lennon/McCartney)*, Country Roads (Denver), Cry of a Tiny Babe (Cockburn),* and The Hockey Song (Connor).

* slaughtered it, which is not the same as killed it.

2016

Fri., Dec. 23, 2016: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

Angels We Have Heard on High, God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Silver Bells, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (Marks tune), Deck the Halls, Jingle Bell Rock, O Holy Night/Cantique de Noel, Silent Night/Stille Nacht, So Many Years Ago (Pepper), and Joy to the World.

Review: Scattered applause.

Fri., Dec. 9, 2016: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, Silver Bells, What Child Is This?, Jingle Bells, Deck the Halls, Angels We Have Heard on High, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, In the Bleak Midwinter, Jingle Bell Rock, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Silent Night/Stille Nacht, Do You Hear What I Hear?, White Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Feliz Navidad.

Review: "Good singing, sir."

Fri., Nov. 25, 2016: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Wings of an Eagle (Steve Bell), Tower of Song (Cohen), Tie Me at the Crossroads (Cockburn), Don't Be Afraid (Pepper), Monsters in the Sky (Pepper), Mr. Tambourine Man (Dylan), Things We Said Today (Lennon/McCartney), Dance Me to the End of Love (Cohen), Van Diemen's Land (U2), Girl (Lennon/McCartney), Follow Me (Denver), and Silent Night (Mohr/Grueber).

Review: "Very calming."

Sat., Nov. 5, 2016: The CommuniTea Open Mic

I sang:

Caffeine, You're In Love, I'm Too Old (For the NHL), Monsters in the Sky, and Benediction.

I also played guitar for a young lady who sang House of the Rising Sun. Afterwards, I thought maybe I could be the House band.

Mon., Oct. 24, 2016: Isabella Long Term Care Home

As a guest of "Country Rose" I sang my songs: Psalm 92 and With All My Heart.

Review: "Lovely" (One of the ladies).

Sun. Oct. 23, 2016: "Special Music" for Lakehead Baptist Church

I sang Psalm 92.

Review: "That will never be found in any hymn or chorus book." - Larry Mutcher, the Chairman that morning.

Sat. Oct. 22, 2016: Bedford Level Experiment at ThunderCon 2016

Link to the complete (41:41) album release concert of "Place Without a Computer" (written by Robin Harbron). I played bass.

Fri., Oct. 21, 2016: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Make You Feel My Love (Dylan), Van Diemen's Land (U2), The House of the Rising Sun, Yellow Submarine (Lennon/McCartney), Let It Be (Lennon/McCartney), Country Roads (Denver), Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport (Harris), King of the Road (Miller), El Shaddai (Thompson/Card), Turn, Turn, Turn (Seeger), Forever Young (Dylan), Psalm 92 (Pepper), Monsters in the Sky (Pepper), and All I Want Is You (U2).

Sat., Oct. 15, 2016: Blue Sky Healing Centre Open Mic

My Sound Check Song, I'm Too Old (For the NHL), You're In Love, I'll Remember You (by Nobel Prize Winner Bob Dylan), Don't Be Afraid, Yesterday (Lennon/McCartney), Monsters in the Sky, and Make You Feel My Love (Dylan).

Fri., Feb. 19, 2016: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Yellow Submarine (Lennon/McCartney), Get Thee Behind Me (Pepper), All I Really Want to Do (Dylan), Bird on a Wire (Cohen), Man Gave Names to All the Animals (Dylan), Yesterday (Lennon/McCartney), Take It Easy (Browne/Frey), Try a Little Kindness (Sapaugh/Austin), All My Loving (Lennon/McCartney), and When First My Old, Old Love I Knew (Gilbert & Sullivan).

Tue. Feb. 9, 2016: St. Luke's Anglican Pancake Supper

I sang:

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Yellow Submarine (Lennon/McCartney) Dance Me to the End of Love (Cohen), Eight Days a Week (Lennon/McCartney), Leaving on a Jet Plane (Denver), I Threw It All Away (Dylan), At This Moment (Vera), You've Got to Hide Your Love Away (Lennon/McCartney), and I'm Gonna Be (Proclaimers).

-------------
Mystery (Cockburn), Tie Me at the Crossroads (Cockburn), and All I Want Is You (U2).

-------------
Jam Session: Folsom Prison Blues (Cash), Further On Up the Road, and Three Little Birds (Marley).

Fri., Feb. 5, 2016: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang:

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Three Little Birds (Marley), Blowing in the Wind (Dylan), Let It Be (Lennon/McCartney), Route 66 (Troup), If I Had a Hammer (Hays/Seeger), and Dance Me to the End of Love (Cohen),

(Break for Spaghetti and Meatballs)

All I Want Is You (U2), For No One (Lennon/McCartney), Yellow Submarine (Lennon/McCartney), Man Gave Names to All the Animals (Dylan), Just a Closer Walk With Thee (Anon), Tie Me at the Crossroads (Cockburn), and Bird on a Wire (Cohen).

Review: I don't know if toddler Katy liked it or not. She came up close to listen, but then took my pick & wouldn't give it back.

Mon., Feb. 1, 2016: LU Radio Open Stage at the Study

With Robin Harbron on ukulele bass, I sang:

Bird on a Wire, If It Be Your Will, and Dance Me to the End of Love (all by Leonard Cohen), and then with ""Plan B & Friends" (the house band) I sang The Lion Sleeps Tonight, All I Want Is You (U2), Shelter From the Storm (Dylan) and The Hockey Song (Connors).

Sun. Jan. 31, 2016: "Special Music" for Lakehead Baptist Church

I sang Benediction.

Review: "That was too short." - "Aunt Vivian" (I'd rather hear that than the opposite.)

Fri., Jan. 22, 2016: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang:

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Country Roads (Denver), This Wheel's on Fire (Dylan/Danko), When the Ship Comes In (Dylan), Annie's Song (Denver/Tchaikovsky), Love Minus Zero/No Limit (Dylan), Saving Grace (Dylan), Take It Easy (Browne/Frey), Make You Feel My Love (Dylan), and Dance Me to the End of Love (Cohen).

Mon., Jan. 11, 2016: LU Radio Open Stage at the Study

I sang:

My Sound Check Song (& My Sound Check Waltz), Caffeine, You're In Love, Cal(i)purnia's Dreamin', I'm Too Old (For the NHL), Nobody Talks (During Coaches Corner), and Commodores Are Dumb.

Both of my three fans attended.

Fri., Jan. 8, 2016: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang:

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Jambalaya (Williams), Dance Me to the End of Love (Cohen), If It Be Your Will (Cohen), Like a Bird on a Wire (Cohen), Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (Lennon/McCartney), Drive My Car (Lennon/McCartney), I've Just Seen a Face (Lennon/McCartney), El Shaddai (Thompson/Card). Country Roads (Denver), Leaving on a Jet Plane (Denver).

(Break for Soup)

Forever Young (Dylan), Folsom Prison Blues (Cash), Let It Be (Lennon/McCartney),

Review: "Sing some John Denver!" - Donna

2015

Sun. Dec. 27, 2015: "Special Music" (the Sequel) for Lakehead Baptist Church

I sang So Many Years Ago. See below.

Fri., Dec. 18, 2015: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang:

Angels We Have Heard on High, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Early on One Christmas Morn, Silent Night (Stille Nacht), A Holly Jolly Christmas, What Child Is This?, O Come, All Ye Faithful, Go Tell It on the Mountain, Jingle Bells, White Christmas, Jolly Old St. Nicholas, The Twelve Days of Christmas, So Many Years Ago (Pepper), Deck the Halls, The Christmas Song (Chestnuts...), Away in a Manger, The Angel Gabriel, In the Bleak Midwinter, O Little Town of Bethlehem, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

Mon., Dec. 14, 2015: Glacier Ridge Home

As a guest of "Country Rose", I sang So Many Years Ago and The Man Who Died For You.

Review: "Come, join us for pizza!" (Country Rose)

Fri., Dec. 4, 2015: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang:

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Three Little Birds (Marley), The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Solomon Linda), Folsom Prison Blues (Cash), Let It Be (Lennon/McCartney), I've Just Seen a Face (Lennon/McCartney), I'm Gonna Be (The Proclaimers), Teach Your Children Well (CSN&Y), The Hockey Song (Connors), Jingle Bells (Pierpont), and Silent Night/Stille Nacht (Mohr/Grueber).

(Break for Turkey a la King)

For Brian & Donna: El Shaddai (Thompson/Card).

Review: [tears] (Donna). (Was it that bad!?)

Mon., Nov. 23, 2015: LU Radio Open Stage at The Study

I sang You're In Love, Caffeine (Marley), and Don't Be Afraid.

Review: "Sing another one!" - Someone in the crowd (after the 2nd song).

[Silence] - (after the 3rd song).

Fri., Nov. 6, 2015: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang:

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Three Little Birds (Marley), The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Solomon Linda), Country Roads (Denver), Leaving on a Jet Plane (Denver), Each One Lost (Cockburn), Try a Little Kindness (Sapaugh/Austin), Forever Young (Dylan), Eight Days a Week (Lennon/McCartney), Drive My Car (Lennon/McCartney), Jambalaya (Hank Williams Sr.), Man Gave Names to All the Animals (Dylan).

(Break for soup)

Medley of Older Hymns: What a Fellowship, Power in the Blood, How Great Thou Art, Rock of Ages, and God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again.

Oct. 25, 2015: ThunderCon Cantina

I played bass with Bedford Level Experiment (Robin Harbron: guitar & vox; Rianna Harbron: keys & vox; Darren Foulds: drums & sox).

Songs performed:

Bored in My Room (Harbron), Rogue (Harbron), I Want a Turn (Harbron), Love Is a Scalar (Harbron), The Worst Super Power Ever (The Doubleclicks), You're In Love (sung solo with guitar), Commodores Are Dumb (sung with guitar, and the band) Tie After Tie (Lauper/Hyman, Debs & Errol), and History (I Adore My 64) (Harbron).

Review: "I love you, Robin!" -- Some passing geek.

Oct. 9, 2015: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang:

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Four Strong Winds (Tyson), The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Solomon Linda), Three Little Birds (Marley), Johnny B. Goode (Berry), Jambalaya (Hank Williams Sr.), Folsom Prison Blues (Cash)

(Break for soup & grilled cheese)

I've Just Seen a Face (Lennon/McCartney), Puff the Magic Dragon (Stookey), and Michelle (Lennon/McCartney).

Review: "Here. Have two grilled cheese sandwiches." -- Rev. Doug

Sun. Sept. 20, 2015: "Special Music" for Lakehead Baptist Church

I sang a song I wrote in the early 80s: You Can Hold Only What You Let Go".

You can hold only what you let go
And I can 't see and you don't know
If I shall reap and you shall sow
'Cause only God can see life's future mystery.

Living my life in my own shoes,
So many precious things I would choose,
But if I grasp them, I would lose.
I've got to let them go.

Precious is fragile, not meant to hold.
Fingerprints can tarnish the brightest gold.
You gotta take a risk, spend a night in the cold.
You've got to let them go.

Life is crucial; it brings some pain.
Let it whisper to your heart in the summer rain.
He's given life. He asks it back again.
I've got to let it go.

Sept. 19, 2015: LU Radio Outdoor Music Yard Sale

I played bass with Bedford Level Experiment

Songs performed:

Three Year-Old Angel (Lappala,Harbron), 64 (Cheezlekane), Bored In My Room (Harbron), Rogue (Harbron), I Want A Turn (Harbron), School Evacuation (Harbron), and History (aka I Adore My Commodore 64) (Harbron),

July 2, 2015: Uploaded Vid for "Right Side of the Grass"

June 5, 2015: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch (Outdoor BBQ)

I sang:

Folsom Prison Blues (Cash), What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Teach Your Children Well (CSN&Y), The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Solomon Linda), If I Had a Hammer (Seeger), Hallelujah (Cohen), Leaving on a Jet Plane (Denver), El Shaddai (Thompson, Card), Tie Me at the Crossroads When I Die (Cockburn), and I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (U2).

May 22, 2015: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang:

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Country Roads (Denver), In the Early Morning Rain (Lightfoot), Don't Think Twice It's Alright (Dylan), Puff, the Magic Dragon (Stookey), The Man Who Died For You (Pepper). and Don't Be Afraid (Pepper).

May 8, 2015: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang:

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Teach Your Children Well (CSN&Y), Hey Good Looking (Williams), You've Got to Hide Your Love Away (Lennon/McCartney), The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Solomon Linda), Try a Little Kindness (Sapaugh/Austin), Hallelujah (Cohen), All I Want Is You (U2), I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (U2), I've Just Seen a Face (Lennon/McCartney), Country Roads (Denver), and In the Early Morning Rain (Lightfoot).

(Break for soup)

At This Moment (Vera), and El Shaddai (Thompson, Card).

Review: "The music was nice." -- one of the volunteers.

Mar. 20, 2015: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang:

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Little Boxes (Reynolds), Let It Be (Lennon/McCartney), Try a Little Kindness (Sapaugh/Austin), Route 66 (Troup), Eight Days a Week (Lennon/McCartney), I've Just Seen a Face (Lennon/McCartney), The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Solomon Linda), The Man Who Died For You (Pepper), At This Moment (Vera), Don't Be Afraid (Pepper), I'm Gonna Be (The Proclaimers), Can't Help Falling in Love (Peretti, Creatore, Weiss).

(Break for soup)

Every Grain of Sand (Dylan), Integrity (Pepper), El Shaddai (Thompson, Card), Leaving on a Jet Plane (Denver), Those Were the Days (Raskin), and Country Roads (Denver).

Review: "Did you just sing 'when I get drunk'?" -- Rev. Doug (This may not actually have happened.)

Mar. 6, 2015: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang:

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), If I Had a Hammer (Seeger), Country Roads (Denver), Let It Be (Lennon/McCartney), 40/All I Want Is You (U2), Unchained (Jude Johnstone), Try a Little Kindness (Sapaugh/Austin), Little Boxes (Reynolds), When the Ship Comes In (Dylan), Don't Be Afraid (Pepper), Puff, the Magic Dragon (Stookey), Blowin' in the Wind (Dylan), and Each One Lost (Cockburn).

Feb. 20, 2015: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang:

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), If I Had a Hammer (Seeger), For I Know - Jer. 29:11, The Hockey Song (Connors), All I Want Is You (U2), Country Roads (Denver), Unchained (Jude Johnstone), Little Boxes (Reynolds), The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Solomon Linda), Try a Little Kindness (Sapaugh/Austin), The Man Who Died For You (Pepper), Don't Be Afraid (Pepper), At This Moment (Vera), Michelle (Lennon/McCartney), Johnny B. Goode (Berry) (or McFly?), and Hallelujah (Cohen).

Review: "Thank you for your music" -- Elderly Woman (during "Hallelujah")

"Thank you, Leonard." - RPepper

Feb. 6, 2015: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang:

Today at St. Thomas' Community Lunch I sang the following:

What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), I'll Remember You (Dylan), The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Solomon Linda), Blue Skies (Berlin), Let It Be (Beatles), Michelle (Beatles), Puff, the Magic Dragon (Stookey), Folsom Prison Blues (Cash), Route 66 (Troup), Country Roads (Denver), You've Got a Friend (King), El Shaddai (Thompson, Card), If I Had a Hammer (Seeger), Don't Be Afraid (Pepper), Gloria (Pepper), I've Just Seen a Face (Beatles), When I'm Sixty-Four (Beatles), Make You Feel My Love (Dylan), and Mystery (Cockburn).

Review: "Nice." (re. "Don't Be Afraid") -- Rusty?

Feb. 1, 2015: Alzheimer's Society Walk for Memories

Pre-Walk Background Music (filling in for Flipper Flanagan):

Caffeine (parody of Cale), Laughter Heard Through the Wall (Pepper), Eight Days a Week (Beatles), Don't Be Afraid (Pepper), Mystery (Cockburn), and What a Wonderful World (Weiss, Thiele).

At my own spot while no one listened: I'm Too Old For the NHL (Pepper)

During the Walk:

Threw It All Away (Dylan), I'll Remember You (Dylan), Let It Be (Beatles), Each One Lost (Cockburn),* Don't Think Twice (Dylan), Eight Days a Week (Beatles), I've Just Seen a Face (Beatles), For No One (Beatles), Michelle (Beatles), Oh! Darling (Beatles), Yesterday (Beatles), What a Wonderful World (Weiss,Thiele), Tie Me at the Crossroads When I Die (Cockburn). and Make You Feel My Love (Dylan).

* At this point Jim Campbell joined me for the rest of the songs (whether he knew them or not), and we became "Jim 'n' I".

Review: "That was good." - An unidentified clown.

Jan. 19, 2015: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang:

What a Wonderful World, Michelle (Beatles), I'll Remember You (Dylan), Folsom Prison Blues (Cash), Four Strong Winds (Tyson), Eight Days a Week (Beatles), 40/I Want You (U2)

(Break for pancakes & sausages)

Country Roads (Denver), El Shaddai (Thompson, Card) Leaving On a Jet Plane (Denver), The Man Who Died For You (Pepper), Forever Young (Dylan), Lord, Protect My Child (Dylan), If It Be Your Will (Cohen), Those Were The Days (Raskin), and Tie Me at the Crossroads (Cockburn).

2014

Dec. 2014: Facebook Group Cover Album

Original creations by members of a Facebook Group dedicated to recording cover songs. Huh?

These songs were supposed to involve the creative co-operation of a family member.

I got carried away & recorded several. Those which didn't really meet the criteria are tacked on at the end.

Here is a link to a playlist of video songs about Christmas(ish) I've done over the years, including this year's Christmashup. It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Easter, and Check the Malls.

Dec. 19, 2014: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang:

What a Wonderful World, The Hockey Song (Connors), I'll Remember You (Dylan), Hallelujah (Cohen), Teach Your Children Well (CSN&Y), The Man Who Died For You (Pepper), The Coventry Carol, Little Drummer Boy, Do You Hear What I Hear?, When the Ship Comes In (Dylan), El Shaddai (Thompson, Card), So Many Years Ago (Pepper), In the Bleak Midwinter, Let It Be (Beatles), and Michelle (Beatles) (until I forgot how).

Then I joined in with Eric the Caroller again.

Dec. 10, 2014: "The Coventry Carol" with Mum

Dec. 8, 2014: Glacier Ridge Home

As a special guest with Country Rose, I sang:

So Many Years Ago (Pepper), and The Coventry Carol.

Dec. 5, 2014: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang:

What a Wonderful World, El Shaddai (Thompson, Card), So Many Years Ago (Pepper), The Coventry Carol, Hey Good Looking (Williams), Happy Xmas/War Is Over (Lennon/Ono), Country Roads (Denver), Hallelujah (Cohen), Make You Feel My Love (Dylan), Leaving On a Jet Plane (Denver), and The Man Who Died For You (Pepper).

Happy Xmas/War Is Over was a request from the floor. I kinda butchered it.

But I like to think that I wasn't worse than Yoko.

After this, a man named Eric led us all in Christmas/Winter songs & (once I'd finished my lunch), I played along with him.

Review: "God bless you." (One of the guests)

Nov. 29, 2014: Family Feast Fundraiser in support of St. Thomas' Family Giving Centre

I sang:

What a Wonderful World, What a Fellowship/Power in the Blood, You've Got to Hide Your Love Away (Beatles), Hey Good Looking (Williams), Let It Be (Beatles), The Coventry Carol, Blowin' in the Wind (Dylan), The Man Who Died For You (Pepper), Don't Think Twice It's Alright (Dylan), I've Just Seen a Face (Beatles), and For No One (Beatles).

Because I was still fighting a cold, I tuned my guitar down half a step, and avoided songs with a wide range, such as When I'm Sixty-Four.

Nov. 24, 2014: Dawson Court

As a special guest with Country Rose, I sang:

Wonderful Words of Life, and It Is No Secret.

Nov. 21, 2014: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang:

What a Wonderful World, El Shaddai (Thompson, Card), Don't Think Twice It's Alright (Dylan), The Man Who Died For You (Pepper), Eight Days a Week, and Leaving on a Jet Plane (Denver).

Then I ate my soup & bannock. I had arrived late, because I had been teaching ukulele to homeschool kids. Plinky plinky plink.

Nov. 16, 2014: Special Music for Lakehead Baptist Church

I sang a song of mine, written in the 80's, The Man Who Died For You.

Review: "That was a real 70's-sounding chord progression." (Robin Harbron)

Nov. 7, 2014: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

I sang:

What a Wonderful World, Four Strong Winds, Jamaica Farewell, Blowin' in the Wind, Make You Feel My Love, Eight Days a Week, Hallelujah (Cohen), Country Roads, When I'm Sixty-Four, Jambalaya, Folsom Prison Blues, Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da, and I've Just Seen a Face.

Review: "Would you like some soup?" (Rev. Doug McLure)

Nov. 2, 2014: "Special" Music for Lakehead Baptist Church

This time I sang Integrity, a song I wrote c. 1980, and of which I've never made a satisfactory recording.

Rough demo version.

Oct. 24, 2014: St. Thomas' Anglican Community Lunch

As mentioned before, I sometimes sing background music at this event every second week. I had taken the summer off, but returned this time to sing the following: Leaving on a Jet Plane, Country Roads, Hey Good Looking, '69 - '74 (Pepper), When I'm Sixty-Four, Michelle, Don't Be Cruel, Eight Days a Week, I've Just Seen a Face, What a Wonderful World, Smile (Though Your Heart Is Breaking), You've Got to Hide Your Love Away, I Threw It All Away, Hallelujah (Cohen), and Goodnight (Beatles).

Oct. 4, 2014: Book Launch at the Apollo

As part of the open mic portion of the launch of Douglas Livingston's poetry book Kata Hodos, I sang Caffeine, Cal(i)purnia's Dreaming, Monsters in the Sky and Don't Be Afraid.

Sept. 28, 2014: Hockey Songs at the 55 Plus Centre (Again)

The Prostate Network Canada held a free PSA testing day at the 55 Plus Centre on Sept. 28. Once again R & R Harbron accompanied me as we performed a medley of songs about hockey, Free Stanley, Nobody Talks, I'm Too Old (for the NHL), The Good Ol' DRE, Eight Days a Week, Caffeine, Laughter Heard Through the Wall, You're in Love and the debut of The Right Side of the Grass.

Here is a playlist of highlights:

July 27, 2014: Valley Fresh Busker Fest

Songs included What a Wonderful World, my Hockey Medley, Laughter Heard Through the Wall, Free Stanley, I'm Too Old For the NHL, Don't Be Afraid, Tie Me at the Crossroads When I Die (Cockburn), Make You Feel My Love (Dylan), I Threw It All Away (Dylan), Eight Days a Week, Blowin' in the Wind, Gimme Some Money (Spinal Tap), and Caffeine (my parody of JJ Cale's "Cocaine").

July 27, 2014: "Special" Music for Lakehead Baptist Church

This time I sang I Believe, my adaptation of The Apostles Creed.

To video & audio versions.

July 19, 2014: Fundraiser for Poetry Book at LUF

As part of the fundraiser for Douglas Livingston's poetry book Kata Hodos, held at the Lakehead Unitarian Fellowship Hall, I sang You're In Love, '69 - '74, and Benediction.

June 21, 2014: Anglican BBQ at Shelter House

Songs included What a Wonderful World, What a Fellowship, , Power in the Blood, When the Ship Comes In (Dylan), A Blessing in Disguise (Lost Dogs), It Is No Secret, Every Grain of Sand (Dylan), 40 & All I Want Is You (U2), Nobody Talks (Pepper), Don't Be Afraid (Pepper), Make You Feel My Love (Dylan), Eight Days a Week, and Tie Me at the Crossroads When I Die (Cockburn)

June 8/14: Dedication of St. Tom's Family Giving Centre

I provided some background music for the meal which followed the ceremony. I don't recall what I sang, and I don't expect anyone else does either.

April 2014: CBC Songquest Contest

This time I entered my song You're In Love.

Again this link may not take you directly to the song, but just to my CBC page, where you will have to find it yourself.

March 2014: My Contribution to Our Facegroup's March '14 Youtube Album

Each of us covered songs by people we knew. I covered Underground by Ziklag Offramp, written by Robin Harbron, and a man named Tim Lappala.

The playlist includes some pretty cool songs, including my Peter Hart covered by Darren Foulds, apparently while wandering all over Lakehead University.

March 7, 2014: St. Thomas Anglican Community Lunch

I provided background music for the Community Lunch in the St. Thomas' Anglican Parish Hall. I sang a mix of hymns, Beatles, Dylan, U2, John Denver (requested) and whatever caught my fancy. I really enjoyed it (and it warmed up my voice for singing later at Pinewood Ct.).

They invited me to do this regularly (every 2nd Friday). Hey, it's a free lunch!

Feb. 2014

Playlist from our Feb. Album Writing Month group, based on Shakespeare's Sonnet 64.

My contribution was Lofty Towers.

Feb. 9, 2014: Lakehead Baptist Church "Special Music"

I sang an old-timey-like Gospel song of mine: Get Thee Behind Me. Here is a video of the only recorded version there is of it:

And I can't recall the exact date, but on a previous Sunday, I sang a medley of my setting of the Shema (Hear O Israel) and my song Healer of Our Spirits.

Feb. 2, 2014: Walk For Memories

I sang I'll Remember You (Dylan), All I Want Is You (U2), What a Wonderful World*, Make You Feel My Love*, Eight Days a Week (Beatles), Gimme Some Money (Spinal Tap), For No One (Beatles), Oh! Darling (Beatles), Let It Be (Beatles), I Threw It All Away (Dylan), Flee As a Bird (hymn), When the Ship Comes In (Dylan), I'm Too Old For the NHL (Pepper), and Tie Me at the Crossroads When I Die (Cockburn).

* The hipster young lady opening up the shop behind me said she liked these 2 songs. She even knew that the 2nd was by Bob.

I also warmed up (with my Gr. 9 volunteer helper listening) with my Hockey Song Medley, Edelweiss, Caffeine*, Cal(i)purnia's Dreamin', This Wheel's on Fire (Dylan & the Band).

* My Gr. 9 volunteer helper recognized this as Cocaine, which he had recently been listening to.

2013

Dec. 19, 2013:

A group of friends & I covered 1984's Do They Know It's Christmas? singing/playing in Thunder Bay, Saskatoon and on the Interwebs.

December 2013:

I entered my song 110% in CBC music's Song Quest, looking for an original song for the opening montage on "Hockey Night in Canada". I didn't win, but I hope you'll give it a listen anyway, and then return to this page.

Hmm. This link might just take you to my page, and you'll have to choose the song yourself.

Here's the video:

Dec. 6, 2013: NOSM Students Holiday Concert (with Shawn Minor)

For this concert at St. Paul's Anglican, former Transparency Shawn Minor and I decided to reprise our Medley of Commercial Christmas Songs we had performed with The Transparencies for the Dorion Bible Camp staff party of 1997. We explained that, because time was short, we would have to sing some of the songs at the same time, whether it works or not.

1997 version

Nov. 13, 2013: Open Mic at The Study at Lakehead University

My Sound Check Song, Let It Be (Beatles), I Threw It All Away (Dylan), Don't Be Afraid, Drive My Car (Beatles), Monsters in the Sky, Little One, Caffeine (Cocaine parody), Nobody Talks, I'm Too Old (for the NHL), What a Wonderful World, and '69 - '74.

Sept. 25, 2013: Open Mic at The Study at Lakehead University

My Sound Check Song, Mothers of the Disappeared (U2), Caffeine (Cocaine parody), Nobody Talks, Don't Be Afraid, Cal(i)purnia's Dreamin' (California Dreamin' parody), All I Want is You (U2), Make You Feel My Love (Dylan), and my Hockey Medley.

Sept. 25, 2013: Forty Years of CBC (in Thunder Bay)

I phoned in a medley of 2 songs for CBC Thunder Bay's 40th Anniversary, which they aired at c. 0720h on Sept. 25.

Here's a video version:

Sept. 15, 2013: Hockey Songs at the 55 Plus Centre

The Prostate Network Canada held a free PSA testing day at the 55 Plus Centre on Sept. 15. R & R Harbron accompanied me as we performed Nobody Talks, Free Stanley, I'm Too Old (for the NHL), Caffeine and a medley of songs about hockey (and a monkey). I closed with the debut of The Good Ol' DRE with which the Harbrons had no involvement!

Here is a playlist of highlights:

Photos

June 16, 2013: Opening for Ziklag Offramp at Their CD Release

Pix and video.

I sang My Soundcheck Song, Mothers of the Disappeared (U2), Integrity, and Salome.

March 2013: Songs for Facebook Group's U2's "Joshua Tree" Cover Album

I Trip Through Your Wires

Mothers of the Disappeared

Mar. 25, 2013: Parody Song for my Birthday

Several friends co-operated via the Interwebs and created this parody of my song God Hates for my birthday.

Feb. 2013: Songs for Facebook Group's "Months" Album

For our album "Music to My Year", I was given September and a prescribed chord progression. Years ago I had written Softly Every Day which used the same progression; so I recorded that one for November. When no one chose March I dedicated to that month a song (Woot) I'd written previously.

Here's the entire playlist.

Entire Audio Album (Free Download)

Feb. 3/13: Walk For Memories

I was one of the buskers at this fund-raiser for The Alzheimer's Society. (The money I received went to them.)

I sang I'll Remember You (Dylan), Lord, Protect My Child (Dylan), 40 (U2), Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (U2), All I Want Is You (U2), Make You Feel My Love (Dylan), I Threw It All Away (Dylan), Nobody Talks & Free Stanley (Pepper), Eight Days a Week (Lennon/McCartney), For No One (Lennon/McCartney), Oh! Darling (Lennon/McCartney), At This Moment (Billy Vera), Words (Neil Young), Let It Be (Lennon/McCartney), and Tie Me at the Crossroads When I Die (Cockburn).

January 2013: Song for Facebook Group's Neil Young's "Harvest" Cover Album

Words

2012

December 2012: Songs for Facebook Group's Beatle's "Revolver" Cover Album

Taxman

Got to Get You Into My Life

Tomorrow Never Knows

May 6, 2012: I Want Two of Everything (in C Major)

I recorded this song originally in F# (playing in G tuned down half a step). When I performed it that way live (in G), I realized that the verses were too low and the chorus was too high. It seemed best to rerecord it in C, since that way the bass player (live) would just have to shift everything a string.

Yes, the "video" is pretty boring.

Mar. 13, 2012: Fundraiser for the LU Micro Finance Club at The Study

I sang my Sound Check Song, Caffeine, Free Stanley, Nobody Talks and Don't Be Afraid.

Feb. 11, 2012: "Saturday Night Life" at First Baptist

Robin accompanied me on bass as I sang several old hymns.

Feb. 5, 2012: Hit Songs of the 60s Rehashed for Dorion Bible Camp in the 90s

Vids

I converted my VHS performance from Aug. 26, 1999 to digital and uploaded it to youtube in Feb.

2011

Dec. 11, 2011: The Usual Coffee House with The Usual Suspects (Northwood Park Church)

Oct. 26, 2011: Open Mic at The Study at Lakehead University

Backed by Ziklag Offramp (or The Usual Suspects) I sang Empty Places, It Will Be Wonderful, I Want Two of Everything and joined them on harmonica & bgvs for The Lost Dogs' Moses in the Desert.

Dec. 6, 2011: New old Songs

Links to mp3s

I had just transferred my Dorion Drug Song Medley Black Gold from tape and so I linked to a whole page of my songs from that era.

I sang my Sound Check Song, Free Stanley, I'm Too Old for the NHL, Nobody Talks and Caffeine.

Oct. 9, 2011: "It Will Be Wonderful" (New Song)

Link to mp3

Sept. 28, 2011: All Candidates Night at The Study at Lakehead University

I sang Caffeine, Free Stanley, Integrity and Benediction.

Sept. 25, 2011: Rock with the Man of Rock Coffee House (Northwood Park Church)

May 14, 2011: With The Transparencies at the John Howard Society

I sang Integrity, Free Stanley & Benediction. Later I sang hymns: Come Thou Fount, Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah, Jesus! What a Friend to Sinners and Abide With Me/Day Is Done.

June 3, 2011: Video for "Empty Places"

Here

Robin, Darren and I performed A Certain Love (Lost Dogs), Don't Take Your Guns to Town, Rusty Cage (Soundgarden/Cash), If I Had a Hammer (Seeger/Hays), 40 (U2), How Great is Your Love (Altrogge).

April 2011: "Don't Take Your Guns to Town"

This was my entry in the Tribehouse Johnny Cash Cover Song Challenge.

April 29, 2011: Dorion Bible Camp Anniversary at Hope Christian Reformed Church

Pix and mp3s of studio versions

Accompanied by Robin and his eldest daughter, I sang a number of my goofy camp songs such as Mayfly Mush, The Pillow Fighting Champ of Dorion Bible Camp and I Will Put My Faith in You. I also led the worship team in the camp song (which they don't play often these days, but when they do, it's faster!!).

April 5, 2011: Marianne Jones's Poetry Reading at the Brodie Library

Pic and vid

I sang Empty Places, Don't Be Afraid and Benediction.

April 3, 2011: The Well-Done Coffee House (Northwood Park Church)

Pix and vids

I sang Little One, Empty Places, & Get Thee Behind Me.

Mar. 12, 2011: With The Transparencies at the John Howard Society

Pic

Robin, Darren and I sang A Certain Love (Lost Dogs), Heart of Gold (Young), Built For Glory (Lost Dogs), Blessing in Disguise (Lost Dogs), 40 (U2), Reasonable Service (Lost Dogs) and How Great Is Your Love (Mark Altrogge).

Mar. 5, 2011: Asta Isaksen's Memorial Service in Pass Lake

Feb. 11, 2011: Carla Norman's 30th Birthday Party @ the Unitarian Hall

Asta really enjoyed listening to Ruth and me as we sang at Pinewood Court. Her grandchildren knew me from Dorion and so they gave me the honour of singing Jesus Loves Me at Asta's funeral in Pass Lake.

Jan. 24, 2011: Ruth and Richard Repeat on the Radio

Carla has Cystic Fybrosis and so a 30th birthday was not expected for her when she was born. She asked me to lead the crowd in some Dorion Bible Camp songs such as Happy Am I.

Pix and vids

We sang What a Fellowship, Get Thee Behind Me (RP), one by Ruth's aunt Darlene, & one by Ruth (Through the Night, I believe), With All My Heart (RP), Power in the Blood and Cockburn's Tie Me at the Crossroads When I Die. This was pretty much the last time I saw Ruth. I think she's roaming around the bush somewhere bashing at rocks with a hammer.

2010

Dec. 16, 2010: Singing at Pioneer Ridge

Pic

Most most frequent gig is actually singing either solo or with Ruth at Senior Homes: Pioneer Ridge twice a month, Pinewood Court twice a month, and Grandview Lodge once a month. Here is a pic from Pinewood Court, May 20/11.

Dec. 5, 2010: New Improved-ed Coffee House (Northwood Park Church)

June 12, 2010: Talent Show at the Chartwell Home for the Aged

I sang Caffeine, Cowboy Lament, Empty Places and Good Night(Beatles)/Good Night My Someone.

May 7, 2010: O Canada at the Circus with The Pope John Paul II Choir

I sang a few hymns: Amazing Grace, What a Friend We Have in Jesus and The Old Rugged Cross.

Saturday, Mar. 27, 2010: LU Radio Radiothon perfomance with Ruth

I've been playing guitar for the school choir (masses, assemblies, visits to senior homes & elementary schools, Grad at the FW Gardens, Remembrance Day etc.), but I don't take many photos.

Sunday, Mar. 14, 2010: Northwood Park Church "Open Mic/Mike Coffee House"

I sang Caffeine, Nobody Talks, Don't Be Afraid and Time Tears Us Apart. Ruth joined me for In the Garden and Wonderful Words of Life. Thank you, Ruth. It had been a late night for her, as she'd joined us at late-night hockey (and wowed all the guys -- with her skill -- on an injured ankle!), followed by schoolwork at home.

Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 21,22, 2009: Christian Women's Club

With Robin Harbron I sang Dylan's All I Really Want to Do. Later I sang a set of Songs in One Sharp: Heart of Gold (Neil Young), Handle With Care (Traveling Wilburys), In the Garden (with Ruth) and my own Time Tears Us Apart (for Ruth, because it does).

At that time Ruth was regularly adding her beautiful voice as we sang in Senior Homes once or twice a week. At the point of writing, we appear to be on hiatus & I continue on singing Ruthlessly. She lives a very full life (music, hunting, fishing & bf etc.), but I hope she will be able to return at some point.

Follow this link to see some of the hymn videos she and I recorded together at her place on Feb. 11/10. She had seen my "Dorion Bible Camp" song videos on my youtube page and contacted me about singing together, because (I gather) she grew up singing hymns, but most of her crowd at that time don't know them.

Video for my song: '69 - '74

2009

I sang my own Little One and Dylan's Lord, Protect My Child.

Review: See woman's face in picture.

Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009: Northwood Park Church "Kick-Off Koffee House"

Sunday, May 24, 2009: Northwood Park Church "Coffee House"

The feature act for this evening was The Big Kids. Magician, Martin Wonderland, put in his third appearance.

I sang my own Little One, Dylan's Lord, Protect My Child, Steve Earle's My Old Friend the Blues and my own Salome.

Review: (Re. "My Old Friend the Blues") "The Proclaimers' version is best!" - Janet H. on Facebook.

Sunday, February 22, 2009: Northwood Park Church "Coffee House: Accordions Aloud"

This time we had a amazing turnout and a good number of great acts!

So I was content just to sing a couple of Dylan songs in honour of his birthday: Dark Eyes, Man of Peace.

I also closed the evening with Gene Haskin's "Those Were the Days".

Review: (Re. my closing song) "I hate that song!" - Joe

Saturday, June 28, 2008: "Saturday Night Life" at First Baptist

Due to sickness* and some guy name Oscar, this event became a rather intimate affair. For much of the evening we sat in a circle around a table and shared songs, poems, blogs and a story with one another. This actually made for a rather special evening.

I sang (along with audience participation) some love songs:

Michelle (Lennon/McCartney)
Ob-la-di Ob-la-da (Lennon/McCartney)
Honestly (Stryper)
I'm Gonna Be (The Proclaimers)

Review: "Honestly!" - Tim Lappala

* Robin was going to perform a couple of songs along with Brian Dunn.

2008

I sang hymns from my ragged old blue book, as I do in the Senior Homes.

Also Sept. 27/08*, Nov. 8/08* and also Feb.7/09.

* = along with my mother, Sheila Pepper.

Sunday, April 27, 2008: Northwood Park Church "Coffee House du Cafe"

Saturday, the Ides Of March, 2008: "Saturday Night Life" at First Baptist

Bird on a Wire (Cohen)
Before Dawn (Pepper)
It Is Well With My Soul

Let It Rain (Clapton/Bramlett)
Love Minus Zero/No Limit (Dylan)
Jesus on the Shore (Terry S. Taylor)
These Thousand Hills (Jacob's Trouble)
Be Thou My Vision

[I was also suddenly asked to sing "Acadia Dry".]

Beatles Songs:

She's a Woman [Not a Pheasant]
For No One
Fixing a Hole
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Eleanor Rigby

That was actually a secret message "She's a woman for no one fixing a hole while my guitar gently weeps: Eleanor Rigby."

Review: "I enjoyed your playing." - Wendy the alto angel

Songs performed:
Psalm 92, Integrity, Healer of Our Spirits, The Man Who Died For You, In the Garden, Amazing Grace and Happy Birthday.

Review: Well, they did give me a meal.

See The Transparencies page for info on our March 8/08 appearance at "Saturday Night Life".

Monday, Feb. 18, 2008: "Canada Reads; Ontario Rocks" Concert - CBC Studio 40, Ottawa

I performed my winning entry for the CBC Radio One show Bandwidth's "Ginger Ale Jingle Contest" on stage with various Ontario musicians who had composed songs linked to the five novels of the "Canada Reads Contest". The performance was aired Saturday, Feb. 23rd across Ontario.

My entry: version 1

My entry: version 2 (official)

Click the pic for Youtube vid of my performance and scenes of Ottawa.

Blog entry with more pix

Review: "I believe that one of the maxims of entertainment is to never follow animals or children or guys singing songs about ginger ale -- especially guys from Thunder Bay." -- Dave Bidini of "The Rheostatics".

Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008: Northwood Park Church Coffee House

Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007: D.Y.U. Coffee House at St. Thomas' Anglican

In a reversal of their usual roles, Robin took over the job of the sexy, charismatic frontman/lead guitarist and Richard played the sullen, brooding, less-desirable (almost repulsive) rhythm section.

Songs Performed: River Runs Red* Arctic World* and Sometimes*. Richard sang solo his winning entry in the "Acadia Dry" jingle contest for CBC Radio One's "Bandwidth" and also an acappella version of "Ps. 127/Paul's Testimony" from his never-to-be-produced musical "Philippi".

* by Australia's "Midnight Oil", one of Robin's favourite groups.

Review: "Nice singing, Robin, but get a haircut." -- Peter Garrett M.P. (& lead singer of "Midnight Oil").

2007

In support of Ramesh Ferris's Cycle to Walk Campaign (re. Polio). The Transparencies had considered performing, but would have been drummerless, leaving only the musicians.

It turned out to be a different "quiet" little affair and so my (sort of) planned solo set turned out quite different, partly because of the presence of St. Michael's Junior Choir, their family and priest.

Not that I'd been planning on swearing; it's just that I decided to go in a completely Christmas/Winter direction, rather than Lost Dogs, U2, Dylan, Cohen direction.

FWIW my set lists (songs in approx. order as best I remember it).

Jingle Bells
Rudolph
Happy Xmas/War is Over

Matty: "Maranda and friends need to sing now." (I accompanied them on a few Christmas songs.)

Then solo again:

Mary's Boy Child
Jingle Bell Rock
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
White Christmas
Little Drummer Boy
All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts....)
Go Tell It On the Mountain
The Coventry Carol
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Private Table Concert for Thomas & Daniel Abthorpe and friend, Riley:

Frosty the Snowman
O Holy Night

Review: "The Leafs suck!" Thomas Abthorpe

See The Transparencies page for info on our Nov. 25/07 Tribute Concert to the Lost Dogs

Friday, Nov. 16/07 Small Group at Brookses' House

Songs Performed (after leading songs of praise: The Lost Dogs' Jesus on the Shore and Blessing in Disguise.

Saturday, August 25, 2007: Northwood Park Church Family Camp Talent Show
Duncan Memorial Camp

Songs Performed: The Other Half and Don't Be Afraid

Sunday, June 17, 2007: Northwood Park Church Coffee House

Monday, June 11, 2007: The Great Northwest CBC Radio One Thunder Bay

Songs Performed (solo on classical guitar): The Blower's Daughter (Damien Rice), When That I Was a Little Tiny Boy (Wm Shakespeare), Helter Skelter (Lennon/McCartney) and Sigh No More, Ladies (Wm Shakespeare).

(With Robin Harbron on Bass): Forever Young/Saving Grace/I Shall Be Released (Dylan), Make You Feel My Love/Threw It All Away (Dylan) and my parody of Cockburn's "Wondering Where the Lions Are" about the Seven Wonders of Canada: I Wonder What We Voted For.

Review: "Nice singing." -- Laura Anderson

I phoned this in to Talkback as a commentary on the bizarre results of CBC's "Seven Wonders of Canada" campaign:

Sun's up ... over Thunder Bay.
I'm looking at the Giant and he's looking great today,
But I'm thinkin' 'bout the CBC.
Some kind a mystery's got a hold on me.

We had a dream and now we're kinda sore,
Just like the Senators, lookin' at the final score,
But our voting blew them all away.
Some kind a mystery's got a hold on me.

And I wonder what we voted for.
Wonder what we voted for.
I wonder what we voted for.
Wonder what we voted for.
I wonder what we voted for.
Wonder what we voted for.
I wonder what we voted for.

Saturday, May 26, 2007: "Much Ado About Muffins" (at Definitely Superior Art Gallery)

This was a fundraiser for Cambrian Players' production of "Much Ado About Nothing" in which I, as Balthazar, would sing each night "Sigh No More, Ladies" (or was that "Sigh. No More Ladies"?)

Songs Performed (solo on classical guitar): When That I Was a Little Tiny Boy (Wm Shakespeare), Calpurnia Dreaming, In Heaven There'll Only Bae Bagpipes, Anglo Saxon, Sigh No More, Ladies (Wm Shakespeare).

Review: "This tea is splendid." -- my Mum.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007:

Richard Pepper on local CBC: May 15/07
(The Richard Pepper we never knew: the spiritually encouraging one!! Ron Desmoulins' piece on my singing hymns at Senior Homes, my most frequent gig!)

Wednesday, April 25, 2007: Deanery Youth Unit Coffee House (at St. Thomas' Anglican)

Songs Performed (with Robin Harbron on Bass): U2 Medley (40/Still Haven't Found/I Want You), , Beautiful Scandalous Night (Hindalong, Daugherty) and Hallelujah (Cohen).

Second Set (after 3 St. Thomas' kids' performances: My Soundcheck Song, I Know That My Redeemer Lives, Bird on a Wire (Cohen), Tie Me at the Crossroads When I Die (Cockburn).

Review by Rick Smith:
"There is a lot of talent in the room." (General praise)
"I can tell that your bass player has played with you for a long time." (Praise of the guy right next to me).

Good Friday and Easter Sunday, April 6 an 8, 2007: Northwood Park Church

I sang Beautiful Scandalous Night (Hindalong, Daugherty) and some verses of I Know That My Redeemer Lives (Mark Heard style).

On Easter Sunday I sang some more verses and He's Alive (Don Francisco).

Youth Eucharist, March 24, 2007: St. John's Anglican

As a solo "anthem" I sang my song Integrity.

Saturday, March 17/07: Musical Marathon Fundraiser for Dorion Bible Fellowship's new building

Songs Performed (in approximately this order): U2 Medley (40/Still Haven't Found/I Want You), The Christian Beaver (Pepper) during George's skinning demonstration, '69 - '74 (Pepper), Don't Be Afraid (Pepper), Dylan-McCartney-Vera Sad Medley (I Threw It All Away/Yesteday/At This Moment/Oh! Darling), Dylan Spiritual Medley (Forever Young/Saving Grace/I Shall Be Released), Drive My Car (Lennon/McCartney), Every Grain of Sand (Dylan), Watch Out Medley (Further On Up the Road [Medwich Veasy, Robey]/Helter Skelter [McCartney]/This Wheel's on Fire [Dylan/Danko]), Hallelujah (Cohen), Tie Me at the Crossroads When I Die (Cockburn).

Review: Re. the crowd's inattention to the skinning demo: "It's hard for you to compete with a dead animal." -- Dean Schaaf

Saturday, February 9/07: Men's Cursillo Weekend at Dorion Bible Camp (actually the Conference Centre)

Songs Performed (in approximately this order): Don't Think Twice (It's Alright) (Dylan), Free Stanley (Pepper), Nobody Talks (During Coaches Corner) (Pepper), Drive My Car (Lennon/McCartney), Saturday (Pepper parody of Lennon/McCartney), Anglo Saxon (Pepper), In Heaven There'll Only Bae Bagpipes (Pepper), Caffeine (Pepper parody of J.J. Cale) and Don't Be Afraid (Pepper)

Review: "That's a nice little repetoire you have there." -- One of my fellow Cursillistas.
("Repetoire" from the French, meaning "Stuff one repeats over and over when he hasn't learned anything new.")

Saturday, January 27/07: LUCF Retreat at Round Lake Bible Camp

Song Performed (in approximately this order): Anglo Saxon (Pepper). No, wait. It was in this order: Anglo Saxon (Pepper)

2006

Wednesday, Dec. 20/06 on CBC Radio One's "The Great Northwest"

They aired my parody of Meredith Willson's "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Easter" which I had sung into the voice mail:

It's beginning to look a lot like Easter everywhere you go.
It's December the 24th and we're living in the North,
But we're playing in the slush instead of snow.

It's beginning to look a lot like Easter: rain falling from the sky.
It's warm enough to walk, but we drive around the block,
And we wonder why.

The air will be hotter, our sons and our daughters
Will wilt under the glow.
The icecaps'll shrink and we'll be in the drink
And we'll have to learn to row
And Doctor David Suzuki can say I told you so.

It's beginning to look a lot like Easter, not Christmas anymore.
The final catastrophe that we might have to see,
Says Al Gore,
Is the rising of the sea, inconveniently,
Up to your front door.

Review: I think this was one of the times that Lisa the host called me their "old friend".

Saturday, November 26, 2006: St. Thomas' Anglican's Roast Beef Dinner

Songs Performed (in approximately this order): I'll Remember You (Dylan), Hallelujah (Cohen), 40/I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For/All I Want is You (U2), Make You Feel My Love (Dylan), Feed the Birds (from "Mary Poppins" by Sherman/Sherman), Drive My Car (Lennon/McCartney), Wheel's On Fire (Dylan/Danko), Forever Young (Dylan), Little One (Pepper), Yesterday (Lennon/McCartney or more accurately McCartney/Martin), At This Moment (Vera), When the Ship Comes In (Dylan), Bird on a Wire (Cohen), These Thousand Hills (Atwell, Blackburn, Davison), Love Rescue Me (U2), Tie Me at the Crossroads When I Die (Cockburn).

Review: "Thank you." -- one of the elderly ladies.

Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006: Lakehead Baptist's Men's Breakfast

Songs Performed (along with Robin Harbron on bass): I'll Remember You (Dylan) and a few worship songs.

Review: Silence, while thinking "Is that one of those girlfriend/God songs?" (No.) Just guessing here.

Wednesday Nov. 1, 2006: Songwriter Contest at Flapper Jack's

Songs Performed: Nobody Talks (During Coaches Corner) with an extra verse:

Tie Domi still played when I wrote this song.
Don Cherry loved him, though he said his name wrong.
Tie used to play in the Town of the Hogs,
But now his career's over and he's gone to the dogs.

Review (of every other act -- by the young female hosts): "That was awesome!"

Their review of me: "That was ... interesting. You ought to get a couple of laughs with that." (Six of nine acts were chosen to go on to the finals. I was not chosen.)

Saturday Oct. 28, 2006: Bailey Goodbye Party in Northwood Park Church Basement

Songs Performed: Eric Bailey the FN Hockey Star, Forever Young (Dylan) and Time Tears Us Apart.

Review: I think Eric made a joke about his song, but I'm not sure.

Saturday May 20, 2006: Northwood Park Church 40th Anniversary Dinner

Song Performed: I Shall Be Released with Gord Ellis Jr.

Friday, May 4, 2006: Open Mike Night at the Grann Art Gallery

Songs Performed: Soundcheck Song, Nobody Talks (During Coaches Corner), Free Stanley, '69 - '74 and Don't Be Afraid. I also joined in the finale jam of You Are My Sunshine.

Review: "Very funny, man!" Angie, entering the bathroom, while I exitted.

Tuesday, April 11, 2006: St. Thomas Anglican Youth Group

Song Performed: "The Gossip Song"

Review: "Like, that awesome song totally rocks!" (Imaginary teenager)

Sunday, March 17-19, 2006: Andy James' 60th Birthday Party @ Kanaskis Lodge, Alberta

Songs Performed: (With Paul & Dale Jansen and Jon James) parodies of Bob Dylan songs in honour of Andy and solo "Time Tears Us Apart" (which I reprised Sunday morning at Chestermere Christian Fellowship).

Review: Andy said some mushy stuff about my song-writing.

Sunday, March 5, 2006: Northwood Park Church Stained Coffee House

Thursday, February 9, 2006: Deanery Youth Unit Coffeehouse @ St. Thomas Anglican (Haddon Hall) in support of Nu-Vision Rwanda

Songs Performed: (With the Transparencies) The Hockey Song (Connors), Gimme Some Money (Spinal Tap), Folsom Prison Blues (Cash), Tie Me at the Crossroads When I Die (Cockburn) and with Gord Ellis Jr. I Shall Be Released (Dylan), Love in Vain (Dylan), Forever Young (Dylan).

Review: "The Transparencies were one of tonight's loudest bands."

Tuesday, February 14, 2006: St. Thomas Anglican Youth Group

Song Performed: "Love Makes Me Barf"

Review: "Like, that awesome song totally rocks!" (Imaginary teenager)

I sang background music and supplied puzzles and games to distract the guests from the background music.

2005

Sunday, December 18, 2005: Northwood Park Church of Christ's Christmas Party

Song Performed: "Judge Gomery" (parody of "O Christmas Tree"):

Judge Gomery. Judge Gomery.
They've told so many fibs to me.
Judge Gomery. Judge Gomery.
They spent our money -- liberally.
We want a change this election, but
We don't trust Harper's haircut.
So Gomery. Judge Gomery.
We'll re-elect them. Just wait and see.

Review: I was wrong.

Friday, December 16, 2005: Northern Schools Resource Alliance Christmas Luncheon
@ the Travelodge Airlane Hotel

Song Performed: Free Stanley in reply to Erica's (the boss) anti-FN Hockey song.

Review: I haven't had any more work at NSRA since then. Hmm.

Saturday, November 26, 2005: St. Thomas' Anglican's Roast Beef Dinner

Songs Performed: Hallelujah (Cohen), Love Rescue Me (U2), 40 (U2), I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (U2), All I Want is You (U2), I'll Remember You (Dylan), Further On Up the Road, Feed the Birds (from "Mary Poppins" by Sherman/Sherman), Every Grain of Sand (Dylan) and the hymn In the Garden.

Review: "I like the 'And-he walks with me; and-he talks with me' part." -- Ven. Andy Hoskin.

Sunday, Nov. 20, 2005: Northwood Park Church Coffee House