At The Oldfolks Home: Hamilton

This is Vanna White.

Our new rental. We will destroy it with kilometers and jokes.

The new band is getting along splendidly and our first long trip (25+ hours) and first show in Hamilton were a great indication on how this is all going to go, I think. I'm not really sure what I want to do with this series of travel logs. The last set was about getting back into touring and figuring out how I would do it as a different person and a band leasder. That trip was a way for me to work through some lingering personal challenges and when it ended, I felt like I had. This trip is different. I don't feel the weight of the emotional baggage I did before, but I think this trip will be about putting what I've learned to practice.

There, I just figured it out. Thanks for the talk.

I've been thinking a lot about that actually. One of the most difficult things I've been thinking about is how I will behave (and not react) when someone does or says something that conflicts with my new personal beliefs, and to this day I have no idea. But a friend said something to me a few weeks ago that stuck with me. He said that all of this knowledge and learning is not worth anything unless it is put into action. But how do I put it to action in a positive, non-violent way? How do I present my point of view while respecting the person who is saying or doing things that hurt other people? Holding them accountable for their words and actions. That's some hard shit. When I was younger I would learn something that really spoke to me and I would be militant about it. It was this new idea that I was willing to defend to the death! But I know better now and I can't act like that anymore. I'm sure I will get a lot of practice though - the other guys in the band are all 21 or 22 and there are plenty of chances to talk about discrimination and language. Without being preachy or alienating. With love, patience, compassion and empathy. These are things my mother was really great at teaching me.

There are also my personal challenges to change my relationship with alcohol and to be without romantic relationships for one year. Two very difficult things to do on when on tour. It's time to put what I've learned to practice though and I have faith in my strength.

PICTURES.

The new band enjoying MOM LEVEL apple crisp (their words). From left to right - Cody, Brennan & Karl.

Cody & Karl stretching it out about 8 hours into the drive.

Brennan, 20 hours into the drive staying awake with Justin Timberlake.

NEVER EAT AT RESTAURANTS WITH TOO MANY ELVIS PICTURES. The food is never good.

An impromptu trip to Niagara. It was nice to walk on some plush grass and get misted by the falls.

This bird has it made.

I love this picture.

And this one.

This tree is amazing. It was huge and it deserves to have a small house in it that I can live in.

Same tree. The huge leaves.

Every bathroom needs one of these for people who wear sandals. BRILLIANT.

NEW SHIRTS and the models. Thanks to the amazing Garland Lam for the design.

THESE PEOPLE. They gave us this sweet upgrade to Vanna White so that we're not so crammed. Check out Mosely.

After I had the upgrade done I went back to meet the guys and found them forming THIER OWN BAND. They were really good so we're going in that direction and I'm just going to take pictures...

...like this one.

THAT'S IT. See you soon, Waterloo.

This is the rest of it, I think.

We had the pleasure of playing with Boats in Hamilton at the Casbah for the Matt Mays after party. What a show. It was like old times! You see, I was once a member of Boats and Matt was gracious enough to let Oldfolks Home open up at some of the venues while on tour. Although we weren't travelling together, it was like I was back with the old band...except that my place has been filled and I also have my own band. Nonetheless, it was so much fun. If you look closely, you can see Louis behind the plant. I sent him there for playing with my chop-sticks before dinner was served. He wasn't eating even, just horsing around. Like a horse.

Winnipeg was very well represented in Hamilton. A few ex-pats came out to hear the bands and one of those people was Shaun Gibson, former drummer for Oldfolks Home. How I love to see that man and Whiney (his partner). Shaun has been an integral part of the band even since moving to Toronto, and it was nice to show off the work he had put into the band on the record and over the phone. So, Hamilton was a blast, then we drove back to TO to sleep at Shaun's place for one more night. We went out for breakfast (lunch) the next day and talked about future OFH plans. I'm always telling Shaun he needs to work in the music business with bands if he doesn't want to play in them. His mind works perfectly and effectively in the industry. He is a strategist and a planner and one smart advisor. Truthfully, I'm happy to have his attention all to myself for the time being. We had a nice walk around the boardwalk and then we packed ourselves in the van and drove to Montreal.

MONTREAL.

I almost cried when I drove into the city limits. It's in Montreal I feel I grew up. It's in Montreal where Oldfolks Home started taking shape. A large part of my identity is tied to that city, and I was elated to be back in it. We drove in and got settled. I was staying with my friend, Mara, in what felt like a different city altogether because it was so far north of where I used to live, but thankfully the transit system in that city is amazing. I walked down to the plateau to pick up some of the dudes. We were going to see a show, but when I arrived, one of them was asleep and another had left to meet a friend, so I decided to walk the streets a lone wolf.

There isn't a lot going on on a Monday night. I stopped by Casa to see if a show was going on, but I had missed it. I didn't want to go home so I walked to St. Viateur for some bagels and ate them up as I walked around my old neighbourhood, checking to see what was there and what wasn't. I left Casa and I was filled a sense of longing and a desire to see KL. She lives there now and I had wondered for the whole tour whether or not she would be at the show. I thought about where she might be, who she might be with, what she might be doing. Would I be ready to see her if she did show up? Should I contact her and let her know what was going on? Was I ready for that? Would I be ok with it? I walked and I thought. It was brisk out. The bagels were warm and my thoughts carried me to a bus stop where I caught the late bus back to Mara's.

It was a hard night.

The next day I pretty much just ate everything I wanted all day. Brennan and I walked around and talked until it was time to eat again. We went to a Vietnamese restaurant I used to go to a lot when I lived there. Surprisingly I can never remembered what I ordered, but everything on the menu is delicious. I went back to Mara's, chugged my soup and made my way to the venue. I had built this show up so much in my mind and it didn't disappoint. I looked out and saw friends and smiles and it was awesome to be back in Montreal. After the show I forced everyone one to eat some Shish Taouk, and then back to sleeeeeeeep.

Oh, if you're wondering - KL did not attend the show and I thought it best for myself not to make contact with here.

We left MTL in the afternoon the next day and drove the 26 hours back to Winnipeg. Something is up with the border. Never have I driven through it without the van being completely unloaded when traveling with a band. We were let through without that both on the way there and back.

I've had time to think about the trip and my role in it. I feel proud. I planned it and pulled it off with a level of success I anticipated. I'm already planning the next one - the album release tour. ALBUM RELEASE.

Thank you, Canada, for coming out to the shows and being supportive. I can't wait to see you again.