Song Story 1 – Hard To Find by Blue Acres

Song Stories Podcast

I love talking with Songwriters about their music – especially when there is a song that hits especially deep inside. A few years back I was listening to Song Exploder – a really great music podcast that breaks songs down into their component parts. That show is production focussed. I wondered what a show might sound like … Read full post

Dumb Hope – My 8 Big Goals for 2022

Inspiration, Monday Motivation, Reflections

Every year I set out to achieve audacious goals. Sometimes I even succeed.

Setting goals has felt especially foolish these past couple of years, but goals continue to set me on good paths – even if they don’t lead where I thought. Charting a path and reflecting on where I wind up reminds me that not all change is bad and there are still good surprises, even in these strange days.

Making Time For Music Makers

Inspiration, Reflections

The following is an excerpt from a guest post I wrote for my friend Jordan Majeau’s hopeful and inspiring blog. It’s been a rough couple of years for music makers. We used to invest our savings to make our songs sound good enough burn or etch forever onto CDs or records. Thousands upon thousands of … Read full post

Catch My Tour in Saskatoon This Weekend

News

This weekend I’m hitting the Yellowhead and bringing my Long For This Yard Tour east to Saskatoon for a Saturday evening show (Aug 21). Like all of my tour shows this year, this Riversdale show takes place in the yard of some generous music lovers. So generous, in fact, that they are sharing the night … Read full post

Good Things For Reemerging

Good Things, Inspiration

Whether you are diving back into the wide world or tip-toeing towards normalcy, please be kind to yourself and others.

Here are some good things I’ve found in the past weeks to help with reemerging.

The Way Trees Dance

Inspiration, Poetry, Reflections

I want to tell you something and I’m not sure what to call it. It feels like a poem but I’m fairly sure it isn’t. It’s not a song, either. At least not yet. Let’s call this an account. An account of what the backyard trees showed just now.

Make Yourself Smaller (NaPoWriMo 17)

Poetry

Make yourself smaller Small enough to balance on a branchThe whole windblown wisp of your bodyBuoyant on the breezeYour needlepoint eye only holdingA thimble of lightYour little paunch packed with seedsPecked from plastic perchesHung by giants Smaller stillYour body three-seeds-longAnother on your backDropped by dragons from their poplar pillarYour size is no measure of your … Read full post

Runner (NaPoWriMo 16)

Poetry

Runner The most impossible stepIs step oneFollowed closely by two and threeAnd whichever steps pound earthAt the two-thirds markOr before your round the final bend In between you are sailingBreeze-cooled cheeksWet with winningPaper cups drained and crumpledThe pursuit of the woman just aheadUntil you surge and she is is beside, BehindForgotten There are instants you … Read full post

Hustle (NaPoWriMo 15)

Poetry

Hustle (A found poem culled from this sales page for The Hustle Manifesto – https://content.hustleandgrind.co/hustle-manifesto) You want to be your own boss but don’t I’ve been in your shoes Rolling and feeling stuck I wanted to create something I could call Control Pour my heart and soul into the Ground I was willing to hustle … Read full post

Minor Chords (NaPoWriMo 14)

Poetry

Minor Chords I remember your warning About minor chords The emotional lift Employed to Manipulate Potent as A rifle You were not wrong A key A lance A headlock A weighted blanket A weightless horse Winged and soaring Above the silent sea of tears