Virtual Creative Marathon - December 30, 2011

Well, folks, with the Buy More Buddhas video project well underway, it feels like high time for another creative marathon! My songwriting output has been a little slim lately and I feel some songs bursting to escape! Feel welcome to join me on December 30, 2011.  There will be an optional Skype conference call at 8:30 AST to share work if you would like (for more info about how to Skype in, contact me directly at mail[at]alexsings[dot]ca).

I know it's been a while since I invited y'all to marathon with me. If you want more info about how the creative marathons work, check my June 2010 post here.

Here's hoping Friday will be a super-creative day for everyone!

Buy More Buddhas Video Project

Over the holidays, I'm going to put together a video for my song, Buy More Buddhas featuring photos of Buddhas sent to me by friends and fans. I've already received dozens of photos! Thanks to everyone who has sent one - or more!

I'm drawing a line in the sand - December 21st - that's when I'm going to start putting the video together. Please send me any and all Buddha photos you can by the 21st! You can e-mail them to me at mail[at]alexsings[dot]ca, tweet them to me here, or post them on my Facebook musician page. Thanks!

Here are examples of some of the pics I've received so far. Keep 'em coming!

Winter Shows

I have some great shows coming up in the next few months. I'd love for you to join me for some laughter and/or tears at any (or all) of these dates:

UPDATED DECEMBER 29, 2011 - PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGES - THERE WILL BE NO SHOW AT THE SCUTTLEBUTT RESTAURANT ON FEBRUARY 4, 2012! INSTEAD, I WILL BE AT THE NIGHT KITCHEN IN WOLFVILLE THAT NIGHT!

Friday, November 25, 7–9pm
The Biscuit Eater
16 Orchard Street
Mahone Bay
www.biscuiteater.ca
In keeping with the poetic and uncensored spirit of the Biscuit Eater, I'll be bringing out some rarely-performed "B-sides". It's going to be a fun, and possibly controversial, evening. (I'll have CDs and T-shirts for sale at special prices if you're looking for Christmas shopping opportunities).

Friday, January 6, 6-8pm
Scuttlebutt Restaurant
Lunenburg, NS
Scuttlebutt on Facebook
A triumphant return to Scuttlebutt Restaurant after a few months' hiatus. I can already taste that smoked salmon club sandwich!

Saturday, January 28, 7:30–9:30pm
Trellis Café
Hubbards, NS
www.trelliscafe.com
My very first appearance at the renowned Trellis Café. I'm looking forward to it!

Saturday, February 4
The Night Kitchen
The Al Whittle Theatre
Wolfville, NS
I'm very excited to be part of Andy and Ariana's famous Night Kitchen.

Saturday, February 4, 6–8pm
Scuttlebutt Restaurant
Lunenburg, NS
Scuttlebutt on Facebook
A triumphant return to Scuttlebutt Restaurant after a few months' hiatus. I can already taste that smoked salmon club sandwich!

Thursday, February 9, 6-8pm
Lunenburg Sessions
@ Scuttlebutt Restaurant
Lunenburg, NS
Lunenburg Sessions on Facebook
Delighted to be a part of Lunenburg Sessions 2012 Concert Series Schedule!

Friday, February 24, TBA
Fables
Tatamagouche, NS
www.fablesclub.com
I'm honoured to be part of Fables' Freedom to Read Week Celebrations. Events all day; details TBA.

Saturday, March 31, 6-8pm
Scuttlebutt Restaurant
Lunenburg, NS
Scuttlebutt on Facebook
Another yummy dinner and song event at the Scuttlebutt Restaurant!

Tour: Day 22

[due to technical difficulties, this was not posted when it was written, which was roughly 9pm, October 20]

No photo of my car I'm afraid. It's too dark and rainy outside.

This is the last day of the Tour. I'll be home tomorrow! I fell behind with my blog, but I had a wonderful house concert in Peterborough on Day 9 and one in Toronto, on Day 17 (hosted by the marvelous Sarah Hopen of STARCompany).

Most of the rest of the trip was visiting people and doing miscellaneous work projects here and there.

Now I'm on my way home and after 1.5 hours of white-knuckle driving in pouring rain and near zero visibility, I am safely ensconced in a motel room. Not the motel I was planning to stay in - no, the road was closed on the path indicated to me by the Interwebs, so I turned around and came to this motel, which shall remain nameless.

I'm fascinated by this motel room. Maybe because it's my last day on the road and my first really no-name motel. And maybe because it just feels kind of miraculous that I made it here at all.

Things this motel room has:

• an abandoned cell phone charger
• a fan
• a train that passes nearby and blows its whistle
• a bottle of whiskey (I brought that)
• supper (improvised with the food I have left in my car at this point in the trip: a granola bar, an apple, almond butter (eaten off the blade of a butter knife) and a handful of walnuts
• wifi (sweet)
• windows that open
• a bathtub
• soap
• grey towels (I like a place that doesn't even pretend to be able-or perhaps willing-to keep white towels white)
• fridge and microwave (I think I am atypical of this motel's residents; I am not planning to stay for more than one night)
• a great pillow (I brought this, too)
• a TV (but at least it's closed up in one of those cabinets so I don't have to look at it).

Things this motel room does not have:

• any sign of bedbugs (yay!)
• a security lock on the door (I have propped the room's only chair under the door knob)
• shampoo or conditioner
• natural fibres in any of the linens, curtains, etc.
• good art

What can I say? I'm mostly glad not to be dead in a ditch this evening, but not so high on life that I'm willing to forego making snarky comments about this motel and pointing out what a glamourous life this sometimes ain't. Now, where's that butter knife?

Tour: Days 5-8

I'm falling a bit behind with the blog here.

The past few days have been a bit rough. I came down with a cold. This is the second time I've left the maritimes since I moved back home last December, and the second time I've gotten ill. It's starting to feel like it's not a coincidence.

So, anyway, I dosed myself up with Oil of Oregano, Cold F/X, Vitamin D and Advil Cold and Sinus and went and played at Grumpy's on Day 5. Despite my cold, it was a really fun show! With the delightful Brie Neilson hosting the evening, Gern F of United Steel Workers of Montreal behind the bar, and a full room of enthusiastic revellers, we made a great night of it.

On Day 6 I drove to Ottawa and I spent that evening and most of Day 7 recuperating at the home of some dear friends. The house concert on Day 7 went amazingly well, given my state of health. I was so full of Advil Cold and Sinus, I'm amazed my eyes didn't glow like yellow gel-caps. But, my voice held out for me to serenade a room full of lovely, attentive and generous-hearted folks. Also, generous-walleted - thanks, folks!

Now, it's Day 8, I've driven to Peterborough and am at a laundromat here. A solar-powered laundromat, in case you're interested.

Here's the mandatory picture of my car. Note the kleenex on the passenger seat. And my bathing suit still draped over the driver's seat from the pool in Edmundston. Classy.

Tour: Day 4

I almost forgot to take a picture of my car today. After a white-knuckle drive through pelting rain between Quebec City and Montreal, I was glad to hand it, and its keys, over to the guys in the parking lot across from my hotel. I remembered in the twilight to grab a quick shot of it (the parking lot guys think I'm nuts) et voilà.

I decided to splurge on a hotel for these two nights in Montreal. I am coming down with a sore throat - ack! - and hope that hot baths and lots of sleep will cure me - hence the hotel rather than begging for a spot on a friend or family member's sofa.

I love my hotel! It's seedy on the outside - the entrance is through an abandoned pizzeria while the lobby is under renovation - but my room is absolutely plush. And it's one block away from the venue I'm playing tomorrow night: Grumpy's, 1242 rue Bishop! 9:30 start. See you there.

Tour: Day 3

Today's photo was taken in an underground garage in Quebec City where I'm having a stopover to visit with my Dad.

You can see the apples I bought at the side of the road in Oxford, NS prominently displayed in this shot. They're gravensteins and they are delicious!!!