After a week of sessions (organ overdubs etc for Doug Fury, Rocky Jr. etc.) and other small tasks (including an Aaron gig in Ontario - a one off which was good fun but not unlike a lot of the other gigs this year), it was time to get prepped for this year's Canadian Country Music Awards. I played them last year as part of the house band where we backed up Michelle Wright and Brad Johner on a "medley" style piece as well as a bunch of bumpers and stingers. Past that, all the music (except the lead vocals) was the tracks from the individual artist's albums which the band would mime too. In a daring and controversial move the producers of the show tried something revolutionary in today's world of "perfect" music ... a LIVE band throughout! What a concept.
Tom Mckillip (Lisa Brokop's bandleader, producer and a fine musician) was hired as the musical director and hired me as well as a (I'm proud to say) WORLD CLASS band of musicians - Steve O Connor on piano, Jerry Adolphe on drums, John Dymond on bass, Robbie Steininger on guitars and dobros, Jay Buettner on guitars, Steve Smith on steel guitar, Mike Sanyshyn on fiddle and vocalist Taylor James. This kind of band is a musician's wet dream. An unstoppable force. Every conceivable part covered by the best in the business in the most professional and mature manner. If you're going into battle, this is the kind of platoon you want.
Sept. 6
I flew to Regina armed with my book of charts all ready to go. I had arranged a string part to be played by local symphony players for George Canyon's tune. I had put Tom's string arrangement for Emerson Drive onto a notation program. I had prepared loops for Brad Johner and Shane Yellowbird's tunes. I was ready. The rehearsals began pretty much the hour we touched down. We ran the tunes plus ran over and/ or composed the bumpers and stingers for all the cues given to us by the production company. It was exciting to get together with all these players. My favorite thing about being a musician is being a part of something that is bigger than the individuals in the band. Playing these songs with a band like this is just that sort of experience.
Sept. 7
The first snag arrived today. As we got to the rehearsal room, CBC advised us of a problem. For the 5 video of the year nominees, the production company wanted to synchronize the video footage to the band so the videos ran at the same time the band played them. The problem was the band would have to play to a click track which had not been sync'ed to the video. To make matters worse, 4 of the 5 songs had loops which also had to be sync'ed up. I was elected to bow out of rehearsal and spend the day in a CBC edit suite with associate producer Heather and video editor Luke and get this all straightened around (which we did). I made it back to the rehearsal in time for our in ear monitor check and then a run through with the string section (who turned out to be a fantastic group - another minor flame of worry extinguished!) We rehearsed the first of many acts on the show - Johnny Reid. Fantastic singer (and as I write this - we're travelling on his tour bus).
Today began the festivities surrounding the CCMA's. That night after the rehearsal I picked up a gig with guitarist extrordinaire Wendell Ferguson who was bandleader on an artist showcase for a girl named Cassie Young. Nice girl - cool band - Chris Sutherland from Kim Mitchell's band, Steve Smith from The Wilkinsons on steel, Craig Young from Terri Clark's band on guitar and Shane Chisolm from Aaron Line's band on bass.
Sept. 8
Rehearsals with the artists resume. Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Jimmy Rankin, Paul Brandt, George Canyon, Shane Yellowbird and Jessie Farrell make up the day. We run through the music and the production team choreographs camera angles and staging cues. I learn that Billy Ray Cyrus who we were scheduled to play with is not appearing due to 'Hannah Montana' going into production overtime as a TV writer's strike was pending. He is replaced by newcomer Jason Blaine and we receive his song to learn today.
Sept. 9
More rehearsals- Brad Johner, Jason Blaine, Jim Cuddy, Emerson Drive and Aaron Pritchett rounding off the show. It's a lot of fun hanging with the musicians and this kind of pressure is the kind I thrive on. Trying to get the all the cues, bumpers, stingers and songs right the first time is a challenge and it's a lot of fun and wears you out mentally - but the adrenalin gets pumping and fuels you up.
After the rehearsal - Mike, Steve Smith and I ran over to the Casino Regina to participate in the All Star Band Awards. Mike and I were nominated for our individual instruments. We were to play again with the same band we did on Friday except with drummer Jayson Brinkworth instead of Chris Sutherland. The featured singers were Amanda Wilkinson and Prairie Oyster's Russell DeCarle. They would sing an old classic country tune and then present an award. Not coming from a country music background - it's gigs like this that make me love the music. Russell and Amanda are world class vocalists - she is dynamic and balls to the wall .... Russell has a voice that is smooth as silk. What a treat to play these great old tunes they way they were meant to be played. The big surprise of the night is when Mike Sanyshyn won for Fiddle Player Of The Year. He has been nominated several times and this year was his. I was thrilled.
Sept. 10
The day of the big show! My Dad and his girlfriend were flying out for this one which also a nice surprise. We ran the show top to bottom with several interruptions to correct issues technical and otherwise. Generally a bad dress rehearsal means a good show. We did the show and it was a blur - I wasn't sure quite how it went.
Later that night I went for dinner with Dad and his gal and Shane (one of Aaron's bass players and my brother in law). I was tired and went back to my room. I flipped on the TV and saw CBC was rebroadcasting the show. There's no way I could sleep now ..... so I watched the show. I'd give it about a 79 out of 100. We played well - the audio was so so and the vocals weren't too bad. At any rate, a good effort and a lot of fun. Some of the highlights include Aaron and Mitch winning Song Of The Year for 'Hold My Beer', the multi media presentation of George Canyon's 'I Want You To Live', the string section and of course Dog The Bounty Hunter and his wife walking on stage to the rock stinger which I composed!
Sept. 11
I climbed on the Aaron Pritchett bus to a gang of party'ed out CCMA attendees. We left around 9:00AM to make the trip to Winnipeg. Great gig that night.... sold out. Our opening act for the string of upcoming dates in September is Jessie Farrell and her band. This is cool for me to get to know them as I'm going to be producing a song for her in about a week.
Sept. 12
The bus left for Brandon Manitoba. The Forty was the name of the club - we had played there earlier this year. Another cool gig. Got to hang with Shaun Beavis - bass player par excellance who plays with Brad Johner among others.
Sept. 13
Carlyle Manitoba gave us our next gig - the Bear Claw casino. A smaller venue - we brought the stage volume down and played to a seated more reserved bunch of people. These gigs are the ones where the band typically plays at it's most musical which is something I especially enjoy. When there's not as many females screaming in the front row, the band has that much more focus.
Sept. 14
Trouble at the venue.... the club owner apparently (and this is an unconfirmed rumour - I'm piecing it together as I go) has been uncooperative. We sit now on the bus waiting to see if the gig is happening at all. Mitch (Aaron's manager) is dealing with this as I write this....
It gets resolved - the show goes on. A lot of familiar faces in the crowd.... good fun and Carmen the road manager's birthday.
Sept. 15
Finally - a corporate gig for Magna - a big corporation owned by the Stronach family. Good gig - a lot of people who were "into it".
I'm bagged - gotta prep for the ComedyFest, a Jessie Farrell production on Monday and other stuff. Good night.
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