The Sidetrack Gig in Edmonton w/ Trevor Tchir

What a blast it's been hanging with Trevor Tchir and Kristy McKay in Edmonton. I'm uploading these pics as I listen to an LP that Trevor bought last night, by the old Edmonton band called, Jr. Gone Wild called, "Less Art More Pop" which was recorded in 1986. A very cool album and a fun soundtrack as I upload these pics for ya.

Soon I'll be back in Victoria. I can't believe that it's almost been four months since the last time I was practicing my guitar by the Pacific Ocean with the harbour seal keeping me company. I still haven't figured out where I'm going next as I have two weeks until my Victoria show and I want to make the best use of my Greyhound bus pass. Maybe Calgary, maybe Nelson, maybe Vancouver...maybe all three. It's nice to finally have a bit of time to chill out.

Here's some pics from my show with Trevor at the Sidetrack. It was one of the best shows I've done yet. It warmed my heart to share the stage with Trevor and his brother Stephen who also plays in a band called 5 O'Clock Charlie. What a fantastic show! Trevor played harmonica with me on "Life's Gonna Turn Around For You" and Stephen played some ambient electric sounds on "Crying on the Inside." It was pure magic. I played flute on Trevor's "One by One," from his album, "Wooden Castles Fall." You can hear my flute solo on that song by going to Trevor's MySpace page: www.myspace.com/trevortchir. All of Trevor's albums are fantastic but "Wooden Castles Fall" is my fave.

Trevor Tchir, Mickey Valee (Trevor's accordion player) and bro Stephen Tchir

This cracked us all up! Nothing like your hometown club getting your name wrong!

Trevor Tchir

Trevor and band...Allyson on drums and you already know the rest of the boys.

Me getting ready to perform with Trevor on "One by One." Man, I need a haircut!

Trevor playing on "Life's Gonna Turn Around For You"

Touring Pics - POP Montreal, New York, Ottawa and Toronto

Let's start off with POP Montreal. What a fantastic time it was to hang out at Abigail Lapell's place and party it up with so many talented indie folks from all over Canada. This pic is of Halifax's Museum Pieces who put on a great show at the Main Hall. I spent a bit of time with drummer Andy in Halifax so it was great to hang out in Montreal as well.
Twins Sari and Romi from Halifax's Ghost Bees. I stayed at their place in North Halifax the first time I toured through there. We were supposed to share a gig at Gus's Pub. It's a long story and a good one. Romi and Sari are angels for helping me out that strange day. These girls have such a unique sound and I really dig their current EP. Expect much goodness from these girls very soon...

Abigail Lapell and myself hanging outside after we played together at POP Montreal. That was such a fun night. Abigail blew the folks away with her intense performance. I love performing with that girl.

Abigail performing at POP Montreal.

The Sunday morning I headed to New York. It was a full moon and I was totally taken back by the magic of this particular moment. It was so quiet and peaceful as Montreal was sleeping...

"No ringing cell phones!" This was the first thing I saw on the bus as I headed to New York City. I loved it. The whole cell phone culture drives me nuts sometimes. Best to remind folks to be polite when using them in public.

The biggest cockroach I have ever seen in a cold climate and of course I had to witness it in New York. It looks smaller than it actually was in real life. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the shadow that it created on the sidewalk!

My best friend, classical flutist Conor Nelson (left) and boyfriend Dave who is a freelancing classical violinist in New York City. I had so much fun hanging with these boys.

Wandering around Times Square, looking for a music store to buy some guitar picks and get help changing the strings on my guitar.

Columbia University, only a 5 minute walk away from where I was staying. That is such a beautiful campus. I sat on the grass and played my guitar with my best friend Conor in the sunshine one afternoon as the students rushed to their classes.

The Sidewalk Cafe Open Stage in the East Village. I couldn't believe how packed this place was. I showed up to sign the list at 8pm and I was already too late. The host who looked like a younger version of Woody Allen gave me #35 on the list and I ended up having to wait until 2am to play one song! The list went up to #47!!!

A Japanese singer that I played with at the open stage from this band called, "Sam." She had a fantastic voice. I played my flute with them for a song as I sat in the crowded audience which was such a magical musical moment. I met so many amazing musicians that night and definitely look forward to hanging with them again next fall when I head back to teach my touring workshop again at NYU.

This pic was taken from the subway platform close to Conor's place. He lives just outside of Harlem, close to Manhattan School of Music and Columbia University.

My new friend Marianne who I met at the train station the day I was teaching my touring workshop at Stony Brook University. We had so much fun hanging out in Greenwich Village. It was pouring outside but we didn't care as we got soaking wet. Marianne studies European History at Columbia and plays a mean classical clarinet! A very cool gal.

Ah, the New York subway which I really fell in love with and spent a lot of time on. This is the stop to get to Greenwich Village, Washington Square and New York University. Did you know that the New York subway is the same age as Alberta? Craziness!

My one pic of my second visit to Ottawa...Not many pics as I was sick as a dog with a cold. On my last day in Ottawa, I went into the Gallery Studio with Dean Watson of Coqi Records to record some flute tracks for Steven Sheehan's new CD. Some of you may know of Steven from Ottawa's funk band "Stairwell K." I used to play flute with them on and off back in the day...
Now to Toronto...Toronto Island. This was a special night on the island when I performed with my sister and friends at the Ward's Island Halloween Dance. They had lots of carved pumpkins in front of the stage which looked so cool.
My sister, Jessican MacPhail on the left, Ivy, a girl I used to babysit in the middle and Doug, one of MY babysitters when I was a kid! We has such a great time performing that night.
Me and my sis all dressed up at the Halloween Dance.
Yummy chocolate!!! I don't know who ate more chocolate on Halloween. Any excuse to eat chocolate!
This was the pumpkin that my Mom's boyfriend Scotty carved for Halloween. He spent two days carving this one which comes as no surprise.
One of the girls my Mom babysits, Charlotte. I got such a kick out of seeing all the kids in costumes on Halloween night.

Westwardly Thoughts and a New Song

Westwardly Thoughts and a New Song

I'm writing to you from cold Winnipeg. It's a beautiful sunny day here. I took a nice walk and checked out the surroundings. Looks like a cool city. Too bad I didn't get to perform here during the tour but next time.

I crashed at my friend Ryan's place (Tumbleweed Entertainment) last night after a long bus trip from Wabigoon. Where the heck is Wabigoon you ask? It's close to Dryden, Ontario. What a gorgeous spot. It was there that I extended my trip for a day and wrote a new song called, "Writing Postcards from Wabigoon." Performing at The Green Achers of Wabigoon was one of my favourite performing experiences so far. Talk about a supportive audience and such beautiful people.

I'm heading to Edmonton tonight. I am so excited to perform at the Sidetrack tomorrow night with one of my good friends, singer-songwriter, Trevor Tchir. It's been a long time since we've been able to hang out and he's never heard me perform my own songs. Can't wait. Getting excited just thinking about it. That's one of the nice things about touring, getting to hook up with old friends you miss. I'll definitely be wanting to tour lots next year to see all the new friends I have made on this trip.

Two weeks left to go before I head back to my home in Victoria...

I'm going to say goodbye for now but before I do, here are the lyrcs for "Postcards from Wabigoon." I will be performing it at the Sidetrack tomorrow night, with my new Realistic toy keyboard from my childhood years which my Mom gave me last week during my visit to Toronto. It even has lion, laser gun and dog sounds on it and a sampler!

WRITING POSTCARDS FROM WABIGOON

Words and Music by Rozalind MacPhail

Writing postcards from Wabigoon
and it's just one of those nights when I'm missing you
I'm missing you, babe
I'm missing you tonight

I'm missing all the ways that you make it feel so right
I'm missing your voice that soothes me late into the night
I'm missing your smile
and the way that you hold me tight
I'm missing you tonight
I'm missing you tonight

And you don't push yourself upon me like so many others have tried
You invite me into your world as my friend
and you leave it up to me to decide what I'd like
and you leave it up to me to decide what I'd like

That's the kind of love I'd like in my life
That's the kind of love I'm willing to try

And now I'm missing you, babe
I'm missing you tonight
I'm missing all the ways that you make it feel so right
I'm missing your voice that soothes me late into the night
I'm missing your smile
and the way that you hold me tight
I'm missing you tonight
I'm missing you tonight

Writing postcards from Wabigoon
and I'm missing you, babe
I'm missing you tonight

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for reading to the end friends. I'll be in touch again soon...

Hugs and Smiles from Winnipeg,

Love Rozalind