It was broad daylight, but the cabin was dark. So dark that when I opened the blind to see outside, the sun made “flash” marks behind my eyelids when I blinked. Yet there it was, my first sight of Canada, in four months, the majestic shores of Newfoundland to be exact. I kept thinking it wasn’t real, I mean I knew it was real, that stellar majestic beauty beneath me, but from so far up in the plane she looked like a cpmputer image, almost too beautiful. I kept wishing I could just jump out and see my friends, as I miss them all SO much, it’s not often that I get to sit and play on that rock, so I was a little jealous of the fact that all I could do was see her, while all my friends we re enjoying themselves between various café’s, pubs and living rooms…that view will stay with me til I die though, it was so beautiful and such a welcome sight after being away from my home and native land for a good long stint. Then I saw St. Pierre de Michelon (sp.) and what a cool sight from so far up, France in Canada… well I’ll be! So here I am feeling a little tired from sitting on my rear for nine hours, watching movie after movie. I’ve been away from the North American language AND gossip, so forgive me if I am a little late in saying this but I hope Nathalie Portman won an oscar for her performance in “Black Swan.” What a show! I always ask for a window seat, I don’t really look out the window all that often so I should probably take the aisle due to the amount of times I have to pee (too much information?) The poor guy beside me was pretty patient with me for most of the journey but I am positive he was happy to see the back of me!! “Excuse me sir, oops! I’m sorry… ha ha ha… oops, excuse me!” I guess it can all get a little boring after awhile. Sometimes I wish I traveled with someone. I am sitting here at the airport waiting for my connection flight, which is late by the way, and I am bogged down with too many kilos, the ones I had to remove from my luggage so I didn’t have to pay an extra 100 bucks and I really don’t want to have to put it all back on to go use the water closet, it’s heavy and I am hot. Oh, and remind me not to stay 40 days longer than the 90 day allowance in Switzerland. 560 bucks later… I am glad to be home, glad to be back in Canada. Oh and Canada? Don’t forget to mark the June 5th date in your calander…it’s my CD release party at The Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield, now how ‘bout that!!! Hope to see you, sing for you soon . Lindsay xo
Lindsay GIGS & JUNOS in Newfoundland
Hey Folks, I have the GREAT pleasure to travel to St. John's, Newfoundland (my 2nd Canadian home) thanks to Porter Airlines for such a SWEET deal on my ticket!! I can't wait to get back to The Rock, and I have some pretty sweet gigs while I am there. On Tuesday the 13th of April I am playing at The Grapevine, Sunday the 18th I am a "seat filler" at The Junos and then head to play a gig down at The Rose & Thistle Pub, and then on the 21st I am playing at The Ship Pub as part of The Folk Club... It's going to be TRES exciting, and I look forward to sharing some stories as they happen... Hope if you are in St. John's during any of this time, you can make it out to a show!!! Happy trails, travels and best of ALL, happy Spring! Lindsay xo
Out of the Fog
Wow! I have been quite neglectful to this here site! Bad Lindsay! But alas, all is well in the land of song & dance... the last few weeks have been pretty busy with gigs & travel, but it IS summer after all. What a gorgeous one, even with all the rain, rain makes things beautifu after all! I spent the last while in St. John's Newfoundland, and what a gorgeous place indeed. Have you ever been? You can smell the sea and hear the music at all times, Canada's best kept secret for sure... the gigs were a blast, I even had the chance to see singer extra-ordinaire Mr. Matt Epp. Check him out, his voice will melt your heart!! Coming soon, my life will be filled with songs and rhythm thanks to the Ottawa Bluesfest. It's a stellar line-up this year. Myself and my band boys have been practicing so that we can be a part of the stellar line-up and make you shake your booty!! We play on Friday the 10th, one week away! Eeeek!!! Also on the same stage (The Subway Stage) on the same night is Brock Zeman, and Steve Earle... so be prepared to be inspired by some great talent next Friday night if you are in the area...Jackson Browne & Sam Roberts are also headlining the festival on the same night... I can't wait. It's gonna be good weather too... (fingers crossed??) We are bringing out a very special surprise in honour of Michael Jackson too, so be there to experience the dance dance dance! In the meantime, I am taking off for the next coupla days for some COTTAGE country... relaxing by the lake with guitar & calm in hand. Hope to catch you sometime this summer. Happy trails, and I'll write soon... Lindsay xo
Lindsay LIVE with The Lost Boys... 2moro Night!
Greetings Websurfers, Indeed, I have a gig 2moro night in Wakefield Quebec. That's Thursday the 7th, at The Black Sheep Inn. We've been practicing some new songs as a band, and boy, sometimes they sound SO MUCH BETTER with a band then when I am standing in the kitchen singing to the taps! I will also be on CKCU Radio from 8am til 9:30am in the morning, that's 93.1fm in Ottawa...I may bring out some older recordings for a treat or a laugh... depending...! I will also be performing a few live songs as well... solo style...without the taps. Maggie Meyer from Newfoundland and Megan Hamilton from Toronto will also be singing souls on Thursday night at The Sheep, so if you are in for a trek out to the hills, come join us, the fun starts at 9pm!!!
Life as a music maker is a little slower for me these days, as I am spending my daze, writing new tunes for a new album. I would LOVE to get it released next Spring, Spring 2010. My last album, released September 2007 took a year to organize, so it appears I may indeed have the time to reach my goal date, but I will of course keep you posted on all of that, I still have to choose the right studio, and that's half the battle. The songs are flowing freely and I am stoked to get them recorded...all in good time I suppose!!
Summer will see me traveling a bit, out to the East Coast of Canada for some shows and then out to the West Coast, to the Rocky Mountains!! With an exceptional gig in between at at The Ottawa Bluesfest, on July 10th, where Jackson Browne, Steve Earle and Sam Roberts will also e performing... I am SURE it will be a fabulous night for all!!
As an independent musician, I am always looking for shows. I do all my own booking (so far) and if you have anything exciting happening and are in need of Music Makers, drop me an email. With or without band!! Keep in mind there are 2 Lindsay Styles...or ring me! My number is up there at the top of this page...
On another note, I have fallen in Love with a new band called "Mother Mother" maybe they aren't so NEW, but new to me... I saw them perform a few days back, and it was one of the BEST performances I've ever seen. An amazingly dynamic, creative, melodic, harmonic, and RAW talent type of band. Check them out sometime. One more Canadian Gem to add to our musical roster of greats....
Talk soon, Lindsay xo
Some Kind of Wonderful...
I absolutely Love Autumn. Just have a look around you, providing you are reading this and in North America... I mean LOOK at the brilliance around us. I was almost depressed at the end of Summer, seeing as there really wasn't a Summer, but then I got back from another two week whirlwhind trip to Newfoundland and there they were, the leaves in full glory. It's almost as though the splendour of those colours just erased my confusion and replaced it with some kind of wonderful. The smell of the air is enough to send me into a special sort of stir. If any of you have bicycles out there, I say HOP ON!! My bicycle isn't anything fancy, I bought it at a garage sale for forty bucks, seeing as my last bike was stolen, I really don't want THAT to happen again... anyway, yes to bike riding in the fall!!! In the meantime, I started a cleanse, which is GREATLY needed after living a whole summer out of bags and hopping from couch to couch there isn't really a structure of nourishment in that lifestyle...I think a cleanse is exactly what I need. Also, the West Coast Tour is falling into place, but it may have to happen in the Spring, which is totally acceptable as long as I get to play music and NOT go back to waitressing. I think fifteen years is long enough at THAT trade... wish me luck!!! The big Wakefield Community Centre Benefit is happeing on the 10th of OCtober at The Black Sheep Inn... if you live nearby, this show is going to be amazing with GREAT talent including: The Grass, The Brothers, Ty Hall & the EZ3 and of course yours truly... there will be Mondo dancing and a great start to Thanksgiving. Ciao for now, more to come....Lxo
Mainland Making It...
After having just spent the last two weeks on Canada’s best kept secret Island, Newfoundland I can safely say that it is indeed a whole different world out there with regards to making it in the Canadian Music Industry, with regards to pretty much anything, actually. But more on the music…In any given city across Canada, I have been told that one mustn’t play in that city more than four times a year, excluding St. John’s of course. You see, in St. John’s, you can play four times a week if you really want to because one of the most important things to Newfoundlanders is Music. Music all the time… and why shouldn’t it be that way? I understand things like “not over-playing your welcome” in a sense, but I think everything’s better with Music??? Don’t you? Bonavista is also a very special place. Located up on the East coast, north east of St. John’s about four hours is an incredible place with the most endearing people. What a treat to see there are still folks out there who won’t take no for an answer when it comes to offering up a supper, a drive or a hot cup of tea. Time really gets away from you up there, and not in a busy paced holy @#&% kind of way. More like a fresh air gets in your blood and bones deeper than before and it kind of changes you forever...all in all it was a fabulous journey to the Rock once again. I even wrote a new song that I am very pleased with, called “Volcano”. Come on out to one of my shows and I will sing it for you!! Next Thursday in Ottawa at the St. Elias Centre, all in the name of Women building Peace, then at the Sandbanks Winery on the 4th for their Harvest Festival… then back to Wakefield for a great night of great bands at the Black Sheep Inn on the 10th. I’ll be in Belleville opening up for Ron Sexsmith on the 17th of October at The Empire Theatre…and I’m booking more shows as you read this, you can bet on it!!! So, do take care, and try to get out to see some live music. We need you!!! Lindsay xo
Tuesday Already...
Time flies. I dreamt it was Winter last night... I was so sad, I Love Fall so much, it would be a shame to miss it. Being raised Canadian in the Middle/East Coast means living in a quarterly cycle. It's amazing how the weather affects us...be it wearing shorts in March 'cuz you can smell the Summer coming or just getting that big ole' bag of scarves out for Fall. I can't imagine living somewhere hot all year round... I know, maybe when I'm grey, I might like one long heat wave, but for now I am can smell Autumn in the air and I like it. The last few days were spent driving, listening to tunes, singing, sleeping and enjoying HOT coffee in the mornings of course... I played songs for new people in new venues too. I Love spreading the Lindsay Vibe out there, it just makes me feel like I am doing what I need to be doing. I get so freaked out sometimes about not getting noticed or press or gigs or funding, and really, it's all about performing. It's like I get re-fueled by YOU, the people. So I would very heartily like to thank all of you out there who come to see my shows, or take home my Album. It means way more than any "no" or "sideways glance." I am in the middle of working on some new songs, I'd like to have a fresh set one day... I suppose all of we singers would like a brand spankin' new set of songs to sing... however, all in good time as "they" say. All these crazy things happen out on the road and I still can't find the words to write down. Too many unfinished songs I tell you!! In any case, I head out to St. John's Newfoundland once more before the end of Summer to sing some again, I will be writing next time from the Rock. Enjoy, Live Well & Peace!!
Spring Has Sprung!
Thank you lord Jesus. I am so excited for this warmer weather... can't really take another day of trekking through snowy streets... they don't plow the sidewalks in Toronto, I used to think living in St. John's was bad in the winter time... anyway, no more complaints from me as long as I can put away my winter boots!! In the meantime, Easter is one of my favorite "holidays" In my family we go to the Sugar bush; sleigh rides, maple toffee & a great brunch feed in the middle of nowhere Quebec, then we all head over to some family members house (whoever doesn't mind cleaning up the mess!!) We paint Easter eggs & eat tonnes of chocolate, then the next day we all get together for a major home made waffle breakfast... it's truly scrumptious!! But not this year, this year I was here in the big city, being taken care of by some GREAT Toronto people... most of whom are from the East coast, Cape Breton & Newfoundland... thanks my new (& old) friends... also, a big thanks to the great Geoff Berner... please, if you haven't seen this man LIVE, you have to go. He's on tour in Europe now, so wait 'til he gets back, I promise you will not be disappointed. In the meantime, have a listen to 1010 talk radio www.cfrb.com tonight at 6pm. Also, get ready for an awesome gig next Monday at The Supermarket in Toronto... featuring Myself, Dave Gaudet, Meredith