Loosely inspired by my recent rampant computer backup adventures, I’ve decided to release most of the recordings I’ve done over the past several years on one, shiny disc, aptly named Backup. This disc looks back at where my music has gone thus far, forcing me to press ahead to a new recording project in the coming year. This also marks the first time I have offered most of this music for sale.

Though I would consider Backup to be an EP, and not an album, it does contain 12 songs and runs almost an hour! For just $10, it’s even cheaper than iTunes. And the packaging is going to be pretty cool too. Or, actually, pretty nerdy …

Where can you get a copy of Backup? Well, you may just find one in your stocking. But barring that, you’ll find it on sale at most of my shows. Barring that, send me an email.

Thursday, December 6: Vanguard College

This show is part of the book release for Chad Verity’s “Where Grace and Mercy Collide”. Come out and support both local music and a local author at once! Admission to the show is free and it all starts at 7 PM.

Vanguard College is located at 12140 103rd Street and the show will take place in the Chapel (top floor).

Friday, December 7: The Carrot

A show at The Carrot is always a special time for me. It means great coffee, great art, cozy atmosphere and great friends. It also means a $5 cover charge for you, which goes to keep this great venue open. In a time of staff crunches, the Carrot has remained 100% volunteer run for nearly 6 months so far, making it a genuine Christmas miracle. So, I may just pull a Christmas cover or two for the occasion. This will be my most in depth set of the three, so you are going to hear plenty of stuff here that you won’t here at any other show on the weekend, including many songs from my new “Backup” release.

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The Carrot is located at 9351 118th Ave. Show starts at 7:15 PM and there is a $5 cover.

Saturday, December 8: Papercastle Art Show at The Orange Hall

Sisters Julie Rice and Marci Rohr always put on a great event, as any who attended last year’s Orange Hall show will attest to. This year’s show marks the release of their new art-book project from their adventures in Peru. The book and the show include art created by impoverished children of Peru, in collaboration with Julie and Marci. The event is free, but donations will be taken towards the cause. A portion of the sales of books, art and my own CD will also help support the cause.

Another thing that truly excites me about this night is that two other musicians will play as well – Kenton Jeske and Cora McLachlan. You are in for a real treat if you take this one in.

The Orange Hall is located at 10335 84 Ave (tucked in by the Arts Barns) and the event runs from 7-11 PM.

You can find out more about Papercastle here.

As September has arrived, so does the 5-year anniversary of my song, City Lights.

It still speaks what is on my heart today – perhaps more than it did when I wrote it. I hope you enjoy this free, previously unreleased version of the song, recorded at the Dream Centre in Los Angeles 2 summers ago.

Download the City Lights MP3

I will be hosting this Open Mic, as I do every second Saturday night. It is always a lot of fun, and always brings some surprises.

from The Carrot website …

Homegrown talent takes the stage Saturday nights at the Carrot. Come down at 8 PM for original music, poetry, comedy and more at Edmonton’s newest open mic experience.

Want to play? Just bring your guitar, your poems, your jokes, your self and show up early to get on the list. Sets should be no more than 15 minutes for music and 10 minutes for spoken word, poetry, comedy, monologue, etc.

Friday, August 10, 2007 at 7:00 PM.

I’ll be playing at The Carrot this Friday night. I plan on bringing my friend Danny Tanner (my MacBook) with me, and perhaps even my wife’s ironing board. Why stop a good thing?

artery neck surgery

I am looking forward to a great show in a great venue. When I last played at AXIS Cafe I was overwhelmingly blessed to see a ton of friendly faces in the crowd. I am hoping to see the same this Friday night.

See you at The Carrot (9351 118th Ave).

Browse Local Musicains and Bands in Canada

Got this link today from a friend and checked it out. A lot of hard rock and metal stuff over there, but perhaps I may just have to create a profile.

Might be of interest to you to check out if you are musician too!

Well, a few days have passed since my show at AXIS on Friday night and I am ready to say a few words about it tonight. (it may just be because my wife is out at a party and my kids are asleep – I am in need of a way to waste – er, I mean spend – time).

The show itself was great (if I do say so myself). I was able to pull off what I set out to. I did a full 90 minutes of material – over half of it my own. I played some relatively new songs and developed some covers I am really proud of (namely Clark Gable by Postal Service, Green Eyes by Coldplay, I’m So Glad by Royal Wood, No Surprises by Radiohead, Chicago by Sufjan Stevens and a combo of No Cars Go by Arcade Fire with Where the Streets Have No Name by U2). I was able to remix a lot of those covers – speed them up or slow them down. Some were stripped raw and others were dressed to the nines in GarageBand goodness by my MacBook, Danny Tanner (not sure if that moniker will stick).

So yes, good show. Except of course for my raw voice by the end. Note to self, you don’t have to sing that hard when you practice all week. And you probably don’t have to practice all week either.

Above all of the musical fun I had though, I was really touched by my friends. Many new and some old friends came out to see me play, and I felt a little bit like the little boy playing for mommy and daddy that night. It made me very proud of my friends – and very blessed to have them.

There was the Bridge Songs crew – out in full force. What a great group to have at a show! There was my wife and both of my kids. That made the night really special for me. It’s always easier to sing a love song with your wife right in front of you. And Jack told a killer joke! Then there were just all these people – a few dozen I would say – who have bumped in and out of my life. It was like a photo album as I looked out into the crowd and saw so many faces that I generally cared about.

To all of ya’ll who came to the show that night, you gave me a genuine gift and it touched me deeply. Hopefully I was able to give a bit back as well.

See you at the next show.

Perhaps I should title this the 8/8 show. June 8th at 8 PM I’ll take the stage at AXIS Cafe downtown. If you haven’t been there yet, I encouage you to check it out. This Friday Jacob and Lily AND Rik Leaf will be on the bill, so perhaps I should STRONGLY encourage you!

My show on the 8th will be the longest I’ve ever performed (in front of people anyways) and I have a few tricks up my sleeve. There is no cover, which means you get in for free. Of course, you can have some amazing drinks and food while you are there (and that will not be free).

I’d love to see any and all fans and friends front and centre.

Well, back in the saddle again. My first show in a while is coming right up on June 2, and it’s pretty special (and not because of me).

treatment tables

The show, called Bridge Songs, will feature original music and art from my church, Urban Bridge Church. It will be very original, and very good. Oh, and an amazing headliner ends the night in the form of Jacob and Lily.

The show is at King’s University College (in their cafe space) and it is FREE (donations are encouraged towards HIV Edmonton). Starts at 7 PM. You can get more information and sample some tracks from artists on the Bridge Songs website.

See you there!

Here is the remixed version of Creep – I did this a while back while learning the ins and outs of GarageBand.

Enjoy!

Download the Creep Remix here