Jim Bryson

2008-05-13T19:45:00.003-04:00

Hi All:

Wow, two posts in a day. John Dinsmore took this photo up there.

As we walked into the Hotel Congress, John Coverntino (Giant Sand / Calexico) was loading his drums out from a video shoot.

Good looking truck,

jim,

2008-05-13T17:13:00.003-04:00

Hi:

In an effort to negotiate a better relationship with my own web-site, here I am updating my web-site with a greater frequency.

We are in Tucson, Howe is in Denmark, the Hotel Congress is our home for the day.

Hey, look up. There I be eating breakfast. Megan from the Last Town Chorus took that there photo you see.

Enjoy the day people of earth,

jim,

2008-05-12T18:58:00.002-04:00

Greetings from Santa Fe:

Here we be in Sante Fe and I feel pretty spoiled on a day like this. Went running in the thin mountain air and felt pretty tired 5 minutes in.

Tour is going good and we are pretty darn lucky to be in the places we have been. Aspen, Boulder and now Sante Fe.

Off to Tucson tomorrow but sadly Howe left for Denmark last week, so no hiya to Howe this time around.

In tour news, I will be opening the European dates of this tour, so I have to dust off my brain for songs soon.

That is the quick hello.

New photo, so click on the photo section and see us in day off action. I think out tour manager Tom look particularly seasoned.

Ok, off to the noise,

jim,

2008-04-28T15:02:00.006-04:00

Folkin' the Carleton. Photo by Ming Wu

Hi All:

Thanks to all the folks for coming out to all the Kelp shows. It was a wonderful way to spend half of my 4 days at home.

Off to Indiana now, see you all in June.

New photo's in the photo section, and I am sure the Kelp Records Flickr site will have many many photo's up soon as well.

Take care. It was so nice to be home even for a few days, I miss seeing friends I do,

jim,

2008-04-25T16:41:00.004-04:00

self photo attempt.

Kelp'n Around:

Hi all, Kelp weekend time. I am playing tomorrow afternoon at the Carleton Tavern at 5pm in a solo manner. I have not played any of my songs since the church show, so I must brush up in the AM for it.

Jon and Miche and I were on CBC Radio One today blabbing on about Kelp, have listen HERE

Letterman was awesome fun, you can watch it HERE

My parents even stayed up and watched.

Bye now,

jim,

Ok, having a late lunch at home, it has been weeks since I could do this, see you tonight at the Elmdale Tavern. I will be the one in the green jacket.

For more Kelp fun, take a post work web-visit over yonder way HERE

2008-04-22T01:07:00.003-04:00

the "denim emergency team" rescues me in NYC.

Letterman April 22nd:

Hi all, a quick hello to let you know I will be playing on Late Night with David Letterman this evening with Kathleen Edwards. Other guests include Helen Hunt and one Chris Russo. They call him the Mad Dog I think.

Tell me if my socks make me look old,

jim,

2008-04-18T17:06:00.001-04:00

Hi:

Well we are in Birmingham, Alabama. People are telling us to not walk anywhere after dark, but it seems pretty nice here to me.

Lots new in life and lots of good shows out here as well.
JOHN THE DRIVER:

Who is that in that photo up there you ask? Good question. That is our kind, kind driver John. He has many attributes that set him apart from other drivers.

1. He says yip-yip just like our friend Howe Gelb.

2. He collects old cars. He is currently driving a 1979 diesel Mercedes sedan. Kind of my dream car too if that trunk was a wagon hatch.

3. He once had an old MG that he would drive when he was underage. He would sneak out the car and drive it to school and then sneak it back in the garage and bak up on blocks. He also told me he would drive his girlfriend around Portland Oregon in it and they would have to hold the convertible roof latch or it would blow off.

4. These are the small details I learned by listening in on a early morning drive conversation between him and Colin. Oh yeah, he does not watch NASCAR, which is a real plus from our end too.

Ok, there you have it, a tour story from down here in the Talladaga region. Apparently 100,000's f folks will be in the region for the NASCAR this weekend. Seems like a good place to get a lunch in the face.

KELP WEEKEND:

See you all at KELP weekend. I will be playing lonely and solo and hopefully playing Chris Page's old Gretsch as all my equipment will be in Toronto.

Here is the Facebook Group for it: HERE I AM.

If you have any requests, let me know, it will be a loosey goosey affair and I would like to play some cover's too.

Bye for now,

jim,

2008-04-02T10:30:00.003-04:00

Oh Hi:

Here is my last many days in point form:

*I worry about the home team.

*We have been roling around the US playing and so far, so good.

*I liked not having a cel. phone with me for a week.

*Miche got me with his "broken ribs" yesterday .

*I went to Jeans Jeans Jeans (it was strange and slightly creepy).

*I could use a ride to Ottawa after the show with Kathleen if there are folks coming down to Ottawa after the show.

*I am heading home for slightly less than 24 hours and then off to Chicago.

*Sorry for the short post.

* Ok, that is the report.

*Bye.

jim,

2008-03-20T11:11:00.002-04:00

Quick Hello:

Oh, lots happening:

1. Back on tour with Kathleen: Fine times, read her blog for a more details description.

2. iBook Moment of silence: Most see buying a new computing as an exciting thing and it is, but I was not planning to have mine fizzle as it has. So please a moment of silence for the iBook G4.

3. No Exclaim: Sorry, but no shinny again for me this year. I will be in Toronto tomorrow night though cheering on our Bytowne Billionaires in their inaugural performance.

4. New Photo's: I have some new photo's up. Nothing actually exciting, but different from what was there.

5. Um, can't think, must eat Jeff's chickpea flour cakes...

Happy Eastering,

jim,

2008-03-10T19:52:00.002-04:00

We do the Switch of Life:

Well thanks to everyone who came to the shows around these here Ontario parts recently, it was a real great time. Thanks so much to Jeremy and Jake and Andy for providing me the ability to not have to stand and play solo and thanks again so much to the Ottawa town for an amazing experience there as well.

I now go into what they called temporary solo hibernation as I moved over to side and with great pleasure play again with my good friend Kathleen Edwards. Lots of touring and high jinx ahead.

A few new photo's are up here as well and if any one has photo's from any of these shows please send me some, it is tricky to take them from the stage.

Well, over and out and see you soon,

jim,

2008-02-26T14:54:00.003-05:00

Eagle Down, A.V. In:

I am very sad to report that Baby Eagle has had to pull out of the two shows this week after falling in Montreal and breaking his hand. He did an amazing job in Ottawa with Jessie Stein playing his guitar, but he has had to back out of these shows.

The young Andrew Vincent has offered to step in and he will be playing loads of new songs from his soon to be released record.

Sorry for those of who come to the show not reading this.

Thanks by the way to everyone for coming out to all the shows last week. Oh what a wonderful time it was. The Ottawa show was a real musical highlight of my life, I loved it soooo much.

OK, hope to see some of you this week too,

jim,

2008-02-18T16:47:00.002-05:00

Churches/ Halls / Clubs / Café’s / Killaloe

Hi all. I am writing with a quick note and reminder about the shows going on both solo and band and in between.

Ottawa:
There are still some tickets left for the First Baptist show here in Ottawa. I have been working on my Elton “singing piano man” routine for this show and it should be a fun evening all around. The full band of “Occasionals” will onboard and it may well be the only full band show we play in Ottawa this year as I head out on the road with Kathleen in support of her excellent new “Asking For Flowers” release.

Into The Valley:
Jake and I are also heading into the Valley this weekend for a couple of shows. First stop is Perth for a Stewart Park Festival fundraiser.
Sunday we rise and head over to Killaloe for a Sunday 4pm matinee. The radio station there is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary and they are doing some events around that.

Here are the listings:
Thurs. Feb. 21st: Le Cagibi. Montreal: 5490 St. Laurent 514.509.1199 w/ Baby Eagle
Fri. Feb. 22nd: 1st Baptist Church. Ottawa: Corner of Laurier and Elgin St. All Ages - 7pm doors - $20 advance w/ Baby Eagle
Tickets available at End Hits, Compact Music, Vertigo Records, www.ticketmaster.ca or by phone at 613-755-1111
Co-presented by Ottawa Folk Festival and Kelp Records
Sat. Feb. 23rd: Civitans Hall. Perth. Stewart Park Festival Fundraiser. 8pm Duo show with Jacob Bryce
Sun. Feb. 24th: The Friendship Club. 12 Lake St. Killaloe. 4pm matinee Duo show with Jake Bryce.

Toronto and Next Week:
And while we are on the topic of shows, I am also going to Toronto, Guelph, Grafton and Waterloo next week.

Here are the details for those shows too:

Tuesday Feb. 26th: The Dakota Tavern. 249 Ossington Avenue. Toronto. (416) 850-4579. www.thedakotatavern.com. Solo show w/ Baby Eagle

Thurs. Feb. 28th: The Ebar. 41 Quebec Street, Guelph Ontario (519)821-3311. www.cfru.ca . CFRU presents w/ Baby Eagle and Richard Laviolette.

Fri. Feb. 29th: Lawless Gallery. 10831 Hwy 2. Grafton Ontario. 8pm Solo show w/ Rose Cousins. Info: finnan@eagle.ca. 905-349-3715

Sun. March 2nd: The Jane Bond. 5 Princess St. Waterloo, Ontario. 519.886.1689. Solo show w/ Andrew Vincent. www.janebond.ca

Well, thanks all, hope to see you at some of these shows,

Jim,

2008-02-09T13:58:00.000-05:00

Greeting from the Cold Wild West:

I left for Halifax with my Vancouver purchased coat on and I am now paying the price out here in the west. Only I seem to noticed the day's high yesterday of -36 with wind chill in Edmonton. In fact Mark Davis notes "it was so cold last week, this seem fine to me".

I, in fact, went to go parka shopping in Ottawa in Mid-January, but all the winter clothes were relegated. I met Don Boudria while looking and he agreed. I even suggested I would buy his old parka, to which he replied "only after I find a new one".

Shows with Shuyler are so far, so good and we head to Calgary today. My attempt to watch Sen's / Hab's game might be de-railed with the Oiler's / Flame's game on at the same time. The Mayor of Calgary, Lorrie Matheson finds this more than mildly amusing.

Enjoy your day and weekend everyone,

jim,

2008-01-27T23:26:00.000-05:00

Thanks Vinyl Cafe / To Halifax Goes I:

Thanks so much to Stuart McLean and the Vinyl Cafe for both playing Firewatch this past week and for also reading part of Ken's Poem that the song both borrows title and words from. So kind, i think you.

I believe you can hear the show one more time this coming Tuesday evening at 11pm on CBC Radio One

Shows, Shows, Here are the Shows:

So there are a couple more shows updated and added, so what the hang, here is the whole list of Upcoming shows.

In The Dead of Winter Festival:
February 1st: In the Dead of Winter Festival. FRED 7pm song circle
February 2nd: In the Dead of Winter Festival: 8pm St. John's United Church w/ Jenn Grant Info HERE

Western Canada:
February 6th: Little Pictures Arts Preserve: Saskatoon w/ Shuyler Jansen
February 7th: Blue Chair Cafe: Edmonton w/ Shuyler Jansen - Info HERE
February 8th: Red Deer: Blue Dragon # 2 w/ Shuyler Jansen
February 9th: Calgary: Marquee Room w/ Shuyler Jansen - info HERE
February 10th: Calgary: 2 pm House concert. e-mail - jsymons@telus.net - for reservations
February 11th: Vancouver: The Media Club w/ Shuyler Jansen

Ontario / Quebec:
February 21st: Le Cagibi: Montreal w/ Baby Eagle
February 22nd: 1st Baptist Church, Ottawa w. Baby Eagle - Tickets HERE
February 23th: Perth Ontario: Solo Show - Stewart Park Fest. Fundraiser - Civitan Hall
Febrary 24th: SHOW TO BE ANNOUNCED ASAP.
February 26th: Dakota Tavern, Toronto w/ Baby Eagle - Info HERE
February 28th: E-bar, Guelph w/ Baby Eagle
February 29th: Lawless Gallery. Grafton, Ontario. w/ Rose Cousins
March 2nd: Jane Bond. Waterloo , Ontario w. Andrew Vincent- Info HERE

You Tubin':

Here is nice mellow version of Clear the Crowds from the Kingston show with Jake.

Thank you to Matt Hartwick for taking lots of photo's and putting up these videos.

Ok, all, have a great week, I am off east this week,

2008-01-24T10:59:00.000-05:00

Summer socks beat the winter blues!

Vinyl Cafe This Weekend:

Hello inter-web friends. Exciting radio news.

Firewatch will be played on CBC Radio's Vinyl Cafe this weekend.
Stuart will first read Ken Babstock's poem of the same name and of which the song take many of it's words.

Listen online or in a terrestrial manner. For all things VINYL CAFE, go HERE !

I believe to be the first time being played on the show. I real honor indeed!!!

One last note. Thank you fine people of Kingston, that show was a fun as music gets. So enjoyable. Thanks to you all.

One real last note: Kathleen is singing the Canadian National anthem at this Sunday's NHL All Star game. Pretty amazing eh?

Ok, no more last notes, have a great weekend,

jim,

2008-01-09T14:36:00.000-05:00

To Kingston I go. On with the Shows!!!!

Hi hi hi. Here is a new version of the last update. The weather has finally winterized after pretending to be September.

A couple of quick notes of interest:

Shows:

Here are a bunch of shows that I have coming up in the next month or so. More also to be listed, but this is what is going on so far:

Some are with Baby Eagle, starting next Friday evening at the wonderful grad Club in Kingston, some are with Shuyler Jansen out west, two are with Rose Cousins and one with Jenn Grant.

Ok, here the are:

January 18th: The Grad Club Kingston w/ Baby Eagle - Info HERE
February 1st: In the Dead of Winter 7pm song circle
February 2nd: In the Dead of Winter: 8pm St. John's United Church w/ Jenn Grant Info HERE

Western Canada:
February 6th: Little Pictures Arts Preserve: Saskatoon w/ Shuyler Jansen -
February 7th: Blue Chair Cafe: Edmonton w/ Shuyler Jansen - Info HERE
February 8th: Red Deer: Blue Dragon # 2 w/ Shuyler Jansen
February 9th: Calgary: Marquee Room w/ Shuyler Jansen - info HERE
February 10th: Calgary: House concert (details coming).NEW LISTING.
February 11th: Vancouver: The Media Club w/ Shuyler Jansen

Ontario / Quebec:
February 21st: Cafe Cagibi: Montreal w/ Baby Eagle
February 22nd: 1st Baptist Church, Ottawa w. Baby Eagle
February 23th: Perth Ontario: Solo Show - Stewart Park Fest. Fundraiser - Civitan Hall
Febrary 24th: SHOW TO BE ANNOUNCED ASAP.
February 26th: Dakota Tavern, Toronto w/ Baby Eagle - Info HERE
February 28th: E-bar, Guelph w/ Baby Eagle
February 29th: Lawless Gallery. Grafton, Ontario. w/ Rose Cousins
March 2nd: Jane Bond. Waterloo , Ontario w. Andrew Vincent- Info HERE

Something to Look at: Photos:

So, thanks to the marvel of modern technology, the photo section will now be linked to Flickr.
For a preview of how it shall look, click HERE

The link buttons on the site itself are not switch over, but go a head and have a looksie.

What Else?

Curling, jogging, wine, whining, worrying, wondering, then... more wine, less whining,

jim,

2007-12-26T20:59:00.000-05:00

Quick Holiday Blog:

Hello, A quick holiday hello wishing you and yours all the best. I know, it is boxing day, but I have a minute and Lisa and Dad are deeply entranced in the latest CBC Ms. Marples here in the 'Ville.

Have great time doing whatever you all get around to doing and thanks everyone so much for a really terrific year of playing music.

The final Winnipeg shows were amazing and it has been such a rewarding year of playing music.

See you soon I hope,

jim,

2007-12-17T11:05:00.000-05:00

Big Show Announcement:

I am am excited to announce an Ottawa "in town" show. It marks the first time outside of festivals that we/I will be playing in Ottawa proper since 2004. I am super thrilled about this one.

Presented by Revolution Rock, tickets are on sale this Friday and are on on a special "pre-sale" tommorow and Thursday through this link HERE

This will be a real special show for all of us I feel, taking place in the wonderful First Baptist Church where I first met Howe Gelb and where Howe discovered the Voices of Praise (just a little inside story for you). The show is also All Ages so bring the family if you like.

Steve Lampky of the Constantines will be on board for the show as well. We are acutally putting together a small run of shows together arouind this time that will also include a small Toronto theatre show as well as stops in Montreal, Guelph, Waterloo, Kingston and couple of other.

Stay tuned for all the other show announcements in the next couple of weeks.

Here are the show details:

Jim Bryson
w/ Baby Eagle (Steve Lampky of the Constantines)
Friday February 22nd
7pm
1st Baptist Church
Ottawa, Ontario
All Ages
Pre-sale tickets HERE

Thank You:

Hi all. Thanks so much to everyone who came out to the Black Sheep on Friday. I have moments where the jetlag overwhelmed me, but it was really a wonderful evening and it always blows me away that everyone makes the trek. So thank you so much.

Two More Shows for 2007:

Only two more show for year 2007 for me sadly. One with Stepehen Carroll at the Time's Change this Friday and then the big show openning and playing with the Weakerthan's this Saturday at the Burton Cummings Theatre

More Thanking of Folks:

Thanks so, so very much to everyone who has made this year such a special one for me. The list is long and I fear missing someone on it, so please know how much all of you out there have helped and how much it has meant to me. The little train that might Kelp Records is a amazing little family to be a part of. Same goes for the Saved By Vinyl cousins out in the 403 area code.

Ok, happy holiday's off to Winnipeg in a few days,

jim,

2007-12-11T09:23:00.000-05:00

Birdbrain? Jason Tait in Venice

Added Weakerthans Shows / Other Stuff:

Hiya all. Word on the street is that the Black Sheep is almost SOLD OUT, so if you are wanting to go, you should read further down for all the ticket / bus info.
Shows Other Places:

I am in Zurich tonight playing and opening for the Weakerthans and then again tomorrow in Brussels.

Here are the shows:

11 Tue: Zurich, ZU - Abart [ ticket info ]

12 Wed: Brussels , - VK Vaartkapoen [ ticket info ]

21 Fri: Winnipeg, MB - Time's Change Cafe
22 Sat: Winnipeg, MB - The Burton Cummings Theater [ ticket info ]

Times Change:

In addition to playing and supporting at the Burton Cummings Theatre with the Weakerthans on the 22nd of December, I am also playing a solo set before Stephen Carroll the evening before at the Time's Change Cafe in Winnipeg.

Here are those shows now:

21 Fri: Winnipeg, MB - Time's Change Cafe
22 Sat: Winnipeg, MB - The Burton Cummings Theater [ ticket info ]

The New Year:

What about the future? I am currently hard at work putting together in Ontario and Quebec with Baby Eagle and hopefully Winnipeg west with Shuyler Jansen.

Some things are coming together and there will be announcements here hopefully within a week.

Thanks All:

Thanks so much to the Weakerthan's and Cam and Danny and Akki and Autumn and everyone else on these great tours I have been a part of over the last three months. We may be all quite tired, but it has been such an amazing time. Thank you so much!!!

See ya Friday my Bytown friends,

jim,

2007-12-05T08:36:00.000-05:00

Black Sheep Inn Show Bus:

Hi All.

I am in Germany still, but after stops still in Italy, Austria, Switzerland, and Belgium, I will return home next Thursday night for a rehearsal with the gents before our show next Friday at the Black Sheep Inn.

The Bus News:

The bus IS running and here is how it works.

Departs: Dominion Tavern at 8pm sharp
Returns: Leaves the Black Sheep Inn after the show at 12:30am.
Cost: $10 and does not include show admission.
Reservations: please e-mail info@kelprecords.com ASAP to get on board.
Show Tickets: At both Compact Music Location or at THIS link for Ticketweb.

In Other News:

Good luck to Andy Swan this week at his release shows for his amazing "Ottawa" album. You will love it, it is awesome.

See you all next week,

jim,

2007-12-02T13:17:00.000-05:00

I Almost Forgot to Link to This:

So in June, David Myles and I went on the "Let's Get Baked" radio show in Halifax. We had an awesome time and we made Tofu Scramble. It is now up for you ears to hear.

Check it out: HERE.

Thanks so much to Matt and Dave for hosting us.

A funny aside, David Myles, always on the hunt for a bargain, bought a huge 99cent discounted sandwich at the store just prior and was borderline ill the whole time we recorded this episode.

All to save a buck.

Anyway, that is enough posting for this day,

jim,

2007-12-01T16:00:00.000-05:00

Canadian Folk Awards:
Well, the Canadian Folk Awards are tonight and I am in Heidelberg Germany. Here is a nice piece that Brad Ferrence wrote for the National Post.

Good luck to everyone tonight, you can read the piece HERE.

2007-11-30T09:04:00.000-05:00

Bremen:

Cam is just so gosh darn excited about his German meal he is about to enjoy in Bremen. You can see it in his eyes.

Wakefield Bus:

The bus for the show is all getting sorted, thank you for your e-mail concerning it, just hold on a few days and it should be sorted by Monday.

Photo's:

More new photo's up at Flickr, link to those HERE... In the coming weeks, the photo section will be updated and be running in-line with the photo on Flickr, but for now....

That is all:

Really just wanted to post this photo of Cam and say hello... over rovers,

jim,

2007-11-28T18:49:00.000-05:00

Weakerthans to Buy Tampa Bay Lightning:

In a "sure to hit the news wire" story, The Weakerthans have begun preliminary discussions to purchase the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Band spokesman Stephen Carroll has neither confirmed nor denied the story, leaked by www.baysports.com this morning.

When pushed, Carroll only would say "We cannot confirm, but I will say, if the band was to buy a hockey team like this, we would not be motivated by the desire to move them to Winnipeg. This is not a plot".

Oh Yeah, CBC All In a Day

In other .org news, I was interviewed from far, far away in Munster, Germany regarding the upcoming Canadian Folk Awards. You can have a listen as of tomorrow over HERE

Just listening to the Senators pre-game show on-line, make me feel almost home,

jim,

2007-11-24T10:05:00.000-05:00

photo: Steve Left

Live at Leeds:

Well the Who I am not, but "Live at Leeds" I am today none the less.

Just enjoyed a Veggie food fair at the Marriott and had a walk around the downtown here. It seems like a very populated place.

Last night show in Manchester was great fun and there were even Canadian hockey jersey's there and someone who yelled "As it Happens" to me during my mini opening set.

It is cold here, but no snow like back home.

Hey, look up there, my friend Steve Left took a great photo while visiting in Kingston. He even brought me a gift. What a darling man.

Kingston BTW had airport like security to get into the show. Must be the volatile Weakerthans fans that come out to start trouble.

One other point. Last night we went to a bar that was in a converted street toilet. Strange days indeed!!!

OK, time for sound check. See you all at the Black Sheep on the 14th.

E-mail me if you would like to be the bus Captain, gets you in the shows free...

jim,