One last post before the new year

I thought I was done!

Alas, I have one more show this 2011 year. 

It's in Alliston, ON and it's for a good cause. 

Coyote Cutie is hosting the CTV Toy Drive concert on Thursday Dec 15

$5 or an unopened toy gets you in. 

All the musicians and bands are donating their time to the charity. 

Starts at 7pm, goes until the bar closes, I assume.

Not too shabby says I 

here's a link to the event and who is involved. 

LINK

I've got some shows coming up in the new year I'll be heading out East in February hitting places such as Fredericton and Moncton once again, and so far nothing in Nova Scotia.... Sad times for the Scotians.

Check back to the website (www.eyeswide.ca) to keep up to date on the dates when they are confirmed.

I'm going to get a little more worldly in 2012.

I'll be heading to Las Vegas in April for at least one show and I'm working on New York in March, Costa Rica in May,  Europe/UK in June, and all of Canada again in July/August. 

I'm pretty excited I love playing outside of Canada, but the reality is that it's super expensive, flights, work visa's, travel, motels, and food. I don't expect to come any where near breaking even but one can dream....

I'll be applying for a touring grant to help with the cost. Government grants are awesome...if you get them. I haven't gotten one yet, but I'm hoping.

Also if anyone out there in the internet world wants to assist with these tours, you can buy merchandise, straight up donations HERE,  or just come out to shows and bring your friends!

I would like to get some more full band gigs going as well I had a great time in Toronto with Steve, Julian and George. 

Speaking of those fella's the video I posted of us playing Celebrity Status is up to over 800 views!

Who's watching it? Thanks to everyone who has! 

and because of the increase of that my video for #22 has gone up over 300. it's awesome to post something and not have it viewed 7 times before it is forgotten.

But not everyone enjoyed it I got this review after the anonymous viewer listened to the first 2 lines.

"I'm sorry but I stopped listening after '...shine so bright'. I don't know if it was the lyrics or the singing but it induced a cringe."

I'm cringe inducing.

Now how many people can say that!

And for those who are in the mood for a cringe right now here is that video!

PIE Magazine has released it's 6th issue. Since it's December they decided to include a Christmas CD with local musicians. The reason I'm telling you this is because I'm on it. I covered "You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch" and this has allowed me to have a connection with Primus. 

How so?

Well, they have an article in the magazine and I have a song on the CD that comes with the magazine. It's like we're on the same playing field!

And not only me, but remember the boy band VIP? 

It's ok if you don't, they're Canadian.

here's a video:

Hilarious I know.

The band reunited for a version of "Hark!"

So, I now have boy band connections too.

From what I have heard not all the issues (ones sold in Chapters and such stores) will not have the disc. You can get it in Barrie, ON at Page & Turners and Imago's head office on Dunlop St. otherwise contact Pie and demand an issue with the disc. 

If you don't want to go to the trouble of ordering the mag, you can download my cover from iTunes

I'm ready to start recording my new album. It's going to be more expensive because I'll be having a full band sound. So to help with this I've applied for 3 grants Factor, Ontario Arts and Barrie Arts. 

Applying for money is hard. It's a lot of paper work. I'll find out by March if I get funding. But I'm sure I'll start recording in February.

I drew a few more Live at CHSR Cd's  you can check out all 40 of the original art (most are Sold) at the Facebook photo album. I'll do a few more and then retire the CD. 

Those white CD's are hard to come by these days. I may take another crack at Hellboy I quite enjoyed that one.

My time has run out I've got to get ready for lunch 

Happy Christmas, Merry New Year. 

Chat at you in 2012

-Neil

www.eyeswide.ca

Wait, I should put in some random photos. here you go:

 Steve's pointing to fart.

 This is someone's liquor cabinet. What's out of place?

Women couldn't help but point at it. 

They lust after it. 

Next year ladies, next year.

A Karaoke God!

Buh Bye!

Touring with The Yankee and return of the full band!

Movember is coming to an end. I'm quite looking forward to being rid of the straight moustache and getting my beard back. I mentioned that to Gina last week that this crumb duster was annoying and I wanted to shave it, who responded with 'Ya I bet guys with prostate cancer wish they could get rid of there's too."
Touche.
My tour this November took me around Ontario, with stops in Montreal and Buffalo.
50% of the merch sales were going towards my donations for cancer research through the Movember website. (You still can donate if you like) I was surprised out of all the tours I have done, this was my weakest for the sale of merh. When playing I announced what I was doing and every time it got a huge cheer and applause. Making me think that I was about to sell quite a bit. Sadly no. only a few things at each show. Some, sold nothing.
It was what it was and I did manage to get a few dollars for the charity.
So first off was Buffalo to pick up Kelsey Warren, of pILLOW tHEORY, and Alex Kelly, also a musician but came for a few days to hang out.
And, of course,  play at The French Quarter Cafe.
This was the second time I played unplugged. No amp or mic and I have to say it is quite freeing to sing to people and not have to be locked behind a microphone. People of The United States are not familiar with the November mustache. One woman replied when I asked "Is anyone familiar with Movember?"
"Is that with moustaches or something?"
So, I am happy to have educated some fine folks over the border.
The show was fun but not many people out because we booked it 3 days before I showed up.

Over the boarder we go! How did your head get so big Kelsey?

Next was Kingston. I've never been able to get a show here until now and it was at Queen's University, Clark Hall Pub. The crowd was good they were digging the music. But this was a pass the tip jar kind of payment. And really Students don't have much cash on them (or would rather put that money towards beer) Kelsey got $30 and a tampon. the girl said she wanted to give him something special. I was the second to perform so the jug goes around again. Which usually ends up with less tips due to everyone tipping already. I got $5 and change. We opened for a student duo called Maritime Minesweepers. THey are mainly a cover band. Not the strongest singers, but the crowd loved them. They cheered clapped sang along. Everybody loves a cover song.

The Maritime Minesweepers

The after party

Kelsey's "tip"

This was on the wall of where I slept. He kept me company.

We were able to crash at a student house that night which was awesome because $5.00 does not cover the cost of a motel....
We sat around playing Mario Kart and listening to music.
Discussions turned to moustaches,
Dude 1-"If you have a blonde moustache you have crossed the line and probably touch kids. It's a life science."
Dude 2- "But it's not all blonde. There are a couple of light brown hairs."
Me- "Ah a dusting of cinnamon."


Next was Barrie at the good ol' Local Gastropub. I was able to get 3 tickets for the Finger 11 concert that was happening across the street that same night so I gave them away. 2 people donated money for the movember and one guy came up and sang a song for a ticket.
I'm sure the people had a good time at both shows that night.
Kelsey has a song called Blipsters and Buppies with pILLOW tHEORY. I was looking forward to this hearing this song but so far three shows deep he had not played it.
at the end of his set he was saying thanks and such.
I cut him off.
"A standard set is 45 min you played 43 min now play what I want to hear!"
I'm a demanding little drunk, but and worked and here is the song:

 Think cats!

 Now Keep doing cats except neil you hold a recently deceased baby lamb

 Moustache!

Gina Sparrow, Britany Fulton, Neil Crowe, Kelsey Warren, Alex Kelly, Hazy.

Off to St Catherine's again for the Strega Cafe, and again it was not a grand turn out. We played to a couple that came in to watch us and the staff but I like going there. the staff are great the food is good and free drinks. While we were waiting 3 people were walking by we told them to come watch the show and it turns out they too were musicians playing a block away in a 10 piece rock country band or something. They didn't start until 1am so we said you come watch us we'll come watch you. They agreed(but didn't end up coming back to watch us, needless to say we did not go watch them) While chatting with them one turns to me and asks, "Can I have some money?"
"What? How about, you give me some money."
His friend was on my side "What are you doing? They're broke musicians too."
Then he tried to pretend it was a joke. What a fucking retard.

Poutine!

Kelsey sees Niagara Falls for the first time. In honour of this he gives me the finger.

You want to sit in the big boy chair?

Kelsey discover's Kelsey's

3 days off and we just hung around Barrie. Ate Poutine, drank, went to an open mic and I worked a couple of half days (luckily as the tour was not being the money marker I hoped it would be)

Waterloo, Maxwell's music House. A really cool venue but it being on a Wednesday we had a few tables filled and a few at the bar.
This was also the first night of the new shirts. sadly no merch was sold today. It kinda sucks going and spending over $1000 on t-shirts and not selling 1 at your first show with them.
The music sounded great and we opened for a local funk band called The Sofa Kings. They were tight.
Kelsey got sick we ate at a cafe next door and he literally at vegetables on a bun and felt like garbage after. How do you mess up vegetables?

"Stay classy in that red Turtleneck Kelsey Warren."

 Steve

Julien

George's sexiest face.

 NOw for Kelsey's last show with me. in Toronto at The hideout. A great bar that has a set pay rate which was awesome. I was able to hire some musicians, Stephen Dyte, Julien Michaud of Richmond Switch and George Anstey (who I'm sure I mispronounced his name on stage) we practiced twice. We had mistakes but none of them glaring. It was great to play with a full band again it had been over a year. At the end of our set which was what I thought was the 3rd and final one, the owner comes up and says" What are you doing you play until after 2. I'm paying you good money. "
So broke out the guitar and up I went. I played 2 sets already. and because I had the full band I was really giving it on the vocals. So by this third set my voice was struggling. I finished at 2:25. drove back to Barrie, and was in bed by 4:15 I had to get up at 8:45 and get Kelsey to the bus station and then drive 6 and a half hours to Montreal. I was a touch drained. but only 2 more shows to go.

So tiny you are CN Tower!

 Steam Whistle Brewery photo booth

Someone buy my wares. Please?

Here's 2 video's from the show:

Celebrity Status for the bridge I told them to make a lot of noise.

Waiting. Classic Eyeswide

Montreal, the first show I played here was a free one at a cafe called Burritoville. my second was playing at McGill University in The Thompson House. They paid and put me up in a hotel.
I felt very much like rock and roller, I did.
I opened for a great band called Half Moon Run. I hung out with some people at the show who wanted to go out for a drink after ward I said ok and they took me to a campus bar everyone was in white t-shirts that they write on and they were all 19-21 I was the old dude at the club and not wearing white. I lasted all of 5 min. the time it took me to realize the bar tender was more into dancing and eating chicken finger than serving any of the people waiting at the bar. Off to my last show!

A sea of white t-shirted college kids.

Orillia, The Brownstone. I like the Brownstone. It has a good following and again no pay but free food and drinks and pass around the tip jug. and you can make some good tips there.
I also had The Morals come to play. They are my favourite Barrie band and I always look forward to seeing them perform.

That's the tour.
I played a show in Ivy, Ontario for Host a House Concert with Graham Greer, and did  well on  merch sales that night.
I've got time off from playing until next year! Jan 7th is the first show in Barrie at a new bar called the Port.
Lets hope for the best in 2012!
(hopefully I'll have something to blog about in the meantime.)

Lastly, I have recorded a cover of You're a Mean One Mr Grinch, it is download only so If you want to hear a sample of it go to iTunes or CD Baby. When you fall in love with it you can purchase it!
It really does not sound like the original so tell me what you think.


-Neil
www.eyeswide.ca

Christmas in October, Movember, and the Full Band Jam

I've recorded You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch at One Star Studios in Barrie, ON
So far people enjoy the tune. I had my friend Quammie Williams do some percussion on the song floor stomps tambourine, and hand drums.
It was intentionally for a Christmas CD to go out in the December issue of Pie Magazine.
But, I've decided that I'll put it on iTune as well.
It will be up by December... hopefully before.
All depending on when the licence for the use of the song arrives in my inbox.

Shane Heath, Rudi "Quammie" Williams, and Johnny Cash

It is November, also known as "Movember", a month long cause started in Australia to help promote the awareness of prostate cancer.
Donations to the fund can be made HERE.
Eyeswide has become apart of Movember and 50% of the merch sales from the November tour are going towards Prostate Cancer research. so buy some T's and CD's and help the dudes out!


I'm headed over the border tomorrow for a Show in Buffalo at The French Quarter Cafe. I'm always nervous about these shows because I can't say I'm going over to play because I don't have an entertainment visa (which costs over $1000)  I can't bring very much, if any, Merchandise.

**And actually now that I'm writing this again I have already been there. Getting over the border was fine. Gina takes the wheel puts on her glasses and looks all proper. I sit idly in the passenger seat hoping they don't ask me any questions or want to search the car and find CD's hidden about.**


I've been rehearsing with 3 other musicians for a full band set at The Hideout in Toronto. I'm pretty excited about it. THe first time I practiced with Julien Michaud of Richmond Switch he didn't have a left handed guitar (obviously he is left handed) so he just played an upside down right handed guit and played some great leads and solos.
He's a talented guy that one.

We started off having the drums face the wall for spacial purposes. We soon changed that.

Neil with the Movember 'stache 10 days old.

I've got some rehearsals (I keep forgetting to put the 1st "a" in rehearsals, not a fan of that "a") recorded from an iphone and was going to post one and have anyone who wanted to hear them all could do so by donating any amount of money .50- $20.00.
Not a bad Idea I thought and when I went to go to my donation page link I found out the button did not work on my website. I check the buttons in the store page of my site and they also do not work.
Since the beginning of my site I've had unworkable buttons.
I'm an idiot.
You'd think that I would make sure those things worked...
But alas it is now fixed the Donation button is up and running and you are free to get those rehearsal recordings!  Go HERE to donate.
The majority of the songs are not on the album In Three Days.
Here's one of the songs Celebrity Status. (also dubbed Celery Stalks)
This was the 1st time the full band got together to play so there is some fun stuff in there.

Celebrity Status Rehearsal

SOCAN is fantastic.
I just found out that The Orchestra London Canada played my song "Smile" at one of their performance.
Did they contact me?
Nope.
They listed their performance and songs on SOCAN and that earned me $104
No communication needed. Just a nice deposit in my bank!
I wish I could have heard what it sounded like.

I'm in the middle of my November tour with Kelsey Warren.
I'll write about that next blog when the tour is over.

-Neil
www.eyeswide.ca