Between The Rock And A Hard Place: Newfoundland, Great Big Sea, Alan Doyle, And Even Russell Crowe

"All That You Desire" Conclusion And Beginning - Beauty & Words & Music, For Each Year

 

 

Again, what comes First...

 

Alan Doyle, GBS Clearwater show

 

 

I've managed to get myself thoroughly distracted by going back through this past year as recounted here; so many memorable moments - some painful, some sweet. Some painfully sweet.

I had been thinking of coming up with some sort of listing of such moments, something along the lines of those "The 10 Most [Whatever] of 2011" lists: Best Night (GBS - Halifax; Alan - St. John's Indoor Garden Party), Most-Loved Night (Clearwater, hands down and hearts handed over), Bravest Night (the whole run from Kelowna to Colorado Springs, when Alan's back was hurting him so badly), Most-Touching Night (the George Street Festival, of all unexpected places), Most-Thrilling Night (Canada Day, Parliament Hill, when Now-Prince and Future King William made everyone stand during Lukey's Boat, in awesomely obedient response to Alan's command) - that sort of thing. 

Oh yes, Most Difficult Night too, of course...Hello, Belleville, with an also-ran nod to White River's Indifference Day. Sometimes the greatest progress comes, albeit at times slowly, from the most difficult experiences. The darker the night, the more brilliant the sunrise. 

But as memorable as all these list-worthy nights inarguably were - several of them transcending Memorable to achieve the level of Pivotal, in that their events (again, some painful and some sweet) wound up playing a crucial role in shaping lasting decisions and chosen paths that will carry on into the Yet To Come - they still aren't what comes first to mind and memory when I look back on the Year That Was. They also weren't what held my attention in my blog posts for this past year, something I realised when I went back through those posts. Again and again, each time I tried to write about the shows, it didn't take long for the focus to be captured yet again by Alan's Solo-Album progress, by his reports and his actions. By the heartfelt songs of the Man and by the light in the eyes of the Boy. 

 

It began with the cruise, the first openly announced work on his long-awaited Solo Album; as sweet as the Sailaway Story was, as delightful as was Alan's singing Jane with BNL, as impressive as was Sean's Son Of A Sailor album-release gig, this is what makes that somewhat silly cruise - that odd cross between a slumber party and a high-school reunion, with the GBS travelling party reminding me most of all of a group of longtime gravel-pit campers - into Something Significant.

:

 

 

So it began, finally and at long last. And so it has continued, throughout this whole year, writing and recording sessions at home, in Ontario, in Vancouver...in Nashville and in California. Another set of new music - the Crowe/Doyle Songbook, written with Russell Crowe, performed with Russell and his wife, Danielle Spencer - came out while the Solo-Album music was still being created. The sweet promise of his solo shows to come, at the same time Sean's own solo shows - done with a brand new and admirably non-GBS band he so courageously (and successfully) put together, with all the excited hopes that Alan will do the same, will do it even better - have been taking place.

All of it, absolutely all of it, leading toward the Year To Come, the Year that is going to be Something Wonderful, Something Amazing. That's my take on the Year That Was; that's why I decided against making any list of Memorable Moments. You don't need to make a list when there's just one item - a sole and single Number One - that has a rightful place upon it.  

 

Though I sure don't mind one bit saying again (and again!) that I really loved Clearwater. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pivotal. And Beautiful. 

 

 

 

One final toast then, to the Year That Was, the year that is going to make it possible for the Year To Come to be that much-desired and most-deserved Dream Come True. 

 

Followed by the first of many raised glasses in Anticipation of, in Celebration of, all the Wonderful and all the Beautiful that lie ahead. 

 

 

As always and as ever, with Love. 

 

 

 

"All That You Desire" Part Two - Good Things Come...

 I believe there's Something Beautiful...

 

Alan Doyle, GBS Sailaway Show, Ships & Dip 2011

 

Beauty now, Words later. More Beauty later too.

 

...for those who wait. 

 

 

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Beauty first. Alan first. 

 

Two photos from the First Stage of 2011 - the first stage I saw, that is - on the Ships & Dip Cruise, back at the beginning of this Year That Was, the There that has lead step-by-necessry--step to Here.

 

The first photo is of Alan Being Smooth, in the inimitably unique way that Alan does smooth. I love the way Alan does smooth.  

 

 

 

The second photo is of Alan being Brilliant. Also unique, unparalleled as well. I love the way he does this too.  

 

 

 

And this set of photos from the cruise's GBS Sailaway Show has its own Tale to tell.   

 

A Sailaway Story

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nobody - absolutely nobody - comes close to Alan Being Sweet; when Sweet is what he chooses, he sets the Standard. I love how he does that best of all.

 

There and Here...and Onward. 

 

 

Still working on the words. But Beautiful and Sweet - not to mention Brilliant and Alan-version Smooth - should never have to wait for the words. 

 

 

"All That You Desire" - The Year That Was, The Year To Come

 

I'm going to take my time with this too.

 

 

Eyes On Tomorrow

Alan Doyle, GBS Mainstage Show, Ships & Dip, 2011

 

 

Yeah hope to do a run in late April, May and early June. Keep you posted. - Alan Doyle, Twitter (in response to a question about his plans for Solo Tour)

 

 

The "Year In Review" articles and shows have now begun in earnest, as they always do at this time. The Best Moments of..., The Worst Momemts of... are all being tallied, scrutinized, pondered and compared. As a New Year approaches, I'm much more likely to be looking ahead at What's Yet To Come than gazing back at What Was. Even more so when that Yet-To-Come is especially beautiful and bright - Solo Album (& Tour!) Beautiful and Bright.

But there's no getting There without passing through Here; the Music that is heard and performed in the New Year is the Music that was created and crafted in the Old Year. The Dream that finally comes true Tomorrow is the Desire that ached - and impelled -Yesterday. And Today.

A bit of both, then, between Post-Christmas Now and the New Year's Midnight Toasts and Kisses, Auld Lang Synes and Celebratory Fireworks (and perhaps the Hangovers and Bowl Games as well) - beginning with the Sweetest & Most Dear seen on the first stage of this now-waning year (first for me, that is) and that news of what I am sure will be the Best Shows of the brand new year that's waiting for its chance to make Dreams come true.

 

All that's Desired. All that's Deserved.  

 

More To Come. Three wonderful words.

 

 

"...With Footsteps Free" - A Christmas Story (One Scene At A Time)

 

 

This is for You. Happy Christmas, with Love.

 

 

With Footsteps Free: A Christmas Story 

 

Scene One

Jacob heaved a huge sigh, melodramatically sincere, as he hustled and bustled his way out of his front-row first-class-upgrade seat and off the plane, sparing only the briefest moment for a practised wink and nod at the eagerly accommodating flight attendant. He was across the bridge and into the nearly deserted boarding area while his fellow passengers were still unbuckling their seat belts and retrieving their carry-ons from the overhead compartments.  

He hit the escalator to Baggage Claim and scuttled down it noisily, his carry-on bag crashing and clattering against each step. There were only a few bleary greeters waiting at the bottom of the escalator in these wee hours of the morning; Jacob gave the one person in the group he recognised a sidelong glance as he rushed past her, his hurried "Hey, how's it goin'?" requiring no answer to his rapidly departing back. 

He was travelling light, carry-on only. By the time his fellow passengers had made their way to the still-silent baggage carousel, the waiting taxi he'd flung himself into was leaving the airport, mere minutes after the plane had landed. When properly motivated, Jacob moved at a pace few could equal. He ran swiftly, away from and toward.

Safe in the cab, he leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes. Memory came to him, intense and immediate; he wrapped his arms tightly around his chest, hugging the sweetness of that memory close. As the taxi made its way along the empty streets, Jacob sighed quietly and smiled in the darkness. 

 

Scene Two 

Jacob walked down the stairs carefully, each step causing him distinct discomfort - the foolish dress shoes pinching his toes, the binding suit jacket bunching up between his shoulders, the relentless waistband of his slacks threatening to cut off the blood supply to his lower extremities. He'd let himself be pressured into dressing up for the fancy-schmancy restaurant they'd eaten supper at and the theatre they'd just left. Now it was time for the pub, time for his part of the evening. Jacob had firm plans for the rest of his night: In record time, he would no longer care how frigging uncomfortable his clothes were.

The pub was packed, cheerful chaos teetering on the pinnacle of holiday reunion and revelry. Jacob paused a moment in the doorway, his eyes lighting up and a wide grin spreading across his face, before plunging into the welcoming warmth. He worked his way with great pleasure through the noisy crowd on a direct path to the bar, exchanging hellos and hugs and good wishes each step along the way. His target objective achieved - a double whiskey soda in hand - Jacob turned around and leaned back against the bar...ready, willing and eager to be swept up in the Christmas Tide.

Standing centre stage in the arc of an appreciative audience, Jacob was in the middle of recounting a hilariously salacious story - and near the end of his third double - when he first noticed her sitting at one of the tables in the rear of the pub, sipping a pint and talking to a friend. Momentarily losing his place in the story, he gazed at her over the shoulder of the short, loud man standing directly across from him. As if she could feel his gaze across the room, she looked up and met his eyes; Jacob knew in a split second that she'd seen him when he'd first come in the door.

He got the rhythm of his story back, barely missing a beat, but now his mind was elsewhere - at another time, in another place. He'd let down his guard then, taken a chance there, moved a few tentative steps forward...and then gone into retreat. He looked at her again, and again their eyes met, her face serious. But then she smiled at him and he knew the only thing holding him back was himself.

Still he hesitated, shifting restlessly from foot to foot, his miserable shoes giving him grief with every movement, while Short Loud Man started into a story of his own. Telling himself he was merely heading to the bathroom, Jacob excused himself abruptly and ran the holiday gauntlet back toward the rear of the pub, which was noticeably less crowded than up front by the bar. He watched her watching him make his slow progress in her direction, her smile steady and warm. And hopeful.

Jacob came to a sudden stop a few feet away from her table, feeling awkward and inarticulate, hopelessly tied up in inextricable, inexplicable knots. She was looking at him, now clearly puzzled, and still he stood there, frozen in place, posed as the perfect Statue Of A Fool. "Happy Christmas, Mary," he finally said, not very loudly, a distinct pleading note in his voice. He saw her face soften and knew that she'd heard him.

He started to turn away, but halted his motion when she rose from her chair, frozen in place again as she moved toward him. Suddenly and excruciatingly aware of his wardrobe discomforts, Jacob squared his shoulders and stood up painfully straight, sucking in everything as tightly as he possibly could. She smiled when she saw that, a kind and knowing smile, looking first up into his eyes, then down at his belly, then back up into his eyes again.

Now standing whisper-close, she reached out and touched his right side, her hand inside his jacket, two fingers resting lightly on the upper edge of his belt. They both watched as her fingers traced gently, slowly, along the arc of that belt-edge, his belly first trembling and then relaxing, moving to meet her touch as if it had a will of its own. She looked back up, her smile now secret and deep, her eyes dark and intent. "It's who you are, Jacob," she murmured, soft and low. "It's how I like you best - I like you as you are." Then she gave his left arm a gentle squeeze and returned his "Happy Christmas," with a smile as sweet as any angel's.

Still rooted to the spot, Jacob opened his mouth, wondering what words might come out of it. He didn't find out, not on that night, because at that moment he was bear-hugged from behind by an old friend he hadn't seen since Christmas Last. Turning toward the friend with his own uniquely characteristic mixture of relief and regret, Jacob answered the roared greeting in matching decibels. By the time he turned back around, he saw she'd slipped away, gone back to her pint, her friend, her table. He peered at her, hesitating yet again. She raised her glass to him, and he answered with his own.

As he let himself be led back up to the bar, Jacob shrugged off his jacket; its absence made it easier to feel the warmth of her smile on his back. It was, he had noted with unalloyed relief, a blessedly patient smile.

 

Scene Three

Jacob bounced his way exuberantly down the street, his steps confident and sure despite the treacherously icy sidewalk. He'd just gotten word that his first set of performances on his own, away from the rest of the Company, had been approved; it was everything he'd been waiting for and it was finally happening. On a day like today, an extraordinary day like today, there would be no slips, no falls.

The unplowed streets were still a mess from last night's snowstorm, so he'd decided to walk downtown instead of driving, ostensibly to pick up a few small last-minute gifts - Christmas Eve being about as last-minute as it gets - before the stores closed early. Truth be told, he was too excited to sit still, too thrilled by the end of his long wait to quietly putter around the house. Jacob wanted to sing, loudly. He wanted to shout out his Good Tidings to each passer-by.

Glancing across the street, he noticed a woman coming out the door of a clothing store, struggling with a half-dozen large bags and gift boxes. When she shifted the load in search of a better balance, he saw her face and stopped dead in his tracks. Still watching, Jacob saw Mary look down at the ice with trepidation, then saw the look of resolve on her face as she tightened her grip on the armload and began walking tentatively down the street, away from him.

Jacob didn't hesitate, not one second, not on this Day of Days. He dashed across the street with a newfound nimble grace, coming up quickly behind her, reaching out and touching her shoulder - which startled her and caused her to lose her balance on the sheet of ice beneath her feet. But he stopped her fall, one hand on her back, the other catching hold of her elbow. Steadied in his grasp, she turned around to face him.

They exchanged hellos, his eager, hers a bit bemused. After a fleetingly awkward moment of silence, Jacob simply held out both of his arms, nodding toward her boxes and bags. Mary gave him a long, thoughtful look - then handed it all over to him. He arranged the load efficiently, then, with a crooked little smile on his face, Jacob played the role of Old World Courtier, offering his arm to the Lady. That made her laugh, a clear, hopeful sound ascending lightly in the crisp winter air. She took his arm and off they went, him setting a slow and careful pace for her sake.

He asked her how she was doing and was keenly pleased when she proved she knew him well enough to answer briefly and then give him back the question. Jacob bubbled over with his Big News, going on at length about his own shows to come, about how wonderful it was that the bonds that held the Company together were strong enough and resilient enough to bend without breaking, keeping its members securely in the fold while still allowing them to venture out on their own.

All the way back to her house, they walked, side-by-side and arm-in-arm...down the street, up the steps by the Memorial, then tackling the steep slope of the final hill. Jacob talked each step of the way and Mary hung on his every word. It would have been impossible to decide which pair of eyes was shining more brightly with delight.

They came to a full stop at her front door. Now it was Mary's turn to hesitate. She looked up at Jacob, standing there with his arms full of her Christmas, a goofy, expectant smile on his face. She looked at him and he saw her melt, a complete and utter surrender, right before his eyes; it made him feel like he could do anything. Like he could do Everything.

Mary took off her gloves and he expected her to retrieve her key from her purse, but instead she leaned forward and rummaged through one of the bags he was holding, coming up with a small gift box. "I bought this for you," she told him. "I wasn't sure I'd give it to you, but when I saw it, I knew it belonged to you." She offered him the small box, and he carefully set down her bags and boxes to accept it.

"Go ahead and open it," she said, looking away from him, suddenly bashful. "It's a bit silly, but it really is You." Needing no more persuasion, Jacob opened the box. Inside was a small silver spoon, a child's spoon, with the words More! More! etched on the handle. Jacob laughed out loud at the sight, a resonant echo filling the street with its warmth. "It's perfect!" he exclaimed, now grinning hugely. It was perfect - perfect for the day, perfect for him.

When he looked back up at her, she was sliding her key into the lock. She opened the door and then looked back over her shoulder at him with a persuasive smile, bashful no longer. "Would you like to gather up those gifts and come inside for a cup of coffee or tea and a slice of cherry cake?"

"I suppose I should," Jacob answered, jauntily breathless. He waggled the little spoon enticingly. "Seeing as how I've got my own utensil."

Mary held the door open for Jacob as he came inside. She closed it gently behind him, just hard enough to ring the Christmas wreath's bells.

Epilogue

The lights blazed up for the first show of the New Year, Jacob's first performance all his own. The sold-out crowd roared as he strode out onto the stage, the smile on his face that of a man whose dreams were coming true right before his eyes, the expression in those eyes that of a deeply grateful boy.

It was a spectacular evening. By the time it reached its end, the shouts of the crowd - the shouts of his crowd - were echoing in Jacob's ears, in his mind and in his heart:  More! More!

 

 

With much gratitude to those who said they were glad to get a Jacob Story for Christmas. I love it when others think as highly of him as I do.

 

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Got on a lucky one
Came in at eighteen to one
I've got a feeling
This year's for me and you
So Happy Christmas
I love you, Baby
I can see a better time
When all our dreams come true - "Fairytale Of New York," The Pogues

 

 

A Very Merry Christmas to One and to All, followed by a Happy New Year of More.

And a Heartful of Love. 

 

 

"...Through The Sunlight And The Snow" - Hushed By Wonder

 

 

To be Hushed by Wonder is an amazing thing; it's exceedingly rare as well, at least for me it is. To be moved to silence by Truth and touched beyond words by Beauty, to find yourself in that place where the only response that could possibly suffice is a quietly whispered Yes, Yes, Yes...it's awesome. It's beautiful; it's perfect. It's worth the wait, worth any wait of any duration, once it finally comes. 

 

The Rules Will All Be Broken: Alan's latest preview of what is yet to come on his Solo Album, what is yet to come of what I've been waiting for since March of 2001. 

 

 

I'll find my words again; right now, I'm thinking about putting them into their own Christmas Story. Truth be told, there's deep pleasure to be found in the heartfelt surrender to Yes, Yes Yes...but there's still so much more to say - when my words are strong enough and sure enough to do justice to this song. 

 

And sweet enough to do justice to this face. 

<

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, Yes, Yes.

 

 

"Let The Gavel Fall" Conclusion - Hit Hard By The Light So Bright It Burned: Songs Sung & Songs Lived (& ETA: Songs Amazing)

 

 

ETA: Latest Solo-Album snippet put up by Alan: "The Rules Will All Be Broken," with Mike Post. Beautiful and amazing and wonderful. Hit very hard by that brightly burning Light.

 

 

 

Definitely more on this next time. It has my next title too. 

 

 

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Alan Doyle & Tom Cochrane, Rockin' Big Give

 

 

Life's like a road that you travel on
When there's one day here and the next day gone
Sometimes you bend sometimes you stand
Sometimes you turn your back to the wind

There's a world outside every darkened Door
Where blues won't haunt you anymore
Where the brave are free and lovers soar
Come ride with me to the distant shore - Life Is A Highway, Tom Cochrane

 

 

When I first heard that Alan would be the Host for this year's Rockin' Big Give and that Tom Cochrane would be headlining the show with his band Red Rider, there were just two things I wanted: A new Solo-Album-destined song from Alan and an Alan Doyle/Tom Cochrane duet on Life Is A Highway.

I got everything I wanted. And it was even better than I'd hoped it would be.  

 

 

 

 

 

Alan's new song is, as I've already said, truly wonderful and wonderfully True - the real point and purpose of my own evening. The Life Is A Highway duet was delightfully raucous, even outrageously so (including some Notice Me! girl-on-girl action going on over in front of Alan - action clearly meant for his viewing pleasure, since it began only when he came out on stage and ceased the moment he left). It was crazy and wild and Alan looked like he was having himself an absolute blast out there in the midst of it all.  

 

 

A few of my favourite video frames from that absolute blast:

 

 

 

 

Context needed here - this hopelessly endearing (and utterly telltale) expression, which very nearly made me laugh out loud, came right after I'd looked over to my right to see just what the heck was going on with those two frisky gals. 

 

 

Alan mops a bit of stage sweat from his brow right after Tom Cochrane wraps up a stage-edge, in-your-face (well, in my face) solo.

 

 

And from there on, I was just loving the sight of him having such a great time singing a song that could have been written by him, for him, about him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After ending the song to thunderous applause, Alan went back off stage and Tom went on with his set. Having already gotten what I wanted, I was content...until it came time for the encore. Tom was starting into The Boy Inside The Man and he, clearly an impressively insightful fellow, called for Alan to come out and join him on this song.

When I kiss the bottle, it tastes like "More" to me too; I passionately wanted Alan to answer Tom's call. I wanted him to come out onto that stage and sing his part of a song that is closest of all to the heart of the matter - to the heart of the Man. And the Boy. 

 

When I turned seventeen
We had passion, we had dreams
Thought the love we were fighting for
Was something holy, something more

When I turned twenty-one
We were outside on the run
When I walked out with my girl
We went halfway around the world

I dreamed I saw her standing there
Running for the boy inside the man
I was hit hard by the light so bright it burned
All at once I knew she'd understand
Boy inside the man
The boy inside the man

When I turned twenty-five
We were hungry, we had drive
When I turned much older then
When the boy was lost in pride

Now I just turned thirty-one
I have lost and I have won
Still I've kept my dreams alive
Cause the boy will never die

The boy inside the man
The boy inside the man
So long so long so long
You been away
So long so long so long
You're back again

Sister cool this face
As if it's carved in stone
Don't leave me in this place
Like a boy without a home 
Like a boy without a home 
Boy inside the man - Boy Inside The Man, Tom Cochrane

 

It was the perfect song; it was the perfect place for that song and the perfect moment for Alan to be singing it. Tom turned his head toward where Alan had been standing earlier, just offstage, stage left, but Alan was no longer there. He called Alan's name again, but one of the stagehands made a slashing hand gesture across his throat, clearly a "Not gonna happen" response. That's when I realised Alan had already left the venue, that he'd joined his friends in their trek to the pub. 

The show went on; Tom did a great job with his last song of the night, a fitting end to an impressive performance. This was only the second time I'd seen Tom Cochrane live; the first time was back in 2005, when he opened for Great Big Sea at a Calgary Stampede show that took place on a day that's quite the story in and of itself, or perhaps better to say it was quite a chapter of the continuing Story. While Tom was singing his encore song on this night, I was listening to the lyrics and thinking about that earlier time. And wishing Alan was up there on stage with him.

I was disappointed, but that didn't last long. How long could it last, with those lyrics? How long could it take for me to realise that I don't need to see Alan sing a song about the boy inside the man because I see Alan living his life as the boy inside the man. I've seen that boy from the first Hello, seen him on all the days and across all the miles that have followed after. I think the world of that Boy and want the best for him - and from him. I believe in him, believe in who he is and in what he can accomplish.

By the time I recollected what and who really matter, all I could think was that I hoped he was where he most wanted to be, doing what he most wanted to do. Because that's what the Boy deserves. 

 

Alan frequently mentions how lucky he is, an attitude that speaks very well of his humility - a humility that speaks very well of him. But I don't see him as being lucky anywhere near so much as I see him as being deserving. I see Alan as a wildly multi-talented, diligently hard-working, fundamentally good-hearted man who is always willing, arguably at times a bit too willing, to do whatever he has to do to keep his oft-conflicting roles in balance and to pay whatever he has to pay to gain his heart's desire.

The truest measure of how lucky (or unlucky, the coin's necessary other side) any one of us is in this beautiful life could be seen as being based on the difference between what we deserve and what we possess. The more sure we are that love and acceptance and happiness and success are what should follow after being seen for who we are and known for what we can accomplish - the more sure we are that it is eminently reasonable to expect these good things to follow after being seen and known this way - the more that love and acceptance and happiness and success will belong to us. And we to it. 

All these things - all good things - belong to that Boy...should belong to that Boy. Deserving. That's what I believe: I'm sold. That's my verdict, based on all the evidence I've seen, the gavel completing its final and conclusive arc.

But he can be Lucky too. I'm not fussy. Not one bit fussy. 

 

 

"Let The Gavel Fall" Part Three - Making The Winning Bid

 

 

There are times when the picture - or the video frame - can benefit from a few of those 1000 words, times when context is Truth's good and faithful servant. This Jaysus, You're Lovable view of an irresistibly self-delighted Alan comes soon after he'd performed his wonderful new song from his nearly-completed First Solo Album to a thoroughly enthusiastic response from the Rockin' Big Give crowd:

 

 

After having been a bit tightly wound and perhaps a wee bit role-conflicted during his first few songs, not even the sky was going to be a limit after Alan brought down the house with his brand new song. Nothing was going to stop him now. He knew it too, without a doubt at all - I could see that...again, without a doubt at all.

And that's What - that's Who - I came for. That's the Boy I always come for.

 

 

 

Making The Winning Bid

 

I usually spend my time during live auctions being bemused by how bloody much money some folks are willing to offer up when the cause is good and the drinks are strong, all while trying to stay very still so some stray movement on my part doesn't turn me into an Inadvertent Bidder.

The Rockin' Big Give live auction was something altogether different because this live auction featured Alan Doyle as co-auctioneer with Seamus O'Regan. They made qute the charmingly dynamic duo, with Alan quickly turning his Consummate Performer skills to the fine art of auctioneering. It took no time at all for him claim his stage, no time at all for him to blaze brightly (and profitably, for the evening's designated charities) in the all-too-seldom-of-late spotlight.

He made it wonderful. As he always does.

 

 

 

 

 

This is officially one of those "Because you look spectacular" photos. Especially with that vest. 

 

 

 

 

 

It was such a great performance, I decided still photos weren't doing it full justice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another one of those Official Photos.

 

 

 

For one round of bidding, Alan and Seamus were joined by Seamus's former Canada AM co-host Beverly Thomson and Newfoundland singer/songwriter Kim Stockwood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One more Hostly Duty of the evening - drawing the winning ticket for the rather impressive prize of 100,000 Air Canada miles. 

 

And then closing out this part of the show with one of the most engaging versions ever of Excursion 'Round The Bay. 

 

 

Nope, absolutely nothing is gonna stop him now.  

 

Exactly as it should be. 

 

 

The rest of the Big Give show and the rest of the words a bit later today, if all goes as planned, or tomorrow if those plans go astray. I've got a doctor's appointment to get myself to right now, but I didn't want to make the Morning Reader wait for it all.   

 

 

"Let The Gavel Fall" Part Two - Seeing Clearly...And Recognizing Beauty

Every now and then, like a gift thrust suddenly into our unexpecting hands, we find ourselves able to see clearly - a view straight from the heart, to the heart. An opportunity both to see and to recognize: Truth and Trust, Hope and Worth, Approval and Accomplishment, Discovery and Delight. 

And Beauty...so much Beauty.

 

A sweet-faced Alan, from the Rockin' Big Give

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really like that face.   

 

 

I'm still working on the Rockin' Big Give photos, even more slowly than usual; still fighting the last gasp of that nasty flu bug too, walking around half-cracked on cough medicine. I'm nearly done with all the Big Give live-auction photos - yes, there are quite a few of them, as is to be expected given how much Alan was enjoying it all and how pleasurable that enjoyment was - and with what I want to write that goes with those photos and the title too.

I'll have it done soon, but until then, this is for you who check here looking for something new, and I'll add in a few view-worthy videos I've accumulated from here and there. 

Though if I were the visiting Reader, a clear view of that Sweet Face would have sufficed. As it always does. 

 

 

First up, Great Big Sea's guest spot the other night on the 22 Minutes Holiday Special, complete with Sexy Accordionist. (The customary caveat with this one - it will be up for as long as CBC allows.)

 

 

 

This video was kindly supplied by Alan Hawco/Republic of Doyle, a promotional clip shown in advance of that show's January 11th third-season-debut episode...featuring a few Very Special Guests

 

One more song performed while filming last year's Kids' CBC Labour Day special - a very cute and clever song which is now the official theme song of the Pirates: Adventures in Art show.

 

 

And this, because it is such a great example  such- excellent evidence, as it were - of GBS at their best, giving their time and their support to a truly worthy effort.

 

Those who aren't able to attend the January event could always make a donation to Team Broken Earth.

 

 

More clear views - more Beauty - soon. 

 

 

 

"Let The Gavel Fall" Part One - The Only Possible Verdict (The Rockin' Big Give - Building It Slow)

 

 

Alan Beautiful, Alan Brilliant

 

I'm going to take my time with this...partly because I'm only just barely over a week's worth of being flattend by a nasty flu bug, and partly because I so dearly love the (tender-hearted) irony of saying "I'm going to take my time with this".

Even better to say it this way: I'm going to linger...for a long and lovely time. Because there's every need to do so. And every reason why. 

 

 

This was my third Smiling Land Foundation Rockin' Big Give fundraiser. I've enjoyed them all: the Newfoundland charities chosen for support each year have been eminently deserving, the entertaiment has been consistently excellent, the food has been reliably tasty, and the attendees themselves have been endlessly entertaining. It's always been a good night, a bit foolish by the end of the evening (open bars usually play Cause to that Effect), but a good night nonetheless. And always for the benefit of good causes. 

I like supporting those good causes and I like meeting folks from Newfoundland who now live in Toronto and folks from all sorts of places who now live in Newfoundland (a few years ago, I met Christina's Big Boss - the brandly new CEO of her corporation - at the Rockin' Big Give before Christina had met her at work). The music is always great - headliners I've seen at the Rockin' Big Give include Great Big Sea, Shanneyganock, and now Tom Cochrane - and so is the food.

With that said - and it is all true, every single word of it - it's now time to say what is Most True: I went to this year's Rockin' Big Give because I wanted to see Alan, who was this year's Official Host. I wanted to see him get an all-too-rare-of-late evening in his much-loved spotlight, peforming solo and with the other artists; especially the latter - oh yes, I was most certainly hoping to see him and Tom Cochrane together, rocking out to Life Is A Highway - because whenever he gets to do that, he gets his It's Christmas Morning! face. I love that face. And whatever causes it. 

What I wanted most of all was for Alan to perform another New Song, a song that will be on his upcoming Solo Album. That was what would surely cause my own It's Christmas Morning! face.

He did. It did. 

It is such a great song - every bit as great as I knew it could be and believed it would be. It's wonderful. As with the Man, so too with his Song...it's the only possible verdict. 

 

 

Alan's Hostly Duties included doing a few songs to open up the evening's entertainment. He started out with Ordinary Day.

 

 

 

And then Jolly Rovin' Tar. During the first song I was just so glad to see Alan up there on stage that I didn't notice much else, but by the time he started into this second song, I could see the wheels spinning in his head. He's going to do a new song! I thought, instantly excited. Suddenly, it felt like Christmas Eve.

 

 

 

Every need, every reason...and Happy Christmas.

 

 

 

Sonny's Dream from Alan Doyle - the quintessential Boy with stars in his eyes and dreams in his head - is perfect. It doesn't matter if the crowd is busy stuffing their faces and getting themselves foolishly drunk. It's still Perfect.  

 

 

 

Alan's final solo song was Consequence Free, not so much the GBS version of the song he and Sean wrote together as it was a version that felt very much like it was being performed by a wildly talented songwriter who is deeply in the midst of creating an album all his own. 

 

 

 

 

 

Smiling Land Foundation Committee Members Alan Doyle, Seamus O'Regan and Paul Sparkes welcoming all present and introducing opening band Lazybones. 

 

 

Alan performs Molly Malone with the Lazybones band members. 

 

 

 

Next up was the live auction, handled with irresisitble charm by Alan and Seamus - truly a Dynamic Duo. This was so unexpectedly but endearingly cute that I wound up taking a pile of photos, plus a video.  This is just the first of that series, with more to come.  

And speaking of lingering - of long and lovely lingering - I can't think of any better place than this to do just that, here at this next live-auction photo. 

 

Alan Beautiful, Alan Breathtaking

 

 Wonderful.  My mind's made up. 

 

 

The rest to come, slowly but soon. I rather enjoy saying that too. 

 

 

"It Tastes Like 'More'" - Alan Doyle's (First) Solo Album, Early Glimpses (With Flu-Induced Yay, Alan! ETA)

 

 

ETA: There are still a pile of people viewing this blog (Yay, Alan!), as well as dozens of comments coming in. And since I'm presently in the midst of being flattened by an arse-kickng flu bug, I think I'll just leave this one up here on top for another day or so and let everyone who wants to see it (again - Yay, Alan!) do so, while I work my way oh-so-slowly through some Rockin' Big Night photos and get the YouTube video information filled in so I can post those publicly too; I'll figure a way to answer some of the comments (the sane/thoughtful ones, that is...tough luck, crazies/assholes) as well.

For now, I'll offer one sweetest-of-all view of the Boy With The Heart-Owning Face, along with that Boy's most recent sneak peak into the recording of his Solo Album.

 

Alan Doyle & Seamus O'Regan, Smiling Land Foundation's Rockin' Big Night

 

 

ENNIS's Maureen Ennis, recording background vocals for Alan's song "My Day"

 

No one can take it away
This is my day today
This is my day today

 

Just a snippet, but those are wonderfully promising lyrics. I do love that notion of it being Alan's Day Today. It's about time. He could have Tomorrow too, if the giving were up to me. 

 

 

Alright, that's about all I've got energy for right now, that and getting Alan's Life Is A Highway video with Tom Cochrane up on YouTube. More Alan to come. I lreally like saying that. 

 

 

****************************************************************************************************************************

 

 

Alan Doyle - looking thoroughly, deservedly, and gorgeously self-pleased - and Engineer Stu Young, working on mixing Alan's Solo Album at Toronto's Loud Mouse Studios:

Photo from Loud Mouse Studio's Facebook page

 

Yes, I have a pile of videos - including a wild and crazy Tom Cochrane/Alan Doyle version of Life Is A Highway and a charming little Excursion duet with Seamus O'Regan - from the recent Rockin' Big Give show, and, yes, I will get them up here soon, along with some very cute photos. But for the moment, my thoughts are elsewhere, as in Alan's Solo Album Elsewhere. 

 

One video from the Big Give gig that's pertinent to my present thoughts, central to those thoughts, is the new song Alan so kindly and sweetly shared that night, a song that will be on his Debut Solo Album and which could be seen as being - which I am very much seeing as being - the passionate heart of that album.

As well as the dear heart of the Man who is creating it. 

 

This is such a great song - I love the insistent vocal and the irrefuseable guitar, and the melody line reminds me of Paul Simon, or maybe Joel Plaskett at his very best. The lyrics are the best of all: They remind me of Alan...and they  make me feel like Celebrating.

 

But It Ain't Enough

It's a long way to Heaven
It's a long way back
Take it from a Sinner
It's a cold, hard fact  

I kiss the Bottle
It tastes like "More"
It ain't what you got
It's what you're looking for

Round and round, up and down
The Old Ball rolls
And I'm gonna miss you when I go
But it ain't gonna miss me

I've been over the Moon
And down on my luck
I've seen a little
But it ain't enough

Been down to the bottom
And all the way up
I've seen a little
But it ain't enough
I've seen a little
But it ain't enough

It ain't what you've done
It's what you're gonna do
It ain't where you've been
It's where you're goin' to

I - I'm sorry St. Peter
I don't mean to complain
But can you give it just a minute
Before you call my name

There's nothing worse, nothing hurts
Like a stone unturned
And I've got candles left to burn
And lessons left to learn

I've been over the Moon
And down on my luck
I've seen a little
But it ain't enough

Been down to the bottom
And all the way up
I've seen a little
But it ain't enough
I've seen a little
But it ain't enough

I know we got a long, long way to go
Other side of the world's only halfway home
There might be nothing down that road
But you never know, you never know

Round and round, up and down
The Old Ball rolls
And I'm gonna miss you when I go
But it ain't gonna miss me

I've been over the Moon
And down on my luck
I've seen a little
but it ain't enough

Been down to the bottom
And all the way up
I've seen a little
But it ain't enough

I've been over the Moon
And down on my luck
I've seen a little
but it ain't enough

Been down to the bottom
And all the way up
I've seen a little
But it ain't enough
I've seen a little
But it ain't enough
I've seen a little
But it ain't enough

 

 

Alan has been remarkably generous (and admirably canny) when it comes to sharing clips of his new music, as it is being recorded, on his Twitter page; those clips, combined with the few Solo-Album-destined songs he's now performed live (to much grateful appreciation) at various shows, are giving an exciting and illuminating glimpse of What's To Come. 

 

(Most of the titles - and some of the lyrics - are, of course, speculative.) 

 

 

I'm Sorry 

 

And so, that's how stories like this usually start
Fast forward to the broken heart
And then a rainy day and the memory of your smile
Takes me over and sets me back down
Tells me to stay true in all this

You can't unring a bell
You can't untell a story
You can't unbreak a heart
I'm sorry, I'm sorry

If there's a chance in Hell
For a moment's glory -
I'd be so glad to tell you
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry"

 

 

 

Testify

 

I believe in God's benevolence
I have seen with my own eyes
In the river just outside the gate
Sunday sinners get baptised
I will pray for my redemption
But I'm quite sure that He won't hear...

 

Let The Sun Shine, Let It Rain

 

...where we're goin'
Still glowin' from kiss we stole
Along the way

I can't say what Fortune's (_____)
I can't wait to see what's comin'
Hell or high water, I'm off and runnin'
Either way

Let the sun shine
Let it rain
I'm walkin' in Good Times...

 

 

Lay Me Down

 

Long past surrender
The bow'r sets the stage
With a single-star spotlight
Where the deeds' will be played

Our story's unscripted
In this Secret Show
We'll draw back the curtains
And see where it goes

Let our hearts take their places
Let the night pull the srings
Lay me down, lay me down
Where the nightingales sing
Lay me down, lay me down
Where the nightingales sing

 

 

 

Light The Way

 

Light the way, a year a day
Around the sun
I became a ghost
The same as everyone

 

 

I'm not sure about enough of these lyrics to put them up now for fear of getting something significantly wrong, but what can be heard makes it clear this is a song about about moving on from mistakes, one filled with an eager hope for change and a sure trust in being loved. 

 

 

 

And then there is this priceless Jewel in the Crown of the King: A song about being sure Who you are, Wherever you may go.  

 

Where I Belong 

 

Jenny said goodbye this afternoon,
As far as I can tell;
She can't bear the Goodbye Evenings
Or the Morning After of Farewell.
She says, "Here you are, another one
To whose back I'm saying 'Cheers'.
It's like a death in the family
And it's been going on for years."

So I'll cast my leaving shadow
And I'll be Canadian,
But distance won't decide what matters
To the Hard Rock's Lovin' Son.
And when I'm thinkin' of St. John's
I'll bring her closer with this song;
I don't know where I'm goin'
But I know where I belong.

Oh, don't get the old man started
Or I'll have to hide him from the rum;
If you can keep his mind from '49
Well, he'll keep having fun.
Oh, it's not the kids he's cursing
Though I'm his third to leave;
He's mad at Mr. Smallwood
And it's a parent's right to grieve.

So I'll cast my leaving shadow
And I'll be Canadian,
But distance won't decide what matters
To the Hard Rock's Lovin' Son.
And when I'm thinkin' of St. John's
I'll bring her closer with this song;
I don't know where I'm goin'
But I know where I belong.

So let's take a moment's silence
For our dear departed souls,
And let's fly our flags at half their mast
As another young man goes.
The laughter of the children
Supplanted by the rolling ghosts,
And another tide surrenders
To a far and foreign coast.

I told Mom I'd stay close to the cousins
Who beat the path from our front door,
One right after the other
And they won't be back no more.
"But the thing I think I fear the most,"
She whispered in my ear,
"Is bein' the last flower in the garden
With no one left to care."

So I'll cast my leaving shadow
And I'll be Canadian,
But distance won't decide what matters
To the Hard Rock's Lovin' Son.
And when I'm thinkin' of St. John's
I'll bring her closer with this song;
I don't know where I'm goin'
But I know where I belong,
Where I belong.
I don't know where I'm goin'
But I know where I belong.

 

 

This is still only a partial view, seen through a glass darkly, as it were - perhaps better to call it a tantalising taste - because there are still so many songs yet unheard. There's Lover's Hands (or possibly Lovers' Hands - inriguing the difference the apostrophe's position can make to the meaning), another co-write - along with Where I Belong and Testify - with Russell Crowe; and there are those Mike Post/Alan Doyle songs...those are sure to be amazing.

There's also the rest of what Alan has written on his own, what he worked on with Ron Hynes, the remaining Nashville Sessions and Sean Panting Band/Don Ellis songs, as well as the songs with Hawksley Workman and Jim Cuddy. There's still much More to come. 

What he has shared thus far is so impressive - touching and stirring, relentlessly and redemptively Real. Rich and varied instrumental styles, captivatingly catchy melody lines, and vocals which are sweet and sexy, endearing and alluring. Universal themes of humility and hope, failure and forgiveness, change and growth, discovery and faith; True Stories told with beautifully crafted lyrics which are in turn courageously impassioned, achingly honest, wickedly clever, exuberantly determined, tenderly sensual, eagerly trusting, and wistfully sure.

I love how this music sounds. I recognise this music: It sounds like the Boy who charmed and cajoled his way onto that long-ago Petty Harbour film set, like the Boy who talked his way into the Band and then persuaded his brandly new mates to make the CD that got it all started, like the Boy who had his eyes fixed firmly on Halifax as the ferry pitched and rolled its way across the Strait and then led his Band onward to Grand Times and Great Successes throughout the wide world outside. It sounds like the Boy who, when his lips touch the Bottle of Life, it has always tasted - it will always taste - like 'More'.

This music sounds wonderful. It sounds like Alan. It sounds like 'More'.

 

 

 

"Merry Christmas, Everyone" - The Gift Of Giving

I've gone back and forth and back again about whether to put up these clips from tonight's "Gift Of Giving" show on CMT. I honestly don't know if CMT will let them stay up on YouTube (CBC is notoriously double-minded with clips, immediately smacking some down but letting others stay up with no apparent objection; it's always a guessing-game, and my CMT experience is even more limited), but I do know there are a whole lot of folks who badly wanted to see the show and could not, for geographical reasons.

Because I know what it's like to be one of those Wishful Folks on the wrong side of the boundary line, my final decision is in favour of Giving. Seems fitting, considering the Occasion being celebrated.

 

Sounding great a capella on the traditional Newfoundland Christmas song:

 

 

Sean's Merry Christmas Everyone becomes the perfect song for a Group Grand Finale:

 

 

A set of interviews from the show's participants can be found on the CMT Gift Of Giving page, including a longer version of the GBS interview that begins the Seven Joys clip. I especially enjoyed Alan's comments about the Christmas traditions he grew up with in Petty Harbour - I would have so loved to (would so love to now) see him as a Mummer - and how he's made a point of carrying those traditions with him to his home and his life in St. John's.  (ETA: Thanks to several people for pointing out that these interviews can't be seen outside of Canada - I hadn't realised that. I can't do anything about it right now for lack of the right software on this laptop, but once I get back home, if the videos are still up on the CMT site, I can at least try to capture and post the full GBS interview.)

 

I sincerely hope that any Canadians who did not catch tonight's broadcast of the show will make a diligent effort to watch it when it replays later this month on the YTV, W, and OWN networks. This show features a whole lot of good music not seen in these clips - which are of only the two GBS spots on the show - and, most important, it's all being done for an excellent cause; the higher the ratings for each broadcast, the better the chance for more shows focusing on other excellent causes. And the better the chance that our favourite bands will be asked to come back.

Best of all, most everyone, regardless of which side of those geographical boundaries on which they might find themselves residing, should be able to purchase this show's companion album The Gift Of Giving, CMT's first-ever Christmas compilation album, from iTunes. A portion of the proceeds from album sales will go to help support Canadian Food Banks, and the album includes songs from this show's guests (Merry Christmas Everyone is on it), as well as from Johnny Reid, Rascal Flatts, Dean Brody, Sugarland, and more.

 

And, in answer to a question sent to the Comments here...Yes, chances are excellent that now that I've done the best I can to share this GBS appearance with those who wanted to see it but couldn't, I am going to go straight back to thinking about and writing about and looking forward to Alan's upcoming Solo Album.

If you're a gambling-inclined sort of person, I'd strongly suggest you put a tidy sum on the likelihood that outcome.If you could find anyone willing to take that bet, that is. It's not often that you find someone willing to bet against a Sure Thing. 

 

...Speaking of those Sure Things - have you by any chance heard that Alan has a Solo Album being mixed right at this very moment and coming very soon? 

Told you not to take that bet.