forward motion

where I sit in a corner and paradoxically think about nothing

Thank you to everyone who came out to shows last week in Saskatoon and Yorkton. It was so fulfilling and I’m wildly grateful for the support. There were new songs sung, new merch slung and it was good for my heart. I love being on the road.

The Bassment in Saskatoon is a venue that runs like clockwork. Presenting concerts is their reason for being and it shows. The sound was as good as it gets. The tones my guitar made had me feeling like I was 10 times the guitarist that I actually am. (Thank you, Sound Tech Grant!) The staff, hospitality, patrons, lighting rig… it is so simple to relax into the room and be pampered by it all. Bryn was in fine form too. He’s getting more comfortable with little digs on stage and I’m here for it.

My voice felt at ease after a month of illness, which is really saying something. However, I still sang nearly the entire night with a throat lozenge in my cheek to feel assured that I wouldn’t break out into barking coughs. Trust me when I say that I was concerned. Blake was too! He told me afterwards that when he heard me rehearsing he was aware that he was not hearing sounds he has grown accustomed to. These are the times that I look back on the years of vocal training from my youth and credit them for the knowledge that can restore me to health.

I was also nervous! The addition of new songs, and new arrangements of other songs had me doubting myself. After 30 minutes of mindless pre-show babbling, I had to put myself in the corner of the greenroom and meditate. I was transformed by the power of nothing; specifically a steady mantra of [inhale] just [exhale] this for a few minutes. Stage ready without the whiskey.

Our gig in Yorkton on Sunday was a 3.5 hour drive. As someone who loves highway travel, I’m prone to thinking of that as short. I get a coffee or tea, play some tunes on the stereo, reflect on the show the night before, stare out the window and hit a rest stop. Easy!

We played our show in Sean Craib-Petkau’s business, Parlour Barber Shop. Sean creates community in his hometown as a natural extension of his personality. He’s committed to the cause and does it on a volunteer basis with his wife, Holly. I have great respect for them. To build community by welcoming the public into your own space as well as working to promote shows so that artists can benefit is a tremendous labour of love. I hope you know these people in your community. I hope you are these people in your community. We all need it. We need to be with each other sharing culture and time. We all need to find connections to each other.

That is why my heart has been full all week: we care for each other. What a gift.

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Yesterday was the equinox and to celebrate I made a dinner of shakshuka with asparagus. I hope you’re welcoming spring into your homes over the weekend. I’ll be taking the weekend to travel with my fellas, connect with extended family and friends, hit up some museums and bask in the inventive imagination of my son.

xoxo
Mel/Belle