Month: November 2016

As promised last week, the demo of Runner Up. There are still glitches, as I still learn out to use Logic, rather than old trusty Garageband. Consider it a first draft. It was a challenge to do, self-indulgent and a lot of fun, particularly with the Mellotron track. Prog-Rock lives on. For an interesting demo of the Mellotron by Sir Paul McCartney, click here. Of course, I have no idea how I can play this live.

As also mentioned last time, I caught Park Eddy at the Linsmore. Even without Giordan Postorino on guitar, they put on a great show. Alan Zemaitis provided the chordal backbone on keyboards and ripped some awesome solos in between, Andrew Pacheco on bass was steady on, and Kyle Sullivan, Toronto’s most popular substitute drummer, sat in for Lowell Whitty and nailed it, as usual. But it’s Chloe Watkinson who is the band’s beating heart. When she sings, you are transported back to a time when emotional integrity rather than vocal acrobatics mattered. Chloe finds the note and doesn’t let go until she has squeezed every drop of soul out of it. She has the gift or being able to channel the essence of great rock vocalists like Aretha Franklin and Paul Rodgers.

I even heard a flavouring of Steve Marriott. It would be cool to hear the band do some Small Faces or even Humble Pie just to confirm that idea.

Park Eddy’s originals are catchy (get their album here), and their covers sound fresh, covering a surprisingly broad range of styles, but somehow a perfect fit for the band. I know that most of you reading this blog missed the show, you can catch them on December 9th at Grossman’s.

In gig news, I am happy to announce that we are back at the Amsterdam Bicycle Club, on Thursday, December 15, 2016, starting at 10 PM. Come on out and show the Holiday spirit by supporting live music. You can always sleep on the weekend!

Until next week, be well!

 

I’ve got a new song inspired by recent political shenanigans and loosely connected thoughts and events. Wanna hear it?

You have a choice:

Wait a week or so for me to finish recording the demo, or better yet, come to Relish tonight to hear me premiere it live.

Here are the lyrics as a teaser:

Runner Up ©2016 R. Pelletier/Félix and the Cats

Intro

Verse 1
I am the drunk that sings along
The same words to each different song
I’m Major Tom, I’m an Old Man,
It doesn’t matter, there’s no plan
The guitar player calls my bluff
It’s clear he’s really had enough
But it’s not me who’s seeking fame
Why should I be the one to blame?

Chorus
It’s easier to crash and burn
Than make the effort to relearn
Better to raze it flat than up
Better dead last than runner up

Verse 2
I am the man, the one unknown
Desperately checking on my phone
For reassurance from the world
Where striped and starry flags unfurl
But little birds can only croak
Their sharp and disappointing joke
The man upon the stump is king
The bell is cracked and cannot ring

Chorus

Verse 3
No one will listen anymore
My voice is lost, my life ignored
But others angrier will shout
The cursed words I can’t let out
And decree with their shrill demands
My fate be in their tiny hands
While stubby fingers punch the code
To make the torrid world explode

Bridge
I close my eyes and hold my breath
And stay under until it’s past
Will sun dogs greet me when I rise
Or will the skies be overcast?

Instrumental out

If you can make it, check out Park Eddy this Thursday at the Linsmore. Park Eddy is a super awesome cover band featuring one of the best rock vocalists I’ve heard in a very long time, Chloe Watkinson, and keyboardist extraordinaire and occasional Cat, Alan Zemaitis.

Until next week, be well!

In non-Trump related news, this past week was characterized by more non-Félix and the Cats activities. The day job took me to Niagara Falls for a conference which I have been attending regularly for years. Each year, a small group of attendees have gotten together to jam, and I wanted to make this one even more prominent. I have to thank fellow attendee/players Norm Hartshorne (whom I spoke of in an earlier post here), Chris Demers and Andrew Foster from SRB for putting up with my insistence on how things should run, conference organizers Leslie Boerkamp and Cathy Tier for their enthusiastic support, and Peter Pakjou at Securelinks for online wizardry. A special thanks to Sheri Katz at Long and McQuade for special prizes!

 

In the end, we played twice, loosely but with spirit, and some great people sat in both times. We tried to stick to crowd-pleasers, too, and it seemed to work best that way.

I had expected this would be my last conference and opportunity to do this, and if so, it was great! If by chance circumstances change, I look forward to doing it again.

Here is a brief clip of the band doing Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville (one of those songs we play but never admit to – hence the shoegazing) with me desperately trying to kick it up into a rockier groove. The hip shot near the end is particularly funny!

Video courtesy of Leslie Boerkamp.

Until next time, be well!

Just a short post this week.

First, a belated and huge thanks to friends who came out to support us at the Linsmore Tavern on October 25. After a frantic search for cymbals, oddly referred to as breakables in percussion parlance, we started late but eager. Many thanks as well to the Dial-up Raiders for the aforementioned cymbal scavenger hunt (and the friend who came through), and to Mary-Elizabeth Gilbert for curating Indie Tuesdays, and ongoing encouragement. If the Linsmore ownership reads this, we’d love to do a full evening. Give me a call!

The Amsterdam Bicycle Club gig the following Saturday had a different vibe. Always welcoming, for sure — thanks to Tim and the staff! As challenging as an 11:oo o’clock start is for rustling up a crowd, we did well, and pleased all, or almost. Coulda played some Rolling Stones songs to make that 100%, I guess. Here is something for those gals!

This week is busy due to the day job, but I managed to squeeze out a moment of inspiration. I have a new song in the works, springing from a single idea. If all goes well, I might even have a sample ready for next week. Wish me luck.

In the meantime, be well!