I have been lucky enough to have family in Canada, and as a result have a strong connection to the country. My Gran's younger brother and sister both moved to Canada, after growing up in Wellington. They both had families, mainly on the eastern side of the country in Ontario and Quebec. My parents visited their cousins on their travels in their early 20's and it was only fitting that my sisters and I would one day too.
When I had visions of building Rhythm and Vines into a world class music festival my Mum suggested I go to Montreal and work for my cousin Bruce Hills. He is the COO of Just For Laughs a world reknown comedy festival there. I took the opportunity and I had a memorable summer working there, learning about the inner workings of a world class entertainment brand which I have in turn been able to pass on to my own company. I returned to Montreal last year and am always charmed by the quaint french-influenced city.
When another of Mum's cousins Derek Roulston was getting married in Vancouver at the end of last month it was a great chance to get up to the North West and catch up with my Canadian rellies. I hadn't met the West Coast cousins yet, and it was a short hop skip and a jump from my current base in Los Angeles.
After a three hour flight from LAX I popped up out of the underground to a grey and wet Vancouver afternoon. I hadn't seen rain for months! It reminded me a lot of autumnal Auckland as I jumped on the sky loop towards my Burnaby. This took me on a loop around the city and I got the full scale of the place. The surrounding suburbs were nestled between green forests at the base of towering mountain ranges. Fog hung in the air, creating a damp and muggy almost spooky, still and sombre atmosphere. The first thing I noticed was the ethnicities of the locals - asian faces everywhere, a sign of Canada opening its doors to far eastern investment. Apartments dotted the skyline that wouldn't be out of place in Shanghai or Hong Kong.
After catching up with the cousins, great aunts and uncles at the family dinner, my younger Damon cousin and I decided to have a beer in town. We met up with Joel Armstrong a DJ who had played at R&V in 2010. He took us to an authentic Japanese restaurant in trendy Gastown. Vancouver is known for its fresh sushi and I wasn't disappointed. Fresh, firm sashimi and spicy beef tataki all washed down with jugs of ice cold Saporo. Joel was a great insight into the vibrant music scene here and he took us for a quick look at the local club before we were back in bed ready for the celebrations ahead.
The next day was an early start with the service taking place at 10.30am in a quaint church. Derek and Anita had asked if I would be happy to sing a song during the signing of the registry. I wasn't familiar with their chosen song by a singer Don Fransisco - 'I could never promise you'. Don had been an established folk singer in the 1960's. He had written the song for his own wedding and the words were fitting to the occasion.
Don Fransico - I could never promise you
I performed it again at the reception along with my band Blackbird's song 'Hand in Hand'. It seemed a fitting kiwi tribute to my Canadian cousin and his new bride
Blackbird - Hand in Hand
After a patchy call back the Rhythm team in Auckland at the ferry terminal (Monday in NZ) I boarded the ferry bound for Pender Island. Once the ship passed through the straits we hit calmer warmers around the Gulf Island. It reminded me of the Malborough Sounds, with wooden cabins poking through the scrub with paths down the glassy shore. The sunset was magic, reflecting on the mirror-like Gulf. Whales popped out next to us much to the tourists delight. It was a serene and special moment.
After a good nights sleep at Adrian I awoke to a stunning bluebird day on Pender. After attending to some emails and writing I went for a run to get my bearings. The air was sticky and sweet - you could almost smell the summer that hung thick around me. Retired folk chipped away on the pristine local golf course. Bees buzzed and birds swooped as I covered the 6 or so mile loop. Pender reminded me of time spent in Lake Tahoe - tall pine trees flanking winding roads, that hugged the dark blue shoreline. This time of course was sea rather than lake but the same boulders and pebbles freckled the calm waters.
On my return I took my guitar down to the local beach and had a little jam. I was able to start writing a song called 'Slowly' based on a riff I had been tampering around with for years. Song writing is an interesting process. My technique is to start with the riff or a chord progression. Ive got a number of them I've written over the years so I run through them until one sticks. I play it over and over again scatting and humming along until I have a melody. Then I start to form the lyrics around the melody. As in the case with 'Slowly' I came up with the chorus quickly which gave the song context. I took out my iphone and recorded me playing the riff mumbling some words around the topic, that being slowly falling in love with someone. I could easily tidy up the lyrics at a later date which I intend to. There is also a harmonica part for this song that I had written previously which I will throw in the mix too.
Adrian came home from his job as a local Park Ranger and we fired up the BBQ with Jodie and their daughter Kora. It was great recounting stories of their time in in NZ, some memories of which I had not thought about for year. We laughed about a memorable Blackbird tour of the country, 6 shows in 6 nights leaving us broken and bruised. And the early days of R&V when Adrian and Jody lived on Waiohika woofing to help prepare the venue for the impending festivities. And promoting a NZ tour for a legendary Canadian band we both loved - Bedouin Soundclash. We dug out some old photos and listened to some old music we had recorded together years ago.
Bedouin Soundclash - When the night feels my song
The next morning was Canada Day. I borrowed Jodie's scooter and I zipped down to the local parade. Cora was singing the national anthem in the service, as flags were raised and speeches of past glories ensued. She had been under 10 in NZ and now was 14, I had hardly recognised the same girl who used to run around Waiohika those many summers ago. We went back and picked fresh cherries and strawberries at Jodies farm, juicy and sweet. I caught a bit of the USA v Belgium game before a lazy afternoon spent lake side at Higgs Beach taking in the stunning distant views of Seattle mountain line.
Another BBQ that night, Adrian I chewed the fat and enjoyed the sunset over the lake. I felt relaxed and rejuvenated for my next chapter back in the jungle of LA. It had been a non-stop 2.5 months since my arrival so nice to take some time and reflect and set some new goals for the coming months ahead.
Although a memorable wedding and a relaxing time in the Gulf Island, I feel I didn't get the full Vancouver experience on this trip. I intend to experience the city's bars and restaurants, bike along the shoreline and take in the breathtaking views of the mountains that signify this most liveable city. Maybe in the winter time to experience Whistler too. O'Canada with glowing hearts we see the rise - the true north strong and free!
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