Jim McCarty's show at Hugh's Room

Set up at Hugh’s Room at 4:30 and did a quick soundcheck. Larry Crowe our drummer was holding a drum clinic in Brampton so could only join us in the second set. We played the entire “Sitting On The Top Of Time” album and some Yardbirds hits Shapes of Things and For Your Love. Good Crowd and we got a standing ovation after our encore.

Live Radio interview and rehearsal

Jim and I had an interview at 9am at CIUT which is the campus radio station at the University of Toronto. They asked us to come back and do a live recording in April. We went from there directly to our rehearsal at Q music from 10am to 2pm.

Next day- travelling day

Met in the lobby at 6:30 am to catch the shuttle van for our 9:50 am flight back to Toronto. The Chrysler van kept stalling every half mile. The driver continually pulled over to restart the vehicle. Eventually we made it to the airport and made the flight on time.

Olivia's show

Some of Olivia’s fans had come from as far as England, New York and Texas and were singing along to all the songs as we played them. After the concert and Olivia had met her fans to sign autographs she invited us back to her hotel were she treated us and the crew to a late night banquet. We got back to our hotel around 1 am

Olvia Newton John Concert

We had a rehearsal at the venue and ran all the songs making small adjustments to the lights, staging and blocking. Then Olivia came and we went through the material again. After the practice we went back to the hotel for a few hours and then back to the venue to play the show. Here is the band and crew having a good luck shot of Zamu before the show.

Arrived in Philadelphia

Flew to Philadelphia via US Air. The band all met at Pearson Airport at 7:45 am for a 9:45 am flight. Everyone was there except Mark Lalama the pianist. He had planned to be at the airport at 6:45 but due to a major accident he was stuck on the QEW. Fortunately half an hour before the flight he arrived and was able to board the plane. Once we arrived in Philadelphia we were driven to West Chester for an afternoon rehearsal with Olivia. When we got there the stage was set up exactly the way it was in the rehearsals at the Sound Academy.

Rock Talk 1010

Did an appearance at 1010 Rock Talk this afternoon with Blair Packham. Jim McCarty, Mike Bowell and myself went into the studio. We performed the songs Hummingbird from Sitting On The Top Of Time. We also did a Christmas song which will be played during the season.

Tuesday Rehearsal for ONJ

Arrived again at 10 am at the Sound Academy for the second day of rehearsal. Olivia flew in from London, England the night before and was there to start going through the music with the band in the morning. This concert involves performing all the music from Olivia's CD Grace and Gratitude. ONJ has sung a few of the songs in her concerts through the years but most of the repertoire will be new to her as much as it is to the band. Because she is mounting this new show from scratch she also brought her choreographer friend Randy to help direct the look and blocking of the show. As we went through the songs it gave the lighting people to create the different lighting effects for each piece.

Purpose of Olivia's Event

This concert with Olivia Newton John is part of a two day Integrative Health Conference held this Friday March 26 and Saturday 27th at the campus of West Chester University in Philadelphia. This event is to benefit the ACEER Foundation (Amazon Center for Environmental Education and Research), the College of Health Sciences, and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre Appeal. For more information please visit http://www.wcupa.edu/aceer/onj/

Monday Rehearsal For Olivia Newton John

Arrived at the Sound Academy in Toronto at 10 am for the first rehearsal for the Olivia Newton John concert in Philadelphia this Saturday. The music director for the show is Amy Sky and the other musicians include Maury Lafoy (bass), Mark Lalama (keyboards), Lyle Molzan (drums), Mark Masri (voice) and Kevin Fox (cello and guitar). Because there is so much gear to set up it is around 1pm before we actually go on stage and start rehearsing. At this rehearsal they set up full sound, lights and staging exactly the way it will be done on Saturday night. After our rehearsal tomorrow the crew will dismantle everything. Then they will load all the sound equipment, instruments, lights in a truck and drive to the venue in Philadelphia.

Yardbirds in Winnipeg

I went to Winnipeg to see the Yardbirds show and help the band with their merchandaise. It was great to see Chris Deja (rhythm gtr), Ben King (Lead gtr)and Jim McCarty (drums) again. It was also nice to meet the new members Andy Mitchell (lead singer) and Dave Smale (bass).
Jim McCarty is coming to Toronto to play a solo gig at Hugh's Room Tuesday March 30th here in Toronto.

Music Student Scholarship Fund

Danny Lockwood & the Favorite Grooves played at the Downtown Arts Center in Hamilton in support of the Richard Newell Scholarship Fund. Richard Newell is better known as King Biscuit Boy the legendary blues harmonica player who died in 2003. The 7 piece band was funky, boppy, rocky and soulful. It was an absolute joy to watch with stellar performances by all members.

Meeting

Met Amy Sky at her house to discuss the March 27 show with Olivia Newton John in Philadelphia. At the concert we will be playing music from Olivia's Grace and Gratitude CD. The album was produced by Amy in 2006 and I had the good fortune of recording on the original tracks.