Monday, July 14, 2014

The Oppenheimer Report 7/14/14




Last week I was in Huntsville to pick up Shauna’s long-belated 20th anniversary gift; my small token of jewelry for her to congratulate her for lasting nine rounds with me (so far). While I was in town, I figured I would stop by Hunter’s Bay Radio and drop off a CD of the six songs Juan and I have completed thus far. HBR has encouraged me to give them some of my music, suggesting they might play it on the radio. While I have never been much good at promoting myself, I have come to realize that no one else is going to do it. Finally, I have some halfway listenable versions of my songs to present, so why not get it out there? I wasn’t too shy to stand in front of a microphone and broadcast my decidedly flawed performances on the radio, so I should not be shy about promoting a studio recording as well. I am reminded of a joke my dad used to tell about the guy who prays to God for a winning lottery ticket. Years go by, the guy prays every day, and still no winning ticket. Finally, the guy asks “Why do you forsake me Lord, why no winner after so many years?”  The clouds part and a thunderous voice from above yells angrily, “Meet me halfway …. Buy a ticket!”

When I arrived at HBR, just about to walk in, I noticed through the window that there was a live performance airing, and figured I’d come back later. James Caroll, the interviewer, who knows me and saw me peeking through the window, waved me in. Feeling a little awkward, I sat in on the tail end of the interview, and I just figured I was watching one of the many local songwriters I have yet to meet. But the performer looked vaguely familiar. Turns out it was Alan Doyle of the very successful Maritimes band Great Big Sea, and he blew me away with his talent. What a voice! He was in town to perform at The Algonquin Theatre that night. Before his interview was over, several more people ambled in, and Doyle joked with Caroll about how HBR truly was one the few remaining community radio stations in Canada. True to the reputation that Maritimers have as a friendly bunch, Doyle seemed like a great guy. It did not faze him a bit that people walked in while he was singing, and he reacted as if he were welcoming people into his kitchen. He was affable and from what I could tell, humble. Shauna and I tried last minute to get tickets to his show that night, but of course, it was sold out. I did download a Great Big Sea album and Doyle’s solo album Boy on Bridge (good album by the way). It’s funny, because I’d been meaning to buy some of the music of Great Big Sea for a while now, ever since I watched and enjoyed them performing on television a few years ago. I just never got around to it. What a great reminder!

Tomorrow night is my first Tree Ring Tuesday performance, and I am a little nervous. I have now heard almost all of the other artists who are performing in this series and they are better musicians than I. I suffer from the mild apprehension that I may be out of my league. My first “gig” is just up the road in Burk’s Falls, at a restaurant called Dee’s, and my fellow songwriter for this performance is Huntsville songwriter James Jones. While I doubt this will be well attended, I am nervous about playing to a fellow songwriter. All of these folks have a CD to promote and some (many) of them do this for a living. Really, what was I thinking? No guts no glory.

Final note. For many summers passed there was a guy down the bay from us who used to come out of his cottage and wave to me with both arms every time I passed in a boat. It was just something he did for everyone he knew. That small, friendly gesture always made me smile, and though I did not know Barry Fry well, I’d seem him at Doe Lake Association meetings, and I thought he was a good guy. I heard he was gravely ill, and this summer the house has been empty. It makes me sad, and I know it’s such a little thing, but I miss his small gestures of kindness. Yesterday, I found out that he’d recently passed on, and though we were not close friends, I’ll be waving at that house for a long time to come. I think maybe a lot of people will. Rest in Peace Barry.     

Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2014 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
 

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