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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