The Oppenheimer Report - 8/3/15

At 4pm yesterday, I was scheduled to play a short set at the Kearney Regatta, but the weather did not cooperate and regrettably, all events after 3pm were cancelled. I’d spent several hours over at the regatta on Saturday and attempted to record some of the other musical performances, but the wind was so strong that it interfered with the sound. During a few of the stronger wind gusts, we had to hold down the Hunters Bay Radio tent to keep it from blowing away. At one point, I had visions of being launched into the nearby lake, still holding onto the tent frame. Indeed, I had been looking forward to playing that venue because it promised to include a good-sized audience. There were even cool tie dye tee shirts printed up for the occasion, with a list of the featured musicians (myself included!). In fact, there was a sizable crowd gathered on Sunday, because there were lots of events to watch, but the high winds and rain hit about a half hour before I was to play, and the crowd as well as the concessions packed up and left. City Hall and Mother Nature, right? I later learned that the weather was even worse to the south of us and the severe weather spoiled more than a few outdoor events. While this cancellation was disappointing for me, I’m sure it was much worse for all the organizers who had put so much time and work into making the event happen. I am reminded of the ill-fated and money-losing Muskoka Sound music festival in Huntsville back in 2013, which was plagued by heavy rain and cold weather. The Burk’s Falls Country Jamboree will take place next weekend, and that is a Country music / Bluegrass festival I have been unable to attend for the past several years. This year, I intend to be there. Friday, weather permitting, we are looking forward to hearing Canadian guitar virtuoso Wendell Ferguson play. I am a bit nervous for the organizers, who are friends of mine; clearly this has not been a great summer for outdoor events.

Last week, I had my first correction from a new listener, who wrote to set me straight about the author of a song I played on my Lyrical Workers radio show. I immediately wrote the guy back and thanked him for the correction, and told him I would make note of it on the next show. I try to fact check the songs I play but sometimes I get it wrong. It is not always easy to determine the author of a song. Everyone remembers the artist who made the song famous. Sinatra made a hit out of New York New York, but how many people know (or care) who wrote it? John Kander and Fred Ebb is the answer. The listener who made the afore-mentioned correction is a musician himself, and asked me if I might listen to his original songs and perhaps air one of them. This is what I had hoped to accomplish with the show when I first agreed to do it: I want to expose some good original songs or covers that are not likely to be heard on commercial radio. If I have learned anything important in the past several months, it is that there are literally thousands of good songwriters out there of whom I have never heard. Each week, I get a new suggestion from some friend or fellow songwriter for someone I should hear. Inevitably, there is at least one pleasant surprise, and I am grateful for the education. Best of all, the show has made me a little less myopic about the different styles of song writing that appeal to me.

The big news in Canada this week is that PM Stephen Harper and his Conservative Government have called for a national election, which will take place Oct 19, 2015. I suppose the Conservatives feel that it is better to jump the starting gate rather than waiting for the opposition to mobilize. The left leaning NDP seems to be the biggest threat right now, with NDP leader Thomas Mulcair leading the charge. Liberal pretty boy Justin Trudeau is trailing in the polls but who knows what fickle voters might do. Unless Harper gets caught in juicy scandal, and not something boring like fiscal irresponsibility, I think his party will eat Trudeau alive. Justin comes across as a loose cannon. Albeit a charismatic leader, padre Pierre’s legacy is not something I think most Canadians want to resurrect. Then again, what does this yank know about Canadian politics? Not much is the answer; only what I glean from the media. Not so sure about the NDP. Canadians seem poised for a change from the controlling and secretive Darth Harper, so who knows. It might get interesting in the Fall.
- Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-