Officially, Family Day in Alberta was created to recognize the values of the pioneers that built this province and the values of home and family. It is celebrated in a lot of ways but in Edmonton this year it seemed to be “Take the Family to West Edmonton Mall Day”. That’s how we spent it, our family and everyone else’s family. Lesley’s sister, Laura, who was here visiting, wanted to go to the mall so we spent the better part of the day there. The girls had gift cards that they received as Christmas gifts so they had a blast shopping in the various stores. I spent most of the time sitting on benches or pacing the hallways, trying to stay out of the mayhem at the mall. I did enjoy a nice ice cream cone at Purdy’s though.
Feel That Fire - On Tour With Dierks
I was on the road for the better part of week between February 17th and February 22nd. I was working with Dierks Bentley, who was opening for Brad Paisley on his Paisley Party Tour of Canada. We hit 5 cities in 5 nights in 3 different provinces.
My first stop was Winnipeg on Tuesday, the 17th. I flew in and had just enough time to grab a quick lunch with a few radio friends before making my way to the MTS Centre for Dierks’ media schedule. After the show, Dierks and some of his crew went out to Earls for a late dinner and a few drinks before their bus rolled to Regina. I broke my digital camera that night and was not a happy camper about it.
I flew into Regina on the morning of the 18th. Again, I had enough time to visit with a couple of radio people and then had to make my way to the Brandt Centre for Dierks’ interview schedule. I had a good visit with Brad Paisley’s guitar tech, Chad Weaver, who used to work with Terri Clark and then went out shopping for a new camera before the meet and greet.
On the morning of the 19th I visited with a few more radio folks in Regina before driving my rental car north to Saskatoon. It was funny to run into Brad Johner in the small town of Chamberlain, Saskatchewan. I spotted Brad putting gas in the family vehicle as I was driving through town. I had to stop and snap a quick shot with my new camera. This was real life “Corner Gas”. Chamberlain is the real cross-roads of Saskatchewan. It’s really nothing more than a few gas stations and motels at the intersection of a couple of the provinces major highways. Running into one of Saskatchewan’s biggest music stars in Chamberlain was a perfect moment of pure Canadiana.
On the drive up to Saskatoon I got word from Dierks Bentley’s Tour Manager that Dierks needed to change his entire interview schedule for that day in Saskatoon. Dierks had an opportunity to skate with the Saskatoon Blades team at their practice that afternoon. I got busy on my cell phone and moved all the interview times around and then hustled into Saskatoon to go and watch Dierks take part in a real WHL team practice. I was impressed that Dierks didn’t look too far out of place during the drills. The highlight was when Dierks was put on the spot by the coaching staff at the end of practice. They challenged Dierks to a shootout scenario as the whole team watched on. If Dierks scored the practice would be over. If he missed, the whole team had to do wind sprints. Dierks said he has never felt so much pressure, not even when he first opened for George Strait in front of 70,000 people. What he didn’t know is that the goalie was going to let him score. All Dierks needed to do was shoot for one of the corners. He made his moves and decided to try to beat the goalie between the legs. The goalie turtled, giving Dierks plenty of net to shoot at. Unfortunately, because he decided to shoot “5 hole” he hit the goalie as he flopped awkwardly. Everyone had a good laugh. Luckily I had bought my new camera in Regina the night before as I ended up having to take some pictures of Dierks and the Blades players, as the team’s camera battery died before practice was over.
Friday, the 19th, I flew home to Edmonton. I went straight from the airport to Rexall Place for Dierks’ media schedule and then got things set up for his pre-show meet and greet. After Dierks’ set I got to hang out with Oilers players Sheldon Souray and Dustin Penner as we watched Brad Paisley’s show from the side of the stage and from the soundboard out front. During Brad Paisley’s set, Dierks, Crystal Shawanda, Shane Yellowbird and Gord Bamford went up on stage to sing “Alcohol” with Brad. After the concert we made plans to go out but Dierks ended up having to leave early so I ended up going out with Souray, Penner, Shane Yellowbird and a few of their friends to the 100 Club for a bit.
On Saturday morning I drove down to Calgary for the last of the 5 shows in 5 nights run. I got to hang out with a few friends during the show and had a few drinks after the show as well. I was exhausted after the run of dates though so I packed it in pretty early. I could easily have slept all day on the Sunday if I hadn’t had to check out of the hotel and drive home.
MONTH END STUFF
Three Stars of the Month:
1) Barack Obama – Visits Canada and makes great speech to joint session of Congress.
2) Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Dynamic duo cleaned up at the Grammy Awards.
3) Brad Slater & Lacey Kapler – For giving me their dinner reservations at Yanni’s Taverna on Valentine’s Day.
Milestones of the Month:
- 50th Anniversary of the “Day The Music Died” – plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper (Feb. 3rd).
- 45th Anniversary of The Beatles first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show (Feb. 13th)
- 100th Anniversary of the first Canadian Aircraft Flight (Feb. 23rd).
Best News this Month:
All 22 crew members of the Spanish fishing vessel “Monte Galineiro” rescued by the Canadian Coast Guard after ship sinks 400 kms off the coast of Newfoundland.
Weirdest News this Month:
Chris Brown allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, Rihanna, the night before the Grammy Awards.
Best Sporting Moments of the Month:
- The Pittsburgh Steelers win Superbowl XLIII in a close game with the Arizona Cardinals.
- Alex Rodriguez admits to steroid use. Now maybe the game can really clean up it’s act.
Best New Music of the Month:
Country: Dierks Bentley “Feel That Fire
Pop: Lily Allen “It’s Not Me, It’s You”.
Rock: GlasVegas “GlasVegas”.
Best Concert of the Month:
Brad Paisley / Dierks Bentley and Crystal Shawanda at Rexall Place in Edmonton (Feb. 20th). Gord Bamford and Shane Yellowbird joined the other three for “Alcohol” near the end of the show. Edmonton Oiler Sheldon Souray joined Dierks on stage during his set.
Best Reads of the Month:
- Johnny Cash: The Biography by Michael Streissguth.
- Rolling Stone Magazine’s “Barrack Obama and the Triumph of Hope” commemorative edition.
Best Screening of the Month:
The Buddy Holly Story – DVD.
Best Dining out this Month:
Valentine’s Dinner with Lesley at Yanni’s Taverna on Whyte Avenue.
I think it's very cool that (as far as I know) you've been chronicling your adventures with work for the last 3 years (probably more).
ReplyDeleteYou are going to love going back through it all one day.
And your girls are going to love reading it all when they're adults too.