Many thanks to everyone who came out to see me play at Cafe Deux Soleils last night! It was great to make some music and see faces, familiar and new, nodding along.

There is truly never a dull moment on The Drive. Midway through the first set, a scuffle broke out in the audience, bringing the show to a temporary halt. It was tense for a while, and no one knew what the Angry Guy would do next, though he did eventually leave. The cops showed up a few minutes later to keep him away, when one of the staff spied him in the back alley with a “big stick”.

In the end, though, it was a lot of fun, and definitely memorable for my first Vancouver show!

The audience got involved, picking their favorite of three songs by Ron Sexsmith, The Zombies, and Tom Waits respectively. Their votes decided which song will launch my new Cover Of The Month feature. Check back here tomorrow to hear the winning song, and to download a free mp3!

I hit the open mic circuit this week, hoping to get the word out about my show at Cafe Deux Soleils on the 30th. What I found is that, not unlike Vancouver itself, the open mic scene is mutable and full of surprises.

Wednesday night, I went to The Wired Monk in Kitsilano and found a mellow, intimate crowd. The performers sat against a wall, inches away from their listeners, who circled their chairs close to hear. A great way for performers to connect with their audience, but alas, I personally was out of luck that evening. The jam shut down early because of the fireworks, and sure enough the place was completely empty by 9:30.

The next night, I trucked my guitar on down to Cafe Deux Soleils itself, hoping to entice the crowd back for my show. When I arrived, I found the place packed and buzzing with excitement. Craig, CDS’s affable host, informed me that tonight was no ordinary open mic night - it was CDS’s fourth anniversary! So it wasn’t really “open” mic night, but rather a handpicked “best of CDS open mic” who would be playing that evening. “Stick around,” Craig said “it’s going to be really good!”

He wasn’t kidding.

What followed was possibly the most energetic and eclectic set of performers I’d ever seen in one place. First up was Ian, who beatboxed chill while playing basslines on his digeridoo. He was followed by Matt Hogan, whose short story reading captured the feminine voice of his narrator with jarring skill. Other standouts included the hilarious Fraser MacLean, the unearthly Francis Mantis, and the divine Christie Rose, who’s written some of the best and sunniest tunes I’ve heard in recent memory.

I walked out of the Cafe that night grinning ear to ear. Vancouver’s treasury of stories and songs is so rich, and I’ve barely begun to explore it! What an adventure it will be to hear, see, discover, and ultimately add to the collection.