Some sideways snow and a slightly delayed flight affords a quick moment here in St. John’s Airport.  I am hoping an airplane lands here shortly and ferries me back to Toronto to rejoin the Barenaked Ladies Tour in Hamilton tonight.  Me and The Beautiful Gypsies have been having a ball on the road with Ed, Jim, Kevin and Tyler and all the crew.  We’ve been treated like family since Day 1 and I’ll be forever grateful to them for this opportunity to play some old and new tunes for a bunch of new people.

I’ve been missing playing longer full shows and I have not done an honest to God opening tour since GBS opened for Runrig in Europe in 2002, I think.  But I have to say, I’ve enjoyed the chance to warm up the crowd and get it all done quickly.  Its also been very gracious of Ed and the boys to ask us back for a song or two in the BNL set, which I have described as follows…cool new tune, hit sing, hit song, hit song you forgot about, some charmingly honest improvised rap about the day we’ve had in the town, cool new tune, hit song, hit song, cool guest spots, hit song, hit song, really big international hit song, Canadian classic, Canadian classic, sing along, something funny, goodnight.  It is awesome.

When Ed asked me to sing Lovers in a Dangerous Time with them, he wondered if I knew it.  I answered honestly.   ‘Ed, I figure I’ve been singing that song about two weeks less than you.’  I started singing that song in pubs the moment I heard it first.  One of my fav covers of all time.

When GBS went into record our first blue cassette in 1993, we brought in the BNL Yellow tape as inspiration and guidance.  We figured if one of the biggest bands in Canada could make a living singing acoustic driven music, then maybe we could too.  It has been positively surreal some nights to stand on stage with them and be treated like and equal and a pal.  I am a Lucky Bastard.

The tour continues tonight in Hamilton.  Very happy to report a plane has emerged from the snow and we are boarding.

Love to see you at the last few shows this week.  All the info on the tour page.

Cheers,
Alan