**Forgive me, heat stroke has set in and the batteries died on my recorder. There was a lot to absorb, but I remember quite a bit from my day in heaven!
Had an EPIC weekend!
Well Saturday! Packed more excitement into one day then I have all week!
Arrived at the festival around 12:30 my foot crossed the threshold of the gate and the sweet notes of St.Andrew's Bridge (Hello Beautiful) filled my ears!
Of course I leaped and bounded to the stage! "Hi Guys!!!" *waves*
The crowd was a little sparse at this point but absorbed the tunes like no ones business!
Sunshine and HAWT weather welcomed the concert goers.
A bunch of Booths were set up along the fence line.
Food, drink, merch and radio stations aplenty.
Wondered my way back stage to a beehive of activity it was a shock at first but assimilation wasn't far behind before I knew it I was dancing with Pat Roach (Randy - Trailer Park Boys) and brushing shoulders with artists like 'The Joys', ' Amanda Rheaume', 'illscarlet', 'Hello Beautiful', 'The Free Press', 'The Arkells' (out of Edmonton), 'Kardinal Official' and many more.
I wasn't so much as astonished by the humble-ness of these artists but by their ability to welcome me as a friend. Everyone was so nice! Everyone answered any questions I had about them and 'The Biz' and welcomed the casual conversation.
*drooling*
The GIBSON GUITAR tour bus.
....OMG OMG OMG
Imagine this...some of the most BEAUTIFUL guitars in the world sitting there BEGGING to be touched ACHING to be played.
*play me! play me!*
Eric Alper and Zoltan Varadi lead the way up to heaven.
"Do you want something to drink? Eat? Come on it, isn't this air conditioning AWESOME"
....Or something along those lines.
As we sipped away on soft drinks we chatted around the hour glass body table.
"HOW did you get into this business Eric?!"
Eric explained about being surrounded by music his entire life.
His Grandfather owned one of the hippest bars in Toronto...
somewhere in this conversation the term "music snob" arose to my amusement...I thought I was the only one who used that term! Music snobs unite! hahaha!
Eric engulfed himself in music he says "I couldn't play, I CAN'T play an instrument for the life of me but if anyone wanted a certain song they knew it was me to come to"
He started a record company then realized in order for his artists to play he'd need to promote them, that they needed all SORTS of things to make an artist flourish the snowball effect seemed to take place and an umbrella covered all the bases, keeping the artists out of the rain.
People started to take note in Eric's ability to Promote and was offered a job.
"How's this go down Eric?"
One of the Big wigs offered Eric a job and asked what his salary would be. Eric asked for "one copy of the CDs from every artist on the label" and just enough to basically cover his rent!
"YOU'RE INSANE" That was what Eric was told. Insane maybe not, risk taker? OH HELL YA! :D
"On any given day I was working with heavy metal, to urban, to pop to heavy metal again" vibrating with energy and enthusiasm Eric explained how the pieces of his career came together "Now I pick and choose and MAKE my day".
Old fret boards held up signed photo's and old ticket stubs from amazing concerts including ZZ Top's Casino Tour 2002.
"Crap I lost my phone!" - Eric
Our chat ended abruptly but I was happy to have captured a few minutes of Eric's time and that I could help him find his phone haha!
As he scoured the hay field I poked my nose around to take in more and more awesome!
Amps built into the walls and MORE guitars.
The beds FILLED with guitars. There was at LEAST 16 guitars!
"SOUUUUUUUUUUL it's on your sleeeeeeeeeeeeEEEVE! SO-OOOUL it'll give you what you need!"
*booking it two stage 2
Awh 'The Joys'! Like comfort food for the soul.
These guys ROCKED it like nobody's business.
Most energy all day and THAT is saying a LOT.
(Buy their CD!! haha shameless plug www.thejoys.ca)
Half way through the set Sarah invited Amanda Rheaume up on stage they did an exceptional version of Janis Joplin's 'Me and Bobby McGee'.
Then continued to finish off their set with thunderous energy and excitement!
Off stage they slowly worked their way out of the performing high. We chatted for a bit then the screaming started....
"La di dadi dah"
Snopp Dogg hit the stage. Full band, something you RARELY see in a rap artist's set and a refreshing change from the excessive use of air horns and DJ's.
Just Sayin'
To be continued....
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