Home Again, Home Again...

Hi there, everyone! :D Here I am (Caroline) back in Victoria, it's a beautiful sunshiney day - but just not the same without the other Elemental Tour folk... sigh! :D

We had a wonderful time of it, and our hosts along the way were indeed great. I'd like to thank everyone who helped, supported, came out to shows and helped with communications and bookings -- thanks to all of you - you are the best! :D We could not (seriously) have done it all without you.

It's not quite over yet -- still waiting for James and Cat Ratsusny to get back from their whirlwind cross Canada tour so we can have an end of tour bash here in Victoria, and I still have the Artswells festival to go to in Wells at the end of the month, which I'm excited about.

Some of the tour folk have put up some tour notes -- you can visit Chris' notes here:
http://www.chrisbelsito.com/news.html
And James' notes on the tour here:
http://www.geocities.com/kasper1970/journal2.html

So after Calgary - which was pretty nifty cool - except for extreme mosquitoes and a wayward mic stand!, Catherine, Lindsay and I headed off to Invermere, BC for the Mosaic Mountain Festival of the Arts. The people in the town were absolutely fantastic to us - everyone was very supportive and enjoyed our music very much, rain aside. We did want to busk, but were so caught up with enjoying the other musicians and each other's company that we didn't get around to it - drat! maybe next time. But we ended up going to the local Irish pub and hearing wonderful local music and playing a few more songs to an avid audience. We then got to go with Gordon to his geodesic dome house out on the water, which was great. He told us all about 'elementals' and we played music with he and John... well, Lindsay did -- Catherine and I sang. It was pretty cool though.

In the morning, we left the beautiful valley and headed on our way to Vancouver. Lindsay ended up listening to a very bizarre radio station, which turned out to be my car cd player - so we played a joke on Catherine - which I think Lindsay will still have to pay for.... 'one eye open, Lindsay' - hahaha :D

We arrived at the outskirts of Vancouver to find there was some kind of accident that held us up for over an hour and a half. People were just getting out of their cars, walking their dogs, playing football, right in the middle of the road where there was quite a parklike treespace and grass.

With Lindsay's impeccable sense of direction, we ended up finding the club in enough time to do two short sets which went over well with the regulars. We then pressed on and went to our host, Rachel's lovely and very artistic apartment in North Vancouver. Thanks to Rachel for being a godsend. :D

Next morning, we all trekked up to Capilano suspension bridge and wandered around. It was a bit of a let down for me, though I'm not sure what Catherine and Lindsay thought of it. But it just reminded me of just down the road from my house - big trees, ferns, water, flowers, etc. sans the big bridge and touristy elements. But it was nice to be in the forest with Catherine and Lindsay -- a little bit of BC to take home with them.

They were soon on their way -- heading back to Thunder Bay for the Blues Festival. I had a blues festival of sorts myself, missing everyone! :D

Anyway, you can read all about the other stops up to Regina on Chris' news page. Chris and Dan were incredible people I was glad to meet and hang out with. I have officially adopted them, they are mine forever now... mwahahah -- but seriously, we got along great -- and I am in love with all of Chris' songs and thank goodness I have a copy of his upcoming cd as I don't know what I'd do without hearing the songs every day. :D Chris was a very interesting person to meet as we have so many quirks in common, it was kind of strange, in fact. I think we must have been separated at birth... I know we drove Dan nuts with our bookend indecisiveness. Haha -- well, Dan - you are great - and if you are reading this - e-mail me! I hope you are playing guitar a lot.

I will write more soon - right now I'm going to go out and enjoy some of the sunny day. If anyone has seen my cream with pink flowers scarf, please let me know - I think I left it in Kingston, but I'm not sure.

Thanks - and back again soon.... we're going to put the photos and video together and post it at some point, so you can experience the wonder of the elemental journey too... :D

Quickie from Calgary

First off -- I look like a tomato in my Toronto photos -- burnt! :D Still burnt but more brown now. I am SO unphotogenic - bleh! Ok, there - my vanity outburst - hahaha! :D

Well, we are having a BLAST! In Winnipeg, this guy who played with George Harrison, Joe Cocker, David Bowie -- harmonica player -- he got up on stage and played my whole set with me. And he played a few songs with Cat Taddo too - v. cool! :D

In Calgary -- James joins us tonight. Gotta run! :D

Love to you all!!! And we miss Chris and Dan so much already -- we love you guys! :D Wish we could have had a bus and taken everyone right across -- but NEXT TIME! Yep, already planning the next group tour! :D

So folks, if you are around here -- see you tonight in Calgary -- if not, Invermere

and have a very happy Canada Day!! :D
xo

P.S. We have a lot of photos and video clips and we'll put that together and post it here later. :D

Pictures from Toronto Show

CHRIS BELSITO IN ACTION

CAROLINE SPENCE, MISTRESS OF SONG

CAROLINE AGAIN

CROWD SHOT

CHRIS SIDE STAGE

Toronto Pictures, Part Deux

THE OH SO VILE RICHARD!!!

KEEP ON ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD, EH?

CATHERINE OF THE KICKA$$ VOICE

CATHERINE AND LINDSAY

Elemental Tour hits some elements!

Hey all! Things are going great -- Caroline here, in Ottawa - on the 5th day of the tour! The launch in Toronto went well -- got to meet Catherine Taddo and Lindsay Pugh, as well as Chris Belsito - all very lovely people - and SOOOOOO talented. It is a delight to hear them play every night. Also a nice reunion with the Vile Richard folks -- their music and their antics are still as entertaining as ever! Now with banjo! Very cool! :D

Catherine, Lindsay and Chris and his brother, and very lovely roadie (and part time videographer), Dan -- in separate cars, both hit very weird weather in Ontario -- Catherine drove into the tail end of a tornado outside of Barrie -- and Chris had a rain storm that made the highway a river of water, followed by a sea of frogs. He was calling it 'frogger in reverse'... :D

The show in Kingston was great - good crowd out -- and again at the Cock and Bull last night. I was happy to be visited by the lovely, Marianne Girard - one of Ontario's finest folk singers - one of the old school. That was a nice treat.

This morning - went to the CKLU radio station here in Ottawa - at Carleton University - Rachel, who hosts the show with her dad, was kind enough to come check out our show the night before. So she was up bright and early for the radio show. Got Chris B and the Vile Richard folk doing live performances -- Catherine did a nice interview, her songs sounded fantastic on air. And I, after getting completely lost (note to self, do not copy directions after an energetic set, late into the evening and with a big jiffy marker - they are kind of indecipherable in the morning) and arriving a million miles late, and not expecting to get on air anyway - ended up having Rachel grab my cd and pop in on anyway! So that was cool --

So far, good times -- tonight going to both shows -- will report back in a couple of days.

Am amazed by the talent -- hope you get to come out and see it -- check the tour dates www.elementaltour.com -- it is a real treat! Come hang out and get a hug from me too....

Caroline :D

Toronto Kickoff!!!

Hi there!

Melissa here from Toronto HQ. Let's just say ELEMENTAL is the perfect name for this tour, as it seems the forces of nature are attempting to conspire against indie music ... floods, tornadoes, frogs, extreme heat, computer problems ...

But the Toronto kickoff for the Elemental Tour at the Cameron House defeated all these for a phenomenal night of music! The elements will not hold this group of musicians back!!!

Each artist brought a very unique and thoroughy entertaining twist to their performances. Caroline's really developed songs that I recalled hearing in their fetal stages (before she moved back to BC) into beautiful little babies! This was the first time I'd met Chris B., and seen him perform, and I have to say, he was sincere and compelling. Catherine, again, a first for me, and what a powerhouse voice. To both Catherine and Chris, Toronto needs to see and hear more of you!!! Vile Richard (a.k.a. Olaf and Chris S.) ended the night on a fun note, complete with the requisite Neil Young cover which they invited all the performers on stage for.

Pics will follow from the evening, so those of you that weren't there can drool at all the fun we had!

Here's hoping the rest of the tour is kickin' some Canadian tail!!! And here's to seeing good friends again, and making new friends!

Over & Out,
Melissa

Caroline Leaves North Saanich to Drive to Ontario - in moments

Hey there, all you avid tour watchers -- I am leaving in mere moments to head across Canadaland! I have had no sleep... I am going to see how long I can go before I really just want to lay my head in the scrambled eggs at the buffet.... we'll see if I can hold out... haha :D
Huggoos
Caroline :D

ELEMENTAL TOUR

Welcome to the Elemental Tour Blog... watch here for commentary from Catherine, Caroline, Chris, James, Andrew, Olaf and friends as the tour planning progresses. And when the tour begins, keep an eye here for on the road journalling, audio blogging and other goodies. Thanks for visiting - and if you want more information, please join our mailing list.