Across Canada

Hey All,

I am gearing up for the long way home. Seriously, we are starting in New Brunswick, and ending on Vancouver Island…. literally coast to coast, now that IS the long way home…

I am excited to be doing my first headlining Canadian tour in ages. Over the past several years, I have been on the bill with other major American acts (Brad Paisley, Big and Rich) as the middle act on a package tour. I make jokes that I am the act that the Americans pick up at the border and put on the bill to help sell extra tickets in Canada, then drop me back off on their way back and leave me to fend for myself…. HA.

Anyway, this time I am going to be doing my full shows, in some nice theaters and performing arts centers, and Dean Brody will be opening the shows all across the country as well. He is a new, up and coming artist who just won his first CCMA award last month. Anita will be doing her short acoustic set as well before Dean comes out, so be sure everyone gets to their seats in plenty of time so as not to miss out on all the talent.

I will be signing autographs at the merch table after the shows, as long as my health, and my voice are holding up. It’s a barnburner, and a tough schedule for me vocally, so I need to be sure I take care of my voice so I can sing night after night. A lot of times it’s the excessive talking that gets me. I am really looking forward to going to some tiny places that we have never been before…it will be an adventure.

I am having a special hoodie made for the tour- it is badass if I do say so myself- hell, I would wear it if my name weren’t on it- maybe I will anyway. I am also partnering up with Canada’s #1 clothing line “Joe Fresh.” I will be doing some in store appearances across the country during the tour wearing my “Fresh” new clothes…very exciting!

My Dad and his wife drove down to spend Canadian Thanksgiving tomorrow; good thing she knows how to do a turkey. They brought their Harley Davidson’s down to ride, but it looks like rain this week, so we are a little bummed. We are taking a ride today. I remember years ago I bought one, and had a mishap. I got nervous about injuries and not being able to play guitar after that. However, I have purchased another one, and am planning to take the motorcycle course to insure that does not happen again. I will just be riding “bitch” until then.

The new single “If You Want Fire” is doing GREAT in Canada. Even better than “Gypsy Boots.” It looks like it will go to # 8 next week…. top ten already! Seeing as how, our plan for independent radio promotion in the U.S. didn’t really propel Gypsy up the chart, I have decided not to invest any more money in promoting myself at radio here in the US. I can save the money to buy chrome!!! HA. XM plays me, and GAC plays the video, and there is so much online now, it’s ok. My home and native land has been awesome, welcoming, and supportive and I will continue to focus my energies on the radio folks up there who are playing my music.

The last thing I intend to do is bail on my U.S. fans, or stop playing shows down here, so we are coming up with a plan that will make sense, feed my soul, and allow me to get to the U.S. folks who are true fans of my music. I love the idea of playing the “hip” little listening rooms such as “The Fine Line”, and ”The Birchmere,” as opposed to every corn dog stand and county fair across the Midwest with the full production show.

I will make less money, but it will feed my soul to do this so much more. It’s not about the money for me anymore; it’s about doing what matters to me. I am considering focusing on doing a string of acoustic shows sometime this winter and spring in major cities, and promoting the new record that way.

It means more to me to know 300 people showed up because they want to hear me play and sing, rather than play fairs under less than favorable conditions, or be in afternoon slots in a long lineup of acts at festivals. Don’t get me wrong, playing fairs and festivals for 14 years are what have enabled me to make and fund this record myself, and tour the way I want to now; so thank God for them. I am truly grateful for all those years of steady work, but other than the odd run here or there (IF it makes sense), my heart isn’t into that kind of touring anymore, and I want to do something different now. A lot of my full production touring will be in Canada from this point on, as I am sure many of you can see, it would make sense. I guess I need to beef up on my winter driving skills EH???

I am going to sign off now. Stay warm, and Happy Thanksgiving to all the Canuks, and Happy Halloween and “early” Thanksgiving to everyone else. I am doing a practice run tomorrow….yay…

xoxox
TC