BRAIN ON FIRE

My brain is through the roof.. I have have so much in my head and quite a bit more to add to it. I'm looking forward to all my upcoming gigs.. the dirty swing band is a tight ship. I'm digging the challenge of building a solo act as well. I can confidently pull off one set.. two sets is a little more work.. I bet all the old veterans would laugh at me right now, cause they all know what it's like to sit up there and keep the crowd entertained and the music flowing for hours on end.. i'm pretty new at performing solo.. unless you count busking on Granville and Seymour for french fries and  green hair dye back in the early 90's. (i will always maintain that i made good money busking!)


SUMMER SCHEDULE with the DIRTY SWING BAND

July 7th The Heritage Grill (my birthday)

July 9th Music on the Wharf

July 21st Kingfishers Grill

August 3rd The Cellar Jazz Club

August 24th The Fairview

and a bunch of solo acts in between .. particularily happy to do a solo act with the Downtown Maple Ridge noon hour concert series.. just me and my guitar and the folks of 224th st at Memorial Park :)


a couple of interesting projects coming up at the Railway Club and a live radio broadcast.. I'll keep you posted..


and The Hardrock Miner's Singalong this Mon. July 2nd.. but that's a whole new blog ....

A LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT FROM SID VICIOUS

The music business is a tough place.. where I'm at anyway.. I'm learning how to hustle 

and it ain't easy. Lotsa bands, fewer and fewer venues. When I started this blog I wanted to keep a journal of my learnings 

and i haven't stopped learning yet.

#1 - when they all told me years ago to keep believing in myself they were right

#2 - nobody's gonna do anything for you so 

be thankful for everything because its a 

gift

#3 - listen to the bass player

#4 - grow the thickest hide possible and reinforce it with good faith

#5 - take risks and hope for the best

 I play music because I love it and I love 

the folks I play it with. Everyone will 

always have an opinion.. music is fairly subjective and we all know what we like. I just want it to be as good as it can be. Some folks support you, others don't, so don't 

rely on others for continued success. Don't stop promoting cause  a quality product is worth it. Life without performing live music would suck, so I'll carry on thank- you, I've still got some stripes to earn......

FOR THE LOVE OF LOUNGE..

www.reverbnation.com/wendybiscuit

So I've been digging into jazz standards and I've re-ignited an older passion.

I have wanted to be a lounge singer for as long as I can remember. They wear stunning gowns and quietly croon away beautiful melodies from the corner of the room.  

The music seems so thoughtfully written, I've fallen in love with every new song I've learned. I'm looking forward to performing some classics from Count Basie, more Billy Holiday, Sinatra, Anita O'Day, Julie London, Dinah Washington, Nat King Cole, Fats Waller and my very first favorite: the Gershwin brothers :)

A little departure from my 'blues muse' Memphis Minnie but I know what the old gal would say.. 'Do what makes you happy.' Well it all makes me happy but there's a calling that I simply can't ignore. More recording shall soon commence..and it's going to be a bit of original jazz.. a bossa nova and a swing...plus a little jive tune inspired by mr. ray ayotte..(he knows the one) 

It's getting there and I can't wait to give her a run!

Summer is here and the 'Dirty Swing Band' will all over the town. My usual and wonderful boys- Jack Lavin, Dave Webb, Marty Bernard and John Nolan..(joining us at The Fairview will be the great Jack Stafford on saxophone!!).. hopefully Mr. Koliger will grace a few of the stages as well..

May 26th- Falconetti's East Side Grill

June 1st- Blues on Broadway' at The Fairview 

July 7th- (MY BIRTHDAY!!) Heritage Grill

July 9th- Music on the Wharf (Maple Ridge)

August 3rd- Cory Weed's Cellar Jazz Club

Not to mention my first solo job EVER right here in Maple Ridge Thurs May 24th 7:30pm @ the Haney Public House. Now that should be interesting!

W:)  

SOMEONE EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW

Many talented musicians have come very close to my heart this past year.. I am indeed fortunate to have such a wealth of creativity and encouragement amongst my companions, old and new. One man in particular has pushed me beyond my comfort zone and raised the bar of expectations to new proportions that i never dreamed of. That man is Jack Lavin. 

I have always had a love affair with the bass clef.. that's where i learned to read music- in the cello section of the Vancouver Youth Orchestra pit. I rely on the solid pulsing rhythmic foundation so heavily.. it's the first thing i hear when i sit down to learn a song, and almost the only thing I hear when I'm singing on stage. The bass line always tells me where the music is going and provides a stability that makes me want to curl up in it's blanket of comforting vibration and go to sleep.  It's no surprise that I place an especially great value to the relationship I form with my bass player.

When Jack picked me up out of the blues jams I did not know what to expect. Nor did I ever dream that I would not only gain a great teacher and mentor, but also a solid friend-  not to mention the fact that he is truly a great and knowledgable musician. When all's said and done.. I trust my bass player :) 


He has introduced to me to so many wonderful folks.. as he tends to surround himself with the highest calibur of humans inside and out.. musical or not. Whenever I need help, he's usually already addressed my concerns before I even ask. Hell, he produced my five latest originals and he produced them well! 


Speaking of music production.. He and his talented friend Gary Koliger have just released a new album. "Jake and Gate" is my new favourite band and I can't wait to get my hands on my copy of "I Got Your Back" They have a series of CD release events coming up in May and they deserve nothing but the the best reception for this labour of love, soul and songwriting. 

May 16th- FALCONETTI'S East Side Grill on Commercial Drive
May 18th- THE COTTAGE BISTRO on Main Street (I can't wait to see Eugene again)
May 19th- KINGFISHERS WATERFRONT GRILL In my own hometown of Maple Ridge


Anyone who has ever met Jack Lavin, or heard him on one of the many stages he's performed on (pretty much every stage in Vancouver) will know that he is capable of only the best in entertainment quality, musicianship and production.


get your copy on itunes or CD Baby!


Congrats on the new release, Jake and Gate! I am a fan for life.   

WENDY BISCUIT SOLO

Harrison BC is ALWAYS a blast. I love getting the call from my good friends at Rockamole's... this time I got to do things a little differently simply because I can! Because it was only a duo backing me up I thought it might be fun to take the pressure off Dave Webb on keys and bring a guitar to the ensemble.. Now I 'm not a blues player, nor am I a soloist nor am I ANYTHING really.... but because I feel like I'm surrounded by family when I'm up by the lake I wanted to show them a different side of me. 

For four years I had a 'dirty bluegrass' band.. not really a band.. me on guitar, Wayne Evans on bass.. Petrina Baptist singing melody and myself singing harmony.. we called ourselves "Hawkin's Revenge" and we had a lot of fun and entirely too much rye whisky.. anyway.. I wrote about 40 songs for that group and they have mostly been sitting dormant since our dissolve.. Sept 2010

Last Saturday I decided to give the good folks of Harrison BC a taste of 'Wendy Biscuit Solo'.... I wasn't nervous as much as I was hoping that they would understand my own unique brand of original music. The tunes came out as they always used to, and my guitar stayed in tune... my timing stayed on track (thank god!) and the audience appreciated it. WELL! now thats a relief.. putting out heart and soul in the form of original music is always a risk but those who are driven to write and perform really have no choice.. and now that I know it worked.. i'll offer it in other venues as well... 


Mr Webb encouraged me to play ensemble for a few tunes and that made me feel so good! I've always received flack and criticism because my rhythm style is my own and self taught.. but you know what? it worked with these guys! and i liked it! they liked too!! ( i thought they were just saying that to my face but then i heard them commenting about it on a recording my mother took while i was on stage- my heart began to swell..) Have I mentioned that I love the players in my band??? 


Anyway.. it's always a journey and although i love to play guitar and i love my catalogue of past original projects.... I also love just being the singer and being able to pour everything i have into the lyrics, melody and stage performance. However! next time you come to a Wendy Biscuit show... you may just catch me being my own opening act simply because it seemed to work .. :) 

A PUBLISHED WHAT????

It's been a busy week of firsts.. next week promises more of the same. It's amazing that when put in perspective, what may seem like grand accomplishments are really nothing more than simple validation that really hard work and a whole lot of faith and hope can give back a bit.. This little tune plays a part in that script.. 



I'm both relieved and anxious to report that as of next Friday March 30th.. this song, 'Crossroad Friend' combined with the wonderful folks at 'Warner Bros' officially gives me the title of 'published composer.' Talk about happy dance! Only a year ago I was fumbling through a shaky set list and trying to gain confidence to be a competent band leader (still working on the band leader thing) It's only being used as background music on the hit series 'Supernatural,' but every small step feels like a giant leap considering all that i've learned recently.

Also had my first encounter with the press.. yes it's only the local paper, but i'm humbled by what it takes to have even a small measure of success in this business.. i look to my peers and those who I look up to and think "Wow, this is a lot of work for little pay-off and you've been busting it for thirty years??" My respect and admiration continues to rise for the full-time musicians of Vancouver...anyway.. I hope the gal who writes the column doesn't include all the stupid things that probably came out of my mouth.. i'm biting my nails a little on that one..

Lotsa gigs this week.. me and the boyz are playing 'The Cellar Jazz Club' Wed. the 28th... i'm terrified that the room will be empty..then a local haunt with great live music on the weekends..'Kingfishers Waterfront Grill' in Maple Ridge Friday March 30th.. I'm worried the locals won't dig my brand of jazz and blues.. i'm not a 'standards' girl in any way.. (won't be able to watch my song air because of this gig but rest assured the DVR will be set to record 'Supernatural' @9pm on CW) Finishing off the week and month is a Saturday night at Falconetti's on Commercial Drive. I look forward to consuming a half- price sausage as much as I do performing...whew..

Nothing on the calendar for April, and I think I may keep it that way as I've been brewing up another little basement- based project in a different direction that for now shall remain close to my chest...  :) 

TO CD OR NOT TO CD?

Not to rock the boat or anything cause I'm really just an ankle bitin' blues biscuit.. but I've been thinking lots about this whole "release your first CD thing." Seems like that's the question on many minds and although I understand the sense of accomplishment and completion that goes along with producing a so- called 'creative icing on the cake'..I'm not so sure it's what I want to do.

Will I be taken more seriously as a performer and recording artist if I put out a complete album? Should it matter to me what others think of my decisions regarding my music career? Most indie albums are produced at the expense of the artist and barely sold these days.. "here sir! have a free drink coaster with some of my original soul lazered into the grooves"..Not to dis the process..I have unlimited amounts of respect for the many multi- talented and productive musicians in this town but I'm feeling it in a totally different direction. 


Yes I want radio airplay, yes I want to share my music on a massive scale and yes I would love to make even a little bit of money off my labour of love. I'm simply unsure if having stacks of cracked plastic jewel cases gathering dust in thrift stores is worth the energy when it runs the risk of de-railing me from live performance and interacting with other music lovers..which happens to be my true passion and driving force.

Is it a rite of passage to produce a CD?  Is it a token of gratitude to the listener or an homage to all the other artists who have put tremendous amounts of time, talent, not to mention MONEY into what seems to become nothing more than a ritual process? Where do those albums really end up anyway, other than popped into the computer, downloaded then transferred to a digital device of some sort. 


What means more to me than anything is connecting with my audience and earning the respect of my peers and all the other players around town who I look up to and learn from. Somehow I don't think they would care one way or the other. The question seems primarily industry- based and I'm not convinced that impressing the industry is a priority for me right now. I just wanna play good music with great musicians. I'm fortunate enough to be doing that now so I guess I'll stay the course!

Speaking of great stages and great audiences..the next show is at Cory Weed's Cellar Jazz Club and I'm honoured to share such a stage with my amazing 'Dirty Swing Band' Jack Lavin, Dave Webb and John Nolan.