Well, it’s almost February and I know what that means! It means hours of fun huddled over (most commonly) a guitar, a microphone, a Presonus USB Audiobox and my outdated laptop! Why? The annual www.RPMChallenge.com (check it out – free, original music!) I’ve done the challenge four times since discovering it: 2008, 2009, 2011 & 2014, recording under the band name ‘Alive Underground’. It gives me a lot of pleasure to be able to take those snippets of lyric that come to me out of nowhere while driving or running or otherwise ‘doing something else’, and be able to mash them into some sort of story/song, all the while wailing away on various instruments that I play with [note that I said “play with” rather than simply “play”…I do not profess to be a virtuoso of any description!]. The challenge acts as a sort of reminder to, once a year at least, take the jumble of thoughts and record them rough and dirty as they are, into a collection of ideas that is preserved for future consumption and use. These are all at best third or fourth takes, some even first takes, and so there are no indications of ‘over production’ but in my mind that’s part of their charm. It’s actually quite a thrill as the month gets underway to see (and hear) how all those unrelated ‘turns of phrase’ come together into a handful of songs and sounds…and by month’s end there’s an artistic creation that simply put, did not exist prior to February! I never know what I’m going to end up with so that keeps it exciting!

You can give a listen to my previous efforts at this link: http://aliveunderground.rpmchallenge.com/ and later in March, check out the(as yet untitled, unwritten & unrecorded) 2015 album! And as always feel free to leave comments, be they scathing critiques or words of encouragement (I take strength from both!).

I read Rex Murphy’s most recent three articles on the National Post website not long ago, and as usual Rex has hit very close to the target. His thoughts on political correctness, freedom of speech, bureaucratic monkey***king (as Pa would say), Orders of Canada worthiness and so on and so on are on the money. I don’t always share the same opinion as Rex but most times I’m with him in spirit. He’s for the common man; the guy/gal in the trenches; those who actually keep the country going…despite all the monkey***king. To me, that counts.

As I said, very quickly...as an average 'layperson' I'm wondering if there's anyone else besides me that feels an unelected Premier should not be messing with the electoral seating? No matter how good the reasons are??

I've been playing around with Studio One for a while now and just had a few hours doing some recording...hoping the results will upload. Note that this is an experiment! If it works I may do some explanations.

So far so good...'Blue Yonder' loaded! Giving it a listen now. This is one of my newest songs...still very much in the development stage. It's a love song of sorts (aren't they all?). Give it a listen and let me know what you think.

Good. 'Sept Isles' loaded too! This is a fun mix I was playing with...one of the songs I'm working on for a concept album of sorts. The little girl mentioned in the verse is the subject of another song which I'll include here, entitled 'Naskapi Dreams'...also a love song haha.

Just a footnote...I'm learning!!! And it's a lot of fun! 'Off' notes (awful notes??!!) and all.

Well, simply put, I've renewed my website for another while. I plan to work at getting to know more about this website business. In the past two years since I started this I've managed to learn a LOT about hosting and blogging! I've done a considerable amount of learning to use Studio One DAW as well, and all while holding down a job and raising teens! This year my plan is to record some original songs and to establish some commercial aspects in this site...Wish me luck!! All the best in 2015!