As the mists closed in & the temperature dropped like a stone, Dirk
began to realize why we had bugged him to bring as many warm layers
as could be crammed into a duffel bag. Even the rabbit on the side
of the road looked cold.
while we waited in line, dirk got bored & started wandering
around with our huge bag of gorp.
he started calling himself "the gorpman."
Canso was swathed in grey rolling mist, although compared to previous
years it was positively balmy. I didn't even need to put on socks
until 10 pm - I was barefoot at StanFest, and not just because my
socks were too sodden for sensible wear!
By the time we got through the long registration line (they'd misspelled
my name, the fourth occurrence of this in as many days), there was
no time to cook the food we'd bought that morning in Halifax. We were,
in fact, just in time for the mainstage show, so we scarfed down chicken
burgers (Dirk & I), an antipasto-cheese-tofu sandwich (the Boy) and
a tonne of Lion's Club fries. Ah, the Canso Lion's Club. How I've
missed yer deep-fried slabs of goodness.
Blues Circle (a.k.a. Harry Manx, Michael Pickett & Michael Jerome
Brown)
A mellow start to the evening. I wish the show'd begun with "Barrett's
Privateers," though. Some really great pass-the-stick acoustic blues
guitar; old-fashioned & deeply satisfying.
Chuck Brodsky
A low-key singer/songwriter who featured a song about watching a
baseball game while high on acid. Charming, intense storytelling,
which I think the Boy got more out of than myself. Went for more food
halfway through and met Kris & Sue standing in the back by the sound
tent (as is their wont). This year I must spend more time in the Orange
VW Bus that Time Forgot - although I suppose that this weekend I need
to take a pass on the weed.
Dahmnait Doyle
So very boring. Here because of her origin in Nfld & her gender,
no doubt. Made a few girls near us cry with a schmaltzy song about
teens dying in a car crash. I spent most of her set watching a nearby
toddler grin with both of his teeth.
Charlie A'Court
Mr. Congeniality finally got a mainstage gig! Unfortunately, his
transition to electric blues has softened the impact of his usually-forceful
playing & singing. Go back to the acoustic, Charlie! Your Aleta would
have it so. I did, however, enjoy the story about JP Cormier tutoring
him on songwriting in the woods. I've grown to enjoy JP impersonations
for some reason.
JP Cormier
This guy leaves me cold. I spent most of his set in Tenty, changing
into layers and socks. I'm told I missed some amazing, multi-instrumental
pieces. I'm not worried - there'll always be next year's 'Fest with
this guy.
The Bill Hilly Band
Charismatic enough for 7 bands! These Victoria guys knocked my newly-donned
socks off. An unlikely combo of bluegrass, tarantella, polka, klezmer
& blues - I'm dying to see how they work on a more intimate stage.
This definitely made up for the night's disappointments and was my
particular moment when the StanFest magic kicked in for the year.
Bruce Guthro
He started with "Harris and the Mule," which I didn't recognize until
it was over. Then I got yawny and decided to go to bed, thus missing
the Harvard grad banjo jam band (a.k.a. The Alison Brown Quartet).
The Boy said it was great; Dirk left halfway through in disgust. I
don't know what to think.
I was woken by two separate circles of what I've come to call the
Idiot Sing Along. The lack of rain really brought out the all-night
singing & drinking groups. Oh well. If I'd wanted to sleep in peace,
I'd've stayed at the Halifax hostel.
By the time we woke up the next morning, the sun was out and the
tent was stifling. I've been catching up with this account and batting
away biting bugs all morning. I just can't believe it - we've always
woken up to rain on Saturday. This hot sunny weather is freakish.
I may just have to put on shorts.
Booty Call: Day 105
- Length: 15 cm crown to rump (20 cm or 8 inches head to toe). Weight:
about 240 gm or 8 oz.