Sunday, August 30, 2009

A funny thing happened on the way to my birthday...

The Gap called, and told me they were having their 40th birthday party.

Now the thing you may not have known about the Gap is that when they first opened their doors 40 years ago, they only sold denim and music.

So, as part of their 40 year celebration this year, the Gap went back to their roots and had live acoustic performances in 700 of their stores nationwide all in celebration of the re-launch of their denim line.
It was a great idea for me, playing at the Gap for my 40th!
How exciting, look they even made me a cake!




It was kind of cute, we were basically a living store display, playing our music in the window. Check out our new stylish Gap jeans!



I sang both covers and original music . People wandered in and out of the store all night and many stood around watching for a spell. Everyone was so warm and appreciative, and I was especially, ESPECIALLY delighted that so many friends showed up to support us and share a birthday wish. I can't possibly name everyone who came, but there were many friends new and old, I was so touched and I thank you all for coming.
I think I will send a special thank you to Kelly Brock and Catherine St Germain, who are not only my pals, but they are two of the city's top female vocalists. I was so touched that they not only showed up, but they got up and sang a song with us. The harmonies were gorgeous! Thank you girlfriends....xoxoxo


I didn't pull this gig off alone either, I am very lucky to know so many amazing musicians in this city. The two friends who joined me for this event were Rob Boshaw on guitar and Shawn Soucy on the cajon. Rob Boshaw and his wife Sharylin ( who took most of these photos ) are treasured friends of mine whom I met through the League of Rock (Rob is a wonderfully talented musician who is the Vancouver Chapter Head for the L.O.R.), and I am so grateful that he and Sharylin came to lend their talents and support me for this gig. By the way folks this is VERY important, if you are a resident or own a company in the lower mainland, please take note! If you ever require the services of a handyman, or know someone who does, Rob and his company Vancouver Handyman, come HIGHLY recommended by me, you can't go wrong with them, you just can't.
My other dear friend and hero for the night is long time pal Shawn Soucy whom I have known since 1994. Shawn and I have been working together on some projects over this past summer and in fact, he is the stellar drummer in the Lulus lounge video found just a few posts below this one. Shawn plays with some of the top pro's in the country on a regular basis and I feel so lucky that he works with me too! An inspiring person in general, Shawn is also an inventor, so I would like to draw your attention if you are a drummer (or if you know a drummer) to his website where you will find some incredible new brush drumsticks that will knock your socks off, for more info check out this link.....



The other advantage to holding your party in a mall?
Your friends show up with little presents that they picked up along the way.
Good plan, I hadn't thought about this little bonus prior to the event, but in hindsight, I pretty much recommend it!


By the way, I plan to do my 40's like I have been doing everything else lately, with a light in my heart and a smile on my face!


Till next year then, with hearts and hugs.......

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

I was so PUNKED!!!! (caught on video) Surprise!!!!! You are going on the ZIPLINE!

I was punked, its all in the video. :)

If you ever wanted to know about the ziplining on Grouse Mountain? Here you go!

Saturday, August 22, 2009

a horse of course









A horse of course.......press the replay button so see how I drew this....:)

Rach

Friday, August 14, 2009

Lulu's and the best night ever!

Last week I had the absolute joy and pleasure of playing with a wonderful group of musicians at the River Rock casino. I have been nothing but blessed with the incredibly high caliber of players that I have shared the stage with over this last year of gigging at the casino, but this last show was perhaps the highlight of the year for me.

I can't explain it exactly, but the combination of musicians was magic. They seemed to lift me up and hold me high. They let me just take off and fly away and they were right behind me like a gust of wind. I felt so free as a singer, and so safe, and it made for the best night I ever had there.

Gene G. and Sharylin B. thankfully took some footage of me and the boys playing that night. Here are a few of the clips. They are not edited the way I would normally like to edit them because my software didn't work with their video formats. Without my 'tools', I am clearly not very patient. No matter, its worth sharing the night with you!

The first video is mostly focused on me, I have it up on my website now as a bit of a demo reel.




The second features more of the band and I highly recommend that one if you are a fan of the musicians because it features more of the amazing players who joined me onstage:

Message to the band: You lifted me higher with your energy and excellence! Thank you. :)

Russell Marsland (guitar) http://www.russellmarsland.com/
Shawn Soucy (drums) http://www.drumsetc.org/
Nathen Aswell (bass- guitar) http://www.nathenaswell.com/
Andre Kunkle (keys) http://www.facebook.com/andre.kunkle
Mike Norman (keys) http://www.mikenorman.com/





This is an original song from my CD. This video is neat for me, as it is documentation of the very first time I ever played this song with a band.

How buzzy was this? We never even had a rehearsal, this video is IT, try number one.

There is a point in the song, somewhere around 3:59 I think, where I recognize Russell playing the solo (and it sounded just like the recording on the song). Ha, it was cosmic and in the video you can see I was excited to hear it, Shawn heard it too!!!!





Enjoy the show!

xox
Rach