Solo with a sidekick!

http://www.thebootandsombrero.com/

Just thought I would share a cute clip that my friend Rae took of last nights solo gig at the Boot and Sombrero here in Delta. My daughter who has a magnificent voice but never wants to sing with me in front of anyone, decided suddenly to loiter around the stage for most of the night and she even stayed behind with me hanging out onstage rather than go home with her Dad and the crew after they all petered out.

Previously, the idea of her being even NEAR the stage has been unheard of!

She's such a funny girl, I know how badly she wants to do it, she'd just hang around wishing silently all night long I'm quite sure. She really just has to get brave enough to believe in herself. Everyone else does.

She has to get up there and say I can sing a song and make you smile and sing along.

Like this...watch...:

Hey friends it's Rachael....you may usually see me singing and strumming with a band at the casinos, convention centers, pubs, festivals or in restaurants but guess what? Music travels and I can bring this little set up right into your home for your special event. So if you are having a big bash this coming summer, fall, winter or spring and would like to have live music for your friends to enjoy this is pretty much how it's gonna be! (see videos)

Get in touch with me for prices and availability. Sidekick not included.

rachaelchatoor AT hotmail.com

No Second Chances, now on iTunes~!

Ah...... it's finally uploaded to iTunes!

Go here if you wish to spend 99cents and add it to your playlist!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/no-second-chances-single/id527414177

Listen here:



Hey girl with your fancy dress
just who are you trying to impress?
What's it like to get up everyday
just to make sure your make up is all in place?
Gee it must be a big heavy load
since the whole world cares about your fancy clothes..... hey yeah.

The front door don't work both ways....
do you know what's inside that place?
Life is more than one big dance
sometimes my dear we get...no second chances...


Hey girl with your platinum key
what do you want history to say?
You've got everything right on your plate
despite all you could do you choose to play it away
you are not the only one out on the road
surely you can afford someone to drive your Rolls.....hey yah


Ch

The young girls who want to be you
think they are gonna live the way you live
so be loud now, but be proud now
make your choices like we gotta live with them......
even if you don't (no you don't)



Thank you!!

More info including song credits and links to Mick's studio (Millennia Sound Design) where the song was recorded..... can be found in this earlier blog post here....http://rachaelpachel.blogspot.ca/2012/05/new-songs-coming-at-ya.html




Rach xo

Overboard now on iTunes!

BUY it on iTunes by clicking this link!



By the way, here is  a real life example of how a great producer can take your basic little three or four chord ditty and help you turn it from this.......

 


into this:
USE THIS DIRECT LINK IF THE WIDGET IS NOT WORKING




to see studio photos go here



Cheers, Rach!

Walk So Kids Can Talk | CTV British Columbia (Rachael Chatoor interview)

I did an interview on CTV this morning which I would like to share with you.

Please go visit CTV right now by clicking on the link below. 

Walk So Kids Can Talk | CTV British Columbia

(backstage-make-up)

See you on SUNDAY!

Vancouver Walk for Kids Help Phone!

Ok friends! Yay!
Here is the weblink for the Vancouver Walk for Kids Help Phone!

Put together a team and join the walk or just bring your kids out to one of the many walk locations across country to take in the festivities donate/support a team.
I'll be there with members of Hitzone and well be rocking the neighourhood!

Walk for Kids Help Phone, Walk so Kids can Talk .....Baby Blue

I have been attending and playing for the   Walk for Kids Help Phone  over the last three years and it has become a cause very dear to my heart.  I've often felt that I could have used the Kids Help Phone when I was a kid and I might have a few less bags to unpack today, had I had someone to talk to back then.

So, I sang the song Baby Blue at a volunteer luncheon last year and I actually saw people wipe away tears as I sang it. I realized it was quite beautiful how this song articulated so well what the volunteers at Kids Help Phone do for children. It suddenly became a purpose in my life to bring this song and the cause together so I am very proud today to be able to share this with you.

Maybe it will get some kids attention and they will see that they have a place to call if they need help. 

And if you would like to help, donate or join now!
Sign up at this link to join the Walk so Kids can Talk this May 6th 2012..

            Below you can click the pictures to visit some of the Kids Walks corporate sponsors. We thank them for their dedication to breaking the silence.

Thank you to Bill Henderson for writing this truly iconic song. Soon after I began to sing it at my live performances I realized just how well loved and important this song is to not just me but all people.
You can find Chilliwack's flawless original recording of Baby Blue on iTunes here: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/chilliwack-greatest-hits/id385052642

Millions of thanks to Mick Dalla Vee of Millennia Sound Design for production, engineering and recording.
Vocals; Rachael Chatoor
Electric Guitar;  Russell Marsland
Acoustic Guitar; Paul Tobin
Bass, Piano, Classical Guitar, BG Vocals ; Mick Dalla Vee
Drums/percussion; Shawn Soucy
Big hugs and thanks to  Saffron Henderson and Camille Henderson for lending their gorgeous voices to the background vocals.


And big thanks to my band Hitzone who will be playing at the Vancouver walk with me this year on May 6th!

See you there!
Rach xo

Standing on iTunes.

This the original version of Standing which was included on Stupid Cancer's, I'm Too Young for This Vol 2.  Finally it is on iTunes as a single and available for purchase!

Now, when wonderfully gracious arts supporters offer to trade me some money for my music I'll actually have a place to send them to  and they don't even have to spend a whole loony in the deal. Thank you iTunes, and Reverbnation. (and to Steph and Billie Woods for the graphics help)

PS, there is another version of this song with live drums coming soon which will be included on my soon to be released CD (of which we are just  putting the final live tracks down on at Millennia Sound Design ), so do stay tuned for a whole host of new songs. 

Until then, you can download this single off  iTunes, or listen to it for free at Reverbnation.

Rach!

Gigging with HitZone at the fabulous Commodore Ballroom

The last time I was at the Commodore I was backstage shooting video of Loverboy for Kelly and Rach's All Access Pass. Last weekend I was fortunate enough to not just be backstage, but onstage.

And oh what a stage,  it was magnificent....I felt free as a bird!

The Commodore Ballroom. It's a legendary venue and many of the greatest bands and musical acts ever to pass through Vancouver have performed there over the years. Getting the opportunity to perform up on that stage is something of a massive thrill, not to mention a complete cakewalk as the staff and sound technicians at the Commodore treated us like gold.

So, I thought I would share some of my behind the scenes iPhone pictures from last weekend as my band HitZone played at the Commodore for a corporate event. I only took pics at soundcheck, but some of the band members took some live shots which I thought I would share also!

At sound check, I walked into the beautifully set up venue... Wow! It already felt like a party.

Russell Marsland, guitar genius and soul man getting his tones and sound set up during sound check.

Shawn Soucy, dialing in his monitor sounds so he can drive the bus with his solid, funky, outstanding beats and rhythms.

Billy Mendoza, grooving, driving the bus with Shawn and keeping the low notes .

Tom "check, check, hook me up with a wireless cause I'll probably jump into the crowd and party with the dancers"  Arntzen.

Outstanding horn players Bill Abbott and John Korsrud joined us for the night!  (Sorry John I only had this shot where your back is turned...)

And then, we took to the stage.....and oh what a night!

I love my job, so much!

Just thought I'd share a little peek with you all!

Happy Holidays everyone!

Hugs, Rach!

Vancouver bands rock the River Rock casino!

So, I was at the Canada Line station near the  the River Rock Casino with my son and when we walked past this poster my son said: "Look Mom, there is Kelly Brock!", and I said: "Um, yes son, and that is your Mother directly beside her." ; )  

It was his first time seeing me on such a poster and it was kinda fun because I also pointed out the rest of the bands on the bill whom are all fantastic musicians and performers. I felt proud to tell my son that  not only does my corporate band Hitzone also play there,  but I am friends with some of the other acts on the bill. I did a little name dropping then telling him that sometimes I sit in with Dr. Stangelove, and also my friends  (including my music producer) play in Atlantic Crossing. Both are excellent shows that you should catch. In fact all the acts listed are fantastic and I suggest you check them out!

And if you want to see me and my band when we take the stage then strap on your dancing shoes and come to Lulu's lounge in the River Rock Casino on Oct 12-13th!  My very special guest Paul Tobin will be joining me onstage for the night and we will be playing some of his new songs from his soon to be released CD! I invite all his Saskatoon friends who are located in Vancouver to mark the date and come listen to a sneak peak of the new tunes!

See you there!

Rach! xo

Vancouver Kids Walk for Help Phone 2011, help break the silence.

Each year, seven million of us experience mental illness. Many can’t get help as most of the needed public services are delivered piecemeal or they fall outside of medicare. It's tragic, since hardly anyone is untouched by the problem. And yet, here we are in 2011, with not enough attention or resources directed to mental health issues because they are still so shrouded with embarrassment and fear.  And youth are especially vulnerable for they are the most silent victims of all. Research shows that while the majority of mental disorders are treatable, only a fraction of young people recieve any type of mental health care.

This is where Kids Help Phone comes in, for they have given children a voice by giving them a line to someone who will care and listen. Since their phone lines went live in May 1989, Kids Help Phone’s professional counsellors have been providing help and hope to young people in every community. No matter what the problem, Kids Help Phone is there 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with caring, professional support for young people from five to 20 who reach out for help.

And now they need our help.

On Sunday May 1st people from over 40 comunities across Canada will be walking for Kids Help Phone.    By participating in this walk we help break the silence on mental health.

Lushious 

This year will be my third year participating in the walk. The first year I walked with with Team Yummy as part of the west coast Yummy Mummy Club. The second year I entertained the crowd with a band of musicians assembled from members of the League of Rock.  And this year I've asked some of my friends from Lushious band to join me onstage and we are very much looking forward to contributing to this important fundraiser. I'm also hoping you will come down and support the festivities or even better,  put together a team, collect some donations and do the lovely 5K walk around the golf course at Langara. The event is a terrific family affair with snacks, games, contests, bouncy castles, facepainting, balloons, radio stations, fitness clubs, booths, celebs, music and much more.

And if you can't make it please tune into CTV who will be there covering the event, and do check out the website  if something about this moves you to take a part and help, you will find ways you can donate or help sponsor a team.

                                                                        

            Below you can click the pictures to visit some of the Kids Walks corporate sponsors. We thank them for their dedication to breaking the silence.

Rach xo

HitZone!

I just like this song, and asked my band one night if we could play it.
On the spot, without hesitation they said, yeah! I love it when they do that, or when an audience
member asks for Hotel California and we just do it on the fly, and we decide we like it so much we add it to our set list...yeah....this is why I am so lucky.  :)  Thanks to Brian Wright  for taking the video and sharing it. :)

Rach:

early morning rock n roll, the League of Rock bands take flight...

League of Rock on Breakfast Television,

session four begins!

A few weeks ago myself and a band assembled from past League of Rock members got ourselves out of bed before the crack of dawn to go and rock some tunes on Vancouver's Breakfast Television. (To see the BT feature click here and wait for it to load)
Host Greg Harper (pictured at top) and his BT audience got a little look at all things League of Rock and it was an exciting morning to say the least. We talked about our rearsals at NAL jamspace where bands come together and rehearse and prepare for thier final showcase at the Yale, and how they do this with the assistance of guest pro and celeb coaches such as Mick Dalla Vee (pictured) who is a member of rock legend Randy Bachman's band which is currently on tour with Bachman and Turner (who by the way just released an outstanding new album this past fall ). Mick also records/produces my original music and if you are a singer songwriter looking for a studio I suggest you get in touch with him here.
So for Breakfast Television host Greg Harper gamely played some drums and walked the viewers through the process of being in the league, the band played some tunes and we talked about recording in studio which is something all the bands are able to do in week 9 of each session before the final live showcase. To hear all the fantastic recordings from past Vancouver and Toronto League of Rock sessions please click this link.
Going into studio and performing are often activities that are 'a first ever' for new members and I have to say, I love that part of the LOR, witnessing all the firsts people get to experience.  It was such great fun morning (even if it was early and I did have gig the night before) and it helped kick off the fourth session with a terrific bang.  A session, I am happy to report, is already on its way to full swing.

Our first Join a Band draft event is where everyone shows up and is put into their band, then they break off into groups to discuss names, music, songlist etc...... it was held at NAL jamspace.  It was really nice to see so many friendly faces from the past sessions (dear Stephen (pictured), my pal since session one was a delight to see after such a long busy summer away ). The energy was so good in the room that the brand new members felt welcome right away and I noticed  there was considerably less nervous energy in this group compared to previous sessions. This I attribute to the fact that so many of the members have gone through the league before. It seemed to me that them knowing what to expect, left them without that persistent sense of fear and in its place was only anticipation and excitement (with a few butterflies thrown in for good measure).  This is how it is supposed to be really and is one of the benefits of using a universal language like music to connect people. It is exemplified in every session I observe, I see that  not only through music do these people become friends, but they learn to really hold one another up so that the rest may blossom. It's so frikken cool.  

So people jammed a little, ate pizza, talked music, socialized a lot and we all walked away with each others email and contact info. Everyone set out to communicate throughout the week and prepare for our first real rehearsal date the next Wednesday. Which also went beautifully. Never before have I see bands gel right away like this. It's truly remarkable and a real pleasure to be a part of, I can't wait to see it all evolve.

(above  pics, observing the bands  is our fantastic award winning keyboardist/composer guest coach Simon Kendall  (Doug and the Slugs), chillin out with the members and giving advice to the bands on week one~!)

Big thanks go out to past members Wayne Oberst, Lory Senft and Kara Bently for handling most of what it took to pull this whole thing together this session. It takes a lot of time and dedication to get the word out and let people know how much genuine fun and benefit the League is for this here hidden population of music, the unsung heros of rock.  I think they are testament to the fact that this League is about the people in it as much as it is about the music they make when they are together. So thanks go to them for what they do, for each to help support 4 bands through this process as well as play in a band themselves...not to mention run their own lives.......its really something.   I am proud to be able to M/C host the west coast  League of Rock and am I glad so many great musicians are a part of it.  I also love that I can turn to LOR members if and when I am looking to assemble bands for charity events next summer.

So, go get your instrument and practise.

Rach xo