Toys, toys, wonderful toys!

Toys Toys Toys!!!

OK, so I had this idea to go hang out at my favorite store Long & McQuade to just noodle around with the guitars and chat to people about the League of Rock and it turned into a super fun and inspiring afternoon. Not only was I was surrounded by creative and musical souls everywhere I looked, I also had a microphone in front of me that allowed me to just burst into song whenever I wanted to. It was like, living in the Sound of Music but with more classic rock.  And I'm not bragging here, but to be able  to just walk in and take my pick from the gosh darn fanciest guitars in the store and then plug them into the prettiest sounding Bose system ever then given the stool of honour to sit on, well, that was like going to school on  the best field trip day ever!

  

With Rob Boshaw Vancouver Chapter Head  for the League of Rock.

I was delighted to see my friend Stephen from my first LOR band Know Mercy who came down to support us, Stephen and I held each other up through a lot of  our own personal firsts during the inaugural Vancouver session of the League and I think it was brilliant that he came to support me in this 'first' of mine. 

I've said it before I will say it again, you rock Pallivicini~

A number of interesting people came and sat down to jam with me which was fun and totally in the spirit of the League. I also just had to stop this dude before he left the store ( thanks for coming back fella) that red strat you see?  It's made out of Lego. Awesome.  

See this teeny tiny set up? It's from Bose ( you don't even need the mixing board as the speakers are powered with a plethora of inputs, but I would recommend using one seeing as a mixing board will make use while playing more functional )

This is the stack of speakers, is this SLICK or what? I'm totally in love with them, in fact, I think I would have kissed them if everyone wasn't looking. ;)

Now I know you are thinking.... how can these little bitty baby things sound like anything? Well, I'll tell you this, I've played on a lot of PA's large and small and  the sound of these things  blew me away. For a singer songwriter, duo, trio type ensemble, I think it is a GORGEOUS system. As a matter of fact, as GM Scot  Buchanan was thanking me for playing at the end of the day, I found myself  thanking him, for letting me play with all of his toys. Of course, like anything that is top of the line, this system is not cheap.

 But if you've got the cash, I would wholeheartedly say, two thumbs up!

My last jamming guest was General Manager of Long & McQuade Vancouver, Scot Buchanan. I think this  was the perfect way to end the day.  I just love when the staff of any company get to see their boss be put on the spot and I love it even more if I am in some way responsible for it!  Of course Scot is a player so it's not like it was rough for him to get up there, and the truth be told he actually rocked,
but still, it was a nice break in the program for all I think!

To those of you that made the trip, thanks for coming out. I know I had a blast and I am seriously thinking that doing this kind of thing will really help improve my guitar playing a great deal, so collect your  groove and do stay tuned to this blog or to my Facebook page for  future
announcements telling you when we will do this again~!

   

And we will see you on Wednesday night at the Yale!

For more info on the LOR kickoff and how you can 'riff' you way into the League, click this LINK!

Rach xo

Who are the next Province Playlist headliners? All Access Pass gives you the scoop!

A few posts back I told you about the Province Playlist, a special feature that comes out every Tuesday in the Province Newspaper that  features musicians, bands, and songwriters at all levels of industry from headliners to indy artists.  Thanks to the folks at Hevy D, Music BC, Canwest Global, and Save-On-Foods, you can pick up your Province newspaper every week and find out how to get your FREE music downloads from the days featured artists, there will be a story and a link to the headliner artist as well as thumbnail photos and smaller write ups for some of our own homegrown local indy talent. 

Kelly and I (for our All Access Pass video channel) went to the offices of Music BC and spoke to Barry Stecyk (Hevy D) and  Bob D'Eith  (Music BC) while the two had a pow wow about how the program works, who can benefit, who does benefit and how you can get yourself and your music featured if you want to participate as an indy artist.

For the music portion of our video we had this dream of interviewing the feature artists  but because the next two Province Playlist featured headline artists  Jann Arden and Sarah Mclachlan  have been a little busy preparing to represent Canada in our torch relay and opening ceremonies,  :)  we couldn't arrange an interview with them...... so in this  video we thought we would feature ourselves. Kelly Brock and Rachael Chatoor , seeing as we are also going to be in the paper over the next two Tuesdays giving away our free downloads proudly in the role of  supporting indy artists!

 So this is the BIG news for us little guys.... I really can't believe it in fact. I am going to be in the newspaper while the world is visiting for the Olympics, and I will be in a supporting role to one of my personal favorite artists, Jann Arden.Yes! There is the scoop.....tomorrow look for Jann Arden, her song "Free" is the free download. I have Jann's  latest CD and Free  is a stunning, beautiful, powerful song. What I really love about Jann is that she has the ability to rip your heart right out of your chest with her insightful lyrics as she delivers them with the sweetest most beautiful voice, you know the one.

And here is scoop #2, Sarah Mclachlan is the next Province Playlist headliner one week later (Feb 23rd).......and who else but my friend Kelly Brock will be in on the line of  Indy artists featured.  So that's us, this is it, watch the video and pick up your Province every Tuesday......support your local artists and keep music alive!

With hearts......

Rach
xo

photo blog Robson Square Skating rink, vancouver band, the Hitmen~

Last week I sang at the re-opened Robson Square skating rink. As a Vancouver born and raised resident of this city, I'd like to say that I  am simply delighted to see the skating rink being  used once again.   I feel very privileged to have been up on that beautiful stage putting on a great show for people of all ages with excellent musicians like the Hitmen. This was the kind of gig that felt like an intimate concert; people paid attention,  children enchanted us with their dancing, everyone moved, sang along or clapped in time whenever we asked them to......   and the natural theatre shaped setting meant the energy flowed back and forth between  the band and the audience exactly  the way it is supposed to. It was the ancient campfire on a chilly winter night and everyone spoke the same musical language and I guess in a way,  we were the storytellers.  

I love nights like that.

Photos courtesy of Thesa Pakarnyk

Tom Arntzen~Rachael Chatoor~Nathen Aswell~Shawn Soucy~Russell Marsland

The Hitmen

By the way, I think you should book us for your next event!
The Hitmen

Rach xo

Province Playlist feature artist One More Girl [all access pass video]

One More Girl , Britt and Carly McKillip,  are two gorgeous young dynamo's who are poised to take the country music world by storm.
That's what I thought the first time I saw them at the Merrit Mountain Music festival last year.
I caught the girls when they took the stage and let me tell you, they made me stop to watch and listen. These young girls were babies yet they were owning that stage and I was mesmerized . Suddenly I was rooting for them like I knew them, yeah girls, you rock it sisters, ~woot~!  Little did I know that  the next time I would meet them it would be in their house, wearing PJs and bouncing on their beds............






This week you may have noticed One More Girl  featured in the Province Newspaper as part of the weekly feature known as the Province Playlist.  Via the Province Playlist  you can download songs by established and rising stars in the local and national music scene.  Barry Stecyk, of Hevy D's Old Fashioned Kettle Korn is a huge music fan and is the man behind the initial idea for the music player page. He's worked tirelessly with The Province, Music BC, Save-On Foods and a handful of others to create a tool that brings musicians and music fans together and I think he is a modern day hero for his energy and devotion.



Barry is really an outstanding guy and has a vision for marketing his product that I 'get' which is to bring people together, combine resources, share audiences and give something of value in a way that sees everyone involved winning. With the draw of the more established featured artist, the Province, Music BC and Hevy D are able to bring fresh new musicians onto a platform previously unavailable to them with a weekly full page spread that directs traffic to a site where an audience can  find links and a treasure trove of free downloadable music that is collecting there.

The beauty of social networking in this way is that things can be mobilized so quickly. I was in the office of Bob D'Eith (Music BC) last week shooting video for All Access Pass  with  himself  and Barry discussing the creation of this project. Literally that very morning they had decided to put together a player that would  benefit the victims of the Earthquake in  Haiti.  Bob was offering the use of the recently released  Music BC 2010 compilation album (which included the Peak Performance artists) as a means to raise funds for donations to the cause.  Within 48 hours of that meeting, I got an email to my inbox saying the project was live. That meant that every artist on the 20 song compilation has agreed to give their song to Project Haiti.

Outstanding, and quick.

And beneficial by all accounts, traffic to the Playlist starting with the Christmas releases, has already far exceeded expectations by tens of thousands of visits and downloads, and this number will only grow as more and more people catch wind of what is happening here.
If you are a music lover, and like to support local music please check out your Province every Tuesday and look for the Province Playlist which will give you  instructions on where to go to download your free music. As well, next time you are in Save-On Foods, look for Hevy D's Old Fashioned Kettle Korn, and find your free download sticker on the bag!

Oh yes my news!! Well, late last December, I myself submitted one of my songs to the Province Playlist  and happily  it was accepted. That was exciting enough but I have recently  learned when exactly my spot in the Province will appear and I have to say, I am quite beside myself with excitement. I'm going to keep the suspense going for now but I will let slip these two details.... the big featured artists I will be gratefully tagging along with are incredible stars. They are two ladies who's vocals and talents I am madly in love with (and have been forever). It is so widely known in fact that I adore these two, that it almost  feels like someone upstairs was cooking this pot of soup just especially for me........ and as for when..........just make sure you check out the Olympic editions of the Province. :)


If you are a musician/artist reading this and would like to submit your music do so here.


with hearts....Rachael

season finale at the League of Rock~ chance to win a membership to the next session ~

We interrupt this blog for an important news flash....

Danno! VanChapter LOR member.....is a New Father, congrats Papa!!!!!

Hope you get some sleep once in a while.....~

I have a photo post for you today, these photos come compliments of Gene Greenwood and Sharylin Boshaw, they take us back to the last week of the League of Rock jam sessions at  our new rehearsal space NAL sound, and roll over into the final League of Rock showcase at the Yale on December 16th!  

Seeing as the beginning of session 3 is soon upon us (March 3rd right after the Olympics we'll be kicking off), I thought it would be a great  idea to share a bit of what you have to look forward to when you join the League of Rock. So this is for all the new members who have already joined up and are just itching for March to roll around, and this is also to those of you who are sitting on the sidelines plucking quietly at your instrument all by yourself in your living room......if you are still trying to decide if it is time for you to join the LOR, ask yourself these questions.......

Do you miss making music with people? Would you like to try jamming with others even though you have never done so? Would it be nice to get out once a week and leave the day's problems  behind you as you rock like a teenager again?

This is what the jam sessions look like:

Simon Kendall is another one of the outstanding coaches we are able to workshop with. Simon with his  kind nature and years of experience really picks up on things that will help the bands become more co-hesive. Myself and all the members really look forward to these great people who come in each week to share their knowledge with us.

Andrew Huige by the way, was the winner of my first blog membership contest (with Miss604) way back in the summer! What a great singer he is too! Congrats Andrew glad you enjoyed it! 

So everyone,  if you signed up for the contest and didn't win, this is the guy who took your spot! ;)  

But don't you worry there will be another shot at a membership right here on this blog this month.....don't go too far or you will miss it!

I was even called in to play bass with a band one week, when another member couldn't make the rehearsal,

I have to say that was a blast! What a way for me to end the jam sessions! It was great.

And then the showcase!

Terry Moshenberg flew in from Toronto and put the whole thing

together with Van Chapter head Rob Boshaw.

I was there of course, ready for my new hosting duties which included giving out prizes from

Long and McQuade!

I love the costumes they brought in honour of the season. From session to session the groups seem to get more creative with their props and what they wear onstage.

These boys had the heaviest set list, and yet they were the sharpest dressed men!

Our girl Loralee and her League of Rock tank top which I hope she is wearing  in Mexico right now.

Long and McQuade our sponsors gave away some beautiful gear to stand

out members at the end of the night. Items included

instruments, software and other goodies. Our very talented and deserving winner of a guitar this session was James Gaffney.

Terry and coaches Tal Bachman and Mick Dalla Vee with LOR drummer Nando Polesel  backed-up Kenny McNally for the finale. Kenny is a very active member from LOR Toronto chapter who specially  flew in to celebrate the Vancouver showcase with us and we were delighted to have him.   I thought this was just awesome of course and lucky bunny that I am, I stayed right there onstage with all those talented boys and added my harmonies and smiles into the mix!

And to close the post here today, I leave you with Terry Moshenberg, the guy who is responsible for putting so many grins on so many faces. Rock on Terry, can't wait to see what 2010 brings for LOR Vancouver!

Sign up is happening NOW!

Go HERE to kick off with on March 3rd!

and stay tuned for a way you can WIN yourself a LOR membership, right here on this blog.....

...from little old me~

:)

One last bit of thanks goes out to TREE brewing. Every week at rehearsals we have a bucket full of cold and tasty  beer thanks to them! We love you TREE!

photo/video gallery Up Your Watershed/Journeys concert

My friend Rae who has contributed photos to this blog before, was at the Voices of Nature concert  last Thursday night (scroll down to the next blog post for more info. on the concert)  and she took these fantastic photos of the concert  so I am posting a photo/video blog today.......

First up,  my own backstage photos that were taken just before the show started. I've also posted  a quick clip of two videos that I took while onstage during the concert. I wanted to capture the   magic in the room. 

Words can barely express how much fun this night was, so today, I'm going to let the pictures do the talking.

Because it was an event that had ties to Vanoc and school children, the audience recieved a surprise visit in the lobby before the show!

Holly Arntzen and Kevin Wright

Me and  Holly before the show!

Brian Newcombe, Shawn Soucy, David Sinclair

Shawn, myself, Brian

And here are the show pics! Thanks again Rae~

Thanks so much for visiting!

You can find links to all the programs and people in the photos, in the previous blogpost!

Rachael  xoxoxo