Joshua Van Tassel

Only in northern New Brunswick would you see our finest in red blaze through the ditches of the trans canada highway mounted on beasts of snow and steel. Actually, you could probably see it in every province but whatever, I hadn’t seen it til yesterday.

I’m back in Halifax after an amazing long weekend in NB with David Myles. We played quiet and people seemed to be really into it. There’s so many amazing venues and people around here that really care about music; it’s super inspiring. One of the theaters was attached to a high school and I couldn’t resist hearing that old locker banging sound and running down the hall. It’s as rebellious as I get – 27 and sprinting gleefully through a dark empty hallway. Bad ass, I know.

Renaissance man D. Myles. he talks real talk. 

Those are actually red lasers that burn my wrists when I play too loudly. I can show you the marks. 

My friend’s record player makes sounds like this.

This morning I’m in Saint John, NB ( where apparently there was a giant fire in 1877). As I discovered last night DO NOT cal it Saint John’SSSSS, because that my friend, is in Newfoundland and people take that very seriously here. The shows are going great, we’re in a small town called Hampton tonight and everyone here says that it’s a rocking little place. We got a board recording of the show last night so once I get a chance to chop it up I’ll post something here.

Everything smiles in the maritimes. everything.

Here’s a NS cab driver’s thoughts on drunk people and red bull,

and a picture of my good friend Butch playing Galga. Old school arcade games make me happy. In other news I’m very sick and partially delirious.

And I’m back. It’s been a couple of soundless days, I know. The tour is going super well. We’ve played 2 shows that were he quietest most intense experiences I’ve had in a long time. Quiet enough that I can literally run a single brush strand against my nare drum, and people in the back of the theater here it. I love it. Here’s a photo from the Astor theater in liverpool courtesy of my sister Rita, dig the salmon background.

I’ve been meeting some interesting folk around the city as well. There’s a man who walks from open mic to open mic wearing his guitar and a portable amp, practicing all the way. I was across the street when he walked by, but you can still hear it . . .

And here’s the sound of an old school cash register at one of my favorite places in the world, the La Have bakery.

More to come later…

Liverpool at night, jut before we found a dog skeleton. Long story.

I still am lacking my special little cable, so no Maritime sounds……yet………What I do have is this very interesting profile podcast of friend and flute player extrordinaire Rob Piilonen. It’s a really well made podcast discussing Rob’s music and improvised music in general; great questions and well spoken answers on behalf of Rob. Check it out here Shows start tonight, I’m excited. All the theaters we’re playing on this tour are beautiful and old, I’ll try my unsteady hand at some good panoramic type photography. See you tomorrow, hopefully in glorious audio format.

So I’ve been recording lots of wonderful maritime sounds, and I can’t share them with you because I left one stupid cable in one stupid bag that I don’t have with me. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll get myself together. Things in the east are good, seeing lots of good friends and making some great music with David Myles. Our tour starts on March 22nd at the Astor Theater in Liverpool, so if you know anyone who loves the south shore and wants to go for a road trip, that’s a good place to start. Sounds to follow………

Ahh modern technology. I’m waiting at pearson airport for a flight to Halifax and I would really love a tea, but the line ups for any place that sells it are huge. I had an interesting exchange with a security guard this morning trying to explain what my kaoss pad was and why I had it. It didn’t go so well.This is what it looks like here right now.

I’d show you what it sounds like, but I left my cable in my checked bag, and to be honest it’s not that interesting. Here’s what it looked like at 6:30 this morning..

This is another one of the promising warm weather sounds: the bbq. Delicious , warm, smoky goodness. If you close your eyes you can almost convince yourself that everywhere is as warm as the radius of heat given off by the grill when you stand next to it…..

I like my steak well documented. 

I recorded this sound this morning and wanted to share it right away. This more then anything means spring is almost here -

having a great weekend so far. I’ve spent lots of time with 2 complete sound freaks/geniuses making a great sounding record, and have now heard the best bass drum sound imaginable. Once I get a mix I’ll put it up, it makes me warm all over.

making magic happen one eq adjustment at a time….