{ WESTFEST } ~ 03.06.2017

Lyle Odjick and Northern Steam were honored to be among the musical acts invited to Westfest 2017.

This was our second Festival gig and our first gig with our new bassist, Chris Breitner.
As musicians, we love these as much as the audience: we all get together in one gigantic event and catch up with each other's lives as well as hear each other play.
We were scheduled on the Saturday and included among a stellar list of bands and musicians: Lucas Haneman, Jesse Greene Band, Clint Everson Band, River City Junction, and closing the night, Juno award winners Monkey Junk.

This was our first Westfest gig and it was something special.  The Organizer, Creative Force, and Inspiration for Westfest, Elaina Martin, deserves all the credit for how greatly loved this festival has become for musicians and the Ottawa community as a whole: her attention to detail, her determination to meet all the acts and extend a gracious and warm connection was inspiring.  The sound crew and volunteers were friendly and professional.
Some shots setting up before our set and then launching into it.
I was playing the kit provided by the Festival - a Mapex drum set.  Cymbals were my K Zildjians.

The weather held up and hopefully we did our part too!

{ CTV MORNING LIVE } ~ promoting our Westfest gig

Lyle Odjick, Ben Griggs and myself were invited to play on CTV Morning Live June 2nd  in promotion for our Westfest gig.


I was asked to bring a stripped-down kit {Sonor Vintages  14 x 5.75" snare, 18" Sonor S-Classix kick drum , 20" K Custom Ride Zildjian, and 16" K Zildjian Light Hi-Hats.  I played with some Steve Smith Tala Wands for less attack than sticks but a bit more projection than Hot Rods.

We played an original called "Cut Me Loose"

was fun!

{ JUNOFEST } ~ at the end of the Rainbow

Okay, so here's the deal
The band has only been together little over a year
and we get the call to be the second act opening for not one but TWO Juno award winners
scary? intimidating? amazing?
all of the above.

A whirlwind of impressions: the Rainbow was packed to the rafters; sitting from the drum set it felt like they were right on top of us; I remember the heat from all those people causing so much sweat that I was worried I wouldn't be able to hold on to my sticks; the incredible feeling of satisfaction when we finished and the crowd's awesome response; sitting in the audience and soaking in the amazing performances of not one but TWO Juno-award winning bands; seeing the ultimate set when members of Paul Reddick's band joined Monkey Junk in  a 'jam' with star turns by the guitarist from Blue Rodeo and the drummer from Bryan Adams who were both in town playing at the big Juno Show the following evening.

After our set I was passed a note written on the back of one of the tickets from someone in the audience:
"Some say he cuts his drums out of oil barrels with his fingernails;
Some say he skins them with the hides of a hundred virgin gerbils (????!!@*eh)
All we know is he is the Sticks,
& he is our fabulous drummer
-Richard Jeremy Clarkson
U.K. Top gear"

the wonderful world of playing music live and the responses it can generate!

{ BLUESY } ~ Christmas

Lyle Odjick & Northern Steam {left to right: myself  drums; Peter Lawrence/bass; Lyle Odjick/vocals/harmonica/guitar; Ben Griggs/lead guitar} 

Clint Everson Band & guests {left-right: myself/drums; Clint Everson/vocals/guitar; Jody McRory/bass; Melanie Vermeersch/vocals; Tanya Poulin /vocals; Ben Griggs/guitar}

It was a Very Bluesy Christmas at Moose Macguires in 2016.

I did double-duty playing drums for my band Lyle Odjick & the Northern Steam 

and then filled in for Clint Everson.

Was an unbelievable experience!

Aftewards, all the performers got together backstage and enjoyed a little Christmas cheer

The Post-concert Christmas celebration: Left -right: Melanie Vermeersch; Megan Laurence; Lucas Hanneman; Debra Ereaut;\Fredy Carriere; Trevor Denault; Ben Griggs; Fred Sebastian; Clint Everson; Bill St. Arnaud; Nathaniel Livingstone; Joe Gaspar; Lyle Odjick; Jody McRory

{ CALABOGIE BLUES & RIBFEST } ~ 14. 08. 2016

Set up and Sound check

A flood of memories here:

Our first outdoor Festival;
On the same bill as the Downchild Blues Band and Randy Bachman, whose band, Bachman- Turner Overdrive, was the very first concert I saw at the Ottawa Civic Center headlining for Prism and Trooper.  I still find it hard to express the disconnect to see our band's name underneath his marquee image;
Our regular bass player, Peter Lawrence, was at a wedding so for this, our most important gig to date, we had to call upon Tommy Joanisse to fill in.  Tommy is the bassist in River City Junction, a band we owe so much and are so dear to us. Tommy is an awesome bassist and is very experienced at these events.  He was the rock upon which we could build. Can't thank you enough, Tommy!;
They had experienced an inordinate amount of rain over the weekend and it was a very wet but willing crowd that greeted us on the Sunday matinee;
When we got there, I had to help tear down Randy Bachman's drum set and set up; time for just a quick sound check; and then before you know it we were off.  Maybe a good thing.
I had never played such a large stage before; never been on such a riser either;
It all flew by so quickly, seemed we just started the set before we were taking our bows;

We're back again in 2017 on the same night with JW Jones.  Hoping this time to savour the experience a bit more.

Lyle Odjick & Northern Steam : Left to right: Ben Griggs /guitar; Fred Sebastian /drums;
Lyle Odjick /vocal/harmonica/guitar; Tommy Joanisse /bass

Ben 'Blues Face' Griggs on guitar

Tommy Joanisse on Bass

Lyle picks up the guitar and plays a little slide

Over so fast but very satisfying

{ AND THE BEAT } ~ goes on

Hello,
setting up a blog to capture some of my drumming memories.
It's been a journey of rediscovery.
Had played through High School but then set the drums aside and concentrated on my Art career.
But the beat was irresistible
and I returned to drums again
It's been an incredible journey.
A picture taken by talented photographer, Bianca Nadeau, while playing with my band, Lyle Odjick & Northern Steam at Moose Macguire's.
that's my Sonor Bronze snare 6 x14"; the house kit I was playing was a set of Yamaha drums
thanks for dropping by!