This is what ‘vacation’ looks like. *sigh*
First, I signed up for February Album Writing Month, where 1700-odd songwriters hang out, and everyone agrees we’re all gonna try to write 14 tunes during the month of February.
That’s a lot. Did it, tho. Also, been booking a return tour out to British Columbia, one to Ontario, and filling up the Summer with trips around the Maritimes. Will apprise. Keep in touch.
OOOK
A quick little update: last weekend, at the Nova Scotia Music Week conference, I was awarded the Musician of the Year award.
This award is voted on by people in the biz, and is about the jobbing player. I call it the Journeyman’s award, and having come into the biz with the goal of being the ultimate sideman, it is maybe the award I have the most respect for, as it’s not about who’s-cool-this-year or how big your team is, as much as it’s about being versatile, busy, giving every song its due. At least, it is to me.
So, to Music Nova Scotia, thanks for all your hard work, it was a great conference. To the folks who voted, thanks for your confidence. I’ve worked for many of you and I hope to work for all of you before we die. To the folks who hire me, thanks for your trust. To my baby, thanks for everything. I’m insanely lucky, and very happy with life.
Thanks again. 🙂
K ooo
From Penguin Eggs, Canada’s Folk/Roots music magazine:
“Kev Corbett, with his 10-track debut release Son of a Rudderless Boat, has taken a beautiful snapshot of the Canadian landscape. This native Nova Scotian’s voice is like no one else. He is all Canadian, with hints of Cockburn, Cohen and Lightfoot in his voice. Corbett weaves through well-crafted and skillfully written songs about everything from love to fallen idols to roadside adventures.
Primarily an acoustic release, Corbett’s dazzling guitar playing compliments his unique perspective on life. Son of a Rudderless Boat has it all, from the quirky, as in the humorous foot tappin’ Cheese and Whiskey, to the introspective of Uncle, a stirring honest observation of a bigot uncle.
Corbett is a true folksinger and Son of a Rudderless Boat is filled with passionate commentaries, and none more spirited than Skull and Bones, a story about civic corruption and civic do-gooders. Son of a Rudderless Boat is a marvelous listen.” (by Phil Harries)
In response to recent Google searches involving my name, and my partner’s:
There are actually two Steph Domets, y’see.
There’s Stephanie Domet the Construct: a public radio show host in a small city on the end of Canada, reading traffic and weather, facilitating discussions on all matter of quotidian water cooler talk, occasionally laughing, playing tunes, alternately playing cat and mouse with someone, usually listening and coming up with the followup question. People develop this one-way relationship with her; this internal monologue where they develop a relationship with the Construct, and it occasionally comes exploding out in either the most effusive ways, or the most batshit-crazy, patronizing, and sometimes downright mean ways (usually without attaching their names in the latter case). People call the answering machine, *losing their minds*, over the pronunciation of a single word, or the formulation of a salutation, or if she takes a day off sick, or comes back from being sick. People approach at the Farmers’ Market, and I do not exist, they address the Construct: you should’ve asked him this, you’re so great, are you getting my emails, I need to talk to you about this thing, here’s what’s wrong with the CBC (like she can change anything?), can you host this thing, I know it’s on your day off, but I figure, you’re on my dime, anyway…
Seriously. The Construct is never, ever allowed to be off the clock, think for itself, have an opinion, or say anything not in your words.
I married Steph Domet the Person. She’s the smartest, coolest, most interested and interesting person in whatever room she walks into. She loves her job (even the crazy people; I’m rather less charitable) and believes deeply in its intrinsic democracy, that not everybody *should* like everything they hear, but she’ll do her best to bring everyone in on this-or-that discussion. She has the brightest eyes in the world, has read more books than anyone I know, is learning to play the piano, writing another book, editing another two, is a stellar cook, gardener, organizer, my favourite roadtripping companion, and my best friend.
Which one would you rather talk with?
If you’re not familiar with the Six String Nation guitar, you’re a Bad Canadian. Go up to your room, and read up on it. It’s insanely cool.
So, this week, the guy behind it, Jowi Taylor, happened to see that I was playing at Not My Dog in Toronto. He brought Voyageur down for a little visit.
My thanks, J: that was a cool enough night already; this made it pretty perfect.
Hey, TOnians!
I don’t do it often, but I’m doin’ it next week- playin’ your town! Any chance you’d wanna stop by?
Monday night, May 16th, 10 pm sharp, I’ll be the guest of the Ladies in Waiting (CindyDoire, Andrea Ramolo, Sarah Burton, Faye Blais, and Sara Fitzpatrick) at their Monday series at Not My Dog on Queen at Jameson. Real psyched: amazing artists, great little spot.
Kev Corbett & Ladies in Waiting
@ Not My Dog, 1510 Queen St W @ Jameson, Toronto.
10pm Cover: Pass the jug!
http://www.andrearamolo.com/
http://www.cindydoire.com/
http://www.sarahburton.ca/
http://www.fayeblais.com/
http://www.myspace.com/sarafitzpatrickviolin
Tuesday afternoon, I’m playing RootsMusicCanada’s Woodshed Sessons!
www.rootsmusic.ca/woodshed
These dudes are doing heaven’s work for Canadian Roots Musicians, and I’m honoured to be invited into the sanctum. Might even bring a present for ’em.
Tuesday night, May 17th, 10 pm sharp, I’m splitting a night with my ole buddy Dave Borins at the amazing Tranzac. I’ve always wanted to play here, and Dave’s doing amazing stuff these days. Couldn’t be happier.
Kev Corbett & Dave Borins
@ The Tranzac (Southern Cross Room), 292 Brunswick Ave. Toronto
10 pm Cover: Pass the jug!
http://www.daveborins.com/
For further info, contact kev at kevcorbett dot com.
See ya there?
OOO
K (NOTE: BIO & LINKS BELOW!)
ON KEV CORBETT…
“That’s a mighty fine CD you (and your friends) have cobbled together. Beauty. Great songs, vivid and evocative rapid fire storylines, sweet and raggedy sounds, and terrific arrangements. Thanks for that.” – Lewis Melville
He likes one fan’s description: Like Cohen, but with a sense of humour; Dylan, without the angst.
People keep telling Kev Corbett he really doesn’t sound like anbody else. He’s a wordy guy with a big heart. A serious guitar picker. A man who loves a great story, especially if it isn’t his. He’s comfortable in his own skin, not a hint of pretense.
He’s experienced, too: he’s got about 20 countries worth of touring under his belt, keeps placing in songwriting competitions, and had opened in the last year for Stephen Fearing, Jill Barber, Ben Sures, and Annabelle Chvostek. But, to hell with musical comparisons: this dude’s a writer. He’s known for the attention-to-the-everyday of an Alice Munro, the attention-to-detail and research of a Robertson Davies, the brutal frankness of a Farley Mowat, the warm-cuddliness of a Peter Gzowski. This year, he toured coast to coast and back by train over two months. Five days later, he set out to do it again.
Kev Corbett is the best kind of folksinger, writing zingers that can veer hilarious, heartbreaking, lusty, pious, political, fighty, thoughtful, wistful, helpful, and/or clever; and then usually throw a self-deprecating monologue on top. It’s hard not to pay attention; stories become songs break down into stories, and you realize he’s not singing about his own life. He’s singing ours.
www.kevcorbett.com
www.facebook.com/pages/Kev-Corbett/116304549270
www.youtube.com/kevcorbett
www.myspace.com/kevcorbett
www.sonicbids.com/kevcorbett
www.twitter.com/corbettkev
Hey kids,
I read a great piece in the paper this morning – actually, two – about the rituals around the revolution of one year to the next (one pro, one con). This brings one to thinking about how the year’s been, and what the next may hold.
It’s been a great year, thanks to many people. My Person, fans of live music, VIA Rail, many good (and many new) friends, and many supportive clients, bosses, colleagues, and peers. THANK YOU.
I’ve had some really good news about new partnerships for the coming year, things that are booking up, songs coming in, radiolike, ready to emerge. This is gonna be another great year. There is much to celebrate.
I’ll leave you for now with a video, kindly supplied by my friends Andy and Ariana, of a performance at Wolfville, Nova Scotia’s excellent series The Night Kitchen. An amazing song by Chris Wood that I’ve been obsessing over for some time. I hopoe you like it as much as I do.
Thank you. Happy New Year. See ya on the road.
xo,
K
Hey, Beautifuls!
So, the album art’s signed off, mastering’s tomorrow, and we appear to be full steam ahead to the CD RELEASE on Aug 6th at Lunenburg Folk Fest!
WAAAAA! 🙂
It’s called ‘Son of a Rudderless Boat’, has 10 tunes, and a wack of neat moments. I played a lot of it, and brought in friends who do things I can’t (like sing high and play trumpet).
Keep in touch. You’ll hear from me soon…
Photo by Greg ‘I am the Greggman’ Wagner. Guitar by Morgan.
Hey dudes,
FYI: I’ll be playing twice tonight. First opening up for the fierce and awesome Annabelle Chvostek (www.annabelle.org) at my neighborhood watering hole, the Company House; show’s at 8pm. I’ll then be running over to The Carleton to play with Steve Bowers’s band, at 10 pm. Gonna be great nights at both places. If you make it down, come up and say hi.