Twilight Hotel

Tom Waits Birthday Celebration

Times Change(d) is fast earning itself a reputation as Winnipeg’s best roots venue and one of Canada’s cultural treasures. From the chicken toss to the Whiskey Awards, proprietor/janitor John Scoles has created a loyal following of music supporting patrons. Over the past three years Scoles has been presenting various themed events including “Neil Fest” (honoring Winnipeg’s prodigal son Neil Young) and “Tom Waits Birthday” held annually on December 9.

In past years the party for Waits has been a diehard’s dream featuring Winnipeg’s finest off-the-wall roots musicians. This year we were delighted to be invited to amass a set of the bourbon bard’s finest fare. For such a noble task, we enlisted the help of several of our closest cohorts and conspired to take the fans on a musical journey spanning what is arguably one of subculture’s widest ranging careers.

The 8 person ensemble consisted of Scott Nolan and Joanna Miller on double drum duty, Sky Onosson on bass and sax, Pianist Patrick Keenan, Hedwig star Matthew Tapscott, Twilight Hoteliers Brandy Zdan and Dave Quanbury, and ringers Paul Balcain on sax and Tom Keenan on guitar and trumpet. Together we poured over three and a half decades of releases searching for a mix of well known hymns and obscure ditties.

We all took turns leading the material. Dave Quanbury sung “Clap Hands” and Red Shoes”, Brandy Zdan took on “Little Drop of Poison” and “Tell it to me”, Matthew Tapscott lead “Romeo is Bleeding” and “Lie to Me”, Patrick Keenan amazed with “Cemetery Polka”, “Rosie” and the encyclopedic “Army Ants”, Scott Nolan whipped up “Heart-attack and Vine” and the Ramone’s “Jack and Judy”. We book ended the set with the bombastic “Rain Dogs” instrumental “Midtown” which saw many of us moonlighting of horns.

We did our best to capture the unique sounds of Waits’ percussionists with implements ranging from fire bells to tongue drums to the metal Christmas tree stand we bought at Value Village. We employed a 1940’s era shure stratoliner microphone running through a Bogen amp and a blown speaker to achieve that signature growl. The house piano at Times Change(d) had that perfect honkey tonk out-of-tuneness that we all fell in love with the first time we heard “Martha” or “The Piano Has Been Drinking.”

The night followed with performances by organizer “Mayor Matt Allen and His Little Buddies” (performing the entire album “Bone Machine” complete with projection by local film maker Michael Marinuk) and local rockabilly outfit “Patrick Alexander and The F-Holes” re-imagining such greats as “Step Right Up,” “Ice Cream Man” and “Jockey Full of Bourbon.”

The crowd was rabid in appreciation, displaying their loyalty to the man with screams, hollers and shout outs like “For I am a Rain Dog To.” The event ran at capacity all night and may well have out grown the cozy confines of Times Change(d) High and Lonesome Club

Please visit these links:
http://www.highandlonesomeclub.ca/
http://www.twilighthotel.ca
http://www.scottnolan.ca
http://www.patrickkeenan.net
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=66390036
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=37610319

-- Twilight Hotel
December 20 2008

Odetta-December 31/1930 - December 2/2008

Dec.3/2008

I awoke to hear that Odetta had passed away yesterday, December 2nd, of heart failure.
It was sad to hear this news but also somehow relieving knowing she had been struggling with
health problems.

As I was listening to the radio playing one of her old folk songs I was reminded of the gift I was given back in
2006. I was blessed to be in this woman’s presence, speak with her, as well as hear her sing.

Before she started singing she recieted some words by Marianne Williamson.
I have thought about these words almost every month since I heard them spoken in 2006.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of god. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

She then broke into “This little light of mine”.

After the performance I was introduced to her by a mutual friend. She asked me if I was a singer and I told her I was.
She then asked me if I sang my own songs or if I sang other people’s songs.
I said that I sang my own songs.
She then said to me with a large smile while taking my hand, “Oh, you are very brave!”

After hearing Odetta sing, I am a changed woman.
She really got it.
It was the most spiritually charged performance I have ever seen.
I will never forget that night.

Odetta- truly inspirational.
December 31 1930 – December 2 2008

-Brandy

-- Twilight Hotel
December 3 2008