The Carnival Is Coming To Town - theHumm December 2016

By Steve Tennant

Along with many fans across North America, I’ve been waiting ten years for Brock Zeman’s The Carnival is Back in Town CD… something he’s been promising, providing occasional teases through intimate story-songs he’s written through the years and included in sets, sharing various glimpses of carny life.

Just hearing the word “carnival” conjures up a plethora of images often created originally via childhood experiences, books or watching scary movies utilizing the theme; including the Big Top, circuses, death-defying acts, big animals, clowns, flashy midways, Ferris wheels, games of chance, freak shows, cotton candy and carnies. Historically, it was a big event when carnivals arrived in communities large and small, the magic and mystery all rolled out for a few days of incredibly memorable entertainment. Carnivals are pretty much a thing of the past now; local fairs being a mere shadow of what used to be. Thankfully, this CD brings it all back masterfully, in technicolour. The acoustic sound lends credibility to the nostalgic theme: banjos, accordions, fiddle, tinkling piano, saxophone, all weaving through the guitars and percussion, with tasty harmonizing vocals augmenting the overall carnival sound… that mysterious circus calliope sound intimated. A full concept presentation, from arrival, erecting the tent, touching snapshots of various carny folk, and romance, to the sad leaving.

Zeman had my butt on the bleachers; all the magic and mystery of the Big Top’s inner heart musically marching out before me. The musical production enhances the colours, from the dank underbelly of carny life, with its unique characters, to the intoxicating excitement and fear the carnivals throw our way. Brock and his multi-instrumental sidekick, Blair Michael Hogan, bring jugglers, knife throwers, clowns, the rides… all musically concocted before our eyes. His twelfth CD and well worth the wait! Masterful.

Brock is hosting a CD Release party at the Carleton Place Legion: December 3 at 8pm. Tickets are $10 in advance (at SRC Music or the CP Legion) or $15 at the door. Should be a wonderful evening.

One of Canada’s greatest troubadours, one who touched and affected the hearts of so many around the world, Leonard Cohen, left our world, but left a legacy of poetry and music for generations to come. His ability to scribe so many issues of the heart has provided a soundtrack for many people’s young lives. I saw him in Ottawa a few years ago and was amazed at the wide variety of ages attending. Two women, 70 years young, sitting beside me had driven from Sault Ste. Marie and had tickets for all his performances in Ottawa. Beside them were a couple of teenagers who had fallen in love with his music, thanks to their parents’ record collections. The sweet musicianship that surrounded his vivid lyrics made it a memorable evening. Thanks Mr. Cohen.

We also lost one of my favourite musicians, known as a “musician’s musician”, in that he gained more notoriety through musicians’ circles than the average public. Leon Russell’s keyboard and songwriting skills spanned many generations. In the early days he was a member of Wrecking Crew (the go-to studio musicians of Los Angeles that played on many of the hits we remember from the '60s and '70s). It was his involvement as musical director with Joe Cocker’s memorable 1970 Mad Dogs and Englishmen album and same-titled movie that first caught my ear, with hits he wrote such as Delta Lady and Superstar. Leon’s styles ranged from rock and roll to blues to gospel, often sounding like a singin’ southern preacher, but he also enjoyed country, making music under the alias “Hank Wilson”. Elton John, among others, called Russell one of his true mentors and, in 2011, they recorded the CD The Union together. I saw him last at Bluesfest on a side stage, sitting 15 feet away as he toured through his catalogue, chatting with the audience for the first time, in all the previous shows of his I’d seen. Gone too soon, his creativity will continue to affect music for years to come. Support live music everywhere!

Upcoming Events

Sunday, December 4 at 7pm: Dakota Martin (flute) & Kristan Toczko (harp) give a recital at St. Paul’s United in Perth. Dakota is creating quite a name for himself across the continent, so this is a “lucky chance” opportunity to catch him. Tickets are $20; students $10.

Thursday, December 8 at 6pm: Leahy at the Sharbot Lake Inn. Two generations of the famous Leahy family, joined by cousins, combining to make fiery fiddle music, dance and song. You will love it! $70 for dinner and show. Call Sandra at 279–2198 for reservations.

Sunday, December 11 at 2pm: Men & Women of the Tay’s Christmas Concert at St. James Anglican Church in Perth. Come enjoy the festive sounds of this combined chorus; something that’s become a real kick-off to many families’ Christmases. Freewill offering.

Happy Local Holidays! - theHumm December 2016

By Kris and Rob Riendeau

Here at theHumm we’re big on local economies. The retail and service businesses in the small towns that we cover play a huge role in the cultural life of those towns. Each store, restaurant, or sma......

The Carnival Is Coming To Town - theHumm December 2016