For some artists that’s an eternity. For Martha it’s called “having a life”.
The life included the breakup of her marriage. Fighting for custody of her children. Opening a bistro that became a studio. Having to justify being a female artist who’s also a mother. The feedback was “surely you can’t be both”?
The album is called Love will be Reborn which is exactly what happened to Martha. The songs that followed the writing of the title track reflect exactly what happened in the 5 years between releases. Produced by Pierre Marchand. You just know this is good.
It’s her very best work yet. Songs like Justice, Body and soul, Hole in my heart, and Love will be reborn. We’ll include them all in the podcast.
This conversation is not a Q&A. It’s me engaging Martha and getting the hell out of the way.
Presented by The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
THE SHOW
We come to the last show in a series that started August 21st (you remember August, right?)
The master plan was to reconnect with the people, wineries and food of the Okanagan after a two-year hiatus.
So many changes, many Covid related.
Thankfully we found an excellent supporting partner in TOTA – The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association. They sure know their territory. Top shelf management.
To my delight, I also got to re-connect with long-time friend CEO Ellen Walker-Mathews and discovered the invaluable assistance of Rob Grifone. My thanks to both.
For week five we find ourselves back at our home base at Moon Curser Vineyards in Osoyoos. Got to stay and do the interviews at their fabulous Hideaway.
The whole thing is on Corey Wood’s video. (see below)
Our final guests are:
Beata and Chris Tolley – Our hosts at their gorgeous winery and the co-founders of Moon Curser Vineyards www.mooncurser.com
Beata & Chris Tolley
Moon Curser
Pouring 2020 Arneis (the little rascal of Piedmont. A flinty white) and 2019 Dead of Night
(a spectacular blend of Tannat and Syrah. Spicy/Opulent)
Just a note that Paula came by at my request, as I wanted to salute her work at CC Jentsch and to honor her mentor Chris Jentsch who passed away recently.
The vineyards are up for sale now and likely the new owners will rebrand. This week’s Tasting Room Radio is dedicated to Chris and CC Jentsch.
Things got emotional on both sides of the microphone. We thank Paula for hanging in. Thanks also to Michael J McCoy for keeping CC Jentsch open until the end.
At first taste, I knew these were special wines. When I discovered their mentors were Richard Cleave and Senka Tennant, that explained everything.
Dan and Carol listened and learned well. They brought and poured 2020 Viognier (one of the very best expressions in all of Canada) and 2018 Carmenere (glorious pepper heaven. 70% French Oak 27% new)
Dan and Carol Scott. Lariana
And that’s it – 25 interviews captured in one week and spread out over five weeks of shows. Now it’s time for you to do your own reconnect.
When it’s safe to do so please consider making plans to do your own week in the Okanagan Valley.
Senka Tennant Lariana
Remember to check out www.totabc.org All the safety and planning info is there.
Lariana vineyards
Thank you TOTA. Thank you, guests, Corey Wood and Meg.
The Barenaked Ladies 16th album is called Detour de Force. More wordplay from a band that majors in it. Right?
I knew this album would be different when I saw a track written by bassist Jim Creegan called Paul Chambers. Who writes a pop song about a legendary bass player (Kind of Blue) as a metaphor?
Ed himself wrote the amazing Live Well, a song about his childhood filled with his Father’s alcohol abuse and how he overcame the trauma.
The album ends with the outstanding Kevin Hearn track called Internal Dynamo. It’s about planets generating their own magnetic fields. Not your basic pop/rock fodder.
It starts like something Pink Floyd might have left us with but 2:40 into the 5-minute track the music shapeshifts into Rage Against the Machine and then ends with a Beatles White album feel.
Executive Chef Jeff van Geest – Miradoro at Tinhorn Creek (Golden Mile)
Jeff talks about the staffing problems that all restaurants have been having. It’s prime time in the Okanagan and some restaurants are cutting down hours and days in order to stay open. Jeff is revealing, enlightening, and a damn fine chef.
Every once in a while all of the planning goes OUT THE WINDOW.
This week’s Podcast for example.
I always knew there would be a complete interview with Suzie Ungerleider (Oh Suzanna). Her new 10th album is called My Name Is Suzie Ungerleider and the story behind the title tells quite a tale.
The music is the best she’s ever released. So, the complete interview and tracks as well. Suzie closes the podcast.
Also this week, I was doing interviews with Barney Bentall, Colin Linden, and Russell Broom about their involvement in Remembering The Last Waltz. Four nights of celebrating The Band’s Last Stand almost 45 years ago.
Sept 2 & 3 Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
Sept 9 & 10 Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
Before we shared memories of The Band we talked about the passing of Charlie Watts. Legendary drummer for The Rolling Stones. His effect of The Stones and on us is remarkable considering how quiet and gentle he was. As large and loud as all The Rolling Stones were, it was Charlie that held it all together, on stage and off.
So..we start this Podcast by remembering Charlie Watts, then The Band, and celebrating Suzie Ungerleider. Busy week.
Chef Evan Robertson. Kathy Malone Winemaker & Shelann Sleegers Wine Club Hillside Winery and Bistro
2020 Muscat Ottonel & 2015 Mosaic (Bordeaux Blend) History in a bottle
Evan Robertson – Exec Chef Hillside Bistro/Shelann Sleegers – Wine Club Manager
Associate Producer Corey Wood has edited video versions of the interviews with Jay Drysdale, Marcus Ansems, Ned Bell, and Emily Walker. They can be found on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/uralP29wDOE
THANK YOU TOTA!
https://www.totabc.org
STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON
NEXT WEEK
At Moon Curser…(Osoyoos)
John Weber – Orofino (Similkameen)
Wild Bill Eggert – Fairview Cellars (Golden Mile)
Justin Hall – Estate Winemaker Nk’Mip (Osoyoos)
Chef Jeff Van Geest – Miradoro. Tinhorn Creek (Golden Mile)
Vince Ditrich has been a pal for many years. Lives in the neighbourhood but we spend 20 years bumping into each other. Me as a broadcaster and VJ. Vince as the drummer of legendary Celtic/punk band Spirit of the West. SOTW is no more. They lost their leader, the brilliant John Mann to Alzheimer’s. Here’s to you John.
Vince has been writing for years – with an on line column called Random Note Generator. Now comes his first of three books about Tony Vicar. Failed rock star and his crazy circle of friends and enemies.
Enjoy!
Liquor Vicar takes place in a fictional town on Vancouver Island called “Tyee Lagoon”.
Tony Vicar, a life-long local and wannabe rock-star, well past his shelf life for achieving any success, and not particularly musically talented anyway.
He is reduced to DJing rural weddings and for an extra hundred bucks throws in an Elvis impersonation. He becomes dark and cynical at the state of his life and career, but at his worst moment meets Jacqueline O’Neil, known by all as Jacquie O.
He gets a job working at ‘Liquor’, the only liquor store in Tyee Lagoon, owned and operated by a crusty character nicknamed Ross Poutine. Poutine’s trademark mangled grammar and mysterious goat-like odour give him a unique identity in the town.
After a rotten dinner date, the curmudgeonly Vicar and his bubbly date Jacquie come across a terrible car wreck on the road home. Vicar gives aid and everyone present seems to think he has miraculously brought one of the victims back to life. Word gets out about Vicar’s miraculous roadside ministrations and almost immediately he becomes a celebrity; after a little national and international attention his fame skyrockets, leaving him confused and questioning everything about his life. He never saw himself getting famous for THIS reason! It’s the first of three Liquor Vicar books.
The final interview from the 2021 Calgary folk music festival.
Dan Mangan – artist, entrepreneur, father, husband, and surprisingly a great middle-distance swimming champion.
Two time Juno winner
Dan’s most recent album was More or Less. (2018)
After many years of small venue performances, Dan co-founded Side Door Access with Laura Simpson.
“We believe artists deserve more control and fewer gatekeepers, and that an empowered arts community will produce the most interesting, diverse and daring ecosystem of expression”
What started out as a local support system for artists (and audience) was completely re-arranged to bring music to all of us during the pandemic. Everyone involved at Side Door was swept along by a flood of requests and opportunities. Including Dan Mangan.
Now he’s seeing light at the end of the Covid tunnel and can start to pick up the remnants of his music and performing career.
When we talked a couple of weeks ago, Dan was getting ready to engage in his first public performance in many months at the Calgary Folk Music Festival.
Dan and I cover some of the above and more. You can look forward to a steady flow of songs and albums to come from Dan in the next year and a half.