Tour Blog: Said The Whale

I started off the first day of the new year by lazily sitting on the couch with my partner before getting a text from an old friend of mine, Lincoln. He asked if I would be interested in doing a small leg of touring with Said The Whale. I was taken back by this, surprised that literally the first day of the year and I was already making solid touring plans. I happily obliged and finished off all of the details with the rest of the band and awaited until the following month when I would get to meet them and head off on the tour.

Coming into the first sound check, and out from the cold, I casually walked around the Grey Eagle taking a few photos here and there. When working with a new group of people it often takes a moment for me to warm up and see what I can do and where all I can go. In this instance, though, I was just wandering around to warm up my hands. Central Canadian winters, am I right? Everyone was so pleasant to meet, and even more so I quickly learned of the quips and puns. Oh, how lovely the puns. These are people I can trust.

CALGARY, AB

RED DEER, AB

OFF-DAY

GRAND PRAIRIE, AB

EDMONTON, AB

To anyone who has seen the tour dates will notice here how Saskatoon is missing. Well, that’s due to the fact that early in the morning we set off towards Saskatoon from Edmonton only to see some warnings pop up on the dash of the van moments before the power-steering went out. After some google searches we realized it was the serpentine belt and with the make and model of the van that meant that the whole thing wasn’t going anywhere. We were nearing the middle of nowhere, about 10 minutes outside of Vegreville, had to spend a solid hour and some looking for a mechanics shop that was open on the weekend and then eventually get the one and only cab driver to pick us up. Although I am from a small town, I do always find the small towns that are larger even stranger than the village that I grew up in. But in this case we were the strange beings that took over a Dairy Queen for upwards of 6 hours before heading to the mechanic shop, being updated and then heading to a pub across the road. Everyone that had to deal with us was quite lovely with our situation and I can’t believe that let us stay in these two establishments for so long. I cannot even remember what time we eventually left Vegreville, waving goodbye to the large egg at it’s entrance way but we did make it to Saskatoon around 3:30 in the morning to sleep for 3 hours before heading off to my last day with Said the Whale in Winnipeg.

WINNIPEG, MB

It was truly lovely to be on the road with the members of Said The Whale. They were all so kind, open, and honest as people and individuals. Between all the quips, Denny’s, and hotel oranges, it was an over all amazing experience. I got to see different theatres in ways I had previously never anticipated, walked across the stage of the Grey Eagle, sneak my way behind Brad on the drum kit, and explore all the spooky things that different venues had to offer. Although, this one is more specific to how beautiful and spooky Winnipeg’s theatre is.

If you haven’t already, Said the Whale was touring on their new record, Cascadia and it’s definitely worth the listen. I’ve memorized every song and gesture of the band after this small run with them and it’s been nothing short of delightful.

Tour Blog: Youth Fountain + Stasis

On Thursday I hopped on a Greyhound and went on my over-night journey to Vancouver to meet up with the guys’ in Youth Fountain and Stasis. The day was spent with my good friend, Carmin Edwards and Pope of Youth Fountain. Most of the day I spent most of the day with other friends in the city, taking some photos here and there and grabbing a good ol’ breakfast. It wasn’t until I was at the venue, the Biltmore, that I actually met up with both the guys in Youth Fountain as well as Stasis. It was really great to see them all as they set up everything and I edited my different selections of back-logged photographs. The night in Vancouver was amazing and such a way to kick off the tour. All of the pre-sale tickets were sold out and the room was packed and stoked to see Youth Fountain and everyone else on the bill. There was so much energy and even the first day really spoke for how the rest of the tour, at least that which I was on, would be like. Even shows that we weren’t expecting a lot out of, Prince George, ended up being energetic and lively as heck.

VANCOUVER

KAMLOOPS

KELOWNA

With Kamloops and Kelowna being so close to one another we were able to spend a lot of time outside of the van and enjoying the day. We met up with the guys in The Burden in Kelowna for Mini-Golf, Go-Karting, and the arcade. I think we all found that arcades became a weird theme in our time together where we all ended up doing something revolving around games and neon lights. I was stoked, particularly because it enabled me to do some more candid stuff and random portraiture as I love to indulge in my own personal work while I am on tour. I was surprised when we got to the venue in Kelowna that Hawking was allowing everyone to use their massive lighting set up. What that meant is that this small venue would have probably the best light on the whole entire tour.

PRINCE GEORGE

In Prince George i parted ways with Stasis. It was also where we parted with The Burden who had been on three of the four dates at that point. Originally, I was invited by the guys in Stasis to do the four days that they were on this tour and from there ended up riding with Youth Fountain. I appreciate these dudes so much and it’s been lovely to be able to see them repeatedly this summer and autumn. I made sure to grab a (really comfortable) sweater from them. One that I probably wore every day after. I would also like to shout out to the lovely, Brett Cullen who I had been lucky to hang out with while he was out with the Burden boiz. He was the one who photographed these images and had to deal with our shit. We all see you, Callum + Michael.

DAY-OFF IN EDMONTON

EDMONTON

CALGARY

Wedding: Candace + Mike

I do not think there is a wedding yet that moved me quite like Candace and Mike's had. Originally I had met Mike and Candace through music. It's a bit of a long story but when Candace approached me to document their wedding I was pleasantly surprised and please to be a part of it all. These two people share such an amazing kindness and love, and both have their own beautiful expressions in music. Being able to be a part of this wedding was a dream come true with so many people who collectively can see the love this pair shares for one another. For myself, seeing so many people be so enamoured by music on top of that warmed my entire soul. I'm happy to share with you some of my personal favourite images from their special day and evening. 

Rather than meet from the end of the isle, Mike and Candace decided to have their own special moment where they met before the ceremony in the sight of all their immediate family and wedding party. It was absolutely adorable to watch as Candace sneakily ran from the hallway into the living room. We all watched as Mike stood outside of one of the windows completely unaware that Candace was right there on the other side. Their moment of reconcilation was absolutely beautiful and the love that they share more evidant than ever.