Giant Hand TOUR

DAY 2 – VERMONT

For the most part of the day, I hung around Montreal with Jean-Michel. We had breakfast at a pizzeria down the street from his apartment that happened to serve breakfast as well.
At around 3:00PM I headed to the bus station to head for Vermont. It was delayed by 45 minutes, so I sat around playing scrabble on my phone. Once the bus came, everyone loaded on and we set out for the US of A.

The man sitting next to me had little to no concept of personal space as his arms and legs were practically pushing me off my seat. When he would reach into his pocket for his wallet (for a reason I’m not quite sure seeing as how we were on a bus with nothing to buy) his elbow would make a nice jab into my ribs. Oh the luxuries of the Greyhound.

We approached the border where we were instructed to enter the customs office and have everyone show the border security our passports. When a middle aged man was asked what he was doing in Canada, he responded “I was visiting my mother in law.” Which prompted the officer to make a crack about his mother in law by saying “you must like you mother in law a whole hell of a lot me than I.”

I made it through customs without any trouble so I waited outside by the bus while the rest of the passengers checked through. Once everyone was cleared by border security, we all piled back on the bus to find out we were some how missing four people. They had apparently been chosen for a more thorough inspection…

About a half hour later the last four came out in surprisingly high spirits, so on to Vermont we went.

Upon arriving in Vermont late I took a cab straight to Radio Bean, which is where the show was. It’s a kind of restaurant/bar and not the best place for live music. Needless to say, not too many people were there to actually listen to music.

After my set, I went down the street to Vermont Sandwich and had some food. The man who worked there was talking to what I assume is a regular at the restaurant. The regular was telling the other man the best way to catch flies which apparently is some beer on a plate. The man who ran the restaurant replied with “If you saw a huge pool of beer, don’t tell me you wouldn’t jump in.” they both laughed and I left.

I headed to a cheap motel called The Ho-Hum Motel. It was cheap to say the least. But I fell asleep which is all I wanted.

Goodnight,
kr/gh

Packed

Missing a few people

Vermont bound

Ho-Hum Motel

I headed for Montreal yesterday by train with only a backpack and a guitar. The train was nice. I listened to 2 men talking over a few beers which they had purchased from the vendor. I could only see one of them through the crack between the seats. He couldn’t have been much older than 43, but he had grey hair. He wore a pink collared shirt to try and look more youthful. I listened as he told his friend (which I presume he hadn’t seen in a long time) about buying a house. He talked about how his wife’s father wanted to live with them while they were waiting for their new house to be built. The man wanted to charge his father in law rent. Five hundred dollars a month he said. His wife apparently didn’t like the idea of charging her father rent, as he let her live in his house for free as she grew up. Feeding her, putting clothes on her back, and raising her into what I assume would be a stand up citizen. But this man did not care. Maybe he didn’t have parents?

After growing tired of listening to the pink shirted man, I turned to my laptop and started watching “The Apartment” with Jack Lemon and Shirley MacLaine. A little over a year ago, I gave myself the task of watching all 100 of AFI’s top 100 movies of all time. I love movies, and realized after looking at the list, that I had only seen a little over a dozen. Which is unacceptable to someone such as myself who watches at least 2 to 3 movies a week. So far, the movie is really great. It starts off quite silly, with the main character working late as he lets one of his bosses use his apartment to have an affair. He hopes that this behavior will reward him with a promotion. But, without giving too much away, the movie takes a darker turn half way through the film. Which is where I had to stop as I had reached my destination of Montreal.

The show was at Casa del Popolo, which seems like a nice place to hang out. They used to have shows right in the main area, which is set up sort of like a café. Couches, and tables for people to relax. But they have expanded the place to hold a venue in a back room, which is where I played. It was Rae Spoons CD release show for the new album “Love Is A Hunter”. There were people on roller skates and underwear, and Rae got face masks made for people to wear during the show. It was really amazing.

Anyways, here are some photos from Montreal. I’m off to Burlington Vermont tonight. I’ll make sure to take some more pictures.

Love,
kr/gh

Just a backpack and a guitar

Train

Montreal

Crazy man outside Casa del Popolo

Bones Are My Home

Down By The River

Books

Rae Spoon mask

I am heading out on my second tour this year. I’m doing this one alone, so this could be interesting. I’ll be stopping in Montreal, Burlington, New York City, Charlottetown, Moncton, and Ottawa on this little tour. It should be good. I’ll be taking pictures and writing about the goings on, on the road as I trek through the East coast via planes, trains, and automobiles. This way, I will hopefully be able to take you with me on the tour so I don’t have to feel so alone. So feel free to write back and such.

First stop is Montreal tonight at Casa del Popolo with the amazing Rae Spoon! Can’t wait!

You can follow what I’m up to on creepy ol’ Twitter, Facebook, and this mildly less creepy tour blog.

here’s a song from the upcoming EP for you to have a listen!

BONES ARE MY HOME

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Friday night was the last show of the tour in my home town of Ottawa. I had so much fun on this tour, and I hope to much more from now on. But for now, I am going to be working on a new EP with Rolf.

Ming Wu took some pics and some video from Friday’s show.

Toronto was a lot of fun, minus the brief visit to the emergamcy room. But getting to play at the Boat in Kensingston Market, and getting to meet Keith Hamilton was a huge honour for me.

The drive to Windsor wasn’t as long as I thought it was going to be, and google maps does not do this city justice. It’s a beautiful city, and the people are unbelievably kind. The two guys running the Phog Lounge are some of the coolest people I’ve met. They have this book of quotes that they write in when ever they hear something funny. They actually quoted Leif today.

JM, Leif and I are all staying at the Cesars Palace Windsor Chapter tonight. There’s no free wifi here so I have to write all this using my phone.

Here are some pics from Windsor:

Megan Hamilton was kind enough to post some pictures and a video of me playing at the Mansion!

The drive up to Kingston went really well. JM and I played musical jukebox, playing each other some of our favorite songs. We got to the venue in Kingston, and there was some form of Jazz ensemble playing. I thought I may have been in the wrong place, or maybe got the night’s confused. But everything was still good. The Jazz group were just playing a little longer than expected, Once our show got started, the first night of the tour went swimmingly. There was a nice little turn out for the show, and Megan Hamilton was amazing! Everyone sat and listened, and it was great to not be drowned out by a bunch of people talking. Leif was great as always. I’m looking forward to seeing him again in a few days in Windsor. Tomorrow is an off day. JM and I will drive to Toronto, and visit some friends. I’m playing a show at the Boat Sunday night.

Anyways… It’s 2 in the morning. Gonna get some sleep.

LOVE,
Kirk

Giant Hand has recorded a bedroom session in preparation for his upcoming tour. The song is called Solemn Little Row.

April 9 @ The Mansion, Kingston, ON
w/Leif Vollebekk

April 11 @ The Boat, Toronto, ON
w/Hamilton Trading Co. + The Strumbellas

April 13 @ Phog Lounge, Windsor, ON
w/Leif Vollebekk

April 14 @ The Spill, Peterborough, ON
w/Leif Vollebekk

April 16 @ Café Dekcuf, Ottawa, ON
w/Kalle Mattson + Buffalo

FACEBOOK TOUR EVENT PAGE
I am very happy to announce that I will be heading out on my very first tour. But the only way this tour will be a success is if people come out to the shows. I do not have a publicist, or a record label to help promote this tour. I am doing all the promotion myself.

So this is where I need your help. If you are planning on attending one of the shows, please mark yourself as attending this event. If you can get 10 of your friends out to a show, I will give you a signed copy of my album “Coming Home”. If you can get 30 of your friends to come out, not only will I think you’re the most popular person alive, but I will give you a download code to download every single song I’ve ever recorded, including the ones never released. I will also give you a signed copy of my album Coming Home and a special sneak peak CD to my upcoming EP that I am recording with my friend Rolf Klausener of the Acorn. On top of that, you will receive any album I put out in the future.

This event is an open invitation, so feel free to invite all your friends, copy the poster and spread it around, and let’s make each night a party!

LOVE,
Kirk Ramsay
aka Giant Hand