Sitting riverside in Roseburg Oregon listening to some long anticipated “ruff mixes” of tentatively titled next solo effort “Bare Bones” and pleasantly surprised by the results. Out of 9 recorded tracks, I believe 5 might actually be finished and with a bit of Spencer (Crewe) spit and polish, ready for consumption. Have decided to bring in the Jeen (O’Brien) to beautify a couple and the band (GBS) to add their manly tonsils to a few others. This will likely happen while on the road in the fall. In the meantime I look forward to road testing some new tunes this friday (7pm) at the Railway Club in Vancouver.

See you there.

s

17 years in……you would think I’d have learned my lesson by now. Never trust the “Book of Lies” (an amusing pseudonym for “Itinerary” that helps touring bands laugh at their own misfortune) but here I find myself, yet again, too long on a bus for no good reason…..and still driving. A mistake commonly made by the young and easily led…..the frequent fortune of men with longer futures than my own. I have no one to blame but myself. I should know better than to follow blindly the path of higher powers whose bottom lines are bigger than a baby’s bright eyes.

Time is the worst thing in the world to waste…..especially when it’s not just your own.

s

Radio Séan, vol. 3 – “Traditionally Influential”

The following was written (but not posted) on May 30th…..

Ever get the feeling you were sitting in someone else’s grocery cart? Lost among the isles…..in cereal looking for eggs…in the 20 or under checkout line….holding 21? That’s how I feel most of the time. Somewhere close to…but never quite there…something I always see coming but can never avoid….always north of reason …and slightly south of right….somewhere in between.

Spent the last to weeks @ home with my wife and sons….just living. Day to day. Breakfast to bath. Bloody noses and dirty bums. Wrote some songs…..and recorded even more. Ran the dogs and marked the passing of another year (43). I Watched my baby blow 2 candles clean off a cake . And then i watched the news….and wished I hadn’t.

I don’t know where I’m going, but I know i can’t stop.

I will see you all….out there…next week.

s

I’ve never really paid much attention to Father’s day. As a fresh father, it held no more weight for me than the so many other Hallmark holidays with which we now find ourselves besotted. But last Sunday was different. For some reason this year I had a fantastic Father’s Day and I don’t even know why. Me and the boys were just messing about in the backyard blowing bubbles and chasing butterflies…..all day long. Maybe the rare visit of a warm summer wind helped to wash my worries away. Maybe I’m just getting soft in my old age. Maybe just hanging out blowing bubbles and chasing butterflies with your boys is the best Father’s day present a Dad could ever get.

Thanx for that lads.

be home soon.

s

Be home soon.
s

Just 30 minutes drive across the river from downtown Ottawa lies a musical oasis called The Black Sheep Inn. In this idylic lakeside setting, tourists, locals, and serious fans alike can lift up their feet and listen uninterrupted to the music that moves them.
What a truly beautiful thing.
Thank you Paul and everyone else who made the journey to see me last friday nite (especially the girl with the 9 volt battery in her purse).
It was my first visit to The Black Sheep but it will not be my last.
Now back to gbs world.
See u all out there.
s

Aside from being the best singer to ever blow out of Cape breton, my good friend Bruce Guthro has created and maintained the coolest guitar pull in the country. I’ve known Bruce for about 15 years and he’s asked me to join his circle on more than one occasion but I’ve always managed to come up with some elaborate excuse. The real reason  was fear.

In order to survive a cycle with the big boys, you need a full quiver of tunes and must be ready to react on a song’s notice coz you never know what card will be laying into you. You need room to manouver…..strong backup. The big boy sitting to my immediate right was guitar monster Kevin Evans and I felt a little like the guy who bought a knife to a gunfight.

Bruce’s circle was an excellent learning experience and I can’t wait to to get back in the ring.

s

If I died tomorrow, I ‘d have one less X to mark on my bucket list. To come to Halifax and sing my songs in the best listening room in Canada is no small privledge and one for which I shall ever be gratetful. Very nervous at first (it took me about four songs to find my shy little voice) the audience were quick to set me at ease and I settled into my dream gig and time stood still. I felt like a bird over water. Floating on air. Transcendant.

After about 90 minutes (my set was supposed to be 60) I finally came out of my trance and walked off the stage into the warm arms of a very happy room.

Thank you all for granting me this great indulgence. Thanks especially to Louis, Janesta, Mike Campbell, Mike Greatorex, John Poirier, Andy Robicheau, Brian Buckle, and Jon Landry. I leave Halifax humbled and inspired and hope soon to return.

s

It is with a mixture of fear and excitement that I embark on my first domestic shows. Three sets in as many nights in Halifax and Ottawa: The Carleton, Bruce Guthro’s Songwriter’s Circle, and then the infamous Black Sheep Inn (actually across the river in Wakefield Quebec). Not sure how often I will get to enjoy this great privledge (gbs drops another kitchen party classic july 13th) so I have resolved to indulge myself on this minor musical tour. The brave souls in attendance will be treated to my own personal favourites along with brand new “Bare Bones” material and even some works in progress. It’s been a long while since I have done anything without the help of my loyal crew and I really hope I don’t break a string or incur the wrath of the feedback god’s. I promise to deliver the most honest Sean shows I can. And I really hope you like me.

p.s. I may be nervous so please try not to look right at me.

s

As if and in case anyone was wondering what happened to me, I have been lost in the studio plotting the sequel to my solo audio assault on your unsuspecting hearts and minds. 8 new greatbigsean tracks were hastily recorded in as many days last week in GBStudio for your listening pleasure (one digs when the dirt is darkest). No idea when or how these new masterpieces might be “released” and would love to hear some feedback from you in that regard. I will be road testing said work this week @ The Carleton in Halifax and The Black Sheep in Ottawa.

Tentative title “Bare Bones”

see you out there

s