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April 17th, 2010

Well it's been a long time in between updates but Gkori and I have been busy opening QUEST SCHOOL OF ENGLISH, a small English School in San Juan Miraflores, Lima, Peru for disadvantaged children and adults. To learn more about QUEST, click here

We have also formed HOPE THROUGH HUMANITY, a private foundation that provides educational scholarships to children and adults in Peru and particularly those students attending QUEST. To learn more about HOPE THROUGH HUMANITY, click here

On the music front, "Diamond Ring" has been added, as a free music download, to The Province Playlist. To access this on-line website, please click here

December 20th, 2009

 "A MOMENT Of LIGHT" is now available on I-tunes, CD Baby and other fine music outlets in Canada, the U.S, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, Switzerland, Austria, Greece and Luxembourg.

December 19th, 2009

"A Moment Of Light" is now available for sale in Canada, the U.S, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and Germany. Stay tuned for more updates and album release news.

December 14th, 2009

"A Moment Of Light" is now available on I-tunes. 

November 29th, 2009

Hopefully within three weeks "A Moment Of Light" will be available on I-tunes, Amazon, CD Baby and other fine music outlets. 

The album features thirteen previously released tracks from Blue Blood Alley, Balladeer, The Effects Of Gravity and "In Search Of El Dorado". 

Check back for more updates..........

 November 26th, 2009

What a night last night. 

Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova and the rest of The Frames a.k.a "The Swell Season" performed to a sell out crowd at the Centre for Performing Arts in Vancouver. I have seen Glen and The Frames perform many times and this time, they raised the bar even higher. They have only gotten better and tighter with the addition of Marketa on piano, vocals and acoustic guitar. It was truly an amazing night, with an amazing audience and a crystal clear sound system. I think Glen and the rest of the band were deeply touched by the warm reception they received. Even with the success of the movie "ONCE", they are still vastly under-rated, forced unfairly to live in the shadow of other Irish greats U-2 and Damien Rice.   

If you were there, you will now know why Glen is such a unique and inspirational singer/songwriter. He plays with a passion that I have never, ever witnessed before, having the uncanny ability to connect with the audience on every level while bringing out deep emotion in all the songs he plays. He is the consummate performer. 

If you don't already know who they are, check out their website by clicking here.

Check out their new album "Strict Joy", which is full of great songs, haunting lyrics and wonderful instrumentation. You'll love it........trust me. 

 November 17th, 2009

I have become interestingly tired of businesses and corporations who for one reason or another treat their customers with a total lack of respect. It seems to me, they have not only lost touch with their clients needs but more importantly, reality in general. 

As the economic situation worsens, more and more smaller companies are being swallowed up by larger conglomerates; mega corporations who now face less competition, less scrutiny and less dependency on their customers. Many have adopted a "take it or leave it" mentality. 

With deregulation, these large companies are all vying for a larger piece of the pie, intent on grabbing anything they can without truly understanding the product or the market. This is certainly evident in the technology field were products are often placed in the marketplace while still in a developmental stage. That's why companies, like Microsoft, are constantly bombarding us with "Updates". To fix the glitches they couldn't fix before launching the product. Quality no longer counts for anything, it's all about market share and getting the product to the consumer before their competitor can. 

Who suffers ? The consumer. Why ? Because we are fragmented. We don't have a unified voice.

Take for example I-tunes. The moment I downloaded the I-tunes software, I started having trouble with my cd drive. The software made the cd drive invisible. Fortunately, I went online and discovered that it wasn't a problem unique to my computer but to thousands of computers. Does it seem coincidental that a company that sells downloads would create software that prevents you from copying pre-existing music onto your MP3 player ? Hardly.

I went to see Matthew Good last week. I love Matt Good, not just because of his music but because of his beliefs and ideals. He has never sold out, has always pushed the boundaries of our society and refuses to go away. 

During the concert, he used a segment of the show to voice his concerns about the war in Afghanistan, the involvement of the U.S in the war and how he would change things if he were "President of the World" for a day. 

Some people may have been surprised, perhaps even upset that Matt used his show to get his own personal viewpoints across but to true Matt Good fans, Matt was just being Matt. If he's pissed off, he'd at least like you to know why. 

I came home from the show and realised that unless we all get more involved, this world will simply disintegrate before our eyes. The rich will get richer, the poor will get poorer, small family run businesses will be replaced by big box retailers, wars will continue to be waged around the world, the environment will continue to suffer and future generations will pay the price. 

That was the genesis for Corporate Trash

We have to make these corporations accountable, make them see that their policies and their actions are unacceptable and force them to change. 

It appears to me there are too many Goliaths in this world and not enough David's. 

Feel free to e-mail me your corporate horror stories. I'd love to post them on-line for you. You can e-mail me at geoffdominy@yahoo.ca

October 6th, 2009

Geoff has just finished his first full length play "The Melody Maker", which chronicles the madcap and hilarious misadventures of three rather inept, completely shallow people, to get the attention they deserve. The play is sprinkled with live performances by Geoff and includes his music video “Destiny”. 

 "I loved writing "The Melody Maker"......I have always wanted to write a play and suddenly, this idea came to me. It's irreverent, edgy and bound to offend some people. In the end, no-one comes out of the play unscathed. The characters are thoroughly despicable but also somewhat lovable at the same time. I'm sure the audience will relate to them in one way or another. I play Geoff Banks, a frustrated singer/songwriter, jewellery appraiser and Canadian Antiques Road Show appraiser, sound familiar, who feels that his musical window of opportunity is fading fast. Along with his affable manager Patrick and his devoted sister Lisa they hatch a plan to get Geoff's music heard on a much broader scale. The play is actually written as a play within a play to remind the audience that the actors are merely playing characterizations of real people. It's alright to loathe the characters.......that's all part of the fun. It's not just about music.......it explores the moral fiber of our society, the effects of karma and what some people will do to get what they think they deserve".
Click here for more information.

 June 24th, 2009

Geoff has just finished filming six exclusive interviews with ILSTV.com. The interviews will be aired every Tuesday, for the next six weeks, starting on June 17th, 2009.

Check out the interviews by clicking on the following links or by logging onto www.ilstv.com.

JEWELLERS LACK PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE

TYPES OF JEWELLERY APPRAISALS

HOW OFTEN SHOULD JEWELLERY BE APPRAISED ?

APPRAISING ON THE CANADIAN ANTIQUES ROADSHOW

FACTORS AFFECTING DIAMOND PRICES

TECHNOLOGY & JEWELLERY APPRAISING

Also check out Geoff on Global T.V's Troubleshooter by clicking here. 

June 14th, 2009

Just back from another amazing trip to Peru. Lake Titicaca, the Uros Floating Islands, Arequipa, Volcanoes, the Colca Canyon, Condors in their natural habitat, the famous Nasca Lines, the oasis at Huacachina and the deserts around Nasca and Ica. 

Peru is home to 28 of the 36 eco-systems in the world. It's got everything including such incredible poverty. After much soul searching, we have decided, for the time being, to concentrate our efforts with Hope Through Humanity in Peru. Plans are already underway to offer English instruction to underprivileged children with a small campus hopefully operational in Lima sometime before the New Year. 

 March 10th, 2009

Well the new website is finally finished.  

Fourteen songs are now available on last.fm as free downloads. Click on "Downloads". All other songs can be purchased for .99 cents per song or $ 9.99 per CD Album. All monies raised will be donated to the SRI RAM FOUNDATION and HOPE THROUGH HUMANITY. 

Click on "STORE" for more details.

 January 20th, 2009

Check out this GREAT song written by León Gieco sung by the Danish band Outlandish. It's called "Solo Le Pido A Dios" (I Only Ask Of God).

For the performance in ENGLISH, click here

For the translation in SPANISH, click here

 January 20th, 2009

GAZZA.......yet another minefield. I could talk all day about who is right and who is wrong. In reality, both sides are wrong because when no-one shows a willingness to stop the senseless killing of innocent children, how can anyone be right. Not even U.N buildings are safe. To date, 300 children have been killed. Do we ever learn from our past mistakes ? 

January 20th, 2009

Well.......many of you will have witnessed the 44th Presidential Inauguration today. I chose not to watch it, not because I have anything against Obama. I think deep down inside, he is a good man but to be honest, I am embarrassed that everyone has made his election a "Racial" issue. Everyone has been talking about making history. Perhaps it would be more relevant for people to talk about why it has taken 44 Presidential elections for the U.S, supposedly the "Land Of The Free" to correct a wrong that has been perpetrated for generations. Whether or not an individual is elected should not be based on race, religion or gender.........instead, it should be based on whether or not the person is qualified to do the job. In Obama's case, he is in a no win situation because he is going to have to make some tough, unpopular decisions and while everyone knows it is a necessary course of action, no one will like what is coming down the pipeline and will ultimately blame the decision makers for their economic woes. 

To be honest, I wish Obama had canceled the whole inauguration. It would have sent a clear "Message Of Intent" that cost cutting starts at the top and he is prepared to lead by example.

Time will tell but if ever there was a worse time to assume the Presidency of the U.S, it is now.   

 January 16th, 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR.........

It's another new year, a new reason for hope, a new reason to change, a chance to make a difference.

I watched THE CRY OF THE SNOW LION last week and it blew me away. The horrors that continue to go on in Tibet are beyond words. To date, one in six Tibetans have lost their lives while the international community looks on. That equates to a staggering 1.2 million people.

Why is this being allowed to happen ? Why does the world continue to allow China to abuse human rights and go unpunished. Why are we prepared to allow the decimation of such a rich and profound culture ? If you haven't watched the movie, please do. I never believed that I would see the fall of the Berlin Wall or the dissolution of the Soviet Union but it happened........why can't we join together and make the same thing happen in Tibet. Time is running out.............don't wait.

November 28th, 2008

Another new song, for the forthcoming album, is now finished, it's called "Barren Lands". Here's a sneak preview of some of the lyrics:

These Barren lands, beneath my feet,
These weathered hands, that I beseech,
To carry on, to still be strong, to still be strong.

These weathered hills, I used to roam,
I built this house, I call my home,
With weathered hands, on barren lands, on barren lands.

Hopefully, I will find the time between now and Christmas to record "The World As We Knew It" and "Barren Lands".

November 16th, 2008

Thanks to all my friends who came down to Trees on Friday, November 14th, to hear me play. Special thanks to my friend Kelly Hassen who performed with me. It was her debut performance and she did so well. Thanks Stanley for the great photos and Sheree for shooting the video. Click on the video links below to access YouTube.

The set list included:

A big thank you to John Pippus for hosting the show and for keeping music alive and kicking at Trees in Vancouver. 

I am now working on Album #6.......tentatively called "The Age Of Uncertainty". The album will focus more on the world around us, in a similar vein to "The Effects Of Gravity". 

 August 28th, 2008

Well I never, ever thought I would try to write an instrumental theme song to Hockey Night In Canada. The race is now on to see who will walk away with $100,000.00 cash plus 50% of all future royalties. 

I am not convinced that any winning song will ever be accepted by the many fans who have mourned the loss of the original song, to TSN, but you never know. Stranger things have happened.........

Click on the image below to access the CBC Contest website:

                           

August 15th, 2008

Well I am still working on the new duet "Holy Water" with my daughter Amanda but I have finished two cover versions that we also recorded at the same time called "Close The Door Lightly" and "Green Pastures".

I have to admit that I have really enjoyed covering other artists songs. I never really wanted to play or record original music by other artists but it's actually quite challenging, retaining the original integrity of the song while trying to add some individuality to it. Bryan Ferry, of Roxy Music, is a master at covering other people's songs. In fact, I think, in most cases, his versions are even better than the original versions. No mean feat when you chose to do an entire album of Bob Dylan songs.

From a copyright standpoint, I hope the original artists will not be too upset that I have been inspired and motivated to record their songs. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.........I hope they agree. From a financial point of view, I offer my music for free, so....in reality, all I am doing is promoting their songs. 

July 18th, 2008

Well we are now over 3,000 downloads on www.downloads.com which is very cool considering there has been no self promotion of the songs whatsoever. I have also started working on the new album, which is tentatively going to be called "The Ghosts Of Yesterday". The first song, written and recorded a couple of weeks ago, is called "Lost At Sea" and it is somewhat reminiscent of the type of songs I wrote when recording "Balladeer". Monday, I am recording a country/gospel song which I just wrote for my daughter Amanda. She's really into this type of music, at the moment, and I have to admit, I enjoyed writing it. It's called "Holy Water" and should be available sometime next week for download. I am hoping it will be a duet between the two of us. 

Anyway, the sun is finally shining in Vancouver, it's about time. It's nice to feel the sun upon my face again........

 May 28th, 2008

Sorry to have seemingly disappeared for a while.....ah romance. Gkori and I are getting married on June 2nd, 2008 in San Francisco. I proposed to her on March 8th at a little Peruvian/Latino restaurant in San Francisco called "DESTINOS", which as you may have already guessed is Spanish for "DESTINY". 

I am currently learning Spanish even though Gkori is fluent in English, I would love to learn her language. So far, so good, thanks to Gkori. She has the patience of a saint.

On the music front, we have now reached 2,971 downloads of songs through www.downloads.com and 2,112 viewings of the video "DESTINY" on YouTube, so in total, 5,083 downloads/viewings in just over a year. In terms of songs, Mon Amour is still the most downloaded song, followed by Seafaring and Diamond Ring. 

I think it's time to start writing again. 

March 23rd, 2008

O.K....I have to seriously stop writing songs. Two more, in the last two weeks, which I have decided to add to the new cd. Both songs are very different from each other and are titled "You Rescued Me" and "Love In My Pocket". I'm in this "Purple Patch" at the moment and ideas are flowing thick and fast. As they say out on the Prairies.....make hay while the sun shines and believe me, the sun is shining brighter than ever thanks to Gkori.

 February 27th, 2008

I've just finished a new song entitled "The Luckiest Man" which I have decided to add to the new album "In Search Of Eldorado". I think it's the happiest song I've ever written. Thanks again to my love, Gkori. To listen to the song, or the new album, just click on downloads. 

Also, something new, poetry. I guess it's just an extension of what I am already doing.....minus the music. Click here to check them out.

 February 24th, 2008

I am on CLOUD NINE having just watched Glen and Marketa not only perform "Falling Slowly" but also winning the Academy Award for best song. WOW......I have followed Glen and The Frames for years and it could not happen to two nicer, sincere, dedicated people. There is a GOD and "YES".......dreams can come true.

They were totally amazing and I am so proud as a loyal "Frames" fan of them.

TOTALLY BRILLIANT..........INCREDIBLE....................FANTASTIC.

Have you seen the movie "ONCE".......if you haven't, you really should. 

February 12th, 2008

Well the new album is now finished. I just completed the final song "In Search Of Eldorado" which is the longest song, at 9 minutes 28 seconds, that I have ever written and recorded. It features a cameo performance by my mum, Leigh, reciting passages from Edgar Allan Poe's "Eldorado", which is my all time favourite poem. It's really my version of Ravel's "Bolero" which is also one of my favourite classical compositions. It's also dedicated to my love Gkori, who provided the inspiration for most of the songs on the album. 

 February 4th, 2008

Well I am back from Peru. Wow........I am not sure which country I love more, India or Peru. I had the most amazing time. We went back to Cusco (which is one of the most beautiful towns I have had the chance to visit), did the Inca ruins around Cusco and the Sacred Valley and also went back to Machu Picchu. I am still in awe of the Inca's. I just don't understand how they could have built such incredible buildings and settlements in such remote areas. The joins between the rocks are so precise, you can't even wedge a credit card between the joins. I would love to have been an Inca but I think, I would have preferred to be one of the "Higher Up's" not one of the workers. 



 January 15th, 2008

Well we are now sitting at 4,405 viewings of the "Destiny" video and song downloads through www.downloads.com. Again, not bad considering there has been no self promotion. A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who has taken the time to watch the video or download one of the seven songs available on the downloads.com website. 

 January 11th, 2008

I'm feeling very inspired at the moment. Four new songs in the last couple of weeks. A new love and a new place to live. Off to Peru again on January 22nd. I want to meet with the Ninos Foundation which is helping to feed over 500 underprivileged children in the Cusco area. 

 January 5th, 2008

Happy New Year. I survived the Polar Bear Swim at English Bay (my third year) with Jen, Richard, Vinny and Phil. 1700 people, a mad dash into the ocean and then copious amounts of hot tea at Hilary's. It may sound like an odd way to ring in the New Year but it is so much fun. Totally insane. 

 December 17th, 2007

Last night, the most amazing thing happened. I attended a staff Christmas party at Coast Restaurant in Yaletown. During the dinner, Chris (the owner) and Kelly (my spiritual buddy) got up to make an announcement. In the past, they have adopted a family for Christmas and everyone has chipped in to buy them Christmas presents. This year, they decided to do something different. Chris talked about my volunteer work, the funny and insightful e-mails I send back, the passion I feel for Sri Ram and the children and more importantly, my scholarship program that I want to start up. He said that they had all talked about it and decided to donate money to my scholarship fund. Chris also said that he would match dollar for dollar anything they raised. Well....Kelly got everyone excited about it and raised $ 480.00. Even Ryan's children donated their weekly allowances. Chris added another $ 520 and Beamer and Stanley (in a tortuous game of rock, paper and scissors) added another $ 100 so........in total, I was presented with $ 1,100.00 to buy Gemmological equipment for the orphanage so that I can train aspiring Gemmologists.

I was and still am speechless. I was totally blown away by their generosity and kindness. I write my e-mails for many reasons, not just to create a travel journal for myself but to share my travel experiences with my closest friends. I want you to feel what I am feeling, no holds barred. 

It is amazing to me that I have inspired so many people to be so generous. It has really opened up my eyes and made me believe that I can do this. With a little help from your friends, unbelievable things can be achieved. Even if only one child secures a career as a Gemmologist, this will all be worth it because we will all have made such a huge difference.

To all my friends, who are also my colleagues, you are absolutely the best. I cannot thank you all enough for being so unbelievably kind and thoughtful.

 December 16th, 2007

Well I am now back in my "old neighbourhood", English Bay and loving it. It really is nice to be back downtown.

"Brightest Star", my latest recording is now available for download. It's about Gkori, who has quickly become the love of my life. It was written and recorded in my new apartment. Check out the lyrics

 December 4th, 2007

Just a quick update on the last trip. It was amazing........

I can now say that I have been around the world. Unfortunately, I only got to stay one night in Beijing but I suppose, in a way, it was a blessing in disguise because the smog was so bad, you couldn't even see the control tower from the aircraft. In fact, the flight from Beijing to Kuala Lumpur was delayed due to poor visibility. Kudos to Malaysian Airlines, the flight from Beijing to Delhi, via Kuala Lumpur was great. The flight, the day before, on Air Canada from Vancouver to Beijing, was a joke. It's no wonder the Canadian Government has to keep bailing them out. Poor service, poor food, poor entertainment.....poor everything. 

India.....nothing prepares you for India. This is now the third time I have been there this year and while I thought it would get easier.....it doesn't. Delhi, with a population of 23 million (a mere 9 million less than the entire population of Canada), is mind boggling. It was great to get out of Dodge early the next morning and take the train to Haridwar and then onto the Sri Ram Orphanage. I missed the children so much. I arrived just in time for Diwali. After nine days there, I headed up to Rishikesh, then Mussoorie before heading back to Delhi via Dehradun. 

The flight, via Jet Airways, to Berlin was incredible. I have flown on many airlines in my life but Jet Airways beats them all. 

Berlin......I have always been fascinated by Berlin, especially the wall and it's history and it didn't disappoint. I can't wait to go back. I never thought I would be so overwhelmed by the wall but I was. The 1 km stretch of the 4th generation wall at East Side Gallery gave me a real insight into what life must have been like between 1961 and 1989.

The flight home, via Air Canada, was interesting. After a mad car share from Berlin to Frankfurt, I made it as far as Montreal and then could not make the connection to Vancouver so......in typical Geoff fashion, I hopped on a plane to Toronto and then finally back to square one again. 

The new journal should be on-line soon plus all the incredible photos of the children and the rest of the trip. 



 October 17th, 2007
Well the next trip is just around the corner. Another mad adventure, this time to Beijing to see the Great Wall Of China, the Forbidden City and Tianamen Square, then off to Delhi and Hardiwar, via Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to see the children at Sri Ram Orphanage, up into Northern India and the Himalayas to visit the former British Colonial Hill station of Simla and Rishikesh, made popular by the Beatles, and then onto Frankfurt and Berlin to see Doreen who starred in the "Destiny" video. There will be lots to see and do and finally, I will be able to say that I have circumnavigated the world in one trip......pretty cool. The life of a gypsy..............

 September 29th, 2007

I just checked www.downloads.com & www.youtube.com to see how the song downloads were doing and the number of video viewings and we have just reached 3,472 in total downloads. Not bad considering we haven't done a thing to promote either of the sites. It's all due thanks to the magic of the internet. Instant gratification.......at the press of a button. 

 September 21st, 2007

Well a lot has happened since the 10th. Another short trip, this time back to PEI and Nova Scotia. PEI was fabulous, just how I remembered it and I loved Mahone Bay, Peggy's Cove and Lunenburg in Nova Scotia. I also had the chance to play at Trees again on Granville. A huge thank you to John Pippus and Trees for providing such a great venue. Considering it is a coffee house, the sound is brilliant. A big thank you to Ginger and Patrick for coming out and for everyone else who came out to listen to the music and support the artists. I thought WANTING was really good, a great voice, a little like Dido and DEBI from BIRDS & KITES was also terrific. I saw them play a few months ago at Trees and I thought they were really good.

I was really pleased with my opening set. I think the choice of songs worked and it felt good to play some of the older songs again. 

Check out GIGS & PHOTOS

September 10th, 2007

A huge thank you to Alan Corbishley and the Living Arts Society in Kamloops for inviting me there this last weekend. I have to admit, I have never been to Kamloops, unless you count driving through it in 1984, so I really didn't know what to expect. I really loved the city and the people that I met during the mini Antiques Roadshow at Aberdeen Mall and my appraisal talk/mini concert at the Old Courthouse. The scenery around Kamloops reminded me of the Sacred Valley in Peru. Buddhists believe that Kamloops is the centre of the universe so.........I guess I have to believe them.....right ?

Alan is doing an amazing job promoting the arts in Kamloops and is an accomplished opera singer himself. That's what I love about life...... you meet the most amazing people. Talking about meeting people, I chatted with the lady sitting next to me on the flight back to Vancouver. Turns out, she owns 120 hectares in the Amazon jungle in Peru and wants to run eco-tours. It's such a small world.

 September 3rd, 2007

Well I am back from Peru/Bolivia and Argentina and I am not sure if I have ever experienced anything like it before in my life. It goes beyond words. Almost transcendental. Cusco, Machu Picchu, Wayni Picchu, Puno, The Floating Uros Islands, Lake Titicaca, Taquille Island, Copacabana, Isla Del Sol, La Paz, Chachaltaya Mountain, Salar De Uyuni, Santiago, The Andes and finally Buenos Aires. I was blown away by the Inca Culture, the amazing architecture, the sheer magnitude of their achievements. The culture, the tenacity of the people, the children and the stunning scenery. 

August 4th, 2007

Well today was another personal pilgrimage, this time over to SaltSpring Island, to meet Babaji. It was a long day,12 hours of commuting (and somewhere in the region of 15 different modes of transport) to spend 4 1/2 hours at the Yoga Centre but it was well worth it. He really is an extraordinary man........truly inspirational. 

He also re-christened me "Paresh" which is Sanskrit for "Supreme Divinity". I thought that was pretty cool. 

July 10th, 2007

Well in less than a month, I'm off again. This time down to Peru and Bolivia for three weeks. In all my travels, I have never crossed the equator or visited the southern hemisphere so I am really excited about this trip. After spending a couple of days in Lima, I'll be flying to Cuzco, taking the train to Machu Picchu, then another train to Puno and Lake Titicaca and then finally onto La Paz, which is the highest capital in the world. For the most part, I'll be following the Inca trail which should be a memorable experience. I'll also be experiencing high altitudes (La Paz is about 15,000 feet above sea level) so I'm sure I'll be drinking barrels of coca tea. 

On the music front, one new song is now available, "Broken" is very dark and very emotional. I've tried a different vocal style which I hope brings out the real emotion in the song. For the record, it is absolutely not autobiographical.

 July 7th, 2007

Wow.....times flies. I can't believe it's July already.

On the music front, "Seafaring" is now available for download on downloads.com and also available on this site.

If you haven't checked out "ONCE" staring Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, you have to see it. It really is a great movie. 

My new favourite song "Blind My Mind" is by the Norwegian band FLUNK. Check them out by clicking here. 

I think I'm in love with ANJA ˆòYEN VISTER the lead singer. I first heard "Blind My Mind" at work and I was completely mesmerized by her voice. This is one of those very special songs that comes along so infrequently. They say she is a Bjork sound a like but then again, what's so wrong with that ? 

June 21st, 2007
Well it's hard to believe but it's already Midsummer's Night. I'd give anything to be at Stonehenge right now. Maybe I was a Druid in a past lifetime.

The new song "Seafarin" has received a really great response. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to e-mail or call me. I really appreciate your kind words. Inspired by the passing of yet another year and by all the pirate shenanigans that Ross and I got up to in Charlottetown, lyrically, I think it's one of my best. It's nice when everything comes together. It's not only my first "Sea Shanty" but also the first song that I have written entirely without the use of any instrument. It all came together while I was driving along the southern portion of the Points East Coastal Drive on Prince Edward Island from Woods Island, up through Murray Harbour, past Panmure Island, into Montague and then back to Woods Island via the 315. Good times........P.E.I is such a cool place. If you haven't been........you just have to go. It's quite magical.

 June 13th, 2007

At last count, there have been 1132 downloads of the songs, currently available through downloads.com and 1357 viewings of the "Destiny" video. 

 June 12th, 2007

Well that was a total blast. Being on the Roadshow is like going away to holiday camp, so many great people, so many good times and tons and tons of fun. I was completely blown away by the people, the enthusiasm, the hospitality and the great pieces of jewellery that I saw throughout the three venues. 

I loved Prince Edward Island, it is absolutely gorgeous and I now completely understand why Quebec is so insistent on preserving their "Distinct Society". That's the amazing thing about travel, it forces you to think outside the box. Up until now, I had only been to Montreal but travelling to Sherbrooke/Lennoxville, totally opened my eyes to a new world. It's the same with the Maritimes. They too have a distinct culture and if they don't strive to preserve it, who will ? 

As for separation, well that's another matter. I'm not saying I am for or against it but like a divorce, sometimes, you just can't find a way to resolve the many complex issues that exist in a relationship. I do know however, that it's imperative that a majority of the voters support it and that all the voters be informed about all the ramifications pertaining to the separation. From a financial perspective, you have to be prepared to shoulder your share of the national debt and you can't expect future Federal funding. You are either part of the confederation or you are not......there's no middle ground.  

If you would like to check out some of the photos, click here. 

Shot of the tour...........Anne of Green Gables (aka Ross Wilson) & myself at the "Wrap-Up" party in Charlottetown.

Check it out by clicking here

May 25th, 2007

Well it's time to head off to film another 12 episodes of the Canadian Antiques Roadshow. It will be great to see everyone again. I am really looking forward to seeing Charlottetown and Prince Edward Island. The new video, recorded at Trees on Granville, is now available on YouTube. The sound quality is atrocious but.......it's better than nothing. We are fast approaching 1100 song downloads on Downloads.com and the "Destiny" Video is now creeping towards 1400 viewings. 

On a personal note, a big "Hi" to my friend Paul Kardolus, the host of "What The Folk" who gave me my first radio song. It's been a while but we have finally connected again. I am also deeply indebted to Doreen for taking the time to shoot the video at Trees and Sheree for helping me re-format the video so that it met YouTube's requirements. 

Before I forget, I had the chance to see Aqualung's performance at Richard's on Richard's a couple of weeks ago. Matt Hales is a very talented artist and his new cd "Memory Man" is excellent. Check it out. I'm still in love with Jets Overhead, their debut cd is amazing and I also love Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's new cd "Baby 81". 

 May 12th, 2007

Well we are almost there, 1000 downloads in just over 6 weeks. I met with Sheree earlier in the week to talk about a new music video. While the original idea was to do Diamond Ring, I am pushing for a more provocative and maybe even controversial video using one of the songs from "Blue Blood Alley". The "Destiny" video has done really well but the reality of YouTube or any other internet video outlet is that nice, well thought out videos don't always get noticed. I am amazed at the total number of viewings some videos get. It's not about selling out, it's more about creating something that captures people's imagination, stimulates their senses and forces a reaction. Perhaps that's why I love India so much. It's impossible to feel indifferent. You either love it or you hate it. There never seems to be any "Middle" ground.

May 26th, I'm off to film Season Four of The Canadian Antiques Roadshow. This year, I'm only doing three cities, London (Ontario), Sherbrooke (Quebec) and Charlottetown (PEI), because of time restraints, but it will be nice to see everyone again. Filming wraps up on June 6th. 

August I am planning another great adventure to Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca. I've always wanted to go.......so why not. Both places create such powerful images in my mind and were considered sacred to the Inca's.

April 28th, 2007

I just checked www.downloads.com and we are now up to 923 music downloads in just over a month and 1254 "Destiny" video viewings on YouTube. Not bad considering there has been absolutely no promotion of the songs or the video..........

On a side note......check out Jets Overhead. They are from Victoria, were up for a Juno for "Best New Artist", opened for The Frames recently at the Red Room in Vancouver and have a sensational "Debut" album out. 

 April 27th, 2007

A huge "Thank You" to John Pippus for putting on the show last week at Trees Coffee House on Granville Street and for his kind review of my set. It was a great crowd and I enjoyed sharing the stage with five other really talented musicians. Since most of the coffee houses have a long waiting list for artists to perform, I'm thinking of starting up a "Music Night", similar to Trees, at another venue. Vancouver's a great "Arts City" but.........there just aren't enough venues to support the number of up and coming musicians. Stay tuned..........

I also had the chance to catch Dave Sinclairs' "CD Release" concert at Presentation House in North Vancouver and Damien Rice's show at the Centre For Performing Arts. Both shows were excellent........ 

 April 11th, 2007

Well I made it back from India and England in one piece. It was another amazing trip. Haridwar, The Ganges, The Sri Ram Ashram/Orphanage, the children and especially the Indian people just blew me away. I cannot thank everyone at Sri Ram enough for making me feel so welcome. The incredible work that Babaji and everyone else is doing is simply amazing. You just cannot help but feel humbled by the tireless work they are doing. 

From a travel perspective, swimming in The Ganges has got to be the highpoint of all my travel adventures. I have had some amazing adventures but that tops everything. It was the most spiritual sensation I have ever experienced.

London was a blast as well........it's just a magical city. 

On the music front, the "Destiny" video has almost exceeded 1,200 viewings and when I last checked, we have had almost 750 music downloads. 

 March 23rd, 2007

Great news....... www.downloads.com have approved my submission so hopefully by the early part of next week, the five songs will be available. 

More great news........the Sri Ram Foundation just outside of Haridwar has e-mailed me back and accepted my invitation to visit the orphanage and stay at the Ashram. I am very excited about this because more than anything, it was the children that stole my heart during my last trip to India. Now, hopefully, I will have a chance to give something back. 


 March 20th, 2007

Five songs, including Blown Away, Mon Amour, Diamond Ring, Stars and Stripes and Black Gold, should be available on www.downloads.com by the end of the week. I am just waiting for the editors to review the material and then we should be up and running. The site boasts over 75,000 free music downloads so it will be exciting to see what happens. Check out their site if you have a free moment.

I'm off to India again on March 26th. I just can't get enough of the culture, the people and the food. This time, I'm heading north to Haridwar which is approximately 200km's north of Delhi, in the foothills of the Himalayas, considered one of the most sacred cities for Hindus, is on the famed Ganges River and literally means "Gateway To The Lord". I am so stoked about this trip. It should be magical.

 March 10th, 2007

Well we are closing in on 1,000 viewings if we combine the total number of viewings between the original version and the re-formatted "Destiny" video. Not bad considering we have done nothing to really promote it. 

 March 6th, 2007

If you love Bob Dylan and Bryan Ferry, check out Bryan's new album "Dylanesque". It contains eleven incredible renditions of classic Dylan songs. 

 March 5th, 2007



Two new songs are now available as MP3 Downloads. Check out "Maritime Girl" and "An Astronaut Like Me". I hope you like them.....




 February 24th, 2007

I just checked out the new website for The Canadian Antiques Roadshow and happened across this video of Valerie Pringle and I discussing "Growing Diamonds". It's part of being the "Other Geoff".

 February 22nd, 2007

I'll be playing a solo acoustic set at TREES ORGANIC COFFEE on Friday, April 20th, 2007. It's a fundraiser and there will be five other acts. Hope to see you there......

 February 20th, 2007

Well I have been truly inspired the last four days even though I never did manage to get to England. All of the songs have now been converted into MP3 format and uploaded. It's been a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. I am still blown away by all this modern technology. 

I'm listening to the new Frames cd "The Cost" at the moment. It's brilliant. 

I also want to thank my friend Patrick for inspiring me this last weekend. Isn't that what friends are for ? It's funny but I honestly believe that people come into our lives for a reason. To help point us in the right direction when we seem to be lost. We watched the movie "My Date With Drew" which in addition to being about a guy trying to get a date with Drew Barrymore, is more about pursuing your dreams and making things happen. Afterwards, we also watched the Leonard Cohen documentary which was fascinating. The net result........a swift kick up the backside and now I feel I am back on track. Thanks Patrick...........

 February 17th, 2007

Well it's taken slightly longer than I thought but the MP3 Downloads are now available. I have decided, for a limited time, to offer them for free. Why ? Because music is my passion, it has never ever been about making money, simply pursuing something that makes me incredibly happy. If I do end up selling downloads, I've already decided that 100% of the profits will go to charity. 

I am so pumped by all this modern technology. I firmly believe that the traditional CD, like the 8 Track Cassette, regular cassettes and even LP's, that have made a comeback in recent years, will soon be obsolete. Personally, I love the MP3 format and to be honest, I'll only buy a CD if I can't find it to download. I know it's a compressed file but with the new iPods and MP3 players available, the sound is still amazing.

So...........feel free to listen, download, file share with your friends, whatever you like. I'm just happy to get my music out there in a format which is so user friendly. Thanks for listening........

 February 1st, 2007

Well I can't believe it's February already. I've spent the last two days writing and recording a new song, called "An Astronaut Like Me". It was inspired by a conversation I had with one of my co-workers, Kelly. It's a whimsical plea for all fellow travelers to hop aboard. 

Relationships........I'm really not sure why we feel the need to change the people we love. We all tend to do it.........but why ? If you love the person, why would you want to change them ? It only results in resentment somewhere down the road. Square pegs don't fit into round holes. It's as simple as that so.......if you're a square peg......you'd be better off finding a square hole. 

Now this is an example of customer service........

I couldn't get a ticket, through Ticketmaster UK, for The Frames show in London because they have introduced this idiotic system which no longer allows you to pick up the tickets at the venue. Instead, for a whopping $ 10.00, they will mail the ticket (s) to your U.K address (assuming you have one). If you don't, well you are up the creek. Faced with the prospect of flying to London and not being able to get a ticket, I e-mailed Claire Leadbitter, the manager of The Frames, and much to my surprise, she e-mailed me back the next day and said that if I couldn't get a ticket, she would put me on the official guest list. Now that's why I support The Frames......not just because they are a great band but because they are a fan's band and seem to understand who pays their bills.   

 January 29th, 2007

Well the viewings have slowed down but we are still edging towards 800 which is remarkable considering we have done nothing to promote the video other than e-mail the link to family and friends. Unfortunately, the Hong Kong filming, for the next video, is a non-starter. Too many complications. Permits needed, potential language barriers and of course the Chinese New Year which coincides with the only time I can get away. We have decided to shoot it in Vancouver when Sheree gets back from Hong Kong. Still.........you always have to have a Plan B.......right ? I'm off instead to London, England for a couple of days to watch my favourite band "The Frames". Check out their website at http://www.theframes.ie 

They are an amazing band, both live and on record. Glen Hansard is a truly inspirational and talented singer/songwriter and the rest of the band are incredible. They will be in Vancouver in early April 2007.......don't miss their show.

 January 25th, 2007

A little celebrating...............

 January 18th, 2007

Well we are now closing in on 700 viewings which is really great. I've been surfing through www.YouTube.com looking at some of the other videos and I am amazed at some of the viewing numbers, some over a million, it truly boggles the mind. If anyone doubts the power of the internet, spend a few minutes checking out this video website. Still.......from tiny acorns mighty oaks grow.....right ? 

 January 13th, 2007

Last night, the cast and crew got together to look at the completed DVD that Sheree had just finished. The actual DVD includes not only the Black & White version but also a Colour version of the video. Sheree has also included some interviews, funny out-takes and her own perspective on the video. Originally, we had toyed with the idea of marketing the video separately but we have now decided that when the "Balladeer" cd is available for sale, we will include the DVD as a bonus. 

As for the overall viewings, we are now closing in on the 600 mark. Coupled with my appearance on the Kitchener episode of the Canadian Antiques Roadshow on Tuesday night, it has been quite the week.

Once again, I really appreciate all the wonderful e-mails about the song/video and the amazing support I have received. 

 January 10th, 2007

Well we are rapidly closing in on 500 viewings in the first five days of being on the internet. 

I have truly been overwhelmed by the e-mails I have received about the video and the song. It seems to have struck a real chord with a lot of people. I've even had men e-mail me to say how emotional they got watching it. Not bad...................considering it's our first video. 

Art after all, should generate some kind of emotional response from the viewer or the listener. Whether it makes you happy, sad, angry, frustrated, joyous or morose, it doesn't really matter. The very fact that it has initiated a reaction, is what really matters. 

I think we all need to re-sensitize ourselves so that we can start to feel genuine emotions again. It doesn't do to hide things away and pretend they don't exist. If you continually bury your head in the sand......you will eventually suffocate. 

 January 8th, 2007

Well we are getting approximately 100 viewings a day on www.youtube .com for the new video which, I think, is brilliant. As of 7pm today, we had surpassed 350 hits. We just finished the interview section of the new DVD and now it's up to Sheree to work some more magic and finish it all off.

We are seriously talking about the next video and in all likelihood, we are going to film it in Hong Kong while Sheree is back there in February. She asked me if I would be willing to go out there and do it........and before I could say anything, the words "Sure" came out of my mouth. Maybe it's "Destiny" ? More likely, it will be "Diamond Ring". I think in my current state of mind.........I would agree to almost anything.

 January 7th, 2007

Well.......in less than 48 hours, with limited promotion, the video has been viewed 247 times. What's really gratifying is that not only has the video been well received but I've received great feedback on the song.

Ironically, the song was written two years ago before the actual storyline unfolded. What is even more ironic is that Doreen, who plays the part of the girlfriend in the video, ended up taking the place of the person I had originally wanted to go with me to India. In real life, Doreen and Chris (who plays the part of the other boyfriend) are friends and came along with Mel, Megan and I to India. When Sheree contacted me and said she loved the song and wanted to do a video of it, we sat down and looked at who could potentially play the various roles. It quickly became apparent that Doreen would be ideal, not only because she would make the storyline believable but because she has this unique ability to show a wide range of facial emotions and that's what this video really needed. We needed to tell a complex story, in just over 5 minutes, without dialogue played against a backdrop of lyrics that really didn't have anything to do with the main storyline. 

Sheree's talking about doing a DVD of the video with interviews and out takes and I think that's a great idea. She's also mentioned doing another video when she gets back from Hong Kong. Tentatively, it's going to be "Diamond Ring", which is one of my all time favourites. I can't wait.......

 January 5th, 2007

HERE IT IS.................................the new "Destiny" video available on YouTube.com. Click below to access the video:

                                                   

January 4th, 2007

The new music video "Destiny" will be available very soon. I just finished watching the demo and I am completely blown away by it. Sheree has done an amazing job bringing the song to life with her cinematography. It's quite a feat to tell a complex story, in five minutes, without any dialogue. Doreen and Chris are also absolutely brilliant in their first official acting roles. Again, I am totally indebted to them all for making this a reality. I am so pumped........

 January 1st, 2007
Well it's the start of a New Year and everything seems strangely familiar. I haven't broken any of my New Year's resolutions yet but then again, I haven't left the house since 2007 kicked 2006 well and truly out of the picture. I watched Dick Clark on T.V last night. First time I've seen him in a while.........what a shock. 

A new song...........about "Parental Neglect" came together last night. I know where the lyrical sentiments of the song came from, just not sure why it came out last night. Musically, it's a tribute to all the great bands of the 1960's and early 70's, some of which are still around today. Anyway, it's called "World's Apart" and you will have excuse the use of one expletive, the song merits it..........sorry.  

 December 31st, 2006

Well it's the end of 2006, the end of Saddam Hussein and the start of a new beginning. 

I'm not so sure that I want to make any New Year's Resolutions this year because I only end up breaking them. Maybe I should make some "New Year's Unresolutions"........that might be more fitting. 

On the brief subject of Saddam Hussein's execution, YouTube.com have a video of it. I really thought that I could watch it but I turned it off just as they were slipping the noose over his neck. Fundamentally, I am against Capital Punishment but I do also believe that there are circumstances when it is necessary. That's why I thought I could watch it, I mean, this guy was pure evil, through and through. I should be able to watch it with some degree of satisfaction, but I couldn't. Why............

Its weird, we're all going to die someday but fortunately, none of us know when that is going to be. In the case of Saddam Hussein, he knew within a few minutes when and how he was going to die. Isn't that powerful................to be able to count down the hours, the minutes and the seconds until you die. I wonder how he felt, I wonder what thoughts were running through his mind, in the time leading up to his execution. Did he think of the millions of people he killed ? Would he care.......I doubt it........... 

 December 22nd, 2006

Well it's almost Christmas and the end of 2006. While it is a time for family and friends to get together to celebrate the holidays, it is also a time for us all to reflect on the good times, the bad times and the stuff that falls somewhere in between. 

2006 has been another amazing year, in many respects, but also an extremely sad one as well. I lost two  friends this year, Eduardo and John and it has really made me think and re-think my life strategy. I am now even more convinced that we have to live every moment as if it was our last. Why wait.........because at the end of the day, it could be too late. On the plus side, 2006 was full of so many mad adventures. Trips to exciting and exotic places, seeing the Dalai Lama, another season of The Canadian Antiques Roadshow, my first and definitely not my last "Skydive", a new music video and thankfully, an endless stream of musical ideas. My view of the world has certainly changed and this is now reflected in the new songs I am writing and recording. Don't get me wrong, I haven't given up on "Love" and "Romance", far from it, but I now realise that I need to see the "Bigger Picture" and that includes all the hurt and suffering that is going on around us. We need to put a stop to all this inhumanity because it's just mind boggling and incomprehensible that so many people are facing death, either through hunger, disease or political unrest, on a daily basis. The World Leaders should be ashamed of themselves. We need to wake up and see that the path we are threading is a treacherous one. Why are we screwing up the planet by raping the land of all it's natural resources and creating an environmental nightmare that will have far reaching consequences for generations to come ? Maybe......in the end, common sense will prevail and the world will realise that we have to stop all this madness. Then again...........until we curb materialism and commercialism, we don't really have a chance.

Anyway, it's time to stop talking and take some definitive action. Let's try to find meaningful solutions by working together. Make a few sacrifices..... Take the bus one day a week to work or volunteer at a local charity. It really doesn't matter what you do, just generate some positive energy. 

On the musical side of things, we managed to complete the filming of the "Destiny" video on Tuesday at the Vancouver Airport. Sheree has filmed two endings so I guess I will have to wait to see how the video ends. It was such an amazing experience and I can't thank Sheree, Doreen, Chris and Chris enough for all their help. You see.........with a little help from your friends, you can move mountains.

So.........I'm off to start re-mastering the new tracks for the new cd over Christmas plus trying to enjoy the festive season with those special people, in my life, who make me laugh and smile.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and that love shines through...........

Peace & Love

Geoff

December 8th, 2006

Just a quick update on the "Destiny" video. Last weekend, we filmed on Saturday and Sunday and tomorrow, we are hoping to finish the final scenes. Fingers crossed that the weather co-operates. We have about 25 more scenes to shoot, which sounds like a lot to get through, but hopefully, the "Video Gods" will shine down on us.........Sheree hopes to have all the editing done by Christmas so if all goes well, we'll be able to upload it by the end of the year.

I'm really excited to see this song come to life through the magic of video. I'm also indebted to Sheree, Doreen, Elle, Chris and Chris for being so supportive and enthusiastic about it. Unfortunately, this has put the re-mastering of "Blue Blood Alley" and "Balladeer" behind schedule plus the finalizing of the tracks for "The Effects Of Gravity" but I should have time over the holidays to get back on track. 

 November 13th, 2006

Well..............I'm back from India and I am really lost for words. It is the most amazing place I have ever visited. Words just can't describe how much I loved my short stay there. The people, the culture, the food and the scenery are out of this world. The actual wedding, that we attended, was like an epic "Bollywood" movie. Elephants, camels, white horses, a marching band, a fireworks display, dancers........you name it, it was there. I seriously doubt that I will ever experience a wedding of such grandeur and magnitude in my life. 

It was also a truly humbling experience, seeing how the vast majority of people struggle, day to day, just to survive. Out of a population of 1.1 billion, over 800 million live under the poverty line.                                                      

 October 22nd, 2006

Oh the miracles of modern technology. I'm in Kelowna at the moment getting ready to host a "Jewellery Charity Auction" with the proceeds going to the Canadian Cancer Society. It's part of being the "Other Geoff". 

My friend Sheree has kindly offered to help put together a music video for the song "Destiny" which should be tons of fun. I hope she knows what she is getting into........

Off to India on Saturday, October 28th. Flying standby.......which should be a hoot. I'm not sure when I will get there, if I will get there and when I will come back but that's all part of the adventure.......right ? I have always wanted to go so this is a perfect opportunity.