Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Well the holidays are upon us and after surviving the Mayan's end of the world prediction, I can now relax and spend sometime with the family.  The past year has been a tough one personally for me with the loss of my kids Grandfather and my Mom being rushed in for emergency surgery which she thankfully has recovered from.  I've lost a few friends this year, and remember the ones that went before as they are always on my mind.  

That being said, I've had a great year of playing music and shooting bands!  I'm honored and priviledged to be able to make music with The Kathy Frank Band (Kathy, Terry, Jade and now James).  We have become a nice little family and the music is starting to come naturally from all of us as a unit.  Looking forward, we have plans to write and record the new album, followed by some touring around BC and possibly Alberta in the New Year.  Should be a busy few months coming up!

Photography wise, I am truly blessed with a great network of musicians and friends that put up with having my camera in their faces at shows.  I just love to try and capture moments!  I'm progressing and learning more each day on shooting and post production editing.  It's always nice to see people enjoying my efforts.  One in particular is Harry Walker.  I did my first photo book of Harry this year and presented him with a copy.  It thrilled me to no end to see the joy on his face!

Well time to start my Christmas shopping and enjoy my break over the next couple of weeks! 

Have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year to each and everyone of you!

Love and Peace,
Bubba

Injured my hand!!!

Hey there, I've had to cancel sitting in with the Joe Turner Band due to a slight hand injury! It should be all healed up soon enough, but not in time for the show on Dec. 7th. They will perform the night as a 3 piece and it will KICK ASS! Go check them out!

The Joe Turner Band at the Great Bear Pub, Dec. 7th

Hey there, I will be sitting in with The Joe Turner Band, December 7th at the Great Bear Pub in Burnaby!  These guys are great, and I'm looking forward to sharing a stage with them!  It's also Jason's (the drummer) Birthday, so come down and take in the music!  Going to be a GREAT show!  See you there!

Click on the pic for Show Details!!!!

FanClub Gig! November 24th, 6pm!

Looking forward to playing FanClub on November 24th!  I've heard great things about this room and am excited to be hitting the stage with The Kathy Frank Band!  Got some new tunes that we can't wait to perform!  Hope to see you all there! We go on at 6pm!

Blank-Fest, 2012

Had a great time playing at the Railway Club with The Kathy Frank Band.  Big thanks to everyone who made it out and Rod Grim for this rare pic of me on stage.  

Next up is Nov 24th with The Kathy Frank Band at FANCLUB!  Looking forward to hitting this stage and laying down some grooves with Jade, Terry, and Kathy!  

Blank-Fest at the Railway Club, Sat Nov 10th, 3pm

Looking forward to playing with the Kathy Frank Band on Saturday November 10th, 3pm!  We are playing a benefit for the homeless in Vancouver at the Railway Club.  The festival is 12 bands in 12 hours starting at 2pm until 2am!  Admission is a blanket or warm clothing at the door.  I am excited to be helping a worthy cause!  If you come down, make sure you say hello!  Cheers!

Joe Turner Band

Got the call from Joe Turner asking if I could fill in on bass for a show December 7th with them at the Great Bear Pub.  Of course I said yes!  Joe is one of the most gifted songwriters I have the pleasure of knowing, I love his music!  It's a departure from the typical blues stuff I do, but strikes a chord in my soul!  Looking forward to tonight's rehearsal with them!  Click on the pic to find out more about Joe Turner!

New Guitarist for The Kathy Frank Band!

After sifting through numerous replies and emails to our ad and various postings looking for a replacement Guitarist, we narrowed it down to a few and held auditions Thursday, October 18th, 2012.  Terry Gage impressed us with his style, grace and precision.  Once we started playing, we could feel the energy and it all seemed to come together, instant chemistry!

So without further adieu, We are pleased to welcome Terry Gage to the Kathy Frank Band!

Highway Of Tears Think NDN

Kathy appeared on 100.5 FM last night with Blues Puppy and performed Highway of Tears.  Here is a link to that recording of them live in the studio!

Highway Of Tears Think NDN

Looking for a Guitar Player!

Looking for a Guitar Player!

The Kathy Frank Band is currently looking for a guitar player to round out our line up.  We are looking for someone who is energetic, outgoing, musically diverse grounded in blues/blues rock.  Must be able to rehearse 1 night a week.  Looking to perform originals and some select covers.  We are also looking for an individual who is motivated and creative, willing to join in the writing process.

If interested, please contact keith.clark@shaw.ca or Kathy at kathyfrankband@gmail.com

Cheers!

www.reverbnation.com/kathyfrank

Influences - Bass Players

Through the local music scene here in my hometown of Vancouver, BC, I have had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know bass players that influence my playing and performing.  Aside from Mike Wedge, others have been a source of inspiration to me through my musical journey.  To them I salute and thank them for their kind words, encouragement and brotherhood!

Cameron Hood - I first met Cameron through the various jams around the lower mainland.  He has been one of my biggest influences on playing a 6 string bass over the years.  He is a monster player on the 6 and I always enjoy his bass lines.  I always appreciate the chats about gear, playing, and life when we see one another.

Rob Marr - I first met Rob when he was playing with The Mojo Stars.  From there I got to know him through the Jams at the Marine Pub on Sunday afternoons with the house band, Indigo.  Rob is another monster player and I am in awe of his playing.  I always tell people when I grow up I hope to play as good as him some day!  His fluid lines and ability to adapt to any playing situation is phenomenal! His kind words and encouragement have been a source of inspiration.  Rob is one of the most humble guys I have met and a great studio player as well.

Sam Shoichet - I met Sam through Brandon Issak in the Blues circles around Vancouver.  He has been my biggest influence when it comes to playing the Stand up bass.  It is always a pleasure to watch how easy he makes it all look, not to mention how much tone he can extract from the instrument with either fingers or a bow.  He mesmerizes me every time I see him play.

Dave Young - I first met Dave when I ran the Stormy Monday Blues Jams.  From there we became friends and I have enjoyed watching him play in his band Urban Affair and with The Longriders as well as The Chris Newton Band and the Working Stiffs.  His encouragement and friendship has been greatly appreciated.  It's truly my honour to watch and listen to his playing.

Mike Dallamore - I met Mike through the Amberjacks Jam that his Band, Worms Hate Rain hosted on Tuesday nights.  Mike showed me how to be a great host when it came to jams and through his encouragement I started to play at the jams.  It was also by watching and studying Mike, that I was able to put together and run the Stormy Monday Blues Jams with my own band.  I took what I learned from watching him and applied it at my own jam.

James Sanders - I have known James for many, many, moons.  Growing up in White Rock, we played in several bands during high school, him on bass and me on guitar.  It was because of James that I got back into music around 2004 after a 10 year hiatus.  He got me back into playing and introduced me to the Crescent Moon Coffee House in our hometown.  From there I met many players and put together a line up of Joe Kool to open for his band, Token Rhyme.  I owe this man the biggest thanks and gratitude, as he got me back into playing and making music once again.  For that I will always be thankful!

Mike Wedge

Through my musical journey I have discovered a wonderful network of performers, players, followers and fans.  Many great people have been helping and inspiring me along the way.  One of my favorite bass players is a fellow by the name of Mike Wedge.  I first met Mike when he was the part of Glen Pearson's house band playing at the Sandpiper Thursday night Blues Jam out in White Rock.  We chatted about equipment and I slowly got to know him as time rolled on.  From there I started visiting a place called the Flamingo Lounge out in North Surrey, or as we commonly knew it as the Flaming O, or Toilet (because of the design of the room).  Mike took over being the musical coordinator at the lounge and brought in many top acts such as Jim Byrnes, James Rogers, Brandon Issak, Big Daddy Mike, Frank Soda, James Shepherd, just to name a few.  He always ensured he provided a solid rhythm section for the artist with a regular rotation of top calibre drummers such as Jerry Adolphe, Doug Mockford and Marko Ibarra to name a few.  The music was always excellent and beyond just a typical bar band thing. 


Through talking with Mike and seeing his performances, I learned a great deal, more than just playing the notes on a bass.  Mike has taught me through his kind words and encouragement over the years, to always be humble and enjoy being a solid player.  I have learned through his examples how to deal with other players and the occasional "spirited" patron who might wander up onto stage.  He is always gracious and humble about his playing and truly is a gentleman.  When I was looking for a drummer, he put me in touch with one of the best players I have ever had the honour of sharing a stage with, Yoann Priolet.  He had met Yoann through the Blues jam shortly after Yoann relocated to Canada from Paris.  Mike spoke highly of him and thought he might be a good fit.  Mike has always encouraged me as a player and as a performer.  Many times we have enjoyed tales of days gone past, and he always has great stories of his musical journey that I have the privilege of taking in when we get to chat.  He is by far one of the biggest influences I have as a musician and am truly honoured to say we are friends.  Thanks Mike!

Next Show June 23rd, at the Tsawwassen Legion!

Tickets available at the door!  

Tsawwassen Legion, Unit #22 - 1835 56th Street, Delta, B.C.

New Show announcement! JUNE 23rd!

June 23rd at the Tsawwassen Legion!  Come on down and take in some of what we are serving up!



I met Kathy a few years back and she has one of the most powerful voices I have ever heard!  


Backing Kathy, along with me is Ted McDonald on guitar and Jade Derrett on drums.  


This is truly a heavy weight powerhouse band to back the powerhouse voice Kathy has!

For more about Kathy Frank, check her out HERE! (yes, click on the link!)

Remembering Mike Taylor

I've been thinking a lot about Mike recently.  I can't believe it will be a year this month that he passed away.  I do miss him, although we were only friends through music and bass playing, he still had a huge influence on me and impacted my life in more ways than I could have ever imagined.  


I met Mike when he joined forces with my old friend and song writing partner back in the first Joe Kool line up, Rob Smith.  Rob had just split from his old band Black Jack Cola and formed Cold Cold Hearts with Craig Dong on Keys.  They added Scott Wong on Drums and Mike on bass to complete the band.  They went on to perform many gigs as a top caliber cover band and through the years we always talked about doing a show together sometime.  That day finally came and we managed to put together a show with the Joe Kool line up at the time, and Cold Cold Hearts.  Little did we know but Mike's wife had been diagnosed with Cancer that was inoperative just months before the show.  We talked about cancelling it, but then all the band members from both camps agreed to turn it into a fundraiser to help send Mike's wife to Houston Texas for a shot at a treatment.  Mike worked in the television and film industry as a digital editor and one of his colleagues, Tara, got on board and we sold the event out, bringing in people from the tv, film and music communities.  It was one of the best shows I have ever had the priviledge to have been a part of, and it was amazing how people come together for great causes and to help friends.  Mike was so humble, he was not a part of the planning and was completely overwhelmed by the support and generosity of everyone.  We purposely kept him from knowing until the night of the show as we all knew it was not in his nature to ask for help, but to lend it whenever you needed it.  Unfortunately, although every effort was made, Mike's wife lost her battle with cancer and passed away.  She was in her late 30's, or early 40's, leaving Mike and their 2 children.


Moving forward I kept in touch with Mike through the powers of Social Media and seeing him at some various shows Cold Cold Hearts played at.  We always talked about music, hockey and comical anecdotes of being bass players.  I learned from Mike how to put a positive spin on writing biographies for my band mates in Joe Kool and taking a leap of bending the truth, in a comical way, to keep people interested in reading them.  He was always positive and encouraged me to keep playing.  For that encouragement, I will always be thankful!


At my day gig, I occasionally cross paths with Rob Smith in the office.  It was in the fall of 2010 that he informed me that Mike had been diagnosed with Prostate Cancer.  At first I couldn't believe that a guy in his mid 40's could have it.  To me this was an older persons Cancer, as my grandfather had it when he was in his 80's.  Out of respect for Mike, only a few close friends knew of the situation.  He went for the treatments and all through it kept a positive attitude and outlook.  I only saw him a couple of times in the last year, but maintained contact through Robbie.  It was Robbie who let me know just after my birthday in May, Mikey had passed away.  Needless to say, it doesn't matter how much you prepare yourself and try to come to grips with it, it still is hard no matter what.  My immediate thoughts were to his kids, who just less than 2 years before lost their mother, now have lost their dad.  This affected me greatly as I am a father of 2 girls not much younger than Mike's.  


As the days went past, I was asked to play at Mike's memorial and sit in with his band.  This was probably one of the most difficult things I have ever done, but am very honoured to have done it.  The day itself was very emotional and to see his band mates play one last time for him, was amazing.  We only played a few songs, but felt a presence that was strangely calming.  I really can't explain it...


Over the next few months I got together with Rob and Scott to hammer out some tunes along with John Laird over at Cold Cold Hearts rehearsal space.  I guess it was a way to keep playing and part of the grieving process for Rob and Scott.  Got a couple of magical moments on tape from those sessions.  We would always take a moment and acknowledge Mikey and reflect on something about him.  


As I said at the beginning, I do miss him and think a lot about him, his story (of what I know) and my own existence in this blip of time.  I am now taking precautions and getting checked yearly for prostate cancer, as it does run in my family.  


Sometimes I just hate the wake up calls.......

One of my biggest musical influences...

Through the powers of social media, this link was forwarded to me. 


 I first was introduced to Rush via my best friend Chad. We spent hours listening to Moving Pictures and subsequently the follow up live album, Exit Stage Left. From there I became passionate about music and playing guitar. As a young teen, I wanted to know everything about my new idols and began a life long musical journey, all starting from them. From Rush I discovered more and more music. The more I looked into current bands, the more I started to learn about where their influences came from. 


 In the early 80's I was an on air host for a radio format program on Shaw Cable we called Alternative Transmissions. At the time, music videos were just starting to be shown on TV and under that we weren't allowed to play videos per say, so we spun non top 40 music ranging from Metal to New Wave, Punk to Rock. My co-hosts at the time opened up my musical pallet, and allowed me to develop the appreciation of a wider spectrum of music. Thus allowing my influences to broaden and my tastes evolve. So from a young teen to now, I have learned to appreciate all forms of music, from Blues to the toothless guy playing a guitar with 1 string on the corner. I may not "like" everything, but I can appreciate the art form. 


 Here is a clip of Rush back when I first heard them. Still one of my favorite albums of all time...

 

Welcome to my new site!

Well I wanted a place where I could hang my hat and call home. So welcome to my new digs! I wanted to be able to have a site where I could direct people when it comes to my musical and photography adventures. I will also throw occasional blogs up with random thoughts about what's racing around in my head, for your enjoyment.

Again, welcome! Check out the different pages and hope you enjoy!

Cheers!