The Rain Made Me Do It....

I almost skipped writing today, but a sudden cool winded down poor not only dampened my plans but put me in the perfect mood to write. Rain somehow does that to me every time. Its like a drug that taps into the inner most creative part of me and awakens a suppressed spirit. I want to write, and sing, and paint, and draw and just live! I just feel the need to create something. It's really weird I know.

Anyway! A lot has happened since the last time I wrote. I'd been meaning to write earlier but you get busy and tired. You all know the scoop. I probably should be more committed but I'm only human here.

On the music front, I'm ecstatic as always. I played a show at a small homey lounge called "Fitzgeralds" and I've never had a more satisfying show in my life!

By no means was it a packed show, but I didn't mind it at all. At one point in the night it was literally only my cousin Jay, his girlfriend Rebecca, my aunt and two friends who were watching, but it made for a much more comfortable, intimate performance.

I had the opportunity to play for 2 hours and as I exhausted my list of songs I found myself in a place of serenity. Easily my favourite show to date. Very excited to play there more often!

In other news, we may have lost a man in our living quarters! My good friend Tom flew home yesterday to gather himself. He was in Toronto attending an acting school, but he quickly discovered it wasn't his niche. Tom is a lot like myself in our mentality of living. If we aren't happy doing what were doing, we won't waist time there.

I went through the same thing in Winnipeg, and if I hadn't left immediately, I wouldn't be in Toronto right now playing music and living the greatest life. I'm glad that he admitted it so soon.

His talk of home put me in a bit of a lonely mood however. Our talk of him leaving and why he missed home reminded me of just how incredible Thunder Bay can be and how amazing the people are that were in my life. I can say proudly that I have the greatest family, the greatest friends, the greatest girlfriend, and the greatest situation waiting for me back home, and by all means I'd love to be there. Thunder Bay is an easy city and that is what makes it so attractive. Unfortunately for me to find myself and to find the one path that would forever make me happy, I had to make that sacrifice. It's was the hardest part of this adventure and I'll never pass an opportunity to visit home. *sigh*

All home sickness aside, I am happy. Work is very good! Something about technology just makes me so excited! Not often are you excited to go to work.

On Sunday, I called up an old friend of mine, Theo Tams, from my Candadian Idol days! We managed to swing a Blue Jay's Game into the plans. We had third row seats beside third base! Never have I enjoyed the game of baseball as much as I did then. The Picture above is our view from our seat on the CN tower from the Rogers Center.

What an incredible, incredible musician Theo is. I recommend you check him out and follow his successes! http://www.theotams.com/

But, I have a ton of home reno to do on this rainy Tuesday afternoon. Putting up some blinds, painting some walls, mounting some TV's. Really starting to feel like home here. I'll post some pictures of the home at a later date.

Quick update for today, much more to come in the future!

Thank to anyone who reads along, hopefully my life is as exciting to you as it is to me! I've never been more excited to live.

till next time readers,

-isaac

I Wasn't Aware So Much Was Possible in One Week....

I know that while I write this post, my week won't have seemed as busy or as crazy or as... well nuts. But let me assure you, it was, and it was awesome!

I guess you could claim me to be settled in this metropolis they call Toronto. I haven't finished putting up all of my pre-packaged Ikea shelves or completely hung all of my Thunder Bay nostalgia, but I sleep on a bed now and I consider that pretty settled.

It has been a crazy week. It satisfies me to say that it feels like I've been here for months because that statement reassures myself in thinking I am accomplishing everything I need to as fast as humanly possible. (That was an odd sentence)

I feel that I know the city well enough now that I could find my way anywhere with relative ease. (The Google maps on my phone only assists in 90% of that search haha) I definitely know my area well enough to get around. And slowly but surely I am discovering the beautiful little details that are hidden in the mass of metal and brick. Latest example: An "Authentic Gelatorium" where one can find over 100 flavours of gelato. Ohh little Italy!

It is without question that my immediate musical foundation was placed by my incredible cousin Jay. ( www.myspace.com/jaysparrowpage ) He has managed to wedge more than just a foot into the door of the music industry and I am now, without wanting to sound pathetic, hanging by his coattails. As much as I COMPLETELY realize the amount of work that I as an individual will have to contribute to my own success, Jay is a wonderful resource of knowledge and opportunity. Opportunity such as a gig the first week in town!

I played a show last week at a small quaint yet gritty bar named "The Painted Lady". Appropriately dressed interior hung many photos of painted, nude, pretty bare, and famous women. The couture styling laced with chandeliers made for a great first venue in my eyes!

Luckily I would be opening for Jay, as well as another established Toronto musician Peirson Ross ( www.myspace.com/peirsonross ) so there was a decent crowd.

All in all the show wasn't one of my greatest successes but I had a decent response, made taste for what there was to expect, AND *drum roll please* scored another gig! wo ho

No, no, some bar owner didn't see my act and demand I play his venue. It was actually Jay's girlfriend who asked me to play (She didn't even see my set) but you know what!? I'll take what I can get!!

The show is this Thursday and is a 3 hour show!!! @ Fitzgeralds (The Beaches) 9-12pm with myself headlining! Well, "headlining" I'm just playing there all night. Apparently the atmosphere is relaxed and fun so it will be a good chance for me to find my Toronto comfort zone and find my playing niches.

In terms of my playing. I've been playing devotedly everyday, much to the assumed discomfort of my townhouse neighbours. I managed to write two complete songs and have two almost done! 4 songs in one week is a good milestone I'd say!

Jay continues to remind me that "riding enthusiasm waves" is key in this business. So I'm doing my best to fire off as many songs as I can while I'm giddy to be here. Once December lonesome kicks in I'm sure the song to day ratio will be plummeting.

We'll handle that mess when we get there!

I also managed to score some full time work at Future Shop close to home. Which means money coming in, so my food can stay stocked. A commission job as well so with Christmas coming I should be able to bank a few bones. Maybe by myself some sweet guitar treats :)

There is the up to dates on my life in the big city. I am creatively tapped right now after writing all day and working all night, so my poetic attempts are lack luster in this post, but hey, sometimes people just want it straight.

I'll provide more detail of life in later blogs. Maybe twice a week updates are necessary, but for now I'm lovin the city and lovin how much one can accomplish is a week! Imagine where I'll be in a year!!

God Speed potential readers!

-isaac

Don't Hold Your Breath, Sigh Deep and Dream...

I had a moment of complete belittlement on this city evening. As sirens echoed from every corner of my single city window.

Strange however, this moment of feeling so, so small was not accompanied by regret and discouragement but instead inspiration.

As I knelt beside my window and traced the foggy city scape with my finger I realized how absolutely insignificant I was in this metropolis, but at the same time, how little I have to loose and how much there is to gain.

I drove through each tiny town while heading here and I thought to myself, "Man, this city has a population of about 12, and all 12 of those people are going to know who I am when I'm done"

Some people call it ego, I call it fire.

This is day one on my true journey to life. I will dedicate my being to my music and my creation and everyone will know. Everyone will hear.

I challenge myself to give everything I have for I honestly know this is all I want. If I don't make it, I don't want anything else. I have no plan B, because there is nothing else.

I love life. I love how hard this is going to be. I love how 10 minutes of playing will make up for 10 days of starving or struggling.

I love the high I will get when I play and create and.... live fully

I love this feeling of knowing nothing... Its empowering and cause for so much freedom. I know nothing, and will learn everything.

Good morning Toronto, I'm home...

Sirens, sing me a lullaby.

-isaac

Synopsis...

All my bags are packed,

I'm ready to go... Sort of

Wow, this is getting scary! I keep forgetting the size of this move.

My mind is still in, "You're going to school so you'll be back for Thanks Giving, Christmas, maybe some long weekend and definitely all of summer" mode. Unfortunately that's not the case anymore.

I have to start visiting some people because it's going to be a while before I come back.

Sure I'll come home for Christmas and the odd visit, but other than that I'm officially becoming a resident of Toronto. The big City. The home of opportunity. My big break.

A scary, yet liberating thought.

The next blog I write will be from my new home in Toronto. Two of my good friends and I found a quaint little place just West of downtown Toronto. Apparently it is in the "music and arts" section of town, so that will undoubtedly be a great place to live.

I also keep forgetting the magnitude of Toronto possibilities. Toronto is the largest city in Canada. If something big is happening, it's in Toronto. Music festivals, art festivals, awards, movie premiers, movie filming, television filming, recording labels, concerts etc. etc. etc.

If I work hard and devote ample time to Toronto and what it has to offer, there is no way I can't find all the information I need to get on this music bandwagon.

Not to mention all the underground activities you can find if you search hard enough. I recently stumbled (I feel as though me "stumbling upon things" will be something I will be doing a lot of in the next year or two) upon a store that hosts late night shows, raves, AND....... POETRY SLAMS!!!!! I am SO excited for that! Ever since I watched spoken poetry slams on youtube I have been CRAVING a chance to go to one, if not speak at one.

I think I'll be spending some serious time there!

There is going to be so so so so much to do down there. I hope I have time to take it all in.

I'm certain that for the next couple months I am going to be on such a creativity high that you'll think I'm drunk all the time. Just being engulfed in all the arts from drawing, painting, writing, to singing, music, and poetry is going to have my blood pumping harder than it ever has before.

I'll sign off for now, I have to pack my entire room into a bag at this point.

Next you'll hear is from the heart of it all,

ciao,

-isaac