Great Big Sea

I just found out that Great Big Sea is playing in Quebec City July 10th!�� Yay!

... if anyone wants to come up for it and needs crash space, or whatever, lemme know...

But acctually I'm wondering is Murray is still touring with them?� Does anyone know?

Yep - he's still touring with them. They likely won't pick a new bassist until they get ready to start the prep for a new album...

thank you!

You're welcome - I like the questions I can actually answer. ;)

At the Vancouver show, they said that they'll already working on the new album, which will, apparently, be so good that "You'll use the White Album as a coaster". heh.....

Went to the GBS concert last night and much to my surprise and complete enjoyment, who did I see on stage but Murray!� I couldn't believe my eyes.� Anyway, the show was great, although a bit short (1hr 45mins, incl. 2 encores).� I just thought I would comment on the point made re: GBS hiring a new bassist once they start recording their new album...

They are already recording their new album!� They said they had spent the last 2 weeks on it and even performed 2 of the songs that will be on it!

Could this mean that Murray has a new gig?� Who knows... I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Huh, guess they started recording early - last time Alan talked about it on the site, he said they weren't going to record again until the fall....

They're playing in Vancouver on the 29th of this month. I've already picked up my tickets, and I didn't even realize that Murray was playing with them.
:)

Mike

Yeah, and it's Murray's birthday ;-) I'm getting my tickets tomorrow.� Woohoo!

Damn! No work hence no fundage hence no show. Stupid timing. Sucks to be me.

oy vey. I need to nab tix for that if'n I'm going... hm.

Murray is a band member of Great Big Sea.� No questions about it.� He told me himself!� Good for him

Here's to hoping GBS returns to the East Coast, and I liked them even without Murray!

The east coast can't have Mur dammit. He's supposed to get his ass back to playing with Tory - he's only supposed to be on loan. :(

I know he's part of the *touring* band - but GBS haven't made any sort of announcement regarding permenant arrangement on the band thus far.

He isn't listed on the webpage as being in the band. It still says that Darrell is.

Ah ha! Back on the East Coast in good old western NY even.� Wow, I even have off work.� My problem back in the day was getting into Lee's Palace.� Now that I'm finally 19 I still have to deal with D�Arcy McGee�s, which I know does�some�21+ stuff. Hmm, maybe I can actually drag my mom out to something!� Or maybe they'll do something like the free Goldfinger show last summer where they set up a stage in the side lot.� Hmm, free Jian and then free Murray a week later? The possibility is cool enough.� Added to that free Falconridge and free food (in exchange for some good old�hard labor) a week later it will feel like old times again.� My only hope is that I'm going to that alone and not with my ex-girlfriend.

See ya around! I'll try to post more and do less lurking from now on!

Kris

Yay Kris is alive!

Could someone please explain to me what is happening with the bass player from Great Big Sea? Why is he not touring with them, and why are they looking at replacing him?

I'm so out of the loop. :)

Mike

Don't ask me.... I'm still wondering why a body of water needs a bassist.

I heard on the grapevine that Darrel left the band. On the website he is still listed. I don't know what the truth is. They also changed management, perhaps it is somehow related to that.

Quoted from greatbigsea.com under the fans, �then newsletter:

>>

Darrell
Darrell has decided to commit to his family and home life full time, and retire from the band. By now we are sure you have all read the news releases and messages here on the GBS site. While we could go on at length about the various rumours, suffice it to say that Darrell's leaving was completely amicable. Collectively we wish nothing but the best for each other. No one knows better than us the pressure and demands of being in this band, and we are sure that we have not heard the last from Darrell.

We are not actively seeking permanent replacements at this time, and in the short-term will utilize the services of some of the fine gentlemen who have helped us out in the past, both live and in the studio.

<<

call me a purist, but GBS with a drum kit is almost as bad as guster with a fourth member. the last concert i saw of their's sounded pretty awful to begin with (minus the times they went back into their old music, but they still managed to screw things up by artificially inserting the drums into them). it was loud, distracting, .. it was.. a rock concert.

I'm happy that GBS is doing well, its nice to see a band go from obscurity to popularity, but for how they are now, i wouldn't pay $10CDN to see them.

-b

I got into the game with GBS late, so I've never seen them without a drummer.� But from I heard, you're not the only one with this feeling.

They were so awesome on saturday night, it defies words! :)

I went to the first night of that tour here, and the show was pretty amazing. Lots of energy, great sound and just an overall good performance.

Maybe it was just the show that you went to?

Mike

The drummer didn't really bother me at all. I always enjoy their shows.

I saw them with a drummer in March of 2002.

GBS's drummer it situated WAY in the back, and does not have his kit on a drum risor, so it is very easy to miss him.

They definitetly had a drummer when I saw them Saturday (and Sunday).� I think his name is Kris.� Could be wrong.

Yeah, it's Kris.� I didn't think he was too bad.

Were you in Sarnia, too?

I was in Sarnia and Owen Sound this week, and Windsor a few weeks back.

Cute snippet�from Alan's road journal on the GBS�website:

June 29, 2003
Zip Flight from WPG to Vancouver

Small but vocal crowd last night in one of the coolest and weirdest concert venues I've ever seen. Grand Beach seems to be a clearing in the woods where someone has trucked in and dumped hills and hills of beach sand. Pretty cool spot to lay around, play volleyball, and catch a few tunes. What makes the whole beach setting seem so displaced is the fact that there is n'ar drop of water to be seen anywhere in sight.

I was assured that the lake was near by, but I never saw it, which left me feeling as though I'd just played on an iceberg in Phoenix.

Today, I have come to learn, is Murray Foster's birthday. I did not learn this from the birthday boy himself, as I am sure he has worried that we would put him through some type of adolescent hazing ritual if we found out. He was right.

Armed with the birthday knowledge, I will do my best to think up some scandalous and silly way to celebrate the lad's coming of age.

Sold Out show today in Vancouver. Day off tomorrow. Murray's birthday. Sounds like trouble.

Alan