artist Robert Laferriere

Some new songs have been posted on the Business Casual profile!

Check them out, and see what you think.

New tunes include Happy, Lion Tamer, and a re-recording of Let Me Down.

Fun times!

Robert Laferrière is currently the co-Lead Singer/Guitarist for a band called "Business Casual."

Be sure to check out their page here on CBC Radio 3 at:
http://radio3.cbc.ca/bands/Business-Casual

or check out their facebook profile at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Business-Casual/46737433949

or their Myspace at:
http://www.myspace.com/thebusinesscasual

So, the world is a crazy place.  As i mentioned in my previous blog post, I went stag to the John K. Samson and Christine Fellows performance at the WAG this Valentines day, and ran into an old friend of mine, who introduced me to some of his friends.

Well go figure, a new circle of friends has added new inspiration in to my music.  I've been lucky enough to find several individuals interested in collaborating with me in terms of song writing.

Now there are a few songs in the works, but they're not quite ready yet.  I'll be sure to let you know if and when they are recorded.

In the mean time, meeting these people has meant getting out and seeing more concerts, listening to some music I haven't heard before, or at least not in a long time, and over all feeling inspired to do more writing myself.

As a result, you will find 2 new songs available.  They are currently of demo quality, and will be replaced as they are updated, but I thought they deserved to be placed here in their unfinished forms for the time being.

Evolve is a song inspired by a passage by Charles Darwin.  I hope you like it.  It's not exactly finished yet.  It's missing something... maybe YOU can tell me what!  I'm considering adding a harmonica, but another idea is to add a piano.  I'm not sure if I want to do one or both of those things, and who knows how it will turn out.  Over all, I believe the song has something to say, and I hope it comes across.

Consequential of Her Introduction is a bit of a crazy tune.  I'll admit that it's mostly a highly personal rant... but I think it builds well, and sounds good in the end.  I'm more or less hoping that this piece will remain an acoustic and voice combo... but I'm not above making it a clean electric sound as well... who knows.

Send me your comments!

Also, thanks so much to Keith for taking some pictures at our Jam Session.  I really love this shot. It almost makes it look like I might actually know what I'm doing! lol (jokes on them!)

Cheers,

Right, so here I am...

Yesterday I went with some friends to the King's Head Knights Pub in the Exchange District of Winnipeg. They were heading there from the Festival du Voyageur. I drove there from home. I've purchased my admission button, and I hope to go a few times this week.

In any case, on the way there I was suddenly hit by inspiration. I figured out how I was going to write the first verse of my new song! I had already written most of it... but something was missing and I couldn't put together a good first first.

Anyway, I did it... but I was in a jam. I had a pen, but nothing to write on. I waited in line for 20 minutes to get into the Pub, which was PACKED because of the festival. And once I got in a scrambled to find a napkin. I felt I needed to get this written down before I had a few pints of Half Pint's Lil' Scrapper I.P.A. and forgot everything!

I found someones old bar tab bill on the bar, swiped it, and started writing feverishly.

So this morning, I wake up, pick up the acoustic, and try it all out together. MAGIC! I'm happy! So I run downstairs to the electric, and record a hasty rhythm guitar part. Then I record the vocals, set up the drums, grab my brothers bass and record a funny bass riff... then do a funny electric lead part with more or less the same riff only different...

And there I had it. I'm as happy as I'm ever going to be with it considering my recording constraints and lack of equipment. So here it is.
Check out WANNA BE:

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On another note, I got to see John K. Samson and Christine Fellows at the Winnipeg Art Gallery on Valentines Day. They were performing a free show as part of the opening of the Subconscious City exhibit, which is FANTASTIC by the way. Obviously, John and Christine were SPECTACULAR, and totally worth seeing.

I've got some pics of the concert on my Facebook profile. In fact, if you search for my full name on Facebook, you should discover my musician profile. My cover material is available there as well. I even asked John's permission to post my video cover of The Reasons, recorded on my travel acoustic guitar, and filmed in my back yard! It was -34 or so with the wind chill that day, and I was out in my t-shirt and jeans to make a video!

See what happens when I get a day off work!!!

Cheers,

Rob

PS... how do you get air time on here? lol

Alright, I figured it was about time I started posting in this blog.  Why waste good functionality right?

Well, here goes.

It's cold in Winnipeg. This is nothing new, and we have mostly learned to get past this and move on with our daily lives. There are, of course, a few traditional escapes that we Winnipeggers take advantage of.

1) Winter Sports - Get outside, play Hockey, or just go skating! Or follow the "lead" of the Weakerthans and try curling.  Tobogganing is another popular option.  And what ever happened to the thrill and excitement of a good snowball fight?

2) Alcoholism - This is not recommended in and of itself.  I do not endorse this option... but there's a lot to be said for a night out with the boys at the Toad in the Hole in Osborne Village.

3) Sex - This option comes highly recommended.  Why do you think we have so many babies being born in the late summer and fall?  Because it's 9 months after winter, that's why!

4) Start a Rock Band - Pick up a guitar, write some music, and let your deluded imagination tell you that if you try hard enough, your music career will take off... and you'll be landing someplace warm with a nice beach.  And Winnipeg has had just enough successful bands that the average songwriter like me gets all worked up about the possibility...

5) Slurpees - Nothing says you're a hard core Winnipegger like standing at the bus stop on the coldest day of the year drinking an extra large Slurpee!  I mean, look at all the advantages.  It's cold, so you might feel like the world around you is warm by comparison... maybe.  Also, it's so cold that the Slurpee won't go all runny too quickly.  It stays nice and slushy right to the last end-of-the-straw spoonful! Yum yum!

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Alright, so now that you have your Winnipeg winter survival guide, check out some music on Radio 3, kick back, crack open a Half Pint's beer, and try to RELAX! It will be spring/construction season soon!

Oh, and I've got a new track up here myself.  Check it out! Feel free to make fun of me.  I'll take any attention I can get!

Cheers,

-Rob