tell you stories

Kingston, May 24

2008-05-25T21:42:00.003-04:00

Played last night for a wonderful organization called Buy a Net.
Played with the boys and had a great show but was so moved by the women I met who have been going to Uganda to provide nets to families, in 500 villages now, saving them from Malaria. . . .with these nets that cost $6. It was inspiring and very sad to think of the life we have here in comparison to the families who are crowding into tiny huts at night and hoping for one of these nets so their kids won't die.
Thanks to all who came out and gave and enjoyed the show. Mike and Creighton and I were sure glad to be there.

back to work

2008-04-29T09:56:00.002-04:00

Things are starting to get busy. Planning ahead to rehearsals for the new show and gigs through the summer. Finalizing art work and photos etc.
I haven't had a new album out for a long time and getting it all set up is a part of what I really enjoy. I released my first major label recording Shakespearean Fish at this same time of year in. . . . . 1996 . I didn't know a lot about what was going on then. I knew music. That's what I thought was my job. Turns out, it was for the most part but having the confidence to take on everything else as well, is a pretty great feeling now. Also, the major label mentality has been broken down and creative thinking rules. Makes it pretty fun to be making good music these days.

Spring

2008-04-09T21:08:00.003-04:00

April 9th/08

Wow. I didn't write for a long time.
Things have been busy and believe it or not, the new album is coming.

I've had a busy few months working on a show here in Toronto. My husband Ted is starring in a play called FIRE. The same show we did together when we first met . . . .many years ago. It's a pretty amazing show full of music , although it's a play not a musical, and telling the story loosly based on the lives of Jerry Lee Lewis ( Ted's part) and Jimmy Swaggart . My job this time was assistant musical director ( we couldn't both be IN the show or we'd never see our kids). Ted decided to be the musical director and also be in it so. . .it's been my job to do vocal arranging and just be ears out front cause he's in most of the numbers and that makes it hard to give effective notes so, I do all that.
I've had a great time hanging with the cast, working on arrangements and being at the theatre lots. It's been kind of a flashback to my early days doing theatre in Toronto and meeting Ted and the other people , like Denny Doherty ( Mamas and Papas), who were in that first production with us. It was a special time in my life and shaped all the work and all of the decisions that came after.

The show is running for a few more weeks here in T.O. and then goes on to Edmonton so. . .even though I'm not there everyday, our family is definitely revolving around the show schedule right now.

Prairies and Pics

2007-12-09T21:05:00.000-05:00

Ok, finally getting somewhere with stupid phone. We're heading thru the prairies. It's bright and snowy and extremely cold. So fun to ride on through in the cozy train . Little bit hard to get out and play sometimes but the people are there and so much food and money is being collected and that makes it all good, not to mention playing with Earl, Shaun, Pat and Mike . Ok, gotta stop and take photo of spectacular sunset. P.s. Cardio cats did jazzercise on board today. Oh yeah. md

ps: thanks to Breanne and Heather for sending in pics :)

Train Updates

2007-12-06T22:52:00.000-05:00

It's Dec. 5th, Woke up in my deluxe room on this beautiful train, in Sudbury. Had 5 shows yesterday. Internet access is limited and I keep writing little entries on my phone (that I can't work yet) and then lose it all . . .anyway. . .the main points are (before I lose my signal again) :This is a spectacular experience. The sight of this train rolling through small towns, waving to people out in their yards, getting off and playing to the crowds that are waiting. It's simply magical. I especially loved slowly going thru the the city of Torotno as the commuters were heading home on the DVP. A perfect contrast somehow.Yesterday we also did two shows off the caboose. (not the big stage and sound system , just one mike, one guitar ,our voices and the approx 200 people standing around the track in the perfect cold still wintery night.)As far as behind the scenes goes. . . .well. . .I sent a pic of my room. (it's out of control. . .I'm SO HAPPY IN THERE!!). The Wide Mouth boys are so great. I love seeing and hearing them play all day and doing tunes together is a treat for me. I usually miss Creighton and Mike and Brad so much ( which I do) but we're making music out here. Under these crazy circumstances. . .jumping out of the train, walking down to the car with the stage on it, hopping up, tuning quickly and starting the show. It's cold and it's fast and guess what, it sounds REALLY GOOD. That makes me so happy. My new BFF Pat Steward ( drummer) and I have started out on board fitness program. Actually JAZZERCISE! 80's style. We're calling ourselves the Cardio Cats. I think we will single handedly bring aerobics back into the limelight where it belongs! mel out

Dec 4...I'm sleeping in. . . . . Well I'm awake now. Left toronto last night. Fun shows at Distillery and then Vaughn. Train is such a spectacular sight going thru the city. Trying to type on my New Phone. Wish I knew how to use it. It's driving me crazy. Couldn't be having more fun on this tour so far. Love playing music with these guys. Today we have all morning and early aft off so I said I'll be doing jazzercise in the diningroom later. Mel out for now...

P.S.

2007-11-30T23:37:00.000-05:00

p.s. I'm spending the night in Montreal looking out of this lovely old hotel at a snowy downtown scene. So beautiful. . .I can see the Cathedral next door and Christmas lights on the street.

Also, there were some mailing list troubles in trying to get the free download of "All The Diamonds" out to everyone earlier this week. We're working on it and we'll have it out a.s.a.p. Hope you all love it.

mel

To Montreal I Go

2007-11-30T23:35:00.000-05:00

Had the most fun Wednesday night at our sold out Hugh's Room Show in Toronto. Thanks Em and Kathryn for the good times. Boys you were all great. Personal Jesus ROCKED!!! My new fave I think.

I'm on the train , first class, to Montreal (it's almost noon and on this full train car, people are drinking already all around me. . . . . . . .who knew) This is the first part of my adventure. I meet everyone in Montreal, do some rehearsal and then we'll board the Holiday Train tomorrow and start doing shows. I am pretty excited. Have a new phone that I can't work and books and tons of new downloads to listen to and songs to finish writing and my knitting (it's not a tour across Canada without your knitting). Tomorrow I can report on what the train looks like inside (it's a vintage train so I can't wait to see and hear about it) I'll try to use my phone camera that I also can't use.

mel

Busy Busy Days

2007-11-24T18:26:00.000-05:00

The days are going quickly now.I'm preparing to leave town on the CP train tour and also gigging with Emilie and Kathryn on the 28th at Hugh's Room. Looking forward to that a lot but I have to have all my stuff together for Christmas before I leave next week and tomorrow night is the opening of my husband's show at Canadian Stage here in Toronto. . .Little Shop of Horrors. Ted's the director. So. . .kind of a lot going on. Of course my main job is actually taking care of the kids ( school, hockey, ballet, piano, violin, swimming) . . .this other stuff is all just what I do in my spare time! Oh yeah, and the new record is pretty much done. A few things left but . . .I'm starting to get excited. md

Train Bound

2007-11-21T21:31:00.000-05:00

I am less than two weeks from departing on my awesome train adventure. Have been having phone meetings with the boys in the band and getting arrangements locked down etc. I feel like the picture in my head of what it's going to be like, is probably not how it will actually be ( only cause it's hard to visualize the living quarters, the stage, the whole scene ) but in this instance I am starting to think it's all going to be even more fun than I can imagine. The players are GREAT, the setting. . .well. . .going across this country by train is the ultimate Canadian right of passage.

When I was a kid my folks took my brother and sister and I from Halifax (my home town) across Canada to Vancouver. Dad was teaching in various cities along the way and we saw the country for the first time. I remember our bunk beds, the bingo games , the many porters we grew to love, the endless beautiful Prairies, the tunnels through the Rockies, playing our ukuleles as people came by and met us and jammed with us.

This was when my parents taught us that we were ambassadors of Nova Scotia. We represented our province and needed to always be proud and respectful of that . I was in grade 3.

md

Still Desire You (the play)

2007-11-12T11:58:00.000-05:00

I've been slow in writing about my trip to Calgary for the Opening Night of STILL DESIRE YOU ( the play) I want to say to the cast and to Paul Ledoux ( who not only co-wrote the piece but directed it too) that I had such a great night seeing the show and meeting everyone afterwards. It is a truely strange thing to sit and listen to other people interpret your music and in this case it was people who were not only delivering the music but also acting in the piece ; every person played bass, guitar, violin. . .whatever the song required as well give performances as the characters in the show. This is SOMETHING. I know what is required to pull this off and they did a fantastic job. Congrats to everyone. . .I loved being there and I know the run us almost over but. . .Merde.

Kicking Ukulele Butt!

2007-11-03T15:35:00.001-04:00

I just got back from Liverpool N.S. where I played a concert on Fri. night at the Astor Theatre. It was a thrill for me. I was performing as the third of a trio with my Dad and James Hill. We were headllining the first night of the 2nd international Ukulele Ceilidh and we had a ball. James Hill ( go listen to his music now) is pretty much the best ukulele player in the world and he and my Dad have been friends for a number of years. Some of you probably know that my Dad is a well known and revered music educator and was the first to develope teaching methods for ukulele in the schools. ( also recently received the order of Canada!) So needless to say I play the ukulele and have since I was about 3. We put together a totally fun night and I just loved being with Dad and James up there. We kicked some serious ukulele butt!
md

Lunenburg

2007-09-05T12:10:00.000-04:00

Aug 17th, Heading to Lunenburg in a few hours. Looking forward to the show very much. Had a fun rehearsal at my place last night. . .photos coming. Boys flew in to N.S. and it was a beautiful day so ofcourse we rehearsed outside.. .no amps. . .no nothin. Brad pressed his bass into the side of the cottage so we could hear a little bottom end and Creighton played the BBQ. I wish that coulda been the show. . .sounded so good.

Aug 18th,

Enjoyed myself in Lunenburg. What a spot. What a town. So beautiful. The venue is really something and I look forward to playing there again, maybe next summer, cause they are doing improvements all the time and it's just such an old and great building that deserves to have tons music performed there. Loved being with the boys and lookin forward to the next one. md

Happily Recording

2007-07-18T19:23:00.000-04:00

I'm happily recording everyday for two weeks.

Have tons of stuff done and it's sounding very good. Had one of my favourite musicians in the world Kevin Breit in not long ago and today bass player extrordinair Pat Kilbride to play on some tracks. Super fun. Anyway. . .working with my brother is a treat and Danny LeBlanc( who's also co-producing this project) is kind of an adopted brother so. . .it's all very very VERY serious and no ever tries to pull each other pants down or anything immature like that. :)

xo
mel

Huge Picture Update

2007-04-02T21:56:00.000-04:00

Here's some pics I took from the Rex tour and the last couple weeks. Your submitted pics follow. :)

xo

mel

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Recording acoustic tracks for the website with Creighton...

Mike and I having soup in Cornerbrook, NL, followed by the band on the bus:

Great view...

Merch table...

Rex at soundcheck...

Rocky Horror premiere in Toronto...

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Now onto the fan pics...

From Adam (at the Toronto show)...

From Mitchell and Denise (Halifax show)....

My Halifax setlist: Still Desire You, Waiting For The Tide, Rex's Song, Goliath, Wilma Or A Betty Man, Back To LA, I Can't Take My Eye's Off You, Adam's Rib, Tamarack

More to come....

Rocky Horror Show

2007-03-27T22:20:00.000-04:00

Now in Sydney, N.S.
I'm visiting at my sister's place (she lives here and teaches music) and had a walk around town. It's gonna get nutty in the next few days as we head to Halifax for tomorrow's show and then I'm flying up to Toronto for opening night of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW that's opening on Thursday night. My husband Ted directed it and I can't wait to see it.
The cast is unbelievable . . .see Canadian Stage Company for clips of the show.
ok. . .gonna be a good time at the Savoy tonight.
md

More pics...Thanks to Jennifer for sending these in from last night's show in Moncton...

Star Wars and Star Trek

2007-03-26T22:40:00.000-04:00

Just finished the show here in Moncton. Great one. We've been having good times. . .hangin on the bus. . .many laughs.

Shows have been really fun. I'm enjoying the audiences so much.

Today Rex and Mike and Dennis and I walked around Moncton and ate at Cora's . . .THE BEST PLACE EVER. Bought goofy stuff at a collector items type of store. Lots of Star Wars and Star Trek figures. . .Mike got Hugh . . . . the Borg who wants to be Hugh. . .ahhhhh Star Trek. That's a good one.

xo
mel

ps: Had some wonderful pics sent in last night from the show in Fredericton. Thanks Amanda and Dianne! :)

These pics are by Amanda:

These are by Dianne:

Thanks to everyone who keeps sending in their pics. Keep 'em coming to mitchell@melaniedoane.com. :)

Tour Bus Memories

2007-03-25T00:10:00.000-04:00

Well, I haven't been on a tour bus for a few years. It's all coming back to me. How much I love to sleep while the bus is driving. . .ahhhhh heavenly sleep. Traveling with 8 guys. (I'm used to Creighton being here too so I miss him but otherwise it all seems rather normal.)

We're having a lot of fun. The show in St.John's was great. Rex is much loved in his home province and he's deserving of the affection. I've never met a nicer kid.

Mike B and I did our set and had a great time and then I watched while Mike (he's Rex's musical director on this tour) lead the band thru a great set. I joined in on a few tunes and that was fun.

Then we drove and took the overnight ferry to N.S. and now we're in N.B. and ready for a show tomorrow night here in Fredericton, NB. See pics/vids below.

xoxo
mel

Video: Watch a clip of Rex singing "Live Like I Was Dying"...Mel joins in for harmony.

(Thanks to Vanessa, Mike, Jillian, Carla, and everyone who has been sending in pics from the show. Keep sending stuff our way to: mitchell@melaniedoane.com)

Whitehorse

2007-02-22T12:16:00.000-05:00

St. John's

2007-02-22T12:12:00.000-05:00

It was a great trip to St.John's. Audiences were terrific and the CBC radio taping went very well. Also were lucky to catch Ron Hines playing in town after our first night's show. I'm a fan of his and actually my brother Creighton and I played in his back up band for one of his promo tours many years ago. . .

Photos from the past couple weeks....

2007-02-10T14:40:00.000-05:00

Here are some great kids saying hi after the school show I played at in Stittsville, Ont. ROCK ON Goulbourn Middle School!!!!!!

Here I am on CKCU with legendary radio personality Chopper McKinnon. He did an hour long show with me in Ottawa. It felt like Melanie Doane . . . This Is Your Life. I may have to post it here it was so much fun.

This is Barney, Jeremy , Shari and her daughter Julia ( who joined us on her violin at the Ottawa show) in an action, moving train shot!

This was taken at the Halifax show by Paula Fredericks. The Halifax setlist was: Saltwater, Good Gifts, Adam's Rib, Back To LA

These were taken at a fashion show I was in supporting World Wildlife Foundation:

More On Denny

2007-01-26T17:51:00.000-05:00

A few more things about Denny. . .cause he was the greatest and I can't stop thinking about him. I am one of the lucky humans on this earth who had the pleasure of singing with Denny Doherty. Not once, not a few times but many many times over the almost 2O years we were friends. I met him the same day I met my husband Ted Dykstra, and we have all been best buddies ever since. In fact, Denny took me aside and warned me about Ted when he saw we might be falling for each other. I loved him for being worried about a young girl who just arrived in Toronto from Nova Scotia. Turns out Ted was the one in trouble. . .We performed in the hit show FIRE together in Toronto twice and in Calgary (Ted and Denny had already played Montreal, Vancouver and Edmonton by the time I joined the cast) A few years later, after many sessions and benefit concerts we'd done, Denny invited me on the road with the "new" Mama's and the Papa's. It was a wild ride from rehearsals in Palm Springs at John's house, to weekends in Germany playing in oldies festivals with the likes of Donavan, Chubby Checker, The Turtles etc etc I later left to pursue my solo career in Canada but since we all lived in Toronto, we saw Denny frequently and spent many boxing day parties together and sang as often as possible , either on each other's projects or for concerts that would come up. I can't believe i won't get to sing beautiful harmony with Denny anymore. . .I miss him so much.
md

Photos Pt. 2

2007-01-23T16:48:00.000-05:00

Here we have Jeremy looking serious. I love his music. David Keely acting in the workshop of Still Desire You with Larry Yachimec at table. Cast at reheasal with band in background. The playwrites David Young and Paul Ledeux with star Michael Riley.
md

Photos Pt. 1

2007-01-23T16:41:00.000-05:00

Me and Barney did some early morning t.v. . . .Shari Ulrich came too! Then there's a pic of the band at the play reading today! It went great. . .tons of fun. Me and Jenny Whitely. She's so great. . . Then some more bluebird folks. . .Blair Packham, Shari, Jenny and Jeremy Fisher.
md

Bluebird Round 1

2007-01-22T08:42:00.000-05:00

So, the Bluebird shows in Edmonton and Calgary were really great. I have photos coming. I really think the line up for the shows was amazing and I had so much fun with everyone. We did a lot of on-stage jamming on each others tunes and I tried a few different songs each night. I did Still Desire, Good Gifts, You Do The Math and Back to L.A. on the first night and then I added in I Can't Take My Eyes Off You and Goliath on the second night. It's fun playing stuff I don't normally play all alone. I have had to learn tunes on guitar that I usually play violin or bass on. It's very intimate. Pictures coming. . .I'm back in Toronto now for a few days before the next show in Ottawa and today I'm off to work on a new play by award winning playwrites Paul Ledeux and David Young. It's called Still Desire You and it features the music of. . .well. . .me. I'm very excited about this project. My band will be on hand today for a workshop and public reading with music. Also actors. . .Michael Riley (Wonderland) in the starring role, David Keely, Graham Harley, Larry Yakamic to mention a few with Ted Dykstra directing. Update and pictures coming later. . .

Sad Day

2007-01-22T08:39:00.000-05:00

My dear friend Denny Doherty died on Friday. I'm so sad. I loved him so much.