tell you stories

Thelma and Louise

2009-09-09T09:22:00.002-04:00

I am frantically getting ready for the Siren's of Song tour. Will play first show fri night and am looking forward to getting to work ( so I can have a vacation) First week of school is hectic and my kids are doing great. They are falling into bed , exhausted . Me too. . .

I have been prepping for the show and wondering what the others will be playing and which songs I should do etc etc . It's very difficult to pick only a few tunes when you've been playing a whole 2 set show all summer. Quite a different approach and creatively challenging. I am bringing a bass so I can contribute some low end and Annabelle and I will no doubt be adding some strings whenever possible. (Love having two of us in the string section.)
Lynn Miles and I are gonna "Thelma and Louise" it together from Winnipeg to Brandon for the first show . A nice way to shake off Toronto and get into Prairie mode.

2009-06-15T17:14:00.003-04:00

feeling overwhelmed. Gotta send stuff off for dates starting in 8 days!!!! Will be so fun once I get away. As Mike B and I always say. . ." can't wait to get to work so I can have vacation" . Ha ha . . .hilarious!!!!!

So Rick Neigher did manage to get here for some recording and it turned out soooo great!!!! New tunes. . .three of them available at summer shows. . .some NOT. Will decide when to release them . Mike Borkosky plays all over them too and Creighton produced so. . .all good.
Gonna rehearse this week and will be so great to get EAST. Playing lovely theatres. What a super treat.

Neil Young concert at Massey Hall last week was a great time. Singing with Emilie-Claire and Kathryn Rose. . .well. . . it's my favourite. Pictures are reportedly on the way. Could hear overtones and octaves resonating in that old concert hall while we sang. Wacky and WEIRD! . . .(good weird.) Loved it.

new tunes

2009-02-25T21:12:00.002-05:00

Have been recording! So fun. Have more work to do but hope to have new tunes ready for Spring and summer shows. My buddy , songwriting partner and producer ( Adam's Rib and You Are What You Love) Rick Neigher is hopefully gonna make it to Toronto to play on some of the new tracks. We wrote 4 of the new tunes together . Looking forward to that.
also. . .
My song keeps getting played on Being Erica ( AND I'm diggin the show!) so that's fun too.

Being Erica

2009-01-11T10:56:00.002-05:00

My song Every Little Thing is going to be on the new CBC show Being Erica. I think episode three.
It's episode 2 tonight at 9pm, sunday. My friend Michael Riley is on the show ( you may remember him from many hit shows and movies but. . .of course who could forget him as my awful boyfriend in BLACK SWAN!) The show is supposed to be great so . . .note to self. . .watch BEING ERICA.

Happy Holidays

2008-12-23T09:19:00.002-05:00

I'm home again. The ground is still moving ( as if still on the train) . . .
I miss everyone terribly but I guess you can't live on a train forever . Was a great trip and so much money was raised and food gathered. I felt so good to be part of it and especially this year when it seems that more people are struggling for just food and shelter. Hard times.

I'm heading into the studio today with Creighton ( brother , producer) to do a vocal and look at some other new material I'm planning to release soon. Feeling excited about music and life.
Thanks to all who came out to see the Holiday Train and to those who have written lately. I hope to be out performing as much as possible in the new year.
See you then.
md

Juno

2008-12-12T09:34:00.001-05:00

Had an awesome day off in Chicago yesterday. Felt funny to be off the train . Have three shows today and the rain is going to change to cold cold soon. Our train has maintained heat and power so far. . Fingers crossed. Canadian train not so lucky.

People in the audience here keep asking what I did in the movie JUNO.

Since they keep reading "JUNO award" in the paper but have no idea what that is. :)

(sent in from train land on Dec 9)

Train Days

2008-11-28T23:49:00.002-05:00

Nov. 27th

Here I am in Scranton PA, on Thanksgiving day here in America. We are celebrating on the train with a day off! Wow. . . so fun. Have been rehearsing the show and getting to know each other . Fun to play with a new band. We are a fantastic bunch of singers and are thinking up fun stuff to arrange and sing on this trip. I'm missing my kids but will get to see them when we hit Southern Ontario in a few more days so I'm hangin in there.

Love that I'm getting to see this part of the U.S. I've traveled in Canada A LOT, so it's very cool to play here and being on the train makes it that much more fun. It's a perspective that you can't get driving on the highway. I love it.

Arts Rally

2008-10-20T20:54:00.003-04:00

Me and Eric Peterson both speak at the Arts Rally prior to the election...

eTalk wants to hear what we're so mad about!

Mark McKinney is great!

xo
mel

Learn more at:

Toronto Star - Arty elites firing back

The Chronicle Herald - Culture proves to be 'mainstream issue'

Globe & Mail - Artist ready to take political centre stage

Mediacaster Magazine - Arts and Culture Rally Says Industry Worth Billions

City TV (with video)

Hollywood Reporter

CTV News

CBC News - 'Vote culture, eh?' artists urge

Sick Kids Rally Photos

2008-10-01T20:32:00.005-04:00

Me and Emilie-Claire Barlow!

(Mel wears Fashion Crimes)

Matt Dusk and Emilie and me...

Some models in little shorts at the rally. Lucky for everyone I did not wear this same outfit.

xo
mel

Sick Kids Car Rally

2008-09-26T13:54:00.002-04:00

I was asked to participate in a car rally a few weeks ago. The idea was that people would bid on the chance to drive a cool car and the top bidders would pick their "celebrity " to ride in the car and do the rally with them.
My friend who invited me informed me that I was one of the "celebrities". Glad she told me cause I woulda been looking all around otherwise . . .watching for the celebrities which included Goldie Hawn ( love her) , the guy who played Carlton on Fresh Prince ( Alonzo. . .that guy who can sing really well and is super funny) and Curtis Josephs ( former Leaf's goalie who had his picture taken with my date Emilie-Claire Barlow!) to name only a few.

Luckily someone picked me early on in the "draft pick " and i got to ride with a great team the following day. We went all over Toronto and did some pretty silly stuff but the highlight was finding out at the end of the day that over $1,000,000 was raised during the weekend for cancer research at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto. Not bad.

so much fun

2008-09-05T23:12:00.002-04:00

What a great few weeks in the Maritimes. Thank you to all who came out to the shows in Truro, Guysborough, Halifax and Charlottown. It sure was a fun time. I enjoyed so much, doing what I love to do and this show we're doing now is very satisfying. Mike and Creighton are brilliant and they give me all the room to play all the instruments I wanna play , and sing and showcase the new album and also go back and do songs from albums I released 5 , 10 and 15 years ago. I'm proud of all that work and the many ,many songs and it was just a great couple a weeks.

Tour Pics

2008-09-02T23:36:00.002-04:00

Mel, band, and kids at the airport...

Creighton doing jazzy preshow warm up...
Mel and Creighton post show in Charlottetown...
Mel doing preshow warmup...
Mike doing actual warmup!

md

2008-08-22T20:55:00.001-04:00

more on baggage. . .

I attempted my first trip, with kids , traveling solo ( adult wise that is) for a few shows and some days off with the children . I've traveled alone with them many many times so that is nothing new and I've taken my huge amount of gear on many flights before but combining the two things was a new horizon I hadn't reached before. By the time I was getting the kids from the taxi into the airport to check in I was already sweating , pushing two carts and the kids each carrying a violin. We looked like a crazy hippy family. . .me with my guitar leading a nutty parade around the airport and all this stuff and the kids tagging along . . . .with their own violin cases and we musta had at least five people comment. . ." are you the Von Trapp Family?" . . ."what do you have there . .some prodigies or something?" . . ." what's in those violin cases. . .MACHINE GUNS?!" ha , ha. . .Always a funny one in the airport , that I hear EVERY SINGLE TIME I fly anywhere.

We made it to N.S. just fine.

East Coast

2008-08-06T15:05:00.002-04:00

Looking forward to my East Coast shows so much.
Mike and Creighton will be joining me and we'll get a chance to do this new show in some very lovely Theatres.
I've been hanging with my kids and enjoying the summer . Songs from Little Shop of Horrors and the original Star Wars soundtrack are the reigning favourites right now. ( I've been searching for those original Star Wars disco remixes but. . .no luck so far )
I still define the summers of my childhood by the albums we were into. . .
Abbey Road
Sir Duke ( we had the 45)
Elvira ( also on 45. . . . . .giddy-up)
Jesus Christ Superstar. . .then later Joseph and the Amazing. . . .( not the Donny Osmond production ! The original with the male narrator who sings kinda flat. . . . . . )

shows etc

2008-07-13T21:01:00.002-04:00

Have had a fun few weeks. Lots of rehearsing and good times with the band. Creighton Doane( drums, vocals), Mike Borkosky ( guitar, vocals), Damien Arokium ( guitar) , Dennis Mohammed( bass) .
Did some CBC appearances both radio and t.v. and then played the Glenn Gould Studio on Sat. the 5th. It was a pretty special night. . .great audience and super nice way to launch this new record. Thanks everyone who came . I enjoyed myself. Also thanks to my special guests, Ted Dykstra, Emilie-Claire Barlow, Kathryn rose and Andrew Burashko. You guys were spectacular and I loved playing our tunes from the new album.

Video for Songbird is next and will send some shots ASAP.

pics from out west...

2008-06-29T22:06:00.001-04:00

backstage in calgary...

calgary show...

mike and creighton...

radio promo in edmonton...

baggage

2008-06-25T15:25:00.002-04:00

heading out west.

It was a trick packing this time. I decided to put my electric violin just in my purse. It's kinda small and is almost not weird looking. . .almost.
Then I'm carrying on the other violin as well ( not in my purse) . Creighton was kind enough to offer to carry my mandolin on when he comes in a few days and I sent my guitar thru. ( always a yikes with that , as it rolls away on the converyor belt.) So that just left my pedals and in-ear monitor rig and some cords and tuner etc. . .a whole whack of c.d.'s for the shows and any clothes I might need . . . having to fit on one bag . I'm proud to say . . .I made it happen.

When I was a little kid my folks took us on a train trip from our home town of Halifax to Vancouver. It was the trip of a lifetime and we did packing practices and carrying drills before the big departure day. The main rule being. . ."You have to be able to carry your own luggage". I was in grade 4 at the time but I was well trained to believe that I should always be able to carry my own luggage. . . literally and figuratively.

. . . .another baggage story. When I was on the road doing the oldies circuit with the Mommas and the Poppas ( back in the 90's . . . one of my early gigs when first moved to Toronto) , I would have the pleasure of not only singing with but traveling with Denny Doherty. We did a lot of weekend shows in Germany and would spend many an hour waiting for taxi's, buses, flights, together. What I would give for a flight delay and a chance to hang out with Denny again.
I was quite the worrier and would often concern myself with small details; "where's the hotel? Are we going to be late for sound check? Should I help so and so figure out where the other band members are? "
Denny looked at me one day and just said, "It's not your suitcase."
It was a Denny-ism. ( there are many) . . . .
It's my favourite saying ever,

getting ready...

2008-06-13T19:29:00.003-04:00

Gonna go out with my friend Emilie-Claire Barlow tonight. We were both photographed as part of a Luminato event (a cultural "happening" in Toronto ) and we'll see our portraits tonight. . . . along with the other Milles Femme ( thousand women). Hmmmmmmm, maybe I shoulda called the new album Milles Nuits. Sounds pretty cool en francais.

Have been enjoying getting ready for upcoming shows. Can't wait to play. I'll be in Calgary and Edmonton soon !

in other news. . . .gonna play with the grade 6's from my kid's school this week . I did a songwriting workshop with them back in the winter and as a group we wrote two brand new great songs! They're a great bunch and all contributed something to the project. I'm really proud of them.

later. . . . .

Here's a photo of Emilie looking at her photo. . .and one of me looking at mine ( mine is blurred but .you get the drift of the installation)

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

------

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...

-----

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.

Quick Note

2007-01-18T18:08:00.000-05:00

Leaving for Edmonton and Calgary. Looking forward to playing ALOT. Can't wait to hear my fellow songwriters and hang out. Will be great to get out west! Haven't been for too long.
md

Happy New Year!

2007-01-11T21:51:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year,
I'm very excited to be getting out to Edmonton and Calgary next week. . .then more Bluebird shows to follow. I'm gonna try a new tune or two and of course pull out the old chestnuts. . . . (what is that chestnut reference anyway?) I usually travel with Mike and Creighton so playing tunes on guitar that I usually play violin or bass on is a challenge. . .and fun for me. It's shaping up to be a busy year already so I hope to get to see many of you in Canadian cities that I haven't been to for a few years. By the way, anyone in Winnipeg, go see The Rocky Horror Show at MTC. . .it's a big huge hit and my husband Ted just directed it . It'll be in Toronto at the end of March at the Saint Lawrence Centre.
bye for now,
md

Hello to MySpace Land

2006-11-21T14:27:00.000-05:00

I've had some nice notes lately in my MySpace inbox and I haven't had a chance to respond, so i wanted to acknowledge some people like Sky, Lori and Lonie...hi to you! more below...

Some people are wondering. . ." what happened to you? When's the new music coming? Is Creighton your brother?" Yes, Creighton is my brother and as far as what's happened to me. . .I hope you mean where have I been lately in regards to the music scene, and not. . ."yikes, you look horrible." I have been taking time off to raise my small children and it's been a great few years but I am recording again and making plans for a release and touring so. . .news will be here first if you wanna know when and where.

Hi to Russel and Crystal in Nashville who are always checking in and leaving nice messages. Hope to get down there again soon. Geoff Warder remembers a gig at Fanshawe College I did at least 10 years ago. . . I think I was just releasing my first E.P. when I did that show. Thanks for listening all this time and i will have new tunes soon. Sean in Victoria remembers saying hi at " the Q " and I haven't been there for ages. Sure hope to make it West for my next album. Thanks Randall for the airplay on your cool show. http://alleged-iguana.com/bnf/06-july30.htm. Nice to know you are building my listener base in New Zealand. Love it.

I've had numerous cousins get in touch and I wanna say thanks for your notes and so sorry it's taken me so long to get back out there. It's been a mixture of being with my kids who are so small and getting my team in place . I've had some frustrating setbacks with regards to the team but nobody is more ready than I am to be out performing. Things have got to be done properly though and I am getting the pieces in place more and more each day.

Other mom's of young kids probably understand my challege right now more than anyone else. . . motivation and creativity are not the problem.

more soon.

md

Looking forward...

2006-11-05T18:10:00.000-05:00

Looking forward to playing on Tuesday night with the girls. We've been having good times getting tunes together.
md

Older posts...

2006-10-22T17:07:00.000-04:00

October 12/06
ok,so Hugh's Room!
November 7th. note to self, stop saying "life is good" in diary entries. Will have some sneak peeks to share with you as we prepare for the Nov. gig. Stay tuned.
md

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September 20/06
Good news...a gig on the horizon! Can't wait actually. Nov. 8th at the Mod club with my two fab friends Kathryn Rose and Emilie Clair-Barlow. We'll each do a set and then perform together. We'll also play early in the evening (8pm) cause that's just how it HAS to be.Other good news is that I am recording and writing and making music and booking shows and releases and all of that jazz so, life is good. . . more soon from the mom who finally dug out from under,
md

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February 19/06
So, I've been a bad blogger...I do find it kind of weird to chat about my daily activities when I'm not on the road. Maybe that's just an "old school" attitude I'm hanging on to from the old days when we called it a "tour diary"...ahh..those crazy old days....2 years ago...Anyway, there's lots going on and I'm excited about new tunes and getting out to perform more and life is good. I just got back from playing a gig in Arizona with my buddy Gary Sinise. It's fun for me to be an occasional guest with his band. They are a terrific bunch and Gary and Danny Gotlieb make a ferocious rhythm section. I just play a little violin so it's a nice change for me.

I had a random musical experience the other day. I was getting some groceries and the butcher suddenly said to me, (as he passed me my free range chicken) "Are you a musician?" I was surprised and wondered if maybe he had seen me perform or something ... "Yes I am, how did you know that?" I figured he was going to tell me he likes my tunes or something to that effect...his answer:"You just whistled the harmonica solo along with the muzak that's playing here in the store. I don't hear THAT very often."

I was proud.
md