About Me

Ottawa, Canada
Hey everyone - welcome to my blog. I've been playing pipes and in pipe bands from age eleven. It's a passion, a hobby and a lifestyle. My best friends play in pipe bands. I hope you enjoy the music, harmony and fellowship.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Keepin' it reel....


Ok - Johnny Ramone influenced me when I was a kid... can ya tell? (Don't believe me look at my grade 7 pic below) This track is pure, dead ahead punk celtic rock - did I just create a new idiom? I dunno you tell me. I wrote this reel between September and December 2009 (can ya name it?) and did the drum tracks and small pipes (John Walsh key of A) in about 6 hours, did the guitar bit in one take after spending six hours finding the right sound - it's a Marshall Plexi for those gear heads out there,played on a Gibson Nighthawk bridge pick up volume and tone wide open - and did the bass bit in two takes - started with 16th notes and found it too cluttered, so mixed it up between sixteenth and eighths...


Mastered and dumped in one evening... and voila! Simple music that makes ya feel good.... I love this one. Fun, up and moving. It was recorded at 170 bpm... Johnny would be so proud - I got my red high tops out for this one....


Hey! Ho! - Let's go! Oi!!!!!!!

Go to the player and scroll down to "Keepin' it reel" and hang on!!!!!! Ya won't want to be sedated....

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does anyone know this guy????

does anyone know this guy????

UPLANDS STUDIO

UPLANDS STUDIO
small but efficient... and fun

spring garden road session

spring garden road session
Uplands Studio ... aka .. my room....

Spring Garden Road Session

Spring Garden Road Session
photo credit to Sue Oram... thx!

shuttle pipes

shuttle pipes
the most fun you can have.... with your clothes on... well unless there is a motorcyle involved.

DUNBAR SMALL PIPES

DUNBAR SMALL PIPES
crazy fun, but massively unstable and pitchy

A Celtic Christmas 2006 - thunder bay police pipe band

A Celtic Christmas 2006 - thunder bay police pipe band
A three hour Christmas musical variety show showcasing the members of the band and the multitude of talent within in a 500 capacity soft seat theatre.

Thunder Bay Police Pipe Band at Grand Marais Minnesota

Thunder Bay Police Pipe Band at Grand Marais Minnesota
I started this band in 1984 and served as its PM for 20 years. We went from novice players to competing in three years and winning in four. At our peak we played grade two, and in 1992 placed 17th at the worlds, with a 4th for dress and deportment - not bad for little old T Bay. Grand Marais is just south of T Bay and we are treated like gold there.

Thunder Bay Police Pipe Band circa 2007

Thunder Bay Police Pipe Band circa 2007
I was the acting lead tip at this time

a welcome tune

a welcome tune
presenting a tune I composed welcoming the Consular General of Japan to Thunder Bay, circa 2002, while PM of Thunder Bay Police Pipe Band

from the archives

from the archives
grade seven - do I look like Johnny Ramone??? two things I miss - those old Lawrie pipes, and of course the great 1970's hair.... Bruce pipe bag cover - St. Catherines Pipe Band - under Keith Dewar.

Johnny Ramone

Johnny Ramone
look alikes????

from the archives

from the archives
waiting outside the Anglican Church in Thorold - Jim Dewar on the left, me on the right

From the archives

From the archives
Jim Dewar on the left, me on the right - waiting for Lt Gov. Pauline McGibbon out side of the Lock Seven Motel in Thorold

When I grow up...

When I grow up...

Callum and Daddy

Callum and Daddy
circa 2005

Callum and Dad drumming

Callum and Dad drumming
Marina Park - Thunder Bay circa 2006

Only in Canada

Only in Canada
a Canadian guy playing in a scottish band, with a drum made in China...

Don, Dr. Jack and Angela

Don, Dr. Jack and Angela
a great moment from the RNSI Tattoo 2009

Eastern Ontario Champions Supreme

Eastern Ontario Champions Supreme
Grade Five 2009 - Highland Mist Pipe Band

helping out

helping out
this meant a lot to me... HMPB members are appreciative and open and honest. To rise from street parade band to a contender in one season was remarkable... And the hard work paid off.

Burns Show - Dominion Chalmers - January 2009

Burns Show - Dominion Chalmers - January 2009
full cast! - it was a blast - packed house, great show and loads of work but tons of fun. Excellent work Graeme!