Defending your Life on the Road

May 14, 2013

"Jacob Moon, eh? So how come I've never heard of you?"

It's a fair question. It's one I get often from WestJet attendants when they see all the gear and figure out that I am a musician on tour. It's also one that I am uncomfortable answering, given the level of detail they probably are looking for (minimal at best).

So here are some possible responses:

A) I'm nobody, really. This one sometimes satisfies, but often leads to an awkward attempt at consolation on their part..."Nooooo, I'm sure your mom thinks you're somebody.")
B) I mostly play for 25 people at a time. I just haven't gotten to you yet. This one certainly has more of the ring of truth to it, and can often disarm their hopes for meeting a famous person. I sometimes feel bad dashing their dreams of a celebrity encounter, though.
C) Do you ever watch YouTube? This really seems to perk them up, as they try to decide whether I'm the guy who wrote the song about how 'United breaks guitars' or the dude who fell off his skateboard and nailed himself really good on that metal railing. Once again, I am a huge disappointment.
D) Hey, I haven't heard of you either, pal. Okay, so this one is mean and defensive, and doesn't even sound usable in my head.

Even if I never offer up a satisfactory response to this question, it lingers in my mind as one that still needs answering. Of course, it's entirely possible that I may never have a short and pithy response as to why on this, my umpteenth tour across Canada, I am still flying way below the radar to the extent that Westjet Wendy has no clue who I am.

That phrase, 'below the radar' conjures up images of someone getting away with something, avoiding entrapment and escaping being brought in for further interrogation. To a certain extent that is the case with me and other artists like me, who have chosen an career in independent music. We are the new breed of musicians that have employed new media to reach fans and earn a living wage by booking gigs and promoting them without the need for a major label to 'help us' (an arrangement that too often ends in entrapment and a phone call to your lawyer).

On the face of it, this last cross-Canada stint was mostly me playing for people who have perhaps only the vaguest notion of who I am. It's what I call a 'pioneering tour'. Trying to expand into new territory. Going boldly where no one named Jacob Moon has ever gone before, in the hopes that I can fold some new faces into my friend list, and build some new markets for my music. It's the sort of narrowcasting and micro-marketing that has more in common with political campaigning than the kinds of tours we think of when we imagine a band on tour... you know, playing the Enormo-dome on this night, and then Lollapalooza the next. No, this is more about shaking hands and kissing babies---punctuated by long days of lonely travel and killing time at Starbucks. And then, come show time, trying to make up for poor production values with candid, personal stories and raw stagecraft.

When it works, it all seems more than worth it. Like the house concert I did last week in Medicine Hat at my friend's place. She and her husband invited everyone they knew to pack their elegant home, and went out of the way to provide a welcoming and hospitable vibe, complete with home baked desserts and underaged wait staff (their kids). It. was pretty much guaranteed that nobody had ever heard me in concert before, even if a few were familiar with my videos on YouTube. I love these kinds of shows, where people's expectations are low, and there is an opportunity there for me to over-deliver the goods. At the end of the concert, I had a bunch of new friends, and the conversation will continue next time I am in town. Okay, so now all I need to do is lather, rinse and repeat, right?

Well, yes, that's the idea. It doesn't always work out that way, though, let me tell you. There are a million little things that can lay waste to your best-laid plans on tour. Sickness, fatigue, gear failure, airline shutdowns, lost luggage and weather can certainly slow you down. But it's also things like inexperienced promoters, ineffective promotion, and cultural apathy towards music that can undermine the success of your show in a foreign province or country.

In the end, I have concluded that many of these factors can be mitigated by people power. Friends that are there to help along the way are more valuable to me than anything on the road, and have gotten me through many of the hazards I've listed. Thousands of miles from home and utterly dependent on the hard work and sacrifice of other, one quickly learns that the term independent music is a fallacy. There is no such thing. I am wholly dependent on the hospitality and good graces of people to make my tour possible and successful, and have been fortunate to work with some of the best and most generous folks on the scene.

That's what keeps me coming back for more. It's the lingering hope that if I just keep doing this, and craft a touring strategy with these friends, both new and old, that the music will eventually find a greater audience.

Maybe that audience will even grow to include WestJet Wendy. If that means that our conversation moves to the weather, I am okay with with that.

Western Spring Tour! MB/SK/AB/BC

Apr 30, 2013

I am excited to embark on a Western Tour starting tomorrow! I will be at the following locations...so check for a concert near you:

May 1: Winkler Evangelical Mennonite Mission Church (with Phil Calloway)

May 2-4: Banff Centre for the Performing Arts (Songwriting Retreat at Leighton Artists Colony)

May 5: Eastside Church in Swift Current SK 7pm tickets $10

May 8: House Concert in Medicine Hat AB PRIVATE EVENT

May 9: House Concert in Lethbridge AB EMAIL FOR TICKETS houseconcerts@jacobmoon.com

May 10: Summerland Pentecostal Church 9918 Julia St Summerland BC 7:30pm. call for tickets: (250) 494-8248

May 11: Willow Park Church in Kelowna BC tickets at https://guestlistapp.com/events/155766

May 12: House Concert in Kelowna BC (w/Dave Moore and Graham Ord) EMAIL FOR TICKETS houseconcerts@jacobmoon.com

House Concert Contest!

Apr 25, 2013

Hey friends! It’s the annual house concert giveaway, and one
lucky winner in Canada will walk away with a prize package that
includes a FREE HOUSE CONCERT at the winner’s residence. All
attendees will enjoy a complimentary 90 minute concert on a date
agreed upon by JACOB MOON and the host.�

ENTER NOW: CLICK THE LINK BELOW!

http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/322827

Review of the show at Hamilton Place on Sunday night

Apr 17, 2013

Here's a nice review of the show we did on Sunday night in my hometown from music journalist Glen Brown...

http://musicbizbites.blogspot.ca/2013/04/jacob-moon-melissa-bel.html?spref=tw

Hamilton Homecoming Concert: a benefit for a family who's home was destroyed by fire

Apr 8, 2013

It’s been a long time since my last big area show, but I am pleased to announce that I will be performing at the Hamilton Place Studio Theatre on April 14th.

This show has personal significance for me, as it is a fundraiser for my cousin Michele, who lost her home in a fire last Thursday. Fortunately, she and her two teenage kids got out safely.

They have nothing but the clothes on their backs, so this show is dedicated to them, and all the profit for the show will go directly to the family to help them rebuild their lives.

I hope you’ll join me for an evening of music at one of Hamilton’s best-sounding rooms. It would be great to see you again, and your ticket ($19.50 plus SC at the link below) will help a family in need.

Tickets here: http://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/10004A4CD5356C96?artistid=1419132&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=2&tm_link=artist_msg-0_10004A4CD5356C96

yours,

J

A Great Day in Hamilton

Apr 4, 2013

Very much in the style of the photo 'A Great Day in Harlem', there was an assemblage of Hamilton musicians today near 'This Ain't Hollywood'. While not completely definitive, many luminaries were in attendance, including�Danny Lockwood, Adam Ostrosser, Brian Griffiths, Steve Strongman, Sean O'Grady, Kim and Frank Koren, Ian Thomas, Kevin McLean, Paul Intson, Harrison Kennedy, Neil Nickafor, Carl Jennings, Dave King, Paul Panchezak, Lily Sazz and many more. See if you can find me in there...

Marillion Weekend: How do you top THAT???

Mar 26, 2013

To say that I've just had a mountaintop experience would putting it mildly. It was a breakthrough of gigantic proportions. It was the gig that I've been working my whole life towards, in many ways.�

Marillion Weekend in Montreal was my BIG chance to play for (and with!) a band that I have listened to since I was 15 years old. I mean HOURS of listening, and lifting solos, learning how to sing to it, getting the feel of odd-time signatures, complex arrangements...I really cut my teeth on this stuff. Nobody understood my affinity for them at the time, since they weren't in vogue (prog-rock had fallen on hard times in the 80s), but I didn't care. This stuff spoke to my soul. Just enough anger and emotion in there to satisfy my appetite for teenage angst, too.

Marillion have grown into a band that sounds like 'Pink Floyd meets Radiohead to form a band that's in touch with its feminine side" (words of lead singer Steve Hogarth). I would agree with that, in that its progressive yet modern and poetic and sensitive in its lyrical approach. They also have a great sense of ensemble; a give and take that is borne from years of touring and writing together. Everyone gets a chance to shine, and yet the net effect is that of a great band.

I arrived at the venue at around 330 on Friday Mar 22 to find the band rehearsing onstage. I was struck by what a treat it was to get to hear them like this: going over things and adjusting them in real time. I was also struck by how much Steve goes for vocally in a rehearsal. This is a guy who has to sing for 2.5 hrs a night for three straight nights, and he was hitting stuff that most singers could only hit once, if they were lucky. Amazing.�

Equally amazing was the fact that they invited me on stage that afternoon to accompany them on a song that apparently needed a 2nd guitar (Three Minute Boy). We shook hands, we rehearsed and it went great. I don't know why, but I had prepared myself for the possibility that they might want me to play with them---but offstage, not unlike the guys who play keyboard parts for U2 in some compartment under the stage. They were friendly and genial, though, and I got a welcoming vibe from them instantly.�

My buddy Trev and I checked into the hotel after that, still reeling from the experience of meeting the boys from our favorite band. After a rest, we returned to the venue to hear Benoit David (Yes) lead his band 'Mystery' in a rousing opening set. Marillion came out after and launched into 'Montreal', a song from the new CD that was written just for this occasion of the Montreal fan weekend, and how special these concerts are for the band. 4 songs in, and I was up. I came onstage and Steve H introduced me to the crowd ("We have a chum tonight...his name is Jacob Moon"), and we proceeded to perform Three Minute Boy together for the next 8 minutes. There is a youtube video shot by my buddy Trev stageside here:�http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m44K1E08goc&feature=youtu.be

To save my voice, we left early so I could get a good night's sleep. The next day was all about tea, rest and practice for the Sat evening opening slot. I definitely felt nerves when I rehearsed in the hotel, but by the time I got to the Olympia and soundchecked, that all evaporated as I settled into the experience of performing on that stage. It didn't hurt that I had been 'broken in' the night before.

The plan was: walk on at 8:15pm sharp and launch into 'Come Talk to Me', a song that is a good one for getting people's attention (especially Peter Gabriel fans!). As I did that, I noticed a hush falling over the crowd, and people were really tuning in. That was key, if I was going to be able to bring it down for 'Live a Little' on song 2. By the time I got to Great Beyond, I had some momentum going, so I took a risk and tried out a brand new arrangement of 'Letdown' by Radiohead, that featured the RC300 looper. Lots of tap-dancing on that one, but it came off okay, I think.�

Then it was time to try out another new arrangement: Marillion's own 'Kayleigh/Lavender'. For this one, I changed the time signature to 3/4 and played the chords in an offbeat style, while keeping the melody intact (if not the melodic rhythm). I hoped it wouldn't be too outside for the fans, and that they would still be able to sing along. Here's that performance:�http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaw7CqBn9bI&feature=youtu.be

I then did 'Everything's Gonna Be Alright' from the new CD Landing 2, and that one went great, if a little rushed...(I was excited. Can you blame me?). Last up was 'Subdivisions', which I knew was the right closer. Again, the tempo gathered steam to an ecstatic conclusion, and the response afterwards was insane. I had hoped that they would give me a chance at this thing, but I didn't know that they would be so generous. It was a dream come true for me, that I would even be able to be in the position of opening for Marillion, let alone have the elation of over 1000 people on their feet. The last time something like that happened, it was at the Rush event (almost exactly 3 years ago). This one felt just as great, if not better, since this band occupied a special place in my heart.�

I stayed up really late that night signing CDs and chatting with fans from all over the world (Brazil, LA, Miami, Denmark, Scotland). Everyone was so amazing, and really made me feel like I had joined a big, loving family. My only regret is that I wish that I had made these connections years ago.

The final stop on the Marillion Express was Sunday afternoon, with a little thing called 'Swap the Band', where each member of the band gives a fan the chance to replace them, and play a Marillion song with the other members. Think about that. Have you EVER heard of a another rock band doing something similar? Incredibly generous, and a real romp for the fans to watch. I would have just been happy watching the others, if I wasn't asked to sing "Beautiful" with the band. This song is super-high for me, but I managed to acquit myself okay, I think. I tried to get cheeky by name dropping the drummer during the song, but looking at him made me forget my lyrics. Dang! It was incredible to get to lead this band in this, my favorite Hogarth-era Marillion song. You can watch it here:�http://youtu.be/0gTOeZREGVQ

Bucket List (check!).

Mar 20, 2013

This weekend, I will travel with my buddy Trev to Montreal to perform at the Olympia Theatre for my favorite band, MARILLION. Ma-who, you say?

�For this one, you have to go back to the mid 80s, when I was listening to a steady diet of progressive rock, and Marillion had just released their classic record, 'Misplaced Childhood'. There were long songs, deep lyrics and no gaps between the tracks. I loved it. Like listening to a novel. 30 years later, they have a different lead singer and they've dropped EMI for an indie career that any band would be happy to have. They tour the world playing to their faithful fans, who they stay in touch with via the interwebs.�

�They still make long songs, write deep lyrics and produce albums more than singles. In other words, exactly the opposite direction of mainstream music. But then, MARILLION has never been much for following the trends. They prefer to set them. I predict that their 'Fan Weekends' will be the wave of the future for legacy acts seeking to connect with fans--one weekend at a time.�

�I submitted my music to the band in hopes of opening for them on this Montreal weekend, and got accepted several months ago. I am super-excited to join the band for a song on the Friday night, and then open for them on Saturday, right before they play their epic album, 'Brave'.

�In honor of the event, I will be releasing a single of 'Kayleigh/Lavender' sometime in the next week or so. Watch for it on iTunes. ~Jacob

Marillion Weekend approaches!

Mar 15, 2013

As we get closer to Mar 22, the first night of a three-day music festival in Montreal that features Marillion (my fave band) and ME as opening act, I thought I would share a bit of what the press makes of this event. One week to go!!!

http://www.montrealgazette.com/Marillion+gathers+family/8085410/story.html

Marillion Month is here!

Mar 1, 2013

This month I am preparing to perform with and for my favorite band, Marillion at the Olympia in Montreal Mar 22-24. I have been a fan since I was 15, and I can NOT believe my good fortune here! I get to play with them on the Friday night, open for them on Saturday night, and sing as the lead singer on the Sunday afternoon. UN-real.�

I can hear many of you wondering aloud, 'that's great, Jacob, but who is Marillion'?�

You can check out their wiki page here, but to me, they are a�progressive�band that has stayed true to their roots, while redefining what it means to be 'prog'. And they have been doing it for 30 years. Crazy, given how unknown they are in many parts of the world. Understandable when you see how loyal and fierce their fans are all over the globe. Best known perhaps in the UK, Germany, Netherlands and Brazil, this band reaches out their fans every time they are set to release a record and when they do, that album is paid for in pre-orders, and then some. In this way, they can do it totally indie-style, without any need for a major label, because they WORK HARD.�

This is inspiring to guys like me. I'm not afraid of work, and I do my best to reach out to fans online and give them the opportunity to participate in the projects I produce, and I tour tirelessly. Somehow I have been able to keep this engine running for 18 years now, and it gives me hope to think that I might make it to 30 if I can continue to find new fans and make compelling music.�

I am looking forward to bringing what I do to the big stage in Montreal in front of that tribe of people. Perhaps I will discover that they are my tribe, and if I can play what's in my head for them, it could open up a whole world for me.�

It's a funny job. But these are the moments I work towards every day: �booking gigs, designing posters, updating websites, engaging social media, fixing gear, practicing scales, lugging PA, paying taxes, routing tours...these are the things I guess I want to be paid for.

The playing I will do for free.�

And playing for Rush, and now Marillion...two of my all-time bucket list moments? You can't put a price on that.

Coming Apr 14 to Hamilton Place!! Tickets at www.ticketmaster.ca now~

Feb 25, 2013

New Podcast coming in March: World Changers!

Feb 25, 2013

If you’re like me, you use podcasts to fill the time when you’re driving, working out, flying on an aero-plane. They’re entertaining, funny, educational and the time just flies by when you’re captivated by someone else’s story. Some of my faves are This American Life, WireTap and Here’s the Thing with Alec Baldwin. For a while now, I have been wanting to do a podcast myself. The first idea I had was to interview other musicians, have them play a song, then I play a song with them. Duets with friends, kind of idea. That still may happen someday, but I was intrigued even more with the concept of a 30-40 min show where I interview people making a difference in this world. I do so many fundraisers with people who are changing the world for the better, and I so rarely get to have a long conversation with them about what’s involved with their organization, or why they got into it in the first place.

So it’s curiosity, but it’s also something deeper: a desire to bring these issues to the forefront of my heart and soul on a regular basis, and then to pass that passion on to others who might be listening in. Soulfulness happens when you have taken on the burdens of others because your own heart has been broken by their stories. I am seeking to foster new kinds of connections with my world, and I am seeking the guidance of those who have already begun that journey. My initial thoughts for guests include people that I know (Tim Huff, Jamie McIntosh, Barry Slauenwhite, Brian Mullins, Sarah Stone), but I’m sure the list will expand to include new faces behind compelling stories. My hope is to begin taping these shows in the next week or two and stockpile enough of them to go live in April 2013. Still have to figure out all the technical aspects of launching a podcast on iTunes. Should be interesting! Stay tunes as I venture out into a new role as podcaster! Sounds heroic, doesn’t it?

Spoke today with Krista Jefferson of www.iamjustone.ca...inspiring story of how a regular person is making an amazing difference in the world! Check out the site and you'll be amazed at what she's doing for women in Uganda. This ep will drop next month sometime, so watch this spot!

Trip to the DR. Bringing Hope and Love: One Child at a Time...

Jan 17, 2013

�I�

I am writing this from just outside of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic on a sunny day at a resort on the beach. All around me are happy vacationers, sunning themselves with fruity drinks at their elbows, content in the knowledge that all their needs and desires are taken care of by the staff here at this all-inclusive hotspot. I too am enjoying my stay here, but I have been summoned here for a different reason. Every day for most of the day, my wife and I join 20 others on a bus to some of the most desparately poor areas of this island, to witness the work of the DR's Compassion staff.

They oversee 165 projects here, bringing hope and help to children living in the most impoverished neighbourhoods, and we have seen first-hand how thoroughly and profoundly loved these kids are, and how markedly different the whole community is because of the Compassion project and its team of caring staff. It was here that we had an incredible day yesterday visiting our newest sponsor child, 'Cristal', and her mother Alexandria.�

�She was shy at first, but showed herself to be a delightful child with an infectious laugh, and a mischevious sense of humor. I chased her around, and Ally and I played in the 'piscina' (pool) with her, which she said was 'muy frio' (cold!).�

At the end of the day, we shared some candies, toys and school supplies with her, which she was thrilled about. We also got the chance to pray for her and her mother before we had to part ways. It was the perfect end to a perfect day, and as we drove away from where she and her mother were waving back at us, I remember thinking that this is the beginning of a remarkable friendship, one that so many from Canada have embarked upon. Amazing to think that Canadian musicians--- people like Dan Bremnes, Jennifer Jade Kerr, Leon Leon-Taurites, and Jon Bauer (who were all on this trip) have found sponors for over 2000 kids. That's the equivalent of 10 projects, changing 10 communities forever with the love of God. When I try to imagine the areas we visited without the transformative power of the Compassion project, all I can see is a heavy cloud of darkness--the darkness of poverty, crime and hopelessness that so many experience here.

I don't know a better way to bring about change here than to start with the children. Children just like this one...little Cristal: cherished daughter, beloved child of God and now, my new friend. Exciting to think of what the next 14 years will hold for this little girl. One thing is for sure--we will be there to cheer her on every step of the way.�

Some pictures from the past few weeks

Jan 9, 2013

The trio plays the first of many Christmas shows! (L-R Mike Janzen, JM, Greg Woods). Photo by Jenn Kerr.

Ally and the dudes getting dolled up for church on Dec 30...

Leading the Toronto crowd at Hugh's Room in a spirited rendition of James Taylor's 'Traffic Jam'. Photo by Robert Saxe.

Rick and Audrey Hibrant at the JT show at Hugh's Room.�Photo by Robert Saxe.

Ali Matthews and I on CTS TV singing 'This Christmas' on the musical extravaganza that was 'Christmas in the Square'!�

January Newsletter!

Jan 9, 2013

Lots of news this month! Read all about it here: JANUARY NEWSLETTER

New Year! New Cover Project for week one...

Jan 2, 2013

SWEET BABY JAMES:

James Taylor has always been a favorite artist. His sunny delivery and articulate guitar picking was an early inspiration for me in high school. So when I got the call to play at the Sweet Baby James tribute concert this Friday night at Hugh's Room, I was super excited! It gave me the idea to cover a different song every day for a week leading up to the show. It's been super-fun to wake up every day and pick a song to sing of his to re-imagine through my own musical lens. So far, I've done:

Song for You Far Away

Copperline

and Traffic Jam

You can hear them all one after the other just by pressing play below!

More to come tomorrow and Friday, so watch this playlist for new additions, and be sure to attend the show on Fri Jan 4 at Hugh's Room!�

LOOP Contest Finals: VANCOUVER

Nov 12, 2012

Sunday, November 25, 2012 2:00 PM
The Vancouver Guitar Show (Croatian Cultural Centre)
3250 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5N 4E4
Performance Stage: The BOSS Stage"

Come one and come all to the Finals of the Boss Loop Contest where yours truly will be competing for the top prize!

LONDON calling!

Nov 12, 2012

Don't miss this one, folks!�

Friday Nov 30th in LONDON! CD RELEASE CONCERT--8pm $15 advance or $20 at the door www.londonmusicclub.com

New Trio!

Nov 10, 2012

Mike Janzen has spent the past number of years releasing solo records, touring solo, with his trio and with Steve Bell, besides doing his film scores and TV music work. And since he's such a busy guy, it's my rare treat to snag him for a Christmas tour this year. I have known Mike for about 17 years now...we've taught at the same music school, he's contributed to my CDs, he even stood up for me at my wedding. We have this ability to get into a musical conversation, something that we developed in those long after-teaching jam sessions, where we would just improvise together without any discussion or planning. It's this spirit of collaboration that I look forward to re-igniting this Christmas season as he joins me for many of the Christmas tour dates (below).

Also joining in on the fun will be Greg Woods, percussionist extraordinaire (with the Great Wooden Trio). He will bring the cajon, the djembe, the gourd and the sleighbell to the proceedings, and animate our songs with warmth and rhythm. I have thought for a while that a percussionist would be a good addition to the night, and I so I finally made the call to Greg to help us out. First rehearsal is next week, and I can't wait to see what we can create together as a trio.

Dec 8 Harbour Fellowship St Catharines ON

Dec 14 Crossroads Chapel Burlington ON with Ali Matthews, Rick Francis and strings

Dec 15 Maranatha Church Belleville ON Dec 16 Kanata Baptist Church Kanata ON

Dec 21 Registry Theatre Kitchener ON with Ali Matthews, Rick Francis

Dec 22 Hugh's Room in Toronto, ON with Ali Matthews, Rick Francis

Dec 23 Calvary Baptist Church in Oshawa ON

TOP 3 FINALIST in the BOSS LOOPING CONTEST

Nov 2, 2012

And now for some exciting news: I made it into the top 3 for the big BOSS LIVE LOOPING CONTEST! I compete for the Canadian title on November 25 in Vancouver BC. http://www.roland.ca/default.asp?c=234

Scroll down to see the performance video that I made to enter the contest!

Now we gotta get to LA in January for the International Finals!

Throwing my hat in the ring!

Oct 12, 2012

Today I recorded an entry for the BOSS looping Championship here in Canada. If I place I get a chance to compete to represent Canada in the worlds in LA (Jan 2013). Here's the video that I shot this morning...hope you dig it!

Performance tips

Sep 17, 2012

I recently gave some off-the-cuff answers about playing 'live' to a performance coach named Jason Parsons.

Check out the interview here:�http://jason-parsons.com/artistjacobmoon.cfm

Landing 2 is available now!

Sep 6, 2012

Get the physical CD over at the buy music tab (above).

Get your own MP3 copy now here:�http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jacobmoon9

This week only: Listen to the new CD for free on Soundcloud!

Aug 27, 2012

All this week: listen to the complete recording of 'Landing 2', and pre order the CD at www.kapipal.com/jacobmoon

�http://soundcloud.com/jacobmoon/sets/landing-2-the-10th

From the forthcoming live CD by Jacob Moon: 'Landing 2: the 10th Anniversary Concert", due out on Sept 4, 2012.

New looper leads to a new workflow for creativity

Aug 21, 2012

The BOSS RC 300: New Looper brings new song ideas!

I recently was loaned one of these babies by Jeff Harden of Roland, and I have to admit I was kinda skeptical at first. I have been hanging on to my Lexicon Jam Man for a reason--all the other loopers out there have either sounded bad or had glitchy functionality. I like the simplicity of the binary on/off of the dual footswitch. There are limitations to the JamMan (32-sec max recording time) that seem archaic by today's standards, but have spawned creative solutions over the years, and it's pretty much glitch-free, with pristine sound.

Digging into a new looper is typically an arduous task, but the fun aspects of the RC300 are available right away. Looping with three independent selectable tracks that all synch to the first loop is addictive, and I found myself just trying out 3-track variations on songs that I currently perform with just one.�

Once that door was opened I was intrigued enough to start building new songs from scratch, starting with a bass line, or one of the many drum patterns that are stored in the unit. The immediacy of the workflow was really working for me. I didn't realize how inefficient my process had become until I wrote and recorded the building blocks to a complete song in under an hour (lightning fast for me). Once I had the loops ready, I downloaded them via USB to the computer and loaded them up to my DAW (Pro Tools 8). I duplicated the 8 bar loops as WAV files in a new session and then just deleted the regions that didn't apply to reveal the arrangement for the song.�

At this point there were no real lyrics, just a vague melody. I then reacted to the arrangement with some free-associating vocal passes, and I began to hear some themes emerge that became the subject matter for the song. In the end I had a first draft of the lyric and a pretty good idea of the melody.�

The song length could either be 4:20 or 3:40, depending on whether I was editing it for what I could do live, or what the studio could slice and dice into a compact pop song format (I like both versions).�

In the end, 'Carry Me' is the result of my first RC300 writing session, and I am thrilled to find out that my creative brain has found what it craved (without me knowing it): a portable, compact, multi-track recorder that is also a live looper--where I can write, record and perform songs using the same device. Nice.

Jacob Moon Fan Site

Aug 13, 2012

Hey folks,�

My good buddy from the Seattle area, Steve Thornton, has been busy creating a fan site for me over at ForAllMoonKind (funny, huh?). He's pulled together a nice little place for fans to connect and he does a great job of keeping it up to date with all the latest news and videos.�

Show him some love and stop over to add your comments and suggest content or offer some of your own.

http://www.forallmoonkind.com/blog/�

Pre-Order the New CD

Aug 3, 2012

Get one of the first copies of the new CD, in celebration of the 10 year anniversary of "LANDING". Jam-packed with music, this live set was recorded in May of this year at Catherine North Studios in front of a live audience. Featuring guest appearances by Ali Matthews and Rick Francis, Jacob re-imagines 10 of the songs from Landing, and includes 5 new songs including 'Live a Little' and covers by Bruce Hornsby, Gabe Dixon, Keane and Steve Bell.

Featuring a pristine sound shot through with all the warmth that you'd expect from a recording done in an old converted church, the songs on 'Landing 2' demonstrate how some things improve with age. Jacob says, "It's easily my favorite album of mine thus far. It captures most of what I was going for when I dreamed about what it could be...back then and now. The audience was incredible, which was familiar, and the sound we captured is more dimensional and full-bodied. I'm excited for people to hear it."

The final round of pre-orders starts now and continues to the end of the month. Visit Jacob's new crowdfunding page and join the community of support for this incredible new CD, due out on September 4th. Get rewards for your investment, including private lessons via Skype and free house concerts for you and your friends plus copious copies of the new CD!

All the details are over at www.kapipal.com/jacobmoon

Moon in the Blogosphere!

Jul 26, 2012

Here's a nice article by David Kidney that was posted to a blog recently!

http://rylander-rylander.blogspot.ca/2012/07/jacob-moon.html�

NEW LIVE CD out in September!

Jul 25, 2012

If you recall, we did a weekend of live concerts at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, ON, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of 'Landing', my first ever live album. Well, we recorded the evenings and the result is an album that I am really proud of and I cannot wait for you to hear.�

There's 15 songs on it, including 5 songs that have never been recorded on CD before. The majority of the songs are from the setlist I used 10 years ago, but this time with plenty of new sounds and arrangements. And the sound is pristine, thanks to the hard work of head engineer Michael Chambers and my producer Glen Marshall.�

Here's a sneak peek at the setlist and some of the photos that were taken on the night.

1 Live a Little (5:13)
2 Back to You (6:56)
3 We Will Overcome (3:48)
4 The End of Me and You (4:45)
5 Something Within me (3:37)
6 Bend and Break (4:57)
7 Under African Skies (7:14)
8 Leaving (5:48)
9 The Way it Is (4:43)
10 Oh Love (4:00)
11 Travis (4:03)
12 Speak To Me (4:16)
13 Disappear (4:30)
14 I Know You By Heart (4:15)
15 Everything’s Gonna Be Alright (5:22)

�

Host a Summer House Concert!

May 31, 2012

BOOK a SUMMER HOUSE CONCERT: Every year I do a bunch of these all over ON and into the western provinces, and they are always a TON of fun!

Here's some FAQs on the subject:

Q: What is a house concert?
A: Simply put, it's a concert (2 45-min sets with a break) for a small group of people (35-50 friends, co-workers, neighbours) in an open-concept house or backyard.

Q: How much does it cost me to host it?
A: Nothing. Nada. Zip.

Q: Really? Then how do you earn a living at this?
A: At each house concert, each attendee is invited to make a $20 minimum donation (average cost of a Jacob Moon concert elsewhere). My experience is that when people are advised in advance of this cost, that they find it to be very reasonable for such a unique and intimate concert.

Q: Do you still have availability for the summer months?
A: Indeed I do! Here's the summer avails: June 15, 17, 24 in Ontario; July 6-8 13-15 in ON, July 22-29 in BC; August 2-12, 31 wherever!

Q: How do I spread the word about it? Do I poster, or mail out invitations?
A: I find that the simplest way to start promoting your house concert is with an email. I provide an email template that has my information and links, and leaves space for you to add your own personal touch, along with the event details. A mail-out invite can work, too, and for that I can provide biographical text and pictures. As far as how many people to invite goes...I recommend inviting twice as many as you hope to have. Keep in mind, too that 10-15% will cancel last minute, so overbook it like it's an Air Canada flight. ;-)

Q: So I am ready to book. What now?
A: We would have a conversation about all the details via email or telephone. Tell me your dream scenario for a house concert and I will work with you to make it happen! I can be reached here at home at 905 522 0359 or houseconcerts@jacobmoon.com

Festival appearance this weekend in Keswick, then in Hamilton at night...

May 28, 2012

Hey friends! I will be performing at ArtXtreme, a fundraiser that happens annually up on Lake Simcoe. The fine people there have put together a day's worth of fun and music for the whole family, so check them out at www.gacag.com

Then at night I will be at 'The Rock on Locke' (St John the Evangelist Church on Charlton and Locke in Hamilton). Special guest Jodi King! Tickets are available for�$20 each. Youth, age 16 and under, $10. Children under 12, free.

This is the BIG WEEKEND!

May 25, 2012

Read all about the Landing 10th Anniversary weekend here, and get your tickets at ticketwindow.ca before they're all gone!

http://jacobmoon.fanbridge.com/campaigns/show.php?id=858648&sid=4571784

Great Review in Velvet Rope!

May 23, 2012

Check out the review this week in Velvet Rope magazine out of KW~
http://velvetropemagazine.com/issues/volume-1-issue-20/volume-1-issue-20-jacob-moon/

Thanks to Craig Dubecki for his generosity in prose!�

The Fundraising Campaign has only a week left! Help us WIN!

May 16, 2012

Hey friends...just noticing that the RocketHub campaign is stalled a bit, which may be because people are buying tickets over at ticketwindow, as opposed to getting them from the RocketHub rewards. Totally understandable that folks would be looking for actual tickets as opposed to promissary notes from me (for those who have fueled, don't worry! Your seats are secured!).

There is still a smaller way to give and that's to pre-order the download link to the whole record (15 songs! 50% off!). When it's done and uploaded to my server, you'll be the first to get it. I would love to see a whole bunch of people come forward to help out in this final week so we can make the best record that we can make...extra funds means nicer mics and better audio mixing/mastering.

Thanks in advance for your help! Yours, Jacob

This Weekend!

Apr 19, 2012

This will be a fun one: I am at Markham Missionary Church for a full concert this Friday night, and then at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts on Saturday. I have rented the Oakville Centre many times for shows, but this time they put me on their Spring schedule and THEY are presenting me. That's such a relief to know that all the promotions are taken care of, and I just need to prepare the show. If only every gig was like this one!�

Then on Sunday I am cheering on my wife as she runs a 10K for charity in Toronto. Gabe, Simon and I will be there with bells on, holding up signs for Mommy as she realizes her dream! Go Ally Go!

Pre-order the new CD here!

Apr 13, 2012

Here's the live feed from my Rockethub project page! To pre-order the new Landing 10th Anniversary CD or to get a ticket package, simply click here . The CD will contain new arrangements of all the songs from Landing, plus 4 new unrecorded original songs and covers.�

New York Photo Shoot

Apr 10, 2012

While in NY on tour last month, I met a great photographer by the name of John Macapodi, and he took some great shots on a sunny Saturday in the DUMBO area of beautiful Brooklyn.

"Landing": The 10th Anniversary Concert & CD

Apr 6, 2012

10 years ago I recorded what many would say is my most seminal and timeless CD: a little twelve song cycle called 'Landing'. Recorded live over three nights, it represented the culmination of my songwriting style, my approach to the guitar, my live looping aesthetic and my relationship to my amazing fans.

Truly, it was fans and friends that paved the way for me during this difficult time in my life (my marriage was ending), and their support made it possible for me to face performing again, even in my fragile state. The lyrics on the record run the gamut from intensely personal to inspirational, and many of the emotions I was feeling at the time are plainly obvious at first listen.

Something about this raw set of songs really resonated with people, as the pain and heartbreak of the songs hit the air with palpable force. It was elecrifying for me, for the studio audience, and later, fans of the CD.

What I would like to a) Celebrate the 10th anniversary of this CD with a pair of shows and also b) go back to those songs---back to Catherine North Studio in Hamilton---to re-record the CD. Not so we can achieve some kind of forensic note-for-note duplicate, but rather to document how the songs have changed over the last 10 years. To reveal new layers of depth that the years have overlaid on each song's meaning and delivery.

I will hire Glen Marshall, my original producer (as well as a senior engineer at Catherine North) and record the original 12 songs, plus some bonus tracks on two nights in May (25th,26th) for a studio audience.

The plan would be to create and mass-produce a full-length CD project from those 2 nights entitled "Landing: the 10th Anniversary Concert" and release it for the fall of 2012.

If we get more than we bargain for from the fans, we intend to use it for marketing and web presence for the CD, as well as a custom 2-minute video trailer for the record.

Here's how the funding works:

When you give to this project, you get a reward that is commensurate with the amount given. Rockethub works like this:

1. RocketHub is not an investment or charity. It is an exchange: funds from fans for rewards from me.
2. It's an All & More funding mechanism: if I don't reach my financial goal I get to keep what I raise. But if I do reach my goal, I get access to exciting opportunities.

Thanks to all for your support for me and my music. It's only possible because of you!

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/6830-landing-the-10th-anniversary-concert-cd

New York Tour this week!

Mar 14, 2012

I started this week in NY in White Plains, where I stayed at the Sisters of Divine Compassion's monastery. I researched spiritual retreat centres and came up with this one, located on the campus of Pace University. The Sisters were wonderful, giving me a whole wing of the building to myself, and inviting me to join them for a study on the life of Christian mystic St Teresa of Avila. I was so inspired, I started writing a new song called 'Way Down Deep', about her deep faith that resulted from a few rapturous encounters with God in her contemplative reflections.�

��

After that night it was off to pick up my assistant for the week at the airport, who was flying in from Buffalo. Last night I played Arlene's Grocery on the Lower East side to a small but appreciative crowd (I got the 7pm slot...). Here's a little backstage video from the club:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151385973725150

New March Newsletter is up!

Mar 2, 2012

MARCH NEWS

In this issue...

-VIDEO PREMIERE for 'PONY'

-ALBERTA TOUR this weekend!

-LONG-LOST VIDEO of Jacob playing 'SUBDIVISIONS'...for RUSH!

-USA TOUR: NYC, NJ, MA and opening for Lincoln Brewster!

-My Two Sons...(pics of Gabriel and Simon)

Visit the newsletter page here, for all the details...http://www.fanbridge.com/campaigns/show-report-message.php?report_id=296420&format=html

NEW: 'The Way it Is' cover by Hornsby performed live in Toronto!

Feb 23, 2012

I took a day back in October to do some live recording in TO at a rehearsal studio (QED). The result was a couple of videos I was happy with (sorry, I'm a perfectionist), and I posted one of them a month back (The Great Beyond). The other is this one here, a cover of Bruce Hornsby's The Way it Is, a top ten favorite from 25 years ago. I changed up some of the words to reflect the times we live in, and I think the message of the song is really relevant to the current crisis of justice that we face where the rich get super-rich and the poor get stupid-poor. We all feel powerless about that, but change begins when we take a stand and say 'Just the way it is? Don't you believe it...'

Edmonton, Calgary and Lethbridge Mar 2-4

Feb 22, 2012

I am traveling west once again. This time to the great city of Edmonton (crossing my fingers for an early spring there!) at Crestwood Presbyterian on Mar 2. The next night I am in Calgary for a concert at First Alliance church at 8pm. Tickets for both shows can be purchased right here:�http://tickets.ticketwindow.ca/eventperformances.asp?evt=1282

See ya there!

'Subdivisons' footage finally up from the Canadian Songwriter's Hall of Fame

Feb 22, 2012

It's surreal to watch this performance 2 years later...I remember how euphoric I felt playing 'Subdivisions' in front of that crowd at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, for the legends of rock: Geddy, Neil and Alex. Here's the video of that moment in time.

http://www.cansong.ca/vhof/bio/modern/Subdivisions.aspx

Discount tickets for Friday night at '19 on the Park' in Stouffville!

Feb 21, 2012

Want vastly encheapened tickets to the show this Fri in Stouffville. Use the promo code 'MOON' and get 33% off!

http://www.nineteenonthepark.ca

Calgary and Lethbridge coming up!

Jan 26, 2012

I will be at South Calgary Community Church on Sat Feb 3 (tickets $15 at the door)! Love coming back to that beautiful city!

Then the next day I will be performing in Lethbridge at E Free Church in the morning and at an evening concert (Sun Feb 4).

So come out, Albertans! Looking forward to seeing y'all!

NEW! 2-minute songwriting lesson from the Instructional DVD.

Jan 18, 2012

In this clip from Jacob's Instructional DVD set, Jacob discusses some alternative ways to approach songwriting, specifically the blank page.

Please visit www.jacobmoondvd.com for more info on this 3-DVD set of Instructional videos on guitar, songwriting and live looping.

New video up on YOUTUBE!

Jan 10, 2012

Hey folks,

I took some time to commit 'The Great Beyond' to video back in October, in a one-take live performance on a rehearsal stage in Toronto.

You can view the result here:

It's a fun insider's look at how that song is layered live in the moment, using the JamMan live looping pedal.

Watch for a new video every month on the front page. Next month: The Way it Is cover (Bruce Hornsby)

December Newsletter: New Video, Xmas Tour and FREE CDs!

Nov 29, 2011

Click the link to view the newsletter:�http://jacobmoon.fanbridge.com/campaigns/show.php?id=793532&src=twitter

New video: 'Live a Little', filmed live at the Burlington Perf. Arts Centre!

Nov 25, 2011

Taped on October 15th 2011 at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre's very first performance in the Studio Theatre. Jacob would like to thank Alex Zafer for capturing the moments on film, and Ali Matthews and Rick Francis for joining him in song.

Don't miss 'Welcome Christmas' on December 18th 2011, where Jacob will be joined by Ali and Rick, as well as the Michael Schulte String quartet. This will be year 11 in the tradition!

Tickets for the 3pm and 7:30 shows are available now at:
http://www.burlingtonpac.ca/What-s-On/Performance-Calendar_/Music/Jacob-Moon.html

5th annual Registry Theatre show: Dec 9 in K-W

Nov 16, 2011

Get ticket to this annual tradition at www.ticketwindow.ca, Gospel Lighthouse in Waterloo or at the Centre in the Square box office.�

Use the promo code THREESHIPS to get 10% off the advance price of $22.50 when you purchase before November 24th.

This year's special guests are award-winning singer/songwriter Ali Matthews, guitar whiz Rick Francis and the Michael Schulte Strings.

Don't miss it! Only 160 seats in the house...tickets are going fast!

BC TOUR details

Nov 8, 2011

Come out to one of these shows, if you live in BC! I only get out there once a year...

That's right, just got back from Alberta not too long ago, and I am�boarding yet another plane, this time to the land of milk and honey,
British Columbia. Whilst there, I will perform at a variety of venues,�including:

Nov 11, 2011 - 7pm Victoria, BC, BC (CA) @ New Life Community Church - intimate solo concert. Bring your friends to this entertaining evening of story and song!
Nov 15, 2011 - 8pm Vancouver, BC (CA) @ Cafe Deux Soleils - Jacob Live in Vancouver
Nov 17, 2011 - 7pm Abbotsford, BC (CA) @ Columbia Bible College - Jacob Live in Abbotsford
Nov 18, 2011 - 8pm Abbotsford, BC (CA) @ The House of James - Annual concert at HOJ!
Nov 20, 2011 - 7pm Surrey, BC, BC (CA) @ Peace Portal Alliance Church - Jacob live in Surrey!

Instructional DVD gets its own website!

Nov 8, 2011

You can now order the Instructional 3-DVD set on its own dedicated website. Now that Christmas is coming, I thought I would put it up there. Those of you looking for that perfect gift idea for the guitar player in your life need look no further. Visit the site for details on what is covered, as well as clips from some of the teaching sessions.�

www.jacobmoondvd.com

SOLD OUT SHOW at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre!

Oct 19, 2011

It was a night to remember for me, and the realization of a dream I have had since I have lived in this area. I always wanted to play a real show in Burlington, at a beautiful concert venue. That dream came to be on Saturday night as 200 people crammed into the studio theatre, wine glasses in tow, and took their place in the swanky new space, which was perfectly suited for a night of acoustic music.�

It was a really encouraging night for me, and for my special guests Ali Matthews and Rick Francis. We played some stuff together and they opened the night perfectly, sounding the first song in front of an audience in that space---ever!

We are excited to return to the BPAC on Dec 18 for two Christmas shows: 3pm and�730pm. Tickets go on sale soon, and I will let you know just before,�so you can grab tickets before they're all gone (we turned away 75 people this weekend).

Also, here's the new song I have been talking about (see lyrics below), written for my wife. It's�called 'Live a Little', and it was recorded at home last week right�here in my home studio. I plan to use it for a video, compiled from�footage taken on Saturday night by photographer Alex Zafer. Watch forthat in the coming weeks.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31528236/Live a Little DEMO.mp3

Tomorrow night at Fosters Inn Stratford!

Oct 5, 2011

I am excited to be kicking off the singer-songwriter series at this downtown Inn and dining establishment. Should be a really fun night out, if you're looking for a date night. Joining me will be east coast tunesmith Eric Angus Whyte!�

Come for the great food, and stay for the concert. Limited seating so call now:�519-957-2640

Thu, October 6, 2011, 8:00pm,
Dinner Seating 6:15pm - 6:45pm,
Gen. Adm. Doors: 7:30pm
Foster's Inn, 111 Downie St., Stratford, ON N5A 1X2

Revival GTA this Weekend!

Sep 19, 2011

I will be taking part in a fundraiser at Queensway Cathedral in Toronto, with a host of other artists! Things get underway at 7pm. Come out and get your money's worth at this terrific event!

New Video Clip: Live from a Sept 11 service

Sep 14, 2011

To commemorate Sept 11, I performed this song at a church in Cambridge, ON. It's a new take on an old standard, but the sentiment is the same: security comes not from government, law enforcement or war. It can only be found in a Maker who sees all and knows our hearts, and loves us unconditionally. Once we know this, it's our turn to mirror that back to our brothers and sisters. Perhaps the world would look different if we did...

Watch the video here:�http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueL1fwBVEIQ

New Song: Live A Little

Sep 5, 2011

I wrote a new song over the summer, and I am performing at my shows these days. It's a mid-tempo number about finding love and happiness the second time around. Written over the course of one evening in August, this one came together easily (a rare thing for me). The song expresses a combination of gratitude for finding such a treasure in my wife, and also an urgency to spend every moment well...time being such a precious commodity.

Here's the lyrics:

We began as things were ending
Said our goodbyes to what was gone
We fell in love not comprehending
The journey we were on

I think of all the years before I met you
I can’t account for all that time
So I’ll say it now before I forget to
I’m so grateful that you’re mine

We both wear our share of scars
Some say they never fully heal
That’s what keeps us real

Hey forget about our yesterdays
Tonight we’re gonna leave all those cares behind
And live a little

You’ve seen my light on after midnight
You’ve heard me stir at the break of day
Will I look back someday in hindsight
And say I worked my life away

If these days are heaven sent
If heaven truly can be found
Can’t we find it now

Hey
Forget about our yesterdays
Tonight we’re gonna leave all those cares behind
And live a little

My love
Just look at all the stars above
They’re burning off the last light they’ve got just to see
See us live a little

If heaven truly can be found
Can’t we find it now

Hey
Forget about our yesterdays
Baby can we leave all our cares behind
And live a little

My love
Just look at all the stars above
They’re burning off the last light they’ve got just to see
If this love is all it’s promised to be
Baby this is our time to shine
Why don’t we
Live a little

VIDEO #1: "I Hope My 'Pony' Knows the Way Back Home..."

Jul 25, 2011

I don't know what you've been up to this summer...maybe catching some rays, strumming campfire songs, or hitting a summer movie. What about me, you ask? It just so happens that I have been doing all three simultaneously---though in my case, it's been about MAKING a (short) movie; in the hot, hot, heat of the summer.�

Of course it's true that I am no stranger to the indie music video, and I've enjoyed meeting many people who have come to my music through this medium. It's also true that I have done them sparingly, choosing to focus on producing only the stuff I was truly passionate about (Subdivisions, Come Talk To Me, Bend and Break). �

All those songs were covers, and I am going back to that well to plumb the musical and lyrical depths of a new batch of songs that informed my early development as an artist. Together with my intrepid team, I have opted to embark on the daunting task of filming a six-video series of cover songs (under the title of 'Songs From My Youth'), all performed live in front of the camera---and outdoors, for the most part. We want to take the viewer on a journey into the heart of each song, layer by layer, as each vocal or instrumental performance is laid down live on celluloid, right before your eyes. This is a marked contrast from how music videos typically get made. On a typical music video, �you hear the polished final product of the studio sessions (complete with quantizing and pitch-correction), and see the staged and lip-synched performance, replete with studio lighting and a hair/makeup crew.

�Our first thought was to try and stand the traditional idea on its head, and pursue a more authentic, performance-driven video document that captured each audio element on screen, exactly as it was played on that take. No expensive production budget. Just a couple of cameras and a laptop for recording the music. With the setup stripped down to the essentials, we had the freedom to take our mobile unit to just about anywhere, and we did. I played a guitar solo at an abandoned barn, some ambient electric in an urban alley, lead vocals in a farm field and a celestial loop in a freight elevator, just to name a few.�

The first song we decided to tackle was the a deep cut from Tom Waits' catalog of crooners ('Pony'). The song is all about a drifter looking back on his life, bragging at first about his various exploits.

"I've seen it all boys
I've been all over
Been everywhere in the
Whole wide world
I rode the high line
With old blind Darby
I danced real slow
With Ida Jane"

�The song concludes with his ruminating, "Wish I was home / In Evelyn's kitchen / With ol' Gyp curled up around my feet" The refrain for this homesick song is "I hope my pony knows the way back home".�

At the heart of it, it's a song about the disorienting effect of experience, and the yearning for a place where one's soul compass can find its true North. I was reading Thomas Merton at the time of recording this song, and he goes on at great length about the True Self and the False Self, and how illusory our lives can become, how twisted up our identity is with the people, the places, the stuff of our lives...and how desperately we long for home, truth, and a place where we can be authentically who we were made to be. I saw these themes in this song for the first time last week, just as I was performing the final vocal. And for the first time, I knew why I instinctively started singing 'His Eye is On the Sparrow' as a sung response to the last chorus of this ballad. It's there, where the character finally admits to being directionless that he is attentive to the guiding wind of the Spirit. In his quest for the one place where he is known and can rest, I could imagine an ending where he stumbles on the knowing embrace of the One who knows him by his true name.�

In any case, the song stands on its own merits and the coda I added is by no means an attempt to complete an incomplete composition. My hope is that the listener will be moved by the connection that I drew between the two songs, and if not, well...there's always the pause button.

Our journey to bring this video to you has been a very educational one, and we look forward to sharing our lessons learned in a behind-the-scenes featurette, to be released around the same time as the video (September 2011). Future videos will roll out every two months or so, so be watching for that. At the end of the 12 months, we will have a DVD/CD package ready to sell with all the footage and audio compiled into a collector's edition.�

Watch this space for updates!

Review of Dunnville Show

Jun 20, 2011

I got a nice review in the Dunnville Chronicle for my show there on the weekend. Thanks for this, Paul!

http://www.dunnvillechronicle.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3178531

Host a House Concert this Summer!

Jun 9, 2011

You've probably heard me talk about House Concerts in the past, or seen them on the tour calendar and wondered---'how much does that cost'?

• I will come to your home (or another suitable venue) and bring the PA and the music. You would invite a bunch of friends over to enjoy the concert. Each guest is encouraged to make a $20 donation to cover my costs for the evening (hosts are free!). A target of 40 guests minimum would be ideal. I usually recommend inviting at least 60 people to hit that number. If your house is smaller, it's okay if you can only hold 30-35 people, too.
• Indoors is a preference and is much easier, but outdoors can work if it's got a cool vibe, and is best with some modest staging and lighting. And good weather, of course.�
• Open dates in July, Aug and Sept.

So there's the basic facts. The rest is up for grabs, as per your preferences. Let me know how you see the night going, and let's craft an unforgettable event together.

I hope to see you this summer---at your place!

House Concert Contest

Jun 3, 2011

I held a house concert contest for the fans on the mailing list. One lucky family in Ontario won the prize on Thursday! Now I'm just waiting to hear from them to claim their prize! Thanks to all who entered and made the contest such a great success!

Ottawa/Montreal Tour report (PART 1)

May 17, 2011

I had a great time with my wife and son as we travelled the highways for an epic 10-day tour that took us to Ottawa, Montreal, Watertown NY, Saratoga Springs NY and Sewell NJ. The shows were all amazing in their own unique ways, and the people involved were all top-notch and so generous with their time---plus I met a LOT of new fans who had never heard me in concert, and had maybe seen my YouTube videos. This is always amazing to me, and points to the hard work and dedication of the people promoting these shows on the ground, out of sheer love.�

Ottawa (May 6/7): The tour started with a bang with me burning rubber out of the neighbourhood garage, where I was getting some last-minute tune-ups done on the old Honda CRV. She was groaning under the weight of all my gear, the kids stuff, luggage and whatnot, but we made it just in time to get a proper setup at the Gladstone Theatre. Thanks to some family members who kicked in some time in loading in doublespeed, we were in a good headspace to prepare a night of magic for the always-loyal and energetic Ottawa fans. CHRI made a great pitch in getting people to the show, and the robust crowd made the evening great. Didi and Stevie opened the night with their gorgeous harmonies and stirring songs. All in all, a really terrific night and a great way to start the tour.

May 7th/8th---DISASTER strikes! My Larivee falls from its perch on a guitar stand and hits the ground in a sickening 'SNAP'! there goes the headstock, and the pickup is off its moorings. With precious little time to repair, I rushed it to Lauzon Music in Ottawa, where Ian vouchsafes her complete recovery by the time I get back from Montreal. *Whew! I snagged a Karol guitar from the great Lorne Anderson to replace it for the Montreal leg, and I was off to Le Placard Cafe on the Northeast side of town for a concert for my new friends in La Belle Ville. Turns out they are all amazing individuals, and together they gather weekly at Reggie's Pub at Concordia University to do life, and church, together. Sunday am is spent at the gorgeous River's Edge church in the Decarie-Sherbrooke area of town. They put me thru my paces with 3 consecutive services, but I am fueled to overflowing by the amazing people I meet and the reception I am given. With an hour or two to spare before I need to be on stage back at Concordia for the Living Room Church gathering, I drive the terrifying streets (crazy driver alert! And it's not even me this time!) back through to the heart of town to find food and an energy drink. I have to get ready for the last show before I pick up my wife at the bus depot, where we will begin our long-awaited second honeymoon: a three day RnR experience that doesn't disappoint. The weather is sunny and mild and the trees are all blooming and the city looks gorgeous. Whether biking in Old Montreal, shopping on St-Denis, or dining on Rue Crescent, we are in heaven. Both introverts at heart, we enjoy the easy space that each one gives the other in moments of shared amusement, subtle romance or contented silence.�

Wagons East!

May 6, 2011

Today I head to Ottawa to perform at the Gladstone Theatre tonight May 6th at 8pm. I had a great show there last year, and I am hoping that lightning is in the habit of striking twice. Either way, it'll be fun, as Didi and Stevie are opening the night, and they are a promising duo from Ottawa.Fun!

Then Saturday morning I put on the teacher's hat for a clinic that I am doing at Cedarview Church in Nepean. This 10am seminar is free to the public, and should be a nice opportunity to help aspiring players think about the guitar in new ways.

After that, there's a string of Montreal appearances (Le Placard Cafe, Rivers Edge Church and a church that meets in the bar at Concordia on Sunday afternoons. Can't wait to visit this great city, and looking forward to a few days off there with my wife in the early part of next week. Then it's off to the US for a few dates! With the whole family in tow, it should be an adventure!

EASTER: 'Peter's Song' online this month

Apr 22, 2011

In time for Easter weekend, I have put together a quick youtube video to serve as a placeholder for the song I recorded a few years back, called 'Peter's Song'. It's one that I wrote with my friend Glen Soderholm, from the point of view of the Apostle Peter. Here's a guy who's just lost his best friend (whom he betrayed 3 times) and is facing a future frought with fear, bewilderment and uncertainty, now that the Light of the World has been killed by the powers that be, like a common criminal. The song is a list of reminiscences and features a chorus that asks the question: "Where do I go? I'm here at the end of the world..."

The HD link is here:�http://youtu.be/n7OMlcL3pAU?hd=1

Interview with ion-stratford!

Apr 8, 2011

Jacob had a chance to sit down with Elizabeth Cooper from IONSTRATFORD, just before his concert at Zion Church in Stratford. Check it out here:

http://ionstratford.ca/2011/04/07/jacob-moon-performs-in-stratford/

Big weekend of shows coming up!

Mar 18, 2011

Saving the best for last this month, with two shows in Ontario featuring some very special guests. First up, on Fri Mar 25th, I come to ZION CHURCH Stratford--home to artists of all kinds including Ali Matthews, one of my talented guests for the evening. I have also invited my pal Ben Bolt-Martin, who plays a mean cello, to join me on some of my stuff and to open the show with a set of his own compositions, some of which involve live looping(!). Anyone who was at the Registry show in KW can attest to the rare beauty of Ben's songs and sound. Tickets are at the Gospel Lighthouse or online at www.ticketwindow.ca for just $15.

Ben will also join me for a show at Stouffville's NINETEEN ON THE PARK on Sat Mar 26th. This is a deluxe performance space that has been home to artists like Rik Emmett and Laila Biali already this season. This will be my one big show in the GTA this season, and you won't find a nicer theatre of its kind anywhere. Come and hear our varied and eclectic setlist, as we connect the dots from Rush, Peter Gabriel, Tom Waits and old-timey Gospel to my collection of original songs.
Tickets are at the theatre for $30, or you can get them for just $20 at www.ticketwindow.ca when you use the promo code Nineteen19.

There was a nice article in Stouffville Sun-Tribune the other day. Read it here.

Cell-o!

Mar 9, 2011

I am continuing a mini-tour with master cellist Ben Bolt-Martin at a couple of upcoming dates in March.

March 25th in Stratford at Zion Lutheran (8pm, $15 adv $20 door)

March 26th in Stouffville ON at Nineteen on the Park (7:30pm, $30). GET $10 OFF tickets to this show when you use the promo-code 'Nineteen19' while ordering online at ticketwindow.ca

Ben opens the night with a solo set of cello looping (cool!), then we get to play some stuff of mine, like Come Talk to Me, Magnolia, Okay on my Own, Bend and Break and Sara. The setlist is ever changing, so catch one of these exciting nights of new sounds and experiments while Ben is still free (he plays at Stratford Festival every year).

2 Guitar Clinics announced for Southern Ontario!

Feb 16, 2011

Ready to take your looping to the next level?
Join live looping guru Jacob Moon as he guides
you on a righteous path of creating layers of
sound and texture that will open your mind to
what one man and a guitar can do!

Tickets $10 at Gear Music, Oakville Centre and at the door.

'The Music Room', now available on DVD,
is Jacob's new 3-disc set of instructional videos,
guaranteed to help you unlock your creativity.

Presented by Gear Music Oakville, and the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts.

Bend and Break for Haiti

Jan 13, 2011

Emphasis

Rehearsing backstage at Hamilton Place Jan 30, 2010.

There's a new song on the homepage--it's a song by Keane that I covered for Haiti relief. I performed it at last year's HHH benefit here in Hamilton, then recorded it in February. It sat around until this past December, when I brought it out to work on it again. My thanks to all who contributed their time and talent to make this a reality.

Here's the YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEK6Di3EMXs

And you can download the MP3 here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jacobmoon8

Now you can also get it at iTunes! http://itunes.apple.com/album/bend-break-for-haiti-single/id414765637?o=a&v0=ITS-Artist Alert

All proceeds from the sale of this song on CDBaby, and later iTunes, etc, will go towards helping children at Grace Children's Hospital in Port-au-Prince.

Pictures from the Welcome Christmas Tour!

Jan 10, 2011

Hey everybody...

Someone sent me this link to some fun pictures of the Christmas tour with the String Quartet!

Check it out: http://www.snapburlington.com/?option=com_sngevents&id[]=226906&utm_source=email&utm_medium=snapd

DVD is available now online and at shows!

Dec 19, 2010

I am excited to bring you the new Instructional Video, now that it's been officially pressed and released to the first wave of buyers! Thanks to all who bought it in advance, and made it all possible. You can see the latest Mini-Lesson on the home page, a performance and breakdown of 'Just Like You', one of my songs from 'The Loop'.

Order the new DVD by clicking here.

The Music Room with Jacob Moon: 3 DVD Set is complete and shipping soon!

Dec 2, 2010

Back in late July, it started as an idea on a napkin. Then it went to the pitching stage, on a little website called RocketHub, where many of you saw the seed of my idea to do an instructional video series, and you voted with your dollars. Well, here we are after many hours of shooting, editing and manufacturing, and it's coming my way any day---the finished product, which will look like this:

Here's the details on this epic guitar lesson (4.5 hrs on 3 DVDs!)

ORDER THE MUSIC ROOM DVD SET now and get it in time for Christmas!

3 DVDs packed with lessons and exclusive performances!
Over 4 hours of in-depth and detailed instruction, including a complete breakdown of Rush's 'Subdivisions'!

DISC ONE: GUITAR TECHNIQUES - Learn from Jacob's fingerpicking style on songs
like 'The Great Beyond', take on soloing in and out of the box on 'Not Gonna Lose'
and become a one-man band after taking on 'Just Like You'. Plus 'Alone in NY'.

DISC TWO: SONGWRITING - Jacob takes you all the way from the blank page to
the finished song, stopping along the way to delve deep into chord theory,
alternate tunings and song examples like 'Sara', 'End of the Road' and 'Leaving'.
Also lots of HOT TIPS, songwriter interviews and new performances featuring guest Ali Matthews!

DISC THREE: LIVE LOOPING - Ever wonder how Jacob is able to make a guitar
sound like an entire orchestra? This disc will answer all your questions, and take
you inside the multi-tasking mind of a live looping guru. Plus a special looping clinic with guest looper extraordinaire Rick Francis! Songs on this disc include� 'Esperanto', 'Great Beyond', 'Hide and Seek' and 'Subdivisions'.

ORDER THE MUSIC ROOM DVD SET now and get it in time for Christmas!

Thank You!!

Oct 28, 2010

I just want to say thank you to all who made the RocketHub campaign to raise $6000 for my new DVD instructional series such a success! With your help we were able to raise $7400! Watch for the first sets of short form videos to launch soon, and the DVD launch will be sometime in early December.

The power of a crowd, eh? I am humbled and amazed by your generosity and your belief in me to deliver...I will do my level best to bring an informative and entertaining product for you guys. It's been lots of fun so far!

The Music Room: and Instructional series with Jacob Moon will feature 3 discs of teaching and playing, on the topics of Songwriting, Guitar Playing and Live Looping. The set will retail online for $49.95 (plus taxes and shipping).

5 more days to go on the DVD fundraiser!

Oct 20, 2010

Hey gang! We have lift-off over at RocketHub! Thanks to the 75 people who have contributed so generously, we are going ahead with 'The Music Room' Instructional DVD.�

If you would like to cash in on the deals available over at RocketHub.com, now is the time. Once it's on the market, shipping will no longer be free, as it is now for contributors to the project. Plus you can say to your grandchildren: 'I co-produced a DVD!'.

This Weekend in Ottawa

Oct 14, 2010

Hey friends! This weekend I am going out on a limb to try and meet some new people. No, not speed dating---I'm going to the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals conference to showcase what I do to some people I have never met. The showcases at these things can happen in the conference rooms, or they can happen in hotel suites where musicians gather to jam. I have opted for the latter, as a way of trying to get to know the new faces, and I'm bringing along my pals Jeremy, Lara and Leanna Zeyl from 'Isobelle Gunn' to sing with me and showcase them as well. Should be a hoot! Pray for strength as we stay up late to perform at our midnight showcases. Being a new daddy, I am usually sawing logs by that time of the night. Red Bull it is, then.

I will be appearing in concert at the GLADSTONE THEATRE on SUNDAY NIGHT (7:30), as well.

Isobelle Gunn will be with me that evening as well, so you don't want to miss this special evening of story, harmony and song. $15 tickets are available at the Gladstone, Parkdale United Church or online at www.ticketwindow.ca. (Salem Bookstore sold out of their block of tickets the other day)

The Music Room: An Instructional DVD series from Jacob Moon

Sep 16, 2010

I used to teach music every week, and I loved watching people grow in their knowledge and abilities on my favorite instrument. I haven't been teaching regularly now for a few years due to a busy touring schedule, but I have often thought that I would love to do an instructional video that takes people through my guitar style, songwriting approach and into the world of live Looping.

Does this sound like something that you or someone you know would enjoy? If so, I would humbly ask that you take a moment and check out my project funding page over at RocketHub.com. There you will see all the cool rewards that you get for 'fueling' this 'rocket' that I am attempting to launch. I am shooting the footage in the next month on the faith that you will pull me through. Many have contributed already, but for this thing to 'launch', we need 100% of the budget to be raised.

We're almost 50% right now, but time is ticking. With just over a month left, now is the time to get this DVD at a great price and, at the same time, support a creative initiative at the�ground floor.�

Thanks in advance for your support...

Visit:�http://www.rockethub.com/projects/234-learn-secrets-of-one-man-band-guitar-with-jacob-moon

'Sara' Nominated for a GMA Canada award!

Sep 16, 2010

The song I wrote for our Compassion sponsor child 'Sara' has earned a nomination at the GMA Canada (Covenant)�awards, to be held in Calgary on October 29th. It's one of 5 nominees in the Folk/Roots Song of the Year category. Other nominees include�Carolyn Arends, Greg Sczebel, NewWorldSon and Ali Matthews.

I will be traveling out there on tour this year, and will be attending the event, as well as participating in a special GMA Worship night, held at Bow Valley Church in Calgary on Oct 28th.�

Princess Cinema show coming up Sept 30th!

Aug 18, 2010

I'm real excited to have a show on the books for Thursday Sept 30th at the Princess Cinema (6 Princess St in Waterloo). KW fans will dig this groovy venue, and I will reward your attendance with an entertaining and intimate show. Looking forward to seeing y'all there...Tickets available at the Princess.

Learn 'One-Man-Band' Guitar with Jacob Moon

Jul 27, 2010

http://rockethub.com/projects/234-learn-secrets-of-one-man-band-guitar-with-jacob-moon

I'll never forget my first guitar lesson. I was 8 years old, and had no idea how it worked, but the guitar was already an endless source of fascination. I want to take that childlike wonder that many of us have for all things six-stringed, and provide fresh inspiration for unlocking the secrets of the guitar.

I plan to create a 3-DVD set of instructional videos, covering a wide range of topics and areas of interest for aspiring songwriters, guitarists and live loopers.

•I want people to get excited about the craft of writing great songs and delivering them on the guitar, and I will elaborate on topics such as chord progressions, harmonic substitutions, and rhythmic approaches.

•Using my songs as musical examples, viewers will discover new things about the guitar and its tonal possibilities, go deep into unlock their own creativity in rhythm and lead guitar, as well as ambient textures.

•Live Looping is fast becoming a trend for solo performers and sidemen alike, so I will bring my 15 years of experience to bear on the subject, showing players how they can realize their ideas without limits, and build a cathedral of sound with their own two hands.

WHO IS THIS FOR?

Guitar lovers. If you play guitar and are in a rut, these videos will bust you out. If you need inspiration, this is where you'll find it. These instructional videos also make a great gift for that son, nephew or niece who are getting into the guitar more seriously, and want to expand their technique and knowledge of the guitar. They will be able to watch again and again to learn the concepts and can apply them, and never have to leave the house.

In order to film, edit and manufacture this DVD set, I am going to need support from those who would say they're ready to take their playing to the next level, and are willing to invest in this educational and entertaining project.

Those who wish to 'fuel' this project can select a level of investment that matches their desired reward. For instance, the 3-DVD Box Set will debut on the market after a series of Individual Lesson Videos (excerpts from the DVDs) are released on my website, available at a lower cost for on-demand download. Fuelers can go for the 'whole enchilada' and get the DVD set or dip their toes in the water with the downloadable single lessons. In either case, I would be appreciative of any help in getting my dream project off the ground.

Thanks in advance for your support, everybody, and we will see you in class!

How RocketHub works:

1. RocketHub is not an investment or charity. It is an exchange: funds from fans for rewards from me.

2. It's all or nothing: if I don't reach my financial goal, you get your money back."

Sara: The Video

Jul 15, 2010

I recently took a few days and learned how to edit videos using Sony Vegas Pro. Amazing what you can learn from watching online tutorials by 12-year tweens on YouTube!

My goal was to learn just enough to tell the story of 'Sara', our Compassion sponsor child who we visited (a year ago this month!) on a tour of El Salvador.

We owe her a debt of gratitude for her part in inspiring our journey of adoption, and so this video is our way of saying thanks.
Thanks to God for using her smile to bring us hope and courage at exactly the right time, and thanks to Sara for opening her heart to us. Safe to say that we would not have Gabriel were it not for her (Gabe says gracias, Sara!).

View the new video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnCXJrk7o7I

Sponsor a child through Compassion here:?http://www.compassion.ca/child_list.asp?linkid=74

Friday night at the Princess in Waterloo

Jun 30, 2010

This Friday marks the premiere of the new Rush documentary called 'Beyond the Lighted Stage', as it bows at the Princess for a 3-nighter. I will be opening the evening by playing 'Subdivisions' before the screening, in the theatre. Get your tickets at the Princess!

Waterloo Chronicle ran a story on it this week, and columnist Marshall Ward talks about it here:

(the last few words of the last sentence are missing for some reason, at least on the online edition. The words missing are "....add something to the night.")

Here's the link:

http://www.waterloochronicle.ca/news/article/214084

Marshall's column:

http://www.waterloochronicle.ca/opinions/article/214086

Sunset Dinner & Concert by the Lake with Jacob Moon

Jun 24, 2010

For all of us who live in Southern Ontario, I think it's a crime that more people don't get to enjoy Lake Ontario. It sits patiently on the horizon as we whizz around the QEW and point at it every once in awhile, wishing we had some reason to be sitting on her shores.

Well, how's this for a reason--on August 26th, Legends Estates and Winery in Beamsville(near St Catherines) is hosting Jacob Moon for a special gourmet dinner and evening ?concert and you're invited!! Imagine: the sun is setting on the lake, mere feet away from you, its last beams sparkling on the water just as you're finishing your third course. The music begins, and as the night falls, you're ushered seamlessly into an entertaining evening of story and song---and you haven't needed to get up from your table, where VQA wines are being served to match the cuisine.

If this sounds like the perfect way to celebrate your special someone, or to pass a summer evening with friends, then be sure to get your tickets for this limited seating event. You can get them at Legends Winery or online at ticketwindow.ca

Concert Only Price: $29.95 per person

Dinner Only Price: $29.95 per person
Dinner and Concert: $55 per person

Online tickets at www.ticketwindow.ca | Tickets available at Legends Estates Winery, or by phone at 905-563-6500

http://www.legendsestates.com/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=1&Itemid=80

tickets available here:
http://tickets.ticketwindow.ca/eventperformances.asp?evt=1037

'Guestlist': love this new event hosting site!

Jun 10, 2010

I recently discovered a cool new site for hosting Events (ie: concerts), and I thought I would share it with you. The reason I dig it is because I am lazy, and love it when websites get that, and design accordingly.

Visit the page I set up for my show on June 19th here in Hamilton!�http://guestlistapp.com/events/24069

If you buy one ticket online, you get one for free. No fees! Love it!!!

'Live at Vibewrangler' brings people to the music

Jun 7, 2010

Photos by Alex Zafer

For the crowd of listeners that gathered at Vibewrangler Recording studio on Saturday night, there was both a quiet awe at the beauty and open-ness of the space, and the thrill of discovery as Jacob Moon introduced artists not yet widely known for their brilliant songwriting.

“The idea for doing this was Glen's,” notes Moon. “And the idea was to bring people into an unusual venue for live performance, in this case a recording studio, and let them witness a show�and�a live recording at once. It was so gratifying to see each performer holding court over such an attentive audience, and to know that their songs were getting an opportunity to take flight. As songwriters we often toil away on these songs, and hope that they will one day find their way into people's hearts. I got to witness that happening for my friends on Saturday night. Plus, most people have never been in a recording studio for a concert, so they got a kick out that as well.

Vibewrangler Studio is famous in Hamilton for hosting these nights of music that bring listeners and musicians together in a space that few ever get to see. Owners Michael Keire and Glen Marshall have been operating this space in the neighbourhood of Gage Park in Hamilton for the past 3 years and have produced many local CDs that have gone on to success. To reach the studio to book recording time, call Michael Keire at 905 308 6896 or email michaelkeire@gmail.com.

House Concert Tour: Update

Jun 1, 2010

Thanks to all of you who have responded to the news about the House Concert Tour. The updated list of free dates are now: July 3, 4, 9, 30, 31, Aug 6, 7, 9.

Claim your date for the concert at YOUR house today by emailing jacob@jacobmoon.com.�

Live in Studio: Jacob hosts a singer/songwriter showcase at Vibewrangler

May 26, 2010

Hamilton's Vibewrangler Studio will be the site of the first in a series of Live in Studio showcases, featuring the cream of the crop from Hamilton's songwriting community. Audiences will also thrill to be inside a first-class recording studio to see first-hand how music is captured, as Glen Marshall and his team record the event live.

WHERE:Vibewrangler Studio?2nd floor?468 Cumberland Avenue, Hamilton, ON

DATE: Saturday, June 5th
TIME: 8pm
COST: $10

WHO: Jacob Moon, Amy Savin, Adam Ostrosser, Joel Guenther

May is National House Concert Month! Host Jacob this summer...

May 20, 2010

Summer is the perfect time of year to throw a party. And music makes any party better. That's why I'm here, as James Taylor would say...I do lots of house concerts every year, and I still have a few openings left this summer.

So what's a house concert? Simply put, it’s an invitation-only concert in someone’s home, presented by a host who does not profit from the event (but doesn't pay anything to host it, either!).

Most house concerts are:

• held indoors and on weekends (although some outdoor backyard settings have been perfect!)

• attended by 25-50 people

• paid for by a $20 donation per guest (to the performer)

• known to include light snacks, beverages or a pot-luck dinner

• attended by the host’s friends, neighbors, co-workers, and maybe a few fans of the?artist

• attended by a 25-60 age group

• performed with a very small sound system

• very intimate — the audiences sit close and are attentive

• performed in two, 45-minute sets with a 20-minute break

Although house concerts will adhere to most of these traditions, you may not find any house concerts that run exactly according to the list above. Each house concert is a collaboration between an artist, a host/presenter, and their friends and supporters. What will yours be like?

Here are the available dates this summer: (In Ontario) JUNE 25, JUNE 27, JULY 2-4, JULY 9, 10 (must be within 1.5 hrs of Ottawa), JULY 18, JULY 23

I also have some dates available on Wednesdays and Thursdays in June, July and August.

Ask any questions you would like about house concerts over at jacob@jacobmoon.com.

Jacob on the Radio

May 8, 2010

Jacob was on CFMU today talking about the upcoming David Wilcox co-bill happening at the Crossroads Centre on May 16th. He'll be on the Drew Marshall show this afternoon at 4pm, with Ally and the new Moon!

NEW! Hear the show here: http://www.drewmarshall.ca/listen2010.html#100508

Concert Review from Grimsby!

May 8, 2010

Here's a review that was printed in the West Niagara News recently. It's rare to see concert reviews in papers anymore...thanks to Vaughan Warrington for the generous article!

http://westniagaranews.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=2565071

Interview with Roots Music.ca

Apr 19, 2010

I sat down with Andy Frank from RootsMusic.ca recently, and our chilled-out chat ranged in topics from the recent Rush thing to the new CD, to touring and making it as an independent artist.?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBksuL_RLxI

Back to the roof with RootsMusic.ca

Apr 8, 2010

There is a new YouTube video up of 'Great Beyond', from the new CD, Maybe Sunshine (CD Release this Saturday in T.O). More video, including an interview, and a performance of 'Sara' are forthcoming. Recognize the location for this live performance?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9AHLUn5Ou8

April Newsletter: pass it on!

Apr 5, 2010

Hey folks,�

You can view the newsletter that I sent out to fans yesterday here at Fanbridge. Pass along the exciting news, and be sure to sign up for to the list on the home page, so you get the latest buzz directly into your inbox.�

Today I am doing a video interview from the scene of the crime: the Staircase Theatre rooftop. I'll be talking to the folks at Roots Music Canada about all my career and performing a couple of songs live from that precipitous place that was the site of Subdivisions some 18 months ago. Hard to believe it's reached 122,000 views already! Thanks to all who have helped me get here.

Here's another page of pictures from the Rush event that Paul Beaulieu from Canadian Music Scene.�

http://www.thecanadianmusicscene.com/cshf_2010_ceremony.html

New YouTube video!

Apr 2, 2010

There's a video of my soundcheck at the theatre now available on the home page! Check it out...it features some nice camera work, and good sound---plus a somewhat different guitar solo. Enjoy!

The Rush of a Lifetime (Part 3): Now with Pictures!

Apr 1, 2010

BACKSTAGE PASS:

Closer to the heart: Rush and I at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala.

Okay, so there were a lot of cool things that happened behind the scenes. I figure I should just list them as they spring to mind...(beware: name-dropping ahead!)

I was whisked away to Rush's dressing room after the show, where I was immediately greeted by Geddy Lee who congratulated me on my performance. Nice fella, and he was really genuine.

Then Alex Lifeson gave me a huge hug, and said he had tears in his eyes during the song. He signed my hand with his name and 'I Love You'. You can still sort of see it...as it fades, I know these memories are fading, so I need to write them down! (even if I am dead tired and should be sleeping!)

Neil Peart towered over me and thanked me for making it a singer-songwriter's song for the next generation. Amazing. I asked him to say 'Subdivisions' into my dictaphone, which he did mellifluously. From now on, I will use that voice during my performance of the song, I've decided.

OTHER COOL PEOPLE AT THE GALA:

After that, the SRO Anthem staff greeted me, from Andy Curran to Pegi Ciccone to Howard the lighting designer (for the past 34 years!).? Wonderful people. Looks like I have some new friends around Rush's management office. Nice!

Then my wife took me to meet with Jian Ghomeshi, who's a great guy, and warmly complimented me for 'squeezing in all my abilities into 6 minutes' before I was able to fully express how much I enjoyed his show, 'Q' on the CBC. Near him was David Quillico from Sony/ATV Publishing, who took home some discs to listen to, Stan Meissner from SOCAN, who seemed to have a good time at the show, and Frank Davies and his daughter. Frank started the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and is a big deal in the Canadian Music Industry. Hoping to see him at the April 10th show at the Toronto Centre for the Arts (tickets available here).

I waited until Ron Sexsmith was done talking to Sylvia Tyson before saying hello. As soon as I did, he shared that he and Sylvia were just saying that my song was the highlight of the night. Crazy!! Ron is my songwriting hero, so I can basically die now. We ended up talking about how we both cover Ring Them Bells by Dylan, and I congratulated him on his excellent performance on the Spectacle show. He dished a bit about how that show actually went behind the scenes, and talked about the new CD that he's releasing, produced by Bob Rock (Metallica). Should be interesting! They're just shopping for a deal right now.

I shared a dressing room with Sean Cullen, right across the hall from the Stage Left backstage area. Sean shared dinner with Ally and I, along with Lily Frost, and regaled us with tales of performing in The Producers, doing Comedy Network specials, Stratford plays, and singing 'Come Josephine in my Flying Machine' at the Gala. He told me that when Martin Short did the Producers in LA with Jason Alexander, that Mel Brooks was furious with him for always going off-script and ad-libbing. I love the Hollywood insider stuff, and Sean gave me lots of it. Great guy, and fuuuunnny.

I shared with Gregory Charles that I loved his short-lived CBC Radio program, 'In the Key of Charles'. We talked for a long time about Gospel Music, as we both share a love for it. He said you want to visit the Methodist churches, as the congregations there really make it interactive and unpredictable, and high-octane. Check out Kurt Carr's 'For Every Mountain' for an idea of what we were talking about.

I chatted up?Kevin Breit, Canadian guitarist extaordinaire about influences, and what his experience was like coming in to play the Gala. They asked him to do a loop for the intro of the song, but said his initial ideas were 'too industrial', so he changed it up to their satisfaction (both ideas sounded phenomenal, btw). In the end, he confessed that he never knows what he's going to do, and that improv is at the core of his 'thing'. Must be nice to have an inexhaustible supply of brilliance and inspriation at your command! He said when he first heard me warming up onstage on the electric, he thought he was hearing violin! I guess all those years of listening to Eric Johnson are starting to pay dividends. (Or Kevin occasionally hears random orchestral instruments in his head.)

The first guy to hug me offstage was Dave Bidini, who said 'You killed it!!'. Kind of a full-circle moment, when you consider that when I was starting out, Mr. Bidini was playing guitar in the Rheostatics, a favorite among my buddies. Dave embraced a fellow musician friend of mine, Paul Mcleod, letting him jam with them, hang out, and even play at their shows, all while he was still in his early twenties and starting out as a songwriter. To have this happen 20 years later is kind of a cool footnote in my musical journey. Dave wrote on my facebook page the other day: "great moment in canadian rock last night, jm". A great moment indeed, sir...thanks to all these amazing people for being there to make it so much more meaningful.

The Standing O starts to sink in (you can see it here on my face).

Alex and Neil standing up at the end of my performance. No, thank you guys...

Photos by Grant Martin. Check out all his pictures of my performance online at?http://www.orderphotos.ca/event.aspx?Event_ID=297

The Rush of a Lifetime (Part 2)

Mar 30, 2010

The Inner Game of Solo Performance:

Anyone who knows me well knows that I am an insufferable perfectionist. I am rarely happy about my performances and spend a lot of time chasing after ideals, and am often frustrated as those ideals melt away just out of reach. I know how this tendency can poison live performance, rendering me incapable of staying in a moment that was preceded by moments of error and lack of focus. I was determined not to let this be one of those nights.

This was a challenge, though, since I had hours and hours to wait around my dressing room, just thinking about what I was going to do. It was like a neurotic tug of war just to stay focused on the task at hand. I tried to imagine only good things coming from it, and struggled to keep the negative voices (Hack! Epic Fail Ahead!) in a jar where I could see them but no longer hear them.

So I made a pact in those lonely hours that if I missed words, botched chords, or timing issues or foot faults occurred, I would soldier on with a smile and finish big. So that's just what I did...not a perfect performance by anyone's definition, but the crowd that was there on that magical night was there for me.

Halfway through the song, I switch from electric solo to acoustic rhythm with a flip of the acoustic guitar that I'd slung on my back. The crowd cheered spontaneously, and it covered the glitchy re-entry I made back into the intro figure. This set the stage for everything that happened from there out. Whatever befell, I knew they were digging it enough to forgive any minor nervous foibles.

When I played the triumphant ending, they didn't even let me finish the acoustic flourish at the end, but instead rose as one to their feet. The sight of 1000 people--an audience that included Geddy, Alex and Neil--standing in unison at the end of one of my performances is something that I will never forget as long as I live. I tried to take it all in, to accept it in spite of my own misgivings about my execution, and remember that this show wasn't for me, it was for the fans, for people who love this song, and for the three creative geniuses that I saluted at the end of the song: Geddy, Alex and Neil.

NEXT: PART III---Backstage with the boys in the biggest rock band in Canadian History...

The Rush of a Lifetime (Part One)

Mar 29, 2010

?

Photo credit: Chris Young

The moment that I have been waiting for for over 4 months finally happened last night, when rock ?legends Rush were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Drummer Neil Peart began his acceptance speech with: "First of all - songwriting award? Rush? There must be some mistake,”

I know all about the sensation of disbelief. That was exactly how I felt when I got the call that Rush wanted to have me perform 'Subdivisions' at their induction. I had uploaded my YouTube video just a year before, after having recorded the song for a live album called 'The Loop', and had no way of knowing that Rush fans would take to it so quickly, or that a friend of the band's would send it to them, and that the response would be so overwhelmingly positive.

I also had no way of knowing that Rush were being eyed for induction this year into the pantheon of the greats, nor that this song that I had selected to arrange and record would be one of the few award-winning songs. That's the kind of planet-alignment that just blows my mind. But it also blew the door open just a crack for me to participate in this historic event.�

After the Hall of Fame press conference on Jan. 19, (which went way better than I expected, since I slept not a wink the night before), I hoped that I might have passed the audition to play the Gala. Even though Rush wanted me there, the producers made the final call. Six nervous weeks later, I got the nod, and it was time to start preparations for what would become the opportunity of a lifetime.

With Ally by my side, I walked guitar in hand onto the beautifully decorated stage at the Toronto Centre for the Arts for the dress rehearsal on Sunday. I watched excitedly as the other performers took the stage to play the other inducted songs, like Sean Cullen and Lily Frost taking on the whimsical 'Come Josephine in my Flying Machine", Les Claypool rocking out on Spirit of Radio (with a cellist taking on the guitar part--brilliantly). I was also taken with the video montage, as well, of past performers at the Hall of Fame--megastars like James Taylor, KD Lang, Herbie Hancock and Willie Nelson.

When it came time to play at the dress rehearsal, I realized that I would have only 4 minutes to bring all my gear onstage and set it all up--a little tight. And that's how I played, not feeling totally at ease, and experiencing the technical problems that arise from not having enough time to get set. So in the hours of waiting that followed, I devised a systematic process by which I would connect and test all the elements: the electric signal chain, the acoustic, the looping pedal, the kick, the dictaphone...the tuning. I breathed a huge sigh of relief when I learned that the stage hands were going to try to sneak my gear early onto the stage piece by piece, until I essentially had 8 minutes to get myself ready.

So there I was, set to pop, with a video clip playing on the big screen behind me of Rush talking to the CBC about Subdivisions, and I knew I was next up. Breathe. Take note of your surroundings. To my left, sitting near the stage, were the guests of honour: Geddy, Alex and Neil, getting ready to accept the award right after my performance. The audience was lit well enough for me to see everyone, and there was no blinding lights to ?take me out of my surroundings. Now the host, Gregory Charles, takes center stage to introduce me, and it's here---the moment.

Rush Links

Mar 29, 2010

Moon shines over Rush's Subdivisions?http://www.thespec.com/article/520705

Toronto Sun Article

Mar 28, 2010

This weekend, the press was abuzz with the news of Rush's induction into the Canadian Songwriter's Hall of Fame on Sunday night. The Toronto Sun talked to drummer Neil Peart about Subdivisions, and said some real nice things about Jacob's version of the song. 

Check it out here at: http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/music/2010/03/26/13369756.html

A Night to Remember

Mar 24, 2010

I

I will be performing a double-bill concert with the great David Wilcox on May 16 at Crossroads Chapel. Not the blues guy from Toronto, but the singer/songriter/storyteller from the States. Here's what the LA Times had to say, by way of describing his music:

Factor in a strong acoustic guitar technique that eschews simplistic strumming in favor of expressive finger-picking, and a pleasant voice that sounds like a more insistent, fuller bodied James Taylor, and you have a solid solo- acoustic performer who will make his way even if he doesn't serve ear candy.
Los Angeles Times

This is one show I think you will NOT want to miss. Grab your friend, your neighbour, your sister and your brother, and get your tickets now before they are gone. Ticketwindow will have them up by the end of today, and I will be making them available at Looneytunes, Family Chrisitan Bookstore and Crossroads in Burlington.

CBC Interview this weekend (Fresh Air)

Mar 24, 2010

I will be speaking with the folks at CBC Radio One this week, for a segment that can be heard on Fresh Air this weekend. Sunday morning is the interview...between 6 and 9am.

Looks like we'll be chatting about the new CD, the Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala, and the upcoming show on April 10th at Toronto Centre for the Arts.

Turn on yer radio, people...it's that thing collecting dust in the corner!