Epic Proportions : Pierre-Yves Martel-Electric Bass/Viola Da Gamba, Olivier Fairfield- Drums, Fred Guignon- Lap Steel/Electric Guitar The Trusty Sidekicks :Pierre-Yves Martel- Double Bass, Olivier Fairfield - Drums/ Electric Piano, Pierre Chretien- Piano/ Electric Piano/ Clarinet, Jen Thiessen- Viola, Steve Patterson- Sax Lost Radio Musicians: Rob Reid- Cajon, Petr Cancura- Clarinet, Pierre- Yves Martel- Viola Da Gamba, Olivier Fairfield - Drums, Mike O'Brien- Electric Bass, Peter Pelletier- Harmonica
Influences
Tom Waits, Ry Cooder, Bob Dylan, Dan Weisenburger, Van Morrison, Leadbelly, Skip James, Sonny Terry and Brownie Mcghee, Son House, Captain Beefheart, Little Feat, JJ Cale, The Beatles, John Steinbeck , Woody Guthrie, Michael Ondaatje, Tampa Red, Blind Willie Johnson, Bukka White, John Fahey, Bob Brozman, Mississipi John Hurt, Mississippi Fred Mcdowell, Bill Bourne, John Hiatt, Led Zeppelin, Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, Charles Mingus, Louis Armstrong, Bill Hicks, Hank Williams, Doc Watson, Sol Hoopii, Townes Van Zandt, Joseph Spence, George Carlin, THe Rheostatics, Rev Gary Davis,The Flaming Lips, Robert Johnson,Neil Young, Taj Mahal, Dostoyevsky, Frank Zappa, Rick Fines, Penny Lang, Geoff Berner, Gordon Lightfoot, Elizabeth Cotten, Greg Brown,Fred Eaglesmith, Bob Wills, "Spider" John Koerner, Nina Simone, Harry Manx, Lenny Breau.........
"John Carroll's songwriting skill comes through in his music.He is an assured performer who is memorable for his dry humour and relaxed stage presence"
-Patrick Langston, The Ottawa Citizen -------
"For me John Carroll's album epitomizes everything roots music should be: Personal detailed songs that haven't been written before. He's cliche- free, and the way he's not afraid of looking the abyss in the eye isn't depressing, it's invigorating"-Canadian Songwriting great Geoff Berner-----
John Carroll is a singer/songwriter, performer , and recording artist who has explored music as a mode of expression for 25 years. A deep appreciation for folk, country blues and music in general, coupled with a strong and sustained desire to forge new ground both musically and lyrically have been the legs that have propelled his musical journey. He has recorded and put out two full length solo albums " The True Confessions of an Infamous Liar" in 2003 and "Lost Radio"in 2008. He is known and appreciated for his ability to perform with enthusiasm, wit and a musical integrity that inevitably serves to bring his audience to more interesting places and ultimately higher ground than the one he initially meets them on
Hey John, thanks for being our new internet friend! We're in the process of remixing a lot of the current songs and getting some new stuff up - Stay tuned. Hope everything is well for you right now, are you still working the street? Cheers for listening - DSP
Professor, being men educated in two highly respected fields, I strongly believe we could make more money actually putting these skills to practice. My extensive knowledge of medicine and yours of education should have us in 3 star condos and driving used luxary cars. I think this whole "music" thing is a wash frankly, and on top of that, we have to live and dress like dogs to keep up this image of vagabond, filthy, food grubbing "hobos". Professor, this has gone far enough...
john, just played the new cd (steve's got the other one) gr8 songs, gr8 production! was in the living room playin' the congas to that swamp boogie beat. and the vegstock set was awesome..... cheers! les standby
thanks for performing yesterday, John. you were terrific ! i should have bought one of your CDs for the bywords on line store. next time i see you, i'll do it. cheers, amanda
sorry buddy, lost the end: He just stands there like the Statue of Liberty making you want to look up her dress to see how he's doing it. 8. DON'T WIPE THE SWEAT OFF YOUR INSTRUMENT You need that stink on there. Then you have to get that stink onto your music. 9. KEEP YOUR GUITAR IN A DARK PLACE When you're not playing your guitar, cover it and keep it in a dark place. If you don't play your guitar for more than a day, be sure to put a saucer of water in with it. 10. YOU GOTTA HAVE A HOOD FOR YOUR ENGINE Wear a hat when you play and keep that hat on. A hat is a pressure cooker. If you have a roof on your house the hot air can't escape. Even a lima bean has to have a wet paper towel around it to make it grow.
Captain Beefheart's Ten Commandments For Guitarists 1. LISTEN TO THE BIRDS That's where all the music comes from. Birds know everything about how it should sound and where that sound should come from. And watch hummingbirds. They fly really fast, but a lot of times they aren't going anywhere. 2. YOUR GUITAR IS NOT REALLY A GUITAR Your guitar is a divining rod. Use it to find spirits in the other world and bring them over. A guitar is also a fishing rod. If you're good, you'll land a big one. 3. PRACTICE IN FRONT OF A BUSH Wait until the moon is out, then go outside, eat a multi-grained bread and play your guitar to a bush. If the bush doesn't shake, eat another piece of bread. 4. WALK WITH THE DEVIL Old delta blues players referred to amplifiers as the "devil box." And they were right. You have to be an equal opportunity employer in terms of who you're bringing over from the other side. Electricity attracts demons and devils. Other instruments attract other spirits. An acoustic guitar attracts Casper. A mandolin attracts Wendy. But an electric guitar attracts Beelzebub. 5. IF YOU'RE GUILTY OF THINKING, YOU'RE OUT If your brain is part of the process, you're missing it. You should play like a drowning man, struggling to reach shore. If you can trap that feeling, then you have something that is fur bearing. 6. NEVER POINT YOUR GUITAR AT ANYONE Your instrument has more power than lightning. Just hit a big chord, then run outside to hear it. But make sure you are not standing in an open field. 7. ALWAYS CARRY YOUR CHURCH KEY You must carry your key and use it when called upon. That's your part of the bargain. Like One String Sam. He was a Detroit street musician in the fifties who played a homemade instrument. His song "I Need A Hundred Dollars" is warm pie. Another church key holder is Hubert Sumlin, Howlin' Wolf's guitar player. He just stands there like the Statue of Liberty making you wan
