“Sean McCann knows his fans”…A fan's response.

Next week on Wednesday 27 May 2015 Sean McCann will begin to release songs from his fourth solo album You Know I Love You. Therefore, he is on the media trail again publicising his new album.

Sean made some interesting comments in a recent interview “NOW HEAR THIS: Solo Sean McCann knows his fans” by Stephen Cooke published on 20 May, 2015 with The Chronicle Herald in Halifax about the listening habits of fans and the use of social media. The interview was circulated on social media and in particular the Online Kitchen Party Facebook page or fan site for the Great Big Sea community. There was a range of interesting responses including yet another discussion about Great Big Sea and their future. As I am not on Facebook I will respond here.

“I think it’s important for me to spread the word as organically as I can,” says McCann, explaining why he’s taking the homegrown approach to getting his music out there.

“I still believe in social media, because the results are measurable and it is functionally free, although I also believe devices can be divisive, in the way they’re fracturing our attention span.

“But that’s why I’ll be putting out one song a week, because I don’t think many people have the time to listen to a whole record anymore. There’s always a tweet or a Facebook update or something to distract you. I’m aware of that. I don’t want to become a Luddite, even though it’s not how I like to listen to music.” Sean McCann with Stephen Cooke.

In some ways I tend to agree with Sean’s comments that some fans may not have the time to listen to a whole album. Not because of the constant interruption of social media or a lack of concentration but because of life, of having relationships, a job, children and a family. For many people taking an hour out of an already busy day to indulge themselves listening to music is indeed a luxury.

For me and other fans, music is often a complementary activity to other activities, rather than an exclusive activity in its own right, unless we attend a concert. People through necessity are becoming more multi-tasking than ever and music plays an important role in achieving those tasks and in the well being and enjoyment of life. It shouldn’t mean music experiences are less valuable, meaningful or enjoyable when done in association with other activities, than listening to music in its own right on a CD.

I also found Sean’s comments interesting about his preference for the ‘organic way’ of promoting his music in light of his recent shows. Sean doesn’t seem to mind fans using their phones and cameras making bootlegs and distributing them via social media afterwards (including Twitter) to publicise his music and concerts.I am sure the fans who attend his shows may (or may not) appreciate someone using their phone or camera to record distracting them from the performance and enjoyment of his music.

However Sean chooses to release his music is up to him but I seriously don’t think he should stereotype all the fans as they come from a wide range of backgrounds, age groups, countries and social and economic groups and their music listening habits. 

I certainly understand Sean’s lack of enthusiasm about the role of social media in our increasingly busy lives and in marketing goods in particular music. I certainly prefer the organic approach myself for music promoting or letting the artists and musicians do the talking themselves rather than the fans. 


However, the role of social media in promoting and selling goods, whatever they may be is here to stay including music. Those in the business of selling need to understand and use social media to promote their goods to consumers efficiently and effectively. 

This article did not have the facilities to circulate it via Google + so I have copied the relevant parts below. It has not been copied in its entirety due to copyright.

NOW HEAR THIS: Solo Sean McCann knows his fans by Stephen Cooke published on 20 May, 2015 in the Chronicle Herald in Halifax (no copyright infringement intended).

With his sails still unfurled, Sean McCann continues to chart his own course since jumping ship from Great Big Sea.

On Wednesday, May 27, the St. John’s shantyman brings songs from his fourth solo release You Know I Love You — his second since he announced his departure from the Newfoundland folk-pop band — to Carleton Music Bar & Grill in Halifax. Coming along for the ride is his pal, former Bucket Truck frontman and MuchMusic host Matt Wells.

The as-yet-unreleased project reteamed McCann with Joel Plaskett at his downtown Dartmouth studio New Scotland Yard, following their work on the raw and rocky Help Your Self, which saw the Newfoundlander exorcising some demons while cranking up the guitar.

McCann was pleased by the feedback and the sales the record generated, “and the direction it’s pushed me in.” “Those responses have sent me on a different path.

“I keep writing all the time, it’s something I won’t give up. You’ve gotta keep some bad habits, I guess. So I just called up Joel and said, ‘It’s wintertime, I need to do something, let’s go make another record!’”

After Help Your Self’s post-sobriety soul searching, McCann wanted to make something upbeat and summery — “I won’t say it’s happy, but it’s joyfully content” — which is why he’ll be releasing one song per week over the next few months through BandCamp.

“I think it’s important for me to spread the word as organically as I can,” says McCann, explaining why he’s taking the homegrown approach to getting his music out there.

“I still believe in social media, because the results are measurable and it is functionally free, although I also believe devices can be divisive, in the way they’re fracturing our attention span.

“But that’s why I’ll be putting out one song a week, because I don’t think many people have the time to listen to a whole record anymore. There’s always a tweet or a Facebook update or something to distract you. I’m aware of that. I don’t want to become a Luddite, even though it’s not how I like to listen to music.”

As an added bonus, each song is paired with a painting by Halifax musician and artist Meaghan Smith. For example, the Buddy Holly-esque Set Me Free is accompanied by a portrait of McCann with a candy love heart over his mouth, with the album’s title inscribed upon it.

“I’ve always found her super-confident and composed, and she just nails it,” he says of the recent East Coast Music Award winner. “She’s amazingly skilled, so I commissioned her to do a painting for each song.”

When the job of ‘celebrity’ takes it's toll…

I am a great fan of the television series and one of my favourites is Supernatural. I love the stories the series tells about all things supernatural, (mostly urban stories from the suburbs and occasionally from the rural areas of the United States of America) and of two brothers and the people they meet along the way, some of those they consider family even though they are not blood. Supernatural has attracted millions of loyal fans from around the world.

For 10 years the cast focusing on Sam and Dean or Jared Padelecki and Jensen Ackles have produced approximately 23 episodes per season, a gruelling schedule indeed for any actor or series. I have bought all of the DVDs  that are constantly in and out of my computer, revisiting favourite episodes and current episodes digitally.

On top of a gruelling filming schedule, the cast regulars and other fan favourites have attended a lot of conventions around the world over many years. I have never been to a Supernatural convention. There are panel discussions, meet and greets and a lot of fun and shenanigans. They are also extremely expensive for fans who spend hundreds of dollars per day on top of airfares and accommodation. The goings on at conventions are reported, recorded and photographed in great detail by the fandom on social media and webpages.

It is clear that a loyal fandom is essential for any television series, singer or music group or cultural phenomena to survive. Supernatural is extremely popular, the fandom is complex and the amount of fans involved is so huge, it has been described in books, articles, blogs, webpages and every form of social media possible by fans themselves, writers and academics. This information is used to keep the fans and the television series interested, connected, involved and a whole lot more. To me, I just love the television series and stories the show tells in its purist form, although I would love to go to a convention just to see what it was all about.

So it was with great sadness I read the gruelling schedule had taken its toll on one of the cast members Jarad Padelecki. My Twitter timeline was buzzing with the news Jarad had pulled out of some of the conventions due to exhaustion. Jared explained his reasons for the non-appearance and thanked fans for their understanding and support, the cast members supported their co-worker and friend. The fans responded with a huge out pouring of concern and support.

The fans, the creators and money making machines and their constant asking and demanding can take their toll on the health and wellbeing on even the most resilient of celebrity. I certainly understand what a great thrill it is to meet and greet your favourite celebrities who-ever they may be. But it is definitely a privilege and not a right as some fans seem to think. Celebrities are human beings and after all their hard work, deserve and need their down time like the rest of us.

I found this great article from the International Business Times which explains Jared’s withdrawal from the conventions and his struggle with depression from an early age. All the best to Jarad and his family.

‘Supernatural’ Star Jared Padalecki Leaves Convention Early Citing Exhaustion; Fans Show Support On Twitter”  by Nicole Massabrook published on 18 May 2015 (No copyright infringement intended). I have circulated the article via my Google + page.

“Supernatural” actor Jared Padalecki has some fans worried after he left a fan convention in Rome early. The actor tweeted that he was going home and noted that he needed support from his fans.

Padalecki, 32, not only skipped his scheduled appearance at the Jus In Bello 6 convention in Rome but also cancelled a planned appearance at All Hell Breaks Loose 5, a similar event in Melbourne, Australia, next weekend. His manager released a statement that cited exhaustion as Padalecki’s reason for cancelling the appearances.

"Jared wanted everyone to know he loves meeting his fans around the world and was very upset at having to cancel his trips to Rome and Australia," the statement said. "Jared has pushed himself to his limits and is suffering from exhaustion. His SPN family is so important to him, and he asks that they Always Keep Fighting. At this time he needs to be home with his family."

“Always Keep Fighting” is the tag line of Padalecki’s recent charity campaign. He is selling T-shirts bearing the slogan through Represent and the proceeds benefit To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA), a nonprofit that helps those who are dealing with suicide, depression, addiction and self-injury. When the former "Gilmore Girls" star and Texas native started his campaign, he revealed that he'd been dealing with depression for several years. He was diagnosed by a doctor during shooting of “Supernatural” Season 3.

“A doctor came to set and talked to me for about 30 minutes or 45 minutes and said: ‘Jared, I think you’re clinically depressed. I think I should write you a note and we can shut down production for five days and then we can take it from there.’ And it kind of hit me like a sack of bricks,” Padalecki told Variety “I mean, I was 25 years old. I had my own TV show. I had dogs that I loved and tons of friends and I was getting adoration from fans and I was happy with my work, but I couldn’t figure out what it was; it doesn’t always make sense, is my point. It’s not just people who can’t find a job, or can’t fit in in society, who struggle with depression sometimes.”

Luckily, Padalecki, who plays Sam Winchester on "Supernatural," seems to have a support system in place. Co-star Jensen Ackles remained at the Rome-based convention and assured fans that his on-screen brother needed the break.

“He gives himself a lot to you guys,” Ackles explained. “He gives himself a lot to his family and his friends and his work and his job. And sometimes you just need to get home and rest with your family. … I told him to turn his phone off. I don’t know if he listened to me, but I know how much he loves you all and I know how much it saddens him to not be here right now.”

While Padalecki’s decision to cancel his appearance disappointed many fans, they also seem to understand the Texan’s struggle and have taken to social media to show their support.

Alan Doyle, the So Let’s Go album and tour and official videos…

I really do love official videos from the professionals and in particular those recorded live in a studio so much more than bootlegged videos recorded at a concert by fans. Luckily the fans have had a steady flow of those from Alan Doyle and the Beautiful Gypsies since the release of the album and tour earlier this year.

The official video of the song ‘The Night Loves Us’ from the So Let’s Go album was released yesterday in Canada. For those fans living in America and the rest of the world they will have to wait until tomorrow to see it. The links are now available for the Canadian and International versions. I circulated them on my Google + page or you can view them at AlanDoyle.ca.

There really hasn’t been much information available through social media that I have seen about the making of the video, except it was made by Beautiful Gypsies band member Shehab Illyas. Shehab also made the official video of the song My Day from the Alan Doyle’s Boy on Bridge album.

‘The Night Loves Us’ was written by Alan Doyle, Todd Clark and Donovan Woods and produced by Thomas Tawgs Salter.   

The official video is available on Alan Doyle's vevo site on YouTube. 

As the saying goes ‘it is the quality not the quantity of whatever’ and this certainly applies to videos both professional and bootlegged. Judging by the number of hits on most videos on YouTube for our boys, the fans prefer a studio or professionally recorded live video than that of a bootlegged video in the majority of circumstances.

So I have collected a number of links from YouTube for those of us who prefer official studio or professionally recorded live recordings. The So Let’s Go album is also available for listening on YouTube.

Alan Doyle on q on cbc from www.cbc.ca (No copyright infringement intended) 

The links to the videos from the show are below. 

Alan Doyle and the Beautiful Gypsies on q on cbc from www.cbc.ca (No copyright infringement intended) 

Official video links for the So Let’s Go album and tour.

Alan Doyle - I Can't Dance Without Yo…: http://youtu.be/Og3ig49DN8U

Published on 1 May 2015 Alan Doyle with Cory Tetford & Kendel Carson sit down for a One On One Session at City Winery New York on April 29th, 2015. For more info visit: http://alandoyle.ca & http://www.citywinery.com Audio & Video by: Ehud Lazin

"So Let's Go" to Studio Q, Alan Doyle: http://youtu.be/X1WUWXnSuqs

Published on 25 Feb 2015 Alan Doyle returns to Studio Q with his second solo record, "So Let's Go". The veteran Canadian singer/songwriter sits down for a feature interview with guest host Shad.

Alan Doyle - "Laying Down to Perish" (Live): http://youtu.be/joR7MlvH8Xo

Published on 25 Feb 2015 Alan Doyle and his band perform a touching rendition of "Laying Down to Perish" from his new record.

Alan Doyle 'So Let's Go' //NP Sessions: http://youtu.be/oZ8xhwUl6IE

Published on 28 Jan 2015 See more at http://www.nationalpost.com/sessionsP... by Jonathan Dekel. Camera: John Richardson, Graham Runciman Edit & Sound: John Richardson

Alan Doyle 'Paper in Fire' // Np Sessions: http://youtu.be/y4XTPag_MyE

Published on 28 Jan 2015 See more at http://www.nationalpost.com/sessionsP... by Jonathan Dekel. Camera: John Richardson, Graham Runciman Edit & Sound: John Richardson

Alan Doyle - "I Can't Dance Without You" (Live): http://youtu.be/VSQ5iIMlagk

Published on 29 Jan 2015 Alan Doyle returns to Studio Q with his latest record "So Let's Go" to perform his song "I Can't Dance Without You". So let's go!

Alan Doyle -  So Let's Go: http://youtu.be/hz28TenuEIk  (The official international video)

Published on 16 Dec 2014 So Let's Go available for pre-order @ http://www.alandoyle.ca/store. Follow Alan on Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/alanthomasdoyle and Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/alandoylemusic

Catching up with Sean McCann at the Black Sheep Inn (May 2015)

“It truly is a joy to see Sean McCann live and the Black Sheep Inn he can interact directly with his fans like he never could at a show with 10 000 people.” Darren Boucher.

Since the Great Big Sea hiatus the boys have been so busy with their individual projects and music careers it is difficult for a blogger to keep up with all the news. The fans have been travelling to concerts from all parts of Canada and America and generously sharing their concert experiences, photographs and bootleg videos via social media.

Recently Sean McCann performed at the Black Sheep Inn in Canada. Some fans caught the performance in photographs and bootlegs some of which were retweeted on Twitter by Sean. I have included a couple of direct links below to the bootlegs and circulated some on my Google + page attached to this webpage. Thanks to the fans for taking them with approval.  

I also found a lovely review of the concert from a fan Darren Boucher at therevue.ca. He writes about Sean’s performance and how he generously shared some intimate stories about his family and personal struggles over the past 20 or so years. The review also contained five great intimate photographs of Sean performing and links to buying his music from his webpage. I think you will agree Sean McCann is looking and sounding in fine form doing his own thing. We wish him all the best always.

I have copied the review here as I am unable to circulate it via my Google + page. “Concert Review. Sean McCann returns to the Black Sheep.” written by Darren Broucher at www.therevue.ca and published on 6 May 2015 (no copyright infringement intended).

The Black Sheep Inn is a small venue and it’s layout encourages what is usually a very intimate show between performer and audience. It almost feels like they are performing in your living room. Sean McCann‘s performance was no exception and in fact was even more so. Sean McCann has been very open about some of the problems he has been dealing with, one of which being alcoholism. He talked about the difficulty of dealing with this illness while also being a member of one of the biggest party bands in the country. For those who don’t know, Sean McCann spent twenty years touring the country with Great Big Sea one of Canada’s most popular bands.

Sean McCann’s solo music is very different. The songs, and stories tend to be much more personal and intimate. For example, one such song, “The Reply (The Ballad Of John And Mary)” talks about the long-lasting love affair between his grandparents and it’s difficult to hear it, especially sung live and not be touched. It truly is a joy to see Sean McCann live, and at the Black Sheep Inn he can interact directly with his fans like he never could at a show with 10,000 people. He took time out to acknowledge and dedicate a song to fans celebrating an anniversary. He also dedicated a song to a fan who introduced Great Big Sea to the internet by creating their web site.

For over twenty years Sean McCann has been a part of my life through the music of Great Big Sea, and I have followed him on his solo career since the very beginning as this was already my fourth time seeing him live. He also mentioned that he is planning to move to Ottawa to escape the cold (don’t ask questions) of Newfoundland. If this could result in more opportunities of seeing Sean McCann live it is great news for us!

Kimhenry89 on YouTube

Sean McCann singing "Set Me Free": http://youtu.be/1r20m2S3zwI

Sean McCann singing "Walking In My Footsteps": http://youtu.be/wlaZoV4dSxk

Sean McCann singing "Hold Me Mother": http://youtu.be/wxchZpaDSCA

Alan Doyle Facebook questions and answer sessions…

Alan Doyle conducted a Facebook question and answer sessions on April 28, 2015 on his official page. There were over 340 comments and replies. I am sure Alan would have felt over whelmed by the interest.

I have compiled a brief summary of some of the main questions and answers. I have deliberately left out the identity of the person who asked the question and some personal comments to protect their identity and for copyright. They are not in the order they were answered on Facebook but just random.

I have copied Alan’s response to allow him to respond in his own words.

It was difficult to pick a favourite question and answer but I really liked the question about the role of the Internet and social media in his life and what comes first the lyrics or the music.  

From Alan Doyle Music Facebook (No copyright infringement intended).

…How have you felt about the changes in social media and the internet that make it seem as though there’s truly nothing private anymore?

Alan    It is what it is. For it has advantages as you get music and messages to people instantly…but also disadvantages as you can never be really off.

…What comes first for you the lyrics or the music?

Alan    lyrics…a phrase or a sentence         that I think would be good to sing

Do you plan on recording with Scott Grimes?...

Alan    We’ve recorded a bunch and have new tunes coming out later this year with Russell and Sam Barks and Carl Falk. Scott is possibly the best singer I have ever heard.

Do you plan to do a tour in support of the new cd you are releasing later this year with Russell Crowe?

Alan    Hoping to do some gigs in September. Keep you posted.

…Writing your own material? Or collaborating with other artists?

Alan  I like working with others more. Music has always been about collaboration for me. I’m not much for solitude.

What’s it like working with other Canadian musicians? Particularly Ed Robertson?

Will there be any east coast dates for your tour with BNL?

Alan    I love ed and the bnl gang, they have been great friends to me and gbs over the years. I am not sure about the routing of the BNL tour as I am a guest. Would love to take it east or wherever.

…I want to know how you came up with this CD, “So Let’s Go”, what inspired you?

Alan    I was inspired to make some POP songs that were centred around Newfoundland folk music. A big pop tune around a fella from Petty Hr playing the mandolin.

Whaddya at?...Who in your opinion, is an undiscovered Canadian musician that we should all listen to? Cheers.

Alan    Matthew Byrne. My fav singer these days.

Are you in the process of writing your 2^nd book?

Alan    Just starting. Yes. No idea what shape it will take.

…favourite places to play?

Alan    Home, New Orleans, Tonder Denmark, Quebec City, Halifax…

…Which out of all the songs you have written is the one you would like to be remembered for?

Alan    I don’t think I have one. I don’t think of tunes like that I suppose. They are just songs to sing and I hope they move people and bring them happiness in some way.

What is on the playlist these days? Any good music recs?

Alan    The Lone Bellow…best new band I’ve heard in a while,

….Do you have a place that inspires you, you like to use a place to recharge your batteries?

Alan    I find people more inspiring than places…I love watching others work and be passionate about so. Makes me want to do as much. We have a family cabin where I do to hide and recharge.

Have we seen the last of Great Big Sea? Or will you get together at some point in the future?

Alan    I hope to play GBS concerts for    sure.

…Is there a particular moment as an artist that took your breath away?

Alan    Many thankfully. It’s pretty wicked when Sting gives you there nod to play “Every Breath You Take’ on your gtr.

…Listening to you sing always get me though anything and picks me up again. Is there anything or anyone you turn to?

Alan    My family and friends are pretty awesome.

Missy the cat wants to know if you have any pets?

Alan   An old dog Molly and new dog Spencer. 

GBS Blogger Reflections...a 1000 hits.

Last week I was looking for a post I had written long ago for something I was writing now and found out one of them had over a 1000 visits. I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to see that happen and particularly since I am approaching my 3rd year of writing this blog. I did notice the post was regularly viewed but never realized how many people had visited. Most of my posts are lucky to reach 50 hits. Some posts occasionally hit a couple of hundred.

Long ago I had an ambition to be a journalist. I even studied sports journalism at university for a semester but hated it. So that was the end of my ambitions to be a journalist. I have always been an information junkie and loved to research and write even though I am not really good at it. Blog writing fulfils those research and writing ambitions and interests that are fun.

When you have been dismissed as having nothing of interest to say on social media, then having a say becomes important. Having a say isn’t just about identifying what is wrong in my part of the world, defending those I love or standing up for others I love, it is about recognising what is good, wonderful and exciting too. And there is plenty of goodness. Writing this blog is also about telling a story.

One of the most important aspects of me writing a blog is education. If I can get someone to think about something for even just for a minute or hopefully for a bit longer, to be critical of what they hear and see that influences them to change their behaviour to make someone’s life a little bit better, that is a good thing. On some days it feels like I am swimming against the tide and almost drowning but then I come up for air and all is right in the world.

The post that had a 1000 hits was about the Great Big Sea break up. I have reposted it here for people interested in reading it.

Great Big Breakup...some reflections posted on 12 February, 2014.

A lot has been said about the decision by Sean McCann not to tour with Great Big Sea any more. When Sean announced his decision before the last leg of the tour he refused to elaborate at that time. Sean’s parting gift a song called ‘Farewell My Old Friend’ was placed on Sound Cloud and fuelled a lot of rumours by fans. It is several months since then. Sean has released another solo album ‘Help Your Self’, and has done a string of interviews with various media including radio, newspapers and television to promote it. He elaborated on the reasons behind his departure from Great Big Sea.

In an interview with Melissa Tobin on CBC Central Morning Newfoundland and Labrador (4 February 2014) Sean discusses his decision to leave Great Big Sea (paraphrased).

…”Great Big Sea hadn’t been focusing or agreeing on things in the same way we had which is natural and normal. For the past five years it had been an uphill battle on getting anything done and we agree on things using a consensus and we didn’t see things in the same way… After three to four years of trying to push a rope around, the best thing to do was for me to remove myself from the situation. We decided on this last January... At the end of the tour we didn’t actually talk about it or didn’t address it all…Great Big Sea has a specific mandate and is more of a brand than a band. When bands make it big they tend to become more brands than bands. As a song writer I had difficulties in being in the confines of a very structured band…

He goes on to make some very interesting comments about the role of managers, agents and record companies and the future of music in influencing his decision to go it alone. 

In an interview with Bob Mersereau for East Coast Music CBC New Brunswick, Sean McCann said on leaving Great Big Sea (4 February 2014),

“Leaving Great Big Sea is discussed in detail in Wish You Well, a classic break-up song except it's a band, not a lover: "I don't care to start a fight, don't care who was wrong or right, but I'm not gonna waste another Saturday night pretending we're all right." McCann is quick to point out it's not a personal attack in any way at his bandmates, but more at the music business in general, and he was thinking as much about Steve Jobs, Apple and iTunes changing that business as he was about leaving the band when he wrote the song. He says the split came a year ago: "Last January, we sat down, we'd done a big tour and made the box (the 20th anniversary collection, XX), but we couldn't agree on a number of things. We weren't going in the same direction, and its not a good time (in the music world) to not be focused, so I just felt it was the best thing for all of us, and we all agreed, that I remove myself."

In the interview in The Telegram in St John’s with Tara Badbury Sean McCann said….

“Over the past five years, McCann says, he found himself focused on different things than his bandmates, and it became a source of frustration. He struggled to get his ideas in line with theirs, but in the end, it didn’t work”...

“I’m not comfortable delivering the same message over and over. From what I hear, from smart people who are business people, branding is all about staying on message and Great Big Sea has been really successful at that. I’m not as interested in that anymore”...

He hasn’t had much conversation with the other guys in Great Big Sea, but insists they’re not enemies, just ex-partners. He chuckles when he mentions his departure from the band didn’t make it to the news section on their website”...

“My departure was really met with silence. There was nothing. That hurt a bit,” he says. “I don’t know what the reason is for that, but fair enough. Maybe feelings were hurt, I don’t know. I’m over it now. I wish them the best, I honestly do, and knowing Bob and Alan, they’re already well on their way.”

Leaving the band is like getting a divorce, in more ways than one, McCann says, and he’s having a hard time letting go.

“Maybe me exiting that band will be the best thing to ever happen to it,” he says. “When I was the most useful and the most happy in Great Big Sea was when I could contribute songs and we did a lot of work, but that faded away over the last five or six years. The stuff I was interested in went away.

“I don’t know where this will go, but what’s important to me is this reality,” he explains. "That there’s truth in it and that I’m saying something that means something larger. Is it brave or is it insane? I don’t know. As proud as I am of being in Great Big Sea, that’s not the only legacy I want to leave behind.

(The interview from the Newfoundland Herald was not available online to the best of my knowledge).

While Sean McCann made comments in the article about his departure not being mentioned on the official Great Big Sea webpage, the Great Big Sea webpage posted a picture and link to Sean McCann’s new album on the 29 January 2014. “The wait is over! Sean McCann’s new album, Help Your Self is available. Head to greatbigsean.com to order now and in case you missed it check out the video for the title track”.

On Twitter Alan Doyle contacted Sean McCann congratulating him on the release of album. @alanthomasdoyle “Congrats to @greatbigsea on the launch of the new CD today. Check it out at greatbigsean.com”. @greatbigsean responded “thank you @alanthomasdoyle…for everything. 29 January 2014.    

Alan Doyle commented briefly on Sean's new album in an interview he did for kickasscanadians.ca on the 8 February 2014 “At the moment, Great Big Sea is taking a hiatus so they can recharge from their XX Tour and deal “administratively and creatively” with the fact that Sean McCann recently left the band (totally amicably, for the record). “We’re all kind of going back to our solo personal projects, whether it’s music, or movies or management” says Alan. “Sean just released a record last week called Help Your Self that he made with Joel Plaskett’s that’s super awesome...the remaining members have no plans to disband, but they are looking forward to a breather”.

To me it was very nice to see Alan Doyle’s graciousness and support for Sean after he left the band.

But the biggest surprise for me came from Sean McCann himself after I watched the Help Your Self movie on YouTube to supplement the newly released album. Sean McCann further elaborated on his departure and relationship with Great Big Sea. He stated he was no longer a ‘shareholder’ in the band and there may be a possibility of them working together in the future.

For fans like me who love Great Big Sea in their purist form we can continue to hope there will be a reunion and some new music in the future, possibly.

Alan Doyle, the So Let’s Go tour and stories with friends from the road (Part 2)

Jaime Lubin from the Huffington Post has written this wonderful review of Alan Doyle’s City Winery show in New York City mentioned in the previous post. I always love Jaime’s reviews of the shows she attends  because she is not only a writer but a music fan of all things Great Big Sea, Alan Doyle and the Russell Crowe Indoor Garden Parties. Many thanks to Jaime for sharing her thoughts about this fabulous night with us. I have shared a copy of the full article on my Google + page.    

Some quotes from the article “The Night Loves Them: Alan Doyle and the Beautiful Gypsies Come to City Winery” by Jaime Lubin for the Huffington Post on 6 May 2015 (no copyright infringement intended)

On the material

“…The evening’s chosen songs reflected the artist’s constant globetrotting in a collective travelogue or sorts; Great Big Sea standards material composed in Hollywood, Nashville, Ireland and Australia. And in between Alan never let an opportunity to thrill slip by, instead conjuring up anecdotes so sensuously detailed that the whole room was spellbound…”

On the Beautiful Gypsies

“…All five performers seemed exactly in sync with Alan as they managed a waltz in one number and a mock square dance in another, never letting go of their instruments or missing a beat for a second. Violinist Kendel Carson, whose work has always stunned me, brought new depth to the Great Big Sea favourite “When I’m Up” with her fiery fiddle-playing: later, she and guitarist Cory Tetford shared a gorgeous duet in “Shine One’ both unleashing vibrant voices that cause one to wonder when they might record a single together. Todd Lumley on keyboard and accordion lent several songs a homespun touch, making the cavernous venue suddenly as intimate as a Newfoundland kitchen party. Kris Macfarlane on drums and Shehab Lllyas on base were the night’s unsung heroes, providing powerful undercurrents to the music that hit listeners straight in the heart”...

On Scott Grimes

“…It was a poorly kept secret that actor-musician Scott Grimes (Justified, American Dad) would be onboard for the festivities, and the redhead of unparalleled voice did not disappoint. Together he and best friend Alan rocked the house with their co-write “I’m Goin’ Home” a moving tribute to those affected by the Boston Marathon. And in one of the gig’s particular highlights, the two master showmen dueted again to cover Billy Joel’s Scenes m an Italian Restaurant…just watching Scott and Alan’s obvious joy in playing together was several concerts worth of uplifting…”

On Owen O’Suilleabhain and Oscar Isaac

“…Less publicised but utterly enthralling were the two guest artists who sang their own co-writes with Doyle: Irish musician Owen O’Suilleabhain who performed a lyrically delicious ode to his and Alan’s heritage called “Irish Hearts are Hard to Break” and actor Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis, a Most Violent Year) charmed the assembly with “Never Had,” his theme from the movie 10 Years...”

On the audience

“…Hey, when every inch of a major New York venue’s 21000 square feet is filled with people jumping, stamping their feet, screaming, “Amen! Hallelujah!” and wildly applauding each lyric, you know you’re in the presences of something divine…”