The One Thing I Have Left

I found this video on my computer today. :)

Last spring we did a tour called the Green Tee tour, and at one of the shows we met 4 young fellows who were in a band, and they had learned our song "The One Thing I Have Left".... So we thought it would be fun to have them perform it at the show!





j.

Sidelines Chat

Hey guys....

Due to popular demand, I've brought the Sidelines Chat back to the blog page.... and I've received a few emails from folks that chat a lot regarding a chat time tomorrow night... I guess there's plans for everyone to get on and chat tomorrow night at 6pm Eastern!

I will do my best to make an appearance as well!

J.

Video: Free? Style? Ummmmm.

Soundcheck. Bored.

We spend the afternoon trying to make each other laugh. :)

Canadian Traditions. Ok, Food.

So we're in beautiful Edmonton, Alberta, right now for one of our favorite shows of the year... YC.

Jason and I were trying to figure out how many years we've been coming to this event, which happens annually, and came up with the number 6. This is our SIXTH consecutive year at this event. I can't believe we managed to stay together as a band for this long! Haha...

Every time we return to Canada, those of us that are Canadian (Jas, Dan, and I) each have our own little list of things we need to see, hear, or eat. Mostly, eat. For me, it's the Iced Capp from Tim Horton's. "Capp" is short for cappucino, and using that word is being generous. I'm not sure if this drink bears any resemblence to real coffee.... it's basically a sweet coffee-flavoured slurpee. Haha.... but BOY is it good! Ok, since you asked nicely, I'll take a picture of one for you.

There is also Swiss Chalet.... which is a chicken place we all grew up with. It's not so much about the chicken there.... it's all about the SAUCE! The Chalet Sauce is a force to be reckoned with. Think of it as kind of a spicy gravy. It's all about dipping! You can dip nearly anything in this sweet nectar. I like to get the chicken-on-a-kaiser with fries, because that way, every single thing on the plate is dippable. YUM!

Anyways, I'm gonna head down to second cup and get a coffee. I hope you're having a beautiful morning. I know I haven't written much recently, so I'll try and get in the swing of things!

Jonathan

3 Guitars under $700

Hey guys....

I've always been a fan of gear that sounds and plays awesome, without spending a ton... I know that can especially be a concern when you're learning an instrument, or if you're short on cash, but want a great playing guitar. I thought I'd write a little post about 3 guitars that I'd recommend in the under $700 price range....here goes!


1. Paul Reed Smith SE Singlecut

Price: $665
Manufactured in: Korea
Scale: 25"
Think HN songs: "The 1 Thing I Have Left" and "You Have What I Need"

The first guitar that comes to mind in this price range is one I've actually used myself quite a bit. Paul Reed Smith has always impressed me with their quality control, and this guitar is no different. The guitar has a SOLID feel to it.... doesn't feel cheap at all. There's a great sense of weight to it, although it's not overly heavy.

The stock pickups are really quite good. They're on the brighter side, but the solid-ness of the body translates through the pickups as well, so the end result is a balanced, clear tone that can provide beefy chords when necessary, as well as soaring leads when called upon.

Incidentally, I used an SE Singlecut for EVERY SINGLE LEAD part on my "Under The Canopy" record, even though I had more expensive guitars at my disposal.... That's how much I love this guitar.









2. Paul Reed Smith SE Soapbar

Price: $499
Manufactured in: Korea
Scale: 25"
Think HN Songs: "Friend Like That" and "The Show"

This second guitar may look similar to the first, but it's an entirely different animal... The single-coil soapbar pickups on this PRS are lower output, and much "spankier" than the humbuckers in the SE singlecut. This is probably the lowest priced guitar in my list, so if cash is factor number one, go for this one!

This guitar covers a lot of ground that a Fender Stratocaster would, but with a LOT more attention to quality and playability. The scale is 25", which is a half inch shorter than Fender's scale. That means that the strings will be a little looser, and that means less ouch on your fingers. It makes for a more comfortable playing experience.

PRS's SE Soapbar guitar has been through a bit of a design change over the last year or two... While it used to be a double-cutaway design, they've moved to a single-cutaway design. If you prefer the double-cutaway design, I think you can still find them around in various places.








3. Paul Reed Smith SE Semi-Hollow

Price: $715
Manufactured in: Korea
Scale: 25"
Think HN Songs: "Everything You Ever Wanted" and "Fourteen"

I realize I'm stretching the <$700 budget on this one, but it's SO worth it. This guitar impresses me incredibly for the price tag. It's a semi-hollow version of their SE Custom... and it's built with more style, class, and taste, than I could have imagined.

The dual humbuckers are similar to those placed in the SE singlecut, but the semi-hollow body adds a distinct flavor to the tone. For those in the market for a 335-ish type guitar with a smaller body, this is it. Plus, these guitars are just so well-made.

I realize the all three guitars on my list have been PRSes, and that is simply because I believe they make guitars of much higher quality than the competition in this price range. They really are dedicated to quality at every price point.




So go out and enjoy some well-priced, well-made guitars, and have fun!



Check out prsguitars.com to learn more about these guitars, and check for dealers in your area!

Saskatoon Show

So our show here in Saskatoon was AWESOME last night. I'm telling you, Canadian crowds bring their A-game to shows. We were in winnepeg last weekend, and it was the same. In two weeks we'll be up in Edmonton, and I KNOW it'll be the same there as well. Here is a clip from the end of the show last night (yes the audio is awful!)





j.

Timmy's!!!!

Ok, I know it's been a while since I've written... but I've been in the middle of the Caribbean on a cruise liner! There's gotta be some slack there, right?! Well the cruise is over now... It was a good time... although I've got to say, cruises are not my idea of a vacation. They kind of remind me of an airport (and I hate airports), because it's crowded, everything is miniature, and there are lineups for EVERYTHING. I don't quite get why people would want to vacation in such an environment, but maybe my disposition is tainted by the sheer amount of time I spend IN airports, and similar crowded environments. Nope, show me a cottage in the woods, or a little cabin on a beach. Yes.... THAT's a vacation.


In any case, we flew all the way from Orlando, Florida, to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to play a show here. That's in Canada, for those who aren't familiar with it.... and what does Canada have? That's right... Tim Horton's! I seriously LOVE Tim Horton's (can you tell from the photo?). To be perfectly honest, I hate the coffee there... (I've become a coffee snob since I left Canada) However, EVERYTHING else is absolutely amazing.... the donuts, the bagels, the muffins, the sandwiches... and of course the ICED CAP!

How, if you're not familiar with the Tim Horton's iced cappucino... You have to understand, it bears no similarity to actual cappucino. I doubt there is any espresso or coffee in it whatsoever. It's basically a sweet coffee-ish flavoured slurpee. Kinda. The texture's a little different, but you get the idea. A frappucino from starbucks is a close cousin, but even that tastes more like coffee than Tim's iced cap does. You have to experience it. It's just tasty!

So we're playing at a Will Graham event here in Saskatoon today, and then tomorrow we head back home. I'm starting guitars on the second half of our new record (which I hear may be released October 6th now, instead of late September? I can't keep track any more). I'm stoked to flesh out some of these songs.... I think this record is going to be a huge step in the right direction. We're loving working with Steve Wilson, our friend and producer. In any case, I think you're going to enjoy these songs, whenever they do end up coming out!

j.

Cruise Crazy

So we're on this music boat cruise this week. Internet 28 bucks an
hour. Let's just say I won't be updating much this week... :)

Suffice it to say I'm still alive and kickin. Check back next week to
see if I still am!

Jonathan

Sent from my iPhone