When I look at a goat or a passion flower (look it up, it is astonishing) I am convinced that the Spirit or Life-Force or whatever it is has a fantastic sense of humour and is having a gay old time playing around with form. Rhinocerous, wasp or rooster - it's all rather hilarious. The same applies to circumstance, and my delightfully ridiculous weekend at Montreal JazzFest definitely qualifies. First of all, Montrealers seem to sing and dance nonstop for the entire warm season, so imagine an atmosphere of pure revelry. Add to this that Q92 has requested that I perform at their charity event in Dorval that same evening, so we are shuttling around all day, back and forth for staggered sound checks, in one of their hired limousines. What silliness! I buy a little box of Timbits for the fellas to even out this illusion. Timbits in a limousine. Ah life!
Add to this the spastic weather, at one moment, thick with golden sunshine, the next, pouring rain. Add to this that Andy The-Anh made me a blue dress at the 11th hour that miraculously slid over my skin perfectly like Cinderella's slipper. Add to this that I am out of sorts because my regular touring band mates were all unable to accompany me on this trip. Wanting to shine my brightest for the beloved Montreal crowd, I admit I was a wee bit heartbroken about it, but one would not want to be vulnerable or take a risk in any other town, for this place applauds it! They are as fierce a force as a performer, they are not in any way passive listeners. I love this!
After the show we are whisked in another ridiculous vehicle back to the Q92 site. I have flowers and pastry gifts from the beautiful Montrealers. Sigh. We step into the whirl of circus chaos in Dorval after circling the venue several times. It is utter disorder. I feel like I'm singing but the sound of a crash symbol is all I hear. Stage hands are scrambling like insects all over the stage. Frazzled and slightly deaf I teeter back to my trailer. How densely we can pack the seconds.... after it is often necessary to experience seconds with nothing but cool empty space in them. I do this in the car on my way back to the hotel with my face pressed into a bouquet of roses.
P.S. Thrilled to report that I will be participating in January 2009's episode of "Canada Reads" on CBC. Can't divulge just yet what great work of Canadian fiction I've chosen, but it's a goodie and I am preparing to defend it with vigour...