Watch “Wait A Little Longer” live from the apartment
Hope you are all well. Here’s me singing my song, “Wait A Little Longer” on the piano in my Toronto apartment: https://youtu.be/ZH35TEkknCA
Hope you are all well. Here’s me singing my song, “Wait A Little Longer” on the piano in my Toronto apartment: https://youtu.be/ZH35TEkknCA
Today marks the 50th anniversary of one of my favourite albums of all time, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. I recently had the chance to discuss this record at length with Paul Romanuk, host of the Beatles podcast The Walrus Was Paul. Lennon’s first post-Beatles album has had a huge influence on me musically throughout my life. In comparison to his work in The Beatles, it’s a stripped down affair, just Lennon on vocals/guitar/piano with Klaus Voorman on bass and Ringo Starr on drums (Billy Preston plays piano on “God” and Phil Spector plays piano on “Love”). It’s a brutally honest and confessional record, I don’t think anyone else in music has dug deeper into themselves and shared it with strangers. John Lennon at least must have been the first. His vocals were never more passionate, as the music goes from one end (raw bluesy-rock ‘n’ roll such as “I Found Out” and “Well, Well, Well”) to the other (the tenderness of “Love” and “Look At Me”. The album opens with abandonment in “Mother” and closes with “God” and “My Mummy’s Dead.” “God” must have been quite the shock, especially for Beatles fans (“I don’t believe in Beatles, I just believe in me”). I also love hearing just him play guitar, he had a unique style on guitar as well as piano that I think is overlooked. He didn’t know it but he helped me learn how to play piano!
It was 40 years ago this past December 8th that we lost John Lennon. By time I was born, he had been gone for over five and a half years but thanks to my folks, I’ve known and loved his music all of my life. Today, I like that I can celebrate one of the important gifts that he gave us, the masterpiece John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.
Have a listen to the episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-walrus-was-paul/id1524679619
Big Thanks to all those who have supported even more during this crazy year. If you’re looking for gift ideas or want to add something to your collection (I’m a completist too), please consider visiting my official online store for Vinyl, CDs, shirts, winter hats and my 1st book of poetry Just The Night Birds. Walk safely down the aisles here: http://www.jerryleger.com/merch/
TOMORROW (and Bandcamp Friday) will be the last day you can order ‘Traveling Grey’ on Vinyl for only $10 (comes with album download + exclusive download ‘Live on The Blue Plate Special, Knoxville, TN) from my Bandcamp store. ALSO, as part of Bandcamp Friday, when the artists get 100% of sales, EVERYTHING else will be on sale tomorrow in my store for 24 hours including ‘Time Out For Tomorrow’ White Vinyl & Winter Hat Bundle which will be in the Bandcamp store for the ONE DAY ONLY! Shop in the store this Friday! https://jerryleger.bandcamp.com/
This past sunday was the 1 year anniversary of my album Time Out For Tomorrow. To help celebrate, we’ve added brand new Time Out For Tomorrow winter toques to the MERCH page. Also, another small run of limited edition TOFT white vinyl has been restocked in the online store. Save $10 when you buy both as a bundle. Also available are TOFT baseball tee/Vinyl bundles (white or black vinyl). Shop now for yourself or for gift ideas: http://www.jerryleger.com/merch/
To celebrate another Bandcamp Friday (when artists get 100% of the revenue on Bandcamp sales), we’re also celebrating my 4th album Traveling Grey, which turns 10 years old this month. From today, November 6th until December 4th, Traveling Grey will be available to order for $10 on Vinyl, only from our Bandcamp store. Along with the Vinyl, you will get a download of the record PLUS an exclusive download from the vaults, ‘Live on The Blue Plate Special, WDVX-FM, Knoxville, TN, 27-10-11’ recorded before a live studio audience during a US tour promoting Traveling Grey.
At the time of its release, Ron Sexsmith called it “Jerry’s best record so far and he hasn’t made any bad ones.”
Here’s the link to order a copy for yourself or as a gift to a friend:
https://jerryleger.bandcamp.com/album/traveling-grey
While you’re there, also shop for other titles on Vinyl plus CDs, downloads, shirts and the new poetry book, Just The Night Birds.
In other news, we’ve added another date to our rescheduled Spring tour, tickets now on sale for The Old Cold Store in Nottingham, England, May 2nd: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/509051/
It’s All Hallow’s Eve,
My favourite time of year and I have a spooky surprise for you. I recorded and produced an album of scary sounds for my friend, Hank Holly (spirit-ual leader of the great ragged rock ‘n’ roll group, The Del Fi’s. The album is appropriately titled, Halloween Music. It could also have been called Nightmare Music.
It was recorded on an early 80’s Tascam cassette 4-track portastudio. Hank played piano, electric Wurlitzer piano, guitar, harmonica and we added some terrifying sound effects from an old BBC library record.
I mixed the tracks directly from the recording machine to how you’re hearing it.
The album is meant to be a soundtrack to your Halloween weekend and to terrify trick or treaters (if able to still safely shell out of course!).
DOWNLOAD THE ALBUM HERE: https://thedelfis.bandcamp.com/album/halloween-music
*Scary Fact: The rusted jack-o-lantern on the cover is actually a vintage pumpkin patch sign.
You still reading? If so, here’s a list of some of my 31 favourite horror movies (I’m sure I’m forgetting some), if you’re still looking for a few to throw on this weekend:
(In no particular order but have to begin with the first two Halloween films)
HALLOWEEN (1978)
HALLOWEEN 2 (1981)
CARNIVAL OF SOULS (1962)
THE CHANGELING (1980)
DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978)
DEATHDREAM also known as THE NIGHT ANDY CAME HOME and DEAD OF NIGHT (1974)
DEEP RED (1975)
PSYCHO (1960)
EVIL DEAD (1981)
EVIL DEAD 2 (1987)
DON’T LOOK KNOW (1973)
THE INNOCENTS (1961)
THE OTHERS (2001)
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968)
THE SHINING (1980)
INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1978)
THE THING (1982)
NIGHTMARE ON ELM ST. (1984)
NIGHTMARE ON ELM ST. PART 2 (1985)
TWIN PEAKS FIRE WALK WITH ME (1992)
DRAG ME TO HELL (2009)
TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE (1974)
SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW (1988)
FRIDAY THE 13 PART 2 (1981)
US (2019)
THE EXORCIST (1973)
BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974)
TRICK ‘R TREAT (2007)
IT FOLLOWS (2014)
SUSPIRIA (1977)
LET’S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH (1971)
Bonus cartoon:
THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW (1949)
Happy Holloween!
Stay safe!
Jerry
Pretty wild to hear Tommy Stinson (founding member of a band that I love and respect, The Replacements as well as his Bash & Pop group) talking about digging my music in this new interview with Davey Lane. Watch the full interview here (13:53 mark is when he says some kind words about me): https://youtu.be/_mCj3MpH8gk?t=833
Hey all, I’ll be playing this fundraiser for Dress for Success Orillia and Barrie, live streamed on their Facebook page and also on my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/jerrylegermusic , Tuesday December 1st, 8pm. There will be a donation button, any amount assists in continuing to help women in the Orillia/Barrie community attain employment and economic independence. Hope you can tune in.
The limited edition poetry book, Just The Night Birds, has been added to the MERCH page in our online store. Order your copy today and also browse through Vinyl, CD and shirt selections while you’re there: http://www.jerryleger.com/merch/
Hey gang,
Hope everyone is doing well and keeping safe. A couple good things to help stay positive, today is the release day for my 1st book of poetry Just The Night Birds, it’s also the last day to get a signed copy (personalized upon request). It’s available to order from Bandcamp, which is also waiving their revenue share, so 100% goes to the artist as part of another edition of Bandcamp Friday!
Order the book and shop in my store for Vinyl, CD, shirt and download options:
https://jerryleger.bandcamp.com/merch
We appreciate your support!
Another cool thing is we’ve announced a bunch of rescheduled dates for Europe and the UK for April/May 2021. It was sad for us to have to postpone our visit and we hope that won’t be the case in the Spring. We’ll all just keep staying safe and optimistic that we’re on a path to live music coming back again. Check out the tour dates below (more to be added):
EUROPE & UK TOUR DATES APRIL/MAY 2021:
13/04: Barcelona, ESP – TBC
14/04: Valencia, ESP – Loco Club
15/04: Zaragoza, ESP – Rock & Blues Zaragoza
16/04: Madrid, ESP – Wurlitzer Ballroom
17/04: Hondarribia, ESP – Psilocybenea
21/04: Örebro, SWE – STÅ Pinxtos
22/04: Oslo, NO – Krøsset
23/04: Rungebu, No – Arnemoen Gard
24/04: Trondheim, NO – Moskus
25/04: Stockholm, SWE – MelodyBox
27/04: Norderstedt, DE – Music Star
29/04: London, UK – Green Note
01/05: Glasgow, UK – Broadcast Glasgow
05/05: Eindhoven, NL – ‘t Rozenknopje Eetcafé en Theaterzaal
07/05: Groningen, NL – Der Aa-Theater
09/05: Utrecht, NL – Café de Stad
More info at http://www.jerryleger.com/tour/