As a kid, my heroes were comics and scientists, but my whole life changed when I heard the Rolling Stones and Beatles in 1965, and I knew I was a goner. When I stumbled across Dylan's Blonde on Blonde LP that feeling got confirmed. I have rambled, dotted Sally Swordfish dates, and through it all kept the guitar glow alive.
I have lived in 3 cities: Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto, and each has given me something unique that I treasure. Thank you Canada. My mind is in many places, but my heart is in the Canadian Maritimes. Soon I will be coming home...
SONG CREDITS
All songs by Jimfre Bacal
1) Uncle Harry Janet Panic: vocals Meghan Engel: electric violin, cello jimfre: guitar
2) Schizophrenic Waltz jimfre: vocals, guitar Steve Fyfe: drums Ian Carscadden: bass Mark Donne: lead guitar
3) Fire Blues jimfre: vocals, guitars, drums Babak Hazrati: bass
4) Bennys Blues jimfre: vocals, guitars, drums Babak Hazrati: bass, lead guitar
5) Breakdown Blues Keely Remillard: vocals jimfre: guitars, drums Babak Hazrati: bass, lead guitar (last verse)
6) Gods Way jimfre: acoustic guitar Roger Ellis: acoustic harmony guitar
7) Sad Eyed Blues Jenny B: vocals Ed Buquet: lead guitar: Michael Muscat: bass, Mitch Lazer: drums jimfre: guitar
8) To The Wisdom Keely Remillard: vocals jimfre: guitars, drums Babak Hazrati: bass
9) Billy Balu jimfre: vocals, guitars, drums
10) Bats in the Attic jimfre: vocals, guitars, drums
11 Katherines Room jimfre: vocals, guitar Steve Fyfe: drums Ian Carscadden: bass Mark Donne: lead guitar
12) Bizarre Blues in B jimfre: vocals, guitar Steve Fyfe: drums Ian Carscadden: bass Mark Donne: lead guitar
13) Charlottetown jimfre: vocals, acoustic guitar Roger Ellis: acoustic harmony guitar
14) Easy Blues jimfre: vocals, guitar Ed Buquet: lead guitar: Michael Muscat: bass, Mitch Lazer: drums
15) I Got The Blues Keely Remillard: lead vocals, harmony vocals (chorus) jimfre: acoustic guitars
16) Manuels Dream jimfre: vocals, acoustic guitar Roger Ellis: acoustic harmony guitar
17) NYC Keely Remillard: vocals jimfre: vocals, acoustic guitars
18) Smiles of Saskatchewan Keely Remillard: vocals jimfre: drums, guitars Babak Hazrati: bass, lead guitar
19) Woodstock Blues jimfre: vocals, guitar Rick Freeman: gonzo lead guitar Ian Carscadden: bass Paul Gallagher: drums
20) Billy Von Billy jimfre: guitar Rick Freeman: "brown" lead guitar Ian Carscadden: bass Paul Gallagher drums
I consider America to be the brother I never had. I am very lucky to live in the wonderful country of Canada, with my best friend, my brother, living so close by.
I consider myself an alien from the planet Nixulu, which lies within the galaxy of Gerdar
On a good day I feel like an alien, on a bad day like a gargoyle
REVIEWS
"If Bob Dylan had a better voice and he could play guitar like Mark Knopfler, then he would sound like Jimfre Bacal" ..Gary Hunt, promoter, Crossroads Music Festivals, Roanoke, VA
"...Bacal is nothing like the typical rude and crude blues guys. He is an original, injecting new life in new ways into a tired formula oriented genre..."
"Cool music!!!!!!!!!! Most of all I like the variety in your songs. Soft pieces combined with cool guitar solos, I love it." Guido Moortgat, Belgium
Re: Uncle Harry
very nice, did you catch an angel ?
May I broadcast it on www.dbc-radio.net ?
Musiciensbiz@aol.com
Finally got to listen to it - great track! Very ethereal. Guitar does sound sweet
Kevin Bolembach, President Godlyke, Inc.
It's beautiful
we have included it in our Top 25 songs 2005
Mark Bignell CITR radio, Vancouver
Re: Katherines Room
"Canadian Jimfre Bacal plays an engaging blend of folk and blues with a singer-songwriter aesthetic that at times recalls the best elements of Dire Straits and Bob Dylan"
www.sonicnet.com
Great production... Dylanesque vocals... Vaughn guitar touches... Who could ask for anything more...
Supernaut99 - Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
il y a quelque chose d'urgent dans cette chanson. Cette musique n'est pas du chiqué. Le solo à deux guitares vient rajouter à la tension. Cette voix qui joue avec la fausseté des notes est touchante. Beau sans vouloir l'être , intense et prenant.
angelina europamp3.org (MIM)
Re: Woodstock Blues
"Imagine a drunken Bob Dylan jamming with a stoned Neil Young. And you're probably still not even close."
craig@lowfidelity.com UK
I downloaded your Woodstock Blues, I think it's brilliant
Christoph Brachmann, onetakerecords.de
Crazy and cool and weird. Very cool tune - great interplay between the weird vocals and the overdriven guitar. Feels like Joy Division meets Televison, and maybe just a splash of something more oganic like Jonathan Richman. Punkish, rock, very original but not unfamiliar, makes me want to hear more.
JohnCoketrain - Little Rock, Arkansas
Originality Counts. I liked the song a lot. I don't think I've heard too many songs like it. It reminds me of the song 'Weird Science.' It's cool because it isn't a copy of other bands, which there seems to be a lot of lately. You might want to add a catchy refrain or something, but otherwise good job.
Meg7 - Palos Heights, Illinois
It's songs like this that make me glad that there are still bands in existence. It's getting to be a rare day when you can run into something that you can just listen to and appreciate. Keep it up.
PAWN - Augusta, Michigan
Re: Schizophrenic Waltz
"Clean Guitar..I love this voice..oh..I really love this singer....this is fantastic..and I gave you 5 points..wait..this sounds like ..oh man..what is that song? Well it is awesome nonetheless..I wish I hadn't given everyone else 5 points..cuz this one needs about 20 points. PUNK is great. Good luck! "
macacamulatta - The Emerald City, Hell A, California
Great As cool as Richard Hell circa 1977
sm@sampaulmaniac.com europamp3.com (MIM)
Cro mags and Fear look out!
this release has a very smooth but raw and very nice sound. in fact this track sounds a lot more spunkier than the latest from both cro-mags and the latest by Fear.
treknut - Huntington, West Virginia
Bob Dylan with a latin-twist. Exactly.
Very interesting combo to my ears. I hear Bob Dylan being very cool with a Latin, rock, Dire Straits Mix. Do you hear it too? Great sound.
drumdrum - Dallas, Texas
Yeah !
Great quality song, your singer's voice kinda reminds me of garfield from the cartoons! hilarious!
iam2cool4u - New York
great song!
I started out not liking this song...I think maybe the intro is a little too long, but now I can't stop listening to it! :-
grahmcrks - Tucson, Arizona
ROCK HARD!
This song is so good! I love it! Keep up the good work!
shpidah - Shoreview, Minnesota
Great job and Rock on, this song is hot
A part of me really likes this song, but dont worry, the other part likes it too. That song rocked! Well, i guess its because i can kinda relate... Its never my fault. Hahaha. Good job guys i'll be listening to this one later.
Guitara - Coarsegold, California
kicks ass
this sounds good, i like it a lot
princcce - Upland, California
Where's the pit when you need it!
This song could be a hit!
This song has great energy!
jsavko - Portland, Oregon
Dylanesque with wonderul guitar. All of the good parts from bobby D but fresh with a sweet guitar guy. I liked it all around. Well done. I would like to see it played at an intimate club. The production is superb.
orangepunk, Orangeville, Ontario, Canada
UNCLE HARRY JUST WANTS TO BE HAPPY
An instrumental world
This is the first time I listen to an instrumental track on garageband. I think maybe we're sometimes too much used to have lyrics in songs. The melodies ton this one are awsome, and the acoustic gives a vibe no other instrumentations would have given.
Amethys - Contrecoeur, Quebec, Canada
Save Our Ship!
In a sea of atonality that thinks it's melody, in a dark night of cacophony that masquerades as worldbeat rhythms, this tune floats three hundred feet above the surface and shines out as a pulsing melifluous beacon to those of us gasping our last breaths as we sink.
Ski - Raleigh, North Carolina
Bravo
Nice instrumental.. Put's me in a 'summer' sort of mood. I bet this sounds great live. Bravo. Not much I can say besides I liked it and that it's a shame stuff like this isn't played in stead of crap like the Backstreet Boys. I gave it a 5.
MrBinky - Athens, Ohio
I liked it and will listen again
The soft guitar and sweet draw of the
simplicity was adorning. Waiting for vocals.
Guesss there may not be any. How quaint. a
good song none the less.
Outson - Clearwater, Florida
Unplug yer guitar and chill out
If I was stoned at some coffee shop in a
small town this would be the song I would
wanna hear.
DagNabbit - Ferndale, Michigan
Hey now... listen to this
This is one of the best songs that I have heard. There is a mood to it, and I can tell the people are playing with emotion. I do not know whether this song needs lyrics but maybe some harmonies will make this song a hit. GREAT
JOB!!!!!! #1 #1 #1
jclass - Woodstock, Illinois
Instrumental Love
Whoa! Excellent instrumental. Guitar gives an instant mood. Great track for couples :
moose67 - Altadena, California
Re: Sad Eyed Blues
Amazingly beautiful soulful and yearning vocals. A voice that really haunts and stays with you. The musical accompaniment seems like a leisurely sunday afternoon stroll meandering along with enchanted reverbed guitar work. A song for twilight with your loved ones. Simply superb.
thingummy - Detroit, Michigan
wow...this is pretty damn good.... reminds me of radiohead.......sounds really original..... i'd redo the vocals....some parts are out of key....but it's really really great. but the out of key thing is sorta cool..... oh my god...this is really good....
Anonymous - London, Ontario, Canada
haunting vocal, haunting guitar, hit material!
Anonymous
Re: Billy Von Billy
This song sets a nice mood for making out with some HOT chick!
mr_honky82 - Guymon, Oklahoma
I really like the viola-like guitar sound sprinkled around the acoustic, and even more, the notes it plays. Nice changes throughout, and a coffee-drinking vibe without being a cliche. Has Native American elements to it, a kind of Spiral Stairs off-kilter-ness to it but very solid. Beautiful song.
guilden - San Francisco, California
after school special, nifty freaky funky little monkey
Anonymous - Kingsville, Texas
My Guinea Pig likes this song too
TheGreenHornet - Fort Worth, Texas
Summer Chilling Music
This song is so relaxing with a nice sound on the guitar that totally fits the mood, I want a copy for the summer! YOU are pretty chill.
bRiNe - Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Just left of your brain, hang your coat on the nail. A real nice Ambient sound with interesting experimental type guitar things. Personally I love, probably won't every sell in an alternative type market though.
Anonymous - Wheelersburg, Ohio
CURIOUS!
this is the most original awesome track i have heard yet on g.b.com, no kidding. I loved the track so much it made me sad
when it was done, it makes me curious to hear other tracks from this band.
fisterthe9 - Owosso, Michigan
Doodling at its finest. Like hard hitting musicals not make you cry.
Anonymous - Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Re: I Got The Blues
Avez-vous 1 minute 15 secondes pour écouter ce magnifique morceau ? Mention spéciale à la voix féminine.
europamp3.com (MIM)
Re: Fire Blues
Cool & Dirty Smooth!!!
Fire Blues - My kinda song !!!!
Love your awesome vibe !!! Smooth to the Max !!!!
Guitar mellow and sweet !!! Hot to touch !!!
Congradulations on No.1 in the blues, rock category
you deserve the postion Man !!!!
Cheers
Kat www.mp3.com.au
Re: Charlottetown
Très belle guitare acoustique mélodieuse
musiciensbiz@yahoo.fr
Re: Bizarre Blues in B
I'm speechless
I don't really know what to say this is some nice blues...very relaxed with some elegant guitar playing...and good clear lyrics...another cool thing where you let the guitar howl for a bit on the outro...very subtle but very cool This one is going in my mp3's I love it
jefm - Brigden, Ontario, Canada
guitar band vocals awards
pump_music_usa - Cocoa Beach, Florida
Re: Manuels Dream
Unforgettable
I should probably think of some constructive criticism, but I can't. this is some of the best I've heard since Mason Jennings.
hendy110 - Minneapolis, Minnesota
one of the best songs i' ve heard on here, beautiful guitars, great vocals, i will listen to this again .. sparkling comes to mind as a description
Watson - London, Ontario, Canada
Haunted meadow sweet summer breeze
Nice soft summer breeze rustles the leaves that have gathered about my feet as the seasons change again and i'm still sitting here listening this tune that goes around and around in my head... 'going to the country'... and i'm smiling and the sky is blue ... and the snow is about up to my knees ... and i got this tune in my head 'going to the country'... yeah. beautiful song. it fits perfectly in that spot in my head that keeps songs in it. Great honest voice and tasteful guitar work.
blueradio - Honolulu, Hawaii
The Eddie Story
Let us spend some time with Eddie, as he rocks and rolls through his rollover universe...
"Ed - DIE! Ed-DIE! Make me a Sherby Special - relish and all the fixings, very well done."
"Okay bud, one coolola burger coming up."
"Hey Sam, a fast funky trippy monkey, Table 17"
"Right, Eddie. Hey, here comes the Old Man."
The Old Man opens the door to his very popular restaurant, very IN with the college crowd. "Eddie, turn down that damn radio. How many times do I got to tell you, I HATE that noise!"
"Right away Old Man."
Old Man starts lumbering up the stairs to this office, pauses, turns around, looks at Eddie. "Eddie, I hear water running. Did some drunk preppie forget to turn the taps off after finishing with his business in the bathroom?"
"No, Old Man, it ain't the taps dripping."
"Well, what is it then Eddie? Speak up son."
"Well Old Man, there's a couple up there having a shower."
"A SHOWER! Are you nuts? This is a restaurant Eddie, not a floozy hotel."
"Well Old Man, they just blew in from New York, kinda dusty and weary from the road, ya dig! Couldn't refuse them. How did I know they'd start playing Adam and Eve?"
"Eddie, you are IMPOSSIBLE!"
Sound of flowing water stops.
Minutes later, Bobby and Jill come tra la lalling down the stairs, big grins all around. Old Man glares at them, glares at Eddie, sighs big sigh of exasparation, heads up the stairs to hide in his office. He can't stand dealing with the public, takes comfort in the cold logic of what are to him very personal cash flow figures. Calls down to Eddie, "Eddie, one more stunt like this and you are fired but immediately. This floor reeks of come!"
"Sure Old Man." Turns to face Bobby and Jill. "Well kids, what will it be? The Sherby cool ray hot dog, the madness burger, the sexomatic fries?"
"Sexomatic fries! Yeah, coolola place, this Sherby's. Wish they had something like this in New York..."
"Hey Sam, I'm done for the day. Gonna go see if there's any apartment available at Ricardo's building.
"That rattrap? Eddie, that's a flopper!"
"Yeah, Sam, but a flopper is the only kind of place I feel comfortable in..."
Eddie gets into the subway, sits down, starts to dream of girls, guitars... Suddenly is woken from his pleasant reverie by that amplifed foghorn of a sound system, words loud but all vowels kinda running together like mixed oatmeal, a humourous Scottish accent...
"And then I took her to the movies, and what a pair on her she had ..."
"Oh geez, the silly fart doesn't realize...". And before Eddie can complete the thought he is up off his seat and running towards the conductor's cabin located at the front of the train...
"Open up, ya twilly twit!"
"Whot? What's that?"
"Open up farthead!"
Door opens. "Yeah, wot's your problem?"
"Ya got your local mike on, that's the problem. Everybody on the train can hear you discussing your sex life. And I, for one, am not particularly interested!"
"Oh jeepers".
"Yeah shivering sheet jeepers". And if it's just mammory glands that's got your attention, why doncha go back to Scotland, ya silly twerp!"
Eddie turns around to warm applause from the passengers sitting nearby who are much in favour of his quite direct approach to problem solving.
"Right on Brother!"
"Tell it the way it is, man!"
"Power to the people baby!"
"Yeah!...
"Ed-DIE!..."
... "Hey Janitor, ya got an apartment I can see?"
"My name's Ben. "Ya want a beer?"
"No, I want an apartment."
"Too bad! I don't rent to anybody who don't drink. That's important. I don't trust anybody who don't drink."
"Is that a fact? Okay old timer, give me a beer."
"That's better. Come on in."
They sit down in the pigsty of a room that is the janitors life. He is happy, he has his tv, his tenants to laugh at, his beer. He is content. He is not fooled by the TV ads telling us to buy this or go there or study that. He is a wizened old goat, well versed in the lunacy of human activities...
"Well, whatcha looking for, young man?"
"I want a simple apartment, a bachelor or studio."
"Yeah ok, all the apartments in this building are simple. And you will be too if you stay here long enough - ha ha!"
"What?"
"Never mind, young man. You got anything against green?"
"Green?"
"Yeah, all the suites are painted the same puke green color; ya got no choice."
"That's ok. I got posters and crap I can cover it up with."
"What's your name son?"
"Eddie."
"Eddie, come with me, I want you to meet another Eddie..."
Ben the janitor and Eddie go out into the hall, walk towards the elevators. Janitor presses the up button, smiles a bit, looks at Eddie, says "Watch your step, this elevator is sometimes ornery."
"Ornery? What the heck do you mean? Is the elevator alive?"
"Don't make fun of the elevator son. You don't know what you are dealing with." The elevator grinds its way down from a higher floor, stops about 6 inches above floor level.
"Well, step in son, watch your step."
Janitor presses floor 12. Elevator starts up, starts acclerating.
"What the muck?" says Eddie, "Why is the elevator increasing speed?"
Janitor says nothing, just smiles at Eddie.
At floor 12, the elevator comes to a sudden halt, shakes, rattles and rolls. Eddie loses his balance, crashes against one of the walls. The elevator is 6 inches below floor level.
"Ha ha ha" belches the janitor.
Punches the three walls in time with his words: "Meet Eddie Van Halen. Ha ha ha. David lee Roth used to be the ceiling, floor, and 4th wall. But Eddie got rid of them ha ha ha!. Eddie the Elevator likes you Eddie. ha ha ha!"
"What's going on here Ben?"
"The elevator is alive Eddie, alive with the spirit of rock and roll." If he doesn't like the rider, Eddie the Elevator plays tricks on him. Sometimes he will come to a stop 2 feet from the floor. That way I know not to rent to that guy or girl. But you Eddie, 6 inches. Wow, that's the most affection I have ever seen him show. You can have the apartment for sure! I let Eddie the Elevator check my references for me. Ha ha ha!"
Eddie and Ben exit the 'Eddie Van Halen' elevator, proceed down the hall, enter the apartment which the janitor opens with his passkey. Eddie looks around. There is a sense of something abnormal, but that's all that Eddie needs to make a decision. He feels comfortable right away.
"I'll take it!"
"You didn't take it Eddie. Eddie the Elevator made you take it. Ha ha!"
Eddie rolls his eyes, whips out his soiled cheque book and writes out a cheque. Just another minute of another day in the rollover universe that is unique to Eddie, a story only he knows the ending to...
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