Tracks on Tracks

A huge thank you to Green Couch Productions for coming up with the concept of Tracks on Tracks, which has changed us forever. Green Couch Productions teamed up with VIA rail and CBC radio 3 to put on the trip of a lifetime for 10 very lucky bands.

After we harassed our fans, friends and family we were one of the lucky bands voted into this adventure of a lifetime.

The night before we headed to Edmonton to catch the train, we played a show in Blairmore Alberta. (which when the clock struck midnight, also became my birthday.) As we loaded the van after our show, to start which I had already boasted would be the best birthday of my life… our van came to a sudden halt at the stop sign beside the Tim Hortons. Immidiatley we put our thinkers on and came up with a plan that no matter what kind of PMS our van was having this time, we would make it to Edmonton to catch that damn train.

Turns out it was the engine (for a second time since we’ve owned Super Dave the van {may he rest in peace})So after chatting with BCAA and the towing company we realized we weren’t going anywhere til 7am, so the five of us cuddled in the van together, with one common goal… catch that damn train.

From there things started looking up. We rented a van and got to Edmonton just on time to catch the train. We were ecstatic. We were greeted at the train station warmly by Green Couch’s Michy Allen and VIA’s Josephine who showed us to our cabins and got us settled in. We mixed a drink right off the bat, to calm our nerves and prepare us for the unknown of what was going on in the other boxcars.

After a drink we made our way through the boxcars of the train until we stumbled upon the Party Car where Topless Gay Love Techno Party was doing their on train set.  They had us dancing and going crazy. I had no idea what to expect and their music and stage presence surpassed any expectations I could’ve mustered up. If you ever have a chance to see a Topless Gay Love Techno Party show, do it! It will knock your socks off.

There we met all of the crew, performers and train go-ers, and from there on in we became a family.  Our adventure really kicked into high gear when we performed in Melville Saskatchewan out of a boxcar to the whole town and even the mayor of Melville. All of the performances were so amazing, the whole experience was so amazing, the friendships we made were so amazing. I think it would be fair to say that we had an amazing time.

When the train arrived in Toronto, sadness kicked in (or was that a 3 day hangover?) But luckily we weren’t away for long. After a party at the Train Station at the Panorama Lounge and then a loft party put on by the Toronto Music Association, we reconviened for a showcase at the Gladstone Hotel on Wednesday June 13^th as part of the NXNE Music Festival.

The showcase was a great experience. It was incredible to see all the bands we’d seen play impromptou shows on and off board the train, really give it in their usual setting.

We would just like to tell all of our blog readers to listen to Adaline, Chris Ho, Portage and Main, The Matinee, JP Maurice, Sidney York, Topless Gay Love Techno Party, Bear Mountain, The Belle Game and Aidan and Zach, we think they are all so incredibly talented and we hope that we can play/dance or collaborate with all of them again soon. They all inspired us so much.

To Green Couch Productions Michy and John. Thank you thank you thank you. (It was also amazing to bump into you guys in Edmonton the other day… it seems train family is everywhere! And we love it!) Thank you to the Green Couch crew, VIA crew, Grant Lawrence and CBC radio 3 crew, and to anyone who came on this adventure just cause… we’re so glad you did, because your energy and enthusiasm lifted us all to perform better and connect with one another. (hey ma! That’s you!) One of my personal highlights was having my mom on board the train with her 10 friends, and getting a hug from my pops at our Minaki Ontario train stop at 2:30 am.

 Here are some of the fabulous folks who made this whole experience happen. While we partied like 17 year olds, they put in 23 hour days of work. They are the most hardworking, dedicated, creative and talented people we've ever met.

 We will talk about this experience for the rest of our lives, and can’t wait to be in a room with all of the Tracks on Tracksers real soon. EVERY NIGHT! EVERY NIGHT! EVERY NIGHT!