In many ways, “If You Only Knew” was one of the songs that helped me become the artist I am today. I had done quite a bit of music before releasing this track on my debut album — New Wave, Free Jazz, Classical, etc. But “If You Only Knew” and other tracks on my debut pushed me to focus on what was important (at least to me) — melody being front and centre. This Live in the Studio video of “If You Only Knew” is pretty much like the album track. As always, thanks for listening and I hope you like the music!
Tanzen (Live in the Studio)
I’ve always liked music that draws on a variety of sources — tracks that blend styles in a seamless way. And that’s exactly what I tried to do with “Tanzen”. All of the tunes on my 1997 self-titled debut album had some combination of styles and production techniques, but one of them, “Tanzen”, stands out to me. I think (hope!) I achieved a seamless blend of electronic and acoustic textures on the track. Here’s a live in the studio version of “Tanzen”. Thanks for taking the time to listen!
“Petty: The Biography” by Warren Zanes
Over the last couple of years, I found myself not reading the way I normally would. I was still reading the news and magazines, and all of the social media type of stuff, but not much in the way of anything longer format (i.e. books). I suppose I could finger point and blame COVID, as it’s certainly changed many other things in our daily lives, but I just didn’t like this new pattern. So I basically forced myself to get back on track. Every night I would read, starting with a few pages and then the next night a chapter and then, after a while, many chapters.
What made this getting back on track easier was Warren Zanes’s “Petty: The Biography”. A skillful writer doesn’t pull you along so much as ask you to join. Zanes does this exactly in this book — tells you the Tom Petty story while offering all kinds of insights. Zanes made me think about how I could use Petty’s approach to music and business in my own creative endeavours.
Now every biography is at best an incomplete picture and that’s part of the deal we, as readers, make with a book. There are things in “Petty: The Biography” that I wish Zanes had delved deeper into and there were other things that I felt had too much detail. I’m sure someone else reading the book may have the exact opposite reaction. In the end though, all of my armchair quarterbacking doesn’t change the fact that “Petty: The Biography” is easily one of the better music biographies I’ve read. It is, as the cliché goes, a good read and I’m thankful it helped get me out of my reading rut.
’73 (Live in the Studio)
Like most writers, I find it tough to single out which of my tunes I like “better” than others. Some pieces are a true struggle to write and record and some just seem to flow right from the beginning. Some of my songs work great live and others, well, not so much. That said, ’73 is one of those pieces that, if you twist my arm, I’d put into the “like better” category. Here’s a live in the studio version of ’73. Thanks for taking the time to listen and I hope you like the music.
“That’s How I Got To Memphis” (Live in the Studio)
My live in the studio take on Tom T. Hall’s classic song “That’s How I Got To Memphis”.
“Just Now” (Live in the Studio)
Here’s a live in the studio version of “Just Now” from my album, A Perfect Tomorrow. I released A Perfect Tomorrow back in 2000 and I’ve played “Just Now” on countless gigs — the tune always seems to push me to try and play/improvise something new. Thanks for listening!
“The Street Below” (Live in the Studio)
This is a live in the studio version of “The Street Below” from my debut album, Jamie Bonk. I wrote this tune all the way back in 1991 when Sonya and I were living in an apartment on a somewhat busy downtown Toronto street. We’re living in an apartment in Port Moody now, above a different (and thankfully calmer) street, but for me not a lot has changed. I still like looking at the traffic passing by, still like staying up way too late and I still like (even after 30 years!) playing “The Street Below”. Thank you for taking the time to listen and, as always, I hope you like the music.
“Little Bit” – Nominated for Best Acoustic Single (8th Annual OWMR Awards)
My single “Little Bit” has been nominated for Best Acoustic Single (8th Annual OWMR Awards)!
“Me and You” (Live in the Studio)
Here’s a live in the studio vocal version of my song “Me and You”. I recorded this originally as an instrumental on my album Who Said It Was Easy?, but I think it works pretty well as a vocal tune too. Hope you like the music!
Art Focus Artists’ Association Virtual Art Show “Visions and Vistas”
So happy to have my music and some shots with me playing around Port Coquitlam included in the Art Focus Artists’ Association of Port Coquitlam Virtual Art Show “Visions and Vistas”. Art Focus, Babylon Film Studios and Tri-Cities Community TV did fantastic work putting together the four videos which showcase over 80 original artworks. For more info, please visit artfocusartistsassociation.com
Jamie Bonk 