Cat Jahnke Mews

12/6/07 – Saskatoon, Wildwood Mennonite Church

I’ve got my dentist in Toronto. I’ve got my aesthetician north of Saskatoon. I’ve got my car dealership in Lethbridge. Now all I need is a gynecologist somewhere in the Yukon and I’m set!

This sign was near the salon in Warman where I go to be pampered
(if having hair ripped out of your eyebrow area can be considered luxurious).
“Warm Up With Chili Flavoured Cappuccino”?? If you say so…

It’s SOOOO good to spend time with family. I can’t even begin to describe the thirst I had for seeing my kin, and the resulting misery at realizing that the craving could not be slaked by visits crammed in to the tiny scraps of time I had between shows. I managed to leave the city and carry on with the tour ONLY because I know I will be returning for a proper visit after the holidays.

Hug someone you love today!

Speaking of someone I love, Cam Fuller at the Saskatoon Star Phoenix is a jewel. Never in the history of news reporting has there been a better headline than: “Jahnke Avoids Schmaltz..”

Click the image to read the full article.

The show tonight was rejuvenating. I am thankful every day for Darren’s geekiness, for without it I would not have had the capabilities to present my new Christmas album with backing vocals. It was a nice way to debut O Night Divine and I was very glad that so many of my closest peeps were in the audience to witness it. I am a big fan of the holiday season and apparently I turn into a little bit of a suck when I start thinking of the big picture.

We even had the chance to show a couple films that we scored recently. One of these films, Ctrl Z, is actually up for an award at the Sundance Film Festival in 2008. For more info about the film visit: http://ctrlzmovie.com/index.htm . You can watch and rate the five finalist films at http://www.delta.com/flyinmovies . The filmmaker with the highest average rating wins an amazing prize package to be presented at the festival– so please spread the word. We love our director friend and would love to see him honored as he deserves to be.

Thanks so much to Pauline at Wildwood Mennonite Church for helping make everything happen tonight. And thanks especially to my mom and sister for filling in the blanks and making sure it all ran smoothly. XOXO

10/15/07 – Voodoo’s, Penticton

While I could never call myself a morning person, there are a few things that wake me up more efficiently than an alarm clock. I thought that a good meal of toast and eggs would top the list, but I have a new favorite: sunrise bowling. Perhaps my fondness extends so far because my confidence is lazy and will take any fluke and turn it into a triumph.

Ten-Pin in the AM
(click the image to watch the video)

I honestly used to have a recurring dream about a shelf you could climb and the strange world beyond. It did not look unlike this! Beyond THIS porthole is Lorne’s forest helipad, which is deliciously strange. Thanks for making my dreams come true Lorne!

It has become an obsession with me to make sure I’m getting enough fruits and vegetables while on the road. I was enjoying these luscious (and EXPENSIVE!) red raspberries until I spied this SNAIL curled up cozily in the corner…

To round out this surreal day I played at Voodoo’s tonight. Below the sign advertising “Addictions” and “Majik Potions”, I practiced saying “I have to pee” in German, I ate vegetables in the dark, and I signed a poster to a young woman’s fickle love interest: “To a heartbreaker – I write songs about people like you…”

(The title for this blog is from the film Beetlejuice, of course. This LINK is one of my favorite scenes from the movie and if Catherine O’Hara didn’t deserve an Oscar for this performance than I don’t know who else could qualify…)

10/4/07 – Quincy Marie’s, Airdrie

I have a new supporter and he’s really tall.

Me and Brian Jackson from the Rocky View School Division

I am honored when folks tell me that they have enjoyed the words I offer in my songs. It fascinates me to hear what meaning was gleaned, and I am even more intrigued when the significance differs from what I had intended. For that reason I rarely offer my own specific muse.

It is most likely selfishness then that was the main thrill when I learned that a few of my songs might be discussed in a classroom setting. Of course I’m excited that Canadian content music is being brought into schools as a learning tool. Of course I’m excited that music in general is still cherished. (I remember hearing Celine Dion’s “Incognito” – in my French immersion classes!) Of course I’m excited that a whole new generation of young songwriters will be coming up to crowd the already competitive independent music scene!

Thanks so much for your support Ralph McCall School!

The new manifestation of Quincy Marie’s vegetable torte. Dee-licious!

Wow. What can I say? This one day at Komasket was unlike anything I had imagined. Looking back, it seems like it lasted for much longer than 24 hours. I woke up, I warmed up, I played, I tossed the disc, I sweated, I shared several unforgettable meals with several unforgettable people, I waded in the water, I ogled all the cherubic children toddling around, I ogled all the gorgeous women in their gorgeous handmade clothing, I got a back massage in the performer’s tent and had a wonderful discussion with my skilled masseuse, and I did so much more! That’s twice as much as I’d do in a month back at home.

How can you have a bad day when you wake up to this?

What happens at a music festival to charge the air with good will and familiarity? I was cautious with my expensive musical gear, but I left it relatively unguarded. I spoke with strangers, even accepted food from them, and felt more safe than holed up in my basement at home. I hugged impetuously. I walked in my bare-feet unflinchingly. I slept soundly among thousands.

I remember my first visit to the Winnipeg Folk Fest many years ago. For the first few days I experienced a pocket of humanity unlike anything I’d encountered before. Accidentally stepping on someone’s toe would more likely bring about a new friendship than a new animosity. Children roamed free, food exchanged generously and there was a blanket of camaraderie over the entire festival.

By Sunday night, however, I was starting to sense the return of a more restrained joviality. Folks were still friendly, but a readjustment was necessarily taking place to protect from the inevitable shock upon re-entering the real world. Why must we go back?

I left Komasket before the sparkles had time to fizzle. I can’t wait to go back!

Great amazing wonderful time at the Free Times Caf.. here in Toronto. I’d been shivering all day and couldn’t bear the thought of singing cold so I started the show off with a quick session of free hugs. The supporters who came out tonight seemed up for anything and were very enthusiastic and generous with the arm-love. A few even remembered to come visit me up on stage! Check out the inspiration:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL7Jo_1Z3Y8

Now, that’s a revolution that I can definitely be a part of!

RenegadePress.com is a Canadian television program which follows the story of two teenagers who are determined to expose the truth concerning the lives of today’s youth using an e-zine as their platform. Music supervisor, David J Taylor, has placed “Forever For Now”, a track from Cat’s latest album “None Of Those Things”, in two upcoming episodes of the show. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

I was watching Gene Wilder hide under a desk when the telephone rang. It was Hollywood and they had a plaque for me.

THE LAUDING
I was being recognized for composing the Best Original Score for Joel Veenstra’s FREE OF CHARGE (directed by Robert Kirbyson), a short film playing at the 168 Hour Film Festival. It was like being paid twice for something you’d volunteered to do: offered free inspiration one minute, and congratulations the next. The surefire way to get that ink a-flowing is to write straight from someone else’s heart.

THE JUDGE
Now I understand that this festival is somewhat off the radar up here and so it falls on me to convey the magnitude of this honor in order to justify my tremendous gratitude. Therefore, do not judge me for blatant name-dropping, I’m just doing my job. I am not aware of the identity of every panelist, but one in particular has been made known and that is Ralph Winter, producer of several major motion pictures including Fantastic Four and X-men. And that’s enough for me.

THE COMPETITION
We all know that it’s no fun to win a punching competition against a swarm of children (unless of course you’re a child yourself, or a very mean person); Goliath would not have been praised had he beaten the boy. This was the soundtrack scene and I was the green musician and they were the wise old souls. Carl Rydlund, for example, was the orchestrator on such films as Chocolat, Panic Room and 50 First Dates. And Bryan E. Miller has created music for Honda, the Hyatt hotels, Kodak and Yamaha, among many others. I was no Goliath.

THE RESULT
I had always looked forward to the day when my broken accordion would have better company on the shelf than the phallic statue my friend brought home from Korea. That day has come.

THE GRATITUDE
Thank you Joel and Rob. Thank you Grit Multimedia. Thank you 168 Hour Film Festival. Hi mom.