Mon. 2011-01-17: The longest Blog entry I've EVER posted.

Despite technical difficulties (electronic), and ld gtr & drumr having bn unable to
rehearse several of our unique new musical arrangements, Van Leer-the-band delighted
our followers and made new fans. ~ We got to see/hear all bands xcept the one preceeding us, and EVERY act, including of course the solo set of my longtime friend
Danny Marks, (orig. guitarist of hit recording group Edward Bear, and host of "BluzFM" on 91.1 JazzFM Saturdays 8-to midn't) was of absolute top-flight professional calibre. I was particulary impressed! by "Us", the only band doing a set of 100% original material, and by their dynamic frontwoman/lyricist Marlene. Chk them out online &, better yet, LIVE! ~ BIG ups to: Greg, the house sound tech of the
Birchmount Tavern / ALL members of "The Hinges" particularly guitarist/vocalist Mikey, who aside from ably replacing our 2010 guitarists worked with Coll Audio to
provide a SUPERB backline of Yamaha drum kit, Marshall JMP 2000 1/2-stacks, Orange bass rig and classic late '60s Fender Twin Reverb amp, all in topflite condition...
and SO MUCH MORE that he deserves a separate post (coming later this month, friends)
also drummer John W, replacing Jimmy Cannon & Gordie Grills and others in our 'revolving door' of Van Leer drummers. ~ SPECIAL CATEGORY HERE to praise 1)
bassist-guitarist/b.u. vox/road crew member and dear friend Gord "Wayne" Munzy, and
2)another friend, 2nd vocalist,
percussionist, crew member-when-required and all-'round SHOWMAN Pete Aube'. ~ You who frequent or follow this Blog (and the VanLeer website o'all) will know of our
other musical connection "The Danforth Project" ~ Folks, Wayne & Pete work
HARD. BTW, their wives & immed. families (those whom I've met) are cool, too!

Some folks wanted 2C the "white Leslie": here 'tis!

Upgraded horn driver & 15" woofer handle 85W r.m.s. ~ It contains NO amplifier but we
power it w/ a Peavey "Bass" head. ~ Ht. 33" + sturdy 4"
casters. 20"D, 29"W. ~ A crucial element in the full sound of The Soul Instigators.

Jan. 8th, 2011 IMPORTANT UPDATE!!

Van Leer-the-band DID NOT APPEAR anywhere 3 a.m. Jan. 1 -- event was cancelled. ~ NEXT GTA Van Leer gig is multi-band Event @ Birchmount Tavern Sun. Jan. 16th running 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. ~ VAN LEER hits the stage at 5 p.m. Other bands include The Hinges,
Scarpelli (Gino S., long-time member of Goddo) & AT LEAST 5 others. It's a charitable benefit, so there's a $10 cover charge. Big stage, big p.a. & lights, biggish menu, u r gonna love it! ~
May your 2011 be excellent. ~ Pls watch our GTA Appearances Schedule, BUT if it appears incomplete or non-current, do PLEASE return here to Lee's Blog, where we'll
ALWAYS keep u up2date on Van Leer gigs in the GTA, and any Lee Van Leer guest showcases
w/ other bands. ~ The Birchmount Tavern / Cactus Pete's is highly visible in the
Birchmount Plaza, N.E. corner of Danforth ROAD & Birchmount Ave. ~ R U Red-e turoq? Hopefully we'll see you there!

Event, not2B missed!

THIS SATURDAY, VAN LEER WILL PERFORM IN PUBLIC 4THE 1st TIME SINCE JANUARY 2010, at the Alpine Hotel again on Kingston Rd., E.of Vic. Pk. This is a charitable event w/ 4
other bands, so there'll be a cover charge.~ Start time is 8p.m. ~ 4sure u wanna be there!

Don Paveling & Declan Doran: Heroes, IMHO.

On New Year's Day 1961, used car dlr. Ernie Barnhart introduced me to Ronnie Hawkins.
I heard "Robbie" Robertson play his Tele and on the leads I thought it sounded "thin"
and I formulated A THE0RY, to wit: all u need4 a gd blues tone is 2 pickups & a metal
playing surface on your bridge. ``` ` ````` ` `` ````` ```` `` ` ``````` ` ` `````
``````` ``````` `` ```` ``````. I mean, look at Freddy & Albert King! Don P. & Declan D. played '54-56 LP gold-tops when others around them were buying Teles, and their tone was excellent! SO, I drew a CONCLUSION. Soon Mike Bloomfield, E. Clapton, J. Page & J. Beck were also playing LP's and sounding great. TONE to the BONE, my brothers! Case closed, nya-nya, nya nya-nya. I'd rather hear these gtrs. than attend the Sandy Claws Parade ANY year!

ENDORSEMENTS!

Lee Van Leer and Gord "Wayne" Munzy play Lado and Jillard guitars & basses exclusively, strung with Belltone Strings, their life extended by Stringtreat. Amplification is by Peavey Electronics. ~ Pls visit: www.jillardguitars.com ~
We have no idea who makes our kazoos.

My alien abduction.

When I was visiting Arizontal, Arizona, I was accosted by four Mexican nationals who possessed no documentation whatever. Three of my abductors looked like, uh, mid-30s male hispanics. The fourth was completely covered in curly, off-white fur, and she BLEATED. The three males lifted me and loaded me into a white Ford van with a cereal box where the rear license plate should have been. Their apparent leader asked of me many questions in heavily accented English, including if I knew the location of a peyote cactus. When I replied that I did not, my interrogator became very agitated
and smashed a plate of poutine into my face. ~ 2B continued.