[October 2006]

Fall Tours

Just like the message on a government phone line says, we’re experiencing heavier than normal traffic this fall. Our October and November schedule is good and heavy, just like we like it. We’re covering most of the province again, as well as forays into BC. We hit Saskatchewan this summer as well, so our borders are expanding. We’ve been anywhere from Arizona to California, LaCrete Alberta to Yorkton Saskatchewan, played at venues from theatres to community halls, schools to churches, festivals to private functions. Pretty much got immersed in culture; and that’s something coming from somebody with culture growing all over him...

Check the schedule page for when I’m in a town near you. This ought to give you time to excape before I attack your community.

Recording Projects

We’ve been busy in the studio as well. Fred Dobirstein released his third album this summer, and I’ve been on the privileged end of the stick because I got to produce it for him. That’s a scary thought - me managing your budget - but we did it again, and together with his great songwriting ability and working with some of western Canada’s best musicians and a great studio, we were able to crank out a real good project again. Fred’s best by a long shot. Age hasn’t slowed this old boy down yet. That album is called Dancing On The Wind. Let me know if you’d like to order one.

Later in the summer we stopped into the studio for another week, this time to make something for us. The result is a new album - number 5 - entitled Remember The Cross. We’ve had a fair bit of gospel tunes on 3 of the other albums, so we thought we’d compile them into a totally gospel album for them what want just that, and of course we had new material to offer, so we added 7 new songs to the 7 old ones and called it good. The two crowning pieces in my humble estimation are my daughters singing an upbeat country-rock tune - they do all the vocals; lead and harmonies, and a duet with country legend Dick Damron, covering his 1984 Song Of The Year Jesus It’s Me Again. This heart-level ballad turned out incredible. We’ve also recorded live versions of two highly-requested songs from our shows, Streets Of Laredo, with Jake Peters on pennywhistle, and the old hymn Great Is Thy Faithfulness. Pop over to the merch page to hear samples of the album and place your orders.

My oldest daughter Steffi shot all the photography for the album, and that makes a feller seem a little old when he realizes his kids are half growed already.

We’ve got two other projects on the back burner, producing for other artists. The studio we use is a fantastic little gem on the edge of Three Hills, in central Alberta. We offer state-of-the-art technology, great mics, a very knowledgable, competent and award-winning engineer, and access to western Canada’s top musicians in a variety of genres. We just might be what you singer types are looking for. You might want to take a look at the Record Producer page here on the site.

Leanin’ Tree

These poor folks just can’t seem to shake me. Something deep within them keeps coming back for more. Although I haven’t kept the greeting card page updated lately, we still keep adding to their lineup of incredible cards. These folks are quite unique in what they offer - it’s all fine art on their greeting cards. Check them out at your local pharmacy or western store. Our stuff is splattered all across North America.

We’ve got some new ones coming out this year, with a disturbing trend. It seems that whenever they think of a farting concept they all look at each other and say in unison “Ben!”. And of course I’m gullible enough to take the assignment and redneck enough to be flattered.

If you’re taking in the NFR at Lost Wages again this year, pop in to the CCI booth to visit with us. We’ll be there from the 8th to the 12th of December, although the show runs from the 7th to the 14th. You’ll get a chance to meet the other famous western cartoonists, observe them in their natural environment (acting like idiots in public) and even get a chance to rub shoulders with some of the Leanin’ Tree Muckety-Mucks during the same time frame we’re there. Stop in for a visit, would you?

Western Horseman

The folly spreads. Western Horseman Magazine has been featuring my work sporadically - or is that spasmodically - on their famous Just For Grins page, which is a full-page feature normally inhabited by the Great Kings of Cartoonists like Boots Reynolds, Herb Mignery, et al. Check them out at your local news stand. I remember as a kid wishing that some day I might be able to have something in there, but knowing it was all wishful thinking, then one day out of the blue the editor calls me and says he feels it's high time my work started appearing therein. He must of had a strong cup of java that morning, because before the conversation ended they had bought reproduction rights to eight images, to appear in rotation with several other cartoonists. Another dream come true.

The Homeplace

We cozied up to the bank this year and convinced them that their life isn’t enough on the edge, and perhaps they need to take a gamble on a Spasmodic Income Loan to spice up their normally dull life. Even though our income is like a hobo’s meal habits - one day it’s chicken, the next day it’s feathers - they still agreed to pretend we own a big addition to our little trailer. It’s a party room, I tell you. 24x28’, floors and vaulted ceiling are knotty pine, lots of big winders to let the sun and mountain view in, carpeted with burber to keep the noise down to a dull roar, 2 poker tables with chandeliers, a 9-foot bar that holds alot of bowls of chips and beer nuts, and a big old seating area for when you’re tired of getting beat at cards or Rummoli. There’s a cast-iron gas-fired stove in the corner and lots of tropical looking plants (fake, because we kill real ones) stashed at strategic places around the room. Palm trees. Bamboo. Looks like a fancy hotel lobby.

The old living room we remodeled into a home theatre, with a 90” screen and projector unit and sound surround. We even insulated the walls so that wouldn’t disturb our poker or Rook games.

So if you happen to drive by and are looking for coffee, call us, and if we’re home we’ll set a place for you. My wife, our Social Events Coordinator, is the ultimate party animal and looking for any excuse to get rowdy. So don’t even think of not stopping as you drive by.

Kids Book

We jumped into a new class of illustration this year, completing 14 illustrations for a new kids book aimed at encouraging boys ages 9 - 12 to read. They thought tall-tale type cowboy poetry, then they thought of me. Funny how that happens. So in the end, Simon and Schuster picked up the distribution, and you can’t get much bigger than that. So check out your local bookstore or library and have them order it in. Ask for ISBN 0-88166-524-X. It’s published by Meadowbrook Press (www.meadowbrookpress.com), written by award-winning children’s author Eric Ode, and entitled Tall Tales Of  The Wild West (And A Few Short Ones). This might make a cool gift for the youngsters in your life this Christmas.

Call me a columnist

I'm already in my third year as a writer - I never thunk I'd be one, but Canadian Cowboy Country Magazine has been so kind to me as to continue to con me into believing I have what their readers want. I have a regular column entitled "Over The Edge" where I write and illustrate stories anywhere from actual events to total made-up lies, all inspired by real life and illustrated accordingly. I've really been enjoying this unexpected foray into the murky waters of journalism. Fodder for a new book?