This story has become a favorite of mine mainly because I get to say the phrase "Muhammad, may peace be upon him" three times in the story. I'm not sure why, but getting to say that phrase makes me happy.
At the beginning of this story, I mention the source of this tale being the Andrew Lang Fairy books (specifically the Orange Fairy book). If you are interested in faery tales of any kind, I suggest you start with these (there are 12 in the series), and the links I have provided allow you to read the stories online.
This story was recorded at Hurley's Irish Pub (Montreal, Quebec) in October of 2010 when I was asked to replace the mighty Mike Burns, who was suffering from the flu at that time.
A Glimpse of Paradise -- Told by JD Hickey (8:06 minutes)
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Saturday, June 4, 2011
TaelStrum gets rave reviews!
After our one show at the Montreal Fringe Festival 2011, here's one of the reviews we got:
Reviewed by Gaëtan L. CharleboisAwesome! We're so excited!
I had actually gone to the venue to see After The Storm but, as happens during the Fringe, there was a switcheroo and I found myself in this other show once again involving music man Shayne Gryn. I'm game for damn near anything in the Fringe and hoped that whatever Gryn et al. would offer would make up for the ugly space. Generally it did, though I am not a fan of story telling. David Hickey, the raconteur, has a good repertoire, though, and Gryn's accompaniment and occasional lovingly played and sung solos made the hour pass quickly and well. The duo play together at bars and pubs around the city, and elements of both their work will be part of the show I did not get to see, After the Storm.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Montreal Fringe Festival: After the Storm
I'll be taking part in a collective piece during the Montreal Fringe Festival put together by Headless Goat Productions. I won't be in every show (due largely to scheduling conflicts), but I am committing to the following dates:
After the Storm: St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival
DATES: June 2, 4, 5, 9, 16, 17
LOCATION: MAI 3680 Jeanne-Mance #460 (OFF-D)
TICKETS: $10 to $12 available through the Fringe Box Office
(listed as After The Storm) 514-849-FEST
After the Storm: St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival
DATES: June 2, 4, 5, 9, 16, 17
LOCATION: MAI 3680 Jeanne-Mance #460 (OFF-D)
TICKETS: $10 to $12 available through the Fringe Box Office
(listed as After The Storm) 514-849-FEST
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Feed the Right Wolf
I was chatting with a couple of friends the other day when one friend said that Science held all the truth that people could ever need, while religion served only to mislead people by lying to them. I suggested that religion was actually performance art and it used myth to explore truths that could not be fully understood or explored by Science or Logic. My friend strongly disagreed with me, saying that religion was dangerous because the gullible put more faith in it than the truth of Science. This fact terrified her and she even went so far to say that my own spiritual beliefs scared her. Remembering an old adage that said you should never debate religion or politics in a bar, I let the matter drop.
Since that discussion the following story has been coming up quite often. Whether it be coincidence or not, I've decided to post it here to keep track of it, but also to remind me of the wolf I should be feeding rather than giving into despair or wallowing in the horribleness of people and world events (which usually gets posted on Facebook).
Yes, there are terrible people and terrible things in this world, but I prefer to celebrate beauty, kindness, and generosity rather than gorge myself on the pornography of terror, violence, and the horrible depths of human depravity.
The Two Wolves
A Cherokee elder was teaching his grandchildren about life.
He said to them, “A fight is going on inside me… it is a terrible fight between two wolves.
One wolf represents fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, hatefulness, and lies.
The other stands for joy, peace, love, hope, humbleness, kindness, friendship, generosity, faith, and truth.
This same fight is going on inside of you, and inside every other person, too.”
The children thought about it for a minute. Then one child asked his grandfather,
“Which wolf will win?”
The Cherokee elder replied…
“The one you feed.”
Since that discussion the following story has been coming up quite often. Whether it be coincidence or not, I've decided to post it here to keep track of it, but also to remind me of the wolf I should be feeding rather than giving into despair or wallowing in the horribleness of people and world events (which usually gets posted on Facebook).
Yes, there are terrible people and terrible things in this world, but I prefer to celebrate beauty, kindness, and generosity rather than gorge myself on the pornography of terror, violence, and the horrible depths of human depravity.
The Two Wolves
A Cherokee elder was teaching his grandchildren about life.
He said to them, “A fight is going on inside me… it is a terrible fight between two wolves.
One wolf represents fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, hatefulness, and lies.
The other stands for joy, peace, love, hope, humbleness, kindness, friendship, generosity, faith, and truth.
This same fight is going on inside of you, and inside every other person, too.”
The children thought about it for a minute. Then one child asked his grandfather,
“Which wolf will win?”
The Cherokee elder replied…
“The one you feed.”
Monday, May 30, 2011
TaelStrum: After the Storm
http://montrealfringe.ca/en/spectacles/after-the-storm
http://headlessgoat.com/
DATE: Friday June 3rd at 18h00
LOCATION: MAI 3680 Jeanne-Mance #460 (OFF-D)
TICKETS: $10 to $12 available through the Fringe Box Office
(listed as After The Storm) 514-849-FEST
TaelStrum is the duo of storyteller John David Hickey (aka "Hobbes") and musician/singer Shayne Gryn. The pair have been performing together for several years bringing a unique mix of storytelling and music to various cafes, pubs, and stages in and around Montreal.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
May Story: The King and his Cow
I've just completed our whirlwind, cross-Canada, two-city storytelling tour with Marie Bilodeau. It started in April in Montreal and ended in Ottawa in May. What an awesome tour! We would've kept going, but all the roadies have either expired, run away, or were jailed. It's a rock'n roll life, this storytelling gig.
On the upside, I got to record a new story that I haven't told in several years. I heard this story years ago at some festival and I was told it was a Jewish folktale, but I haven't been able to find a reference for it. I hadn't planned on telling it, but I wanted to give the audience a story that they had never heard from me, and seeing as it was Spring, having a good cow story seemed appropriate.
This show was held at Maxwell's Bistro in Ottawa and it was an awesome performance space. Thanks be to the fabulous audience for mooing so pathetically on cue.
My heartfelt thanks to Marie Bilodeau who shared this tour (and more than a few roadies, I might add (that woman's appetite is voracious!)) with me. She's awesome and if you get a chance to see her tell or read her books, please do so. You will not be disappointed.
Also, mucho thanks to Ruthanne Edward and Rusty Priske who not only attended the show, but also performed in it. Rusty performed two of my favourite poems of his, so I was very happy and honored.
The King and his Cow -- Told by JD Hickey (6:27 minutes)
On the upside, I got to record a new story that I haven't told in several years. I heard this story years ago at some festival and I was told it was a Jewish folktale, but I haven't been able to find a reference for it. I hadn't planned on telling it, but I wanted to give the audience a story that they had never heard from me, and seeing as it was Spring, having a good cow story seemed appropriate.
This show was held at Maxwell's Bistro in Ottawa and it was an awesome performance space. Thanks be to the fabulous audience for mooing so pathetically on cue.
My heartfelt thanks to Marie Bilodeau who shared this tour (and more than a few roadies, I might add (that woman's appetite is voracious!)) with me. She's awesome and if you get a chance to see her tell or read her books, please do so. You will not be disappointed.
Also, mucho thanks to Ruthanne Edward and Rusty Priske who not only attended the show, but also performed in it. Rusty performed two of my favourite poems of his, so I was very happy and honored.
The King and his Cow -- Told by JD Hickey (6:27 minutes)
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Easter Story: The Giant's Garden
Happy Easter to all of you! I hope you were able to spend your Easter weekend with family, friends, and assorted loved ones. Please accept my apologies for the lateness of this post, but we were entertaining friends from Toronto and San Francisco, so the weekend was simply packed.
I'm sure you've noticed I've been posting less lately. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to record as many shows as I would have liked over the past year, so I'm starting to run out of recordings to post! This recording was made on April 17th at Hurley's Irish Pub (with special guest Marie Bilodeau of Ottawa). This was the first session of our cross-Canada two-city tour, which means the final leg of our tour will be taking place on May 14th in Ottawa (Facebook event, Blog post). If you're going to be in Ottawa that weekend, I hope you'll join us!
Also, faithful readers/listeners may notice that I posted another recording of this same story in April 2010. I don't usually repost stories, but I really like this version of the story (especially since it made a fella in the audience cry). The Giant's Garden is based on Oscar Wilde's classic literary tale The Selfish Giant.
As usual, the chocolate bunny on strings is Shayne Gryn.
The Giant's Garden -- Told by JD Hickey (7:03 minutes)
I'm sure you've noticed I've been posting less lately. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to record as many shows as I would have liked over the past year, so I'm starting to run out of recordings to post! This recording was made on April 17th at Hurley's Irish Pub (with special guest Marie Bilodeau of Ottawa). This was the first session of our cross-Canada two-city tour, which means the final leg of our tour will be taking place on May 14th in Ottawa (Facebook event, Blog post). If you're going to be in Ottawa that weekend, I hope you'll join us!
Also, faithful readers/listeners may notice that I posted another recording of this same story in April 2010. I don't usually repost stories, but I really like this version of the story (especially since it made a fella in the audience cry). The Giant's Garden is based on Oscar Wilde's classic literary tale The Selfish Giant.
As usual, the chocolate bunny on strings is Shayne Gryn.
The Giant's Garden -- Told by JD Hickey (7:03 minutes)
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Storytelling in April/May 2011
Join storytellers JD “Hobbes” Hickey and Marie Bilodeau, with Shayne Gryn on strings, for an evening full of wonder, drama, laughter, music, and downright silliness.
This is Hobbes and Marie’s whirlwind, cross-country, two-city tour. They kick-off this storytelling tour-de-force in Montreal (April 17th) and end it in Ottawa (May 14th)! Crazy schedule! Even though they’ll surely be hoarse by the time they reach Ottawa in May, you can be sure that all they’ll want to do is tell more tales.
Featuring:
Marie Bilodeau, author of the “Heirs of a Broken Land” trilogy and “Destiny’s Blood” — http://mariebilodeau.blogspot.com/
TaelStrum (Hobbes & Shayne) — http://www.documentia.ca/taelstrum/
Montreal show:
April 17th, 7pm to 9pm
Hurley’s Irish pub
1225 Crescent St, Montreal
Google Map
Facebook Event
Ottawa show
May 14th,
Maxwell’s Bistro & Club
340 Elgin, Ottawa, ON
Google map
Facebook Event
This is Hobbes and Marie’s whirlwind, cross-country, two-city tour. They kick-off this storytelling tour-de-force in Montreal (April 17th) and end it in Ottawa (May 14th)! Crazy schedule! Even though they’ll surely be hoarse by the time they reach Ottawa in May, you can be sure that all they’ll want to do is tell more tales.
Featuring:
Marie Bilodeau, author of the “Heirs of a Broken Land” trilogy and “Destiny’s Blood” — http://mariebilodeau.blogspot.com/
TaelStrum (Hobbes & Shayne) — http://www.documentia.ca/taelstrum/
Montreal show:
April 17th, 7pm to 9pm
Hurley’s Irish pub
1225 Crescent St, Montreal
Google Map
Facebook Event
Ottawa show
May 14th,
Maxwell’s Bistro & Club
340 Elgin, Ottawa, ON
Google map
Facebook Event
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Really big PJs
Today on International Women's Day, I posted this music video by Storm Large called "8 Miles Wide" on my Facebook page to celebrate the fantastical presence of the strong women in my life (Warning: contains some adult language and images):
I was chatting with my friend Kat about the song and how catchy it is, but how it's not really kid-friendly. She then came up with a kid-friendly title of "My Pyjamas are 8 Miles Wide", which inspired me to rewrite the lyrics as follows:
If I ever get anyone into it, it would be a blast to record our own video and put it on YouTube. Another project to work on...
I was chatting with my friend Kat about the song and how catchy it is, but how it's not really kid-friendly. She then came up with a kid-friendly title of "My Pyjamas are 8 Miles Wide", which inspired me to rewrite the lyrics as follows:
My Pajamas are 8 Miles Wide
Based on Storm Large's "8 Miles Wide"
Lyrics by JD Hickey (March 2011)
Inspired by K. Summerbell
All of my life
They've never fit
But I won't complain and I won't quit
I'm ready for bed
So get over it
Everyone tells me I'm too much
Maybe it's just its not big enough for me
Can't you see
I'm gonna wrap myself up and be comfy
[chorus]
My pajamas are 8 miles wide
Absolutely everyone can come inside
If you can't cuddle, just run and hide
My pajamas are 8 miles wide
Tell me what is comfortable to you
Soft like cloud, strong like a suit
It's cool if it's snugly
But way better if it's cute
For all of those who'd rather sexy lingerie
I say go Amazonian
You can be slip into a Tarzan jammies
And be feminine
[chorus]
When I snuggle in bed and I close the door
I pull up the sheets and I want to warm
My super comfortastically mystical feminine goddess-core
And I hate it when women make those rants
About tank tops, boxers, or pants
There's nothing quite like cotton
To kick-start an all-night romance
[bridge]
My pajamas
They're universal
Soft like a house coat
But transportable
Sit next to me, the hot cocoa's fine
They're not my pajamas
They're our pajamas
[harmony chorus]
[just the boys]
[everyone]
Wide
Wide
Gigantic
Gigantic
Gigantic
A big soft hug
Gigantic
Gigantic
Gigantic
A big soft hug
If I ever get anyone into it, it would be a blast to record our own video and put it on YouTube. Another project to work on...
Monday, February 28, 2011
My first foray in the Spoken Word World
I say that it was my first time, but technically it was my second. A couple of years ago, I was asked to tell a story during a Coco Cafe evening that was to raise awareness for the Leukemia Registry and to help Heal Emru, but in that evening, I had no restrictions placed upon me.
Last night, I went to a Throw Poetry Collective evening at Le Divan Orange, which is held on the last Sunday of each month in Montreal. It was a small crowd (it was Oscar night and La Nuit Blanche was the night before, so those could've been factors), but they were eager and responsive. I was warmly greeted at the door, encouraged to add my name to the list of performers, and I found a comfy spot in a corner.
The crowd was pretty young, mostly on the University side of things, but most of them seem to know each other. I even ran into an old storyteller compatriot (Isabelle St-Pierre) who was there to share her latest poetic journey tale.
The setup of the evening is pretty simple: There were 8 performers, each being give 3:10 minutes to perform their piece. They are then scored by 5 judges in terms of content, presentation, and stage presence. The top 4 of these performers are selected for a second round, where they need to present a new piece. Points are deducted for going over the time limit (.5 points per 10 seconds) and the top three winners are announced. Between the first and second round, there is an invited artist who performs.
In the first round, I told Truth and Story, which fit inside the 3:10 limit easily. To my surprise, my overall score was in the lower 9s (out of 10), so I made it to the second round.
This was were my downfall occurred. I didn't realize there would be a second round, and I never dreamed I would qualify for this mythical second round, so I didn't have a second piece prepared. I quickly picked a second story (Love and Madness), mentally tore as many feathers off it as I could to make it fit the 3:10 limit, and delivered it as best I could.
The crowd loved it. The judges loved it. My final score was in the mid-to-upper 9s, but unfortunately, I went over the time limit by 30 seconds, which meant I lost 1.5 points, bringing me to the sad end of 4th place in the second round. Pooh.
Still, it was an awesome evening. I sat gobsmacked watching these artists deliver their pieces. Everyone has such raw talent, such hardcore passion, which is something that is not always present in storytelling performances. This is probably one of the reasons that Spoken Word is cooler and Storytelling is dorkier.
I've already mentally pulled the feathers off "The Blue Hippo" story, which makes a 12 minute story fit in the 3 minute limit, and I'm setting my sights on other stories in my repertoire. I've also dusted off my old poetry brain to see if the old girl's got any juice left in her. I'm not sure where this Spoken Word thing will lead, but I willing to try it out!
Update: the recordings of my stories from that night were put on YouTube! Thanks be to Throw Poetry Collective!
Truth & Story
Love & Madness
Last night, I went to a Throw Poetry Collective evening at Le Divan Orange, which is held on the last Sunday of each month in Montreal. It was a small crowd (it was Oscar night and La Nuit Blanche was the night before, so those could've been factors), but they were eager and responsive. I was warmly greeted at the door, encouraged to add my name to the list of performers, and I found a comfy spot in a corner.
The crowd was pretty young, mostly on the University side of things, but most of them seem to know each other. I even ran into an old storyteller compatriot (Isabelle St-Pierre) who was there to share her latest poetic journey tale.
The setup of the evening is pretty simple: There were 8 performers, each being give 3:10 minutes to perform their piece. They are then scored by 5 judges in terms of content, presentation, and stage presence. The top 4 of these performers are selected for a second round, where they need to present a new piece. Points are deducted for going over the time limit (.5 points per 10 seconds) and the top three winners are announced. Between the first and second round, there is an invited artist who performs.
In the first round, I told Truth and Story, which fit inside the 3:10 limit easily. To my surprise, my overall score was in the lower 9s (out of 10), so I made it to the second round.
This was were my downfall occurred. I didn't realize there would be a second round, and I never dreamed I would qualify for this mythical second round, so I didn't have a second piece prepared. I quickly picked a second story (Love and Madness), mentally tore as many feathers off it as I could to make it fit the 3:10 limit, and delivered it as best I could.
The crowd loved it. The judges loved it. My final score was in the mid-to-upper 9s, but unfortunately, I went over the time limit by 30 seconds, which meant I lost 1.5 points, bringing me to the sad end of 4th place in the second round. Pooh.
Still, it was an awesome evening. I sat gobsmacked watching these artists deliver their pieces. Everyone has such raw talent, such hardcore passion, which is something that is not always present in storytelling performances. This is probably one of the reasons that Spoken Word is cooler and Storytelling is dorkier.
I've already mentally pulled the feathers off "The Blue Hippo" story, which makes a 12 minute story fit in the 3 minute limit, and I'm setting my sights on other stories in my repertoire. I've also dusted off my old poetry brain to see if the old girl's got any juice left in her. I'm not sure where this Spoken Word thing will lead, but I willing to try it out!
Update: the recordings of my stories from that night were put on YouTube! Thanks be to Throw Poetry Collective!
Truth & Story
Love & Madness
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