November Story: The Man with No Story

I was pleased to have the privilege of spending my All Hallows Eve in a pub telling tales. Thanks be to Mike who trusted me with this sacred task! I was also honored to share the stage with Sarah, Jack, and Ruthanne Edward from Ottawa who regaled us with a couple of ghostly and ghastly tales herself.

As mentioned in the recording, this is a story that Mike Burns often tells at this time of year, but that he also published in a collection of tales called Ghostwise. This link allows you to read this story as well.

I also talk about my latest CD in this recording and have included it as a shameless plug. If you don't have the CD, why do you continue to deny yourself such pleasures? You can download the tracks from the CD for cheap by visiting CDBaby.

So, without further ado, here's the story:

Where in the World is Rikki Santiago?

Our good friend Rikki Lacoste has mysteriously disappeared, but like in the Blair Witch Project, his podcast was found. Have a listen to the latest episode of his podcast Kakophonos where Rikki managed to cobble together a few terrifying Canadian storytellers and their tales of the macabre celebrating those things that go bump in the night.

Warning: the podcast does use some strong language. Parental discretion is advised.

Halloween Storytelling at Hurley's

Normally, Mike Burns would be telling us frightful Irish tales for the season, but unfortunately he's not feeling well, so he has asked me to step into the role of storyteller.  Join us for an evening of ghostly, ghastly, and demonic tales that celebrate those dark things that go bump in the night.


Hurley's Halloween Storytelling
Sunday, October 31 · 7:00pm - 9:30pm
Hurley' Irish Pub
1225 rue Crescent
Montreal, QC
Facebook Event

October Story: Skeleton Woman

Sorry for the long silence, but I've been away to France for 10 days. We had a wonderful time, took loads of pictures, drank wine and champagne, and ate too much cheese and sausage. I can't wait to go back.

This month's story was told during the 92 Degrees of Love show back in February 2010. Uncharacteristically, Shayne is not playing music with this story. Instead, I'll be playing the drum! I think this is the second time I play the drum while telling at it really is tricky to get it right.

I find the Skeleton Woman story to be an odd mix of creepy and endearing. With the coming of Halloween, the end of summer, and the beginning of winter, I find this story contains many themes. I hope you enjoy it.

UPDATE: The version below is not from the February 2010 show, but from about 6 years later in Ottawa during a show called Blood and Bones, as recorded at the Origin Studio.

Guest Poem: Peach Creamed Honey

A month ago, I attended a spoken word event called Wired on Words (hosted by Ian Ferrier) at Casa Del Popolo. I met up with my friend Ruthanne who told me about the event and I met her friend Amal El-Mohtar. Amal is a poet from Ottawa who has recently published a book of poetry called "The Honey Month".

After hearing her read from her book, I immediately purchased a copy and I love it. With her kind permission, I have recorded a poem from her book called Day Two. What's cool about this collection of poetry is its origins (from her website):

28 days there are in the month of February, a cold month in our part of the world, a month in which the summer seems an endless dream one had once, long ago. We should not be tricked by the frost, for it was during the dreaming month of February that Amal El-Mohtar composed The Honey Month, a book that tastes and smells of sun. Each day she uncapped a vial of honey, letting the brew inspire the words that became this book. Amal offers us much more than poetry and prose, however. Her words wrap around us like spiderwebs, gently pulling us into the web she weaves, where honey girls tempt and tease us, where things lost return and sorrow paints the leaves. This is a colourful book, but it is by no means a frivolous one. Remember, not all honey is sweet.

To read more about this book and its authoer, please visit Papaveria Press. The music is called La Vibora by The Paperboys from the The Road to Ellenside album.


Day Two of The Honey Month (3:14 minutes)

August Story: The Maiden and the Mirror

I'm starting to run out of recordings to post! That's the summer for you: storytelling tends to be an activity for the Autumn/Winter months when people are happy to be indoors, snuggled up next to a fire. Unfortunately, due to a bunch of mishaps, I wasn't able to record my final show at Hurleys, which is a damn shame 'cause it was awesome. I hope you were able to make it.

The Bard's New Hat CD is selling bit by bit and I'm getting great feedback on it. I'm more than half-way to my goal of 180 CDs sold, so that's encouraging. I'm trying to schedule some shows in Ottawa and Quebec city in the coming months, so stay tuned to this website and we might be able to bring our stories to a cafe/pub near you!

Today's story was taken from a collection of bedtime stories called 365 Bedtime Stories by Christine Allison. It was recorded in Montreal in February 2010 at Cafe 92 Degrees with the mystical Shayne Gryn on guitar. It's one of those poignant stories that moves me, but it's not a traditional plot-driven tale. It reminds me of a painting that is so moving, you can't stop finding new aspects to it.

I'd also like to dedicate this story to Isaac Bonewits who is resting quietly in his home and waiting for his time to come. Isaac is a favorite author of mine and I had the pleasure to meet him in late 2009 in Ottawa at a speaking engagement. In late 2009, he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. He went through several treatments over the following months, and although the treatments were going well, things have taken a turn for the worse.

The latest note from his partner Phaedra Bonewits (taken from Facebook):
Just wanted to address the rumors that Isaac is back in the hospital. He is at home as he had wished, but he is nearing the end. His brothers and sisters are on their way to say goodbye. Please keep us all in your thoughts and prayers.

You can read more about this on his blog and Facebook fan page:
Blog: http://neopagan.net/blog/?tag=cancer
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/isaac.phaedra.bonewits

Unlike Lilly Chen, I don't pretend to think that Isaac was goodness itself. But I know that he's been a positive influence on many, many people through his books and just by being who he is. I wish him a smooth and painless passage to the Summerlands and offer my sympathies to his wife Phaedra and I hope she leans on her family and friends during this difficult time.

Update from Phaedra Bonewits (http://www.facebook.com/#!/isaac.phaedra.bonewits):
This morning, August 12, 2010 at approximately 8 AM ET, Isaac Bonewits passed away peacefully in his sleep. All his brothers and sisters arrived at his side last night. His family and friends surround him

The Maiden & the Mirror -- Told by JD Hickey (4:55 minutes)

Bard's New Hat is on CDBaby!

My latest CD The Bard's New Hat is now available on CDBaby! You can either order a physical copy of the CD or download the entire album as a set of MP3s. As of today, the MP3s aren't available yet, but they should be by the end of the week.

If you think you're going to see me in person soon, you might want to wait until we cross-paths. But if you just can't wait, CDBaby might be a good option for you. The tracks should also be available on iTunes in a few weeks as well.

If you already have a copy of my CD and enjoyed listening to it, please visit my CDBaby page and leave a glowing review to encourage others to buy it! Thanks for your support!

July Story: The Samurai and the Teamaster

This is a story I heard many years ago by a few tellers, each with their own version, each with their own ending. However, I wasn't satisfied with any of their endings, so I came up with my own. I hope you enjoy it.

This story was recorded in April 2010 at Cafe 92 Degrees, featuring Shayne Gryn on guitar.

I would also like to dedicate this story to Rick, who says this is his favorite story from me, and to Brendan R., who says I tell this story too often. What can I say? Some stories haunt me.

The Samurai and the Teamaster -- Told by JD Hickey (5:12 minutes)

Storytelling at Hurley's Irish Pub in July

Join us for an evening of storytelling and music with Shayne Gryn and friends at Hurley's Irish pub. This is the third and last time I'll be standing in for Mike Burns as he gallivants across Ireland.

This will also be the official CD Launch party for my new CD "The Bard's New Hat". You can by your own copy for the ridiculously low price of $10 a copy.

You can read more about the CD here:
http://www.documentia.ca/storyteller/store.html

NOTE: For my Ontario friends, I may be organizing a CD Launch in Ottawa in August or September, so stay tuned for that!

Date: Sunday, July 25, 2010
Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Location: Hurley's Irish Pub
Street: 1225 rue Crescent (Montreal)
Facebook Event Page

Odd Referrals

I was just checking my webstats for this blog and noticed an odd thing. If someone finds this blogcast using a search engine with keywords, I can see what the keywords are. Today, there were two entries for Google searches using the keywords:

"likes the truth" "the naked truth"

I think someone heard my telling of Truth and Story and tried to track me down with keywords from the tale. Fear not True Believer! The story postings you are looking for could be:

Truth and Story: the written text
Truth and Story: the told tale

Of course, I could mention that Truth and Story is just one of many tracks on my new CD The Bard's New Hat, but that would be self-serving and I would never fall victim to such practices.

Never. Ever.