Tonight at the Port Theatre in Nanaimo. “Odds: In a Good Weird Story”. It’s the first night of our “play”. There are movies and pictures and some good laughs. Only the band will be crying. Saturday at the Cowichan Theatre in Duncan. Sunday at the Tidemark in Campbell River. Wendy is flying in from Michigan. Dayna is winging in from Ontario. My mom and dad are riding a motorcycle there. Free admission to anyone on a 6-foot unicycle.

The construction crew arrived at the Roxy to repair the arse that was           “predictably” torn out of the club by our show. And if we didn’t do enough damage, then surprise guests  Barenaked Ladies definitely stomped on the entrails.

It had been 15 years since we’d actually done a show at the Roxy. Some of the crowd had been there when we launched the place. The rest had heard our songs on the radio while still in school. All the sweat and noise we had crammed into the Roxy as a 6 night a week, wise-ass house band seemed to return to channel itself into one massive hammer of the gods. It was electric for sure. 

We all felt a little weird because no matter how much things change…most things stay the same. The rock keeps you in a state of suspended animation and protects you against the knowledge that you really should go out and join the real world. Since there are more iphones in Vancouver than cups of coffee, we are sure somebody has some pictures / video put up somewhere. It felt like we were looking into a constellation with all the flashes going off.  

Our stalwart and oldest comrades were back with us. On the sound board - Byron Lonneberg. Byron mixed us every night at the Roxy and then babysat us tour after tour — ten years of psychedelic daycare. 

Our dear pal, and now world famous, guitar-tech Brian Gibney ( Ray Lamontagne, Avril Levine, Sum 41, R.E.M. ) was helping on stage. Brian went out on the road with us for his first gig as a stage tech and escaped at just the right time to move on to bigger and better things. With his new beard, he looks a lot like a cross between Ray and Luke Perry. Get in line ladies.

Anyway…we had a riot. It was all over too quickly. Our pals the Barenakeds arrived and we were ready to get them up onstage for an extended encore. Alas, the DJ put on Queen’s “We Will Rock You” just as we finished the last note of the set.  Our extended family then convened downstairs in the familiar night club basement that we had lived and created in for so many years. We wrote and rehearsed all Odds albums down there, scored the Kids in the Hall’s “Brain Candy” movie down there. And we entertained many colourful visitors down there such as BNL, Johnny Depp, Tragically Hip, Tommy Lee, hundreds of Vancouver Canucks and other NHL’ers , Tom Wilson, Colin James, Bryan Adams, Celine. O.K., never Celine, but all the others.

To the Roxy staff…. thanks for making us feel at home. Vic, Peter, Randy and Carl…thanks for the hosting. Next time we should all bring a sleeping bag for the over nighter. 

Odds will be tearing the arse out of Vancouver’s Roxy Cabaret on Friday March 27th 2009. This was the place where it all started for us…so we know where the arse is. The Dawn Patrol (our ancient alter egos) pretty much got the place off to a running start. You’ll find us at 932 Granville Street as the band hits the stage at 10:00pm. Tickets for the whole festival are $30 and $12 for a single show…our show.

Today’s Trivia Tidbits: 1) Their Dawn Patrol names were: Doug = Don G. Swinger. Paul = Don Ickar. Steven = Don Science. Craig = Don Feelie

2) Despite Mr.Goodkey’s recollection the Dawn Patrol never played “Radar Love”. It’s OK. Memory is a strange thing.

We are very happy to have these countries take us on !!!!  Now we get to come for a visit.  We will keep you posted of our whereabouts.

We had such a blast on “Ships and Dip V”.  Wow! Our thanks to all the cool artists onboard. Such phenomenal talent once again this year. And a huge, special thanks to all BNL band and crew for getting the Odds back together! You are so wonderful for sharing your success with us. Your fans are awesome! You look good naked! Everything an organization needs. If you missed this cruise you can cry. What a total blast!

XOXO Odds

So we are off to cruise the Gulf of Mexico with the Bare Naked Ladies and a stellar line up on Ships & Dip V! ( check out http://www.shipsanddip.com/lineup.php).  Murray has been waxing away at the ” fro” getting ready for the naked photo. Pat will ride the dolphins, Craig will pull the tail of a turtle and “Nervous Doug” will keep a watch out for pirates. Check our site soon for photo’s and video’s of the trip!

We know you wish us the best of tan lines!