Last Sunday, the CBC Radio program Vinyl Cafe played Jim Brysons tune Fire Watch from his third album, Where the Bungalows Roam. The shows host, Stuart McLean, also read the Ken Babstock poem (from his book Days into Flatspin) of the same name that spawned the song. Babstock and Bryson are good friends and that may well explain the crossover. With Kens poem I morphed it, so much due to not having it always in front of me, Bryson explains by email. I worried if he would be OK with it and he was. The singer-songwriter says hed be keen on using more sources for words. I think it is a rewarding way to create. That takes confidence and awareness of ones own voice, which Bryson demonstrates over his three albums. Hes regularly using inversions of meaning, humour and a sharper visual sense, which sets him apart in this country. (SF)
Songwriters circle w/Rose Cousins, Matthew de Zoete, Friday at FRED, 7pm, $7-$20 (all-venue pass). With Jenn Grant, Saturday at St. Johns United Church, 8pm, $15-$25 (all-venue pass).
This article appears in Jan 31 – Feb 6, 2008.