Double Agent Tour Debriefing
I, Agent AV, have returned to my Head Office from the Top Secret Double Agent Tour which took place this past May, with Agent Beard (otherwise known as singer-songwriter Matt Epp). Agent Beard and I escaped relatively unscathed, with a significant increase of members now on our Hit List (perhaps otherwise known as our email lists– although death threats were given to those who didn’t write clearly!). It was a super fun tour, with many an adventure, a few inadvertent misadventures, a lot of silliness, and perhaps the odd party or two. The Paparazzi somehow got wind of this Top Secret escapade: photos have mysteriously been posted on Facebook and Myspace; follow the links below if you would like to see what went down. Props to Candace Epp, Celes Devar, Kim Solez and Christine Bode for their Secret Agent work in this regard. If other photos are uncovered please let us know and we will leak them accordingly.
Highlights of the Tour:
Agent Beard, previously a kazoo virgin prior to the Double Agent Tour, becomes a virtuoso and now can boast a FOUR instrument prowess on his dossier.
Agent AV is educated by Agent Beard in regard to Wood Ticks. No Wood Ticks were actually found; just an abstract academic lesson was given during the long drive between Saskatoon and Winnipeg. (Apparently Agent Beard has just returned from a hiatus in the woods where some Wood Ticks WERE found. Is this manifesting….?)
All words containing double letters (such as Banff, Matt Epp, Ann, letters, etc) are pronounced with both let-ters given diction. This made for a particularly stut-tering af-fect which se-emed particularly fun-ny when the Agents were tired, which was pret-ty much the whole trip. The audiences may or may not have thought it was nearly as fun-ny, but the Agents definitely entertained themselves, and I wil-l never be able to pronounce Banf-f the same way again. And oh no, I am performing there this month! What shal-l I do?
Agent Beard and Agent AV discuss Top Secret info in regards to their next album releases and perhaps the start of a new country…More on that later.
The Double Agents follow and are followed by a truck marked “Cooperative Lubricants” on the highway for over 8 hours… though maybe it said “Lubricant Cooperative”, depending if you read that through the rear view mirror and/or are French. In either case, it was weird.
The Double Agents discover their Top Secret Tourmobile works far better when there is gas in the gas tank. Fortunately Agent Beard’s little brother was not far away and came to the rescue, near the metropolis of Taber, Alberta. (Agent AV may be a little sheepish about her boasting how low the red needle could go below the empty sign before needing to fill up.)
The Double Agents discover the guy that they jammed with in the stairwell in Memphis who played the melodica is THE SAME GUY who plays keys in Romi Mayes’ band and with the Weber Brothers. And then it turns out he is living in the same house as Agent Beard. Small world. Welcome to the fold, Shai! Thanks for the hospitality, Tamara and Kaia!
The Agents, who acquired a gorilla for their Winnipeg show, discover that he is actually a human who did guerrilla marketing for them. They meet him and hang out at the Lytics show and though he is definitely a fun guy to hang out with there is nothing terribly bananas about him… though curiously he dresses in yellow….
The Agents find out about ways to reduce their carbon footprint while on tour, thanks to some inspiring conversations with Agent Devar, who founded the first house concert ever in Manitoba, and just came back from a meeting with Al Gore! More on that later. We hope you will support us in our Top Secret Mission to tour green!
The Agents play their first show ever in which there is a barn IN a house. Confusing, but true. More details at http://www.haylofthouseconcerts.blogspot.com/.
Even more confusing: Ye Old Barn in Medicine Hat turns out to be a garage. Both concerts were completely fun, nevertheless. In the words of the Gov’nor of California: we will be back!!
Yes, it’s true, there are plans underway to BE BACK; many shows already booked in many of the places we just visited. So, stay tuned. Below are the ones that have been confirmed already.
http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=7251550875&view=all
If You Are Not On Facebook View Double Agent Paparzzi Photos here:
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewAlbums2&friendID=59244586&view=true
Leak to the Press: Canmore Article
Somehow the press seems to keep finding out about these Top Secret escapades. Below is a link to the most recent ink, re AV’s appearance in Canmore:
http://www.annvriend.com/press
Upcoming Top Secret Shows
Date: June 14, 2009 Venue: Wild Bill’s Saloon Address: Banff, AB, CAN Description: AFTERNOON SHOW, 3 pm start, solo, triple bill with David Blair and Richard Doerksen
Date: June 15, 2009 Venue: Ironwood Bar and Grill Address: Calgary, AB, CAN Description: Please note: solo, triple bill with David Blair and Richard Doerksen
Date: July 30, 2009 Venue: Lorenzo’s Cafe Address: Enderby, BC, CAN Description: solo, details TBA
Date: August 2, 2009 Venue: House Concert Address: Salmon Arm, BC, CAN Description: solo, for details email booking@annvriend.com
Date: August 6, 2009 Venue: Old Fire Hall Address: Rossland, BC, CAN Description: solo or duo with bassist
Date: August 8, 2009 Venue: Egans’, http://www.ballardjamhouse.com Address: Seattle, WA, USA Description: solo or duo with bassist
Date: August 23, 2009 Venue: The Railway Club Address: Vancouver, BC, CAN Description: solo, opening act Matt Epp
Date: August 27, 2009 Venue: Joe’s Garage Address: Courtenay, BC, CAN Description: double bill with Matt Epp
Date: August 30, 2009 Venue: Hermann’s Jazz Club Address: Victoria, BC, CAN Description: double bill with Matt Epp
Date: September 5, 2009 Venue: private show Address: Edmonton, AB, CAN Description: email booking@annvriend.com for details
Date: September 11, 2009 Communitea Cafe, http://www.myspace.com/communiteacafe Address: #17, 1001 6th Ave, Canmore, AB, CAN Description: double bill with Matt Epp, tix $12, 8 pm
Date: September 12, 2009 Venue: Twin Butte General Store Address: Twin Butte, AB, CAN Description: double bill with Matt Epp
Date: September 15, 2009 Venue: House Concert Address: TBA, Saskatoon, SK, CAN Description: double bill with Matt Epp, details TBA
***Germany/Switzerland Tour: more dates TBA
Date: September 28, 2009 Venue: Radio Bremen, http://www.radiobremen.de Address: Bremen, DE Description: solo
Date: October 1, 2009 Venue: Landschulheim (LSH), http://www.lsh-holzminden.de Address: Holzminden, DE Description: solo
Date: October 2, 2009 Venue: Kiste, http://www.kiste-stuttgart.de Address: Stuttgart, DE Description: solo
Date: October 3, 2009 Venue: Kofferfabrik, http://www.kofferfabrik.cc Address: Fürth, DE Description: solo
Date: October 4, 2009 Venue: Blues Bar, http://www.live-club.de Address: Bamberg, DE Description: solo
Date: October 6, 2009 Venue: Cafe Vinyl, http://www.franzis-hoersturz.de Address: Wetzlar, DE Description: solo
Date: October 7, 2009 Venue: Erbse, http://www.erbse-dillenburg.de Address: Dillenburg, DE Description: solo
Date: October 9, 2009 Venue: Variete Chat Noir, http://www.variete-trier.de/ Address: Trier, DE Description: solo
Date: October 10, 2009 Venue: Studio Wallhalla, http://www.walhalla-studio.de/ Address: Wiesbaden, DE Description: solo
***Cure for Breast Cancer Fundraising Tour, WWW.BABESFORBREASTS.COM
Date: October 20, 2009 Venue: Northern Arts and Cultural Centre Address: Yellowknife, NWT, CAN Description: songwriters in the round: Ana Muira, Amanda Rheaume, Leela Gilday, Ann Vriend
Date: October 21, 2009 Venue: TBA Address: Vancouver, BC, CAN Description: songwriters in the round: Ana Muira, Amanda Rheaume, Leela Gilday, Ann Vriend
Date: October 22, 2009 Venue: Haven Social Club, http://www.thehavensocialclub.com Address: 15120 A Stony Plain Road, Edmonton, AB, CAN Description: songwriters in the round: Ana Muira, Amanda Rheaume, Leela Gilday, Ann Vriend
Date: October 23, 2009 Venue: Wild Bill’s Saloon Address: Banff, AB, CAN Description: songwriters in the round: Ana Muira, Amanda Rheaume, Leela Gilday, Ann Vriend
Date: October 24, 2009 Venue: Ironwood Stage and Grill Address: Calgary, AB, CAN Description: songwriters in the round: Ana Muira, Amanda Rheaume, Leela Gilday, Ann Vriend
Date: October 30, 2009 Venue: Northern Arts and Cultural Centre Address: Yellowknife, NWT, CAN Description: songwriters in the round: Ana Muira, Amanda Rheaume, Leela Gilday, Ann Vriend
***November 2009: Alberta Band Dates
Date: November 6, 2009 Venue: Medicine Hat Folk Club Address: Medicine Hat, AB, CAN Description: with trio, Matt Epp opening act
Date: November 8, 2009 Venue: TBA Address: Edmonton, AB Description: full band, Mapp Epp opening
***February – April 2010: Australian Tour, details TBA
http://www.annvriend.com/shows
“May Have Gone Too Far” Mini Tour in Southern Alberta
I guested on a song on singer-songwriter Richard Doerksen’s album called “May Have Gone Too Far” this past fall, and the album was released this winter. Now Richard, myself, and singer-songwriter David Blair are doing a weekend’s worth of shows together June 12 – 15, in southern Alberta. Of course, Richard and I will be performing his song together, as part of his set. A link to the song is below. And, some Top Secret aside info: Richard just so happens to be Agent Beard’s brother in law. I know, small world!
The details of the “May Have Gone Too Far” Tour (which hopefully won’t be what my car has to say) are:
Date: June 14, 2009 Venue: Wild Bill’s Saloon Address: 201 Banff Ave, Banff, AB, CAN Description: AFTERNOON SHOW, 3 pm start, solo, triple bill with David Blair and Richard Doerksen
Date: June 15, 2009 Venue: Ironwood Bar and Grill, http://www.ironwoodstage.ca Address: 1429 9th Ave SE, Calgary, AB, CAN Description: Please note: solo, triple bill with David Blair and Richard Doerksen
The Valiant Thieves Play Edmonton International Jazz Festival
Friday June 26 the Valiant Thieves will play an Edmonton show at the Haven Social Club, as part of the Edmonton International Jazz Festival. The Valiant Thieves are a classic jazz quartet that play super serious ‘80s pop covers such as “Pop Goes the World, “Shook Me All Night Long”, and “I Wear My Sunglasses at Night”, among others. In this group it is rumored that I, Agent AV, might have a few things in common with the lead singer, Ms. April Valiant… though she wears a pink wig and I don’t….
Show details are:
Date: June 26, 2009 Venue: the Haven Social Club, http://www.thehavensocialclub.com Address: 15120 A Stony Plain Road Description: as part of Edmonton International Jazz Festival, 10 pm, $10 at the door (no opening act)
A link to the Valiant Thieves music and info is:
http://www.myspace.com/valiantthieves
Where you can get AV music and non plastic, environmentally “Vriendly” AV tote bags
Here’s a link to AV music and merch.
Thanks again for your support!
–Ann Vriend Headquarters
