Switching things around can be difficult, but rewarding.  We recently decided to switch gears a little bit, step away from horns for a while, and focus on solidifying a funky core.  In doing so, we picked up two of Ottawa's finest musicians in Anders Drerup (guitar) and Don Cummings (B3).  This makes for an exceptionally fun sound, and the energy is intoxicating.  With two electric guitars, we are fine tuning the groove.  It can be tricky not to trip over ourselves, because one would think they'd be doing the same thing... but that's the fun of it.  You have to find parts to compliment each other, contribute to the greater groove, and eventually own that spot in the machine.  The machine that is groove.

I don't want to get all philosophical on it, but this stuff is fun to me.  It's surprisingly difficult to add similar pieces to the puzzle and not make things muddled.  It takes a certain musician to hear what's happening, where others are going, and how you can stay open for that cross-ice pass (to use a hockey metaphor).  Between Anders and Jeff, Don and I, we play similar instruments (guitars and keys), but need to find a way to contribute positively while not over-staying our welcome in the mix.  Thankfully, I couldn't have asked for more talented, or nicer guys, to work this out with.  Our first show together in this new formation was at The Neat Cafe on March 9th.  It was awesome.  Jeff and Anders ROCKED the 3 part harmonies, and that was the coolest part for me, among others.  Loved every second of it, and I'm even more excited now for our second show all together at The Blacksheep Inn on April 7th.  

Between now and then, we've got a show at Canadian Music Week in Toronto and will be doing it as a 4 piece.  Unfortunately, it's not financially viable for us to take 2 cars all the way to Toronto and back, so we're trimming it down a little.  It'll be fun, of that I'm sure, but I'll be missing Jeff and Don.  Trying new things out in rehearsal and on stage is fun.  It's good to keep things fresh, and with this new group, I think we'll surprise you.  The goal is to add new material, both original and covers, to every new show.  If you weren't at Neat Cafe, there should be no less than 8 new songs in our line up.  Something to come back for!  For me, I'm just happy to have found a new groove to ride.  These guys are great, and I'm lucky to share the stage with them, you should come see for yourself why I'm so happy with it.  :)

 Hey everybody!

Long time no chat, I hope all is well with you and this festive season is treating you well.  I've just received my new computer and am going to now release some videos that I've been meaning to share.  Here's the first one, it's from this past summer's Ottawa Bluesfest... this song was our finale for the show in which we opened for The Bright Light Social Hour and NORAH JONES.  It was a great day.  Hope you like the performance!


Jeff Rogers and The All Day Daddies, July 8th, 2012 at The RBC Ottawa Bluesfest

 I've been super busy lately, so busy in fact that I'm currently icing my forearm at this moment.  Basically, after performing now, I'm icing my arms to reduce any swelling in muscles in my forearms because I've been having some pain this past week.  The reason for the pain is overuse.  I'm used to performing lots, 5-7 shows a week is pretty standard for me these days, but I've picked up some new and very interesting work that I'm very excited about!

Along with being a gigging musician, I am currently writing music for a movie soundtrack.  The film is called "Only I" and is written and directed by Rodny Paulson, produced by Szonja Jakovits, and starring Brendan Fehr, Hunt Block, and Dillon Casey.  ‘Only I...’ tells the compelling aspirational story of Orion Smith, a troubled yet ambitious young man in his mid-twenties, who harbours the dream of becoming a Mixed Martial Arts champion.

Very excited for this new and challenging opportunity.  I'm having a blast writting the score, and have come up with numerous pieces for various scenes.  The only problem it seems, is that my fingers don't much like the increased 6hrs per day piano playing and have decided to let me know.  So I'm going to try and take it easy for a while... but i really want to get back to work.  In fact, typing this is probably counter-productive, so I should stop soon.

I just wanted to let you know what's up.  Work is good and plentiful, and I'm working on a tour for this November with the band.  Exciting times!  I hope to have some new videos and music up on here very soon!  We've got footage from the CD release ready to be put together, as well as video from our Main Stage performance at this year's Ottawa Bluesfest.  And I hope to have some new soul tunes, as well as some classical scores, ready for y'all to hear very soon!

Stay tuned!

Cheers,
Jeff

 What a great way to spend an afternoon!  My only regret with regards to this past weekend's Calebogie Blues and Ribfest was that I wasn't there for the entire weekend.  I just rolled in Sunday morning, played my set at noon with my band and watched 3 great blues acts perform afterwards.  We had a blast, and I enjoyed being the one to help wake up all those campers on the mountain after a raucous Saturday night.  Everyone was so happy, cheerful despite severe hangovers, and helpful.  All the volounteers were so nice, and happy to be there, the staff was very helpful and accomodating, and the musicians were all smiles and class.  It's what music festivals are all about!

BIG BIG shout out to my friends at DAWG fm who know how to put on one heck of a party!  I had a ball, my band all loved it, and I will come crawling on my hands and knees to play this festival again next year!  Heck, I'll make sure to have way more music for next year's party... hopefully it won't take as long to produce!

After our show, I went out to sign some CDs, and wow... the feedback was extremely encouraging.  Everyone was so nice, and it made me feel really good about what I'm doing with my life.  Seeing people come up smiling with my CD in their hands is a truly wonderful feeling, and I am so thankful for people's generosity.  Once I was no longer required at the merch tent, I got to hang out with some of my band members and catch some music with a few glasses of wine.  We then decided, despite dark clouds looming overhead, that it would be a good idea to take a chairlift up the mountain.  It totally was!  We did get slightly rained on, but barely, and then got to hang out in a "VIP Room" atop the mountain while we waited for the dark clouds to pass by.  Some call it the ski patrol shack, we rocked it like VIPs though!  Brace yourselves!



Yeah, it was a great time had by all.  Very thankful to everybody.  Looking forward to doing it again!

Cheers!
Jeff

 It's always my favourite time of year, and I'm always sad to see it go.  I've had a great summer so far, launching my new album and opening for Norah Jones at The Bluesfest has been sweet!  Many people have put in lots of work, and I won't thank them all here, but you know who you are.
Moving forward, I've got to start playing the record!  Be it on the radio (thanks DAWG and CBC), or on stages, I've got to get out there!  So watch out, I may be coming to a venue near you.  While I'm at it, if you'd like to see me in a venue near you let me know!  I'll see if I can't make something happen.

There will be video of the release, as well as of Bluesfest up soon.  I don't know when exactly yet, we're still in the editing stages.  But soon!  I'll let you know.

Cheers!
Jeff