From: owner-canadian-music-digest@smoe.org (canadian-music-digest) To: canadian-music-digest@smoe.org Subject: canadian-music-digest V3 #40 Reply-To: canadian-music@smoe.org Sender: owner-canadian-music-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-canadian-music-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk canadian-music-digest Saturday, April 15 2000 Volume 03 : Number 040 Today's Subjects: ----------------- jason mitchell ["Barbara Sedun" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 13:22:31 -0400 From: "Barbara Sedun" Subject: jason mitchell thought everyone would like to see this piece on jason. b If it's Wednesday, this must be Edmonton By MIKE ROSS Edmonton Sun In what sounds like an initiation ritual, newly signed Warner recording artist Jason Mitchell is enduring one of the most gruelling musical ordeals ever devised. For five weeks straight, he plays Calgary every Tuesday, the Sidetrack Cafe in Edmonton every Wednesday, Winnipeg every Thursday, Toronto every Friday and Montreal every Saturday. During the days he goes from one radio or TV station to another to promote his new album, The World Is Flat, out May 2. On Sundays, he flies home to Kelowna, B.C., and has one day off before starting it all over again on Tuesday. Warner Canada calls it the "residency program," borrowing a term from the medical profession in which interns are worked like slaves. "That's what it's like," laughs a weary Mitchell following his set on Wednesday. "It's tough. I'm just trying to stay as positive as possible." It's not easy when all you have is a guitar and the crowd seems more interested in schmoozing than listening. Mitchell says Holy Joe's in Toronto is his one "oasis" of the week, where fans actually come to hear what he's got. In other venues, including the Sidetrack, the hubbub of conversation competes with his rootsy, poetic songs. With a strong voice, Dylanesque music and Duchovny-esque good looks, Mitchell could go far. The first video, a dark, acoustic track called Ghost on the Highway, is already doing well on MuchMoreMusic. Raised by the "quintessential" hippie mom who taught her son the value of poetry, Mitchell was signed after he opened for Big Wreck in Toronto. He says he had no idea how much work it would turn out to be, but, "I'm honoured to be able to get paid for writing. It opens so many other doors, to get my poetry book out and wanting to do a screenplay. It just gives you the courage to do it." ------------------------------ End of canadian-music-digest V3 #40 ***********************************