Leon Knight & The Neon Lights — Teach Me How To Rock n’ Roll by nicholrobertson

I aim to make 2012 a Year of Focus. Don’t fold into distraction. Be bold. Be righteous. Be…impetuous. I hope that you have imagined what your year might look like. Feel free to tell me. Comment if you like! Let’s talk!

That being said, I don’t want you to think that 2011 was all wax and beans. It was good too. I learned and grew in ways I didn’t expect. For instance, I became a better swimmer. I learned how to breathe properly while doing the front crawl. Sure, some of you may think that’s an easy task but I know there are those of you out there who know what I’m talking about — perhaps you cringe and are slightly embarrassed that you got through childhood swimming lessons with panic and adrenalin, but mastering the relationship between breathing and swimming easier than it seems. The key is to relax. Focus. Be calm. When you put you head underwater remember you will be bringing it back out to get more air. No need to panic. Slow down. One breath. Stroke, stroke. One breath. Stroke, stroke. Eventually, you stop thinking about what you are doing and it feels as though you are breathing underwater. It begins to feel natural. What I’ve learned is that by focussing on being relaxed I’ve been able to let go of the things that tripped me up previously, which in this case was something as simple as breathing. And so I take the boldness of the Dragon, the celebration of the Maya and the relaxed focus of the swimming pool and I say, “Come with me, 2012. Let’s dance.”

Be good to yourselves,
Patrick

Liked it on the radio? Try watching the video!

I had a fabulous summer. Got to play the Eaglewood Folk Festival, several dates in Ontario as well as playing on a consistent basis with the bluegrass sensations known as the Sudden Valley Boys and had tons of fun goofing around with Leon Knight & the Neon Lights, a screwball country band in which our fearless leader Leon has yet to show up to a gig for. One of these days.…

I also got to see a few parts of Ontario I had never been to and I’d like to proclaim something Ontarians have known for a long time but the rest of the country may not know: Ontario is beautiful. Sure it doesn’t have the ooh-aah inspiring rugged peaks of the Rocky Mountains. And maybe it doesn’t get as wind-whipped and wonderfully ocean swept as the Maritimes. Granted, the sheer expanse of the Prairies as they roll to the horizon as certainly taken more than a few breaths away. But Ontario is different. It’s quiet. It’s subtle. It’s rocks and trees and lakes and blueberries and rivers and charming towns and wonderful people and chip trucks and storms and apples and cottages and canoes and birds and swimming and so much more. It’s the Canadian Shield. You really have to experience it.

Sun. Aug 21 — Dakota Tavern (Bluegrass Brunch 11am-3pm) — Toronto, ON
Sun. Aug 21 — Not My Dog (w/ Kyp Harness) — Toronto, ON
Mon. Aug 22 — Moonshine Café (w/ Sarah MacDougall) — Oakville, ON
Tue. Aug 23 — The Spill (w/ Sarah MacDougall) — Peterborough, ON
Wed. Aug 24 — The Living Room (w/ Sarah MacDougall) — Kingston, ON
Thu. Aug 25 — Branch Restaurant (w/ Sarah MacDougall) — Kemptville, ON
Fri. Aug 26 — Eaglewood Folk Festival — Pefferlaw, ON
Sat. Aug 27 — Eaglewood Folk Festival — Pefferlaw, ON
Sun. Aug 28 — Eaglewood Folk Festival — Pefferlaw, ON
Sun. Sept 4 — Toronto Island Marina (Leon Knight & the Neon Lights) — Toronto, ON