Morgan Cross / B次元官网网址 contributor
ItB次元官网网址檚 been eight years since Garnet Rogers last played in Greater Victoria. Since then, the acclaimed Ontario-based folk artist has recorded the album SummerB次元官网网址檚 End and written a memoir documenting his years touring beside his late brother, Stan Rogers. Planning for his upcoming tour, which stretches across western Canada before dipping into the United States, Rogers wanted to perform one last time for some of the B.C. communities heB次元官网网址檚 grown close to over the years.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been in a dead run for the last month or two putting my life back in order [for the tour],B次元官网网址� said Rogers in late August, just one week before his tour began. B次元官网网址淔or all intents and purposes, itB次元官网网址檚 my farewell tour for the west.B次元官网网址�
Now in his 60s, Rogers said that life on the road has become daunting. He has toured each year since 1972, when, at the young age of 17, he and his brother set out together.
B次元官网网址淚 like these places, I like these people. I still love the work, itB次元官网网址檚 just the travel,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 narrowing my focus and drawing my radius back a bit.B次元官网网址� This will allow Rogers to remain closer to home in Ontario, where he and his wife live on a farm with horses and a bird sanctuary.
During most performances in his upcoming tour, Rogers, known for his anecdotal storytelling, will set aside a few moments to read from his book, Night Drive: Travels With My Brother, published in 2016. The Oak Bay audience will also likely get the chance to hear some tracks from his album released in 2014; though Rogers promises that his performances go unscripted, and often, he will try his hand on-stage at songs he hasnB次元官网网址檛 performed in years.
B次元官网网址淚t really concentrates you,B次元官网网址� he said, B次元官网网址渁nd I think the audience hears you paying extra special attention to the music B次元官网网址� I donB次元官网网址檛 go out and do the same show every night.B次元官网网址�
As for Night Drive, Rogers said he misses writing the book. During the process, he would often bring his laptop on stage and read through bits and pieces to his audience, who got a listen at what the finished memoir would sound like.
B次元官网网址漑Night Drive is] a huge, vulgar memoir,B次元官网网址� said Rogers. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 basically about the ten years on the road with my brother Stan and I. Just, basically, police chases and bad drugs and fights with biker gangs, all in the service of folk musicB次元官网网址e were two terrified young men out in the world and reacting very badly to the stuff that was coming at us.B次元官网网址�
The motivation for writing the book came first from friends, who listened to Rogers share B次元官网网址渁pocalyptically terribleB次元官网网址� stories about his and StanB次元官网网址檚 travels. Rogers began toying with the idea of writing it down 15 years ago, before getting down to business after reading Stephen KingB次元官网网址檚 book, On Writing.
B次元官网网址淚 made a cup of coffee and I was sitting in my chair with my laptop and thatB次元官网网址檚 what I did for eight months. Initially, IB次元官网网址檇 work until three or four in the afternoon, and eventually it just completely took me over,B次元官网网址� said Rogers. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 wake up at two in the morning and think, B次元官网网址極h, I know how to fix that sentence.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
Through the memoir, his goal was to show B次元官网网址渉ow crazy and funny and rude it was, and how miraculous it was that we were actually able to do what we did.B次元官网网址�
Since then, Rogers has completed several book tours in addition to regular performances. He looks forward to returning to Greater Victoria, remembering that one of his trips to the region sparked a realization in him that changed his career forever. During this trip approximately ten years ago, Rogers was forced to navigate mountain passes between Interior B.C. and Vancouver in a snowstorm, recovering from several dangerous slips before missing his ferry to an evening concert in Victoria.
Upon arriving to the concert, Rogers said, B次元官网网址淚 was soaking wetB次元官网网址 nearly died twice, I hadnB次元官网网址檛 had anything to eat. I was thinking, B次元官网网址榃hat in the world possessed me to do this?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
He said, B次元官网网址淭hen I realized: This is my reward. This is why I do thisB次元官网网址 get to go out and sit on the stage and play guitar, and then IB次元官网网址檒l get to meet these people. And that [realization] completely changed my whole way of thinking about what I did for a living.B次元官网网址�
This September should present less snowy travels for Rogers as he travels to Vancouver Island. Though he hasnB次元官网网址檛 written new music since 2014, he said, B次元官网网址淚 think 80 per cent of everything IB次元官网网址檝e ever written has been behind the wheel.B次元官网网址�
A trip to Victoria may give the folk artist a chance at quiet hours, and the possibility of new songs to come.
Tickets for the Sept. 22 event are sold out.
editor@oakbaynews.com
