ItB次元官网网址檚 a relatively quiet mid-afternoon along Government Street, as buskers Dave Harris, known affectionately as the One Man Band; and Peter Janz, aka Johnny Bomblast, perform in front of MunroB次元官网网址檚 Books.

Roommates as well as musical partners, the pair have, like all entertainers, endured a tough musical year turned upside down by COVID-19 restrictions.

But they are back on the street making some money, brightening localsB次元官网网址� days and walking on air with the release of Clouds, an album of songs written, performed and arranged by Janz and Harris.

B次元官网网址淧eople are starved for entertainment. ThereB次元官网网址檚 not a lot of options right now if you want live music, and weB次元官网网址檙e one of the options,B次元官网网址� Harris said.

The album features songs about Victoria and life in the pandemic, from Love in the Time of Corona, Sick Feeling and Pink Blossoms, to nods to JanzB次元官网网址� roots such as Prairie Soil.

Janz, who had a handful of songs on the go and co-wrote other new ones with Harris, said people familiar with their busking material may be B次元官网网址減leasantly surprisedB次元官网网址� with the end result of the album.

B次元官网网址淚 think people B次元官网网址� if theyB次元官网网址檝e watched us busk, the album will give them a bit more of that, B次元官网网址極h, so this is what they can do if they could do it all,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Janz said.

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A six-week project recorded and engineered at their home, Clouds is a product of Janz and HarrisB次元官网网址� efforts to stay musically active at a time when busking and other performance opportunities were limited.

Last spring, when public health concerns shut down most forms of live entertainment, you didnB次元官网网址檛 see buskers in the usual spots. As the new normal set in and safety measures were installed B次元官网网址� minus the tourists B次元官网网址� the environment changed, Harris said.

By June the duo was playing at such unlikely places as the Johnson Street bridge, not lucrative, but at least there were people out. They reinvented their performance routine doing a socially distanced show in Macdonald Park last summer.

JanzB次元官网网址� day job at a downtown shelter helped maintain structure in his life, B次元官网网址渂ut musicians still have to make music,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚n the early days when we were kind of locked down, we started a once-a-week Facebook live show where IB次元官网网址檇 quiz Dave on music stuff. We called them Isolation Interviews and we kept up that way and this album came out of it as well.B次元官网网址�

The installation of patios along Government Street last year increased the traffic flow and enhanced the feel of this downtown corridor. Locals who avoid the Inner Harbour were experiencing the duoB次元官网网址檚 live performances and connecting with them.

B次元官网网址淚 actually loved the season, it was so much fun playing for local Victorians, I really liked seeing the same faces,B次元官网网址� Janz said.

The album officially drops April 10, but can be purchased digitally . The pair have set up to take pre-orders for CD or vinyl copies, but you can also stop by their regular spot most days on Government Street.

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