Bassist Frank Heisler

It's again with regret that bassist Frank Heisler is not able to play with us at the May 19th NUANCE Show do to reoccurring health difficulties. Filling in for Frank will be Bassist extraordinaire Jason Farrar. Thanks Jason for pulling this together with such short notice. It's much appreciated and we hope for a speedy recovery from Frank.

Wilton

Wilton Said… Newsletter #79

I finally joined the 21st century a few weeks ago and got myself a new state of the art computer. The old 10 year old Mac started to make grunting and groaning noises when ever more then two programs were open. Also it would hop longer display some flash based stuff online due to the inability to update any of the browsers. Now I'm able to have hundreds of programs open all at the same time, and I'm able to watch flash based media without any whimper from the new gear. Happy days are here.

Just a reminder that the Wilton Said… band consisting of guitarist Chris Reid, Bassist Frank Heisler, Drummer Richard Rizzo, and myself will be playing live at the upcoming NUANCE Show.
Please see below for details….

NUANCE Art Rock Exhibition featuring Wilton Said... and Vermillion Skye
at the Dovercourt House - Retro Lounge
(805 Dovercourt Rd Toronto, Ontario. West of Ossignton, Just North of Bloor St.)
Sat May 19th - Doors open at 3:30pm

$8 Advance - www.wiltonsaid.com/onlinesales
$10 at Door

The band and I will be playing a 75 minute set of songs from almost all of the Wilton Said... releases.  We also hope to throw in a few infrequently played surprises for those that have seen us a numerous amount of times.

This event will also feature the melodic Art Rock band Vermillion Skye, who will also play a 75 minute set.

Great value for all those who like their rock with some intellect, musicality and depth.

Hopefully many of you can make it out for an afternoon and early evening of melodic Art Rock in this intimate setting.

Please visit www.wiltonsaid.com for further information.

Rock Opera
Funding for vocalist for the Rock Opera got turned down by Factor last month. Oh well, life goes on. I put an ad in a few online classifieds asking for vocalists to donate their time and got quite a few responses. In fact, two songs have already been recorded by one of the character vocalists which turned out quite nicely. I've got a few other vocalists to check out but I'm hoping by the end of May to have all the character spots filled.

Until next time…
Wilton

Wilton Said... Newsletter #78

Wilton Said... Newsletter #78

Hope everyone is enjoying the nice unnaturally warm weather for this time of year. I have been although it does make me wonder if it really is a good thing as it may be some ominous sign about Climate Change and Global Warming. Perhaps I should start building my private bunker just in case.

On a more positive note the next NUANCE event is now planned and ready to rock n roll. Please see below...

NUANCE Art Rock Exhibition featuring Wilton Said... and Vermillion Skye
at the Dovercourt House (805 Dovercourt Rd Toronto, Ontario. West of Ossignton, Just North of Bloor St.)
Sat May 19th - Doors open at 3:30pm

$8 Advance - www.wiltonsaid.com/onlinesales
$10 at Door

The band and I will be playing a 75 minute set of songs from almost all of the Wilton Said... releases.  We also hope to throw in a few infrequently played surprises for those that have seen us a numerous amount of times.

This event will also feature the melodic Art Rock band Vermillion Skye, who will also play a 75 minute set.

Great value for all those who like their rock with some intellect, musicality and depth.

Hopefully many of you can make it out for an afternoon and early evening of melodic Art Rock in this intimate setting.

Please visit www.wiltonsaid.com for further information.

The Rock Opera is at a bit of a standstill until I get word on whether Factor funding has been received or not. It seems there has been a delay in the judging of submissions due to a new online jury system. As a result, there has been a delay in the results. The funding will go towards paying various vocalists to sing on the recording. Without funding, vocal recording may be delayed until finances and resources are found.

Until next time
Wilton

Wilton Said... Newsletter #77

Hello and a Happy New Years to Everyone.

My wife and I enjoyed a great night out on NYE. We went to a bash hosted by Retro Road Show which featured pop/rock music from the 80's and 90's. It was great to move to (I say move as anyone that has seen me dance knows it's not really dancing but more of a swaying back and forth while my feet and arms do their best to move to the 4/4 beat) Duran Duran, Culture Club, The Buggles, U2 to name a few. Many songs I haven't heard in at least 15 years, I felt like a teenager again. We'll probably be checking out the monthly dance nights.

Wilton Said... Stuff
While the band and I have taken a break for the holidays, I have begun to think of the next NUANCE event which might be held in the spring. I'm thinking 4 bands, Prog Picnic, and Prog for Mass. That's all I can say at the moment but I'll keep you posted as more info becomes available.

It's possible that some of you may be sitting on the fence about getting a Wilton Said... release, especially with the various choices available such as CD Baby, Bandcamp, and iTunes. Add to that that there are at least 4 releases available and you might not be sure which one to get. To rectify the possible confusion, I've put together a compilation Download only release titled "Hand Plucked" featuring 5 tracks all for the low low minimum price of $4.00. You can check it out at www.wiltonsaid.com

The CD Release Show last November was a great success. We had a great crowd and everyone enjoyed themselves. Hopefully everyone has enjoyed the CD they received at the show. Please feel free to email any constructive reviews, comments or rants you have about the CD as I'd love to post them on the website.

For those of you who are interested, below is the setlist we played...


1st Set
In a People Bar
Endorphin Crash
Pretty
/Gender Bender
Bydlo
Halos
City on the Water (Wilton - solo vox/piano)
Outside
/Close
The Telling
In My Dreams

2nd Set
Star
/Shopping Asia
Merry-Go-Round
Down
All for You
Drum Solo/Kazzo Solo /Why Don't We Do it in the Road
Half Life
(ENCORE)
The Empty Sky
i) The View
ii) Goodbye
iii) Fallen

Rock Opera
I'm still waiting on the status of the Factor Grant application which would go towards the production of the vocal parts for the Rock Opera. Fingers crossed.

Until Next time...

Thanks
Wilton

Wilton Said... music to be streamed on Sat Dec 3rd

The music of Wilton Said... will be featured on DJ Tony's Indie Radio Show on Saturday Dec 3rd around 2pm. You can listen at http://www.aiiradio.net

Check it out and support indie radio and artists

Thanks
Wilton

Wilton Said... Radio Interview.

Just wanted to let any Weekend Musical Night Hawks know that guitarist Chris Reid and myself will be appearing on the Saturday November 19th "Adventures in Plasticland" Radio Show of Spaceman Stan at 11:59pm.
His show can be heard via Waterloo Region’s #1 community radio station CKWR.
http://www.ckwr.com/

Not only will Stan be spinning weird and wonderful music from all genres of the underground, he'll also be talking to us about our new CD "Half Life" and our November 26th CD Release Show at The Black Swan.

Some of you may remember Stan as the M.C at the NUANCE Festival's a few years back. As you heard, Stan has a wonderful way with words and always manages to make his random ramblings relevant to some unforeseen subject matter. Chris and I look forward to a great and trippy time with Stan and have our brains opened to some unexpected sonic sounds.

For more information on Stan, please visit http://hamiltonparanormal.com/stan/

Info...
Wilton Said... and Chris Reid on Adventures in Plasticland
Saturday November 19th at 11:59pm
http://www.ckwr.com/

New Venue and Time for the CD Release Show.

Hi there.

I've just found out that the original venue for the CD Release Show, (a Church Hall) has been flooded. As a result, the show has been moved to The Black Swan Tavern at 154 Danforth Ave (Danforth and Broadview area). In addition, the show will be an early evening show with doors opening at 5:00pm and the band going on around 5:30pm. Show information is avaiable HERE.  Tickets and Advance Purchases are still available HERE.

Thank in advance for your understanding.

Wilton

Wilton Said... Newsletter #76a

Wilton Said... Newsletter #76a
So much great news to pass on. A few weeks ago I picked up the new "Half Life" CD's which means they are now available for sale in a few places. You can download it at Bandcamp, at CD Baby, or you can simply visit HERE to access these sites.

You will also be able to pick up a copy at the CD Release Show and Celebration. Info below...

The band and I will be will performing two sets of original Art Rock Music from the newly released CD titled "Half Life", along with older favorites. So get your 5/8 time dancing shoes on and swing on by.

Thanks
Wilton

P.S. It's with sadness that Bassist Frank Heisler will not be able to perform that night due to unforeseen circumstances. Filling in however will be Debashish Ray who I have had the pleasure of playing with many years ago.

Wilton Said... Newsletter #76

Hello and I hope everyone is enjoying summer like fall weather.

Wilton Said... Recording/Live Shows
Lots and lots of great news on the recording front. For any of you that have seen or heard some new songs on Facebook, you can guess correctly that recording, mixing and mastering for the new release "Half Life" has been completed. In fact just yesterday I was able to sign off on the artwork and design proofs for the packaging of this new release and should have the new musical product in my hands sometime in the next few weeks. Hooray Hooray!
The band and I will be celebrating this occasion with a CD Release Show on Saturday November 26th in Toronto. As a result, the band (still consisting of Richard Rizzo on drums, Frank Heisler on bass and Chris Reid on Guitars) and I have resumed rehearsals to prepare for the variety of material we'll be performing. More details to come soonish.

Vocal Health
Some of you may remember that I developed vocal problems before the summer time which delayed some of the recording. After seeing a ENT (Ear, Nose Throat Doctor) it was discovered that I had a very small vocal polyp on my vocal chords and also had something called Muscle Tension Dysphonia which means my vocal chord didn't close properly. I ended up getting treated by Aaron J. Low, a Speech-Language Pathologist and Voice Clinician at Voxcura who gave me tips on "good" breathing techniques and helped loosen up my neck and throat muscles. All in all it seemed to work as after 4 sessions once a week, I was fine. The polyp and the Muscle Tension Dysphonia was gone. For the past month, I've been horse free and been able to sing at my full capacity again.

Rock Opera
Last June I sent off an application for a Factor Loan/Grant so I could hire vocalists for the character parts. Last month I received a response that my application was rejected as they somehow hadn't received the market plan I submitted. Great! So last week I resubmitted for the new deadline for the end of Oct which means I won't be getting any news until close to Christmas. We'll have to wait and see.
Either way, I hope to start recording the vocal parts in the winter of the New Year. I know I said that last December, but I've come to realize that I only have the energy to work on one musical project at a time and this whole year has been taken up with Wilton Said... recording and the CD Release Show preparation. In the New Year, the band and I should fall back into a routine of gigs and rehearsals leaving me more time to focus on the Rock Opera.

Thanks
Wilton

Wilton Said... Newsletter #75

Hello and I hope everyone is enjoying the summer.

Wilton Said... Recording
You may remember a few months ago that I mentioned I was having trouble with my voice. My speaking and singing voice was hoarse, I couldn’t talk very loud, and my singing range was greatly reduced. Over the last few months I’ve been drinking tones of water throughout the day, and speaking quieter and my voice has gotten gradually better. So much so that I was able to record and finish vocals for the new CD. Hurray hurray! Overall I’m really really pleased at how things have turned out and I think it’s my best vocal performance so far. Nevertheless, I’m not in the clear as I’m not able to sing for as long as I’d like or for too many days in a row without my voice getting hoarse. I’m currently waiting on an ENT (ear nose and throat specialist) appointment which should tell me for sure what type of damage I’ve got. In the meantime, mixing starts in a few days which will mean next to no talking, and more water, water, water.

Rock Opera
As mentioned in the last newsletter, all the instruments have been recorded and we’re waiting on vocals for the character parts. This has caused a bit of a hiccup, as there are about 7 characters in the musical, which means we need 7 vocalists to learn the parts and come in and sing those parts. We’d also like to pay these vocalists which comes down to funding, expensive funding. While there are many music grant and loan programs available, only two were applicable to this project. The Ontario Arts Council which we submitted to and were rejected, and Factor which we just submitted at the end of June.
Fingers crossed for funding. And if anyone has any other suggestions, feel free to let us know.

Thanks
Wilton

Wilton Said... Newsletter #71

A Happy Fall to you all.

Food
For those of you in Canada, I hope you all were able to enjoy some Turkey or whatever your food choices were during the Thanksgiving long weekend. For myself I got stuffed with at least two plates of food as I didn’t want any of it to go to waste. And we all know waste is not good.

The Band
Musically things have been quieter as the band and I are taking a break while Drummer Richard Rizzo becomes a daddy for the second time. Many congratulations to his family as they hunker down for some sleepless nights.

Guitarist Chris Reid has taken the opportunity to go travelling god knows where off the beaten path, hopefully he arrives back alive with photos and stories.

Bassist Frank Heisler and I have been continuing to record bass tracks for the rock opera and things are going really really well. He’s come up with some very cool and interesting parts which have really helped make the music better. At the rate he’s going, we might have the bass parts done by either Christmas if not the early New Year.

For myself, I’ve been taking it a little easy with a bit of keyboard practice to keep myself refreshed. I’d hate for all that time and work I did a month ago learning Bydlo and the Keyboard solo to be wasted by lack of practicing. I’ve also been mentally writing the final sections for the song “Simple” which will be the proggy song on the release. I just need to sit down and actually write out the charts and record the demo for the guys.

Other Recordings
The first full length Wilton Said... recording called “World up my Ass” was done back in 1998 on casette and then re released on CD in 1999. While in hindsight, I’ve come along way, the release still has some songs on it which I’m proud of and which are still performed by the band and I today. As a result, I’ve re re released it as an edited download only version via www.wiltonsaid.com. You can check it out at http://www.wiltonsaid.com/additionaldownloads.

Until we meet again....
Thanks
Wilton