Graham Powell | BLOG

Henry's Holiday Concert

2011-12-29T16:01:00.002-07:00

December 19th 2011

2011-12-29T08:45:00.000-07:00

Henry's pre-Christmas dance party and Christmas day presents. Hard to believe it's been TWO years since the last Christmas with Henry!

Vanvouver - Grey Cup 2011

2011-12-06T07:51:00.001-07:00

SAM_4545.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

SAM_4371.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Shoshana's Red Phone

2011-06-17T11:32:00.007-06:00

SAM_7150.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

SAM_7138.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

SAM_7144.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Shoshana LOVES her new red phone she ordered from etsy.

Shots taken with my new Samsung NX100 with 30mm F2 lens.

Huge Queue for the Eurostar to Paris Sunday December 19th

2010-12-20T06:55:00.001-07:00

DSC_1836.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Back in Paris

2010-12-04T03:28:00.001-07:00

Paris, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Edmonton

2010-12-01T12:00:00.000-07:00

Edmonton, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Ottawa

2010-11-30T08:25:00.002-07:00

Ottawa, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Paris

2010-11-28T03:11:00.002-07:00

DSC_8664.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

My J-45

2010-11-15T12:27:00.003-07:00

My J-45, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Fun with Instagram

2010-11-15T12:18:00.005-07:00

Zorki 4

Zorki 4, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Having fun with the instagram app.

Weston Master II

Weston Master II, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Fed 1 @ Lomography Store

Fed 1, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

The Life of a Freelancer

2010-09-02T08:10:00.001-06:00

The Life of a Freelancer, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

My view at work in Mississauga.

Sun's too bright

2010-07-25T20:11:00.001-06:00

Sun's too bright, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

I went to take a selfy in front of the Boler at my Dad's farm. Then looked directly at the sun (not smart). I loved the shot. I'm laughing at myself, alone. Sad.

Sunset in my alley

2010-07-09T20:49:00.001-06:00

DSC_5442, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Sunset walk

2010-07-09T20:48:00.002-06:00

DSC_5449, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Water Fight

2010-07-09T08:46:00.003-06:00

DSC_5024, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Henry hiding

2010-07-09T08:46:00.001-06:00

DSC_5089, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

One - U2

2010-06-30T16:55:00.000-06:00

Inspired while listening to this tune, had to record a quick version for fun.

one u2 2

G20 Toronto

2010-06-28T08:14:00.002-06:00

DSC_4256_2, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Through the eyes of a three year old.

Henry and Me (as in, this is a photo of..)

2010-06-26T11:47:00.002-06:00

photo, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

But it would be Henry and I were watching television.

Grammar...

Henry

2010-06-26T07:40:00.002-06:00

DSC_3896, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Tugboat Jerry - Nashville

2010-06-10T11:10:00.002-06:00

Waiting

2010-06-07T14:36:00.003-06:00

Wallace and Symmington

2010-06-06T09:29:00.004-06:00

My hood.

Jann Arden Tour Footage Nov/Dec 2009 (Parts 1 and 2)

2010-05-31T20:56:00.003-06:00

Shot on a Digital Harinezumi (no sound model).

Henry's New Umbrella/Water Gun

2010-05-19T19:35:00.002-06:00

_GMP1748, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Banksy in Toronto

2010-05-19T00:02:00.002-06:00

Working Away...

2010-05-18T23:43:00.004-06:00

Kathleen Edwards @ The Drake May 4th 2010

2010-05-05T19:52:00.009-06:00

_GMP1182, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

It was a great show!

_GMP1424, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

_GMP1401, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

_GMP1343, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

_GMP1313, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Ferry to Ward's Island

2010-04-15T13:33:00.002-06:00

Ferry to Ward's Island, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Belljar Café

2010-04-15T07:23:00.010-06:00

_GMP9725, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

A really cute new café located at 2072 Dundas Street West (at howard park). It's very close to the Southern end of the west toronto rail path.

I guess it's located between Brockton Village and Roncesvalles Village.

Free wi-fi. Check it out!

Also check out their website and flickr stream.

_GMP9721, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Selfy

2010-03-26T22:00:00.002-06:00

IMG_1732.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Hipstamatic App for iPhone

2010-03-26T19:12:00.005-06:00

IMG_1765.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Check out this AMAZING app for your iPhone or iPod Touch. I shoot on high resolution and sometimes get impatient with how many SECONDS it takes to process, then I remember how long it took to get the film back when I used to shoot my holga!

:-)

Thanks Sarah Kramer for telling about this app.

For more information on Hipstamatic, click here.

Henry

2010-03-25T22:22:00.005-06:00

_GMP9105.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Choices

2010-03-25T22:22:00.004-06:00

_GMP9215.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Don't feed the Super Models

2010-03-25T13:46:00.002-06:00

Don't feed the Super Models, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Canadian Gothic

2010-03-24T08:13:00.002-06:00

photo, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Capsule Music - Toronto

2010-03-23T21:23:00.001-06:00

_GMP9018.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Great Store!

Tree and Sky

2010-03-19T23:35:00.002-06:00

Tree and Sky, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Foggy Regina

2010-03-11T19:17:00.003-07:00

_GMP7903.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

_GMP7899.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

The Cathedral

2010-03-08T11:38:00.002-07:00

_GMP7502, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Bad influence

2010-03-08T11:37:00.001-07:00

_GMP7808, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Charlie and Masha.

Sunset from the Plane

2010-02-12T21:32:00.002-07:00

photo, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Vancouver

2010-02-12T12:30:00.001-07:00

Vancouver, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Rainy Vancouver

2010-02-11T12:00:00.003-07:00

_GMP7225, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

_GMP7143, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

_GMP7209, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

_GMP7215, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Flying to Vancouver

2010-02-10T16:05:00.001-07:00

Photo on 2010-02-10 at 17.59 #2, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Pretty boring post from here at the Toronto airport. Getting hungry, but not sure 'Hogtown' would be a wise choice...
:-)
To Vancouver!

Home

2010-02-05T05:39:00.002-07:00

photo, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Sunrise between Moncton and Toronto

2010-02-05T05:30:00.002-07:00

photo, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Moncton

2010-02-05T03:01:00.002-07:00

photo, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Too early in Halifax

2010-02-04T05:02:00.001-07:00

photo, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Jann & Midi

2010-01-20T14:59:00.001-07:00

_GMP4143-2, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Limos & Tim Hortons

2010-01-19T07:55:00.001-07:00

_GMP4214.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Jann Arden - Tour January 2010

2010-01-15T08:29:00.001-07:00

_GMP4077.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

We are back out on the road with Jann! First show of the tour started in Montréal. Great show, great crowd!

Bruce Leitl

2010-01-14T08:21:00.001-07:00

_GMP1040, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

We will miss you Bruce.

Green Garage

2010-01-03T17:11:00.002-07:00

_GMP2590, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

A garage in my alley.

Christmas with Henry

2009-12-27T07:27:00.003-07:00

Waiting...

2009-12-17T20:07:00.001-07:00

In the Subway

2009-12-12T15:05:00.002-07:00

Surprised Kitty

2009-12-03T13:20:00.001-07:00

Cats Against Climate Change

2009-12-03T13:18:00.002-07:00

Jann Arden - Leave Me Now Vancouver 11/18/09

2009-12-03T12:26:00.000-07:00

Three Days Grace - Saskatoon, SK 12/02/09

2009-12-03T11:43:00.002-07:00

What an amazing show it was.

Check out the pyro.

Winnipeg's Exchange District

2009-12-03T00:18:00.001-07:00

_GMP3281tu.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Regina in November

2009-11-30T13:32:00.010-07:00

_GMP3115tu.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

_GMP3026tu.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

_GMP2997tu.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

_GMP3099tu.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

_GMP2946tu.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

_GMP2902tu.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Life on the Road

2009-11-28T02:03:00.006-07:00

_GMP2731tu.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

_GMP2719tu.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

_GMP2718tu.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

_GMP2653tu.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

_GMP2700tu.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Jann Arden - Edmonto Journal Review

2009-11-26T12:07:00.003-07:00

CONCERT REVIEW

Jann Arden

When: Wednesday

Where: Jubilee auditorium second show tonight at 8

Sometime in the past decade or so, Jann Arden's voice became one of those that would often come to mind while you were suffering in the depths of a heartbroken, TV drama-style crisis.

On a particularly wistful bus trip you might find yourself imagining the chords of Good Mother or Insensitive scoring the ride, and it's that sentimental, somewhat cheesy place she holds in many Canadians'hearts that Arden likes to poke fun at.

Though she jokes about her songs being depressing, like she did last night about Leave Me Now, a song she's never performed live before her current tour, it's no secret that the 47-year-old Calgary chanteuse frequently sells out her concerts because audiences have come to love not only her woeful tunes, but also her notoriously wicked sense of humour.

Last night, in her first of two performances at the Jubilee Auditorium, Arden delivered a two-and-a-half-hour show chock full of old favourites and new songs, all interspersed with scathing anecdotes and her characteristic sassy banter.

The show felt more like an evening jam in the Arden family living room than a packed concert hall--this feeling hit home especially after she introduced the members of her outstanding six-piece backup band through a photo album slide show, which included childhood pictures of the musicians, as well as scenes from Arden's personal past, including some of her bad-hair decisions from the '80s.

Of course, it wasn't all comedy. Arden's vocals were strong and emotive, her performance variations refreshingly different from her album versions--particularly fun was the reggae-infused rendition of I Would Die For You.

Opening with the title track from her latest album, Free, Arden took the stage alone with a guitar, gently strumming until the curtains behind revealed the band, already jamming with enthusiasm, guitar ist Keith Scott was an immediate, skilled standout.

Looking For it, from 1994's Living Under June, followed soon behind, and after encouraging the audience to take as many flash pictures as they pleased, Arden kicked into the Nashville-style ballad The Devil Won.

The set list featured songs from nearly every Arden album, including Sleepless from Blood Red Cherry, and Wishing That from 1997's Happy?

Arden's cover of Janis Ian's At Seventeen was soft and tender, as were Where No One Knows Me and Could I Be Your Girl.

The band got to show their gusto in a rousing, powerhouse cover of Sly and the Family Stone's Higher, and Arden toned things back down with the sombre Everybody's Broken.

Arden is living proof that an artist can write 10 albums' worth of good, sad songs and still remember not take everything so darn seriously --and that crafting a memorable performance can be as simple as treating the audience like family.

© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal
Original post here

Jann Arden - Kelowna Review

2009-11-23T10:54:00.000-07:00

Jann Arden Concert Review
November 21, 2009
Prospera Place, Kelowna
8.5 out of 10
By Mark Stone

I’ll admit it: when I got the call to review the Jann Arden concert tonight at Prospera Place I wasn’t terribly excited to go. I enjoy Arden’s music but I wouldn’t consider myself a fan. I wasn’t sure what I was in for, but I sure am glad that I went.

It would be almost impossible for anyone with a love for music not to come away from tonight’s show knowing they’ve seen not merely a good concert but a great one. Arden last played here less than a year ago on December 12th, and if tonight’s show is any indication she’s more than welcome to make an annual visit.

Despite getting off to a rather slow and almost forgettable start, from the fourth song on, Jann Arden and her extraordinary six-piece band (made up of a drummer, a keyboardist, a violinist, a bass guitarist and two guitarists) had the sparse crowd of 1,500 practically eating out of the palms of their hands. It’s ironic that although she may not be all that showy, Arden seems intent on putting on a great show. It’s not all about the music for her; she appears equally comfortable standing in the middle of the stage talking to her audience, telling stories and being genuinely funny.

When she first began her dialogue with those in attendance, she mentioned her time in Kelowna and how she almost didn’t make it here given the terrible highway conditions (she also made mention of our city in a tweet on Twitter this afternoon: “had a great walk around kelowna with midi. snow storm last night..crazy. stuck on highway for hours. glad to be here! Home tomorrow!!!”). Arden also took a jab at the first American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson, who was supposed to play here tomorrow but had to cancel. Ya know what? As much as it would have been nice to have Clarkson play here, having Jann Arden perform more than makes up for it. About half an hour through the show, Arden even engaged the audience in a brief Q&A session, encouraging questions of any type. It was hard to hear the questions, but she managed to keep it entertaining.

Highlights of the show were plentiful: some impressive new songs from her new CD Free such as the Nashville-inspired The Devil Won and the heart-wrenching Everybody’s Broken; a beautiful cover of At Seventeen by Janis Ian; two very slow but equally impactful versions of Insensitive and I Would Die For You sung back to back – and just for fun she switched things up by doing a reggae version of the latter song. The band was able to strut their stuff while Arden took a quick break and played a fabulous version of Sly and The Family Stone’s Higher. Arden isn’t kidding when she says she’s got one of the best back-up bands in the business. She also provided a ton of laughs while introducing the band by the way of a slideshow of them as kids. Her commentary was spot-on hilarious and got funnier as the photos progressed to her own family pictures.

Before I go on too much about Jann Arden, comedienne, I must talk about Jann Arden, singer. Her voice may have wavered once or twice, but this woman can sing. Her pipes are as strong as ever and she made great use of the nice acoustics (I guess it is possible to get good acoustics in Prospera). For some reason I was hearing some Alanis Morrisette in her voice – Arden’s is equally as powerful but she puts on a better show than Alanis.

My only gripe would be about the disappointing crowd. I think if people knew what they were in for and how good of a show Arden puts on, Kelowna would have easily had a full house. It was no surprise when the crowd gave her a standing ovation after her last song, Good Mother – it couldn’t have been more deserved.

Original Post below.
Jann Arden wows small but enthusiastic crowd at Prospera | Kelowna.com

Jann Arden - Vancouver Sun Review

2009-11-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

JANN ARDEN

Wednesday night

Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Also tonight, 8 p.m.

Tickets $49-$75 from ticketmaster.ca

If Jann Arden gave her fans a bit of a scare on Tuesday night in Victoria, she was back in full force for the first of her two Vancouver performances at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Wednesday.

Moments after she took the stage two days ago, Arden had to step away from the spotlight to recompose due to a short bout of tachycardia — accelerated heartbeats she later quipped were due in part to her tight-fitting dress.

It’s not the first time Arden has had to seek medical attention for heart problems.

In 2007, Arden was diagnosed with takotsubo, a stress-induced heart condition also known as “broken-heart syndrome.”

One can easily understand some of the pressure Arden has been under recently.

Her latest album, Free, is her first collection of original material since her eponymous 2005 effort (2007’s Uncover Me being a collection of cover songs).

For Free, the 47-year-old Calgary-bred singer also parted ways with longtime guitarist and collaborator Russell Broom, who was instrumental in penning some of Arden’s most famous songs and played alongside Arden on stage for 14 years.

And then there’s the stress of special occasions.

At Wednesday night’s show, Arden was inducted as a Vancouver “favourite” into the B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame, a celebration that included Arden being presented with a plaque that will be on permanent display at the Orpheum, handed to the singer by Hall of Fame President Elizabeth Ball and local media celebrity and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Red Robinson.

Whew.

If anything, this “intimate evening” with Arden just proved she really shouldn’t sweat the small or the big stuff.

Fans know her material inside and out, wear their love for Arden on their sleeves, and the whole affair felt less like a concert than a big family reunion.

"Just sit back and relax," Arden told the crowd in the opening moments of the evening. "We're going to play you some songs."

Simple enough, no?

It started, of course, with the title track from her latest effort, before quickly kicking into gear with Looking For It (Finding Heaven) and Where No One Knows Me.

For some reason, it took a little while to achieve the right balance in terms of sound, the vocals finding themselves slightly drowned out at first.

Could have been nerves or the desire to hit a bit too hard too soon, perhaps, but by the time Arden and her ace musicians, which included Bryan Adams guitarist Keith Scott (filling in for Broom) as well as the amazing multi-instrumentalist Allison Cornell, settled into the Nashville-tinged The Devil Won and classic Sleepless, we were nicely balanced and sonically comfy.

But Arden's show was about much more than just getting to hear Insensitive once again (stripped down and acoustic this time around, thank you), it was also about experiencing how genuinely funny the woman is. (Seriously, someone needs to get her a comedy gig.)

Among some highlights, there was a brief Q&A where she quickly dispensed some incisive, rib-tickling answers and anecdotes -- about her fat cat that likes tampons and catnip, about her running routine ("As far as the mini-bar"), and about if she remembered Antigua ("Have we screwed?").

There was also the reggaefied version of I Would Die For You, which she hit right on the head, and talking about a song she never performed in concert until this tour, Leave Me Now.

"It's a lovely song but it's so depressing," she said before mentioning it's, quite ironically, from her Happy album. "You can lay down on the floor if you want."

The family feel didn't end with Arden's ability to have the crowd rolling in the aisles, it also came through when she introduced her band, bringing up a personal (if somewhat embarrassing) picture slideshow reminiscent of your not-so-favourite uncle’s home videos or — gasp — his excruciating diaporama marathon (but much, much funnier).

There was also the "karaoke" moment -- Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclipse of the Heart -- where more laughter ensued as the crowd joined in ("Security!") and Arden roughed up her voice to echo Tyler's notoriously gritty delivery.

"The whiskey and slurpee period of my life comes to mind," Arden deadpanned.

Of course, Arden's specialty is songs about love, about religion, about personal insecurity and, evidently, about heartbreak (no pun intended), and she can either make you laugh and cry by simply being Jann.

It's easy enough to understand why she'll always be a favourite around here, and it was quite the emotional moment when Robinson and Ball handed her her Hall of Fame plaque, the fans leaping out of their seats for a long (and loud) ovation.

Her acceptance speech would be as tongue-in-cheek as it could possibly be, Arden standing awkwardly in the spotlight like an overwhelmed pageant winner (good time to re-cue At Seventeen, which she had covered so grippingly earlier).

"I believe in gay marriage," she half-whispered. "I believe everyone has the right to be miserable."

Good one, but no one could ever feel miserable after over two hours of such classic Jann.

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

For more photos and original post
http://www.vancouversun.com/health/news/2238835/story.html?tab=PHOT

Jann Arden - Canadian Tour November 2009

2009-11-16T08:52:00.006-07:00

_GMP1580tu.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Allison Cornell & Keith Scott on the ferry to Nanaimo for our first show, after rehearsals in Vancouver.

_GMP1539TU.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Keith jumps!

_GMP1569tu.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Maury and Henry.

_GMP1488tu.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Lyle Molzan.

_GMP1561tu.jpg, originally uploaded by grahammichaelpowell.

Allison.

Digial Harinezumi Camera - with viewfinder modification

2009-11-06T09:03:00.005-07:00

My new Digial Harinezumi camera, I superglued an old viewfinder from my Yashica Electro 35 wide angle kit, and it works pretty well for composing shots.

These are such amazing little cameras. The video quality is very much like super 8 movie film. It's only 640X480 resolution, but that just adds to it's charm. The motion is jittery too, i think it shoots at 29fps. The auto exposure has the same look as super 8 on auto as well. Here are some shots taken with it in still mode...(with some photoshop tweaks).

Below is a shot with macro on for that nice soft focus look.

Below is a shot with macro off.

Then the same shot with macro on...