What Happened to Chris Froome? (Injury Update)
In sports terms:
I was placed on the IR (upper body) with no timetable for a return.
In my own words:
I had to take a break to fix my body.
In medical terms:
Chris Froome nearly completely separated his AC joint.
Injuries often plague those who happen to be human beings. We run, we fall, we get hit by stuff, and sometimes we do the hitting. We get sick, we can heal. It all becomes part of the story.
This story starts around 2011 where I began travelling as a Solo-Acoustic artist through Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Northwestern Ontario. Usually playing the majority of my shows over the colder Winter Months. I often traveled alone, with a full PA system, my guitar, and anything else I would need to play a show in a venue where they supply nothing, which was not unusual. The shows themselves were typically 3 hours a night, often 3 nights in a row.
At first I felt invincible, this was my dream, and I was living it. I would get minor bumps and bruises along the way, nothing of significance. But at some point in 2015, parts of my body started to show signs of wear. This worried me.
Now, I was becoming particular about my bookings. Where they were, and how many I could do in a row without aggravating anything. My body needed a break. But being a working-class musician, even if you stop briefly, you risk losing your spot to the next guy. So I managed to find a balance of music/rest that allowed me to continue touring.
But now, playing less overall, I looked for other ways to support my fanbase. I turned some of my attention back to online platforms like YouTube, and Patreon, to help solidify the base of fans I already created. This giving me an opportunity to grow further through Video Production, and Live-Streams. More on this later.
Things changed again in August 2017 when something unexpected happened, even though logically it had a high probability of happening eventually. After a gig, while loading some super-heavy gear into a truck, I fell backwards off of the ramp and dropped roughly 6 feet, landing DIRECTLY on my left shoulder. I separated my AC Joint, and bruised several other areas of my shoulder. I consider myself extremely lucky that I didn’t break a bone, or my neck, or have the 1000lbs of gear fall on top and kill me. VERY lucky.
It would be a while until I would be playing music again, and certainly at a reduced capacity. The Doctor told me surgery wasn’t necessary, but it would be months before I would regain normal use of my shoulder, if it healed properly. This was very good news, but I wouldn’t be working for months, and a large loss of income was not ideal. I was denied insurance coverage because I wasn’t willing to cancel my future bookings and seek full-time employment elsewhere, which didn’t help the problem.
By now, I had been supplementing my income with Ad Revenue from my website, YouTube, and most notably, the crowd-funding website I use called Patreon. It wasn’t a lot, but it was enough to help ease the extra pain that day-to-day expenses were now putting on my bank account. This is a very important thing for me to talk about. Because without my fan support from Patreon, I may have already been forced to quit playing music altogether.
Two months have passed since the injury, and I’m very slowly getting back to travelling Solo playing Live-Music. Although I’m still uncertain if I’ll be able to tour regularly, or if I’ll need to stop touring altogether. Either way, I’m confident that this upcoming Winter Solo-Acoustic Tour will be the last time I tour this heavily as a Solo Performer.
I know I have strong moral support from my fanbase, and I’m always in debt to the support I’ve been given. But if you’ve read this far, then this next statement is for you:
I cannot continue playing music without consistent financial support from my fans.
Please, I ask you to strongly consider supporting me on Patreon. The lowest tier is $1/month($12/year), and for that you are guaranteed 15min-20min of produced musical content monthly. On top of that, looking forward over the next year, I will be putting out two separate EP’s of music. These EP’s will be free for any of my supporters to download. Also, I’m planning several Live-Streams of Solo Performances, as well as the fan favourite CatFood Live-Streams.
Regardless of if you support financially or not, I thank you for taking the time to read my story. To all those who already support me on Patreon, I wouldn’t have made it this far without you. Every little bit helps, and I like you guys.
=CF=
www.Patreon.com/FroomeC
Morning Coffee – 10/03/2017
A race with no finish line.
Picture this. It doesn’t seem so bad, does it? I mean, if the image of a race without a finish line doesn’t make you uncomfortable, that is completely normal. But should it? Let us break it down.
‘RACE’ (def) – “a competition between runners, horses, vehicles, boats, etc., to see which is the fastest in covering a set course.”
A set course is usually something with specific start and end points. Assuming that the end point is the ‘finish line’, along with the definition in our original statement, and focusing the scope, we can write it like this:
A competition between people, to see who is the fastest to reach the finish line, with no finish line.
Does this start to sound weird? It should. Taking it one step further:
‘FINISH LINE’ (def) – “a line marking the end of a race.”
Here the definition of ‘finish line’ includes the word ‘race’ itself. If we replace our original statement with this definition, we can write it like this:
A competition between people, to see who is the fastest to reach the finish line, with no line marking the end of the race.
Noticing that we still have ‘finish line’, and ‘race’, lets see what happens when we replace them again with our new understandings:
A competition between people, to see who is the fastest to reach the line marking the end of the race, with no line marking the end of the competition between people, to see who is the fastest to reach the finish line.
Do you see where this is going? The idea of a race with no finish line should bother us. It is wrong. A race with no finish line is no longer a race, and finish line isn’t a finish line without a race.
Social Media has no finish line.
It is not a race.
=CF=
Morning Coffee – 09/08/2016
As I watch the Comedy Central Roast of Rob Lowe, I can’t help but laugh. I enjoy insult humour. Making fun of people is hilarious. Especially if they can laugh at themselves, and not take things personally. Because after all, the jokes aren’t about the person. The humour comes from the amplified image, and the amplified reputation, which comes with being a celebrity, or a public figure.
It’s important to remember that if you have the opportunity to laugh at yourself, take it. In an era where everyone is concerned with self-image, we need to remember that sometimes humour can keep us accountable for our actions. It can be a positive experience if done correctly.
It is easy to react defensively when somebody challenges your image, your actions, your art, your philosophy. Instead, try to embrace it, engage, and enjoy it. After all, the best jokes usually arise from truths. So let’s get real.
=CF=
Gord, Tragically Hip
As a working musician, there are a few things that I hold in high regard. Authenticity, Respect, Accountability, and Support. This is true for the musician, as well as the fan. Accountability breeds respect, which increases support, which allows the creation of music to continue. Staying true to yourself is paramount, as well as allowing others room to be true to themselves. Challenging others to become better, greater, or simply, more.
At the very least, a Canadian Rock Band of 27 years, with over 10 albums, who has played thousands of shows deserved my attention for at least one night, even if I’m not a fan. Especially since I did not need to leave my living room, or spend a dime. It was so simple that I really had no choice, so I tuned in to the concert. Surprisingly, I was blown away, but not by the concert itself. Allow me to elaborate.
I was NOT blown away with how great it sounded, or how tight they were, or by how exciting they were to watch. Because let’s be honest, there was a weird cloud hanging over the band. The energy was positive, but dark. The smiles weren’t happy, they were bittersweet. There is a difference, and I could feel it. However, what did blow me away was the authenticity, and honesty, of the show. In my opinion, The Hip completely nailed it. Not one moment was fake, or forced, and they accomplished everything they intended to. It was a fantastic show to watch, and I’m glad I did. It was all there, respect, accountability, support, and no shortage of authenticity.
Aside from the concert itself, Gord was presented with a very interesting and unique opportunity. While he had millions of Canadians in the palm of his hand, eagerly awaiting what words were next to come, he had the chance to speak about anything he desired. He chose to speak of the problems up north, and shed light on ongoing Aboriginal Rights issues, because that’s what he felt he needed to do. He has made every one of us accountable, in that we can no longer say “I don’t know anything about that”. We must now educate ourselves and start saying “Oh, that’s what Gord was talking about”. Gord stayed true to himself, and spoke truth, when many others would have just basked in the glory. He is a man of integrity, and worthy of my respect, and support. Every musician, fan, and human being had the chance to learn something from Gord, and if you missed it, you really missed out. It will not hold the same weight strictly watching the recording.
This concert reaffirmed for me all of the things I believe are important in a career of music, and songwriting. I will remember this concert for the rest of my life. Not because of how good it was, but because of how real it was, and I think that is something I will carry forward into the future.
Will this change my opinion on being a fan of The Tragically Hip? Probably not. But I will most certainly continue my career in music, being forever changed by a performance from one man, Gord Downie. Thanks Gord.
Morning Coffee – 07/05/2016
Every now and then we reach a tipping point, which can change the course of our lives. What is a ‘tipping point‘?
‘The Tipping Point‘ is the critical point in an evolving situation that leads to a new and irreversible development applied to social phenomena, demographic data, and almost any change that is likely to lead to additional consequences.
Most of us can relate to this idea by having said “I’m not going to take this anymore.” or “I’m going to do something about this.” Whether it’s at work, or at school, or on the internet. We all have a set of beliefs, and values, according to which we live our lives.
Sometimes things happen in such a way that there is an innate desire to step up, and do what we think is right. Sometimes we feel so strongly that it seems there is no other choice. That is my idea of a ‘tipping point‘.
Thanks for reading.
=CF=
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: CatFood (The Band)
The following is a transcription of an audio cassette which was found inside of a rusted metal tin can. The writing on it simply said “CatFood”. I was unable to hear the interviewers name, so we will just call him “Phil”.
Phil: How would you describe your live show?
Chris: I try not to describe it at all.
Landon: Really awkward and loud.
Ben: It falls somewhere between watching someone jumping off of a bridge and a water skiing squirrel. Horrifying, yet you can’t look away while at the same time being ridiculous and utterly pointless.
Phil: Do you have any crazy road stories?
Ben: One time in Ashern we ate lunch at the Chicken Chef and then watched a mid-day movie marathon of Rocky I to Rocky V. It was a pretty wild afternoon. Once in Brandon some guy named Kyle started touching my face and then he got unreasonably mad when I told him to stop doing that. Hi Kyle!
Chris: (laughs)
Landon: (laughs)
Phil: What advice would you have for somebody young wanting to start a band?
Chris: You can be terrible as you want to be. Remember that.
Landon: Think up a dope band name like Cat Food but totally different.
Ben: Stop trying to horn in on our racket! We’re at like a C+ rating, we don’t need no 13 year old virtuosos to come and show us up. Take pity on us!
Phil: What’s one thing that the fans don’t know about the boys of CatFood?
Landon: We aren’t cats.
Chris: We aren’t boys.
Ben: One of us possesses the sacred amulet of K’raal’nith’uoq AND WILL LEAD THE ARMY OF UNDEAD TO BEGIN THE UNDOING OF ALL THINGS! Also, Chris can juggle.
Phil: Does it bother you that people are confusing you for the Food, instead of the Band?
Chris: Wait… There’s also a CatFood (The Food)?!?!? Oh right. The Food, for Cats.
Landon: That’s why we picked the name, we hope some grocery stores pick us up for some gigs.
Ben: Does it bother Seal (the recording artist/stud) to be confused with a seal (the animal) when his voice is so goddamn silky smooth you could put kittens to bed in it?
Phil: Are you guys fucking serious?
Ben: Sort of? Not really? Maybe? I’m not if Landon’s not.
Landon: I’m not.
Phil: You’re on death row, what’s your last meal?
Ben: Is immortality juice a thing? If not, maybe a cheeseburger.
Landon: Maybe a little saucer of milk.
Chris: Lasagna.
Phil: Do you have any final words?
Chris: (shakes head) Nope. Whoops, I guess that is a word. Uh oh. These are all words. Now I’ve said a lot of words. MAKE IT STOP!
Ben: Spork. Jiggle. Grungo. Wiffle. Corking. Halibut. Chimichanga. That should do it.
Landon: Bye-Bye
THE WILD! – New Album Announcement
The Wild! have announced the recording of their new album. Watch the video here. <—
Morning Coffee – 02/15/2016
An interesting thing happened when I looked up the definition of the word ‘Support’. I found that there are two commonly used definitions.
Support
Now, even on first glance, it’s obvious to me that these two definitions are drastically different when it comes to their applications in the world. When you publicly declare (i.e. via Facebook Share) that you ‘support’, or ‘do not support’ something, it is important to stop and think for a moment what you are trying to accomplish.
Lesson Learned.
First off, I’d like to apologize. To who? Anyone who is taking the time to read this. Why apologize? You’ll understand as you read along. It might not be this post specifically, but if you keep coming back, you’ll understand eventually.
I actively stopped blogging regularly back in 2012. This was to attempt to accomplish two things. First, I had essentially caught up to myself. Let me explain.
I attempt to write my blogs in such a way that I would call both introspective, and entertaining, while still having some sort of a “make you think” attitude. What I mean is that I try to take a perspective, often from a personal experience, and relate it to as many people as I can. While that might seem obvious, and easy to say. It is far more difficult than you think. Try it, you’ll see.
