FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 2000. All Rights Reserved
Music
by Mike BellJason Mitchell
Tuesday, April 25
Karma Local Arts HouseSomewhere there’s a travel agent with a smile on his face. His children are going to university, and he has musician Jason Mitchell to thank for that.
For the past month Mitchell has been living the cliché of "If this is Tuesday, it must be (insert city here)," by jetting across Canada to perform small club showcase gigs in six cities for five consecutive weeks. Mondays are spent in Kelowna, Tuesdays in Calgary, Wednesdays in Edmonton, Thursdays in Winnipeg, Fridays in Toronto, and Saturdays in Montreal
It’s all a part of his record company’s attempts to build a strong word of mouth for the release of the West Coast songwriter’s debut, The World Is Flat, which hits stores the first week in May. Consider it the Wella Balsam ("...and they’ll tell two friends...") approach to music marketing. And consider Mitchell exhausted.
"Hands down – if I can put an adjective to it – I’m fucking tired," Mitchell laughs from Winnipeg (must be Thursday). "But I’m in this weird headspace groove, where there’s nothing to lose.
"Even if (the club) is loud and people aren’t paying attention, I just want to play with all my heart."
Nothing to lose? Well... the last time Warner Music attempted such a stunt was several years ago with pop artist Son. If you’re sitting there with a blank look on your face, you’re probably not alone. He was unceremoniously dumped by the label after his two records tanked.
Hopefully the same fate won’t befall Mitchell, whose contemplative folk pop songs show the early signs of an artist who could very well have a long and successful – though unassuming – career in the Canadian music industry, like Colin Linden or John Bottomley.
And if things don’t work out (ghoulish as it is to talk about before the album’s even released), Mitchell’s well covered – he’s got training in massage therapy and a healthy dose of humility.
"I’ve gotten a lot further than I ever thought I would and if this is it, if I have this week and maybe sell enough records to pay back the record company and my publishing deal – if this is all it is, then that’s all it is....
"But I’m hoping that this won’t be it and that people will enjoy what I do."
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