CANORA – “We’re going to have some fun tonight.”
And with that, John Muirhead, accompanied on a variety of different instruments by the multi-talented Clayton White, took his supportive Canora audience through a delightful evening of music and storytelling at the Canora Composite School auditorium on Oct. 23.
With White singing backup, the duo’s music and harmonies filled the room and entertained all those in attendance. The audience had opportunities to participate, with special sing-along sections in certain songs. At one point, Muirhead asked everyone one to turn on the lights in their devices- flashlights, phones and so on, “Just so I can all of your beautiful faces.”
Introducing his composition called Everything, Everywhere, Muirhead shared that “I’m feeling a lot of love in this room,” adding, “When you fall in love, everything changes. You start to see the world in a different way. You see a little flower growing in the crack on a sidewalk and think, ‘Yeah! I’m in love!’ Then later on, when you break up with that person, you see that same flower and think, ‘What a stupid flower!’”
He said Everything, Everywhere is about all those things, including the chorus,
“No longer just black and white
You’re everything, everywhere, all of the time
Your colours filling my eyes
You’re everything, everywhere all of the time
I know how it usеd to be
Darling you brought out the best in me.”
Muirhead’s music, while mellow and relaxing at times, is also deeply emotional. The duo shared a Muirhead original number called Better Days.
“The world is not always as awesome as a Canora concert,” he said. “Whatever you’re going through, bad or good, I hope this song is a comfort for you.”
The song lyrics include,
“The sun poked out through those dark clouds
Heh, you’re on your way.
It’s been a long year, hasn’t it?
It seems all you have, it’s been unravelling
You’re on your way to better days.”
And then, midway through the song, the duo seamlessly transitioned into lyrics and music that suddenly sounded very familiar. It was a few lines from Here Comes The Sun, a big hit for the Beatles.
“Little darling, the smile's returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun
And I say, ‘It's alright.’”
Around the time that Muirhead first started touring he found himself in Winnipeg, and homesick for his native Ontario.
“With all the light pollution in Toronto, I had never seen so many starts as that night in Winnipeg,” he said, quickly adding, “Of course, now I know that Saskatchewan skies are so much better.
“But just as I was feeling lonely, I realized there was a lot of love waiting for me back home.”
So, instead of just brooding all alone, he wrote a song called North Star.
“So wherever I go, wherever you are
I’ll be the night sky if you’ll be the North Star
Wherever I go, wherever you are
Your light guides me home in the dark.”
In what just might be the ultimate compliment for a songwriter, Muirhead shared that a couple he met at one of his concerts had used North Star as the featured song at their wedding.
Of course, life on the road is a big part of being a touring musician. Drawing on those experiences, Muirhead shared an original song called, I Can Sleep Anywhere.
“I sang to some strangers, I drank with them later
Next morning the road stared me down
And all of the hours I spent on the road
Outnumbered the people that came to the show
But it could be my last
So I’ll play at full blast
Then I’ll pack up my gear and I’ll go
Cause I’d sleep on the floor every night of my life
Just to do what I’m doing tonight.”
Muirhead was born and raised in Georgetown, Ont., about an hour from Toronto. He credits his initial interest in music to playing the video game, Guitar Hero.
“I had the game when I was 12 and it introduced me to a whole new world of music and the idea of playing guitar. The next summer I got a real guitar and the rest was history.”
For anyone who took in the Canora concert, it’s not at all surprising that his favourite part of being a musician is writing songs.
“It’s been such a great outlet for me to process my emotions, tell stories, and express myself throughout my life.
“I also love building community through music. Over the years I’ve developed an amazing fan base online that has resulted in real-life friendships, fans travelling far and wide to see shows, and a corner of the internet that’s full of positivity. It’s amazing.”
Muirhead describes his music as indie-folk.
“It takes inspiration from the songwriters I grew up listening to with my parents such as Neil Young, The Band, Bob Dylan, as well as more contemporary influences and production styles. At the heart of it all is storytelling.”
Even as a relatively young performer, Muirhead has accumulated countless great memories, but points to one as being extra special.
“I got to play a few songs at a sold out Massey Hall in Toronto for their tribute to The Last Waltz (The Band’s farewell concert) at the end of 2023. That was a really special night. The highlight was a duet of Four Strong Winds with Sylvia Tyson. “
The Nomad is Muirhead’s recently released second album, and those songs are a big part of his current tour.
For more information on his touring schedule and his music, visit johnmuirhead.com.
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