As I have mentioned before, my husband and I are usually lucky to see our friend Brandon Isaak maybe once a year anymore, if that. Well, 2012 has been a good year so far for “catching up” with our buddy. We saw him playing his solo gig in June at the Garden Bay Pub, then we had the good fortune of seeing him again on July 9th at the very same venue. This time, he was playing with his friend ( and “Twisters” bandmate ) Keith Picot, as a duo.
As an added bonus, Brandon had told me that his parents were going to be there, too. I was so excited to hear that, as they still live up in the Yukon, and I hadn’t seen them in many, many years. Ed and Donna took really good care of me that Summer long ago that I spent in the Yukon, and I will never forget their kindness.
He also mentioned that I was finally going to meet his “Girls” – meaning the lovely Patti, and their beautiful Daughter, Kiko. ( you just have to hear his song, dedicated to her – “KIKO” )
As always, we arrived at the Pub early to make sure we were able to get good seats. We chatted with Brandon and Keith a bit, then Brandon told me to go over to the Dining Room side. His parents were having dinner over there before the show, and he knew we’d be anxious to see each other after all these years. I totally welled up with tears when I saw Ed and Donna – they looked wonderful – just as I remembered them. We did a lot of hugging and talking, and it was so great to see them – brought back so many happy memories. Patti and Kiko arrived at their table a few minutes later, so I got to meet them for the first time – both such beautiful ladies ! Shortly thereafter, their dinner arrived, so I headed back over to the Pub side – it was almost show time.
Donna and Ed Isaak and Heather Doré
There was a pretty good turnout at the Garden Bay Pub that night, which is no surprise. Not only is it one of the best live music venues on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast, but Brandon and Keith have quite a loyal following. We saw many familiar faces in the crowd – many of whom had made a long drive just to be there.
These guys never disappoint – when you see them perform, you are thoroughly entertained. They play some amazing Blues, but they also pepper the evening with their witty banter, which makes it even more fun for the audience. They draw everyone in, make you feel a part of it, and it’s just one big happy family in there. This night was no exception – the boys were in fine form.
After Ed and Donna had finished their dinner, they came over to the Pub side to see the show, and asked if they could sit with us. I was overjoyed, as it meant we got to visit for another couple of hours, and “catch up” some more. The night could not have been more perfect – definitely one of the highlights of my Summer. Ed got up and joined the guys for a song, as well, which was awesome – I hadn’t seen him perform in a long time – and it was very cool.
Keith Picot, Ed Isaak, and Brandon Isaak
I had to work the next morning, so we hadn’t planned on staying too late, ( it’s about an hour drive home on a very long, winding road ) but we were having such a fabulous time, that we just couldn’t leave. I was so happy to be spending time with Ed and Donna, as well. As usual, we stayed until the end, then I got my traditional pics with the Boys.
It was really hard to say “Goodbye” to Brandon’s parents, as I don’t know when we’ll see them again. ( but we agreed that it wouldn’t be nearly as long next time ) There were many more hugs, and I struggled to hold back tears once again. What an amazing night ! This is what life is all about – spending time with good friends, listening to fantastic music, food, drinks, the perfect venue, and a warm Summer breeze … it doesn’t get any better than that.
Brandon Isaak, Heather Doré, Keith Picot
If you are new to my blog posts, then you may not know who my friend Brandon Isaak is. ( a.k.a. “Yukon Slim” ) To give you a little bit of background, you may wish to read my two previous posts about him: Yukon Buddy , and Yukon Buddy Part 2 – The Twisters. That way, we can just continue with the story …
So, the last time we’d seen Brandon was in 2010, with the Twisters, at the Garden Bay Pub. We didn’t get a chance to see him play at all in 2011, so that was a bit of a drag. Brandon is always posting his upcoming gigs on Facebook etc., and when I see these, I always ask him, “When are you coming to play on The Sunshine Coast ( of B.C. ) again? “. Well, a few months back, I got a response: he was going to be playing a solo gig at Garden Bay for the Pender Harbour Blues Festival. It was going to be a “Dinner Show”, on the restaurant side of the Garden Bay Hotel. ( we usually see him on the Pub side )
My husband and I thought this would be pretty cool for several reasons: we’d never seen Brandon play on his own before, we’d never eaten on the other side of the venue, and it would mean a really nice night out for us. June 2nd was a sunny Saturday, and the drive up to Garden Bay was absolutely wonderful. We got there a little early, I had a drink on the pub side first, then we moved to the Dining Room.
We had a lovely little table with a great view of the water.
Our Table At Garden Bay Restaurant
We had only been there a few minutes, when Brandon came in, and saw us. We all exchanged warm hugs, had a bit of a chat, then he started setting up. We ordered dinner, and our meal was delicious. It was a perfect night – good food, an incredible view, and great entertainment. As always, Brandon came and sat with us between sets, so we could “catch up”. We always have such an awesome time when we go see Brandon play – not just because he’s my friend, but because he is a tremendously talented entertainer, and a very funny guy.
Yukon Slim and Heather Doré
