the new years show-how minus 28 feels from the stage
well it was cold. it was minus 28 with the wind and i have to admit that was the coldest outdoor winter show ive ever done:)
my hand burn from the cold on the mic when i first touched it and i knew it was going to be a bit painful. for some reason i took off my jacket, habit, stupidity, for the fun of it. anyways not smart. jon was the real hero. guitar strings are thin and sharp when frozen. i played on “some people say” and that was enough for me. jon did the whole set, played amazing. when he got off his fingers were frozen and he was quite worried the next day that he had done some damage. to everyone that came, thanks for sticking with us. in the end it was a really fun show and one ill remember.
(i know im making it sound like we traveled to the north pole on snow shoes:)
ps im going to post the rankings of all the song ideas for the acoustic record in the next day or so
26 Responses to “the new years show-how minus 28 feels from the stage”
Lala • January 4th, 2009 at 4:17 am
dang… you guys a crazee for playing out in the cold! I hope everyone is ok with Jon and everyone else. Take your vitamin Cees especially with the flu going around. Much respect for you all. I wish I was there for that show, sounds awesome minus the frostbite!
Shannon • January 4th, 2009 at 4:22 am
It was unbelievably cold at that show and I cant believe they didnt have heaters for the performers!!! It took me ages to recover from the cold and I was fully bundled! I can’t get over how amazing you guys all sounded despite the conditions! Thanks for persevering and making it a special night for us! But you can never risk those fingers again… we need lots more music from you guys!!! xoxo
Teresa • January 4th, 2009 at 5:10 am
I’d have to agree with you David, was the coldest outdoor show I’d ever been to!!! I had 8 hot packs and they were pretty good for the first 2.5 hrs outside, but the last 1.5 hrs became uncomfortable and even unbearable. I was holding hot packs in my hands and it still took 1.5 hours for the pins and needles feeling to stop after I got out of the cold. I can only imagine how Jon’s hands must have felt!
Was a great show despite the cold!
ps looking forward to seeing the results of the acoustic album!
Kai • January 4th, 2009 at 6:39 am
I hope you didn’t catch a cold up there. I wish I could have seen it, it’s amazing how dedicated fans are, to even be out there when it’s that cold. Were they still singing along? Was the energy good?
Take care of yourself, there’s only one David Usher and we’d be sad if you were ill or injured. :)
david usher • January 4th, 2009 at 7:50 am
i actually did get a cold, but i think that it was tracking me from norway:)
Anne • January 4th, 2009 at 8:47 am
WOW! You guys look frozen in that picture! I hope you get over your cold soon and Jon’s fingers are back to normal. I meant to be there too but my ride cancelled on me.
Can’t wait to hear the acoustic album and see you back here in the Toronto area soon. :D
Dale • January 4th, 2009 at 11:17 am
looks so cold in that pic…you guys rock :)
Nathalie • January 4th, 2009 at 11:50 am
BRRRRRRRRRRRRR. Tu parles d’une idée David, enlever ton manteau a -28. Well i guess you will never understand lol you’re juste like that ;)
You are realy courageous Jonathan. I can easily imagine my fingers on small metal strings very frozen oachhhh, i’m hurting for you. You are great ;)
Brenda Lynn • January 4th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
They say no pain no gain but I’m thinking this is pushing it to an extreme.
yvette kirchgesner • January 4th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Wow David! Cold is something I hate but I would have stood there for 3 hours to listen to you sing! Hope Jonathan’s fingers are okay :-( Take care of your cold…I’m sure Norway was worth it. About the one glove thing, I think it looks pretty cool. I remember another rock star who fascinated me back in the 80′s who wore just one glove:-)x
Jocelyne • January 4th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
It was a great show David. I’m glad you guys braved the cold. I’m glad I did too. It was the perfect way to end the year. Get well soon and looking forward to seeing you again. Happy New Year and best wishes to the band.
Kristine • January 4th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Yeah, that was damn cold! My toes got numb, then actually started HURTING, then started feeling warm again. I was thinking “Is this how frostbite starts? Your body tricks you into thinking it’s warming up again??!!”.
Well I’m glad you guys all escaped without any permanent damage! I’m with Shannon, I thought they would have had heaters aimed at the performers. Anyway, thanks for going through with the whole thing…loved the show, as always! :)
stormy • January 4th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Hey thanks for bringing in the New Year with music!! Jon, very lucky about the fingers but over the next few days give them some healing time. Rub your hands, wingle your fingers, pamper them, just to get the circulation back where it should be. I am surprised they are not all cut up, good grief. That is called being with your feet half off the edge and not going over..watch your lungs there too David. You guys really should have had your headbands on at least(don’t say you don’t have any)..geez..stubborn lot aren’t ya? Happy New Year!!
Bryan M. • January 4th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
I wasn’t able to catch the show, but it sounds like it was lots of fun, despite the cold.
and, it sounds like David and the boys did a great job, but how did the other bands do? was there any blood dripping from guitarists fingertips? tongues/lips stuck to microphones? ect…. :P
Shannon • January 4th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
@Bryan – nothing so dramatic but lots of out of tune instruments and strained voices… from the other bands! ;)
Nic • January 4th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
I wish I had been there!… but somehow after seeing this picture I’m glad I went somewhere warm! (though I had to dig a hole in the 4ft deep snow to park my car… We’re not used to this much snow in vancouver.) I hope everyones fingers return to normal asap! and David, for those songs that you don’t play guitar, you might want to invest in some gloves. :)
Nic • January 4th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Ah! I just noticed you had one glove…
anne deschenes • January 4th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
When and where was this show? I missed this show because I dont had information about it.When is the next show? Please soon. Take care of you David.
Marilyn • January 4th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
The show was in Brampton, Ontario. I was bundled up in my down parka, mitts, sweater, hood, etc. and couldn’t beleive you guys with your bare hands. You are truly dedicated musicians – playing for 50 minutes in minus 28C, complete with snow and wind coming at you. Kevin even played the trumpet – glad it didn’t get stuck to his lips! It was an amazing show (as usual).
Thanks VERY much for sharing New Years Eve with us – you are the best!
Cheers to 2009
XOXOXOXOXO
Laura • January 5th, 2009 at 9:36 am
I was wearing like ten layers – no joke – and was still frozen at the end of it. I was doing some filming too, but had to stop like 25 minutes in….my hands were frozen….I was freaking out thinking I got frostbite – but I didn’t :)
You guys are real troupers, and it was an awesome show!
Michelle • January 5th, 2009 at 10:26 am
I have to admit that I was quite surprised when you took your jacket off! (?!?!?!) It was a memorable concert, not only for the weather but for the great show that you always put on. Thanks for closing the year with us. Looking forward to many more!
Sara • January 6th, 2009 at 10:45 am
I wish I could have been there!!
You guys are real troopers playing out in the cold. But at least you were there and not playing here in Alberta where it was -35 with the wind.
Lynn Paterson • January 7th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Thank you for the most amazing New Years Eve ever, you guys rock!!! It was defenitely worth freezing myself for (couldn’t feel my feet for 3 days). David you were crazy for taking off your jacket and when you said you would be naked by the ned of your show I knew you had lost you mind lol. I was probably the oldest one in the crowd with only 1 person in front of me in front of the gate wearing a greent coat, when I heard the mayor before you took the stage telling the teenagers to give their parents a break and tell them to go over to Gage park, all I could think of was “I don’t think so, I’m not moving until I see the concert I am here for.” Thanks again I can’t believe you pulled off such an amazing concert in the blistering cold to perform a free concert, you guys truly are the best I hope you come back when the weather is warmer.
sabrina • January 18th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
wow minus 28!(yup thats Brampton for you) congratulations for pulling that off. I couldn’t make it to the event but I heard you guys put on a great show.
that was the fastest comment ever:) hes fine of course, off to work on the acoustic album