Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith returns to Limerick this week for an intimate solo gig. He is promoting his 14th album, ‘Carousel One’ out since March on Compass Records.
The 51 year-old is self-deprecating almost to a fault, he has been a critical success ever since his self-titled debut back in 1995, winning the admiration of Elvis Costello, Ray Davies and Paul McCartney along the way.
From the current album, Ron Sexsmith’s single ‘Saint Bernard’ is a tribute to an anonymous family dog in a photograph picked up in a second-hand shop. An example of how Ron can make even a wistful, nostalgic song turn with his sense of humour, equating the dog that saves him as his own personal minibar.
“They’ve always been my favourite type of dog. I was sitting in the kitchen one day playing guitar, I had this melody but no lyrics, so I looked up at the picture and just started singing the opening lines. I guess the album is kind of a travelogue of music that I like which was mostly a happy accident.”
Ron TweetSmith…
Ron’s Twitter account is full of “Sexsmith-isms” and quirky stuff he encounters on tour or just the first thing that comes into his head.
The self described “Half Man, Half Melody” is funny and charming in equal balance to his 20,000 followers. So here’s a few we like.
Being a songwriter these days can be like a conflict of interest.
You’re conflicted but nobody’s interested RS
Apparently the Pope is a jack of all trades .. And a master of nuns RS
I wanted to buy a postcard from the hotel lobby … But the ones they had were nothing to write home about RS
Apparently they’ve discovered water on Mars!
That’s great, but I ain’t setting foot there until they discover coffee RS
Then God created the orgasm.
Nobody saw that coming RS
So you’re telling me that if I ever get caught between the moon and New York City
That the absolute best that I can do is fall in love? RS
For an intimate look at how Ron Sexsmith prepares for and records an album, the 2010 documentary ‘ Love Shines’, directed by Douglas Arrowsmith on Paperny Films is a must see.
Ron Sexsmith plays Dolan’s this Thursday October 8.
