There's no moss growing on big baritone voiced Tom Wilson, who brings Lee Harvey Osmond, one of his many artistic pursuits to the Geomatic Attic, Tuesday, Nov. 10.
“I just got back from the studio,” he said, noting he was beginning work on a new collaboration with the Hamilton Symphony Orchestra and some of his own spoken word material.
“ It’s part of a new book deal I have with Penguin/ Random House ,” he said, adding that won’t be ready to go until 2017.
In the meantime, he just sent a show of his paintings off to Edmonton for his solo art show, is touring in support of the third Lee Harvey Osmond album “Beautiful Scars,” and is starting work on a New Blackie and the Rodeo Kings album.
The Lee Harvey Osmond tour comes to the Geomatic Attic, Nov. 10 for a sold out show, though it may be moved to the German Canadian club if there continues to be interest.
“It will be called Kings. The last one was “Kings and Queens” and was duets with female artists I love. This one will be Kings so it will be duets with our favourite male artists like Nick Lowe and Vince Gill,” he said.
“I like to follow the art and see where that takes me,” he said, adding he doesn’t like to be constrained by any single artistic pursuit.
“I chose this. I don’t like to limit myself,” he said, adding he enjoys working with people with a similar outlook , like film maker Jeth Weinrich, who he sent to Mexico to film a series of three short videos for songs off of “Beautiful Scars,” including the first one “Loser Without Your Love.”
“Doing a typical video is a little obvious now. I’m a 56-year-old grandfather of two. I have no interest in lip synching to my own songs in front of a crowd of people. A lot of people do that and they’re at home in that world. But that’s all right for these people, but not for me,” he said, adding he wanted to do something a little more ambitious, so he sent Weinrich to Mexico to film a series of short films for “Loser without Your Love as well as “How Does it Feel,” and “Come and Go” which are to be released.
“I think he did a beautiful job. He’s from Calgary. I worked with him on a Junkhouse video around 1997 for “ Burned Out Car” because there were a lot of people who are homeless, living in cardboard boxes underneath the bridge. So I wanted to draw attention to that. Instead of throwing them a quarter, maybe we should throw them a little love,” he said.
“It ended up winning a Juno award.”
He is pleased with the new Lee Harvey Osmond CD.
“ I love it. We recorded the last one with the Sadies. This one is with The Cowboy Junkies (with producer Michael Timmins.),” he said.
“ I love working with people who have the same vision as I do,” he said adding his son plays on the CD.
He is looking forward to coming back to Lethbridge.
“I love southern Alberta,” he rumbled, adding he doesn’t know what the show will be like.
“Every night is different. We don't even have a set list. But I’m sure there will be songs from all three Lee Harvey Osmond albums. I have a great band with me,” he said.
he is excited about writing his book, which is about learning he was adopted at the age of 53.
“It’s an ongoing journey.
I thought I was Irish, but it turns out all along that I was Mohawk,” he said, adding the seed for the book was planted after an appearance on the CBC show “ Definitely Not the Opera.”
“ It happens to a lot of people who find themselves in a similar situation, finding out they are adopted, but I’m the guy writing about it. It will be about my journey,” he said.
“It will be nice to be back in southern Alberta. I look forward to all of you coming out,” he said.
Lee Harvey Osmond play the Geomatic Attic, Nov. 10. The show is sold out, but it may be moved to the German Canadian Club if there is more interest. Please contact
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to be added to a wait list pending venue change. Tickets cost $37.50. the show begins at 8 p.m.
