Ron Sexsmith: Unsung Hero

Mary Anne Ivison (Voiceover)  0:02  
The Women of ill repute with your hosts, Wendy Mesley. And Maureen Holloway.

Wendy Mesley  0:07  
So Moe, would you rather have critical acclaim or mass appeal?

Maureen Holloway  0:12  
Well, I both, I would think, no, you

Wendy Mesley  0:15  
got to pick one. You can only have one. You

Maureen Holloway  0:17  
I mean, you can be critically acclaimed and the people love you as well.

Wendy Mesley  0:22  
Yeah, but for the purposes of this discussion, let's get real. Why would you rather win an Oscar or a People's Choice Award?

Maureen Holloway  0:29  
Oh, an Oscar for sure. I've had my my speech written since I was a kid. And also, I don't think that people should be given a choice. They never make the right one.

Wendy Mesley  0:39  
Okay. Well, that's another discussion. I do want to hear that speech though.

Maureen Holloway  0:43  
Don't worry. I think you in it. Right there.

Wendy Mesley  0:45  
Okay. Well, that's all I wanted to know. So you know what, I think that we should ask the question about critical acclaim and all that to Ron Sexsmith. He's one of the highly regarded most highly regarded singer songwriters in the world. His music has been performed by the likes of Rod Stewart, Feist, Emmylou Harris, he

Maureen Holloway  1:06  
is admired by Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello and Dylan at Killian Murphy. The who's an actor who's going to win an Oscar is a big fan and Ron has been compared to Gordon Lightfoot, Roy Orbison, but he's still not a household name.

Wendy Mesley  1:23  
Well, kind of depends on the household. But but but yeah, a lot of household. So Ron Sexsmith, he lives in Stratford now with his family with his wife. He gave up the bright lights of Toronto, whatever. And he's got a new album out called the Vivian line, and he's playing a concert at Massey Hall that celebrating his career. As he turns

Maureen Holloway  1:42  
60 Oh, 60s, Sprint, chicken. I actually know Ron best because I follow him on Twitter, and he makes the most awful puns. Awful in a good way. This is just from this morning, he posted searching for the fountain of youth that never gets old. That's pretty bad. He's got another one here. He said you should be friends with a giraffe because you know, they'll always stick their neck out for you. Okay, that's

Ron Sexsmith everybody. Happy birthday. Congratulations. And shame on you for those terrible puns. Thank

Ron Sexsmith  2:22  
you Ami. My birthday was actually in January, same day as Elvis Presley of all people. But you know, Twitter for me is just, I never wanted anything to do with it. And my label talked me into it about, I guess, 2012 or something. And, you know, these dumb thoughts always occurred to me. And finally, I had an outlet to just sort of unleashed them on the world, because I didn't really know what else you're supposed to do with Twitter. Most people, they take pictures of their, what they had for dinner or something like that. So. But it's weird, because when I started, I only had about 600 followers and, and now just from doing these stupid jokes, and I do other things as well, I upload videos and things. But now it's grown to I think about 64,000 or something so amazing. Yeah. So there's something to be said for the, you know, a good dad joke every, you know, every day or something. Well, we

Wendy Mesley  3:13  
both follow you. Yeah,

Maureen Holloway  3:15  
you're the king of the dead jokes. That's exactly the kind of humor and it's kind of coincided with your emergence on Twitter. So congratulations. If only writing

Wendy Mesley  3:23  
songs were as easy as Twitter. It's all

Ron Sexsmith  3:27  
you know, in a way it's all writing though. It's all wordplay. It's all I do, you know. And I think we're probably around the same age, but I always love the, you know, the Dean Martin roasts and all these sorts of things in this you know, the one liners and Bob Hope and so so I'm keeping that alive really trying. I feel like I'm especially during COVID I went into overdrive on Twitter, because I felt I wanted to be like Bob Hope entertaining the troops, you know, trying to keep morale up. And so that's what I tried to do, you know, and it's a nasty place. Sometimes it is

Maureen Holloway  3:59  
a nasty place. But like what I've met I started a newsletter during the day, I called a post cards from the pandemic and basically, shared recipes, like it's completely different from anything I would normally do, but I still have people tell me oh, you should do those postcards for the pandemic animals. Well, the pandemic is over. So that would be

Ron Sexsmith  4:19  
covered by can sourdough bread to like everybody. Somebody

Wendy Mesley  4:23  
sent me some starter but it never never got off the ground and got a dog. I know so many people got a dog everybody did the sour dough thing, but they also got dogs. I didn't do anything except kind of enjoy and then really not enjoy the COVID experience model

Ron Sexsmith  4:40  
thing was trying to get better on the piano, which I played a lot and cuz I've got a sort of a late starter on the piano and I was just so lucky to not be in Toronto and it was going on because in Stratford, I could walk around the river. I felt like I had space and I could look at swans and Thanks.

Maureen Holloway  5:01  
So had you just moved to Stratford just pre pandemic,

Ron Sexsmith  5:05  
a few years prior, we moved in January of 2017. So we had a couple, you know, a few years of kind of bliss, you know, and actually COVID in Stratford wasn't so bad because we were allowed to bubble with, with five people at one point. And that was pretty much our entire social scene, you know, so, so we just kept drinking and everything. And it just seemed to, before you knew it, I mean, it was, I guess it's still swirling around. But it's it feels almost normal again, but I'm probably wrong about that. So well, you were

Wendy Mesley  5:41  
born in St. Catharines. And then you were in Toronto for all of these years. You did do you've toured the whole world and everything, and now you're in Stratford. So this is a big mo thing. She always asks me, so are you happy? Are you happy now in Stratford?

Maureen Holloway  5:54  
Well, Wendy moved away as well. She moved to the county and there's always of people, not just pandemic li induced, but I mean, maybe it's the age to

Ron Sexsmith  6:03  
your move to Prince Edward County. Yeah.

Wendy Mesley  6:05  
So Prince Edward County, and I try and ski. Let's not go there with Maureen because she had a bad fall. But yeah, I mean, you're in Stratford. So you've talked about the swans like You're like happy as like, as a country boy now? Yeah,

Ron Sexsmith  6:19  
I mean, my wife was the brains behind that, because we couldn't afford a house in Toronto. So we were renting. And we felt like we're in a real perilous situation, our landlord was getting very old. And we were worried if he die, what happens to us, you know, do we get the boot and so in calling was working for Loreena McKennitt at the time, and so she was coming here a lot. And I would come with her and, and she was trying to get me more warm up to the idea. But, you know, I finally caved in, but it was the best thing we ever did. Because I was really starting to feel out of place in Toronto. I'm starting to feel like the old guy at the bar, you know. And all of a sudden here in Stratford, I feel like the young guy at the bar, you know, it's because everybody sold here, you know, but I love the theater. I love there's a chef colony here. So the food's really good. And, and when I walked the town, I feel like Coco, Barry Finn, you know, because in Toronto, you know, everyone walks around with the coffee in their hand, and the traffic is gone. And it's just a whole other headspace. And I didn't even realize I needed it. But I was. Yeah, I think I was going a bit insane in Toronto. So it was really nice to get out and have a fresh start. And you know, my early 50s. So

Maureen Holloway  7:38  
we just talked to Lorena not too long ago, and I think this is going to start make a few people think about moving distract her because she seems the same praises theater, food more inclusive, Toronto's a tough place to to live, no matter how old you are. My

Ron Sexsmith  7:56  
kids are in Toronto, and I wish they would sort of look elsewhere too, because it's so yeah, I mean, rants, I mean, you can go on all day about, I mean, it's a great town, and I'm so glad I was able to get there and, you know, make my dreams come true or whatever. But yeah, it's it's not every day, you know, you get to start over in a new place. And we have all these new friends, people that I never would have met in Toronto, you know, because I mostly hung out with musicians and musicians are jerks, mostly, you know. So it was really nice to be, you know, meet people from other walks of life. And speaking

Wendy Mesley  8:32  
of dreams, you used to hang out at Massey Hall. And now you're playing there. I mean, you've played there before. But it's kind of a, it's kind of a big deal. I mean, it's Massey Hall is is a big deal. Well,

Ron Sexsmith  8:45  
for me, it's the biggest deal, you know, you know, when I was working as a courier, who was on my route, actually, so I'd walked by Massey Hall quite a bit. And I have no money at all back then. And so there were many shows, where I would just go and stand by the stage door and listen, except for Lightfoot, I would go see Lightfoot every year. And that was my favorite thing to do. So when I finally played there in 2006, was just crazy to be backstage and because I'd seen Dylan and Leonard Cohn and all these people, and there's a real sense of kind of rising to the occasion or wanting to do that as funny because I've also headlined the Royal Albert Hall which which was crazy. But even so Massey Hall still kind of for me takes the cake because, you know, it's sort of our role overhaul and hidden away you know, so this will be the fifth time that I've headline it and it's not an easy venue to book because it's expensive and it's big and all this stuff so I you know, I'm this could be the last time I played it, but I really felt for this show, and it needed to be there.

Wendy Mesley  9:49  
While in Gordon Lightfoot, i He was a big fan of yours and all the people that you mentioned, I like all the people you idolize,

Maureen Holloway  9:56  
idolize you

Ron Sexsmith  9:58  
Well, I you know If it was always, I don't know, if he was a fan of mine, he was very nice to me. You know, I think how it is like when you, I'm sure he met so many people over the years who worshipped him. You don't always want to meet those people a couple of times, I sat beside him at events, like award shows, and that, and I just felt really privileged to, and like I say, I don't know if he knew any my music or anything. I mean, he did come to my very first Massey Hall Show. And that was definitely on the top 10 of the biggest honors I've ever received, you know, so I'm really lucky. I got to sort of hang with him on a few occasions, because he wasn't easy to get to know, you know, I mean, he was a kind of a private, very private person. And I think he had very few close friends, Gore, you know, but some of those other people you mentioned, yeah, they've said nice things. And

Wendy Mesley  10:52  
we've kind of heard of him. Yeah.

Maureen Holloway  10:54  
Elvis Costello, whom you've always reminded me, one of my favorites, certainly one of the world's favorite singer songwriters. And he was instrumental in raising your star, more

Ron Sexsmith  11:06  
than anyone else. Elvis saved my career, because, and I was, you know, I've told the story before. But, you know, my album came on my debut in 95. Only in North America, and the label hated it. So they weren't promoting it. And, and I'd spent that whole year touring around opening for people, nobody really caring. And they were about to drop me when I was Costello, he held my album up on the cover of a magazine changed everything in the UK. Yeah, in the UK. And I had hadn't even met him yet. And I didn't see it coming. And it's sort of it was kind of like, I don't want to say like sweet revenge or anything. But after all year of the label telling me my record was crappy. And I blew my first big shot at the universe is record to finally have Olson, a guy like that. And not only that, but all these, the world press. You know, I made it on so many year end lists of that year of Best Albums and things. So it really gave me a leg to stand on. And all of 1996 I spent touring England and Australia and Japan and it would be about my, I guess, probably by my fourth album before anyone in Canada paid any attention to me. It's

Maureen Holloway  12:17  
so odd. I mean, you're huge in Ireland, and yet, you know, it's not like we have so many I'm

Ron Sexsmith  12:23  
physically huge in Ireland. I'm sort of bigger than everyone else. No, I do very well in Ireland. I don't think I'm huge anywhere. I sort of have a cult following everywhere. You know, but obviously wherever I go, I can fill a room whatever. But it's I'm not playing enormous rooms but yes, Ireland and the UK are among my sure biggest markets on the Elvis

Wendy Mesley  12:45  
thing because we were there it didn't he say something to the effect of you're too low key for your own good.

Ron Sexsmith  12:51  
Yeah, I can't really help that though. I mean, you know, Elvis in his early days projected this image is kind of almost angry, you know, machine gun sort of delivery he had, but he's a real softy. Actually, you know, he was a fan of in his dad was a jazz crooner, you know, so he loved all that kind of stuff. And, and he loved a lot of the Canadian folk music as well. So I think he really responded to what I was doing. I never would have thought he would have liked my stuff. So I was, I was pretty surprised. And sorry, what was the original question? Just

Wendy Mesley  13:27  
about you being too low key. I mean, you are a shy guy. But you said something about, you're not going to change.

Ron Sexsmith  13:33  
I guess I'm probably a little bit low key, maybe it's part of the Canadian makeup or something. You know, I mean, it used to be anyway, I don't I don't know that. The weekend is low key. I'm not sure what. But I mean, you know, I remember when my second album came out, I just called it other songs. And I remember Elvis telling me that he thought the title was too low key, or too humble or something. But I didn't mean it that way. I sort of, for me, like, you know, Leonard Cohen's albums were called songs from a room or recent songs. And so when I called my second on other songs, I just thought it was in the spirit of like Leonard Cohen. I wasn't trying to be like, you know, bashful about it or anything. And, of course, the years later, I have an album called exit strategy of the soul, which is, you know, pretty elaborate. I think so. But yeah, I mean, I think it is part of the Canadian thing. You know, we're in between two very dominant cultures, you know, you've got the miracle in the UK that make a bigger noise than we do in a way. And, you know, I think that's where my music lies is somewhere between the British invasion and the Canadian folk. And if I have a sound, that's where it is. I'm

Maureen Holloway  14:41  
just going to ask a very crass question. Yes. And it has more to do with the industry. So as if you're a singer and a songwriter, your songs have been covered. Is that lucrative for you? That's the crass part of it. Is it the songwriting aspect of when somebody you know who's got Got a marquee name covers it, does that go farther to pay the bills? Well,

Ron Sexsmith  15:04  
it definitely helps. I mean, I've never had the big hit. I mean, there's so many songwriters, like the guy that wrote the big hit for Norah Jones was, for example, you make millions and millions, you know, and I never had that hit. You know, when Rod Stewart covered my song secret heart. It wasn't a hit either for him, but it helped me recruit my first publishing deal, which was nice. You know, we live largely on, you know, publishing advances. You know, I'm, I've been with Sony for quite a number of years and, and it's weird, like during the pandemic, I actually ended up recouping. I don't know how that happened. So I was able to get another advance, but I think we do, okay, we, I've never been in a situation where I felt, I don't ever have to work again, I always have to keep plugging away. But I'm lucky that I got in the door when I did. I don't know how anybody does it. Now, I wouldn't know how to begin, I can't even get the Zoom working on my computer, you know. So I'm very lucky. And also, I mean, I had a record called Late Bloomer, but I really was a late bloomer, because I didn't my first album didn't come out. I was 31, which is old for the music, music industry. You know, it's 300 and dog years, or whatever it is, you know. So anyway, I just had this crazy dream, and then I never gave up on it. And finally, they let they let me in, you know?

Mary Anne Ivison (Voiceover)  16:30  
The women of ill repute.

Wendy Mesley  16:32  
So are you less shy now? Because I've always seen you. And you've said that you were shy, that you started late, that you didn't make a lot of money. But you also seem kind of proud. So are you are you less proud and shy?

Ron Sexsmith  16:47  
I think you can be a bit of both. And only I never felt that shy. I mean, I remember in the early days, a lot of the articles about me, they would always say melancholy, and this and that. And I think I'm a I'm sort of like er from Winnie the Pooh, you know, like, he was sort of the funniest character but he was there he kind of low key right? And depending on who I'm around, it's like everyone, there's some people that make me shy, like, I'm really shy around Funny People sometimes or if there's a very attractive woman I might get really, I might feel like I'm Shrek, all of a sudden I want to be seen or something like that, you know, there's all that sort of inner kind of, you know, stuff that goes on in your head that I'd rather I wish wasn't wasn't there. And I'm shy about stuff like television. I don't think I come across well and television or foot I decided to Toronto start a call. It's really good article, but I was not happy with the photo at all, but it's all vanity right? It's just the stuff that I wish I didn't have. So there's definitely of insecurities like everyone and a lot of self esteem issues. But I think I'm pretty friendly. And um, you know, and also, red wine can make you come out of your shell a bit to you guys something away something.

Maureen Holloway  17:59  
All the colors. Yeah, women

Ron Sexsmith  18:00  
seem to prefer I don't mean overgeneralize. But women seem to prefer the white wine.

Wendy Mesley  18:04  
Oh, well, I'll drink any any color.

Maureen Holloway  18:05  
I prefer red wine. Simply because white wine I can drink so quickly that it's not my friend at the end of the day. But I'm your snappy dresser, you do like have, say you have some sartorial moments. And I understand it's hard for you to find a hat that

Ron Sexsmith  18:21  
Well, I have a very big, you know, big head and you can tell but you know, but you know, when I was a kid, they used to call me Linus from the Peanuts gang because they had lots of hair and a big and also, while I shouldn't say there's ways to carry around a sock with me, not a blanket, but a sock. And I didn't realize it at the time. But it was my songwriting sock because I would sit and spin it around. When I'm writing I need something in my hand right to be spinning around. Like when I was a courier, I'd have a pen or I have a capo guitar Capo it's been around, and it kind of turns the crank or something and gets, but not anywhere. But I do have a big head, it's hard to find a hat, it's hard to, you know, and also my weight goes up and down. So I'll have a nice shirt and also I can't wear it until I lose 15 pounds or something like this. So well.

Maureen Holloway  19:06  
Welcome to 60 Yeah,

Wendy Mesley  19:09  
I used to smoke cigarettes and it was more having something in my hand to do something rather than the actual addiction. Although, you know, I tend to

Ron Sexsmith  19:19  
I have a new song that I'm working on called cigarette and cocktail. And it's about how I think it's really true. You know, when a social situation to have a cigarette in your hand to have a drink in your hand. It gives you hands on the two because they're so awkward the situation sometimes, and I'm I'm an occasional smoker, my ex wife was a chain smoker. She has friends. You know, I have the cigarettes and it's the law. Yeah. And so I think for 15 years, I probably smoked as much as she did because I'd be bombing them off for all the time on the front porch. But I don't know it's very rare. If I'm at a party and a friend is smoking I might just it's because it's a communal thing. It's like a peace pipe or something. Yeah. Well,

Wendy Mesley  20:00  
Maureen does that too Marina and her husband and I secretly hate them. Because because you can't do that, if I had one, I might as well just buy a pack and like, sign me up in

Maureen Holloway  20:09  
defense of smoking, which is the stand note that nobody wants to take. But I have to say that I used to smoke as heavily as you and your first wife did. And I know I've rarely do but when I do at a party step outside that somebody has cigarette, and you end up meeting people, but it's like, you meet the best people to talk to the party.

Ron Sexsmith  20:31  
And I don't care what anybody says, When you see Humphrey Bogart smoking a cigarette, it's the coolest thing you've ever seen. Or, you know, and that's the thing that they can put all the warnings they want on the packages, you know, it's like, it's a thing, you know, and there's so many things they say are bad for you, but you can do live the cleanest life and you're still going to die eventually, you know, it's not like, so if something makes you happy, like I really like red wine, for example, you know, and I don't think I ever want to give up that because for me, especially since I'm in Stratford, I find myself listening to records and drinking wine, and it's my record listening buddy with me, you know, so, but anyway, I tried to live healthy, I go try to go to the gym or stuff, and but you can't be super squeaky clean. You know? No, I don't think so. I

Maureen Holloway  21:21  
don't think so either. Well, I

Wendy Mesley  21:22  
want to thank you, because something that I read just really struck me and it was about canceled culture and, and I was sort of cancelled, I made a mistake. But you said everybody makes mistakes, and that you don't get the need to banish people. So I just, I just thought I mean, you you do have a way with with words. And thank you

Ron Sexsmith  21:42  
for saying that. I thought it was really unfair. What happened to you and other people to actually close? Yeah, there's such a number use, but I remember running into one's attorney Bellwoods park, you know, and it wasn't long after I think, but I thought I had never met you before. But I was obviously a watcher on TV for years and years. And so and I actually don't know if I live on Peter Mansbridge, his neighbor we live by I don't know if I should bring them up or not. But we're he lives on the same street. But anyway, no, I just thought, you know, when Trump got elected, the world seemed to go berserk. I think it hasn't really been the same since and the world became the sort of scorched earth puritanical kind of place in some ways. And I just feel, you know, the idea of forgiveness is such a big thing. For me, it's the whole point of the New Testament, right? And, you know, it's like, that was the message and I just feel so many people want to obliterate you and kick you in your down and they want you to be contrite. But they're not willing to accept an apology. And it's just this sort of weird place we've arrived at, I don't know, I just feel kindness really an empathy. That's the key really, to having a, you know, civil society.

Wendy Mesley  22:57  
I'm so glad that you're proud. And that you've found happiness and that you've, you're you're performing and, and you're doing all this cool stuff. And you're riding like a maniac on Twitter, which is how we began but, but you're funny. There's lots of great stuff happening. And I'm I'm so happy for you all. I

Ron Sexsmith  23:15  
was really happy when I heard I was going to be on your show. And I know some of my friends had been on like Naomi sneakers is one of our closest friends and Ray, we love Naomi. Yeah, her and Matt came to visit us. Not that long ago, actually. And we've been up to their cottage and but they you know, their friends from the old neighborhood. They lived in Trinity Bellwoods, too. But anyway, it's just so happy that you guys reached out, I would say come to the show. But oh, no, we're not talking about

Maureen Holloway  23:39  
because the show will have come and gone by the time but are you excited? sighted

Ron Sexsmith  23:44  
and nervous? And but you know, obviously, the thing that's all on my mind now is because calling the accident which throws a monkey wrench into everything a little bit, so yeah,

Maureen Holloway  23:54  
Colleen has broken two arms and a rib and broke her glasses. And on had a bad fall. Yeah,

Ron Sexsmith  24:02  
no, she'll recover. It's just sort of it just sucks that that had to happen. And but she's already much better today. So that's actually it's actually I'm not gonna say it's a good thing. But it's the one good thing about it is it's taken my mind off the actual show, where I'm just constantly thinking, What can I do for you? How can I do want some eggs or something, you know, that sort of thing. So I'm thinking about that kind of stuff. So

Wendy Mesley  24:26  
what do you think about when you're when you're walking out? Is it terrifying?

Ron Sexsmith  24:30  
It's terrifying when I'm in the wings waiting to go on. I'm always saying to myself, What have I got myself into? You know, because I'm bringing all those people out there, they bought tickets, they've hired babysitters and found parking over all that stuff. And I don't do anything. I just stand there. You know what I mean? Like it's like, I don't run around and have hydraulic lifts and answers and things. So I'm always worried is this going to be entertaining enough? Right? I mean, all my Heroes just there. But we're in a different place. So when I get all that out of my head, I know that people just come in because they like my songs, and I just have to sing my songs. And that should be enough. But yeah, it is terrifying. But again, it's my own fault, right? About this gig and my band is great. I haven't played with them since 2018. So I'm super excited about that, too. It's gonna

Maureen Holloway  25:22  
be wonderful. You write the most beautiful songs, you really do it, you know, if someone's just gonna stand there, then you're up to the job. I'm disappointed. You haven't got a Beyonce type routine, but I certainly have

Ron Sexsmith  25:33  
a hip thing I do. I moved my hip. And that's about the not because I have to sing. I'm sort of trapped at the microphone all night. You know, so I can say like Elton John can't move the piano, he has to stay there and sing, right. So it's like that with me. And again, and also I'm older now, so people can expect me to look good anymore. You know, they just have to deal with it. Like all this is wrong now is thinning hair and everything. And hopefully, there'll be okay, right.

Maureen Holloway  25:59  
Sell yourself so short. You're so self deprecating, but self deprecating, I

Ron Sexsmith  26:04  
call it eventually, we're all.

Maureen Holloway  26:09  
Ron Sexsmith your new album is called the Vivian line. It's named after a road near your your house in Stratford. It sounds like life is

Ron Sexsmith  26:17  
good. Yeah, come see us sometime. Come up here. Come see a play. Yeah,

Maureen Holloway  26:22  
I think we should do a road trip to Stratford. Wendy, we got friends there. Now

Wendy Mesley  26:26  
that picture now with there's all this field or there's a wheat or there's something is that you like in Stratford? Or where where is that?

Ron Sexsmith  26:34  
No, it's actually just outside of St. Mary's, which is the next town over. But I really felt as I get older, I started to look like a scarecrow. So I wanted to go and find like an old farm where I could be, you know, they've stuffed hay down my shirt and everything. And so we went out found this old abandoned farm and just maybe 20 minutes from where we live. And that's where that picture is. Because we're actually in the town. We're not the country surrounds us. But we could because I don't drive I need to be in a town where I can walk to a coffee shop or go to the gym and all that stuff. So remember,

Wendy Mesley  27:06  
the Toronto days? Yes,

Ron Sexsmith  27:08  
I do. And I have fun. I have sort of fond memories of Toronto, but But you guys definitely should come and see a play and have a nice meal. There's so many good restaurants here. And it's

Maureen Holloway  27:18  
a road trip. Yeah. Thank you for talking to us. Ron. Break a leg.

Ron Sexsmith  27:23  
Thank you. Yeah, well

Maureen Holloway  27:24  
don't break. It shouldn't even tell you that. We're calling up mess.

Ron Sexsmith  27:28  
Yeah, I'm gonna try very hard not to fall down in the next few days. So you'll

Wendy Mesley  27:32  
have a great concert and you've had a great career and you're happy. It's wonderful to see you. So thank you.

Ron Sexsmith  27:39  
Thank you. And yeah, hope to see you guys again sooner than later. All right. Thank you.

Wendy Mesley  27:43  
Thank you. Bye. So I guess I'm not supposed to say he was

Maureen Holloway  27:50  
lovely. He was just the most unassuming, down to earth sincere, and yet funny. I mean, he is just a lovely man. He's super

Wendy Mesley  28:03  
colorful. And he's super funny. And he's what does he call it self deprecating, self deprecating,

Maureen Holloway  28:07  
and just really sweet man. So yeah, we're making friends. Right, left. And Senator, you know, what I really love is that everybody that not everybody, but many of the people that we meet, and that we choose to have or invite on to the podcast know each other. So I'm starting to feel that we're part of this really amazing community of lovely, interesting, vibrant people. And if we're not, I'd like to be

Wendy Mesley  28:33  
I met him. He mentioned Trinity Bellwoods. And he used to live there and I saw him and but it's hard. It was like with Johanna schneller, who writes for The Globe and Mail and we interviewed her as well. But you see people and it's easier to get to know people on a podcast, like this. Oh, because we have the time, right? Yeah. Well, and you've sort of thought about them beforehand. And you've thought about them during and and it's not just hey, there's so and so on the chair or there's so and so walking by but yeah, I'm so glad to get to know him. I

Maureen Holloway  29:03  
just felt better talking to him. And his music is so beautiful. And his songs are so lovely. And I don't know why he isn't more famous, but I don't know if he'd want to be Oh, everyone would like the money. Yeah, the money is gonna say, but he isn't working musician and that. I mean, I have some friends who are just saying they're musicians. They don't they don't have to do anything else. None of them are rich and they're just grateful that they can make a living doing what they love. So

Wendy Mesley  29:27  
they would win the People's Choice Award.

Maureen Holloway  29:31  
People shouldn't have a choice. Ron Sexsmith album is called the Vivian Line and he was our guest this week. Thank you for joining us.

Mary Anne Ivison (Voiceover)  29:38  
Women of ill repute was written and produced by Maureen Holloway and Wendy Mesley. With the help from the team at the sound off media company and producer yet Val graver.