Oh-oh-WOAH-oh-oh! I'm excited to announce the release of my brand new track “I'd Rather Not Talk About It”. 

This one is a true toe tapper that found its voice in Calgary's dive bars. I've been playing this song out at shows for a few years, but when I met producer Joel Pearson I knew this was one he had to get his hands on. Definitely a more aggressive sound than my last record, and I love it!

I'm also very happy that I was able to get pieces of the old band back together for the recording process. My good friends Tony Harrison and Rob Burgis joined me at Bucket Brigade Studio to hash this one out back in the fall of 2022. With Tony on guitar and Rob on drums we captured some perfectly executed jangly bits and tippy-taps. 

Give the record a spin and stay tuned for more behind the scenes info.

This was a good week. Started with a decisive victory by my ball hockey team. I scored a neat goal on a cross-court tip-in to seal the win. 

Thursday marked the return of songwriter night at Gravity after a 5-month COVID hiatus. I was a little nervous to brush off the cobwebs. In the brief period we were back hosting events (somewhere between wave 3 and 5) I was having a really hard time finding guests to join me, so I'm happy to say we started back on a very very high note. I was joined on stage by Graham Ko and Max Mann. The night we pieced together was stellar, the songwriting was strong, and the audience was with us the entire night. It felt really good to be back.  

The good times kept rolling into the weekend when I had a chance to attend the East Town Get Down music festival. I spent Saturday evening on International Avenue trekking between sets and venues. I loved the different spaces where live music was happening. There's something intriguing to me about how a space shapes the music. It was certainly proved this weekend that you can totally push the chairs aside and have a show in a Vietnamese restaurant. 

I'm always reaffirmed that community is integral to happiness. Whether it's the hockey team playing hard for the win, a round of songwriters engrossing the audience, or a few hundred like-minded music fans excitedly scurrying form show to show, we are here together. I don't think there's anything more important. As an incredibly shy and unassuming person there were moments this week I felt on the outside of what was going on. More of an observer than a participant. I'm going to try and work on that. Regardless I'm excited about the depth of Calgary's music scene and everything here I've got left to explore.  

Rocket 

Ps. Let's go Oilers!

I'm excited to be hosting a writer's night at local hangout Gravity Cafe. This will be the first show in a monthly series of where I have the privilege of welcoming local songwriters to the stage. They will have the opportunity to share a few songs and the stories that go with them. 

This month I am joined by Andrew Douglas and Greg Rider. Really stoked to hear what they have put together. 

My goal is to seek out artists who haven't necessarily had many opportunities to play the local scene and showcase the vast amount of unknown talent we have in YYC. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow, or at an upcoming songwriter night! Check the Shows page for more info!

According to Wikipedia "Liner notes were an occasion for thoughtful signed essays on the artist by another party, often a sympathetic music journalist". I can't promise that I'll take on a second personality, deliver thoughtful essays, or try my hand at music journalism, but I will endeavour to "pull back the curtain" to provide my views on artistry and creativity. 

My name is Rocket Alexander. I am a musician/doodler/sci-fi enthusiast and all around creative person. I've spent the better part of 32 years writing songs, playing gigs, and day dreaming about my next creative project. I'm not purporting to be any kind of authority on music making, artwork, or creative living. I am just a lonely artists trying to navigate the COVID pandemic with the hopes of finding a community of creative loving people.  

My absolute favourite part of being a musician has been live performance. Give me a dimly lit stage in a grimy basement bar and I'm one happy astronaut. It's been almost a year since live music had to take an abrupt and indefinite hiatus. The adjustment has been difficult, and left me feeling disconnected from my creative comrades.   

In an attempt to re-establish myself as a creator I'm offering the community my own insight into living a creative life. Let's have a conversation about creativity and community! I want to share my experiences, swap stories, and get back in the scene. Silent no more.

I really do like drawing things. Here is a quick self-portrait: