The Pigeon and The Dove: A History of Hatred & Love is a powerful and evolving lo-fi folk opera about Pigeons! Well, really, it’s about housing insecurity and the many roads one can take to end up on the street. A mix of comedy, social justice, and dark yet danceable tunes. But really…it’s about pigeons. Returning to the Vancouver Fringe in September 2024 for a second run, the Pigeon enjoyed 5 out of 6 sold out shows, and connected with so many folks – our hearts are bursting. Next up a short run in Bellingham Feb 2025. Don’t miss it!

Donate now and help make the Pigeon Record-Podcast-Tour!

**WINNER of the Vancouver Fringe Stir Social ImpactAward**

“A tremendously important and much-needed piece of work.”
Vancouver Stir
“A compassionate ode to the invisibilized struggles of the unhoused”
Vancouver Arts Review

The Pigeon & The Dove at Vancouver Fringe 2024
Fri Sept 6 – 4:30pm
Sat Sept 7 – 4:30pm
Sun Sept 8 – 4:30pm
Fri Sept 13 – 5:00pm
Sat Sept 14 – 3:30pm
Sun Sept 15 – 2:00pm

Zameen Art House (new venue!) 1515 Anderson St Granville Island Vancouver BC 70mins

Written, directed and performed by Carolyn Victoria Mill.
Music created and performed with Reid Jamieson.

Much like the homeless and the housed, the pigeon and the dove are, in fact, the same damn bird. ‘They’ are ‘Us’. Through celebrating the lowly pigeon, we will explore how perception affects the support we offer those experiencing homelessness and how we may prevent this global crisis on a local level. Inspired by the works of Buffy Sainte-Marie and Dr. Gabor Mate, Vancouver singer-songwriting couple Reid Jamieson and Carolyn Victoria Mill (aka CVM) use a mix of music and comedy to explore the tipping point, where we go from housed to homeless, with a wider variety of causes than we might think. With cycles of lighthearted vignettes about the much-maligned pigeon, related insight from local housing advocates, and dark but danceable songs reflecting on just some of the many roads one can take to end up on the street. By singing these stories we may find them easier to hear. But really, it’s about pigeons. Prepare to be amazed by this fascinating bird of lost paradise, as we take an eye-opening journey of perception – with a bird’s eye view of those living on the street.

Pigeon 60 second pitch

Lyric video for IT’S NOT ENOUGH (from the show)

PIGEON FUNDRAISER

Donate now to help make a Pigeon Record-Podcast-Tour!

We have never made a crowdfunder before now… https://gofund.me/c72ef671

The Pigeon and The Dove is an evolving project with big dreams. Want to contribute to this work of art? We have started a GoFundMe where you can play an important role if helping the Pigeon take flight.

PROJECT GOAL: We are keen to reach a wider audience with this show. We are asking for help with funding for the following:

• Record and release an album of the songs from the show
• Film the show to make available online
• Create a podcast of the show
• Pay for promotion of the Pigeon
• Pay for venue rentals in other cities

This is how we will take this ever evolving show to more people – as this housing crisis isn’t going away any time soon. We will do our very best to connect our actions to our values by helping folks see themselves in the people on the street. We will do our very best to connect our actions to our values by helping folks see themselves in the people on the street. GIVE NOW: https://gofund.me/c72ef671

Other ways to contribute:

Become a Patron of Reido https://www.patreon.com/reidjamieson |
You can also make a one-time donation via paypal.me that will give you access to the vault and more if that works better for you.  https://www.paypal.me/reidjamiesonmusic
or etransfer to reidjamiesonband (at) gmail (dot) com.

When we eventually take this show on the road, partial proceeds of the live show will go to various local charities supporting kids aging out of foster care. Disproportionately represented on the streets, supporting their path to a positive future is a valuable opportunity to create real change.

Our old pal M2OH has joined our band on a couple of occassions and continues to inspire. Singing these tunes on stage with her at the Rivoli a few years ago, was a magical experience that left us in wonder. A good kind human too.

Have a listen to a trio of old demos we recorded of Reido warbling her songs. xo

EVERGREEN  (Love song for the Crone)

ME DAZA | Independent
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music  |  Amazon  | Tidal | Youtube

On loving a woman before, and after, ‘the change’.
There are love songs for the Maiden, there are love songs for the Mother, but where are the love songs for the Crone? Women past there breeding years are in menopause – not dead. This ‘Outlander’ inspired romantic epic reminds women of a certain age that they are still very much desired. From the album ME DAZA recorded in Ireland. (Contains one of the longest held end notes in musical history.)

Written by Reid Jamieson and Carolyn Victoria Mill,
Recorded and Produced by Kieran Kennedy in Schull, Co. Cork Ireland.
Mixed at home in Vancouver, BC Canada by Reido. Artwork by CVM.
Vocals by Reido. BG vocals and Gin-infused glockenspiel by CVM.
Improv piano parts by Vincent ‘The Chancer’ Collins.
All other instruments / sounds by KK and Reido.
Mastered by Elisa Pangsaeng at CPS.

LYRICS
 
Bring to me love’s late desire
Turn the season, build the pyre
All will be enduring fire
Knowing my flame climbs
Ever higher

Let the leaves curl on the vine
Burn the fields and bend the spine
As the blood soon turns to wine
True colours a deeper hue in time
The blade a finer line…

Evergreen
You are my only one.
All other lovers wrong
Believe…
You are my chosen one.
Forever we belong

Bring to me your faded gold
Crown of silver, linen folds
Twisted hand still warm to hold
Our history speaking to my soul
The only story told…

Evergreen
You are my only one
All other lovers wrong
Believe…
You are my chosen one.
Forever you belong.
With me…

On and on our love will go
Deeper roots will only grow
When summer’s rain
Has turned to snow
Ill never leave you, not alone

I’ll love you; Maiden, Mother, Crone
Your sweet green leaves
Your weathered bones
When all of this
has turned to stone
If I still breathe
Our love goes on…

Evergreen.
You are my only one.
All other lovers wrong
Believe.
You are my chosen one.
Forever we belong.
Believe…

SHE

On the realities of an impossible choice, and how she pays either way.
This heartbreaking tune was written for the album ME DAZA recorded in Ireland during their referendum for abortion rights, where ultimately ‘She’ won the choice to decide what to do with her own body. The alternative is to force women to carry a child to term under threat of law. Something we only do to livestock.

#repealthe8th #prochoice #abortion #womensrightsarehumanrights
(dove image by Kate Macdowell)

CREDITS: Written by Reid Jamieson and Carolyn Victoria Mill.
Recorded and Produced by Kieran Kennedy in Schull, Co. Cork Ireland.
Mixed at home in Vancouver, BC Canada by Reido.
Vocals by Reido. BG vocals and Gin-infused glockenspiel by CVM.
Improv piano parts by Vincent ‘The Chancer’ Collins.
All other instruments / sounds by KK and Reido.
Mastered by Elisa Pangsaeng at CPS.


SHE (lyrics)

All it took was a moment
How easily he pulls away
And now a time for atonement
Where for his precious gift
she’ll pay
 
A willing passion play,
Or trust betrayed.
Whatever choice she makes
For this mistake
She’ll pay and pay and pay
 
We, count the crosses row on row
Not the dirt in where we
sow their seeds
She, a harbour or a vessel below
We stand above
With every stone she bleeds
 
Two lie awake in the darkness
A long hard day, an age-old need
The love they make
they soon part with
The weight of
one more mouth to feed
 
Working twice a day
For half a wage
Oh, and when he breaks
For this mistake
She’ll pay and pay and pay
 
We, count the crosses row on row
Not the dirt in where we
sow their seeds
She, a harbour or a vessel below
We stand above
With every stone she bleeds
 
All alone by the millions
In shame they suffer silently
Do we care where her life ends
Hospital bed or back alley
 
Keep her on her knees
Tending seeds
Oh, but who will feed
Those unwanted
When they turn to weeds
 
We, count the crosses row on row
Not the dirt in where we
sow their seeds
She, a harbour or a vessel below
We stand above
With every stone she bleeds
 
She, was more than just where flowers grow
What else she’d be we’ll never know, will we?
She, was more than just a vessel you know
She…

The Pigeon takes flight at Vancouver Fringe this September!

The Pigeon & The Dove: A History of Hatred & Love

Premiere performance! Our new all original lo-fi folk opera, The Pigeon & The Dove: A History of Hatred & Love is a mix of comedy, social justice, and dark yet danceable tunes – with a birds-eye view of some of the many roads one can take to end up on the street. But really, it’s about pigeons… Inspired by the works of Buffy Sainte-Marie and Gabor Maté. Join us at the Vancouver Fringe this September and feel all the feels…

Written and directed by Carolyn Victoria Mill. Music written and performed with Reid Jamieson.

Fri Sep 8 – 8:20pm
Sat Sep 9 -10:00pm
Sun Sep 10 – 2:45pm
Wed Sep 13 – 7:15pm
Fri Sep 15 – 5pm
Sat Sep 16 – 3:20pm

Red Gate Revue Stage | Granville Island 1601 Johnston St Vancouver BC

Score your tickets NOW
https://www.vancouverfringe.com/…/the-pigeon-the-dove-a…

more at: https://reidjamieson.com/the-pigeon-and-the-dove

xocvm+reido

Looking for a Father’s Day tune? Do we have something very special for you!

NEW DAY COMIN’ ROUND aka Pappy’s Lullaby
written by Gilbert Harvey Jamieson aka Gil, aka Reido’s Pappy!

We wanted to send this one out special, as Pappy achieved 75 this May 11th, 2023.

I remember visiting Reid’s dad one time about 20 years ago when we had just gotten together…. Pappy played a song for us on his nylon stringed guitar, sitting on the other side of me on the couch in Reid’s childhood home. It was a tender lullaby he used to sing to Reido when he was just a wee one. When Reid and I were making our lullaby record Trouble Sleeping (a commission from a dear fan in Seattle), we chose an eclectic collection of songs that meant something to us, from a variety of unusual suspects for a lullaby record. I asked his dad about that song – where had he pinched it from? Imagine our surprise when pappy told us that he actually wrote the song just for Reido back in 1976! An instant classic in the style of Willie Nelson. And the only song he has ever written…so far.

On Trouble Sleeping we rejigged the lyrics for ‘Pappy’s Lullaby’ to suit our new nieces (subbing cowgirl instead)…

And just in time for Father’s Day we decided to release a single with the original lyrics for our little cowboy. It’s called ‘New Day Comin Round’ (Pappy’s Lullaby). – CVM

Say goodnight your eyes are droopy
And your head is hanging down
Say goodnight our little cowboy
A new day is comin’ round

May your dreams be filled with good things
Lots of toys and things to eat
If tomorrow brings us sunshine
You can play in your bare feet

You played so hard you even wore
the knees out of your pants
You learned to count to ten and that's not bad
Your mommy might have yelled but she's not mad

So go to sleep we love you dearly
Cause you filled our day with fun
Go to sleep our little cowboy, A new day is comin’ round
Go to sleep our little cowboy, A new day is comin’ round

TROUBLE SLEEPING – Reid Jamieson If you are anything like us, then you have had some Trouble Sleeping lately. Maybe all your days even. Whether you are a wee baby, a hormonal woman, an anxious human fretting about your choices, or just overwhelmed with world events…you might need a little help with finding dreamland. Canada’s eclectic choirboy Reid Jamieson has a new collection of all ages lullabies that might be just the natural sleep aid you seek. Nylon string guitar. ukulele and Reid’s signature croon made to melt hearts. With tender tunes by Willie Nelson, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Yoko Ono, Cliff Eberheart, a couple of old chestnuts, a new original lover’s lullaby, and an instant classic written by Reido’s own pappy back in 1976. Guaranteed to put you to sleep – or your money back! (and yes, that’s Reido’s grumpy lil face on the ful record, and Pappy’s on the single)

THE SONGS OF BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE (coming soon)

Canada’s eclectic choir boy Reid Jamieson is committed to amplifying women’s voices, and along with his musical partner/producer/wife Carolyn Victoria Mill (CVM) he has been working for over a year now on what appears to be the very first full tribute album to Buffy Sainte-Marie. Longtime fans, and those who admire the icon and activist but are not as familiar with her diverse musical catalog, will find this contemporary snapshot of her incredible body of work something deliciously new to explore. Independent artists working full time while doing everything themselves, makes this very much a labour of love in a dark time. Every artist needs a purpose, and they have found that, and more here. In a world where our heroes regularly let us down, Buffy remains an inspiration, with no signs of stopping.

BUFFY SINGLES

Various Buffy songs released as singles or videos. Full album coming Sept 2023.
Performed, recorded and mixed by Reid Jamieson. Produced by Carolyn Victoria Mill.
Radio/Media Download

Single released Feb 2023

Spotify | Youtube | Amazon | Apple Music | Tidal | Bandcamp | media download

Celebrating Buffy’s 82nd bday on Feb 20 with this upbeat single from her 1992 comeback album Coincidence and Likely Stories. FALLEN ANGELS was a radio hit that spookily sums up where things stand in the world then and today, taking on corruption with her trademark blend of biting assessments and bottomless compassion…this time around with a delightfully danceable beat!

FALLEN ANGELS – Lyrics

Fallen Angels, Fallen Angels
I know a man in the business line, He power hungry, he’s a money mine
Smooth as satin he’s a big time shark -Fallen Angel

I know a brother, oooh he’s mean as sin, He’s got a brother who’s just like him
Livin’ over in Moscow, 2 of a kind.
How come the great power got the junkie mind

Fallen Angels, They never get enough
Fallen Angels oo oo, They got the addictions
Fallen Angels, They litter the skies
Fallen Angels, Don’t you wanna turn ’em around, Turn ’em around?

I know a man in the USA, He runnin’ guns with the CIA
He’s the best that being bad can be, Who’d think he do it all for me?
What’s it matter if you’re green or red, The Yankee dollar or the commie threat
When the real power in the real world, Gonna deny it all anyway

Fallen Angels. They never get enough
Fallen Angels oo oo, They got the addictions
Fallen Angels, They litter the skies
Fallen Angels, Don’t you wanna turn ’em around, Turn ’em around

You believe in the system from the top on down, Potential is a beautiful thing
It’s hard to keep believing in the big time, Now you’re sinking in the wind
Star light, star bright, Somebody going down tonight
Stayed true when it was time to lie, ya got it right

Fallen Angels. Never get enough
Fallen Angels hoo hoo, They got the addictions
Fallen Angels, They litter the skies
Fallen Angels, Don’t you wanna turn ’em around, Turn ’em around

SUMMER BOY

Single released Sept 2022

Spotify | Youtube | Amazon | Apple Music | Tidal | Bandcamp

SUMMER BOY written by Buffy Sainte-Marie (from her 1967 release Fire & Fleet & Candlelight), is the first single from Reid Jamieson’s upcoming tribute to Buffy Sainte-Marie. Originally a love song when Buffy sang it, here we find Reid looking back at his younger self with all the longing of summers end. Huge vocals with dark instrumentation fit for a Bond theme, and a fine example of BSM’s incredible catalog.

Naturally, Reid cannot sing her many potent indigenous protest songs. He can, however, sing her praises as a singer songwriter. Many are familiar with the activist and icon, but if you are anything like us, you may not be as familiar with the diverse body of music this living legend has released over the last half century. Such creativity with song structures and adventurous melodies, Reid says he has never felt so inspired to create and be intentional with his art. Lending his voice to amplify hers in hopes of reaching new audiences on both sides, this may very well be the first tribute album of its kind.

A new documentary about BSM ‘Carry It On‘ based on Andrea Warner’s fantastic authorized biography (we read it twice!) just premiered at TIFF, don’t miss it this fall!

Be sure to join the mailing list to find out when the full album comes out!

CREDITS: All vocals and instruments by Reid Jamieson. Recorded at home by Reid. Produced by Carolyn Victoria Mill. Mastered by Michael Holland.

SUMMER BOY – LYRICS

Face of joy, covering all your fears
Summer boy, give me your tears
Hands of gold, playing a prayer
Heart and soul, praying a song

Clowns can smile, and gardeners grow their flowers
Summer boy, give me your hours
Give me your glance, like the wing of a dove
Summer boy, give me your love

Suns can set, and willows can weep their tears
Summer boy, give me your years
Give me your hand, before autumn starts
Summer boy, give me your heart

LOVE CHARMS

CVM’s bday on March 14 with another sneak peek from the Buffy record. LOVE CHARMS is a tune that caught CVM’s ear and heart from Buffy Sainte-Marie’s spectacular 2015 album Power In The Blood …so much so that birthday girl be singing it! Pairs well with getting on a plane – something that terrifies us still. As always, just glad we are doing it together. All CVM wants for her bday is for y’all to share the tunes and/or come to a show k? (only available streaming on youtube/our site for now)

CREDITS: Written by Buffy Sainte-Marie /Featuring CVM on vocals / performed, mixed and recorded by Reid Jamieson / produced by Carolyn Victoria Mill.

Talk about luck of the Irish! We scored double sync placement – two tunes in the same series. CLEAN SWEEP is an Irish/Canadian coproduction shot in Ireland (where they discovered our music). A detective from the west of Ireland is looking for a murderer, not suspecting that his wife may be the culprit. This limited series will premiere on RTÉ in Ireland and SundanceNow in the United States.

Our songs open and close the series…. In episode #1 they chose our recording of Don’t Go Down (written by Glen Hansard/Fergus O’Farrell), featuring the late great Fergus O’Farrel on posthumouos bgs, and for the final episode #6 they chose Perfect Storm, a song we wrote that is very dear to us. Both songs are from Me Daza, the album we recorded in West Cork, Ireland, with producer Kieran Kennedy.

https://soundtracki.com/shows/clean-sweep-season-1-soundtrack

Thanks to the fine folks at Arpix we scored a sync placement in an upcoming TV series! Placements in Film & TV are our best way of reaching new audiences, so we are pretty fecking delighted. This one is kinda unique in that a couple of the actors ( Jake Foy as Tuff, Alexandra Beaton as Janine) will be singing our song themselves! – to our backing track – how cool is that? The new series RIDE follows a rodeo dynasty and premieres on Sunday, March 26 at 9pm ET on Hallmark Channel. Our tune ‘This Could Be The Year’ will end Episode 7. Woot! https://www.imdb.com/news/ni63946026

This Could Be The Year (written by Reid Jamieson and Carolyn Victoria Mill) is from our winter-themed holiday record Songs for a Winter’s Night. What started as a holiday/Christmas song ended up also being a tongue-in-cheek homage to the Stanley Cup! This twang-filled tune tells the tale of long standing wishes granted, and/or grace in defeat. Featuring the tasty talents of Steve Dawson on Banjo and slide guitar.