Zachary Lucky is feeling thankful to be back on the road, touring.
The Saskatchewan-born, Orillia-based singer-songwriter has just finished a run of shows out West with fellow singer-songwriter Richard Inman. The duo is about to embark on Round 2 of the Kitchen Table Tour — seven shows in seven days throughout central and eastern Ontario.
This portion of the collaboration will finish with a hometown show at the Orillia Opera House Studio Theatre on Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m.
“Richard and I have known each other for over 10 years now,” Lucky said, “and we’ve never done a tour together.”
Inman said they have long contemplated touring together.
“We have been talking about doing a tour like this for years. Glad we finally set aside some time to do it. It's hard to spend time with other writers when you're always travelling," Inman said.
Lucky said the idea took root last year.
“The idea was born when I was on tour out West last fall. I had a day off between shows, and so I drove out to his place in Pincher Creek and we ended up sitting around, singing tunes and hanging out," recalled Lucky.
"We thought that it would be kind of fun to do this sometime, and so we pitched it to a few bookers out West and they really took to the idea. I mean, he's got his own thing out there and I have my own thing and we combined forces and audiences.
“I flew out to Calgary, met him in Calgary, and every show was awesome. We played to bigger audiences in each town than we would have individually. We kind of got our foot in the door in venues that we wouldn't have alone. So, now we are here, doing it in Ontario.”
The pandemic and the rise in streaming services have been hard on Lucky and Inman, like they have for many musicians.
“I'm grateful to still be here. I'm grateful to still be doing it. Brad Wheeler in the Globe and Mail, sometime during the pandemic, wrote a piece about the death of the middle-class musician, which I'm, like, somewhere in there. Maybe not quite, even," said Lucky.
“I feel like bigger artists' ... shows are getting bigger, and the smaller shows are getting smaller, and I feel like you really have to work the audiences now. You have to really try to get people in the seats. People need a lot of encouragement right now.
“I think we, over the pandemic, sort of forgot how to be around other people and go and do things, and it takes effort. I'm hoping that people haven't lost it forever. I don't think they have, but, definitely, there's been a change.
"I'm still trying to figure it out. I feel like I'm yet to be where I was pre-pandemic. I feel like I'm working more, for the same amount, which is not ideal, but also part of that, too, is just the cost of life.
"It's like how life is more expensive than it was in 2019. And so, you just need to make more, which means I have to be on tour more, which is not ideal. I wanted to go in the opposite direction.”
With two children at home in Orillia, being at home more would be ideal and more where a seasoned and accomplished musician would hope to find himself. But situations aren’t ideal in the music business in general, conceded Lucky.
“I do find myself rethinking where I am going and what makes the most sense,” he said. “Touring Europe is great in terms of bookings and audiences, great venues, and you are treated really well, but it is expensive.”
He paused to collect his thoughts.
“Also, I’ve been doing this a long time. You have to find ways to keep it interesting. I tour with one sideman now instead of a full band. We are trying a tour in the States soon to see how that goes," he said. "I am trying out different cities when I go back out West, to switch it up.”
Lucky shook his head and said, “In theory, it's not about money. You need to make money to pay your bills, but it's always been about the connection with people and sharing my songs with people, and money was always a side benefit to that.”
It's not an easy gig, he said.
“It's a weird dance, but I do feel fortunate that I still get to do what I do. I’m looking forward to sharing it with my community on Oct. 29. It’s going to be Richard and me, swapping songs and stories, hanging out, trying different tunes, and the audience can just kind of be part of that experience,” he said.
Tickets are available through the Orillia Opera House website at www.orilliaoperahouse.ca or by calling 705-326-8011.
