Here in my hotel room at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel the day after the gala world premiere of "Greetings from Tim Buckley" at the Toronto International Film Festival. The screening took place last night at 6pm at the Bloor Cinema (where I had the pleasure of performing with "The Golem" a few years ago at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival).

The film concerns Jeff Buckley's early days in NYC and my music is featured in it as is my guitar playing. My portrayal in the film is by Tony Award winning actor Frank Wood, who did a terrific job.

I also consulted on the film, as a friend and key collaborator and the co-author of two of his most famous anthems, "Grace" and "Mojo Pin". I can say that the film totally captures Jeff's aura and persona totally and Penn Badgley should get an Oscar nominatiom for his break-out performance as he so thoroughly inhabited the role (so much as to give me chills...)

I arrived yesterday afternoon to join the director Dan Algrant, producer Fred Zollo, the stars Penn Badgley ("Gossip Girl") as Jeff Buckley and lovely British actress Imogen Poots, Anthrax's Frank Bello who acted in the film and assorted cast and crew members who came up to Toronto especially for this premiere--which was a tremendous success!! The packed Bloor Cinema gave the film a tumultuous ovation at the end--and check out this review from the Hollywood Reporter: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/greetings-tim-buckley-toronto-review-penn-badgley-ben-rosenfield-jeff-buckley-368968

And then we all werw whisked to an afterparty at local boite Bloke and 4th, where well-wishers such as my friends Cineaste Magazine editor Richard Porton and the Wall Street Journal's Steve Dollar (who profiled me in the WSJ last year) were also in attendance (they loved the film! as did US Magazine's Brad "BJ" who also showed up)--also there were Penn's parents who were exceedingly nice folks, lovely Tara Carozza, Dan's personal assistant, producer Jill Footlick...a wonderful night with the best catered food at an afterparty in recent memory!

Gary and director Dan Algrant at the afterparty:

Gary Lucas and director Dan Algrant at the afterparty for "Greetings from Tim Buckley" TIFF 9/9/12 

and then I played a surprise live set on the invitation of JARRELL GUITARS, the Shanghai-based guitar makers who were in town for the festival and holding forth at the swanky Ritz Carlton Hotel. They set me up outside the hotel and I blasted forth on their excellent electric and acoustic guitars to the delight of many invited guests and passers-by. The company is spear-headed by Phillip Jarrell and I'd met him on a trip to Shanghai last year where I was auditioning singers for my "Edge of Heaven" 30's Chinese pop project at the Holland Festival (but that's another story)...

Gary Lucas solo at Jarrell Guitars event outdoors at the Ritz Carlton Toronto photo by Steve Dollar

 See this film when it plays at a cinema near you--it is fantastic!!

Next up I am performing at the Madame Guitar Festival in Tricesimo Italy Thursday Sept 20th with Spanish "Dracula" http://garylucas.com/www/dracula and also performing solo on the closing night Sept. 23rd

I am also performing instore appearances in Trieste, Udine and Milano for the publication of my new book "Touched by Grace--La Mia Musica con Jeff Buckley" which is published last week of September by the Italian publisher Arcana . The Milano date is Sept. 24th and will feature the amazing Alessio Franchini on vocals, with whom I just performed a concert of my songs with Jeff Buckley at the famous Paradiso in Amsterdam last Sunday with the 60 piece Metropole Orchestra!

Check www.garylucas.com for specific dates and more info

Hope to see you soon!! 

xxxGary