Although best known as a Children's and Family Entertainer / Recording Artist, Ish performs In-Concert for Grownups too, both as a Solo Artist as well as with his Musical Friends and has been receiving lots of positive comments for his ability to appeal to all ages. This was the catalyst for recording his debut Roots & Blues CD for Grown-ups, "Go West on 17". These songs represent the subtext of the real life going on behind his public life - and he thought it was time to share his thoughts and musical aspirations beyond the context in which he is best known. Ish’s themes bounce around from love won and lost, to parenthood, contemporary social issues, life’s challenges, and, of course, messages of hope and joy. Take a listen, you'll be pleasantly surprised. The Themes: Ish’s social issues songs span the years from “Is It My Imagination” written in (1976) when he started to develop a global social conscience, to “Who Ya Foolin” (80s) that openly shares his thoughts on civic responsibility, Ish wrote “It’s a Shame” in the mid (90s) while he was working on Vancouver’s Downtown East-side. It documents the sadness of seeing, every day, those that suffer from the ravages of drug addiction and homelessness, and offers hope that things could be different. “Gotta Give” was inspired by 9/11/2001. After an awe-inspiring night working on a Film Set atop the 21st floor of a building that overlooked Stanley Park and the incredible Lions Gate Bridge in beautiful downtown Vancouver he went home unaware of the morning’s events. Upon arriving home he turned on the television and witnessed something that was truly unimaginable. Repulsed, he turned it off and picked up his guitar, and this thought came to mind. Without compassion and the willingness to really give more than we take, nothing will ever be different, anger and violence will remain. Like magic the song wrote itself. Ish's love songs are written from many different perspectives, from the title track “Go West on 17”, inspired by his move across Canada to beautiful British Columbia as a young man, to his heartfelt ballad entitled, “The B Side”, written for and dedicated to a couple who are as much in love today as when they were married 45 years ago. “Sweet Ellen” (80s) is a heartfelt blues tune about regretfully breaking someone’s heart he once cared about, all the while hoping he will get another chance to love and be loved and the promises he made to himself, if ever given another chance with someone new. “Do You See” (80s) is his all time favorite high octane bluegrass sing along song about discovering that special person that completes you. And, of course, what could be more life-transforming than becoming a parent. He has chosen to include two of what he believes may be his most emotionally resonant songs. One, a peaceful lullaby “Light of Day” he wrote in the (80s) for his children when they were just tots and the other, “Second Time Around”, written in the (90s) that focuses on the anguish of being estranged from your child. On the other hand, he has written songs more recently that are just plain fun to play and sing such as the toe tapping-blues tune “Gone Too Far” and the up-tempo bluegrass tune “Our Big Hit.” Both of these fun filled songs are regulars in his Concerts. Check out both (choruses) they are rather witty. Ish has chosen to end his CD with "Misunderstood" a song he was introduced to as a teenager and which he has always identified with. He chose to arrange it differently by mixing it up with a Reggae-Blues groove and vibe intended to rejuvenate this old classic. The Titles, Styles and Times: 1. Gotta Give (Blues-Latin 5:04) 2. Sweet Ellen (Blues-Rock 3:42) 3. Gone too Far (Blues-Boogie 3:04) 4. Go West on 17 (Folk-Country 3:41) 5. Our Big Hit (Bluegrass 2:50) 6. It’s a Shame (Folk-Country 5:07) 7. Do You See (Bluegrass 3:18) 8. The B Side (Folk-Country 4:32) 9. Is it My Imagination (Folk-Rock 4:01) 10. Second Time Around (Folk- Country 3:35) 11. Who Ya Foolin (Folk-Blues 5:14) 12. Light of Day (Folk 3:59) 13. Misunderstood (Blues-Reggae 4:00) OTHER RELEASES: All three CD's are available on CD Baby. Ish has released three wonderfully produced CD’s, two for Children, "Cardboard Wings" and "Never Say Never" as well as a roots and blues CD for Grown-ups, entitled, "Go West on 17."