random ego checks

I also know another thing today along with that realisation and thats i dont really care who is reading or how many followers i have,, this is gonna be a sweet form of a diary that im gonna  look back on review my thoughts, and most likely laugh at myself when a 40 year old kitch says he wont suck slash's dick anymore. Geezuz christ no wonder im single. But seriously I will see when and what realizations i have in some sweet moments of life and had the passion to write them down ! and the balls to share them with whoever cares to read it.  Im sweet !!


This Dolphin slaughter horseshit tradition in Taji is finally getting out to the masses and perhaps i finally see change a comin ! So maybe some faith i should allow back in my heart a lil bit about people and our future.   Im a fan of conservation and the more i see, the more i know the quicker we people realize we need to save open space and wildlife the sooner man will survive it self.   This slaughter, the whale hunt, any hunt for false pretense and profit needed to go out with polio. The people that are behind these expose's and comitment to bringing it down seem to be my hereo's and have been for many years. I see it becoming trendy, hipster to jump on board one of these groups. So what i say, im over hating, my measure is action at this point

Random Music Listens temper trap and ed sharpe

The Temper Trap:


These ozzies are tearing it up fast. Sweet Disposition will be everywhere this summer. Seems like a nice story of a band too I love the whole record. There already on the European radar with sell out shows everywhere. Another big Festy schedule for this band, so we'll see how America likes them soon enuff but with pretty much a sold out tour and millions of youtube, myspace, facebook hits, its almost old news on this band regardless if it hasnt hit the mainstream yet.  Its only a matter of time for Sweet Dispo. Im sure its in most markets college radio and soon top 40.  Not a terrible thing, not a death sentence like i used to think, but we'll see. The record is really super all the way threw i think.
3-Pack. Sweet Disposition,

Sweet Disposition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxKjOOR9sPU&feature=fvst
Live Version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WUx7a6OITE
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/edwardsharpe


Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zero's:

Seems like a commune family of hippies got together and became musicians. If the video of the single 'Home" tells me anything. Its California hippie music and i like it. Lots of shakers, tambo's and other percussion instruments im sure, maybe too many ?  I think Ed might be wacked out of his god-damn mind by the looks of this interview posted below. What the fuck is he talking about. He's high. But i tell you what - i dont care - this record is pretty good. I think Home is far ahead of the rest of the tunes but its still pretty strong.  They are musicians and pretty good ones it looks like. We'll find out this summer how they fair on the festy circuit. There hitting most of the beauts with stops in Roo, Coachella, Lolla, Sasquatch, Telluride, Newport, High Sierra, ect ect. So the cat will be out of the bag after summer rolls by on these cats.  Looking forward to seeing them at the Rooo in 10.
My recommend ya check out the whole record. Highlight 3-pack of the record...Home, 40 Day Dream, Come In Please, om nashi, me i think is a good rep of what this band is/wants to be.

Youtube of single Home: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHKuB85EgnI
Letterman Performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb9jY8yAxgs&feature=related
Wacked interview:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_B3k8cLqf8&feature=related
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/edwardsharpe

The Gorillas - Plastic Beach - 2010

I had heard threw my vines long ago that the new Gorillas joint should be really interesting.  There was a lot of chatter and thusly buzz with the indie crowds and internet radio communities.  I first heard about this record  sometime last year on Triple J , the Australian juggernaut that I stream regularly.  The Auzzies are wayyyy ahead of us in my opinion as far as playing and exposing quality indie music.  Big fan props to theTriple J ! So Word was that the Rilla’s put a real eclectic guest star line-up of collaborators on the new release out now – Plastic Beach.* I had the Rilla’s vibe a bit from previous worx, I mean how do ya not dig the Guinness book record holder for the most successful 2D virtual band.  Hokey some say and take respect from them - but those people are idiots – and allegedly are into having sex with farm animals, because Gorilla’s got skills for days.  I would not however say it was on my heavy rotation by any stretch. So let me get out front by saying im not a Rilla’s officiator.  Yet a new collection with hitters like Snoop, Lou Reed, Mos Def and The National Orchestra for Arabic music ! –  well that 4 pack made me scratch and sniff a lil bit for sure. WTF is going on here man !? Couldn’t wait to check this shit out. Which gives me hope that hype still does exist for me.

Following is first listen comments of trax:

The Snoop title track Plastic Beach is a great intro that grabs my attention right away.  Surprised that they dropped Snoop on us right out the gate.? Maybe ? But the Gorillaz do an excellent job of being one of those artists who keep ya guessing, there intelligent with there craft and they like gettn with other people of all flavours and see what they can do.  Some of it doesn’t turn out some does and with a bit of luck some could be just brilliant. I don’t think anyone will doubt anymore there’s brilliance in Gorillaz. How much remains to be seen but its here in atleast 3 or 4 tracks.

With just over a minute of an Orchestral intro feat. Sinfonia Viva whom I know nothing about but it’s a very nice piece and pretty bad ass transition into Snoop. Love a record that’s gonna hit ya with phunk right off the get.  In a world of tracks its nice to see there’s those dedicated to putting together the right order of things for a collection of released work.  It gets pretty repetitive in its chorus verses  of “welcome to the world of the plastic beach” it is good in driving home that oh ya this record is called plastic beach and were being welcomed. I get it, I found near the end too much but its not enough to bother me first listen. It might wear on me though?  

They lose me a bit with White Flag that seems too much like an experiment to me.  Which is what most of this music is I do understand that.  It just didn’t get me first listen and observations of the Orchestra and electronic with added percussion just didn’t get me, but I will give it a chance, there’s some interesting shit going on there for sure.

On to the first Gorillaz only song –  This is what I recall from past Gorillaz. I like it, Rhinestone Eyes has a good vibe, don’t think its terribly complex its just got a good beat and some catchy lyrics with that vocal makes it a keeper I think.

Stylo: The first of 2 Mos Def colabs im curious about. Bobby Womack is also onboard here, whom I almost mistook for the Godfather at first, he’s got his good James brown-esk performance happening! I need to check out some old Womack. I expected def was gonna carry the heavy load here. But I don’t think so in this track. Seemed like all 3 had a good chance at this one but I went away with Womack taking the gold in this track. WAIT – just had to come back after youtubeing the video for this track ! Go watch in 1080p hd and turn it up ! Great fuckin video and pushing boundaries. Love it !! Everytime I think im over Bruce Willis and he's out , we'll he brings me back in. He’s holdin it down ok for an old man ! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9vAOzYz-Qs

Superfast Jellyfish is a song title I liked at first and with del la soul on the plate I made a mistake and got to excited before I heard it. Interesting lead in, and beat seems good, but I don’t like the chorus, the poppy kinda shit just doesn’t work for me. I didn’t mind some of the rhymin, maybe thats Gruff Rhys ? Not sure who he is or if I should ? There’s just too much music out there god-damn !   So WAIT – came back for more thoughts after I just got a random triple j playing this tune for my 2^nd listen and this time it struck me better. I like this tune, I think its got some phunk ? I could just be in a moment though, but I think im in !  

Nope – chorus still gay.

Empire Ants also kinda loses me. Maybe im just at the half way sluggish mood.  Maybe I also need to check Gorillaz history – I don’t pretend to be an expert ive mentioned, so maybe this is there kinda style.  It felt a little like filler to me, but the build is good. It starts so slow that its turning me out …,but  it does pick up nicely to a 2^nd stage that I can find the groove in, but then that stage goes a little long – its only a 4:30 half minute tune but feels much longer.  Maybe your just gettn me tuned up for something yet to come right ?.

Glitter Freeze is club gold. We do know that half of the Gorilla's is the guy from Blur and we hear that here. I see it should be a good  uk club beat or on the next soundtrack fill for the next Guy Ritchie movie. I hear/feel the Blur influence here for sure. I also feel the loyal british dj/club culture here that these guys exude. Its pretty catchy.  Courtesy with some good help im sure of  guest Mark M. Smith. With well placed voice over’s that make me really listen to it.  Im interested, so im in on the Track. I think. Again though feels a little too long at 4 minutes. Maybe some molly would fix that.

Been waiting for Lou.  I Wondered how the fuck he was gonna fit in on this thing !  But man does he ever!. Feels like a completely different place I just got taken to. Some kind of Nature I like a lot, first time I think.  I mean Lou has a way of slapping you to attention with his tone, but I admit he can lose me on a lot of his shit. This track doesn’t. Great collaboration.  Way to switch it up and kick a goal. I mean if you would ask me what a Gorillaz and Lou reed song would sound like before I heard it, I bet i couldn’t do it, be like no way mate i got nuthin?. But now its like - fuck ya, of course this Is what I would expect a Gorillas Lou Reed song would sound like. It will be the commercially released first single im sure.

On Melancholy Hill is another Gorillaz only tune.  First listen is just ok.  Risk of sounding stereotypical I can tell there a uk act in this track.  Not a bad thing, just an observation.

Broken: Gorillaz only.  I don’t like the flow at all. Least fave so far. I think its even bad maybe.? Again maybe drugs would change it? I think its still a buzz kill.

Again maybe they were setting me up?  Worst track followed up by the best !?  Is this a good producer or artists picking the track list ?  Collaboration ?  Id Like to ask that interview question.  I note its doing a strong job of  the track order selection. 

So BLAMO !  Theres the Mos Def I was hoping would show up. I got a spot for Mos, he’s one of my faves from that genre, several of his things in his flow I just really get down on !  But he can also lose me sometimes and for the first minute I can see where it might lose some people in this track,, just feels a little off, but it aint ! - its just different, and by 1:30 if your not into this build then forget it, your not in.

I think this track is ree-dick-uluss !! It is the Math of the Day !! It blows my mind ! Nuthin is touching this shit on this record Im bettin. In my opinion it’s the strongest ive heard so far. . I dunno how there gonna figure out what singles to release, im thinking this one will stay buried and snoop and Lou will get play before this one, but the fans are gonna find it and groove on it.  Its untraditional, there’s long  rhymes that your not gonna be able to keep up with first run threw – no way, but its got the rap/hip/hop repetition in chorus that we all like. It should attract listeners from a couple different genre’s I think, which is key these days. Used to be able you could stick with one way and ride that shit, but not too many success stories like that these days. Ya gotta mix shit up, grow, try different things and just hope ya bet on  enough of the right horses.  This horse won the sweeps here - im in !!  LETS EAT !! When Mos is in flow here you better pay attention bitch ! He schools us.  Its Gonna take me many listens to figure out everything he’s telling me and I probably still wont get it all.  Gorillaz mixing this just the way it was meant to ! Its big time ! Record should stop here for me.  Load to the face, im out.  But I just won the Sweepstakes ! so greedy monkey wants more.. whats next.!!?  *clearly obsessed with tune as I go and make it my first custom ringtone tune!  SWEEEEEEPSTAKES !!.

Hmm mighta been the end of orginals as this is a Plastic Beach version with a couple different artists that I didn’t know nor was I inspired enough by the tune to investigate im afraid. Maybe Mos took it all. But it does sound phunky, it will get a better chance next run threw.

To Binge (feat. Little Dragon)  doesn’t grab me at all.  Another 4 minute song that feels maybe it woulda been better as 2 and a half.

Cloud of unknowing. They were definitely trying to get an eclectic vibe for this record. Bobby Womack is back for this track. Not sure who Sinfonia Viva is but this track is chilled wayyyy out and im not feelin it first listen.

I like anything to do with Pirates (big surprise) so a track called Pirate Jet is gonna get some added attention maybe ? I hope im not that fuckin simple !  Turns out it’s the tune that’s pretty simple. Theres not much going on here but its catchy none the less and its only 2:33 which I think is its saving grace.  Im feeling the theme again which is nice atleast you can feel the social consciousness the act has. I assumed the Plastic Beach was a pun or that the development of the record is enviro related in some form. But again I show you up my skirt and haven’t done all my research so up yours, just talking out my ass after first listen we established already!

Another Pirate title, this one - Pirates Progress. So maybe theres something goin on that I just haven’t picked up on with the first listen. Which is also a nice thing about records. Your not suppose to get it all first time out. Were so goddamn greedy and want it all first listen or its out.  Im on the last track and ive heard enough that will put it into heavy rotation for my ears right now until im satisfied I have my handle on it.  I think those will be the records I will be reviewing.?  It must push me enough to get into rotation to write about. I’m a shitty typist so its gotta feel worthwhile to me to blabber on to myself for pages, because I know know one else is here reading it cept maybe a few.  This one is just another Orchestra piece picking up from the intro and taking us out with another piece. Which I don’t hate. Its pretty strong stuff.  Any piece that can take you out drummer boy styles deserves another listen.

I feel on maybe 1/3 of the tracks on here they could drop 1 maybe 1 and half minutes from the songs and accomplish a better result within that timeframe. Maybe drop the 2 worst tunes.  But the record may not have been made just for me so I leave it open to some more listens and the respect of the act.  But they got my attention big time with  3 maybe 4 tracks with Snoop, Lou & Mos. With maybe just 1 of the Gorillaz only songs. But maybe that’s the catch these days – Gotta get your attention with those guests and you’ll come around eventually, hopefully.  Gorillaz fans I bet are hard all over this record.  Newbie over here hard only on 1/3 of it but that’s a good first listen.  Its 2 thumbs and a wink fur shure.

http://gorillaz.com/ - check out the neat interactive game on there web site you can play. Creative. Cant say too many acts with a site like this. Before i know it ive spent an hour on this damn game.

in case ya didnt hit first time - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9vAOzYz-Qs

olympic2

Feb 23, 2010 - Travel Day.

So another RCRF! It has become quite regular in my journeys.  So much so I have developed affection for these moments.  These moments bring me higher clarity, thought and pause when they happen out on the road. All things that more people need to have when travelling I believe.  Anyway today’s Royal Canadian Rat Fuck unfolds..

So, I go..as I sit beside a Timmy’s ( which I am pretty sure are in every terminal in every airport across the country now days – man that franchise has some legs don’t it !?) overcome with the aroma synonymous with Canada, helping with my Olympic spirit !  Not bull shitting either on that smell. I find myself away from home a lot a lot and that smell is distinctively Canadian. Make no mistake - I know when im home !

 I can see the woman and her man-slave across the terminal.  I was just lucky enough to experience Mini She-ra in action. Firstly the back ground situation - basically due to weather and lack of crew reasons, I got bumped, as did several of us, but not our luggage. Meaning simply our bags made the flight but we didn’t.  Inconvenient sure, worth losing my shit over not my style.  Un-like this outrageously rude bitch across the way from me.  It baffles me firstly how people get so bent over travel delays, and then secondly feel they need to take it out on the closest airline staff.  Travelling is a privilege not a right I always say and when the rude and ugly shows its face out here on the frontier, well it just makes me laugh at this point. Makes it feel more like a battle field then a frontier I find. 

Sometimes I wanna not laugh and get angry and get into it with these people - so bad.  For selfish reasons because I just think eventually im gonna start calling out the ignorant and stupid of this planet. But also on the poor flight staff’s behalf, because they cant say shit to the customer. They have to stand there and take all the shit from these jerks who think they are royalty who should be treated as such  (Natalie and Jeff – from westjet in this case) ((Only the names of the real people have been used to protect the subjects integrity)) 

I find the result usually works in my favour due to my laid back attitude about it all. Getting put on the very next available Direct flight – worth twice the fare I paid and being put in a emergency exit window seat, combined with Jeff telling me im a laid back cool customer, and Natallie going the extra effort and finding out exactly where my bag will be and how it will get delivered to me.  Combined with the knowledge that if I ask right in YVR  I’ll get a $100 flight voucher. Meanwhile snaggletooth and her choke chained man servant who was visibly scared of his woman, well they get the least amount of respect and care available.  I cant decide if I want people to chill the fuck out or not and just stay they lovely way they are, as they make me look real good !  

Regardless of plans you have or appointments missed. There still gonna get ya there hours before your game time. Never mind that you if you know anything about travel you should allow yourself plenty of grace time if you absolutely must make an event.  Now granted some staff can become overwhelmed and push some wrong buttons back on customers making a bad situation worse. Which I believe is what happened in this case.  But all too often I see people lose there shit for no other reason than they think there entitled to special care. That’s what happened here. And Hey ya know what ass-clowns !?  Take the bus or better yet walking aint crowded !!

So usually I wait til the end to board the plane, another thing I never understood was the rush people have to get on the plane. You know those people who stand right up there circled around in the way of the people who are called ahead first.  But this time I knew I was in an emergency row section who gets called up next behind the first class passengers and I knew mini she ra and man slave were way back. So I had to have some fun and try something and sure enough she had to run me down and ask me why im boarding before her and did I get upgraded to first class when she got put back with cargo?  Fuck I love when I can give that well deserved grin to the less deserving. Not first class just emergency exit row, which was just as bitter sweet as she asked for that after she got denied first class upgrade. So a nice pout from her as she stormed away was the last I’ll see of that prize.  You poor bastard.

The delay brings me to my initial anger of what made me sit, take a breath and write about this subject.  Extra time in an airport usually means 1 thing to me – where’s the bar !?  Well sometimes like this one – its 6am and even if it was open, that’s a lil too early for me. With the week I have ahead of me, I’m in no hurry to start drinking.  So with no bar, the shops are next.  Olympic fever is everywhere and its awesome !  Im wearing my new team Canada Jersey- proudly, but with tongue in cheek as I ordered it from a China wholesaler paying 1/3 the price of Canadian retail stores. Regardless of our loss to the yanks, today’s elimination game against the krauts and then next the commies if things go our way, only demand that I wear my jersey while I travel today.  Hehee refers me to  a quote I heard recently “Im not a racist ima  separatist!”   Anywayz trash mouth aside, point being I got the spirit  and some time to kill so im going to check out the Olympic merch.  The Official Merch!  Well what’s that mean I wonder to myself these days really ! I am so worked up and disappointed in our country – and im sure other countries in the world – as ALL official Olympic merchandise is not made by there own hands in there own land.  Of course its all made in China ! Doesn’t surprise any of us does it ? My first tweek to the testys was that my OFFICIAL nike mens hockey team Canada jersey was ordered direct and shipped/manufactured in China.  Thusly with curiosity comes me looking into all the official merch and low and behold – it looks like all of it comes from China!

I am not sure if It’s true when I say we have nothing but ourselves to blame in this such case, as there’s no other alternative. We have no clothing manufacturing in this country anymore.  In a world of outsourcing, finding something that  is home grown these days is pretty hard to come by.  Its not just us.  Alas I find crazy irony when I look at my pics and see the masses on Robsons street, in the sea’s of red and whites in the arena’s, stands, streets all over B.C. and  the entire country for that matter.  Cheering on our athletes, standing tall with our national pride and Maple Leafs in check !  When in pure fact of it all, were all wearing and supporting China !!  Its not a complicated subject I realize. The rant is long gone, weve accepted it and anyone that does talk of it is simply dismissed today.

I don’t pretend to have the answers. Im just another asshole complaining about the shit in our world.  Actually im kinda the next level asshole because I so clearly see the problems and issues and yet I do nothing but bitch about it to what ever other asshole is listening to me.

------

Time for my real flight this time finally ! Check my grumpyness in baggage ! Enough of this 6 hour delay - Lets get this shit-show on the go!  Speaking of which - GO CANADA GO !!

Feb 25, 2010

Well i dont feel 40 ! Thats the key i am pretty sure.  First full day 1 for me was a pretty nice start. Hookin up with my old bud Vic to catch one of the biggest games we'll ever face. Canada vs. Russian did not disappoint.  Also my First experience with new peeps this trip.  A nice thing about my travel spirit I believe is when im in the zone - i got no probs sittin down at a table of strangers. Its how it should be – in my opinion of  how the things should work in this world. I try to practice many of those good things that most of us don’t , as best as possible.    I have many groups of friends who dont really meet too many new people. We get older, have our group/s - which is awesome ! but the new contingent doesn’t happen or happens less frequent that’s for sure.  I could be going the wrong way i sometimes think as i spread my shit pretty thin around alotta different groups instead of investing heavily in 1 or 2 that I can really count on. I dont beat myself up about it too much mind you, life is pretty fucking sweet on my planet, yet don’t think I don’t recognize the planet might not be so fun and loving down the stretch. and I am noticing the more I say life is great, I notice more shit happens to me,,,baaaaa this piece is about celebration so fuck all that psychology shit today i say.  ITS MY BIRTHDAY BITCH !

My new table of strangers are friends in-side of the first period and this place is going off.  More so than have I ever seen the likes of. Maybe  Mardi Gras or Gaspirilla perhaps came close. This is something different.  Im sure it has to do with the patriotism stuff and the feelings of belonging to history and all that groovy touchy feely shit.  Man if you can understand how every bar, every restaurant, every living room in this city is line-up city! I am not one for lines anymore i used to think anyway til later in this trip I am reminded that I don’t mind a good line. So I eased my way into this trip with catching this game with these fine local folks on the outskirts of the main madness and a good bar with good views and good service that I didn’t need to get to hours before game time.  St. Augustines was such a place.  Awesome game with friendly people everywhere. More a neighbourhood joint then a bunch of tourists.  Something important to do on any journey. 

Upon victory its time to make our Olympic charge into the crowds and to some music as Damien Marley is playing the stage at the main outdoor  music venue downtown.  A 40th birthday win over the Russians and a vip entrance pass into a Damien Marley show complete with Fireworks ! Pretty sure i have zero to complain about ! EVER ! but hey im a Canadian so im sure i'll find something !

But not today. I read a quote today in one of the papers that stood out to me saying “This is the most exciting thing that’s happened in Canada, maybe ever.”  I tend to like to argue big statements/claims such as that, and probably would if I wasn’t here possibly witnessing that exact thing.  I started to believe. After a rough start that nobody can deny, thanx to our sad media that makes the highlights. Convincing us its maybe gonna not just be a bust but I hear several outlets saying quite possibly the worst games ever.

Never mind the Great one clutching a recyclable torch as he rode in a hybrid pick-up en route to ignite the natural gas Olympic flame, starting the Winter Olympics of epic projects of renewable energy, resources, science & technology and conservation, just to name a few..  Nope just that a sledder died badly, from some country you haven’t heard of, that they will show you on a map graphic, so don’t worry about googling it.  With the track being to fast and dangerous, the bad weather causing millions in refunds, throw the shit stage hydraulics in and were pretty much feeling the deep burn right now. Canada looking like the darkness, no snow host !  So id be lying if I didn’t think week 1, well I felt some.. de-fleeted sadness maybe, for lack of a better term?  The media had me in its palm.  Alas I didn’t waver to far as I knew things wouldn’t get much worse and yes ok im saying it - once it was full on mens hockey elimination week 2 would come around - well things sure got jacked up a bit.

Today is women’s gold medal hockey vs. usa then a front row Knaan & Tinawarin birth day show :) Did I say Life’s pretty sweet yet ?!

Mar 2, 2010

Well i missed a few days here to post as i jump to sitting in the awesome Vancouver airport ! This airport really is what i wish YYZ was and hope to be some day. So many kick ass things about it im not gonna get into it - it would take to long. But my view right now is pretty nice. YYZ could learn much from YVR.  lets leave it there. So i'll back track best i can but no promises there will be continuity because that Gold Medal Sunday was a day to blow all days right out of the water and I am still amped up several degrees. We knew it coulda been and boy ohh boy was it !

We not only rocked the gold medal count and more importantly some incredible gains for our armature athletes I am sure.  I loved Montgomery the most I think. !? Mostly probably as a fellow C.A.I. - Georgian College alumni ! Ya gotta support the bro’s ! . Its all about personal touches after all.  Who didn’t raise a glass when Johnny raised that jug a beer in the whistler streets on his Olympic walk ! It don’t get more Canadian than that id like to think. We’ve really sucked the hind tit on that area you can’t argue.

As far as the missing 4 days worth of experiences. Well I plead whatever law, rule that makes me not give a shit that I didn’t write it down.  Some day maybe if there’s financial compensation in me keeping things logged then maybe but don’t count on it.  The pictures should fill in the blanks quite nicely !

Im sure im not the first to say i wish it was the olympics everyday.  The love felt in this city is like ive never experienced. I must have given between 700-800 high fives and 200-300 hugs i figured best guess. Not lame ones either - the full on loven life kinda smack and grabs ! Complete strangers and completely completely reciprocated.  No weird looks or get away from me jackass looks.

Was nice to see the organizers on there toes, and adding an element of humour to the closing ceremonies in making fun of ourselves.  It showed class and the only way to go I think to win the gold.  I think we did ! But I was here so I am biased. From what I hear on the streets in every metro and town in the country that gold medal game turned us all on our game !

Your not gonna see the U.S. make fun of there selves like that. Any more than we can expect the Russians to be pounding vodka and running tanks into their stadium stadium…are we ?

Time to board. Respect Van and B.C ! Again you show me reason to be here more.

*RCRF: Termed one day long ago with some American friends in my travels as shit that always just seemed to happen to me – thusly “Kitch got the The Royal Canadian Rat Fuck again!”

how i come by it.

Lemme tell ya how it goes for me…I hear about artists music initially threw word of mouth on the road, magazine mags I follow, or music blogs/internet sites.  With internet being the clear winner source of it..shit i couldnt tell you last time i bought in a chain record shop ?  The place i used to spend all my god damn money back in the dizz-ay!

I goto a variety of torrent sites regularly to get almost all of my music. If I had to guess maybe 75% to 85%  I bet is “allegedly” downloaded – illegally ­- - its listened too – if  I like it even just a lil bit it goes into liabrary to where it eventually does get a good honest listen. Ive very forgiving and open minded on first listen, where i know many who are not. So That listen usually makes me decide if its going to be an artist im going to see live.  That listen decides where im gonna go spend my money and see the artist/s live show somehwhere – usually locally first or if lucky in a festival line-up that you would normally attend if line-up is strong enuff of such artists.  Im a live fan and hope it makes up for the crimes I comit against the artist on that level. Im just afraid  that at the level I maintain of live show attendance is such a strain that I could not possibly afford to go buy your shit in early stage 1 of my process otherwise I would not have this wide range of respected artists and thusly am more musically intelligent, making me more important to you.  I don’t and cant relate to the people who just listen to top 40 and love it to death.  Im a merch whore for the acts that blow my musical mind. Im buying your music that I already have downloaded illegally but sounds just as good as this cd im buying.  If ya got a bad ass design t-shirt and its not $25 bucks or more – im prolly buying that shit. Maybe even some other misc dolla or 2 bux shit if its cool – stickers/button/patches – if cool can sell well to my ass ! 

The people that keep those places in bizz are the people coming into buy top 40 radio. For the most part i said so relax all you upity dickbags.

2010 Winter Olympic Games

Feb 23, 2010 - Travel Day.

So another RCRF ! Termed one day long ago with some American friends in my travels as The Royal Canadian Rat Fuck. It has become a quite regularly expected event in my journeys.  Yet I have developed affection for the RCRF.  Why would I have affection for a Rat Fuck? because whatever that is – it doesn’t sound very nice does it.  Yet the RCRF brings me moments of clarity, thought and pause. All things that more people need to have when travelling.

Here I go..as I sit beside a Timmy’s ( which im pretty sure are in every terminal in every airport across the country now days) overcome with the aroma synonymous with Canada, helping with my Olympic spirit !  I can see the woman and her man slave across the way that I was just lucky enough to experience her rath. Firstly the situation - basically due to weather and lack of crew I got bumped  but my luggage didn’t.  Inconvenient sure, worth losing my shit over like this outrageously rude bitch across the way from me – no chance.  It baffles me how people get so bent over travel delays.  Travelling is a privilege not a right I always say and when the rude and ugly shows its face it just makes me laugh at this point. Sometimes I wanna get into it with these people.  On the poor flight staff’s behalf, because they cant. They have to stand there and take all the shit from these jerks who think they are royalty who should be treated as such  (natallie & jeff – westjet)  The result usually works in my favour due to my laid back attitude. Getting put on the very next available Direct flight – twice the fare I paid and being put in a emergency exit window seat, combined with Jeff telling me im a laid back cool dude and Natallie going the extra effort and finding out exactly where my bag will be and how it will get delivered to me. Meanwhile snaggletooth and her choke chained man servant get the least amount of respect and care available.  People need to chill the fuck out ! Regardless of plans you have or appointments missed. Your still getting there hours before game time.  Granted some staff can become overwhelmed and push some buttons back on customers making a bad situation worse. Which I believe is what happened in this case.  But all too often I see people lose there shit for no other reason than they think there entitled to special care.

The delay brings me to my initial anger of what made me sit, take a breath and write about this subject.  Extra time in an airport usually means 1 thing to me – where’s the bar !?  Well sometimes like this one – its 6am and even if it was open that’s a lil too early even for me. Well maybe not, but with the week I have ahead of me, I’m in no hurry to start drinking.  So with no bar, the shops are next.  Olympic fever is everywhere and its awesome !  Im wearing my jersey proudly. Regardless of our loss to the yanks, today’s elimination game against the krauts and then next the Russians if things go our way, only demand that I wear my jersey while I travel today.  I got the spirit  and some time to kill so im gonna check out the Olympic merch.  The Offical Merch – no knock off shit on my dime !  Well whats the fucking difference these days really ! I am so worked up and disappointed in our country – and im sure the world – as ALL official Olympic merchandise is made in China ! My first tweek to the testys was that my official nike mens hockey team Canada jersey was ordered direct and shipped/manufactured in China.  Then with curiosity comes me looking into all the official merch and low and behold – it looks like all of it comes from China.

I am not sure if Its true when I say we have nothing but ourselves to blame in this such case, as there’s no other alternative.  We have no clothing manufacturing in this country anymore.  In a world of outsourcing finding something that  is home grown these days is but a memory.  I find crazy irony when I see the masses on Robsons street, and the sea’s of red in the arena’s, stands, streets all over B.C. and  the entire country for that matter.  Cheering on our athletes, standing tall with our national pride in check !  When in fact of it all, were all wearing and supporting China !!

I don’t pretend to have the answers. Im just another asshole complaining about the shit in our world.  Actually im kinda the next level asshole because I so clearly see the problems and issues and yet I do nothing but bitch about it.

Time for flight ! Check my grumpyness in baggage ! GO CANADA GO !!

Feb 25, 2010

Well i dont feel 40 ! Thats the key i am pretty sure.  Day 1 for me was a pretty nice start. Hookin up with my old bud Vic to catch one of the biggest games we'll ever face. Canada vs. Russian did not dissapoint.  My First experience with new peeps.  A nice thing about my travel spirit is when im in the zone - i got no probs sittin down at a table of strangers, minus 1 usually.  Its how it should be.  I have many groups of friends who dont really meet new people. They get older, have their group - which is awesome ! but the new contingent doesnt happen or happens less frequent thats for sure.  I could be going the wrong way i sometimes think as i spread my shit pretty thin and doesnt seem like i am fully in with any 1 group.  I dont beat myself up about it, life is pretty fucking good on my planet, yet the planet might not be so fun and loving down the stretch,,,baaaaa this piece is about celebration so fuck all that phsycology i say.  My new table of strangers are friends in-side of the first period as this place is going off.  If you werent here then you cant understand how every bar, every restauraunt, every living room in this city is line-up city ! Im not one for lines anymore i used to think anyway. Well i discovered maybe i am when the mood strikes me.  Awesome game with these friendly peeps. Upon victory its time to make our olympic way to some music as Damien Marley playing the stage.  A 40th birthday win over the russians and a vip enterance pass into a Damien Marley show complete with Fireworxs ! Pretty sure i have zero to complain about ! EVER ! but hey im a canadian so im sure i'll find something !

Today is womens gold medal hockey vs. usa then a front row knaan birth day show :) lifes pretty kick ass !

Mar 2, 2010

Well i missed a few days to post as i jump to present sitting in the awesome YVR ! This airport really is what i wish YYZ was and hope to be some day. So many kick ass things about it im not gonna get into it - it would take to long. But my view right now is pretty nice, lets leave it there. So i'll back track best i can but no promises there will be continuity because that Gold Medal Sunday was a day to blow all days right out of the water.  We knew it coulda been and boy ohh boy was it !

Im sure im not the first to say i wish it was the olympics everyday.  The love felt in this city is like ive never experienced. I must have given best guess between 700-800 high fives and 200-300 hugs i figured. Not lame ones either - the full on loven life pssion kinda smack and grabs ! Complete strangers completely recipricated.

Mar 6th, 2010  cost of doin buisness. can i enter voice note recording here ?

JOHN BUTLER TRIO - TORONTO, FEB 2010

John Butler Trio – Wed, Feb 11, 2010 – The Mod Club, Toronto

Opening Act - Toby

The Mod is one of the best live music venues of it's size in Toronto, quite possibly the country based on my observations. I am almost certain with John's first sold out Canadian show - this is going to be a good night. I have not verified this fact its based on my edumacated guess.:) But when it comes to JBT, I got some skills, so based on those 2 facts needless to say I am looking forward to this show !

Chickened out on bringing in a camera. I wrestled with the decision all night. I need to ratify and tighten up my shit in this area.  But its hard to rock out and do the camera/media thing at the same time.  It almost seems like 1 or the other, and at this point, I am not ready for the other just yet. Not for this show anyway.

I have always been a big fan of a good opener as it sets the stage. The opener this night = Toby was my first nice surprise. I found out with some last minute research that one of the key band members to be someone I toured with extensively in Canada & Australia in the past. Someone who I also would consider a kick ass musician on a stand up and fretless bass. I was not aware of Toby’s music before but as an opener they were successful in getting me! A great voice this woman from Australia.  I don’t know much more than that right know but her presence was felt. She did a super Joplin cover of Bobby McGee, which ya don’t hear done well very often. Ya gotta have some balls to think your going to pull off Joplin successfully. I mean ya cant really do it like Janis but doing it in your own way and doing it well is the key. Well Toby has the female version of  testicles as she did it with grand applause. Great range on her voice and I am looking forward to checking out those sexy birds some more !

My main negative observation of a stiff crowd is the same one I am recognizing in many places these days, and its either negatively trending, or I am.  The crowd vibe was way stiff.  I wouldn’t say I am a Toronto hater, I dig the town.  I just can’t catch a break lately with a live music crowd here.  Your a bunch of uptight stick up the ass-clowns.  Unless you're pressed in the first few rows, very few are grooving out.  Peoples expression threw dance is just not evident in this city.  With special exception of very few spread around the venue, that usually don’t keep it up due to the feeling of  the uncomfortable judgy death stairs from surrounding statues. I do sometimes wonder If I am trending to one of those crazy hippie/tweeker dancers that I make fun of ?  

John Butler is a fun grooving kinda kat. His vibe is definitely something that must be danced too. Even just a little bit people!  I mean the guy plays a bad ass banjo for Christ sakes !  Who doesn’t like throwin down a banjo jig !?  If ya never have, I highly recommend that soul smiling exercise.  It changes your experience from a good night to a great night – I promise you !

John started off with a bit of a crowd buzz kill when he had to school some screaming young girls in the front row that were really giving it to him. He made some statements - nicely - but basically telling them to shut the hell up. He's a pro and did it at the right time and place and carried on un-fazed.

A little more than 25%  of the set list was new material of which only the single has been released as yet from their new joint "April Uprising" due early 2010. A nice long show of 18 or 19 tunes with some nice long jams and stage moments thrown in for an entertaining evening.

A crowd thrown harmonica lands on stage and Johnny lays it down ! A completely random baaaad ass horner jam ensues.  Maybe 45 seconds to a minute long I am guessing. I coulda used it twice as long and have it roll into a who knows what, but i am not a greedy man and i'll take what i can get.

During Better Than, one of his most commercially successful tunes to date, inspired some motivated gals  to jump on stage uncontested and conducted a “riverdance” style of jig.  It was appreciated by the band and crowd. Made we wanna be a little closer to the action as the fun level was rising.

I wondered how many of the crowd in attendance, what percentage, are even aware it’s a new trio? Almost everybody I talked to didn’t know. That shit bums me out a little but I suppose I just might have too much time on my hands, so I try to not let it get to me too much.  But I am excited mostly to see what this new trio is all about.  I had grown quite fond of  his old band mates, Shannon & Michael and sad to see them part ways for “artistic differences”. Which hopefully doesn’t mean money in this case. But I have my suspicions, as it usually does involve that shitty thing called Dolla’s.  

Bomba the drummer is John’s brother-in-law and has some history of playing in the trio. He is a heavy kat and I loved seeing him pound it live.  The soul is pretty clear also on the new bass Byron Luiters.  Byron is an unknown to me but these 2 dudes got the passion no question. Its clear the 2 of them and John have some chemistry. The mad Dr. Frankenstein kind of chemistry. I’ve been told Bomba has some of his own stuff that’s worth checking out, so I will be doing just that.

 I don’t know where my show count is these days but its high for John solo and his trio combined. I have toured internationally with this guy and his music, and it’s the heaviest I’ve yet to see/hear from him.  The show was successful for me as it got me super pumped to see a few more shows this summer. JBT has a few more sold out gigs in the states before returning home to the staple festys, then on to UK and Europe, just in time to get him back for some of the always busy summer festival circuit in the States. That's where these guys shine.  Bonnaroo in Manchester Tennessee will be a fan fave this year for these guys. Bet on it !

John's songs about life’s experiences and world issues, is of a poetry both musical and written that few are pulling off together. The consistency of a quality product is undeniable!  If ya haven’t read his lyrics then your missing out !  Just check out  lyrics to One Way Road and you’ll see that at 35 he’s as youthful as I remember him a decade ago and still getting better every tour.  I see big things on this blessed mans horizons and I am all aboard for the long haul !

Now’s time to be part of the solution raise your fist if you believe in revolution

Doesn’t mean I ain’t got no fight now just because I don’t got a gun
The lyrical is heavier than lead and this guitar is my canon
Just like Martin and Mahatma I’m gonna love I’m gonna over come

John Butler _ One Way Road

Links:

Opener: http://www.tobymusic.com.au/

JBT: http://www.johnbutlertrio.com/

Bomba:  http://www.myspace.com/nickybombasolo

Bonnaroo: http://www.bonnaroo.com/

Avatar is not a surprise.  It is yet another example of how were just going down the toilet. familiar story. were doing. indians and shit. graphics.

GZA in Barrie !!??

First thing comes to my mouth and im sad to say it but the security blew it on this night. I have high respect for security. More than most. They got a tuff job no question, especially with added pressure of an all ages, big name legend hip hop show! In Barrie !! No way do I wish that on any security force.

Dealing with drunken outta control high people! Mostly early twenty-somethings. Sheesh those dummies would put even the best of tempers in an edgy mood. I’ve been in that situation and as I said i respect security – right ? moving on !

Where they lost me last night, is the territory should be known going in and it should be acknowledged and prepared for. The good ones are. Several of the guys were not on this night and they got rattled. It happens.

I’ve been trying with Barrie for so long, honest I have been. But we just can’t seem to get our selves together on representing and giving good musicians the proper respect they deserve by showing up and showing up right. I think it’s just a matter of the law of averages really. Perhaps there’s just not enough population to provide enough of the crowd with the “right stuff”. I Feel a bit of a stuck up, old dick for saying it like that, but its truth. I have paid dues internationally, in all types of crowds, and as far as I can tell - its truth ! I have no interest in speaking anything less than what I observe.

Some of you unfortunate dumb asses got your shit way too loose and you got under the skin of the security tonight, and the bomb just went off. A couple of good fights in the crowd that continued all the way out the door and outside. That’s going to light the fuse of security every time. I witnessed a couple of guys get deservingly beat down real hard.

By near the end of evening it was too late to recover. 50-60% of you shouldn’t have been tossed Id say. It didn’t seem they had a Cooler on staff, and thusly a lotta good people who are causing no harm, just enjoying themselves, do suffer the Un-cooled, over tweaked, over ego’d staff.

We in Barrie did in-deed get a treat with a visit from the GZA. Hats off props to Liquid Chrome for makin it happen. They are really making a great go of bringing some heat to town. Much of the crowd represented well and enjoyed the hell out of the talents on that stage. I am not a fan of seeing all the other people on stage that don’t really need or belong up there. There’s a time to be seen and I have never been a fan of seeing others than the artists on the stage, but that’s just me, and regardless - We all respected, we appreciated and we got our mutha fuckin W’s way up in the air. It was a great show.

My small disappointments that it should have been sold out in advance, and too many of you were fucked up Dbags, with drunkn high ass bitches in your crew. You messed things up for a lot of people around you that didn’t deserve it. To those people I got nuthin and can only apologise to the others for the ignorance of the few. You know, they know, not what they do. They don’t care and they will tell you so most of the time. Basically people not being able to keep there shit tight were in numbers on this night.

But for the rest of us…! They make us look good and Shhh Shhhhit ! GZA was in Barrie in a small club, small crowd, and he was in the house bringing the heat ! Yes im a white cracker, up yours ! ;)Choclair made a big impression on me before GZA even got there. Wasn’t expecting that but he got me right in the mood. As did the dj. I don’t pretend to be an expert and im unaware of who D-sisive is or the dj on set breaks, nor the host dude on mic doing intro’s, but all you people as well as the behind the scenes peeps clearly did a solid job from what I observed.

Advanced Set times were pretty far off but that was to be expected on a night of bad weather and with a line-up of rap/hip hop friends, that’s kinda what you would expect anyway. It went much later though and I think they lost many people due to work/school night show.

I loved seeing the after show stage fan love. GZA stuck around signing autographs, posing for pics, doing the fan thing for a lot longer than I sure would have expected. He didn’t/doesn’t need to do that. But it’s sure nice to see when guys do. He stuck around longer than I did.

I hit the streets for a walk to finish my night and witness the rest of the downtown debauchery. Always entertaining walking the Dunlop strip. Fights outside of every establishment, people on there face on the frozen ground, lots of cops, drunkn arrests, assaults from men and women, pretty much your average Friday 2 am downtown Barrie.

All be it you do entertain me, I’d prefer you stay home and ufc yourself in your own basement. I see more harm than good come from you In public.

Clean it up dickbags ! Your making the good people stay home, or travel outside of Barrie.

… Actually..hmmm..I do love to travel – never mind then, as you were.

Yet This all comes from a clown who gets thrown outta the Random Ranch for drunk & disorderly, so I am aware of a grand thing called hypocrisy. But it was Halloween and i was in costume, so my excuse is a good one ! :)