Victoria Record Club: May 2012.

I decided to get an early jump on my Record Club notes for May as I'm going on vacation soon, and it's my birthday tomorrow.

May is another theme night for our little record club. We will be meeting up at Smith's Pub on Tuesday May 29^th, 2012 to play some of our “Guilty Pleasures.” 

I don't really know what constitutes a “guilty pleasure” because you enjoy it. Why should you feel ashamed for your music taste? I'm sure everyone has some Unknown Pleasures (sorry had to make the joke). If you've ever spent some time with me on the road, at a party, sat in my living room, or just know me well you'd know I love new wave.

To put it simply Big Country's The Crossing is one of my favourite albums. You probably know their one song “In A Big Country” and that's about it. The 1980's put out some great music like Chalk Circle, The Psychedelic Furs, Boomtown Rats, and Rough Trade. That's not even the bands I love the most like Echo & The Bunnymen, The Church, and New Order. 

I've had a girlfriend almost break-up with me because of how much I liked “In A Big Country,” but what can I say she had bad taste in music. I guess my love of new wave borders on something more. Most people hate it so I guess that makes it my “guilty pleasure.” 

First up is Talk Talk's “It's My Life” off the album It's My Life. You'll know this song right away. If not for the original it would be for No Doubt's cover of it. I first came across Talk Talk on a mixed cd a friend gave me in high school. Ever since I've loved them. 

They are also one of Matt Good's favourite bands (I saw that in an interview once). 

Further studies: Lots of wildlife in the original music video, wikipedia, and No Doubt's cover of “It's My Life.”

My other “guilty pleasure” that borders on an unhealthy love for is Toto's “Africa” of Toto IV. This is my pump-up jam. I put “Africa” on if I want to get ready for something big and exciting. If you see me listening to headphones while walking around the Rifflandia Music Festival it's me trying to to get into the right headspace to shoot a major headliner. Chances are Toto is blasting through the speakers directly into my earholes.

I even want this song to be our theme song for the annual Build-A-Boat Race here in Sidney, BC. I have this grand vision of Shayne, Brian, and I standing together holding hands, creating a triforce, while singing about how we blessed the rains down in Africa. They are against it though for some weird reason.

Further watching: Toto's music video for “Africa,” wikipedia, and Peter Griffin smashing a vase full of flowers.

Hurry boy that download is waiting for you.

Download disappears on May 31^st, 2012.  

Goodbye Sasquatch.

Money woes, and other fun excuses on why I can't do anything with my life.

As most of you know I broke my foot back in January. It's been a painful couple months of limited mobility, anti-inflammatory medication, and just a general hatred of doctors. If there is one thing that came from the whole experience it was the reaffirmation of my dislike of the medical system and doctors.

Here I am just over three months later and my foot is healing. The scare of having pins put in my foot is gone, and I'm finally on the mend. I still have to take it easy. I've been back at work for a couple weeks now. It's hard being on light duties. I'm surviving and putting the hours. It's not that I missed working while I was off it was more that I missed having something to do with my time.

The money from the insurance company came through sporadically and fluctuated in consistency. Don't get me wrong, I very happy that I can benefit from something like this. Keeping my head above water (barely) while I'm unable to work. I know there are lots of people who can't and don't have that option. It's beneficial having a benefits package at your place of employment (see what I did there).

So, when it came to coming back to work I was more than ecstatic to make some real money. Like REAL fucking money. Unfortunately I didn't make all that much between my last disability check and my first paycheck back.

I'm stuck. For the first time in my life I've had to borrow money from my parents to pay my rent. How embarrassing is that? I don't generally like asking for money, and this was hard for me.

I've spent money on things in the past I shouldn't have, and I did have a budget in place to make sure this wouldn't happen. Then I went and broke my foot. All that money and overtime hours I planned on making was gone. I've had to make some decisions without consulting people in the last few days to make sure I can at least do the one thing I wanted to do this summer.

Here's the big unveil. The thing I've been so vague about in this whole long post about nothing.

I'm not going to the Sasquatch Music Festival this year.

I've got to sell my ticket and premiere camping pass. I know I'm going to be disappointing some folks that really wanted to do this trip with me. Likewise I was excited to do this trip with some really awesome friends and music this year, but it's not going to happen. I should have known before buying the ticket anyways.

I'm going to MaxFunCon the following weekend, and I really don't want to be a burned out mess for that. That's what I'm really excited for. A chance to learn, laugh, and have some real fun with folks I really respect and admire.

Here's my craigslist add for my Sasquatch ticket.

You can also contact me through here if you want to buy it off me. I really wanted to go this year, but I had to man up and make the adult decision. I'm expecting a guilt trip from some of my friends, because I'm posting this before actually telling anyone. I welcome it, but they need to know I didn't make the decision lightly. I did it because I have to, and there is no other way around it. I can't afford to spend hundreds of dollars on camping, drinking, and not getting laid before flying off to do the same thing the next weekend.

I'm not twenty-two anymore.

Collections.

Acres of Lions played a show for the Victoria House Concert B series last night. 

Check out more photos.  

Michigan Left.

Photo by Tyson Elder

The other day Max and Mike from the Arkells swung by the studio for an interview and to play a few songs. Jer invited me down to take some photos for the radio station.

It was loads of fun. It's always cool to do these intimate little things with bands and people you dig. 

You can hear the interview, see the interview, and watch a video about the events leading up to it. 

A Sort of Concert Review: Aidan Knight.

Aidan KnightLast night (October 3rd, 2011) I ventured into the heart of Fernwood to see Aidan Knight play a house concert. 

I met up with my new internet friend Michelle (ehbseasides) who graciously picked me up a ticket to the show. I guess the one downfall of not having facebook is not knowing about these great house concert events. Apparently John Mann of Spirit of The West is a regular in the rotation for this series. 

It's been a long time since I've seen Aidan play live. My best guess is probably the second Rifflandia in 2009 at Alix Goolden Hall before he ran to the other side of downtown to play with Maurice. I've always know Aidan as the guy in seven bands at once. It has been really great to hear and see all his success as a solo performer these days. 

I think it's pretty satisfying to see people who you came up with in “the scene” getting the recognition they deserve. With that said when did Aidan Knight start having a huge female fan base? That was weird definitely a different feel from the Counting Heartbeats, Black Tie Social, and Maurice days. Maybe that's what happens when you write songs about knitting, making bread, and trumpet majors. 

There is something to be said about intimate acoustic shows. There is this shared feeling of being part of something that no one, but the sixty people in the living room/dining room/hallway will ever experience. There is a certain interaction and honesty between the artist and the crowd. You could certainly feel it last night. 

Aidan was at top form last night despite all the tuning of his guitar (I made sure to note that in my Moleskine). I think he's mastered the art of bantering with the crowd though. With topics ranging from making your own bread, this youtube video, his father's guitar collection, and ruining Empire for me. 

There was lots of energy in that small room last night. From the horn section to the pedal steel it was one of the best shows I've seen in a while. I say that being fresh off Rifflandia, and that included one of my Broken Social Scene's last shows ever. 

Let's do it again.  

Victoria House Concert B