Spring Concerts #3: Joel Plaskett w/ friends and family

This next concert was really neat because I am a relatively new fan of Plaskett. I liked his solo stuff and the other stuff he did with his band 'The Emergency' but I never really got into it. It was too Canadian for me or something. Kind of like the Tragically Hip. I also didn't really care for his 90's punk band 'Thrush Hermit'. Whatever it was I became fast fan when I started listening to his latest 'solo' album called 'Three'. This album is a concept album consisting of three discs and many songs have a 3 word title. I think it is also a more mature shift for him with more complicated lyrics and better vocals but it definitely still has his trademark east coast easy going humor.
The album was recorded specifically with his father and two singer songwriters (who are also on his label) Ana Egge and Rose Cousins. Since their voices are so integral to the songs they had to go on tour with him.

At some points he brought his whole band out to do some of the songs and hammer out some of the classics. This concert was quite monumental because he was playing a concert with more people on stage than ever before.
We sat on the front row of the Balcony at the Bronson Centre. It was a pretty good view.
All in all it was a great show that made me into a much bigger fan of his than ever before. That is what a good show is supposed to do I think.

Spring Concerts #2: Miss Emily Brown w/ Mother Mother

The next concert that I went to (or that I can remember) was at the Black Sheep Inn. Best venue ever by the way.
We had seen Mother Mother before and a few friends were coming up so we decided to check them out again.

The opener was Miss Emily Brown from Iroquois, Ontario (south of Ottawa). She did this jazzy/folksy set that was a great counterpoint to the rock show that was to follow.
One of her songs from her latest project was basically turning letters from nurses in the Second World War into songs. I thought lyrically and musically the effect was quite emotional. Apparently she just needs some more money and she will be making an entire cd with those songs. Very intriguing.

Mother Mother are a pretty rocking band with fantastic and very unique vocals mainly from a brother and sister from BC. The band also includes another girl who also does back up vocals. They use the vocals of the girls and guy to the max. It is what makes this band unique and great to listen to.

Once again it was another memorable show at the Black Sheep Inn.

Spring Concerts #1: Metric, Malajube & Bedouin Soundclash

I realize that I have been neglecting the whole blog thing for the past few months but I really wanted to write a bit about several of the concerts that I went to during this time.
I am starting with the Metric show at the Civic Centre.

The Quebec band 'Malajube' who sing exclusively in french opened up the show and blasted through their set. I found them too loud and messy to enjoy even though they pulled off their radio hits fairly decently. For the rest it wasn't very memorable.

The next band, Bedouin Soundclash, I thought were a one-hit-wonder back a few years ago. However they have morphed into a powerful reggae rock band with a bit of Bob Marley feel.
I especially like the added touch of touring with a brass section. These guys were a really nice touch.
By the time Metric came out the crowd was pretty pumped. Emily Haines and her crew really know how to rock the place. They are one of the biggest Canadian bands right now and they really looked it. Their album was leaked online months before it's intended release and it was instantly a hit around the world. That is an incredible story for this small time Toronto indie-band.
Emily Haines was able to bring the place down and raise it up with her crazy on-stage antics and dynamic voice.
All in all it was a fantastic show and I really was blown away by Metric and Bedouin Soundclash. Both bands far exceeded my expectations.

Ambivelent or Nuanced Bumper Stickers

Someone on Zazzle (the slightly geeky yet more modern person's Etsy.......kindof) has created these awesomely ambivelent or nuanced bumper stickers. Here are some examples:

Clearly these are made for me even though they pretty much go against what they are. I think bumper stickers are kind of wierd. See a previous post and you will understand what I mean. But these catch that wierdness and send it right back at the reader. Love It!

Please don't shop there people

It may be a little extreme but I think it gets some good points across.....

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Please don't shop at these places people. Going for the cheapest choice can be an ethical issue (in my opinion anyway). The world today is driven by money and if you always buy the cheapest thing then you are just getting sucked into that vortex of greed.

Anyway, I don't want to rant on this too much so Sayonara.

Gimme that Beat Beat Stuff!

Hannah Georgas has been making the rounds on the CEEB for the past year with a couple songs including this one called 'The Beat Stuff'. She is playing with Spencer from fellow Vancouver band 'Said the Whale'.

Hopefully we'll be able to catch her performance with 'Said the Whale' on Canada Day. It is actually right on the hill.

Some other acts we don't want to miss are:
Justin Rutledge and Julie Doiron using the Six String Nation Guitar in Majors Hill Park.
Coeur de Pirate and Belle Orchestre at Jazzfest at Confederation Park.
oh and fireworks!

Good Times on the Construction Site

These pictures (along with about 100 other ones) have been forwarded to me several times now and so I thought I would put my favourites on this blog so nobody has to look at that email anymore. I am not sure why people think I need to see these pictures but it could be something to do with the architecture connection.........

Rule #1: Check the Site Plan

Rule #2: Wear a hard hat (or at least a soft hat)

Rule #3: Don't Use Revision Clouds (apparently)

Rule #4: Privacy is Over-Rated

We have to back to Spain

Apparently we have to go back to Spain and do the Southern part because I really want to check out this little town called Setenil de las Bodegas.

Much of this town was built into the cliffs and the effect is incredible.

This is the kind of habitat that I would build in my sandbox or carve out of snow drifts as a kid. It reminds me of those mud homes built buy certain Indians in desert areas. I probably was heavily influenced by National Geographic.

The thing I love about this is that they are really using the landscape and incorporating it into the architecture. If this was suburban North America they would have leveled the place with dynamite and built McMansions on it.

Post-It Love

Here is a twist on the classic office love story with Post-It notes and really good acting.

If Fleet Foxes say it - it must be true!

I recently read a great quote from Robin Pecknold of the great indie folk rock band Fleet Foxes on Exclaim.ca. Speaking with BBC News he basically said that music is better off because of piracy on the internet.

He explained that we are seeing tons of new bands creating better music than ever before the piracy issues. He says that the internet is where he discovered most of his favourite music.

And to top it off when asked whether he minded if people 'stole' his albums he says "I've downloaded hundreds of records....why would I care someone downloads ours? That is such a petty thing to care about. I mean, how much money does one person need?"

Favourite quote of the year for me!

Actually this reminds me that I have to buy their latest album........

Cheese Rollingfest 2009

This has to be one of the craziest traditions in the world (except for running with the bulls).

Every year hundreds of people fling themselves down a hill in Gloucestershire in the hopes of winning a rolling wheel of cheese.

The British are crazier than I thought. So much for a stiff upper lip. Now it's more like a swollen upper lip and a few broken limbs.