...she rules her life like a bird in flight...

for the last 2 days I have COMPLETELY forgotten my effin' camera at home.. snug in it's case..just sitting there - mocking me from a distance as I experience moment after kodak moment...

let's do a Benjamin Button and start from the end..

THIS is who I'm seeing March 26th @ the ACC... that's right - this guy!

Stevie Nicks..amazing...lets start a new project shall we.. i want to dress like Stevie..paper lace...big hats..oh - I'd also like to order a pair of those lips and legs while we're at it.. i mean COME ON..no matter every man and - prob - women wanted to either fuck her, be her or just be around her.


hmmm.. so k i know i was supposed to talk about how i've completely fucked myself the last 2 days by not documenting the ridonkulous experiences i've had BUT I'm SO completely over it right now.. maybe i'll go get some eats..or choclate or hand gun..dunno..whatevs

Photo Porn....you guess where it is..and I may or may not tell ya....

still desperately crushed that when i transferred my photos from computer to computer i lost almost 1000 photos... :( greece, italy spain, portugal, austria..sigh.... hurts my heart ...

OMG I want 5 pounds of you...

So the one year binge I was on has come to a SCREECHING halt...

see the tempered....albeit not very accurate photo depiction on one TENTH of what we [as in me and my friends] spent the last ummmm one or two YEARS doing.. ughh...[also the reason I'm now on gluten free blah blah blah blah and almond milk or some shit..

and of course the famous shot of me enjoying my birthday champagne ALL to myself...

so for these many reasons i have taken a leave of absence from the many bars, pubs, and restos I would frequent where one glass turned into many and the rep for being a party animal was created..trust me folks this has NOT served me well at work..no matter that when i'm sick I'm REALLY SICK.. but if you peeps what the bubonic then I'll come..and I'll leave all my many snot rags lying around..my desk will turn into a pharmacy ...and you'll eventually succumb to whatever virus, bacteria, mutant strain of infection I have and then we'll ALL be sorry ass miserable fucks together.

could I be back...

i may be..i have done quiye a lot recently..just don't know if i can be bothered to write it out AGAIN ughhh.. we'll see..
later

i talk out loud like you're still around...

Today I am coughs, chips, chocolate and vicks. Yep - I've decided that b/c I'm so sick I can't taste anything that I get to eat WHATEVER I want.

and can I say - SCORE..on the Miss Vickie's Old Cheddar and Red Onion and kudos to Dutch Crunch for wicked burning sea salt and malt vinegar.

Am I the only one that needs a soundtrack too the daily in and outs of life? for instance - I went to write today and went through three different artists before I settled on someone I could write too. It was almost like everything else was too happy or fast or distracting. anyways - I settled on Counting Crows - August & Everything After.



Can I just say WOAH right now. for those who know me...know my story...you'll know that before he even SINGS this song has already linked to a relevance in my life...and I was in love with this song BEFORE i made that move..that leap into independance.

Once again people - it is proven that music is relevance...it's life..life is music, sounds, tones, melodies, chords, tunes, being out of tune..it just is. meh. whatevs.

so the first video is from Peter Morn [Peter, Bjorn and John] and represents what I missed last night cause I was holed up with a wicked massive cold that has only progressively gotten worse as my day has worn on and on and on and on and on.

my meds kicked in. I'm done for now.

The things I have been up to..in no particular order

I'm not even really sure to start with everything that's been going on - what I do know is that if you haven't heard of this band than you need to get out more.

So first off I need to thank The Musebox for setting up this amazing series of events called Beautiful Noise [not Beautiful Music as Gareth stated during the show with People in Planes]...woah SOLID segue. So Sunday April 6th The Musebox graciously accepted my rsvp to attend the taping with People in Planes [PIP]. A band that Yvonne Matsell [El Mo] turned me on to a few years back when they played Toronto but because I hadn't realized that a supplementary bar job downtown is WAY better than in Etobicoke - I MISSED THE SHOW.

That my friends is one of the worst forms of punishment for a chick like me. Knowing about a band, obsessing about the band, emotionally responding to them and than being unable to get to the show.


Did you watch this?



Did you go STRAIGHT to their myspace..cause dude if you didn't ur pretty much dead inside. Yep - there it is..just gonna put that out there for ya. These guys are from Wales...and I know that pretty much anything out of the UK is pred-disposed to kicking ass BUT these guys are from Wales. WAY different ladies and gentlmen. The Welsh and the English are a whole different breed from each other.


I digress... So the Musebox did these crazy tapings that you can watch one day soon I'm sure...just don't be jealous that I got to see it first.

Who knows - maybe you'll see my face and be all "fuck maybe next time Gill texts me to be somewhere I SHOULD GO!! [raymi] just sayin.

So we get to the show [with polkaroo in attendance in you can believe it!] and immediately head for some Steamwhistles. Amanda and Chris are with us and amen cause Chris knows the band from being on tour with them AND he knows the booker/mgr of Berkeley Church so we gets the grand tour - including the TREEHOUSE - a little bit of cottage heaven in a concrete world.

I'm not going to rant about how amazing the show was - i don't need any haters and we all know how jealousy can twist even the truest admirer.

I have an appt. I'll be back.

interruption

k...so this post has nothing to do with the continuation to the SXSW post I KNOW I've got coming..STILL...I'm at a friends house..and I'm on a MAC..that means I don't actually know what to do for a lot of the punctuation. oh wait. i just stopped thinking and let my fingers react to the keyboard and apparently I DO know the proper key strokes.

so deal with the fuck ups. deal with my misspells. fuck it. if you want to give me $2000 i'll buy a fuckin MAC BUT until than you can deal with all the shit that comes from a PC user struggling in unknown territory.... FYI - MACs are NOT easier.. or cooler...well maybe the commercials are.

So not sure if you're aware but I work at a bar. yep. i work Mon to Fri at NXNE and than I work at a bar. s'alright I guess. we're all friends. money's cool. music 90% solid.  

you know what - fuck it. Now's not the time to write this shit. 'll be back. suffice it to say Lindsey has the best dog voice. Bailey is the smartest dog. and it's 4am and I'm knackered.

South By Southwest 2008

It's year two for me. For my Texas hangovers. For my 5 day straight adrenaline rush. For meeting more people than humanly possible to remember. For the most bands in the least amount of time maximized to the most amount of fun.

It's SXSW guys. where greg keeler shares a picnic bench with you. Michael Stipe chats with you in the crowd. REM play to 1500 people AND YOU'RE ONE OF THEM. tom morello plays to you and a few mates. perry farrell makes a come back. you discover The wombats are NOT just an furry little creature and the next big thing is staying in the hotel room beside you.

it's parties and bands till 4am. debauchery - drunken tattoos - stimulating conversation -networking - beer - BBQ - tex mex and a little bit of home. Austin has single handedly created the ideal of the "perfect" city for a festival. the streets are crammed with burrito / taco stands, pubs, bars and patios, friendly austinian pedestrians. it's a haven really. the little blue dot in a sea of red.

cause let's not forget folks it's still Texas. heart of the south and of George Bush [who thank god can no longer run as president because the american people voted him in AGAIN and he's used up all his terms.

fuck. that sucks. doesn't it though. pfft.

OH MY GOD Part Deux

hmmmm...so i'm sober now. which means that my continuation to the previous post will probably end up somewhat stale..lacking in vibrant humour and quite possibly tedious.

BUT never the less i will finish what i foolish started in the wee hours in the morning in between managing my WORK EMAILS. who does that at 2am...someone who has nightmares of that inbox filling up..overflowing...spewing negotiations, critiques, favours, spam, politics and the odd invite to a partay or show.

so that leaves me at 2am...trying to erase all the "unreads" clean it up so i can go to sleep somewhat at ease..knowing that for a brief moment in time i AM ON TOP of things. well - at least i know i am. if there's one thing i've learned...de-nile is not just a river in Egypt my friend. It is a highly medicinal addictive drug.

So anyways...it's like a week later. I'm over whatever the end of that mission was. and now i'm live blogging from a tradeshow booth we have set up at SXSW.

OH MY GOD

tonight i ran a mission..not like tom cruise where i've got a hot chick bikini clad pretending not to swoon over me. it was a mission of honour. of love and respect. a mission of a friendship that has been stoked in the fires of loyalty.

tonight i left work to forgo all my plans and earthly pleasures and set out to accomplish the most embarrassing and monumentous feat known to man!! i received a call from my friend Tiffany saying she needed some CDs and she needed them STAT. SO - while i'm trying to send out a graphic for a laminate to be made for SXSW AND trying to update a mail out that's going to happen [by the way coordinating with our graphics who is so swamped i cringe every time i pick up the phone to call on him to do "just one more thing for me"] i get her frantic call close on the heels on what will apparently be the friggin acopolypse if i don't make this shit happen. so - i boot it out of the office [AFTER work hours thank you very much] and RUN all the way from church and shuter to Yonge and Edward. i am out of breath. i am carrying a laptop. i have a fuckin bowling bag of shit smacking against my hip. i am NOT in running shoes and it IS WINTER. there is slush [now strategically placed alongside my backside from attempting to - miserably - hurdle slush puddles] and cold and snow and ughh.

so i'm running - yes folks running..which i only do for buses in sub zero temps and sample sales. i haul ass to the Future Shop on Yonge and to my mortification i have to buy Anne Murray, Bryan Adams and Michael Buble. F.U.C.K.M.E.

do u know what that's like. having to ask the dude to see what he has in stock because u have 24 minutes to get this shit and get it to the Royal York?! No? I didn't think so. let's put it this way - when he said "which album do you prefer" i said i'd prefer to shove this shit up someone's ass and never have to see it again - but i can't so just give me whatever the fuck is there so i can pay for it and pretend that my willingness to step into torture NEVER HAPPENED.

[alright let's be real here - i didn't really mean that for Bryan Adams. that guy has anthems spewing out of his ass he's so on top of what his audience and wants....and i'm the same age as his would be grandchildren and I'D STILL GO SEE HIM LIVE]

phew..need to sleep will finish later.

The Kooks

"Won't you come on over to my side of the sofa...they tried to take your soul but didn't realize you keep it in a different hole..."
Above: a classic example of the depth to these lads lyrics wrapped in typical britpop with a funk /Specials vibe to top it off.

Well I can definitely say that out of all the girls screaming for their boyish good looks, UK wit and skin tight jeans there were four that made a definite impression. It might have been their discussion in the bathroom about "I can't believe ALL these people know about them!!" [FYI - ladies they sold out the fuckin Koolhaus last year...I can't believe YOU DIDN'T know them THEN]

OR

It could have been their obnoxious screaming and slutty gyrating

OR

the bouncing on each other's shoulders directly in front of the band screaming and pointing at their breasts. Okay, so they might have had something like I [heart] The Kooks or whatever printed on their Ts but regardless.. they were pointing at THEIR BOOBS. COME ON. If you want to fuck them go to the door of the dressing room. It's just up the stairs. blow the bouncer if you have to. It's the Mod Club not the fuckin Ritz.

Beyond the decidedly frat house feel to the room, the confusion at the door and an opening band who's lead guy was - I SWEAR - Brandon Flowers' doppleganger.....sorry boys, guess you'll never tour with The Killers [I'll be fair and say they were good...great stage presence, solid tunes, blah blah...but when you channel Flowers persona and Weiland's twitches you don't necessarily come up with a good thing.] the show well worth the subzero walk and wipe out it took to get there.

Moving On.

The Kooks: saying that they rocked=redundant. Saying the show was perfect=redundant. saying they have style=redundant. The Kooks are the culmination of everything great and inspired that comes out of the UK. They are the hook, the voice, the moves, the hair, the clothes, the slang, the accent, the charm, the indifference, the riff, the jingle and the catch phrase They are the personification what England does best.

They make you dance and sing [and not just the ladies] and they are musical darlings. A favourite part of the night for me was when the acoustic set finished and some dude in the crowd shouts:

[dude] "Play Ohh La"

[Kooks dude] "We already played that man - were you not listenin'?" insert British accent and laughter.

[crowd] hysterics.

and THIS is why The Kooks are brilliant. If this is what you can expect from a random strut down the street and an impromptu visit to a local school - just IMAGINE what you can get on stage with a full band and 10x the fans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8DRxQATErY

EXACTLY.

this is a vent...that's right..i've got SHIT to say

SO normally I try and be professional and give people the benefit of the doubt. So when i heard shit about a certain promoter at RMS I backed her up. Ya know, it's hard to be a chick in the industry and I know that sometimes you have to have a thick skin..you need to be firm and aggressive - i get it. shit happens. whatever.

BUT if your people can't get their shit together DO NOT place the inefficiencies on me. i am NOT your punching bag. I am not your therapist and I am not your Prozac. Don't give me your shit. I am NOT your problem. If you have self-esteem issues or you've been screwed or fucked or apparently NOT FUCKED [in a very very long time] than you need to deal with these things because really...rotting from the inside out is not recommended. ask your doctor. sure he's all about apples but c'mon..rotting from the inside? - can't be good.

SO..Monday night. I'm on my way to The Kooks. First off - I love The Kooks. Last time I saw them was at The Koolhaus. Awesome. Sold Out. Had just come from the Steam Whistle Brewery. a little drunk. not gonna lie.

**[insert random thought: my friend Claire is really nice..so is Chris Budd..but not as nice...kinda as nice..pseudo nice..nice guy..oxymoron? hmmm. guy=nice=possible? hmmm.]**

Back again.

The Kooks. Mod Club. saw them before. awesome.redundant. Just sayin. So let's get back to the drama of the evening. oh wait. where was I...right

so apparently the Kooks is a recipe for drama. last time we saw them some chick was so wasted she annihilated my foot to the point where I was making my way to her to "speak my mind" maybe even show her the offended foot and make her kiss it. who knows. Chris pulled me back.bought me a beer. said it wasn't worth it. and it turns out it wasn't cause she got in a scrap with some dude and got kicked out of the show.

like seriously. a mosh pit. at THE KOOKS. COME ON.

so. true to form we are at another Kooks show and there is another moment of drama. this time with a promoter who is such a hot head she doesn't even take into account mis-communication OR the random everyday fuck ups that occur when "guest list" is involved. She totally sccuses us of fucking with her list and manipulating her staff. Even though we each had either a ticket or guestlist.

I have friends.

YES I HAVE FRIENDS. some of whom can make things happen. Like concert tickets. I personally am not a conduit of action BUT sometimes people like me enough to do nice things for me like get me tickets to concerts that I LOVE!! as I am one of the people that appreciate this. return the favour. AND NEVER abuse a kind gesture or generous offer I'm pretty sure I'm kosher with most peeps on this account. Now I'll admit I was nervous that the tickets weren't actually going to be at the door. that this had all happened in my head - in my own little world of fantasy and make believe.

BUT.

Turns out after all my neurosis and self-doubt and pessimism the tickets were there for me. As well my friend had her name on the list. BUT before we could explain ANYTHING the girl at the door made assumptions.

NOW. the saying.."to assume makes and ass out you and me" does not come from just anywhere. and when one assumes you really do open yourself up to a lot of shit. if there's one piece of advice i can pass along. it's ALWAYS get both sides of the story.

Your chick at the door may not be able to handle SEVEN DIFFERENT GUESTS LISTS. You coming to the door and making changes may fuck her up. too many people at the door may push her into a frenzy. AGAIN. shit happens.

So the girl at the door scanned both my tickets before giving me an opportunity to explain that one was supposed to be left at the door for someone on their way and that IN FACT the girl I was with had her name under the promoter's very own guest list. For those of you that frequent concerts I'm sure you're aware that once a ticket is scanned YOU CAN'T LEAVE IT for pick up ANYMORE. FUCK. After much confusion over who had what and who's name was where, we were under the impression everything was fine. Apparently one cannot be sure when dealing with a "promoter" who is female and takes the term "grow some balls" literally.

So after she [RMS] assumes we are trying to "manipulate" her guest list [not the case..WE HAD A TICKET] insults a previous business partner / friend, another innocent and someone she doesn't EVEN NOW - she threatens to throw them out. She gives them shit and basically loses whatever self-respect she had left by totally undermining the relationship she had in an effort to assert her "power" and influence.

WHO THE FUCK does that. Are we twelve. NO . apparently we're immature, insecure, self righteous ego maniacs that have a chip the size of a boulder on our shoulder.

Regardless of the abuse we had to endure - the show - although soured slightly - ROCKED. but i'm drained so more will come later.

I'm re-posting cause I can..without the links..can't be aksed really

Cock Rock @ it's FINEST!

Imagine you're born in 81. All you get is a tease of the greatness of the 80s - the Glam, The Crotch, leather, bandannas and scarves on mic stands.

Fast Forward. past drunken nights screaming Bon Jovi on the dance floor and Sweet Child of Mine in the shower. Welcome to Wednesday November 15th downtown, Toronto. 2006.

Our heroine - Gillian - mission - attend G 'N' R - goal - survive. So what do you do? you buy the hottest red pumps and you work it.

Recipie for success: exit cab @ ACC, pick up tix and complimentary "wanna fuck" passes [backstage], sneak camera into show, stock up on ridiculously over-priced booze and hit Row 2 side stage AKA best seats in the house! Courtesy of hot new keyboardist Dizzy. Don't forget the bathroom and bar [key ingredients] are a mere few feet behind you.

At some point in the evening you will encounter your own Almost Famous moments - in fact you're gonna star in your own version. It'll start when Dell [tour mgr] comes and escorts you backstage, through the underbelly of the touring machine - followed by a visit by mother nature on the G 'N' R tour bus and a perfectly chilled bottle of Jager. Skull it !

Be prepared for paparazzi upon returning to your seat - apparently just coming from backstage warrants some fame. Say Cheese! Now u rock out to Die Mannequin, are titillated by the Suicide Girls Burlesque and get revved when the operatic vox of Sebastian Bach belt out good ol' Skid Row. Throw in some Tralier Park Boys crashing Monkey Business and you got the beginning of one very fine evening!

and now the grand finale GUNS and ROSES - including braided dreadlocks from the man himself. They rocked hard, vocals pitch perfect [can Axle and pitch be used together?] and played till 1:30am. that's right folks - no lights - nothing, just joints bein passed and drunken frat boys being thrown out. You share a huge grin the with dude behind ya [thinks you're hot by the way ;) ]
- look out at the bikers, cougars, white trash, rebellious teens, slutty chicks and think to yourself - YEAH BABY I'm HOME!! So head bang your way to the end of the night cause it's After Party Time. [but first you have to break a bathroom door handle, get locked in and than jimmy your way out and than take the handle home with you - all in good fun of course]

After Party: Free food, Free booze - secret location, alley entrance EVERY FREAKIN BAND MEMBER SHOWS - photos but none of Axle - he's shy you know ; ) you laugh, have a drink, share a story and next thing you know it's 5am. The night has been surreal. It was ol' Skool rock at it's finest. Tits & Ass, booze, leather and late nites. It was perfect!

"BZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz" What that F*ck - oh that's your alarm. It's 9am - time for work SUCKA!

disclaimer: SOME people thought this was a dream..so i'm not a good writer - whatevs. it fuckin happened.

Saturday Night and Sunday Morning = one crazy night

Saturday began with a mission to get from my place to my friend pot luck birthday partay..

i was bringing garlic bread - now I can cook..don't get me wrong - but I am broke and was tired and had no time so garlic bread it was.

Turns out that was the best thing I could have done..there was homemade pizza, crazy squash pasta dish, soups, desserts, quiche, etc and ALL ranging from the veggies to the vegans to the rest of us that embrace the viciousness of the human being and EAT MEAT. That's right I'm a carnivore and I make no apologies..I like my steak medium rare..bloody..sitting in a pool of flavour country fat.

moving on.

We eat, get sloshed, some get high, continue to get sloshed than decide to hit up Tattoo. Why? WHY?!! Why is an excellent fuckin question. My friends hit up some posh space for Winterlicious and due to some out-of-towners we were limited in where to go to keep everyone "happy". So they decide on Tattoo..can I just say a-fucking-men for the glory that is guest list. Seriously.

We got there by 11 at the latest and the line-up was ridiculous. RIDICULOUS. Apparently this is the case for every Friday and Saturday.. I can say it's definitely not the case for Thursdays cause Nav was spinning there on a Thursday so I went to show a little love. No line, minimum crowd and Edwin on bar...wasn't he in a band or something...

kidding...I heart I Mother Earth..they're nostalgic and part of my youth.

Moving on - we get there - line bypass cause that's how we roll [oh god no we don't] and walk into the crowded, sweaty, cesspool of hormones, jocks and various stages of SUPREME intoxication. Within 5 minutes I can't wait to up my state of inebriation, down my level of sobriety and increase the shame I'm sure to incur later that night cause as it stands now wasted is the ONLY way I'll make it.

***is this alcoholic talk..folks if you have a problem step up and take charge...I may join you..after I finish this beer***

So one girl we were with knew a dude from a previous job and turned out he was affiliated with the Tai Domi crew...sooo... 5 seconds into the door and we are VIP...NOW THAT my friends IS how we roll..

note: I can't actually plan this shit - it just happens...."who knows where thoughts come from - they just appear..." yeah I love that movie SO WHAT.

moving along..slowly I know - deal. So this is our night...preppy yuppies hitting up the bottle service, jocks pseudo head-banging to - WAIT FOR IT - Paranoid by Black Sabbath..WOW big surprise on that playlist..The night thins out, the crowd wanes and my level of consciousness starts to slip into blissful oblivion when the shame-o-meter hits high gauge. I see a guy..think I must be looking pretty good cause he's way wasted so decide to be all "hey look at me I'm hot and cute" - NO not Kimber [Nip Tuck..yeah she was there - lots of fake'n'bake, fake tits and hair, etc etc.] "Why don't you let me just take a sip from your drink" and he's all "What is this a charity?" [asshole] So I respond......."My drink is taking too long but don't worry I'm OVER IT"

Yep folks..lame lame lame...and if that isn't a deterrent for drinking I don't know what is.

So there's four of us left and we hit the street and apparently we are NOT taxi material as 3 go by...FYI it was effin cold you mutha fuckers. So a nice streetcar [after much pleading] stops in front of Tattoo and lets us on..SAWEET. So sweet that I went the opposite direction of where I actually needed to be.

The finale to my evening - 10 different texts to see who the fuck was still up and partying at 3am. Turns out Brad was doing just fine to I went to his place where I insisted that I needed to learn guitar. EVERY chord..I think I made it through 3 before I gave up. See I have these nails and they're a pain [which I will soon rectify since I just got a guitar] Now it's 4am and we all know that no one in their right mind is in bed at 4am on a Saturday/Sunday so we continue on with the wine [I'm pretty sure I inhaled every form of booze under the sun that night] and watched the most AMAZING DOCUMENTARY I HAVE EVER SEEN. It was Blind Melon and the footage was awesome! Best way to end a random ridiculous "How does this shit happen" type night.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6N2ahiC3KM

see the kinda shit I put up with..pfft...

Misel says:

hey...just fuckin submitted this damn proposal! I WANT TO THROW MY FUCKIN COMPUTER IN THE FUCKIN SNOW! I FUCKIN HATE SCHOOL...yet I am going to be a FUCKIN TEACHER! FUCKIN FUCK ME!
Would FUCKIN LOVE to see you one of these FUCKIN days!
What's your FUCKIN schedule like?
love you so FUCKIN much! x


I say:

bahahahaha

well i dont know what to FUCKIN say to that except it's good that my work email doesn't screen...nerd

if you can come out tonight my friend Raymi has an art show at the Crooked Star by my house..sadly i'm workin all weekend at the bar..


Misel says:

hey, ya i got that email/fb msg...not too sure if i will make it...maybe...plan on doing some hot yoga...i'll give you a shout later...x


I say:

okey dokey

FYI

that message was a little tame


Misel says:

well the first msg i was letting off HEAPS of steam, i messaged you right after i submitted it...lucky you! i am feeling a little better now. x


*so there you have..how I procrastinate at work..hopefully the next time a post a convo with someone it'll be interesting*

----------------
Now playing: Beach Boys - Wouldnt it be nice
via FoxyTunes

alright - so where were we...oh yes..

So the list of Q107 top 50 vocalists...now it's a good thing I talk out my emotions before I explode all over the net..well I'm going to spread my verbal diarrhea anyways BUT the key thing is that I did take the advice momma gave me WAY back and I took a moment to think about what I had to say..

yes kids - you do start to appreciate what you're parents drilled into your head when you were in your "I know everything phase and you still wear spandex so what do u know" phase... whoops .. spandex .. American Apparel...neon...OH MY GOD - my parents WERE cool... and there goes my fragile psyche crumbling to the ground.

thanks a lot you Pat Benatar Olivia Newton John workout clothes ARE NOT meant for the street American Apparel obsessed I think I have my own style even though I look like everyone else assholes.

YOU just made my parents COOL. oh and FYI - contrary to popular belief spandex is NOT for everyone and one cannot be trendy if it doesn't look good on you. Remember kids - trendy isn't just what you wear - it's how you wear it. There is room for faux pas but for godssake if it don't look good...it don't look good.

now where the fuck was I [ btw - I forgot to think about all that before I wrote it down..c'est la vie]

right - Q107's top 50 vocalists...just to reiterate:

*say what you will but this is MY preference based on nothing and everything. I'm not a critic. I'm not a musician. i don't profess to know the inner workings of a great voice or personality. I may be influenced by variables such as attraction, , style, genre, hormones, etc - I might even be slightly more drawn to those on the list that I would fuck. BUT I do love music. It's the soundtrack to my coffee in the morning, my walk through the streets of downtown, to the book I read in the corner cafe and my dreams at night [when I'm sober enough to have them] so take from it what you want. It's not really there for you to care for anyways*

So here's my list - and yes I know Q107 is for classic rock blah blah blah..so I've morphed it a bit..whatever..this is it...Prepare critics. It's not in a particular order as that would change based on my mood. Let's be honest here....it's not even final - it's always changing...to say "I've narrowed down the Top anything is RIDICULOUS..but whatever - I've given it a try.

NOTE: This list will probably change in my head a million times.

Elton John
Freddie Mercury
Shannon Hoon
Jim Morrison
David Bowie
Bono
Johnny Cash
Sting
Etta James
Ray Charles
Ray Davies
Amanda Palmer
Nick Cave
The Beatles
Roger Daltry
Don Henley
Mick Jagger
Van Morrison
Janis Joplin
Bon Scott
Steven Tyler
Paul Rodgers
Eric Clapton
Rod Stewart
Bruce Springsteen
Pete Townsend
Stevie Nicks
Peter Gabriel
Phil Collins
Roger Waters
John Fogerty
Neil Young
Bob Dylan
Steve Winwood
Jon Bon Jovi
Roger Hodgson
Alice Cooper
Ozzy Osbourne
Eric Burdon
Axl Rose
Lane Staley
Scott Weiland
Annie Lennox
Aretha Franklin
Billy Holiday
Elvis Presley
Feist
Damon Albarn
Ian Curtis

Steam Whistle Unsigned follow up ...I'm sorry...yeah who?

STEAM WHISTLE UNSIGNED INDIE MUSIC SERIES

Friday night, the Steam Whistle "Unsigned" series presented three hot bands: we are the take, Grand Analog, and Major Maker. The crowd at T.O.'s coolest brewery soaked up the great indie music, lubricated with refreshing Steam Whistle suds. The only mystery is why these guys aren't signed.


we are the take
First up was we are the take--a rare combination of intricate, subtle vocals laid over top of hard-driving guitars, keys, bass & drums. Frontmen Erik Alcock and Craig Stickland pulled off their harmonies beautifully--not easily done while rockin' the house live. The tunes were alternately catchy and intense, with Andrew Hobbs and Stephan Szczesniak putting down great grooves on bass and drums throughout. Check out these boys' myspace site for a glimpse at the old-school/literary influences they bring to their music. Impressive stuff.

Photography By: Phil Ogynist


Grand Analog
Where would you go for dance hall and hip hop? Where else, for a marriage of the two? Jamaica, Barbados... hmmm... close, but after last Friday I'd put my money on Winterpeg. Grand Analog launched itself from the Peg into the Toronto indie scene and cemented its rep with a phenomenal show at Steam Whistle. With Odario on the mike and Warren [see Empire Records for the reason why I will NEVER forget this guy's name!] on the bass, Darcy Ataman, Damon Mitchell, Ofield K. Williams, DJ Catalist, B-Boy Breakz and Arun Chaturved--this crew threw the crowd into a gyrating frenzy for their entire set. Pourquoi est-ce le band unsignee?

Photography By: Phil Ogynist


Major Maker
Once again, a group of guys have collaborated to create a reason to be proud of Toronto. Todor Kobakov and Lindy Vopnfjord may not originate in T.O., but since arriving and forming Major Maker, they have captured our hearts and souls with their infectious pop/rock. With fellow musicians Ian, Thom, & John, Major Maker has taken indie music, flipped it upside down and ruffled the industry's feathers. I mean, what other excuse is there for why these guys ARE NOT SIGNED. COME ON, ye "powers" that be--how much more do you need before the blinders come off and you see the talent flaunting itself right in FRONT of you!

Photography By: Phil Ogynist

Q107 Top 50 Vocalists

1. Robert Plant
2. Freddie Mercury
3. John Lennon
4. Roger Daltrey
5. David Gilmour
6. Jim Morrison
7. Paul McCartney
8. Elton John
9. David Bowie
10. Bono
11. Burton Cummings
12. Don Henley
13. Mick Jagger
14. Van Morrison
15. Janis Joplin
16. Bon Scott
17. Sting
18. Steven Tyler
19. Joe Cocker
20. Paul Rodgers
21. Eric Clapton
22. Rod Stewart
23. Brian Johnson
24. Bruce Springsteen
25. David Crosby
26. Pete Townshend
27. Stevie Nicks
28. Ian Gillian
29. Geddy Lee
30. Peter Gabriel
31. Stephen Stills
32. Roger Waters
33. John Fogerty
34. Jon Anderson
35. Neil Young
36. George Harrison
37. Meat Loaf
38. Greg Lake
39. David Lee Roth
40. Bob Dylan
41. Steve Winwood
42. Jon Bon Jovi
43. Roger Hodgson
44. Gregg Allman
45. Ann Wilson
46. Phil Collins
47. Alice Cooper
48. Eric Burdon
49. Axl Rose
50. Brad Delp

MY LIST

*say what you will but this is MY preference based on nothing and everything. I'm not a critic. I'm not a musician. i don't profess to know the inner workings of a great voice or personality. I may be influenced by variables such as attraction, , style, genre, hormones, etc - I might even be slightly more drawn to those on the list that I would fuck. BUT I do love music. It's the soundtrack to my coffee in the morning, my walk through the streets of downtown, to the book I read in the corner cafe and my dreams at night [when I'm sober enough to have them] so take from it what you want. Its not really there for you to care for anyways*

break here - i was gonna do my list but i'm tired. so i will deliberate and come back. not that anyone is reading this

anyways.

...what CBGBs failed to achieve...

With the words “Every dog has it’s day” one of the greatest Canadian bands went from struggling bar band to DETERMINED struggling bar band. Where once the doors of opportunity closed behind The Sadies we witnessed last night one of the greatest moments in Canadian Music History - A collision of 60 years worth of commitment to talent, passion and a great pint of beer.

The 60^th Anniversary of The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern marked the success of what CBGBs failed to achieve. An institution that has land marked musical history time and time again.

Last night staff, fans, industry and friends of The Shoe gathered for unlimited 50, commemorative beer steins and a subtle reminder that it isn’t the corporate sponsors, or the H&M down the street or the new café on the corner that keep Queen West from going belly under in a trend filtered, buzz induced, culture coma. photo by Phil Ogynist

It’s venues like The Shoe that have served up year after year fine musical dining. From the Rolling Stones to The Tragically Hip and every indie buzz band in between.

Let’s paint a picture of what you little people missed Thursday night shall we?

Imagine your high school prom but done up by someone NOT your grandmother. Endearing in design the Shoe was swathed in red and gold with balloons smothering every inch of ceiling. Our lovely Daria is doing the door and greets everyone warmly. There’s a STACK of commemorative 60^th Anniversary beer steins for each guest to take home with them [I took 2 – not gonna lie]. There’s unlimited 50 on tap AND in the BOTTLE. [Draft = no good. Always.] Food trays are circling shrimp and sushi heaven and top it all off – miracle of ALL miracles...there’s friggin coat check.

Did I mention that this is only the beginning? Now I know EVERYONE and their mother has seen The Sadies bring the house down. Some of you more so. Well Thursday was no exception. First up are The Sadies with The Skydiggers – legends people ROCK LEGENDS. Than Mom and Pops Good hop on stage and show us young folk that age my friend is a state of mind and that if I can rock out half as much or look half as good when I get older than there is hope in this world after all !

Next up Greg Keeler of – wait for it – BLUE RODEO jumps on stage and launches straight into a kinks cover that has the dance floor writhing with bodies packed at the front of the stage. The man has class and panache all wrapped in a fine tuned package of pitch perfect vocals. To go from dancing in the basement to Casino when I was a kid to standing at The Shoe..2 feet away from an influential part of my youth is surreal to me. Thank you Greg.

“That night in Toronto…with its checkerboard floors…” [Musical interlude for unavoidable schmoozing]

After a quick break of nicotine satisfaction and a quick pit stop at the bar, I’m steady balancing 2 pints and 3 bottles while winding my way to the front where I’ve scored what will turn out to be the best seats in the house when Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip makes a surprise appearance.

After a blistering rendition of The Stooges Search and Destroy, Downie settles in for a flawless set that sets the ladies screaming and the guys pumping their fists. Already this night has become one of legend. The few of us pressed to the stage can not comprehend exactly what is transpiring. What we do know is that this was definitely the night to haul ass and make it out – regardless of the fact that you’re hungover from the night before and the night before that.

Have I mentioned yet that one of the best things about The Shoe is its bar staff. If a venue plans to stick around for longer than leg warmers and teased hair it has to have more than a sound system and great beer on tap. It needs a staff that can make you feel at home and tell you to fuck off in one breath. It’s kinda like Cheers but without the cheesy show tune them song and brutal décor.

The last act to hit the stage is The Waco Brothers – a definite favourite off Jeff Cohen. Closing the night with humour and timeless guitar riffs is what The Waco’s do best and Thursday was no exception. Thank you boys – for pumping us up just to walk off stage leaving us hungry for more.

Thanks to the staff for making the Shoe what it is today. Thanks for taking all the jaded, self-centered, egotistical, money driven “industry types” and kicking some passion and respect for music back into their lives. Thanks to the fans that left any pretensions at the door and spent the night rockin the dance floor. Thanks to Steve McLean for showing us ALL up in a smoking Elvis Outfit – not everyone can pull off turquoise my friend but you did it with class. Thank you to Craig and Jeff for letting the taps run free ALL night and for bringing phenomenal programming day after day to us little people. Thank you to the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern for keeping our secrets, holding us up when the beer was bringing us down and for giving us a place where we can squeeze into rickety tables and soak up new and treasured music alike.

And most important – Thank you for one of the best hangovers I have EVER had the pleasure to endure.

What is Music Therapy?

Music therapy is a method of treatment used by qualified therapists to help people cope more effectively with their lives and with their difficulties. It is widely used in the assessment and treatment of children and adults.

Music therapists use the power of music to bring creative opportunities to people of all ages with special needs.

The goal of music therapy is to develop the potential of each person involved, rather than to promote musical ability.

Music therapy can empower those with special needs!

Music therapy can indeed make a difference!

Why Use Music?

We all know the power of music – how a song can bring back memories, or lift our mood on a bad day. Music can stimulate communication, relieve stress, provide motivation, and allow for spiritual expression.

It should then be no surprise that music can also help soothe, heal, and renew us when we face illness or disability.

The ability and need to respond to music seems to be innate; it does not depend on musical talent or training, and usually remains unimpaired by mental health problems, physical or mental trauma, or disease. This gives music a power, unique among the therapeutic media, to engage and sustain the attention of people and, in the hands of a trained therapist, to relieve a variety of distress.

We respond to music because we are rhythmic, we make melody, and we strive for harmony.

Who Can Benefit from Music Therapy?

Children with special mental, physical, or emotional needs

Children with communication difficulties

Children with developmental delays

At-risk youth

People with brain injuries

Elderly people, living at home or in special facilities

Adults with mental illness or neurological challenges

Those in palliative or hospice care

People who have been traumatized by life’s events

About the Canadian Music Therapy Trust Fund

The Canadian Music Therapy Trust Fund is a bold, non-profit initiative designed to integrate, educate, celebrate, and promote all facets of music therapy in Canada. We have been fortunate to have many volunteers working to support our endeavours to provide services to those in hospitals, clinics, and special schools.

Since 1996, with the help of the Canadian music industry, the Trust Fund has been able to distribute over 3 million dollars to over 300 projects, from coast to coast.

These projects range from hospices for terminally ill people with cancer or HIV/AIDS, to centres for the aged, to schools for children who are autistic, physically, or mentally challenged, to programs for street kids. The Trust Fund has also enabled programs for people with brain injuries, victims of sexual abuse, suicidal teens, and people who are isolated by psychiatric problems.

Music therapy is not covered by provincial health programs or insurance. While the recognition of the benefits of music therapy grows within the medical community, cuts in healthcare funding mean few facilities are able to offer music therapy programs. As a result, the work of the Canadian Music Therapy Trust Fund is vital.

How You Can Help

A donation of:

$100 provides a home music therapy session for someone isolated or in pain

$150 funds a morning in a home for seniors

$500 enables a child with special needs to participate in a music therapy group or have two weeks at a music therapy camp

$1000 will purchase instruments for a project

$10,000 can put a therapist in a facility for 1 day per week for 1 year

For more information on donations, music therapy, or other opportunities to get involved, please visit our website www.musictherapytrust.ca or contact us at our Toronto office.

“I regard music therapy as a tool of great power in many neurological disorders….Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s …. because of the unique capacity to organize or reorganize cerebral function when it has been damaged.”

- Oliver Sacks, M.D., Professor of Neurology, author of “Awakenings” and “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat”

“Music has been used for entertainment for so long, people forget it’s a powerful medicine.”

-Mick Hart, drummer, the Grateful Dead

“I have personally seen how music can transform and enhance recovery and bring joy on difficult days. As a musician it feels like the logical extension of all that we work for. You work so hard to make a connection with your music and this is music making the most important connection it can possibly make.”

- Craig Northey, The ODDS, Colin James Band

“The Canadian Music Therapy Trust Fund is an amazing cause…I have always been proud to support it.”

– Tom Cochrane

9 - 5

excel - project management - MGMT - who's who, what, why, where? this is where i need to be ..who i want to be..

huh.

not philosophical - just sayin - what if i had balls..big ones..HARD ones - 2 of them please - balls on the bottom and on the top - is that what we call the "testosterone" wet dream? if i had balls would my brain be bigger? would my worth increase in value - would you find me intimidating? what impression would you get..hmmm...

pull back the blanket when you bury me - i'm out - done - if you can't see the green..my shoot..if you don't know, i won't enlighten you cause that's not my job. take the propaganda - YOUR BALLS - walk away - cut them off..cause you never used them anyways. EUNICH.

Can I quote u? one for the Times if you please. can I fill the gap between your lips with shit and bias..oh wait..is that cock already there? are you full? - have you gorged yourself on conceit and propensity - tell me are the wheels spinning round and round and round - am i your wheel..paper or plastic please. fries or rings? i choose rings. ring-a-lo's...is that right? i would place them on each finger - lick and suck them dry..drain them...clench down and demolish what was left - training maybe? early sex ed?

no teeth please.

UNSIGNED – An Indie Concert Series at the Roundhouse!

Steam Whistle Supports Independent Music Through

Toronto, ON, January 9, 2008 - Steam Whistle Brewing presents UNSIGNED, the fifth in a series of Indie music concerts taking place at the Roundhouse on Friday, January 25 2008. The edition and is presented in conjunction with the North by NorthEast Music and Film Festival. The concert will feature the Canadian independent bands Major Maker, Grand Analog and We Are The Take, plus the crew from OPOPO dropping tunes between sets.

Steam Whistle UNSIGNED is a concert series that exhibits Canada’s musical talent, as well as helping to develop its future. Each edition of UNSIGNED features three Canadian artists and a DJ, with 100% of ticket sales from each show going to the Artists’ Health Centre Foundation. The timing of this instalment was scheduled to bring attention to the NXNE submission deadline of January 31^st. To bring these events together, Steam Whistle is teaming up with Pandor Productions, NOW Magazine, Gibson Guitars and NXNE.

“14 years ago, when Indie was not yet fully formed as a State of Music, NXNE launched it's first event from the streets and clubs of Toronto. Believing that new and emerging talent needed a chance to be heard, NXNE was built by music fans for music fans. Today, our passion for independent music remains the same, and we're thrilled to support of the Unsigned Music Series.” -Andy McLean, Managing Director of NXNE.

Tickets are $5 at the door. Doors open at 8pm. For more information, check out our website www.steamwhistle.ca/unsigned, email indiemusic@steamwhistle.ca or visit UNSIGNED’s facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2253827987

About the Bands:

Major Maker

Riding a wave of popularity following the release of their EP People Mover, featuring the catchy hooks of Rollercoaster and Talk to You, Major Maker is blazing up both the independent and mainstream music charts. Comprised of Todor Kobakov and Lindy Vopnfjord, two established musicians in their own right coming together to compliment each others’ styles. Bulgarian-born Kobakov is a classically trained composer with a degree in performance piano from The University of Toronto. Recent projects include string arrangements for Stars, Metric, Emily Haines, Jason Collett, and Sarah Slean, as well as touring duties for both Emily Haines and Small Sins. Lindy is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter with three solo albums under his belt, a penchant for killer hooks, and a well earned reputation as a commanding live performer. Major Maker's live sound is augmented with the additions of bassist Thom D'Arcy (Small Sins) guitarist Ian LeFeuvre (Starling, Jim Bryson) and drummer John Ocerbian (Sarah Harmer).

www.myspace.com/majormaker

www.majormaker.com

Grand Analog

Grand Analog is unbalanced and dirty; never clean. Grand Analog is fuzzy with three coats of dust and reads like an old manual no longer in use. The music is a beautiful mess of rap'n'roll dub and soul; a hip hop slop shop of times good and bad. UNSIGNED is excited to have Grand Analog bring their hybrid musical styling to the stage. The sounds they are creating have even been recognized by the renowned hip-hop heads at Okayplayer:

“To most of us, Winnipeg, Manitoba seems as unlikely a place as any to generate a superb hip hop album, but that is exactly what has just happened. Grand Analog, a collective of hip hop artists hailing from “Peg City,” (with a couple Torontonians in tow), has just released its debut, Calligraffiti. It’s a beast. . . Calligraffiti is stocked with some of the thickest, sweatiest beats you’ll ever want your ears to drudge through. . . Bottom-line, Grand Analog is about to heat up Canada faster than Bush’s environmental policy.” (Okayplayer.com)

www.myspace.com/grandanalog

We Are The Take

Take one singer/guitarist with a penchant for writing songs with catchy, danceable rock melodies combined with heart-wrenching lyrics; add a young singer/guitarist with a bent for upbeat pop songs filled with wry observations; throw-in a world-class drummer with years of studio and road experience that included one major highway crash and a resulting broken back; and lastly garnish with a brash bassist who lays down a thundering foundation. Together you have WE ARE THE TAKE.

With a string of successful shows in the their pocket and a recent win at the International Songwriting Competition in the Performance Category (for “Montreal Love Song”), the band won the attention of 3-time Grammy Award-winning producer/mixer David Bottrill (Tool, Peter Gabriel, Muse). With Bottrill producing and recording underway on their first record, WATT has their eyes firmly fixed on what their listeners expect will be a very bright future.

www.myspace.com/wearethetakeband

About Steam Whistle

Steam Whistle, an independent brewery housed in Toronto’s historic John St. Roundhouse south of the CN Tower, has a singular focus of making just one beer of exceptional quality that Canadians can be proud of. They brew their refreshing Pilsner with traditional brewing methods and only four, natural ingredients. Steam Whistle Pilsner is packaged in signature green glass bottles and shipped fresh across Alberta and Ontario to Beer and Liquor Stores as well as licensed bars & restaurants. Steam Whistle welcomes more than 60,000 visitors to the Roundhouse each year to the on-site retail store, for a tour or to attend one of the many on-site events and art shows. They are proud of their indie music sponsorships, fostering great Canadian talent wherever they can.

To learn more about what they do really, really well visit www.steamwhistle.ca

About North By NorthEast

North by Northeast Music & Film Festival and Conference, June 12-15, 2008: Canada's #1 festival for the best new independent music and music-related films . Musicians & filmmakers: Don't miss the chance to showcase for 70,000 fans at the event of the year. 500 local, national and international artists rock the crowds and play for media and key industry pros at over 50 downtown venues. NXNE also screens great music-related films from around the globe—concert classics to indie docs, past & present. Applying to NXNE is cheap and easy: Just visit www.nxne.com and follow the links. Don't wait—submissions close January 31!

About the Artists’ Health Centre Foundation

The Artists’ Health Centre Foundation (AHCF) supports the work of the Al and Malka Green Artists’ Health Centre (AHC) at Toronto Western Hospital, and in addition, is involved in outreach, education, and prevention services for the over 20,000 professional artists who live in the Toronto area. Their goal is to bring alternative and medical practitioners committed to working together into one location. This initiative, along with a subsidy program for those in financial need, will save artists time and money, as well as raise the quality and effectiveness of their treatment. www.ahcf.ca

To put your name on the media guest list (2 concert tickets and 4 drink tickets per media person) for this concert, email indiemusic@steamwhistle.ca