notes

jon rae is a revelation. not that anybody else needs to confirm it, but he and his wonderful band are the real deal. the choir, which opened the show, only made things more amazing.

my favourite parts are when he lets loose on his own ferocious and haunting wail, which on record reminds of neil young and hank williams the senior, and isn't really in search of specific notes so much as an emotional expression.

it is an awesome sight to take in, and esp. dance to. oh yes. the GLS faced a louded typical toronto audience, and as I discussed with T, would a seater show work better? perhaps yes. Akron/Family had tremendous points as well, notably the severe explosion I experience downstairs that sounded like the bar had been blown to bits,and when you can't resist moving that's alway a great sign.

later this week sees me in vancouver/seattle. expect photos of me riding orcas and whatnot.

the river

SINGS tonight.

Horseshoe


‘Lullabye Arkestra’ @12:30, ‘JON RAE & THE RIVER’ @11:30, ‘Akron Family’ @10:30 & ‘Great Lake Swimmers’ @9:30. $8.00

I've only been listening to Jon Rae's Old Songs for the New Town for a little while now...it comes off as a little abrasive at first, but the thick harmonies quickly win (I'd say) everyone over.

craving

...Tony right now for some reason. I guess as last fall ctv had a run of episodes. but no signs of anything for this year. TO QUEEN VIDEO!

yeah I know...

I'm behind on my TV watching. Being sickly and otherwise occupied does this to a fellow.

TV + Laundry = sexy.

3 fridays

July 29th Tomer and I drop into the Bagel just to check things out before another nearby show gets going. The place is completely empty save for us and the owner/bartender, so we have a conversation about the venue over $2.50 beers. He notes that the No Dynamics shows in a few weeks are looking pretty big.

August 12th the Bagel is hopping with the wonderful PC/Robocopp/100% Wool show. An interesting contrast as our bartender/owner is running out of beer and is just barely keeping up with the bulging, but manageable crowd. Venue declared the near-official hangout for the Hangout.

August 19th madness apparently erupts. no dynamics bring their energy and many many of their closest friends to said venue. stories of undercover (and otherwise) cops persist, accusations swirl, ticketholders turned away. An unrelated feature in the next morning's Star confims The Bagel has arrived.

the HUNT continues

MANHUNT continues tonight with the intriguing choice of the Hospital District. can anyone say parking garages? giant ones? oh yes.

also: since open buildings are generally within the limits, does that mean MANHUNTERS will be racing through OR's and darkened cafeterias and the like? the possibilities are endless...

shake it up

Jason Flom is considered the best A&R around by many...though I suppose that means the best by major standards.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shake-Up Reported at Warner Music
By JEFF LEEDS

The chairman and chief executive of Warner Music Group's Atlantic Records label has resigned under pressure, executives close to the company said last night, an indication of internal discord three months after the company's initial public offering.

The executives said the chairman, Jason Flom, who took the post in March 2004, was forced out after a string of clashes with Warner Music's domestic chief, Lyor Cohen.

Warner Music is expected to promote Craig Kallman, Atlantic's co-chairman and chief operating officer, to Mr. Flom's post.

Mr. Flom was part of the management team named after private investors - led by Edgar Bronfman Jr. and the private equity firm, Thomas H. Lee Partners - bought Warner Music from Time Warner for $2.6 billion. As part of the restructuring, Atlantic was merged with another label, Elektra, resulting in layoffs and deep cuts to the combined artist roster.

The shake-up comes as Atlantic had been trying to re-assert itself after a lengthy cold streak on the charts. Atlantic is expected to corral the No. 1 spot on the national album sales chart today with a release from Staind, a rock band initially signed by Elektra. Another band, the Click Five, signed to Mr. Flom's start-up label, Lava, had the most popular song on Apple's iTunes service as of yesterday.

---------------

Flom also is credited with an exceptional A&R track record and decades-long string of multi-platinum albums from artists such as Sugar Ray, Kid Rock, Tori Amos, Simple Plan, Skid Row, Twisted Sister, Matchbox Twenty and The Corrs.

the elbow speaks out

so James is justified, not that the photographic evidence wasn't enough, but man, that must have been quite the contact (I honestly can't remember a thing! but my elbow does!), but the Uncle is a forgiving and gracious person, which for I am glad 'cause I'm pretty sure he can take me.

dance floor assaults aside, friday was an awesome night at the now-ly official Hangout HQ-the Hangout's Hangout if you will-with thrillingly original work by Robocopp, Pyramid Culture, 100% Wool, and the ultra- short film work of Piers vanTijn. A selection of mine and Sinister Funkhouse's photos here (scroll down). It's also great fun to pretend to be a high roller and pick up a round with a tenner. The Bagel may be small, but it still seems like a great fit.

also, nice to see the pop linking to me now, but could I get another 'L' please? pretty please?

what's cool

a night of SHORTS - short sets, short films, short shorts!
Aug 12 / Bagel / PWYC

STARRING:

Robocopp
The films of Pier vanTijn
Pyramid Culture
100% Wool
The Cinnamon-Bun Burlesque revue
featuring shit-hot DJing by Dylan and Joel

also: Manhunt last night rocked. post-Manhunt rocked harder!

just the FACTs...

Sister org Bravo!FACT had its outdoor screening last night at the Distillery, so I shot down for a bit to check out the latest in slightly-odd canadian short productions for the channel. Though the outdoor idea was cool, the films were projected onto a dark brick wall, making it hard to see what was going on from almost any vantage point! grr!

That said, what I did see was pretty cool, and it's great that there is a place for independent filmmakers and artists to develop and showcase their craft to a larger audience through screenings like this, and on the network as well. yes? yes.


on the road home

on the prom...

the hangout remains completely on fire from saturday's event. both the pre and post parties were great, and in the words of



whoa.

COUNTDOWN de PROM...CONTINUES!

will Tom and Katie appear as rumoured?

edit: I'm keeping this up here in the name of relentnessless. thinking of breaking out the vintage 'Loverboy' headband. party up top, all business below.

only *1* sleep away, FAKEPROM is perhaps the pinnacle of the toronto social calendar, period.

the hype is intense, with stories of years past fueling interest and hormones towards this year's event at the Gladstone.

the dress code is strictly enforced-yet all of the map. sleepless nights are lost wondering WHATEVER SHALL I WEAR? agh! based on proms past, there's seems to be some sort of balance between fake fancy and indie formal, combined with this year's hollywood theme my fake bling may very well come in handy.

attire suggestions would be hugely appreciated...

move your feet '05

argh! original post lost due to stupidity.

here we go:

in '03 we had Junior Senior's Move Your Feet, this year we have Of Montreal's Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games, with a video from the Kangaroo Alliance that stands up to Shynola's JS clip, I say!