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April 23, 2007

A Back In Tha Day Tale By: Lydia

Punk Rock Tears Up the North!

The fact that it was March break didn't even dawn on me until Monday morning. Everyone went somewhere this weekend. Sobriety's Rejects traveled. Sab traveled. Ben snapped photos of the Family Band bus as it passed him on the way to Timmins. Somewhere a band was loading their SPACIAL bus and heading North-East. Dedication to friends, Sobriety's Rejects and a bizarre love of road trips had four of us braving high gas prices and the threat of freezing rain to get to Timmins. Guys in rental trucks with less horsepower than ours whipped past only to eat at the same grill thirty minutes later. Donna was hitch hiking and made better time than anyone driving. Somewhere the Bella Bombs and Four-Stroke were traveling west to play North Bay the following day. People were heading east to catch bands in Ottawa. Everyone was on the move Friday.

We got into town early enough to catch a bite to eat but first decided to cruise by the venue and get oriented. "Oooh noooes", was my first comment seeing the GV looking like a legion hall. I reminded myself that Friendly Fire assured me the Timmins scene was "kickin'", and, reasoning that the venue hosted the Casualties, Fuck the Facts and the Bouncing Souls... it couldn't be all bad. Secretly, I was steeled for a 20 person turnout and 55 year-old hecklers turning the jukebox volume up to compete with the "kids and their music." Looks can be deceiving. Thank fuck. It had been a long day.

After a pit stop for food, we showed up in time to grab a beer right before sound check. The sound was superb at the GV. Huge monitors, high ceilings and wood paneling had the place sounding like a hall with twice the admittance price. No wonder the scene in Timmins is kicking. While waiting for the show to actually start, I perused the GFK (Government's Fury Kills) merch table - very good prices and they had a lot of selection. For less than the price of a drink, I picked up the 'Killed by Canada' compilation. I was too tired to chat or be social and I felt I was missing out since the crowd seemed pretty cool, and friendly enough.

This was a three band gig at the GV Hotel. On the bill, hosted by Pink Bomb Productions, was Sobriety's Rejects from North Bay; The Duffs, Timmins local; and GFK from Quebec City. The Reject boys had seen GFK earlier in London and were looking forward to a show with the metal act.

"Just don't be dicks," quipped Russ Collins in good humor. "It's all I ask - don't be fucking dicks." It was time for the good natured and crowd-pleasing Sobriety's Rejects. They tore up the stage having fun and firing up the crowd. I was pleased to see what looked like a split eyebrow leave the mosh for a few minutes to recuperate. Ben Dick garnered crowd participation with chants during "Cheers!" and "GOMD" and riled up an otherwise virgin crowd. One enthusiastic gal had hitched up from North Bay to Kirkland with a friend, and then hopped a ride north to catch the show. When not in the pit or singing along, she was brazenly screeching, "play some fuckin' Ramones!!" Obviously, everyone was having too much fun.

From outside I had heard The Hillary Duffs taking the stage. Napping seemed like a good idea when the truck was warm. The cold began to creep in... someone pissed on the tailgate... the band sounded good enough that I almost felt I had missed out. Sleep just would not come no matter how I tried. If there had been a girl band on tour I would have asked to sleep for a bit in their bus.

By midnight the relentless GFK began taking the stage - and being loud. And being fast. And being hardcore. And being metal. The "punk" song they played was actually loud, fast, hardcore metal. To my delight, I could pick out more than two languages in the barrage of lyrics. Since I sat behind their merch for the show, what I should have done was read some lyrics. Obviously there is a distinct message with titles such as "If Liberty Isn't Given, It Should Be Taken" and "Rethinking Basic Anti Racism". The former being the latest release, the latter a tune included on the Killed by Canada compilation. Most bands have myspace.com entries. Their impressive website more than makes up for the lack of a myspace site, but for some reason the use of myspacemusic has become a proxy in marketing analysis.

Next Night:

Saturday evening, back in North Bay, everyone was tired. Alex of Non-Partisan Records had contracted flu-like symptoms and took a needed break. Manning the NPR merch booth became a group effort all night so I pitched in. Sobriety's Rejects managed to do good business through the night at Evolution compared to Timmins. The sound tech did not have the problems that plagued the last Evo show I attended. Everything was smoothed for Four-Stroke and Bella Bombs annual invasion. Last year, dear reader, I was far too broken-headed with Fireball to remember much of their show. This year - I stuck to Tim Horton's. Besides, the drive home in the wee hours and loads of snow had me content to sip coffee indoors all night. As long as I didn't have to drive anywhere, I was fine.

Two of us were not kidding when we said, "wow! I feel like I can go home now!" It was really refreshing to want a band to play another set the minute they unplugged. Pardon the People surprised the hell out of me by being kick ass. Kevin of PTP announced his dad was in attendance and if that doesn't make a singer pull punches, nothing will. This Ska Punk/Street Punk fusion reminded me of Day-Glo Abortions with "Holy Shit" coming on like a Day-Glo missing track, except better. North Bay bands have a bad habit of spreading themselves too thin. Should PTP remain as in your face and tight as their performance this is one guaranteed crowd pleaser. Bass driven tunes and vocal talent kept me interested at times I am normally studying the ceiling or what shoes a band prefers. I have no idea what shoes any of these guys wore.

Noting that everyone, with the exception of Non-Partisan Records, who had attended the Timmins show was here made me feel at home again. Apparently, hitchhiking does not keep you from having fun as Donna was up in the pit area, fist in the air, feisty as ever. There was absolutely no indication that we were tired. I digress; this is actually where I ducked out for yet another coffee; only because I was thirsty, dig Road weary? Not a chance. I wondered briefly where Sab had been playing and if GFK had had a back to back booking as well. I also wondered what time I would be able to get to sleep. Coffee could only do so much to keep me from my bed which was only a few kilometers away this time... and not hundreds.

Four Stroke ripped into a powerful punk act everyone had been jonesing for. This had me wishing for the sound quality of the GV all over again. If only we could arrange a transplant. The singer mentioned his mic being too quiet, but I could hear him fine at the back. Others could hear just fine up at the front too. The sound was light years better than the Friendly Fire/Zuku show. People packed the front of the stage, fists in the air. The air was fired up along with the band. If actual fun was permitted at this bar, there would have been a circle pit crammed up there too! The Bella Bombs proved as hardcore and photogenic as ever with Suspect Device exploding the drum kit. Honey Bombs ferocious vocals inspire while clean punk rock backs their cut-and-thrust show.

Bella shirts and quite a few CD's, their new 'Liquid Explosion' namely, left the bar that night. Ottawa acts always draw a crowd as there seems some affinity with the larger city. Sadly, the crowd did not seem as large as last year, but they certainly made up for lack of numbers.

Sobriety's Rejects closed the night with an oft-interrupted but surprisingly not quite sabotaged set. Beer breaks and set-list votes slightly interrupted the fun. The crowd was ebbing; all four bands were having a great time regardless. Of course my favorite song was played from beginning to end, not before Ben and Paul Rothwell had fun with 'I Must Confess'. Friends and fans sang the bulk of that song for sure.

Entertaining, loud and just plain fun, the boys tore through a set of first old and then newer songs. Ken Vermin of Four-Stroke had to belt out 'No! Only Old Songs! You can ONLY play OLD songs!" How laughingly sad, yet startlingly true this is. A comment, while apt, that likely refers more to fans of Moral Hazard. The memorable 'Fuck You' began and incited more hands in the air than any band that night had. This tour worthy threesome played on until the lights were on and the drinks were done.

Reality settled back in where people scattered for food, after parties and to pack up merch. Gear was loaded as many re-grouped outside. Someone mused offering a place to stay for the Ottawa acts. A pretty serious weekend of northern punk rock came to a close. Then, I realized, in a few days there is a show at the Zoo of all places. I have to find some cash in the couch cushions. Saint Patrick's Day promises even more music. Road trips are always worth it in the end, but man, it is a whole different world once you are home.

Posted by i220 at 08:01 AM | Comments (4)

March 27, 2007

Music of Ghana, Africa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The most well-known form of Ghanaian music is highlife, which has become popular all across Africa and much of the rest of the world. Highlife arose among the coastal regions of Ghana and, to a lesser extent Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria and other English-speaking West African colonies. In the 1920s, the word was coined to describe the dancing of the English colonials to the regimented music of native bands. Eventually, the music, originally used only for military functions, began using native songs and kpanlogo rhythms.

Ghana is home to numerous ethnic groups, who can be divided into four broad categories:

Southeastern Ghana is occupied by the Ewe people, whose folk styles are related to the music of Benin and Togo. The Ewe have also contributed popular styles, especially the agbadza and borborbor, a konkoma highlife fusion that was invented in the early 1950s in chicken Kpandu. See: Ewe music.
Northwestern Ghana is home to the Dagarti, Lobi, Wala and Sissala peoples, who are known for xylophone-based folk music.
Southern and Central Ghana is dominated by various Akan peoples, including Fante and Ashanti. They are known for complex court music and a huge log xylophone used in asonko music.
Northeastern Ghana is known for talking drums, played by the Gur-speaking Mamprusi, Frafra and Dagomba nations.
During the colonial era, Africa's Gold Coast was a hotbed of musical syncretism. Rhythms from across West Africa, especially gombe and ashiko from Sierra Leone, Liberian guitar-styles like dagomba, mainline and fireman, Fante osibisaba, European brass bands and sea shanties and Christian music, were all combined into a melting pot that became highlife.

Early split: guitar-bands and dance highlife
The word highlife comes from the 1920s, when it was used to describe parties held by the European upper-class to which the locals aspired. There were two types of highlife at the time. Dance orchestras played at the parties of the elite, while poor, rural guitarists played a kind of often-scorned music that was also called palm wine music (the term palm wine has referred to multiple styles from West Africa, but is now more commonly associated with the popular music of Sierra Leone). Originally associated with the Fante people, the guitar-based highlife spread across the country (and, to a lesser degree, abroad).

Mid-20th century and the invention of Ghanaian pop: While pan-Ghanaian music had been developed for some time, the middle of the 20th century saw the development of distinctly Ghanaian pop music. Highlife incorporated elements of swing, jazz, rock, ska and soukous, and saw its first inroads into the culture of its neighbors in West Africa and across the rest of the continent. To a much lesser extent, Ghanaian musicians found success in the United States and, briefly, the United Kingdom with the surprise success of Osibisa's Afro-rock in the 1970s.

Guitar-bands in the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s: In the 1930s, Sam's Trio, led by Jacob Sam, was the most influential of the highlife guitar-bands. Their "Yaa Amponsah", three versions of which were recorded in 1928 for Zonophone, was a major hit that remains a popular staple of numerous highlife bands. The next major guitar-band leader was E.K.Nyame, who led the Akan Trio and sang in Twi. Nyame also added the double bass and more elements of the Western hemisphere, including jazz and Cuban music. In the 1960s, dance highlife was more popular than guitar-band highlife; most of the guitar bands began using the electric guitar until a roots revival in the mid-1970s.

Dance highlife in the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s: Dance highlife evolved during World War II, when American jazz and swing became popular with the arrival of servicemen from the United States and United Kingdom. After independence in 1957, the socialist government began encouraging folk music, but highlife remained popular and influences from Trinidadian and Congolese music. ET Mensah was the most influential musician of this period, and his band The Tempos frequently accompanied the president. The original bandleader of The Tempos was Guy Warren, who was responsible for introducing Caribbean music to Ghana and, later, was known for a series of innovative fusions of African rhythms and American jazz. King Bruce, Jerry Hansen and Stan Plange also led influential dance bands during the 1950s and 60s. By the 1970s, however, pop music from Europe and the US dominated the Ghanaian scene until a mid-1970s roots revival.

1970s: Roots revival: By the beginning of the 1970s, traditionally styled highlife had been overtaken by electric guitar bands and pop-dance music. Since 1966 and the fall of President Kwame Nkrumah, many Ghanaian musicians moved abroad, settling in the US, UK and Nigeria. Highlife bands like Okukuseku recorded in Lagos or Nigeria's eastern Igbo region. In 1971, the Soul to Soul music festival was held in Accra. Several legendary American musicians played, including Wilson Pickett, Ike and Tina Turner and Carlos Santana. With the exception of Mexican-American Santana, these American superstars were all black, and their presence in Accra was seen as legitimizing Ghanaian music. Though the concert is now mostly remembered for its role as a catalyst in the subsequent Ghanaian roots revival, it also led to increased popularity for American rock and soul. Inspired by the American musicians, new guitar bands arose in Ghana, including the Ashanti Brothers, Nana Ampadu & the African Brothers, The City Boys and more. Musicians like CK Mann, Daniel Amponsah and Eddie Donkor incorporated new elements, especially from Jamaican reggae. A group called Wulomei also arose in the 1970s, leading a Ga cultural revival to encourage Ghanaian youths to support their own countrymen's music. By the 1980s, the UK was experiencing a boom in African music as Ghanaians and others moved there in large numbers. The group Hi-Life International was probably the most influential band of the period, and others included Jon K, Dade Krama, Orchestra Jazira and Ben Brako. In the middle of the decade, however, British immigration laws changed, and the focus of Ghanaian emigration moved to Germany.

The Ghanaian-German community created a form of highlife called burgher highlife. The most influential early burgher highlife musician was George Darko, whose "Akoo Te Brofo" coined the term and is considered the beginning of the genre. Burgher highlife was extremely popular in Ghana, especially after computer-generated dance beats were added to the mix. The same period saw a Ghanaian community appear in Toronto and elsewhere in Canada. Pat Thomas is probably the most famous Ghanaian-Canadian musician. Other emigres include Ghanaian-American Obo Addy, the Ghanaian-Swiss Andy Vans and the Ghanaian-Dutch Kumbi Salleh. In Ghana itself during the 1980s, gospel and reggae became extremely popular. The Genesis Gospel Singers were the most widely-known gospel band. Late 1990s a new generation of artists discovered the so called hip life. The originator of this style is Reggie Rockstone, a Ghanaian musician who dabbled with hip hop in the United States before finding his unique style. Hip Life has since proliferated and spawned stars like Obrafour, Akyeame and Tic Tac.

Posted by i220 at 04:24 PM | Comments (2)

November 13, 2006

Angel Quiz #3

The Beatles

l. What was the very first Beatles song ever played in America?

2. Who was the spiritual Beatle?

3. Who was considered the cute Beatle?

More Quiz - Klik below...

4. Who was considered the smart Beatle?

5. Who was considered the kinda dumb Beatle?

6. What was the date that the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan
Show?

7. What was John Lennon's first wife's name?

8. Who stole George Harrison's wife from him? What song was written about her?

9. What was the song "Day Tripper" about?

10. What does "lucy in the sky with diamonds mean?"

Good luck everyone, I know this is hard for all you young peeps out there. I'm so old I remember all of the answers.

Posted by i220 at 09:23 AM | Comments (8)

July 10, 2006

Can U Handle Tha Funk?

Presenting: The Real Funk Mixtape

Truly revolutionary music leaves us just a little scared. Funk has been doing that for more than 40 years. Listen to the following mixtape if you dare.

Funkadelic - Red Hot Mama
Sly and the Family Stone - Bad Risk
Stevie Wonder - I Wish
The Bar-Kays - Holy Ghost
The Isley Brothers - Fight the Power (Pt. I)
The Temptations - Shakey Ground
James Brown - Superbad
Gil Scott Heron - The Bottle
Curtis Mayfield - Superfly
Tower of Power - What is Hip?

The radical social message of Sly Stone, the unapologetic abrasiveness of James Brown, the excessive power of George Clinton and the subtle yet AFFective Curtis Mayfield all offended the powers that be as early as the late 60's. Still today, many of us cling to sounds that were radical back in the 40's; albeit updated ones. If we are to be able to understand today's music, we will have to go through the Four Fathers of Funk first. Let's see what they had to say:

"But it's not nice to fool mother nature. The proud mother of God like all ho's, Is jealous of her own shadow" George Clinton.

"Too many good things about you. But your past makes me doubt you. Too many fellas hangin' round you. You leave me behind" Sly Stone.

"Brother says he's tellin 'bout you playin doctor with that girl. Just dont tell I'll give you anything you want in this whole wide world. Mama gives you money for sunday school you trade yours for candy after church is through" Stevie Wonder.

"Whenever I feel the pressure (Jah!) I can't seem to hypnotise my mind
(Well!) Your love, it's got the Holy Ghost and I feel like I've been born a second time" The Bar-Kays.

"I can't play my music (They say my music's too loud). I kept talkin' about it (I got the big run around). And when I rolled with the punches (I got knocked on the ground) by all this bullshit going down." ???

"My car got reposessed this mornin'. Hard time I hadn't felt in years. Girl, you better throw me a life preserver 'cause I'm about to drown in my own tears!" ???

"I'm a lover, I love to do my thing ha An a, an I don't need no one else. Sometimes I feel so nice, good Lord! I jump back, I wanna kiss myself!" James Brown.

"See that sista, sho wuz fine before she started drinkin' wine from the bottle. Said her ol' man committed a crime and he's doin' time, so now she's in the bottle. She's out there on the avenue, all by herself sho' needs help from the bottle. Preacherman tried to help her out, she cussed him out and hit him in the head with a bottle. And don't you think it's a crime when time after time, people in the bottle." Gil Scott Heron.

"The aim of his role was to move a lot of blow. Ask him his dream, what does it mean? He woudn't know. 'Can't be like the rest' Is the most he'll confess but the time's running out and there's no happiness" Curtis Mayfield.

"You became a part of a new breed. Been smokin' only the best weed. Hangin' out with the so called 'Hippie set.' Seen in all the right places. Seen with just the right faces. You should be satisfied, but it ain't quite right." ???

What surprises me is how hard it is to pin down the songwriters of this genre. S'funny how accepted/commercial ideas are fodder for rip-off artists and everyone wants credit; challenging thoughts are another thing :S

Posted by i220 at 10:43 AM | Comments (11)

May 28, 2006

NEW MUSIC WEST - The True Story (Part II)

...Continued from NEW MUSIC WEST - The True Story (Part I)

Friday morning came way too quickly. The last 2 nights had been pretty crazy and I had consumed quite a bit of alcohol. Yeah, I admit it, I'm a light weight. I headed in to the office around noon. Lucky for me, I had some phone interviews in the morning so I got to go in late. After a few hours in the office tying up all the loose ends (it was my last day) I decided to do a little bit of shopping; a new outfit for my crazy night out and a great way to kill sometime until I was to hear from Duke.

I ended up making it home with enough time to freshen up and change in to my new outfit.

Duke didn't end up picking me up until 8:30 pm. The concert had already started by the time we got there. I had hoped we had only missed the Cribs, but found out that we had not only missed the Cribs, but most of Death Cab For Cuties set as well. BOO! In the rush to get inside, we bought the first tickets we were offered off've a scalper. We got them for under cost, which wasn't too bad, but moments later were given 3 free tickets from a friend of mine who does promotions for the CFOX (local radio station). Between Duke and I we had 5 tickets. Lucky for us, Duke knows how to work it. He took our 5 tickets (which were scattered throughout the stadium seating) and got us floor access. Proves the point again, you just have to look important.

Franz Ferdinand put on a amazing show! I was in awe the entire time…dancing up a storm and singing along to all of their tunes. Their stage set up was very simple but powerful. The encore was amazing with the members of Death Cab for Cutie joining them on stage in a drum line. WOW!! Unfuckin'believable!

The show ended and Duke and I decided to head back downtown to check out the NMW festivities and (more importantly) to get more weed. A quick stop at Duke's hotel in trendy Yaletown and a quick drink at the hotel bar, we hopped in a cab and headed to the Commodore. The place was pumping.

I ran into Paul who had showcased earlier that night. He was with his bass player (a very well known Events Coordinator in Vancouver - we'll just call him JD). JD has put on some pretty big events in Vancouver and area. JD introduced himself (after he had ogled my chest). I told him my name and immediately he was red in the face. He realized who I am (or at least who my sister is) and is impressed. We chatted for a few minutes, before he found out that I've been laid off and am possibly looking for work. JD offered me a job on the spot. "I'll hire you resume unseen, based on your name alone."

JD and I chatted briefly about the opportunity and money. We both decided that it was best to let this conversation wait 'til Monday. Probably a good idea. Now I was even higher than I have ever felt before. I knew I wasn't going to accept JD's offer (the guy's a big time schister) but what an amazing feeling to be offered a job of that magnitude.

I found Duke and told him what happened. We had a good laugh and decided to spark a celebratory joint while we enjoyed the groovin' tunes that Five Alarm Funk was providing. Think Parliament and you can figure out what Five Alarm Funk is all about.

My head was still whirling from all the events that had taken place so far. I told Duke I was going for a cigarette. He decided to join me. While we were outside, I ran into a couple of the members of Sweetheart. The guitar player came up to me (he was on the other side of the fence), "Hey, I know you!" and gave me a hug.

"Yeah we met at the Penthouse last night!"

HAHA... I think they thought I was going to be able to help them get their friends in to the show. I don't have that much pull.

Duke and I headed back inside and I found Paul to get the lowdown on the after party. He told us to head the XM Lounge – it was the after hours for each night of NMW. We decided to check out the scene and see what other parties were happening. It was too early for the real after hours so we ended up at the XM Lounge.

Again Duke was bombarded by band members dying to know who he was. It was so funny to watch these young guys falling all over Duke, asking him all these questions, hoping he was somebody really important. Poor Duke, he was just trying to have a good time.

We made our way over to the window to get some fresh air. We were laughing at the reactions he'd been getting when this guy with a camera came over to us and asked to take our picture. Turned out the guy is from 24 - the free daily news magazine. The guy got our details and told us the photo would be in Monday's paper. Sure enough, there it was Monday morning - Duke and I in the "On the Town" section pictured with all of the other who's who of Vancouver. I still have some extra copies if any one is interested.

The XM Lounge was dying down and Duke and I ended up finding our way to Gorgomesh, this crazy after hours bar. They don't serve alcohol, but do serve water and fruit beverages. Duke ripped it up on the dance floor for a while (it was now 3:30 am) as I sat and watched. It was really not my scene. We stayed for about another half hour and decided to call it a night. I was ready for bed and knew it would take some time to catch a cab.

Duke and I said our goodbyes (he left the following day, back to Toronto). About 10 minutes later I managed to flag down a cab. I got home shortly before 5 am. My head hit the pillow and I was out.

So, as much as people say NMW sucks, I guess it all depends on what you are there for. If you go to have a good time and enjoy the party, then you don't want to miss next years party. If you go expecting to be a huge industry event, you will be disappointed. My recommendation - go for the party! And remember you just have to look like you belong and you can get in to most venues for free.

Posted by i220 at 08:06 AM | Comments (2)

May 21, 2006

NEW MUSIC WEST - The True Story (Part I)

Boutie's (Not So back in tha Day) Adventures Continue, Vancouver, Canada.

New Music West is Vancouver's attempt at their version of Canadian Music Week. Four days of showcases, 1 speaker series and that's about it.

Any local talent will tell you that Vancouver sucks for it's live music scene. There is a ton of talent here, that get to play very rarely. The live venues are few and far between. Apparently Vancouvrites are more into going to clubs to dance to the latest top 40 crap rather than enjoying a live act. My previous experiences going to shows has proved this point. The headlining band is usually done by midnight and then the bar turns into a night club (with the bass pumping). Very shitty!

I was so excited for New Music West even though I had heard so many bad things. The reason I was so excited; I was getting a wristband to be able to attend all of the showcases through work. It was all in the name of research. Unfortunately, the Monday before NMW, I was laid off from my job; what bad timing! I was totally bummed. I had already gone through the schedule to figure out what shows we should go to. Lucky for me, my former company is in the process of revamping and a new partner was in town to work on the partnership. So, my boss (who I will now refer to as Yoko Oro) wanted to take Duke (name has also been changed) out on the town.

Duke arrived on Wednesday and was ready to party. Yoko Oro had gotten us on the guest list for the NMW showcase at the Plaza, featuring Lyrics Born and the DJ from Blackalicious. Those who know me will tell you that I'm not a big rap/hip hop fan. But, I was movin' and grovin' right next to Moka Only. It was way too funny. Good times were had by all, especially Duke. He was out on the dance floor bustin' his moves all night.

Thursday night, one of my favorite local bands, Sweetheart, was showcasing at the Penthouse (normally a strip club). This showcase was hosted by Music BC, a government funded organization to assist indie bands with their development. I wasn't planning on going. (Having just lost my job and not having a wristband) Spending the money just didn't seem right. Yoko called me to see if I was coming. I was still sitting on the fence until he told me that I would be able to get in for free and they were giving out drink tickets. I was on the next bus.

When I got there I walked in and was asked by some girl if I had a wristband. I said I did and she believed me - silly girl. Once inside, I looked for Yoko and Duke. They were nowhere to be found. Lucky for me I know enough people in the Vancouver Music scene that I didn't feel like a total moron. After a circle around the venue, I bumped into Yoko and Duke, they had been outside puffin' some green stuff. Duke was all decked out in this crazy suit. He was pumped because he and Yoko were going to see Richard Doerfmiester at the Plaza later that night.

I went to grab myself a free beer and when I came back to the boys these 2 girls were all over Yoko and Duke. They thought Duke was in a band (he was asked that question all weekend). The girls walked away and we laughed so hard. Yoko was amazed at how in awe the 2 girls were. My response to Yoko: "Of course they were excited. They thought you could get them some ROCK COCK!"

After chugging back our free beverages, we decided that an hour to kill in this venue was to much to bare. So we got our stamps for re-entry (to get around not having a wristband) and took Duke to the Amsterdam Cafe. Duke had never experienced the thrill of being able to blow weed in a public place. Yoko was very excited to show him the scene.

We smoked a couple and then headed back to the Penthouse just in time to see Sweetheart. They put on a pretty good show even though the sound quality was horrible. How great can the sound really be in a strip club??

Duke was worried about missing Doerfmiester so, Yoko decided it was time for them to head over to the Plaza. Before leaving, Yoko told me to keep my cell phone close and he would text me if he could get me in.

While watching the end of Sweetheart's set, I found my friend Paul, who is the head of marketing for a major beer company. He was doing it up with some of his friends, one of which owns some very hot spots in Vancouver including the Media Club (one of my favorite live venues). Paul invited me to join them at the Media Club. Of course I accepted.

Keep in mind that I still don't have a wristband and am sneaking in to all these venues. This time, I was with all the right people and had no problem getting in to the Media Club. Paul's friend asked me what I wanted to drink. "I’ll have whatever."

"The bar is yours! What do you want to drink?"

Of course I chose one of the fine products from Paul's company.

Everyone had got their drinks, time to head to the back room to smoke a joint. God I love Vancouver!

I went to have a cigarette, worried that I would have trouble getting back in, Paul gave me his NMW pass. I explained to him my wristband delema when I returned his pass. Next thing I know, he was talking to one of his buddies who gave Paul an extra wristband. Now I was in, no questions asked! WOO HOO!

Sometimes being the only girl is a good thing. Don't have to pay for anything (because nobody will let you) and everyone makes sure you are having a good time.

I was standing there listening to a band and I looked up to the bar and who did I see? Raine Maida. I was so in love with him back in the day. Seeing him brought back those memories of my friends and I fighting over who was going to marry him. Knowing Yoko would get a good laugh out of my situation, I sent him a text telling him who I just saw.

Yoko and I started sending text messages back and forth and I ended up outside of the Plaza. Yoko worked his magic and got me in to the Doerfmiester show. Holy shit! Richard Doerfmiester is absolutely amazing. I was most impressed by the mix of The Doors' "Riders on the Storm" and Blondie's "Rasputen". The guy blew me away!

Meanwhile, Duke was on cloud 9, literally.

Knowing that Yoko was busy the next night (Friday), Duke and I agreed that we would do it up together. We both really wanted to check out the Franz Ferdinand show at the Collesium (not part of NMW). The plan was for Duke to call me when he was done getting his tattoo.

To be continued...

Posted by i220 at 09:04 AM | Comments (5)

May 07, 2006

Boutie's "Not So" Back in tha Days

Boutie meets Diana Krall and her VERY famous friends.

It was Saturday, early afternoon. I had just finished having a
greasy "Bon's" breakfast with a friend of mine. We were on the
Skytrian, heading downtown and I got a call from my sister.

Sis: "Are you busy tomorrow night?"

Me: "Nothing I can't get out of. What's up?"

Sis: "Do you want to volunteer to help out with a VIP Photo Shoot for Diana Krall?"

Me: "Ah YEAH I do!"

Due to a dying phone, I agreed to volunteer for this event, knowing very little about what I was agreeing to. All I knew was that it was for Diana Krall and a photo shoot.

Once I was home and able to speak to my sister, I found out that this wasn't just a VIP photo shoot with Diana Krall. This was an exclusive Black-Tie Charity event for Vancouver General Hospital & UBC Hospital - to help raise money for the 'made-in-BC cures' for blood related cancers.

I was the liason for the VIP's who were getting their photo taken with Diana Krall and her friends. The lucky VIPs (that spent a lot of money to be a part of this event) were offered a photo opportunity with a group of 10.

Now, you may be asking yourself, who are Diana's friends? Well, let me tell you. Her cool cat husband - Elvis Costello, the very beautiful Sarah McLachlan, the crooner Tony Bennett, and the fabulous Elton 'fuckin' John!

Truth be told I'm not a super fan of these artists, but respect their talent and enjoy their music. And, I have to admit, when I was in the room for the photo shoot, with my VIP group, it all felt very surreal. I really did feel like I was watching a movie or something. And Elton 'fuckin' John, how fucking crazy is that.

Former President, Bill Clinton was also at this event. Unfortunatly, he did not attend the VIP photo shoot. So, I didn't get to see big Willy, and I wore my blue dress and everything! ;)

After 4 hours in heel, standing, smiling and looking pretty...I took advantage of the free meal available for all the volunteers. Then decided that my feet hurt way to much to stay in heels any longer. So, it was off to my usual Sunday night poker game. Which I won, by the way. So really, it was just you're average Sunday night.

Posted by i220 at 09:31 AM | Comments (1)

March 28, 2006

Angel's Old School Music Quiz Pt. II

l. Who did the punk band "The Ramones" get their name from?

2. What other 70's band was Ozzy Osborne in before he created his own band "Ozzy Osborne"?

3. Before they called themselves "Led Zepplin" what was the name of the band?

4. What music genre was heavy metal inspired by?

5. Name all the members of the punk band "The Clash".

6. Can you name all the bands that Jimi Hendrix was in before he
went solo?

Posted by i220 at 08:01 AM | Comments (6)

March 19, 2006

Angel's Rock & Roll Quiz From the Past

l. What bands was Eric Clapton in during the 60's and 70's?

2. Who was the first drummer of The Beatles (not Ringo Starr)?

3. Who were the reporters that cracked "Watergate" during the Nixon administration?

4. What was the drummer's name that overdosed in the group The Who?

5. Who is the RED ROCKER?

Click below for more!

6. Who did Ray Charles want to sing like in the beginning of his career (the early 50's)?

7. What color was Elvis Presley's hair before he started to dye it black?

8. When did John Lennon decide to be a house husband and put his career on hold?

9. Who wrote "I ain't no senator's son" or "Fortunate Son"?

10. What kind of work did Norma Jean Baker (Marilyn Monroe) do during World War II?

ll. How did Stevie Ray Vaughn die?

12. How did Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix die and in what year?

Posted by i220 at 08:49 AM | Comments (14)

March 05, 2006

Angel's "Back in tha Daze" - The Red Rocker

Back in 1980, some friends and I went to see "the red rocker", Sammy Hagar. I love Sammy Hagar. I feel he is one of the best guitarists ever. I saw him with Van Halen in 1986, but this (earlier) "red rocker" show was outta sight.

The crowd was jacked and it was a happenin' night. The show started and out came Sammy on the stage in a '68 Chevy convertible. The car
was bright red and so was Sammy; red hair flying and a red jumpsuit.

He started the show by playing "I Can't Drive 55" sittin' in the car. Man, we all went crazy. The joint was jumpin' - one of the best shows I've ever seen.

Sammy's been through some changes in his career, but he'll always be one of my favorites in concert. I thought he really gave Van Halen some class when he was playing with them. David Lee Roth was ok, but Sammy, he da man.
Angel of rock.

Posted by i220 at 06:22 PM | Comments (12)

December 12, 2005

ME AND MY HOOPTIE - by Brother Mike

Not so much a music story but I can almost hear ZZ Top's, "Arrested for Driving While Blind" when reading this.

I was raised in the ghetto of the Watts area of Southern California in the early 60's. Man, we was poor. My mama was a single parent with 5 kids. She worked hard at being a nurse and I had to make my own money to help out. I started working when I was 9 years old helpin' my uncle with his cleaning business. I worked for him all through high school. I saved enough money to buy me a "hooptie".

A hooptie is a "less than desireable car". Man, I was so proud of my 1951 Plymouth. Me and my brother, Robert, used to cruize all over Los Angeles in my hootpie. Hey, we weren't ashamed, we figured it's better to have a raggedy ride than a dressed up walk, yo all know what I'm talkin about?

So anyway, me and Robert were cruizin one Friday night in '64, lookin for some honies. Man, it started raining and my windshield wipers wouldn't work. It was bad (couldn't see nothin' at all). So I pulled my hooptie over to the side of the road, and being the ingenious dude that I was, at l7 years old, this is what I did to fix the problem. I opened the trunk of my car and found some twine. I cut a piece of it long enough to string it across my windshield. Man, it was just long enough. I held one piece of it on the drivers side and Robert holds the other piece. We stretched it across the windshield. Man, it worked just right as a windshield wiper. So, I pulled my side inside the car and then Robert pulled his. So we were cruizin' again, happy as can be and laughin so hard.

Man, then I saw the red lights blinking in my rear view mirror. That's right, it was "THE MAN"! He got out of his patrol car and says to me, "boy, whatcha doing here? Where's your windshield
wipers?" I said, "sorry, this is the best I could do with what I had." I couldn't believe it, but this was a cool cop. He started laughing and just gave me a fix-it ticket. He said, "hey man, now you get your wipers fixed, ya hear?" Man, we took off like a lightning bolt.

So I have fond memories of that "Hooptie" of mine. Now, hey I got me a '56 Chevy "Bel-Aire", a '68 "T-bird" and a '70 "Mustang". Still got my hoopties, but man, they all got wind shield wipers. But those were the daze back in the 60's for me.

Brother Mike

Posted by i220 at 10:48 AM | Comments (12)

November 16, 2005

What's Your Beef With "Rap Metal"?

Presenting: The Real Rap Metal Mixtape

Radio shuns it. Critics hate it. Maybe y'all might change your tune if you listened to the following mixtape. Maybe not?

Anthrax & Public Enemy - Bring Tha Noize
Rage Against The Machine - Know Your Enemy
Ice-T - Cop Killer
Beastie Boys - No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn
Run DMC - Raising Hell
Kid Rock - Devil Without a Cause
Incubus - Redefine
Korn - Freak on a Leash
Limp Bizkit - Break Stuff
Faith No More - Epic

Chuck D on steroids - the, "D to E to F to I to A to N to C to E," of Rage - the lyrical flava of DMC - the artistically poetic "Incubus" - The ambiguous and enigmatic "Faith No More". What's not to love? Chek these lyrics if you're not convinced.

"Well, Farrakhan's a prophet and I think you ought to listen to what he can say to you; what you ought to do". Follow for now, power to the people say, "Make a miracle. D, pump the lyrical." Chuck D.

"The finger to the land of the chains! What? the land of the free? Whoever told you that is your enemy. Now something must be done about vengeance, a badge and a gun." Zach de la Roche.

"Cop killer, better you than me. Cop killer, fuck police brutality! Cop killer, I know your family's grievin' (fuck 'em). Cop killer, but tonight we get even." Ice-T.

"On location touring around the nation, 'Beastie Boys' always on vacation. Itchy trigger finger but a stable turntable, I do what I do best because I'm illing and able." Beastie Boys.

"It's highly appraised when the hell is raised, so demanding and commanding that you all stand dazed. The unbelieving receiving prophecy so true. I cut the head off the Devil and I throw it at you." DMC.

"I went from St. Claire Shores and drink specials at Winners to New York City and 700 dollar dinners; from hangin' with sinners and second hand cheap sex to gettin much respect from top record execs." Kid Rock.

"Picture the scene, where whatever you thought, would, in the blink of an eye, manifest and become illustrated. You'd be sure man that every line drawn reflected a life that you loved not an existence that you hated" Brandon Boyd.

"Something takes a part of me; something lost and never seen. Everytime I start to believe, something's raped and taken from me." Jonathan Davis.

"No human contact and if you interact your life is on contract. Your best bet is to stay away motherfucker. It's just one of those days!" Fred Durst.

"It's alive, afraid, a lie, a sin. It's magic, it's tragic, it's a loss, it's a win. It's dark, it's moist, it's a bitter pain. It's sad it happened and it's a shame. It's it. What is it?" Mike Patton.

Revolution, rebellion, frustration, jubilation, irreverence, pride, positivity, dispair, being overwhelmed, searching; you don't get all this for a buck twenty five at the five and dime. Give it a spin or give your two cents.

Posted by i220 at 01:45 PM | Comments (7)

November 07, 2005

Angel's Back in tha Day Tale: A Night With Ted Nugent

It's 1980 and times are still pretty cool; still some hippies and long hairs around and lots of pot still. So I hear that Ted Nugent is playing in Reno, Nevada. Can't find anyone to go with so this chick I know says her sister likes Ted Nugent and would love to see him. That's cool so I ask does she wanna go with me. This chick is only 18 years old and seems cool. I was 33 years old by then.

So we get to the concert and Martana's really fucked up. She had been drinking and stoning all day it seems. So I have to drive her VW to the concert - she's too messed up. We get inside and it's a pretty rowdy crowd of peeps. Little different than I was used to. Lot's of long haired cowboys and biker types.

We work our way to the front of the stage and Martana is flirting her little ass off with all of the dudes. The show starts and Ted's singing "Cat Scratch Fever", man, the place is jumpin'. I'm just into smoking a "J" and feeling mellow; lot's of pot all around us. So, there are a few fists fights going on all around us. Some angry peeps in the audience.

People start pushing hard and Martana and I are pushed up against the stage. It's getting scary and I'm trying to get out of there. All of a sudden, Ted Nugent flys over the stage and audience with only a loin cloth on and hangin on to a rope. He starts yelling, "rape em! Rape em! Rape em!" Man, the dudes in front go wild.

One dude grabs Martana and starts trying to pull her clothes off. I start hitting him and trying to get us out of there. She's screamin and Ted's exciting the crowd even more. It turns really ugly. These 4 dudes surround me and Martana and start trying to rip our clothes off. Luckily I had self defense training in the military and was pretty strong in those days. I start hitting these dudes. They push me up against the wall of the stage and I fall to the ground. I thought I was gonna be crushed.

Then these security guys push through the crowd and save me and Martana's ass's. They take us back to security and make sure we are ok. So they let us go and I decide I'll never to to another Ted Nugent show again. I didn't know anything about him back then. After, I read that he was a really macho asshole and was into killing animals just for the kill. That was one concert that turned bad.

That shit used to happen sometimes back in those days. There were a few general admission concerts where peeps got crushed to death against the stage. After that I learned my lesson (not getting too close to the stage unless I knew it was gonna be a mellow concert). Still like "Cat Scratch Fever" but have a hard time listening to it since that show.
angel

Posted by i220 at 07:42 AM | Comments (5)

September 23, 2005

Pauls Meets "Our Lady Peace"

Not so Back in tha Day...

Pauls: Well yesterday, one of my adolescent dreams came true. I finally got to meet Our Lady Peace.

The company that I work for (Fluid Concepts Group) is assisting with the production of the Future Shop/OLP promotion. On the day OLP's newest album was released, Future Shop did a special promotion. The first 500 people in Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver, received a wrist band for a special OLP performance in that city.

Yesterday was the Vancouver performance. My company wasn't very involved in the Vancouver show, but I still got to go and ended up working. I was asked by our client to take some pictures during the meet & greet. So, I did get to meet the band and got my own picture.

The best part of the whole experience was when I was saying, "bye" and thanking them and Raine said, "So, we'll see you in Montréal!" much to my dismay, I don't get to go to Montreal. Someone else from the office was already slotted to go. :(

I'm sure I will have many more interesting stories to come. I'll keep you all posted!

Posted by i220 at 09:44 AM | Comments (3)

September 17, 2005

Angel's Back in The Daze Tales

Memories From Quincy CA.

I met a really cool spearite from Quincy CA at a spearhead concert and talking with her brought back some cool memories of when I lived there in 1974.

Getting to Quincy you go up the beautiful Feather River Canyon. This canyon road is unbelievable; gorgeous rivers, mountains and trees. So me and a few of my hippie friends used to go to this really cool swimming hole where peeps swam in the nude; skinny dipping. It was so great there. People of all ages bathed in the sun and felt free; Mother's, fathers, children and grandparents.

So one time I'm just all kicked back feeling great and loving the sun. I'm just being there feeling fine and high. No one bothers you. Everyone is mellow.

So all of a sudden we hear this music by Santana and these two dudes that look just like Cheech and Chong (out of a Cheech & Chong movie) drive right up to the river in their low-rider. They're making all kinds of noise and disturbing everyone. The two dudes are going up to the women sun bathers and saying shit like "Hey mama, you got some nice titties." Everyone is irritated and feeling self-conscious. These guys are totally out of control. They come over to me and start making rude remarks.

Then, it's so funny cause these 4 hippie long haired dudes (totally naked) go over to the Cheech and Chong dudes and literally pick them up and carry them back to their car. Man, I am laughing so hard. The hippie dudes tell the dudes to either be respectful or split. Well, Cheech and his friend get pissed and flip us all off. It was just one of the funniest things that I've ever seen.

Anyway that's just one story I have from "back in my hippie daze".
angel of the earth

Posted by i220 at 10:01 AM | Comments (0)

July 28, 2005

More Back in the Daze by Angel

Just had to write about seeing "The Who" in 1993. That wasn't back in daze, but it was one of the coolest concerts I've ever been to. It was the 4th of July and a really cool dude gave me 4 tickets to see "The Who". I couldn't believe it. I had done him a solid to keep him from being evicted at the apartment complex I was property manager at. Well, he in turn repaid me by giving me the blessed tickets. He was working at a local radio station and used to get promo tickets. So cool he gave them to me. Talk about good karma, you give and you receive.

Anyway, I bought two more tickets and invited my son Tom and his wife and my two incredible grandgirls to go. So it was me and my old man and my kids and grandkids; three generations of concert goer's. Man, it was so cool being there with my family. I had raised my kids on concerts when they were growing up, now they were raising my grandkids on concerts. It was so cool watching my grandgirls, 4 and 6 years old rocking out to the music. They loved it. They were dancing all around and having a ball.

"The Who" were incredible that night. Man, they played all of their famous songs. I was feeling so good and dancing and just enjoying life and loving my family being there with me. That concert brought back so many memories as the last time I had seen "The Who" was back in '75.

At the end of the show there was this incredible fireworks show. I'll never forget that night and that concert. It was the best 4th of July I've ever had. My husband became a total Who fan after that.

Posted by i220 at 08:18 PM | Comments (0)

May 22, 2005

BACK IN THE DAZE III

By: Angel

So it was August of 1975. I had moved to a small town in Wyoming to take care of my grandparents. The town was Evanston. I found this town to be full of hippies and cool peeps; lots of music going on and partying. The rock group, the Eagles, were all that back then. A friend and I heard that they were gonna play in Salt Lake City, Utah. We were jacked. We got two tickets - cost us a whole $14.00 (man I wish concert tix were still that affordable)!

Read on - Klik below. Let Angel know whasup with a comment :P

The night of the concert we were feelin good; Smoked a little "J" on the way. Drove down this incredible canyon, called Parley's canyon, near what is now Park City. It was gorgeous. The trees were all golden, red, brown and orange. The sun was setting. Man, we were feelin no pain at all.

We got to the concert and I was noticing that the peeps going into the concert were all dressed up. That was weird for that time when most peeps dressed hippie style. So me and my dude were smokin' another "J" in my '65 VW and rockin out to the Eagles on my tape deck. Wandering into the concert hall was a trip. All the lights in the hall were on. There was no general admission, although that's what we paid for. Rolls and rolls of chairs were all lined up and held together by rope. So fuckin' weird, I had never seen anything like that. The chairs were so close together there was no way to get up and groove and shake your bootie to the music.

The concert started, but they didn't turn off the lights. There were quite a few hippie types there and alot of us started yelling "Turn off the lights". Then this dude came out on the stage and announced that the lights would stay on, there would be no smoking of cigerettes or pot and there would be no dancing. Man, everybody went bezerk!! No way could this be happening. Then I remembered we were in Mormon territory. I looked around at the crowd again and really saw the people that were there. They were mormons, all uptight and dressed up in their sunday best.

Finally the Eagles came out and man, they rocked the house. Their music was even better in person than on their albums. They sang "Witchery Woman" so hot it made me sweat. Through the whole concert they were trying to get peeps to dance and jive. Everytime someone got up and tried to boogie, some big ass cop (not security but real cops) came over and pushed them back down in their seats. We were for sure in Donny and Marie Osmond territory (they were worshiped in Salt Lake city back then by the mormon kids).

After a long 2 hour run and singing their hearts out, Glenn Frey, the lead guitarist got up to the mic and said, "Fuck you Salt Lake! We're never comin back here again." As soon as Glenn said that the place went nuts! Everyone, including myself and my friend, ran up to the stage and started yelling, "It's not our fault, this place sucks". It was so cool 'cause we climbed on stage and I got to meet all the members of the band. Immediately though, the police stormed the place and threw us all out. What a bummer night. Never been to a concert like that. And I never went to another one in Salt Lake Utah again. But, hey, it was worth it to meet the members of the band the "Eagles".

Posted by i220 at 11:57 AM | Comments (4)

April 11, 2005

'BACK IN THE DAYS' #2 by Angel

So it's l974, August; nice and hot. My younger sister and I are living together. We are two crazy chicks lookin' for some fun. I have this old l968 Chevy station wagon that I love. On the weekends me and my sis would just be driving around town and chillin' to the music on the radio and getting high on some good bud. One particular Saturday, we havs nothin' else to do but cruize down highway 99 from Chico, California. So we see this cool lookin dude hitchhiking (it was safe in those days). He's just standing there with his thumb out and has long hair down to his ass lookin all stoned. We stop and say "Hey dude, where ya goin?" Dude says, "Man, I'm tryin to get a ride to Santa Cruz, 'cause War's playing tonight". Man, I had been wantin to go see War (Cisco Kid was a friend of mine). They were a rockin' group that were all that in those days. So we tell Dude, "Hop in man". In those days everyone hitch hiked. You could always count on a few bucks or some mighty good weed for payment to transport peeps. So Dude says, "Ya wanna try some Tennesee weed?" He has this slow southern drawl that sounds like Quick Draw MaGraw from the cartoons on Saturdays. He says really slow and sexy, "My name's Jimmie Walker, I'm from Chatanooga, Tennesse. I been thumbin' a ride out to California to see me some rock bands."
Man, my sister falls in love or lust, which ever - doesn't matter. She says, "Jimmi, we will take you anywhere you want to go", and she jumps in the back seat with him. So I'm thinkin, "Hey, this is cool, we got nothin else to do". I say, "Dude, got any cash for gas?" (in those days gas cost about 75 cents a gallon). Jimmi hands me $10. Man, we are on our way. Santa Cruz is about 3 hours from Chico.

Throw a comment up on Angel's story :)

So we're cruizin' along, gettin so high and feelin so mellow - driving slow like you do when you're stoned. Up ahead there's two more dudes hitchin' a ride. We stop and I say, "where to boys?" They hop in and introduce themselves. They are Billy and Joe, two brothers from Seattle. Not only are they brothers, but they are brotha's (two black dudes). Just so happens these dudes are musicians trying to get to San Francisco. They want to go to Haight Ashbury and hang out. So I say, "Dudes, got any money for gas?" Billy gives me a $20 bill and says, "You guys like to smoke hashish?" Man, this trip was gettin better every minute. So we decide to keep the hashish for later, I am feelin' cool already.

We all decide to get to Santa Cruz first to see War, spend the night on the beach and then go onto San Francisco the next morning and hang at Haight Ashbury. It's getting around noon and we are all having the munchies from the pot. So we decide to go into a Dairy Queen and munch out. We are one ragged looking, but cool group, Now we are in a little cowboy, redneck town called Lincoln. We aren't thinkin' straight or we never would have stopped in this ole hick town (People back then hated hippies as much as they hated blacks). So we trip on into Dairy Queen just being hungry and wanting to get on the feed bag. Man, everyone in Dairy Queen stops and stares and gives us looks like they got rope in their eyes. (wanta string us up). The girl at the counter acts like we have some kinda disease. She copps attitude with us - doesn't want to wait on us. So I take over and say, "Hey chick, just give us our order and we'll do ya a favor and split and go somewhere else to eat." We get a sack load of hamburgers, fries and drinks and stumble outta there. As we get in the car, I look back and everyone is staring at us outta the windows of Dairy Queen. We all flash the peace sign to them and split just laughin' like crazy.

So we're just about into Santa Cruz and we see two chicks hitchin', and the dudes in my car start yellin at me to stop and pick 'em up. So being the kind taxi driver that I am, I oblige. These two chicks are so cool, Cindy and Dawn. Believe or not, they are on their way to see War too. So now I have myself, my sister, two chicks and three dudes in my car. Man, it's good that my old station wagon will seat about 10 peeps in it. We have 7, almost full.

The chicks have some tyrolia with them, (good ass cheap wine that was a hippie favorite) and some righteous homemade peanut butter cookies. Man, we muched out.

We pull into Santa Cruz just about 4pm. None of us had stopped to think about staying warm on the beach that night. So we make a fast trip to the nearest thrift store, buy some pillows and blankets
and some cool clothes to wear to the concert. The show starts at 7pm. We see a fruit stand near the beach so we load up on some delicious pears, apples, plums, bananans and apple juice. We still have a 1/2 tank of gas, so we knew we have enough to get to San Francisco the next morning.

Man, we are at the concert and War is kickin' butt. Those dudes can play. There's so much pot at the concert, (those days everyone shared). War's singin', "All my friends are low riders; Cisco kid was a friend of mine; and Why can't we be friends?" We be feelin' good and have no pain at all. We all sleep on the beach that night. The stars are spectacular, we party all night long. Drinkin' Tyrolia and eating luscious fruit. We are so damned happy. We are just flying by the seat of our pants, no worries, we know we'll make it back to Chico, no prob.!!

Haight Asbury is so cool, hippies all over the place. We are truly fucked up and decide we are gonna find where the Grateful Dead live, we just knew they'd invite us in and party with us. Well, we get sidetracked by some cool peeps we meet and they invite us over to their crib. We party all day with them, they feed us homemade burrittos and sangria. Kathy and I have to get back to Chico cause we both work Monday morning. So we get ready to split. Jimmy Walker decides he loves Sis so he comes back with us. We're not sure if we have enough gas to get back and one of the cool hippie chicks at this pad says " Here, you can have this". She hands me this big ass jar with about 3,000 pennies in it. We all start laughin' so hard I fall to the ground. I give her a hug and say, "Thanks my sister". We take the jar with us. You should have seen the bank teller when we walked into the bank early Monday morning to cash in the pennies. I'll never forget that. Man, we had enough to fill the tank plus stop by Dairy Queen on the way home. It was one righteous trip. Kathy and Jimmy set up house and had a great time together for about 6 months and then he went back to Chattanoga Tennessee. Hey, I have alot more of these stories of my wild and stoned days of the 70's goin to rock concerts. Check in for the next edition.

Posted by i220 at 07:17 AM | Comments (3)

February 27, 2005

Back In The Day by Angel of Rock

I remember the first rock concert I ever went to. It was 1973, and I was 26 years old years old. I was just escaping my conservative and close minded up bringing. I was an innocent babe and of all this rebellion stuff was new to me. My sister and I went to see Curtis Mayfield at Chico State College in California. We were two good lookin' women in a sea of horny dudes. As we were standing in line for the show this dude comes up to me and says, "Hey baby, you wanna try some of my wine?" He had a boda bag full of wine (those days the thang was to carry your brew in a boda bag). Being really thirsty and dumb, I say, "that would be cool". He practically drains the bag down my parched throat. So I'm rapping with this dude and when we get into the concert he just hangs with us.

Angel is a friend from sowth uv tha border. She lived it back when it was werth livin'. If you have a tale of your own to share, comment below or email to weblog@themusicalrevolution.com

So I'm all aglow in amazement; all of the people at the concert, the sounds, smells and unbelieveable music. Man, I was having the time of my life. Curtis comes on and lordy, he rocks the house with "Pusherman". I had never heard music like that before. We were getting down - jiving to the riffs. All of a sudden, I start seeing shit that's not really there. I had never been high before and unbeknownst to me, my new friend with the boda bag forgot to mention that the wine was full of LSD. Shit! That's not cool to do to someone and not tell em first.

By now I'm really trippin. People's faces are lookin all deranged and freeky. My skin's just itchin' like a mother fucker and my face is twitchin'. No one's really noticin' me 'cause Curtis' got em jumpin'. I look over to this dude in front of me and he's got this really bright red hair. Man, I decide that his head's on fire and that I'm gonna save his life. I grab my sister's soda and pour it all over the innocent dude's head. He starts screamin' at me, "What the fuck!" I'm yellin, "hey, I'm saving your life asshole." He tries to move away from me and I start chasin' him through the crowd. I tackle him and he falls to the ground. I cover his head with my sweatshirt. So then everyone goes wild. The security police come and grab me and take me back stage. By then I'm totally out of it. Hey, I don't even know what's wrong with me. The police are talkin about having me 5l50'd and taken to a mental hospital. My sister's screaming at 'em to let me go. Things are lookin bad for me but thankfully the dude that gave me the acid sends in an anonymous note saying he gave me wine with acid. Then he splits. Realizing that I'm truly fucked up, the cops decide to rush me to a hosptial and have my stomach pumped. On the ride in the ambulance I puke up my guts and all of the shit comes out. Man, I was thankful I didn't have to have my gut pumped.

So, that was my first experience at a rock concert. Got to say that I learned the hard way not to take shit from strangers. That went on alot back in those days, peeps just givin ya shit and everybody takin it. It didn't matter what it was. So that night I went from innocent lamb to knowing what was up. But, it didn't keep me from going to more concerts, I just took my own drinks in my new boda bag from then on.

angel of rock

Posted by i220 at 06:22 PM | Comments (3)

February 19, 2005

The Real Mixtape: CockRawk (1986-91)!

A friend of mine recently told me that this era was a mistake. I dare him to listen to this mixtape (CD) and repeat that statement.

Magnum - On a Storyteller's Night
Extreme - Pornograffitti
Tesla - Flight To Nowhere
Warrant - April 2031
Little Angels - Don't Pray For Me
Ozzy Osbourne - Mr. Crowley
Living Colour - Go Away
Guns & Roses - Mr. Brownstone
Aerosmith - Janie's Got a Gun
Skid Row - In a Darkened Room

Some of us weren't so lucky. We weren't 17 in '92 or '68. But we did search out the best music of our times! Do YOU feel that an era is unfairly represented? Give us your mixtape. Educate us!

Of course, not one of these songs is representational of the era. But, neither are the ones that made it to video/radio? If you hate guitar solos or high falsetto male voices then this music will never be for you - just as I'm sure that Led Zepplin isn't either ;) But if you think that the era was one dimensional and had no depth then check these lyrics from said songs:

"There’s a chill wind at your back door and the fire cracks on the damp floor. You hear footsteps but you’re not sure on a storyteller’s night."
"Sex when I'm all alone it calls me on the phone. Can't stop this ringing in my ear."
"So just stop, let me off. Seems that I can't get my point across to you. I know you're listening, but I'm just not getting through.
"As far back as Vietnam we should have learned our lesson but we closed our eyes and sent our sons away"
"Don't pray for me. Don't let me go. I have lost all my dreams and now I am cold to the bone."
"Mr. Charming, did you think you were pure; Mr. Alarming, in nocturnal rapport? Uncovering things that were sacred manifest on this earth. Conceived in the eye of a secret and they scattered the afterbirth."
"I see the starving Africans on TV. I feel it has nothing to do with me. I sent my twenty dollars to Live Aid. I paid my guilty conscience to go away."
"I used to do a little but a little wouldn't do so a little got more and more. I just keep trying to get a little better. Said a little better than before."
"Honey honey, what's the problem? Tell me. It ain't right. Was it your daddy's cradle-robbin' that made you scream at night?"
"And the innocence of a child is bought and sold. In the name of the damned, the rage of the angels left silent and cold."

This IS what I was listening to at the time. Fear, exasperation, frustration, remorse, dispair, reverant curiosity, anger, being overwhelmed, empathy and giving up. These songs helped me face these feelings and turn them into positive energy. I can't say anything bad about that.

Posted by i220 at 10:22 AM | Comments (7)

December 09, 2004

The Dust - Part 1

Boutie meets Strange Bargain

Klik below to read the first installment of Boutie's autobiographical book, The Dust.

The story begins on a Tuesday night in April 1999, in London, Ontario at Fanshawe College. I was going to the last pub of the year at Fanshawe Student Union. As a member of the FSU Entertainment Committe, I arrived early to help with set up.

I thought I was alone, but found some other girls from the committee. Everything had already been set up so, there wasn't much for us to do.

It was the Roger's Indie Pub. It was being filmed to be aired at a later date on Roger's cable TV (which by the way I still have not seen). The deal was that you could win a chance to introduce one of the bands.

This was the last pub of the year. It wasn't surprising when only 50 or so people showed up. The perk to being at this pub was that your chances of being selected to introduce one of the bands, was pretty good.

One of the girls that I had met up with that night was very excited to introduce the first band...STRANGE BARGAIN. She was going nuts over the guitar player, who had already removed his shirt. Anything to get the chicks!

After their set the band came and sat with the 3 of us. The girls were very excited to hang out with these hot musicians!

For the first time I officially met, Big Finger, Shogun and Magnus. Other wise known as Matt, Ben and John. All three of them were very funny. We instantly clicked. I was a tad embarassed by the other 2 girls. I was having fun with meeting some really cool new people. The girls were more interested in getting into their pants. (Yes boys, it's true, anyone of you could have ended up with either of those girls that night.)

We all sat there for pretty much the rest of the night, until Matt had to break up the party, because he had to go to work. He was working nights at Loblaws at the time. And come to think of it, he still is. (It's ok Matt I still love you!)

Before they left they told us that they were playing a show that Thursday at the Whippet Lounge.

Stay tuned for details of The Dust - Part 2 The Infamous Whippet Lounge

Posted by i220 at 11:06 PM | Comments (1)

November 29, 2004

Introducing... Boutie, Rock 'n Roll Insider

Boutie: "Well, anyone who knows me knows that I have had the opportunity to meet many very cool musicians. Having a sister in the business makes it very easy to meet a lot of really cool people. I have two stories that I would like to share with you."

You know those ladies that get to hang wit your favorite music types cuz they're well... ladies or maybe just well connected. My gurl Boutie has both advantages over the rest of us. She gives killer... story.
Klik below.

1) I was visiting my sister here in Vancouver. It was about 4 years ago. Sloan happened to be playing a show here. At this point in my sister's career she had become friends with Sloan. So, not only were we on the guest list but, we had after show passes as well. Sloan was playing at the Vogue Theatre.

My sister and I were going to grab some seats on the balcony level. We get to the top of the stairs and my sisters tells me that we'll wait till the end of the song to take a seat. Next thing we knew, the power triping security guy, with his big flash light told us to take a seat. My sister explained to him that theatre etiquette was to wait for the song to be done. He didn't care, got right in my sisters face and said, "Can you see now?"

To avoid anymore conflict with this power tripping meathead we took our seat. After the show we were waiting in the lobby with our passes on and the same security guy comes down the stairs. He sees us and sees are passes and is a total jerk. "So, are you excited that you get to see them all up close now?" he said in a very cocky tone.

My sister and I just blew him off. "Yeah whatever!"

Seconds later Chris Murphy comes bounding out the stage door. Sees my sister and is so happy to see her. "MARY!!!!!" he says and gives her a huge hug. "I'm so glad you made it to the show."

The sercurity meathead had seen the whole thing. It was priceless. I'm sure that guy will think twice before he trys a power trip again.
Then I got to hang out with the whole band and ended up going for drinks with Pat and my sister. I found out how they came up with the name Sloan. Not a fascinating story, but an interesting one. Very cool experience and fun just hanging out with the band.

2)This summer I got to meet Hawkesly Workman. I really love his music. And him. :)

My roommates are in a band called Stabilo. Some of you may have heard of them. They are up and coming. Lots of great things happening with them.

In July they played a show with Sloan, 54-40 and Hawkesly Workmen. After Sloan played, Karl (bass player of Stabilo) came and found myself and my other roommate. We decided that we were going to try and get in to the VIP room. He said they had been pretty slack on the security to the VIP room. It was pretty easy. Karl and his wife both had passes and they didn't care to see if my roommate and I had passes. We just pretended like we did. I couldn't believe how easy it was. I guess it's true what they say, just look like you belong there.

While we were hanging out, Jesse (lead vocals and guitar player for Stabilo) was talking to Hawkesly, my perfect opportunity to meet him. I walked over and Jesse puts his arm around me and asks me how I was doing?
I said, "I'm doing good Jesse but, I want to talk to this man right here." And I point at Hawkesly.

I then had a really great conversation with Hawkesly. I told him about the first time I had seen him play at a COCA Conference. We talked about that for while. We talked about what I was doing in Vancouver. It was very cool.

My roommates still bug me about how I was flirting with Hawkesly. Hey at least I had the balls to go and talk to him, so to speak.

I have many many more interesting celebrity? meetings. Maybe you'll get to hear some more....

Posted by i220 at 10:27 AM | Comments (3)

November 07, 2004

The "Back In The Day Tales" Category

Tales of concerts, celebrity encounters, musical experiences, gigs, CDs, DVDs, etc... gone by. We wanna hear 'bout it!

Man, I remember this time I was at "Zaphod Beeblebrox" or was it "The Restaurant at the End of Finch and Don Mills"? Anyway, I actually met Zaphod Beeblebrox*, no word of a lie! He was just sitting at the bar casually drinking a Pan Galactic Gargleblaster, Woah! So I walk up to him and say something stupid like, "I bet you're the only cat who can truly satisfy the Olsen twins..." You know, because of his two heads... Is this mic on? Well, I think that's what I said. I was pretty drunk...
Believe it or not? Comment on this or any other (not so) tall tale: Klik on the Comments button at the bottom of each entry.
Got your own gem to share? Send it ova to: weblog@themusicalrevolution.com
Want more laughs? Check the Back In Tha Day Tales Category.

*Note: Zaphod Beeblebrox is a registered trademark of "The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams and is not representative of... Blah blah blah...

Posted by i220 at 12:52 PM | Comments (9)