Over the course of the last few years I have worked at the various X Factors around the world. The one in the UK is by far the biggest thing in England since Tea and Crumpets. Now i have never really been a fan of sitting down and watching the show. You know, picking a favorite and hopeing they make it to the final...and who knows maybe even win!
Well this is a different year on American Television ,and I am in fact tuning into the X Factor.
Before you get all judgmental and whatnot , please do not worry. I am not recording the show, or even making sure I am available during the times it is on. i am merely turning it on the nights that I am home.
Now all that being said, I missed a few weeks and was very disappointed last night to realize that my favorite girl did not make it past the "boot camp" phase , and is not part of the big show!
Damn this girl can sing!
I guess its all about Astro now.....
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Occupy the Occupation
Perhaps I do not fully understand this occupy movement. Or maybe it is that i need to dig a little deeper in my knowledge on the subject. Yes we have a major problem in this world today with the financial system, the people that run it, and all of the men behind the curtains who really are in charge.
My concern at the moment though is that this movement is going to get lost in its values and turn more into homeless camps. I mean nothing will ever change without an assemblence of people , and a collective voice. We all know the saying the squeeky wheel gets the oil. In that regard I say Kudos to the organizers for rallying the troops and letting those in the corporate world know that we have had enough!
Yet the stories of violence in the occupy camps, or drive by tourist photo sessions are starting to take over the news and media on the subject. In Vancouver the camp at the art gallery was almost deemed unsanitary after major rains caused flooding and major mud. Currently there is mass fighting in Oakland at the occupy camp, and the occupy wall street collection is becoming more and more of a photographer/tourist subject. In Calgary alberta, the occupy movement is nothing more than a tent city for the cities homeless squabbling over inter camp petty theft.
Lets hope this all does not get lost as it grows. We need to bring change about, and i say thank you to the organizers around the world for their parts in trying to create one voice.
I am left wondering though how long this will continue for.
My concern at the moment though is that this movement is going to get lost in its values and turn more into homeless camps. I mean nothing will ever change without an assemblence of people , and a collective voice. We all know the saying the squeeky wheel gets the oil. In that regard I say Kudos to the organizers for rallying the troops and letting those in the corporate world know that we have had enough!
Yet the stories of violence in the occupy camps, or drive by tourist photo sessions are starting to take over the news and media on the subject. In Vancouver the camp at the art gallery was almost deemed unsanitary after major rains caused flooding and major mud. Currently there is mass fighting in Oakland at the occupy camp, and the occupy wall street collection is becoming more and more of a photographer/tourist subject. In Calgary alberta, the occupy movement is nothing more than a tent city for the cities homeless squabbling over inter camp petty theft.
Lets hope this all does not get lost as it grows. We need to bring change about, and i say thank you to the organizers around the world for their parts in trying to create one voice.
I am left wondering though how long this will continue for.
Lines
Cmon Calgary, don't be afraid to paint the road lines every once in awhile. I mean when the lanes are accurately divided and represented with solid lines or cats eyes, we as drivers get along better.
Friday, October 21, 2011
One of my faves...
I remember when I was like 18 or 19 and I first saw Silverchair on Muchmusic. The album was Frogstomp and the single/video was for the song "tomorrow". These three kids were like 16 years old and I was jealous beyond belief! The Nirvana comparisons were all over the place ,and somewhat deservingly so.
However Daniel Johns had bigger and better plans for his future that did not fully include going out like Kurt Cobain did. Instead of sticking to the grunge formula and re-writing the same old songs over and over again, Daniel took it upon himself to challenge his writing abilities and continue to grow as both a musician and a songwriter.
The record "Young Modern" is by no means new anymore, but it is their latest offering. If you were familiar with the "frogstomp" Silverchair boys , you had no idea what men they would grow up to be.
The single "Straight Lines" is by far one of my favorite songs over the past few years. Inspiring , honest, melodic, and a rich full arraignment throughout.
Check it out...
However Daniel Johns had bigger and better plans for his future that did not fully include going out like Kurt Cobain did. Instead of sticking to the grunge formula and re-writing the same old songs over and over again, Daniel took it upon himself to challenge his writing abilities and continue to grow as both a musician and a songwriter.
The record "Young Modern" is by no means new anymore, but it is their latest offering. If you were familiar with the "frogstomp" Silverchair boys , you had no idea what men they would grow up to be.
The single "Straight Lines" is by far one of my favorite songs over the past few years. Inspiring , honest, melodic, and a rich full arraignment throughout.
Check it out...
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Cover Me Canada
Lately i find myself tuning into some of the sing off style shows on the television. X Factor America is currently something I watch, and I say this with relative shame, but I like it! What can I say...
On sunday nights the last few weeks Canadian TV has a show running "Cover Me Canada". The premise of the show is that 8 singers/groups/bands are selected from our vast country and must perform their version of an already famous Canadian song. I must say that with all Canadian produced shows of this nature, there is a larger element of cheese than say some of the more polished american shows have. Yet i have tuned in and watch the last couple of weeks , partly because i do know some of the performers and musicians, and partly for guilty pleasure.
Tonight Victoria's Georgia Murray was eliminated, and I apologize if i offend anyone, but it was deserved. Not a very well done cover of SPirit Of The Wests "home for a rest". Looked more like a competition between violin and singer!
Check Check Check it out....
Here is my current favorite....
On sunday nights the last few weeks Canadian TV has a show running "Cover Me Canada". The premise of the show is that 8 singers/groups/bands are selected from our vast country and must perform their version of an already famous Canadian song. I must say that with all Canadian produced shows of this nature, there is a larger element of cheese than say some of the more polished american shows have. Yet i have tuned in and watch the last couple of weeks , partly because i do know some of the performers and musicians, and partly for guilty pleasure.
Tonight Victoria's Georgia Murray was eliminated, and I apologize if i offend anyone, but it was deserved. Not a very well done cover of SPirit Of The Wests "home for a rest". Looked more like a competition between violin and singer!
Check Check Check it out....
Here is my current favorite....
Rifflandia 4
During the weekend of Sept 23 - 25th 2011, i was a big part of the Rifflandia Festival in Victoria BC Canada. This was the 4th installment of the little festival that could, brought to you by the amazing Casey, Nick and Dimitri. Over 110 acts through the course of four days, with a mainstage/side stage in the biggest venue the festival has ever been in. Royal Athletic Park was the center piece for this years festival with 15 acts per day rotating between the mainstage and the sidestage. I myself was in charge of the sidestage and hired my good friend RJ to come and help facilitate the smooth operations of the little stage in the corner. I think we all kicked ass and am so very proud to have been a part of Rifflandia. This video posting below is an amazing montage of one truly wonderful weekend at the end of September.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
You be the Judge
Growing up as much of a music fan as I did, and being quite the rocker back in my day, it is no surprise that Guns and Roses were HUGE to me. When Appetite For Destruction came out I wasn't quite sure if i should be scared of these guys or if i should rock harder and sleezier than i ever had before.
Now we all know the soap opera that is Axl Rose, and its continuing story-line. After like 10 years of production and recording it took a bet from Dr. Pepper to finally have The Chinese Democracy see the light of day. Talk about over thinking something!
Anyways lately i have revisited the Appetite album and find it to really have withstood the test of time. It is not dated in its production values, or in the songs themselves. There is an energy captured on tape that is of a time and a moment yet to be repeated. The saga of Axl and the band has grown quite tiring in the last 15 years but the memories in my mind of listening to that record in my bedroom as loud as my stereo would go will never be forgotten.
Recently Axl and his new band of merrymen performed at the Rock In Rio festival. Over a million people in attendance and quite the downpour from the heavens led to the performance below.
Now back in August I went and saw Steven Adler and his version of Guns and Roses perform in Vancouver at the Venue. I must admit i was mostly drawn to the show because of Adler's recent appearance on Celebrity Rehab. I wanted to see this guy who has never been able to let go of the time he was in the band, and has subsequently battled a life full of demons. Check out the below clip of Paradise City by Adler's Appetite!
Slash has had of course his version of Guns and Roses called Slash's Snakepit. I am partially biased to Slash's direction has my good friend Brent Fitz plays drums in the band. Another good ol Canadian kid Todd Kearns is also in the band playing bass. The clip below is taken from the Oxegen festival in Dublin Ireland and shows that Slash is truly a beast!
Now of course it would not be fair to compare these three Guns incarnations without having the original source material. Check out this clip from the Ritz in New York City back in 1988.
Now that was a force to be reckoned with!
Now we all know the soap opera that is Axl Rose, and its continuing story-line. After like 10 years of production and recording it took a bet from Dr. Pepper to finally have The Chinese Democracy see the light of day. Talk about over thinking something!
Anyways lately i have revisited the Appetite album and find it to really have withstood the test of time. It is not dated in its production values, or in the songs themselves. There is an energy captured on tape that is of a time and a moment yet to be repeated. The saga of Axl and the band has grown quite tiring in the last 15 years but the memories in my mind of listening to that record in my bedroom as loud as my stereo would go will never be forgotten.
Recently Axl and his new band of merrymen performed at the Rock In Rio festival. Over a million people in attendance and quite the downpour from the heavens led to the performance below.
Now back in August I went and saw Steven Adler and his version of Guns and Roses perform in Vancouver at the Venue. I must admit i was mostly drawn to the show because of Adler's recent appearance on Celebrity Rehab. I wanted to see this guy who has never been able to let go of the time he was in the band, and has subsequently battled a life full of demons. Check out the below clip of Paradise City by Adler's Appetite!
Slash has had of course his version of Guns and Roses called Slash's Snakepit. I am partially biased to Slash's direction has my good friend Brent Fitz plays drums in the band. Another good ol Canadian kid Todd Kearns is also in the band playing bass. The clip below is taken from the Oxegen festival in Dublin Ireland and shows that Slash is truly a beast!
Now of course it would not be fair to compare these three Guns incarnations without having the original source material. Check out this clip from the Ritz in New York City back in 1988.
Now that was a force to be reckoned with!
With A Little Help
A few years back I found myself in a very special situation. i was working with Michael Buble and we were setting up and getting ready to perform on the final episode of a very unique UK television personality. We were in a television studio in London England getting ready to be part of the final show of the Parkinson Television Show.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinson_(TV_series)
During the day there was no studio audience inside and while we were getting ready to set up and such, Joe Cocker and his band ran through the song "With a little help from my friends". They did the number about 3 times , and I felt as if we were being treated to a special performance. It was then taped to be apart of the final episode of The Parkinson Show.
I am not able to find the clip online that was filmed that day, but as the song is so powerful i thought i would attach the iconic Woodstock performance. Sure the background singers are in a different key all together, and Joe looks like a poster boy for 1960s LSD use...but wow! what a performance!
enjoy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinson_(TV_series)
During the day there was no studio audience inside and while we were getting ready to set up and such, Joe Cocker and his band ran through the song "With a little help from my friends". They did the number about 3 times , and I felt as if we were being treated to a special performance. It was then taped to be apart of the final episode of The Parkinson Show.
I am not able to find the clip online that was filmed that day, but as the song is so powerful i thought i would attach the iconic Woodstock performance. Sure the background singers are in a different key all together, and Joe looks like a poster boy for 1960s LSD use...but wow! what a performance!
enjoy
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