Robots Need Love Too

So, it’s a very spoooooky Halloween night (although extremely quiet, maybe because it’s a Sunday. It is weird to have the day of the dead on the day of God and the church, but what can you do). For this spooky night, I have a, wel,l not so spooky topic. This one I debated over and over again in my head because I’ve already talked about him so many times, but I saw him last night, and I think I have even more to add. So, as some of you may know, I went to see Dan Mangan last night, and as some of you may also know I have made an insane claim. A claim that doesn’t come easily. Are you ready for it? I think his show last night may have been one of my favourite shows EVER, if not my favourite live show. Although I’m going to try, I’m not sure I can even begin to explain the impact it had on me, and how truly great it was, but I’ll give it my best shot.

First of all, it was snowing on our way into the show (and as we left). And for all of you who do not know me, there is nothing I love more than snow. Especially big, Christmas-like flakes of snow. I really don’t understand how people don’t like it? It makes things a hundred times prettier. So we’re standing in line, with the pretty snow falling, and than we enter one of the prettiest churches. Seemed really old school. There were two opening bands. First was a band called The Crackling, part of Dan Mangan’s band. They were pretty awesome. And than came the Harbourcoats, a single man, singer-songwriter, thing. It was also very good, although slightly sleepy at times. But, just when you were getting slightly bored, out came Dan looking completely adorable in his stripy hoodie (and Burning Hell t-shirt, kinda funny for a church but, Peterborough represent!). They started the whole show with Sold, one of my very favourite songs. The whole thing was really pumped up, and fantastic. After that, they did song, after song, after song that I really liked and I got worried that all my favourites were going to go, and I was going to end up doing the classic “watch watching” thing I find myself doing at some shows. But, it just got better and better and better.

Usually at a live show, if you’re lucky you get what I call a “moment”. A song that seems to change everything. In this show, there seemed to be quite a few moments, from the very first song. Highlights for me were Sold, of course, Tina’s Glorious Comeback (another of my faves, love the Tom Waits reference), Robots, and an unknown song as his encore at the very end. For Tina’s Glorious Comeback, they went completely acoustic and just clapped and stomped, a perfect, perfect moment. Because it was the Halloween weekend a lot of people came in their costumes, my very favourite were the two robot guys. I’m assuming robots because of Dan’s song Robots. So half way through the song (his last song of the night before the encore) he called them up to the stage to strut their stuff. Following those guys all the people in costumes came up. Everyone started to sing along and clap, and viola, a moment. The greatest part of the night though, was his final encore song. I’m sad to admit I don’t even know what it was, but man was it good. He ditched his guitar and mic and walked right into the crowd to sing. The acoustics were so great you could here him perfectly. The song he sang was really sad, everyone just kind of clapped and sang along. It was really perfect, this scruffy guy in a Burning Hell tshirt standing on a pew singing this song about death, with dead zombie brides, robots, bee’s, cupcakes, and everyone singing together. It was really something, and very hard to describe. All I can say, is I don’t think one person wanted to leave that church, I think everyone would have stayed for the rest of the night, I know I would have. But sadly it had to come to an end, and a happy end it was. For now though, I’m going to give your eyes, and brain a break, and let you sit back and relax to his great video for Robots. Picture home-made robots dancing around while watching it, it really enhances the experience.

I love this video, in all its crazy 80′s robots glory. It’s pretty cool. Even the cheesy happily-ever-after ending works. Once again thank you for indulging me, and allowing, or at least tolerating, another Dan Mangan post, I hope you weren’t too disappointed. It’s pretty hard to capture the same moment I felt while there. All I can say is go see him live, trust me you won’t be disappointed, and remember “Robots need love too”.

Overall Rating: 5++++

Comments: There has never been a more likable guy, I wanted to go right up and give him a huge hug. He seemed to have such passion for what he does, it made him really endearing and likeable.

P.S. hope you had a great Halloween, I did

P.P.S. since it snowed, you have to listen to Hawksley’s First Snow of the Year, it’s a tradition in my family.

Lowside Of The Road

It’s Saturday, and a deliciously rainy and miserable one at that. And to perfectly match that cold, miserable, gloomy day I have the perfect topic. This is one I’ve discussed quite a few times, so bear with me and “come on up to the house”. Yes, that’s right, Tom Waits is the topic for the day. If I could talk about him every day I would, but sadly I can’t so I guess I’ll just have to make the most of this post.

Over the past month I’ve bcome even more into Tom Waits than I thought possible. I’ve been starting to explore some of his stuff, other than Heart of Saturday Night. And it turns out it just gets better. Who knew? I’ve been especially in love with Closing Time these days, and most of all Ol’ 55. What I love most about Tom though, is the fact that he can be so many different people, yet still be Tom Waits. I mean would you think the same guy who wrote the unbelievably sweet and sad San Diego Serenade could also write the unbelievably creepy What’s He Building? Or the same guy who sang Ol’ 55 in a lovely and angelic way (can you say that about the devil himself?), can also sing Anywhere I Lay My Head with the craziest growl I’ve ever heard. I’m reading a biography about him right now written by Barney Hoskyns where Tom talks about truths and how sometimes it’s best to let people create their own visions of you. Well reading this biography has changed some of my views of him. I guess I always picture Waits as this young and handsome bad-ass musician who smoked a lot of cigarettes and sang in a lot of dingy bars. Like the guy on the cover of Heart Of Saturday Night who looked young and mysterious and like he really didn’t give a damn what other people thought. And I guess at one point he could have been this guy, but I never imagined Tom Waits married with three kids (how cool would that be, oh yeah Tom Waits is my dad, no big deal). In my head I’m still going to keep my picture though.

Below I’ve decided to show you what I think is a fan-made video although I can’t quite tell. It’s for Come On Up To The House, another of my very favourite Waits songs. It’s funny just today I realized my mom, dad and I all want Tom Waits songs for our funerals. My mom, Come On Up To The House, my dad, Anywhere I Lay My Head (so everyone marches out when the horns come in at the end) and me, San Diego Serenade. We really are quite the die-hard family (haha, get it die-hard..funeral, probably not my best joke). But back to the video. It’ really something else. If it is a fan-based video, well, I’m impressed.

The concept of the video is pretty simple, but there’s something so perfect about the tattoos. At first you think oh this is cool, and the effect grows more and more until (for me anyways) you’re kind of brought to this feeling of…happiness. Like everything somehow seems really right and perfect (cheesy I know). The video reall is quite ingenious. The haunting tattoos and his perfectly fantasic growl are a odd mixture but they make something pretty special. Plus the lyrics to the song are really something else. I especially love the line “Come down off that cross, we can use the wood”, whether he means it politically, religiously or any other way, it’s a pretty great line. With that I am going to say goodnight until next time.

P.S. Saw “Easy A” last night, it was very fantastic in a quirky kind of way.

P.P.S. Check out his website here, it’s actually really cool, especially the wit & wisdom section.

Eyes Full Of Horse Feathers

It’s Wednesday. Half way through my Hillside week and I have the perfect half-way through band. This is a band that like The Wooden Sky I knew I liked going in but left loving. They blew me away with the beautiful melodies and haunting voices. Horse Feathers combines a whole bunch of techniques to create a really beautiful sound. Some of these including cello, violin and Justin Ringles impossibly hauting and lovely voice. All three of these pieces not to mention the rest of the band are what make Horse Feathers a great live show and a great recording.

But a difficulty arose when I consulted the Hillside schedule to see who was playing and when. The insane schedulers of the Hillside scheduling department put Zeus and Horse Feathers on at the same time Sunday afternoon at 2:00. Now I don’t who did that, but I know I was mad about it. I just couldn’t decide who I would go see. In the end I decided Zeus (even though I’d already seen them twice, this was based purely on weather because Horse Feathers was on the main stage and that can be little risky). But than Sunday came around and it was a gorgeous day and I was back at base one. So I thought go see a few songs of Zeus (just to say I’d been there and than head off to the main stage for Horse Feathers). Well that was the perfect solution. I saw my favourtie Zeus song Kindergarten done, and than a whole lotta’ Horse Feathers.

That afternoon was gloriously sunny with a slight breeze so I sat on my mat and watched Horse Feathers lemonade in one hand, dumplings in the other (if you hadn’t already noticed this festival is mainly about food and the food you’re eating at certain performances, it’s quite an art to plan the perfect meal for the perfect show). People dozed around me sleepily swaying to the music and clapping along. Of course I was completely present for the whole show (no dozing here).

I was completely awed by the band and the music which made me wonder, how to do so many great bands come out of Portland, Oregon and why don’t I live there? I mean what’s so great about Portland, the Pacific ocean air must really get to all the people. Transforming them from fishermen (and women) to budding musicians creating soft indie, folk, country music. That’s certainly what Horse Feathers creates. At first I pinned them as a “country” band and than realized no, their far from that. More a folky, country band. Song titles like Curs In The Weeds don’t really help them from not being named a country band though.

So, if you’re looking for a Horse Feathers introduction I’d try checking out Eyes Full Of Rose and Curs In The Weeds first. And then just dive right in and download a CD. I’m really loving House With No Home right now but be sure to checkout their others to (oh and if you know where I can find a vinyl copy of it let me know, I missed them at the merch tent and couldn’t get it ).

For now though, check out the video for Curs In The Weeds. It’s a simple video and simply lovely song.

So enjoy the rest of your rainy Wednesday and check out more Horse Feathers, but for now have a goodnight until next time.

A Giggle Face Day

It’s really time for a post so here I am! I’ve been having a hard time coming up with topics so my dad suggested randomly pulling out a record and talking about it. Well I pulled out Train Your Bird To Talk. I’m not entirely sure if that will take up a whole post. It does include training lessons and stickers though. Which makes it even more fun and amusing. So instead I decided to create a list of the 10 random records I take out of my case. This will be especially fun because I haven’t really gone through the whole collection yet. This will give me a helping hand. And it will be amusing. So sit back, relax and get your giggle face on ’cause this I believe will be slightly amusing.

1. Train Your Bird To Talk – Annoying Female Automated Voice

2. Circles In The Stream – Bruce Cockburn (this one really is good. I saw him live and he was phenomanal)

3. Sounds From True Stories – David Byrne (below it says “music for activity freaks” there you go, I was confused but now I get it…)

4. Leon Redbone (now this is something I really do love, but who couldn’t with that deep and lovely voice, and songs like Polly Wolly Doodle which is of course is one of my favourites)

5. 54-40 (we just talked about this and I still love it. This one even includes I Go Blind)

6. A Jumpin’ Night In The Garden of Eden – The Klezmer Conservatory Band ( this my friends is a classic. I am so happy I came across this. You must check it out)

7. Oktoberfest im Hofbrauhaus – Holiday in Munich (enough said)

8. Dr. Demento Presents The Greatest Novelty Records Of All Time The 1980′s (I think this is also an “enough said” moment)

9. Night Vision – Bruce Cockburn (I guess it’s just that kind of day)

10. The B-52′s (this has a really “out of this world cover” and is deffientley a classic to finish off the playlist)

So that was amusing. I’m particulairly fond of Train Your Bird To Talk and Dr. Demento. Although The Klezmer Conservatory Band was really something else I didn’t even know I had. But I really loved the Bruce Cockburn so I think that’s a good topic for the day.

I know my moms always been a big fan of Bruce, and I can see why. He’s pretty awesome and he’s deffientley stood up against the test of time. He’s still uber popular and for good reason. Not only does he have an awesome voice, but his songs are great too. He’s a great song writer, writing one of my favourite lines ever. In Lovers In A Dangerous Time there’s a line “kick at the darkness ’til it bleeds daylight” that my mom used to always say to me when things got bad. It’s the perfect line, for that and anything else. In grade 8 we had a project where we had tell the class our favourite quote, well I said mine was “kick at the darkness ’til it bleeds daylight” by Bruce Cockburn, and all I got back was blank stares, only the teacher knew who he was. Slightly embarassing, but I thought it was just too bad for all those people who are missing out on great music. I think over the years the Barenaked Ladies have also contributed to Bruce’s popularity with that song, because there cover of it is known by many.

Of course Bruce has other great songs like Wondering Where The Lions Are, and The Coldest Night Of The Year. But I mean there’s tons. Seeing him live last year, made me realize how good he really is, and he’s awesome to see live. Really charismatic and fun, but still quiet and stern. I recommend if you ever get the chance, going and seeing him.

Here’s the video for Lovers In A Dangerous Time. It’s well pretty strange, and a little dated, but I never get tired of the 80′s track at the beginning of the song. Somehow even that doesn’t seem dated, although the video does.

What’s with the dancing people 1:50 and the masked people at 2:00, only slightly strange, and what does it have to do with the song. And whats with the smoke machine envoloping Bruce completely. It’s a strange and kinda disturbing video, but a super awesome song, so we’ll exuse the video. It’s kind of entertaining anyway.

It’s Creepy Out There

It’s Monday, once again. The only upside for Monday (for me anyway and hopefully you) is *drumroll please*, yes you got it Random Playlist Monday! Hooray! So sit back, relax and enjoy as my music library astounds you (hopefully in a good way).

1.  Heads Will Roll – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

2.  Make You Crazy (feat.Femi Kuti) – Brett Dennen

3.  Semi Suite – Tom Waits (sleepy time for me)

4.  You Got Growing Up To Do – Joshua Radin (awesome song, featured on my duets playlist)

5.  Liar – Mumford & Sons

6.  Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite – Across The Universe (fantastic movie)

7.  What’s He Building In There – Tom Waits (I guess it’s a Tom day. This song used to always freak me out)

8.  Loddy Lo – Chubby Checker (another one of my guys. His is one of my favourite record covers)

9. Whole Lotta Losin’ – Monsters Of Folk (the perfect combination of folky guys)

10. I’m Not Gonna Beg – Natalie Merchant

Okay, so I’m thinking that wasn’t my best, but it could have been worse. More of my happy old guys which is always good. A little Monsters Of Folk thrown in there and than a whole lotta Tom. I’m actually thinking Tom is perfect today.

The song Semi Suite is one of my favourites from what I call my  “sleepy CD”. For some reason I always fall asleep to it. I never would have called Tom a soothing kind of guy. Anyone who can play a good devil shouldn’t be lullaby material, but somehow he is. Trust me. But today I’d like to talk about What’s He Building In There. When I was little my dad was a huge Tom fan (and still is) and he always used to play this song. It really freaked me out and when it was dark I had to switch the song. I have to admit even now I’m freaked. Tom was a big deal at my house and he still is. I guess when I was still little one of my parents friends got one extra ticket to see Tom and my dad got it. I think to this day my mom is still bitter and I would be too. I think of all the musicians I want to see, Tom is number 1 (well except for The Pogues). Featured below is What’s He Building In There. Prepared to get freaked out. Really listen to the lyrics there quite strange.

It really is a weird video. Truly creepy.

Where The Wild Things Are

As I’m writing this, I’m sitting and listening to my Where The Wild Things Are record. And I was wondering what to write about but than I realized, it’s pretty obvious, I’m going to talk about Where The Wild Things Are.

As a little (and a kinda older kid) my parents always read to me at night (which I’m convinced turned me into the writer, reader and weirdo I am now, thanks mom and dad, truly ). Where The Wild Things Are was always one of the stories they read me, although I have to admit, it wasn’t always my very favourite. When I heard the movie was coming out though I was excited because I was hoping I’d get the story a little more as I got older. When I heard Spike Jonze was directing the movie my excitment grew even more. I went to see the movie close after opening night(with one of friends who didn’t appreciate it and my mom) without really knowing what I was in store for with the soundtrack…or the movie (the only song I had was All Is Love, which is probably still my favourite).

The movie, in my opinion was incredible. The monsters were unbelievable. Ira of course was my favourite but I defiently felt for Alexander, poor guy. The landscape and everything was great, the whole movie fit with the book even though the book has like nothing it. Spike must of had a pretty clear picture in his head because he got it so right. I felt like the whole movie was pretty moving. Did anybody else think that Carol should have hugged Max at the end? I did. And the soundtrack, well the soundtrack rocked my world. I can’t say I was ever really a fan of Karen O or the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s but maybe she’s just better with kids? Anyways, I love all of it, it has this really cool indie vibe to it that I love and somehow relates to the movie which I thought would be an impossible task. Head’s up is also one of my favourites.

I went shopping with my mom on the weekend and we ended up in Urban Outfitters. I think we must have spent about an hour there looking at clothes (of course) but also looking at all the other stuff they had. I mean I knew those stores had funky things, but I had no idea how cool. I not only got clothes (which were awesome) but I also got a Barack Obama figure that says things, sadly not Yes We Can! though (he’s staring down at me right now). I also got my Where The Wild Things Are Record (on sale). It has this really sad picture of Carol on the front that kinda of breaks my heart but makes me happy at the same time. I wnated to get a figurine to add to my collection of figurines (featuring Dude Love, yes Dude Love, his shirt actually says that and he’s a wrestling guy that I got at the dollar store. What does that even mean?) but they only had Max and I really didn’t want Max (even on sale) I wanted a monster.

You may be wondering why I don’t mind Where The Wild Things Are getting popular, but it’s not the same crowd of usuals who appreciate Where The Wild Things Are. It’s not like Nicholas Sparks The Last Song or Twlight because it isn’t annoying 12 yearold girls loving it, it’s people who are a little well…strange?

Anyways, I’ve posted All Is Love, check out the rest of CD, it’s great and if you haven’t already WATCH THE MOVIE! And of course, read the book, always read the book like my librarian mother says (actually she never said that, but if she a normal librarian I’m sure she would). Enjoy!

Of course their wasn’t an actual music video for the movie, but this is good because it gives you a snapshot of the movie if you haven’t already seen it of course, if you have well enjoy it again, or just listen to the song or just look at the big lovely monster faces. Think this made kids more scared of monsters in their closets or less. For me less.

Marching to Hillside

So it’s Hillside ticket buying day. We got ours…luckily. My aunt stood in line at the actual store and got them but I thought I’d check the internet just for fun. Within 5 minutes I think all the weekend passes were gone. It’s incredible. 5 minutes, last year, it was 20 minutes. If you wanted to go to hillside, better luck next year. I think for people that have been going forever they should get free passes, I mean around 11 years later and I still have to wait like everyone else. When my family and I first went, we could just go to the booth that day and get in. Now there’s millions of line-ups and people. It’s all because of the year Arcade Fire, Bedouin Soundclash and Stars played (sadly I was too young to really realize, and couldn’t appreciate the music greatness). That year made the festival so popular. It’s all worth it though. It may be the greatest experience ever — if you haven’t gone, I recommend you do, but it will have to be next year.

The line-up this year looks awesome. It features bands like Sarah Harmer, Jason Collett,  Zeus, Yukon Blonde, Hidden Cameras, Basia Bulat, The Acorns and the Stars among many others. I’ve seen Sarah Harmer , The Hidden Cameras and Stars all at Hillside, but not the others and not to mention the bands I don’t know at all, but soon will, those are the best.

For those of you who don’t know Hillside I’m about to give you a tour, so close your eyes and imagine it, than open them again to finish the tour. Okay, there’s 4 stages, the smallest is the sun stage, it’s mainly spoken word and a few workshops. The next is the Lake stage conveniently set right on the lake, it’s second smallest, usually the where the littler bands play (you can tell the popularity rank of a band by the stage they play on). Third is the Island stage which is my personal favourite. It’s off to the other side of the island. It usually plays the bands that aren’t tiny but aren’t huge. It’s also where the more upbeat bands play, whereas the Lake stage plays quieter music, mainly because it’s smaller and there isn’t room to dance (just to clarify, when I say stage it’s mainly a big tent except for the main). And last but certainly not least (I never got that saying) is the main stage. It’s where the big people play like Sarah Harmer, Stars, Jason Collett. It’s open so if it rains, well you get soaked (and it always rains). Around the stages is the food tent (which is amazing), areas to swim (it is on an island) and vendors usually with clothes, pottery and jewelery.

I hope you enjoyed my mini tour. As you can probably tell, I LOVE Hillside, I have ever since I was about 3. But I’m going to stop ranting about how great it is and move onto music (it really is great).

I figured I might as well talk about a band playing at Hillside, so I thought it would be a good day for Zeus. They’re a pretty small Indie Canadian band (probably a Island stage band). I thought it would be a good time to talk about them because I never probably will think about them again. My mom discovered them on CBC. It took us a few times to actually like the song, but I do now. They have this great indie, rock thing and the one song I like has a great chorus that always get stuck in my head. I have only really listened to the song Marching Through Your Head, I guess I’ll discover more at the show.

The video is hilarious and the song great. This may be one of my favourite videos. Really strange but awesome. The video is also really great because, well it’s camping, and most people wear those kinds of boots at Hillside. So, let the song “march through your head” and laugh away.

Click here for the Hillside site, check out the rest of bands playing, let me know if you know any of them.

P.S. sorry about the long Hillside rant

P.P.S I got the Where The Wild Things Are record to add to my collection, it’s a awesome soundtrack, maybe I’ll talk about them tomorrow.

P.P.P.S. I feel like I’m writing a diary with all these P.S.’s sorry.

And She Was…Getting A Record Player

Today marked a monumental moment in my music life. Today I got and set up my very first record player. I got it and with it came some of my dads record collection. It was my 16th birthday present and probably one of my favourites. Not only is it a record player but it also transfers records to MP3 format. I’m pretty sure I’m not going to have a life for a very long time I’ll be so busy with it. Sadly though my friends didn’t quite appreciate it the same way I did. Not that I really expected much but one of my friends didn’t know any of the bands except for the Beatles. Another didn’t really no what a record player was.

Anyways, today is not the day to rant about my friends lack of music knowledge and taste. Today is completely reserved for my turntable. I love it so much, it’s shiny and pretty and still has that new electronic smell. My dad had to show me how to work it. I’m way too advanced in my music technology. I can burn CD’s, download music, make playlists, work my iPod but not turn on a record player but my grandmother can. Technologies a weird thing. Once again, anyways, I got some pretty awesome records to start off my collection with. The ones that really stand out are the Tom Waits (2), U2′s Joshua Tree, Talking Heads and the Beatles. Other somewhat staples are Dr. Demento who I have multiple records of (lucky me) and German Drinking Songs (which I may just use for decoration). Frankie Yankovic was one of my first records to play but of course my first record EVER was Dr. Seuss’ Fox in Sox and Green Eggs and Ham. Both classics and totally perfect for me as my first record.

I figured that I’d make my video today the Talking Heads just because their great! Someday I’ll do a post on them (how many times have I said that?) but for now enjoy the song. This is my favourite Talking Heads song.