There's something unsettling about this picture. I don't know if it's the purple shirt or whether Bill Gates and Jay-Z are now homeboys that has my skivvies in a knot. Did Def Jam just ink a deal with Microsoft? Did Bill just cut his first record? Did Jay-Z win a chance to play bridge with the Gates'? Questions I don't want to know, ut it's fun to speculate isn't it? Especially, when when two people like this get together. Someone for sure is entering the dark side ...
Song of the Day: Nelly Furtado - Promiscuous I think I hit an all time low this past week in terms of laziness. Out pure frustration for the morning traffic, I took it upon myself to try and find something better to do than listen to talk radio in my car. I've tried making mix playlists for myself, but after a few days of that, I realized I listen to the same boring stuff over and over again. So what's my solution .... audiobooks! I spent the past three days listening to the best seller "The DaVinci Code" by Dan Brown. The story was pretty good and it did make my commute the past couple of work days rather pleasurable. Perfect timing with the opening of the movie too, though I don't think critics were too fond of the Ron Howard adaptation of the epic thriller.
So next, I might listen to a series of audio books by the likes of Tony Robbins who will help me some of the following scenarios:
unleashing your psychic potential
how to master your emotions
embracing the attitude of joy
how to destroy your mental barriers
being in the moment
become your expectations
etc...
This guy is going to turn me into one cool dude!. I'm going to be one preachy dude within the next couple of weeks! Hopefully, not to the same depths as Tom Cruise and his penchant for converting sinners to Scientology. And speaking of Tom Cruise, I happen to catch his newest flick MI:III, which was the big screen directorial debut of J.J. Abrams of Alias and Lost fame. The movie was awesome. Definitely had scenes where I thought came directly from the first season of Alias. Action packed and a movie for movie buffs. Abrams really made me a believer in his work. He tied many of the good elements prior Mission Impossible movies and injected lots of scenes where you could have sworn you've seen before in other Cruise movies. The dialogue was sketchy at times and the damsel in distress in this flick really resembled Katie Holmes. Abrams was so convincing that I was on the edge of my seat till the end of the movie where I realized I was sweating profusely throughout the movie. Turns out the A/C was broken in the theatre and I I received a free pass to see another movie. Overall, entertaining and worth seeing on the big screen. Up next, X-Men... xend transmissionx
So with my long commute to work, I was thinking that I would download some audiobooks to pass the time. With that being said, does anyone have any to recommend? It'd be cool if I learned a new language along the way!
In other news, what's everyone doing this May 2-4 weekend? Oh and check out this link. It's super cool.
Song of the Day: Taking Back Sunday - Up Against (Blackout)
So this is what we're up against... Thanks for helping rationalize things.First, I'd like to thank everyone for a great weekend of belated birthday celebration. Gong show Friday with some guitar hero and trying out another new bar/joint. Kerni, needs to work on his solos adding more emphasis to the showmanship aspect of guitar rock. I have about 3 voice messages from Paul that basically summarizes the night: "Paul: I'm a jerk, hahhaha .... boobies!!!". Two more of similar context. Thanks to Kerns, Geoffski and Chien for being hospitable guests throughout the evening.
And following suit with Friday night's events, another liver-beater outing in Waterloo. I never knew there was so much red tape against grabbing a drink at the K-Zone. Who's bright idea was it to suggest grabbing a couple of pints at an Asian Karaoke bar? "I can let you guys buy alcohol, but you can't stay long" like WTF was that? If that wasn't a subtle enough hint that your business is not wanted. I would have ruined the mic with my sick-wicked MC skills anyways. Oh, and even when intoxicated, Mike's dance moves still looks as cool as ever. I think his calling in life is a 80's back up dancer. I can picture him a Duran Duran video for Girls on Film or something. Oh, and whoever has the film from that camera (that would be you H!) must develop and send to the rest of the members from that night. Haven't felt like a foreign tourist in a while. Our FOB poses were in full effect. Oh and did you notice taking pictures attracted the ladies? I think we were onto something there.
So seeing that I'm not much of a gamer at all, I was pleasantly surprised by the game Guitar Hero, which was introduced to me by Geoffski, but heavily hyped by the hypeman himself, Kerni. After a drunken stupor in the wee hours of the morning, the plan was to rock the neighbourhood like a hurricane via Guitar Hero. A half-sized guitar with 5 colourful buttons and a light switch of strumming contraption to rock the night away. This DDR-esque of a game has its elements of addictions. The song selection is quite decent and the game is harder than it seems. I can see this being the medium for the next air guitar championships. Even though my eyes were half closed, I thought it would be cool to see what videos are out there of peeps layin' the smack down to the axe. So after minutes on Youtube, there results are as follows. Enjoy!
Song of the Day: Mates of State - Goods (All In Your Head)
I don't think I've had a good chuckle in a while until last night at the baseball game. Funky baseball players and their fancy spelling of common everyday names!
[Five minutes later, Eric, the baseball stat machine, returns to his seat]
Hung: Dude, your bro and I were wondering how this guy's name is pronounced...
[Hung points to the jumbotron]
Eric: it's pronounced Shawn...
Music-wise, I don't think I've been as happy as the past of couple of weeks with listening to Mates of State, Band of Horses, and Rogue Wave. There's just some good quality music out there right now that I really really enjoy. Oh, and on a musical note, someone pointed out that I'm I snob when it comes to music (I'm not to point fingers! heh). Come to think of it, I definitely am. I don't know what I'm trying to prove, but I just really like music and spreading the word. I guess it's one of my quirks. I think I've become somebody I would have hated back in high school. I guess it has come full circle where I now make the disconcerning remarks to discredit upcoming bands emerging on the radio etc. The thing is, I don't think I have the looks nor the knowledge of saying I've listened to the vast number of obscure bands out there. Maybe we can take a step back and come to terms that I'm an opinionated lover of music of the indie rock persuasion.
Socially, it's been over a month since the big move and the GTA has lost its lustre it once had in my mind. I must say the commute is getting to me, especially with the increasing temperature peaking around the corner. I really don't know how people do it for the rest of their lives. Just from commuting alone, I know I want to move to a smaller, less capacitated community near some body of water. Those country kids don't know lucky they have it. As for going going out with friends, it feels like a major production where most of energy is exhausted just to meet up with peeps in the city and that's the majority of the night spent. I guess it makes the "hangout" that more special because you spent all this time and energy just ot get there. I was too spoiled where I can roll out of bed and at my friend's doorstep in 10 minutes 0r 20 if I want to make a fashionable entrance. Oh well, time to pack caffeine pills in my pocket to keep up with this damn megacity.
I think it's still unsettling for me that I haven't found MY hangout yet. I think I was talkin' to Kerni about it. I would definitely be easier if we knew where we would all want to hang out. In the Loo, it was either Bomber or Phils depending on the amount of disposible income you had left that weekend. So far, some candidates include Sneaky Dees & O'Gradys. Sneakey Dees for the Waterloo Dark on tap and O'gradys for cheap pints. O'Gradys just needs to stop playing Tom Cochrane when it gets busy.I need my own "expensive beer night" as Mikr would say or a replacement for Boston Pizza. Although finding a place that has a comfortable atmosphere to your liking is desireable, it's the company you keep that makes it special.
Speaking of friends, it was great seeing Daneille and Tim again. This past weekend made me realize just how special first year was to me.
Song of the Day: Tom Vek - Nothing but Green Lights
So this weekend was pretty special. One of my good friends from school flew back from Seattle to party with the Renny crew before his trip to the UK. In his return, Matty also scheduled a house show at the same time. The night was really good. The whole gang was together again and it was a gong show. I even pulled out the bunnie hop in the basement of dance jams!
Anyways, getting to the point of the post... I've really been into the husband and wife dynamic in terms of rock outfits currently out there today. When show reviewers lament about a dreaded performance by such and such a band, most likely chemistry comes into question. So if the other person in the band is married to you, there has to be chemistry there right? Well, if my assumption is correct, two of the bands I'm about to mention definitely have an added level of cohesiveness to their sets.
The first band is a three piece from Montreal called Hexes and Ohs. I first heard of them on CBC radio 3, I think they also played a gig with Matt's band sometime too. I just don't remember seeing them. And to add to my affliction for "couple bands", Hexes and Ohs latest CD release is rightly called Goodbye Friend, Welcome Lover. Anyways, I checked out their website and videos for their single, Whaddya Know?. These cats rock! If I can only see them live (hopefully June)?!?! They make me want to rip off my shirt and dance till my quads spasm and I'm on the floor screaming in pain (or was it pleasure?). When I think of Montreal, I think of Canada's city of love. The city of Love now has a traveling act coming to a city near you.
The second band and the reason why I love seeing couples rock out is Mates of State. Hailing from the indie hotbed in the late 90's, Lawrence Kansas, Kori and Jason have been kickin' my ass for a hella long time. Someone suggested them to me on my mIRC days. This random told me the vocalist was a re-incarnation of Anna Waronker. Seriously though, fuck that comparison, Kori kicks more ass. I downloaded their DVD over the weekend and was captivated by this 2-person band. Man, just think you choose to start a band with one other person, then decide to give up on steady careers as a cancer researcher and teacher for basically the love of music and eventually one another. I don't think it can get any better than this. And when you think of "couple bands" you might think songs are about love and all that sappy BS, but MOS churn out edgy rock tunes that'll make most rock outfits quiver in shame. They DVD really put in a reflective mood. MOS followed their hearts and the results (in my opinion) were amazing.
Check both bands out and if there were any other "couple bands" out there with the same energy, let me know.
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