One of the topics of discussion was my new song, "The Fellowship of Dion", the latest instalment in a long history of political engagement through rap music. This track, ironically, will be going out to my largest audience yet on this radio broadcast, but it is targeted at the narrowest group of listeners. In one week I will be attending the Liberal Leadership Convention in Montreal, which will see a new leader of the party elected, the first step to getting rid of Steven Harper. Only elected delegates and members of the Liberal Party can vote on this decision, so the purpose of "Fellowship" is to alert these people to the merits of Stéphane Dion, the former Environment Minister of Canada, who is now a leadership candidate. Besides being the most-qualified for the job, Stéphane is promising to make environmental sustainability a central pillar of the party and of Canadian politics in general. This is sorely-needed and long overdue. It's about time we stop Harping about terrorism and focus on climate change as the crucial challenge of the 21st Century.

For those of you who don't happen to be delegates to the convention, I invite you to listen to the song purely for its entertainment value, and also to let it serve as your introduction to Stéphane, who is serving as a force for positive change and inspiration in politics. Personally I am tired of the cynicism that has come to burden our view of politicians. Let's discover some heroes and give them our full support. You can download the song here:

In other news, the Democrats are in power in Washington again, and the sun is shining in the great U S of A. My cultural learnings for make benefit student of literature and fan of rap have continued to bring interesting challenges and discoveries. A few days ago I had my NY book launch event at the KGB Bar in the East Village, with a good turn-out and excellent response, including a listing in the New Yorker and a special feature-pick write-up in the Village Voice. New York is a city I could happily spend a lot more time in, but for now that will have to wait.

Last week I also had my first excursion into the American South, performing in high schools in Virginia and South Carolina. For the reaction of some Virginia teenagers to my show, check out the comments on myspace:

In South Carolina, the high school put on a special medieval dinner theatre night for the keener students and parents, with period costumes, barbecued meat, banners and faux-tapestries of Chaucer's visage, as well as entertainment from the modern rap-bard. The next day I performed for a few hundred of the younger and tougher students, and afterwards a whole crew of them volunteered to battle me in front of the assembly. The four who got on stage with me were sixteen-years-old, black, with attitude and g-ed out apparel, called themselves the BBP (Big-Boy Posse), and they got served one by one by a white Canadian wearing a laced-up medieval costume: "Let me tell you 'bout my life's joy / It's when hip hop heads give props to this corny white boy / 'cause I come with nothin' but punchlines and great rhymin' / while you come with empty words, and a fake diamond". After the battle they were converted, and I gave them signed albums and answered their questions about how to get started in rap. I'm a long ways from the charts, but for aspiring musicians success is highly relative.

In a few days this tour will come to an end and I'll return home to regroup for the next round of punishment. Next year is looking truly invigorating/intimidating .

Salud,

baba

Clothing is what keeps you warm and clothed. It is functional only. A burlap sack, with holes cut for the arms and head, serves this function. Fashion is the art of wearing clothing. It need not be formal. Sportswear is considered a style, or type of fashion. But if fashion is art, haute couture is the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. It is a garment that has been laboriously checked to make sure that every stitch is perfect. There are currently only ten haute couture houses in the world, because the standard is set so high.

This description often inspires the question, "Why do I see ridiculous things on the runway?" The answer is complex. More risks are taken in couture because typically the gowns are never sold anyway. Just as it would not be appropriate to hang the actual Mona Lisa in your average home, it would not be appropriate for most women to wear a haute couture gown. It would be just as out of place. The reason haute couture exists is so that designers can focus on grand concepts. They may like the beading for a design, and the entire design evolves around that beading. Or perhaps they want to do a certain type of hemline. They may base the entire dress around the hem.

And that's when many people counter with the argument that they see plenty of ridiculous items in a ready-to-wear collection. Typically, in a ready-to-wear collection, a designer may have all the models in a ridiculous hairstyle, or wearing offbeat hats. These are mostly gimmicks that help tie the collection together. The garment itself should work together as one complete outfit, and tie in with every other garment in the collection, so that it looks like all of the outfits would belong to the same woman during one stage in her life. These often have details that they may want to present to the world, or trends that they think are coming, but the outfit as a whole does not have the same level of craftsmanship that a haute couture gown will.

Even then, the designers do not typically expect that you will buy their gowns. The press attend the shows, and fashion writers talk about their favourite details of each gown. They pick out the things they think will sell magazines. The person who is most responsible for what the consumers have to choose from is the buyer. They view all of the collections, pick details that they want to have in their stores, and find similar clothing with mass appeal that has that detail.

The haute couture designers make the day-glo orange Egyptian outfit that has mummy bandaging. The designers take that idea and make a de-constructed garment, like Jay McCarroll's collection during the first season of Project Runway. The fashion writers focus on collections like that. Then the buyers find garments that have frayed edges or feature gauzy fabrics. It's a trickle down process, although one that happens very quickly.

So have no fear ladies. Nobody actually expects you to dress like a spray painted mummy.

Streetheart was touring in support of their first record, 'Meanwhile Back in Paris'. They were so hot at that time.

It was the first time I ever heard their version of 'Under My Thumb'. That was the best cover of any Stones song that I have ever heard.

One weird thing I remember about that night is that the washrooms were so small people were peeing in the sinks....

Check out our 'swank' site atSwank's Home

Two men - one from Matawan, New Jersey and the other from Staten Island, New York - have been arraigned on charges that they are supporting a terrorist organization. Specifically, the two - Saleh Elahwal and Javed Iqbal - broadcast Hezbollah's television station via satellite for those who wanted it in the New York City area in exchange for payments that totaled $112,000.

But were they really supporting a terrorist organization or were they merely airing a news or opinions from another, unpopular perspective? These two may have a very strong First Amendment case from which to challenge their arraignment.

http://politicalheretic.blogs...

The other night we went out to see a talk with the famous author Lemony Snicket, only to be TERRIBLY disappointed when AT THE LAST MINUTE he didn't show up, leaving this chap called Daniel Handler holding the bag. Mr. Handler was EXTREMELY apologetic about the situation and did his best to CONSOLE the audience, but it was NO GOOD. In short order Mr. Handler fled the building in tears...

All kidding aside, we did go to see the famous author, in whichever persona he was that night. I had heard Daniel Handler speaking as himself on the CBC a few months ago, and I found myself laughing so hard I was crying - not really the best state to be in when one is driving, I soon found out. However, on the night in question (Nov. 14), Kids Books in Vancouver had arranged for Lemony Snicket to appear at a local high school (Mr. Handler kept insisting it was a synagogue) in his only Canadian appearance of this tour. The show was sold out quickly and when we arrived an hour before the show, the rush line-up was already longer than the line-up for ticket holders. Clearly this was a must see event.

Time proved us right. After a short (15 minute) delay due to Snicket/Handler being stuck in traffic, the show started with Mr. Handler apologizing for Mr. Snicket not showing up. He was accompanied by a musician, who fled the stage part-way through the show. Handler had a few audience members up on the stage to help him out with some songs, and he circulated freely in and through the audience, liberally coating one and all with put-downs and sarcastic comments that kept those not targeted in stitches.

Although it only lasted 45 minutes, it was well worth the $18 we paid to get through the door. I rate this one a 9.5/10

Hot on the heels of his just completed tour of Canada opening for the Goo Goo Dolls, it has been announced that Warner Music Canada recording artist Tomi Swick will be heading back out across the country in February performing with the Barenaked Ladies. The tour, which begins on January 31, 2007 in Victoria, B.C., will see the bands playing hockey arenas in 17 Canadian markets ending on February 26, 2007 at Mile One Stadium in St. John's Newfoundland.

Of Tomi's performances with the Goo Goo Dolls, critics and fans wrote:

"Thanks to edgy alternative electro-pop and feisty lyrics, songs such as Easy Company, A Night Like This and Everything is Alright seemed to have so much more to say..."

- Ottawa Sun

Watch for concert tickets for February 3rd at GM Place.

.

I've thought about it.

I've laughed about it.

I've spoken with worldly folk who say they've seen it themselves.

And now I've seen it.

And I've peered deep within its greasy brown heart.

And now I know it's real.

When the shit finally goes down, after the floods and quakes and boiling seas and Bush administrations, there will only be three things left standing.

Cockroaches, OT VII Scientologists, and poutine pizza.

I'm all about wacky food combinations. I've eaten Twinkie dogs, Highliner fishsticks mashed into burritos, and almost a waffle cone full of Beefaroni.

Silly? Yes. Disgusting? You'd be surprised.

But this is a step in the wrong direction.

It crosses that fine line between "slightly monstrous" and "absolutely satanic".

Because once you make poutine pizza, once you slather those curds and fries and bbq sauce onto that hearty crust (that is possibly stuffed with more cheese and maybe some bacon) there's no turning back.

You cannot kill poutine pizza.

You can only eat it.

And even then it does not die.

(Though you may. Like way later though.)

You could sink all the poutine pizza in the world to the bottom of the sea and go on with your happy and ignorant and stupid little life, but in your heart you'd know that a billion years from now when the Sun goes supernova and dries up the oceans, poutine pizza will be there.

Waiting.

And probably pulsating.

I heard once that some French scientist tried to freeze a slice of poutine pizza in Carbonite but the slice only absorbed the Carbonite and laughed.

I heard a grizzly bear can eat one poutine pizza and hibernate for five years but can never run or make babies ever again.

I heard some rebel hurled a slice at a British Mark II tank and the slice eroded through the tank wall and gravy'd up the controls and two soldiers died from curd poisoning.

I heard an armed thief tried to shoot a guy carrying a poutine pizza and the guy was so scared that he dropped the pizza.

If common sense and healthy living are diseases, then poutine pizza is the cure.

Sure, I’ve eaten many a sloppy dish of poutine.

And all they're really doing is taking that poutine and spreading it onto a Breaded, doughy crust.

But it's not about what poutine pizza is.

It's about what poutine stands for.

And the effect it will have on our children.

And our intestines and our future.

Next time I'm only going to order a small.

Quote: In a world he did not create, he will go through it as if it were his own making: half man, half beast, I don't know what it is but it's weird and it's pissed off, and it calls itself Slash.

- Axl Rose

Yikes.

I wish they were pals again.

Wait... No I don't.

I haven't posted in a while, partly owing to some major problems in getting a broadband connection to my new flat in Blackheath. The nub of the problem appears to have been an LLU marker remaining on the line for the previous tenants broadband/phone package. I have discovered in the process that there is major confusion between service providers and BT , not helped by the division of BT into millions of little autonomous pieces.

I had decided to return to Pipex, whom I had used for three years or so - and been very satisfied with - while living in Glasgow. Big mistake! The Pipex of 2006 appears to have no relation in customer service to the incarnation I knew and respected.

Initially, they were helpful: Pipex informed me of the LLU marker and sent me off to BT to get it removed. I managed to track down the marker removal service, who told me Pipex needed to request the marker removal. Pipex told me I needed to request it. I begged BT and they very kindly removed it. I contacted Pipex - "no, the marker is still there" came the response. I rang back the next day and was told the marker had gone (joy!) and that in three weeks I would have my adsl.

Oh dear - three weeks later still no broadband, and Pipex told me that they had reassigned the work, but that it would be done in 11 days time. Oh double dear, no broadband in 11 days - apparently the LLU marker had reappeared. So more phonecalls, with one Pipex employee suggesting that with this issue in place we should not have been sold the service in the first place. Eventually, I was told to go back to BT to get the marker removed again.

Well, reader, I voted with my feet - I called NTL who installed cable, and I'm now set up with a 2Mb connection (admittedly less than the up to 8Mb service from Pipex) within 10 days as opposed to the three months of travails with Pipex. The moral of this story at present - in my own experience - is steer clear of any company advertising itself with David Hasselhoff!!!

http://www.marktsinfoblog.blo...

Bad name for a restaurant - Jizz Land

Bad name for an amusement park - Jizz Land

Bad sign to put on your bedroom door - Jizz Land

Bad name for a suburban community - Jizz Land Heights

Bad name for a dog - Jizz Land

Bad name for a kid's TV show - Jizzy's Jizz Land Adventures

Worse name for said TV show - Jizzy's Jizz Land Jizzventures

Bad name for a sea vessel - SS Jizz Land

Bad name for a Turkish restaurant - Jizz Lamb

Bad name for a dairy - Jizz Land Farms

Bad name for a Zeppelin tune - Stairway To Jizz Land

Worse name for a Zeppelin tune - When The Jizz Land Levee Breaks

Bad name for a public swimming pool - Jizz Land Community Pool

Bad name for a book store - Barnes and Jizz Land

Bad name for a law firm - Abel, Limmer & Jizz Land

Bad name for a film - There's Something About Jizz Land*

Bad name for a band - The Rag Time Jizz Land Trio

Bad nickname for your girlfriend - Jizz Land

Bad name for a Beatle - Paul McCartney

*(Unless it's a film of a pornographic nature, which would make it an excellent choice for a name and, doubly, a brief description of the film itself.)

Mark Thristan

http://www.marktsinfoblog.blo...

I'm just having a fiddle with Windows Live Writer to post a message to my blog. I have used a Word plug-in occasionally (and have never bothered with emailing in posts - I always figured it would be useful if I had a Blackberry!) but usually stick to logging in directly through Blogger (or Blogger Beta as is the case at the moment).

It hasn't managed to download my styles, but hey - it doesn't matter that much, I'll maybe try again later.

The interface is nice and clean:

It's easy to insert images, and format them.

Technorati tags: socialsoftware http://technorati.com/tags/so..., blogs http://technorati.com/tags/bl...

Technorati tags were easy to drop in (and other tagging providers - Flickr, del.icio.us  http://del.icio.us/ - are also available).

You can also add in Google Maps and links are easy to drop in (also with "rel" attributes). I'm looking forward to microformat insertion - as I believe that may also be possible. My only negative so far is that they need to add "technorati" and "flickr" into their spell checker index - seems daft that they throw up as mis-spellings when they are used by the application itself. [UPDATE] When trying to post this message, I was unable to publish it. A little research indicated that you need the latest update for Live Writer to work with Blogger Beta. I've also tried to install the Flickr third-party plug-in which is not working at present, but I'll keep trying with that.

Last week I was on the Ivy League circuit, performing at Harvard, Wellesley, and College of the Holy Cross, all in Massachusetts. The Harvard performance was definitely the high point of my academic adventures thus far, with the Dean of English, distinguished professors, as well as PhDs and undergrads, about sixty in all, assembled in a stately reading room with a massive fireplace and mantle as a backdrop. Of all the shows I have done, this audience probably had the most Chaucer awareness, and every nuance, comic reference, and shade of irony was absorbed with delight. You can watch a video clip of the performance here:

The other new development is that my new album, "Lit-Hop", is finally finished and ready for release. The album consists of fourteen tracks, ten of which were recorded while I was touring in the UK this spring.

I worked with some amazing producers in London and Brighton during this time, as well as an English rapper called Dizraeli who has to be heard to be believed. Then, back in Vancouver, I spent two straight months in the studio with Lin G, the super-producer and engineer who made the beats for "The Rap Canterbury Tales", and we crafted an album out of this diverse collection of songs recorded on the road. I also got some local Vancouver talent involved in the project at that point, including Moka Only, Josh Martinez, Jena Fair, Zayne, John Tennant, Junk, and Aaron Ross, among others. The result of this process is an album I can honestly say I am extremely proud of, a collective effort with depth and originality: hip-hop music for the independent mind. You can buy the album online at this link:

I just recently found out that one of the lead singles, "Mad Style Disease" (featuring Dizraeli) is now playing on rotation on CBC Radio Three. Oh Yeah!

I urge you all to at least give some of the songs a preview (link below),and if you like them please consider buying a copy and telling friends about it. Without a record label or promotional machine behind me, it is only through word of mouth that I am getting my recordings out there. Also, since today is mid-term election day in the USA, and the civilized world is collectively holding its breath and hoping for a change of the guard over here, I want to give you all a chance to hear my new track, "Symptom", which tackles the beast of American politics head-on. This one feels like a land-mine beneath the road I am currently walking, so I've been down-playing it a bit, but it's going to get aired one way or another, so I guess this is the best time. You can listen to it at this link:

Until next time, bring the noise,

baba

drum roll, please!

By: Lezah Williamson

I was asked a question the other day: what was the best concert I had ever seen?

Now, I've thought and thought and thought since then, but still cannot come up with a definitive answer. After all, what criteria do you judge something like this by? Musical technique? Audience reaction? Originality? Best stage show? Costumes? Or maybe it's a combination of all of the above. But what about cross-genre performances? Can you really compare a hardcore punk band to a performance by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra? Or even an indie tunesmith like Sufjan Stevens to the wildly exciting performance of The Go! Team? Can it be done?

I don't know.

What I do know is that I went out on a limb a few weeks ago and said the the recent Sufjan Stevens show I attended was 'the best concert I've ever seen, bar none.' So, am I going against my word now? Am I a big fat liar? Maybe. And maybe not.

What I've decided to do is kind of a retrospective of the musical life of Lezah, concert emphasis. I've decided to pick not one, but rather the top seven concerts I've seen, and list then in no particular order. So here goes:

Rush and Streetheart, Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver. That's right, you heard it - Rush and Streetheart make the list. Why, you ask? Well, that is the question any sane person would ask, because frankly, it was a crap concert as far as the music went. And our seats were way, way, way up in the nosebleeds, so we couldn't even see anything (but maybe that's a blessing...). So why is this concert in my best of... list? Because it was my first time, and as they say, you always remember your first time. Yup, prior to this show I was a concert virgin. It was this show that started me on the road to ruin that I am still travelling today. And for that, I shall be ever grateful.

Alice Cooper nd The Babies (who, it turned out, never showed up because they couldn't get across the border), Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver. Alice Cooper was the second concert I ever attended, and was much, much, much better than the aforementioned Rush/Streetheart disappointment. Alice Cooper's 'School's Out' was the first record I ever bought, and I still have an incredible soft spot for that make-up wearing, goofy old golf-crazy grandpa. He's old, but he's cool. And his stage show was second to none, complete with ballet dancer, guillotine, and copious amounts of (fake) blood. What could be better, I ask you?

The Arcade Fire, The Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver. Christine and I saw this show together, and when I got back to my 'real' life, I felt compelled to spread the gospel that is The Arcade Fire. This band puts on a musically hedonistic performance that is life-affirming and visually exciting. Even seeing them on TV a few months later at some music awards set me on fire again. So you can imagine my extreme disappointment - nay, despair! - when we bought tickets to see them in Seattle, and stupidly misread the date, showing up a week after the fact. Oy vey!

The Beta Band, Richards on Richards, Vancouver. I had a bit of a lull in my concert-going career for the decade they called the '90s. Maybe it was because the music sucked? Could be. I did go to some shows, but certainly not anywhere near the number I had been seeing prior to that. So when, on a lark, Dave and I went and saw the Beta Band, I tell you - I was thanking my lucky stars. This band brought music back to me. For that I shall be forever grateful (again). This band was largely unknown at the time and was nearing the end of their first North American tour.

One guy who had seen them play New York had been so excited by the band that he hopped in his car and followed them from gig to gig across the nation and up into Canada. I felt like doing the same, frankly. Later that same year The Beta Band were up for Best Live Act at some British music awards, but were robbed - I can't recall who won, but chances are it was someone like Britney Spears. All I can say is, there is no justice in this world.

But The Beta Band was great beyond their live act, as well: each of the band members spun discs before the show, and that was certainly an indicator of the eclectic mix of musical styles and genres that we would be experiencing that evening. Altogether, I saw the Beta Band three (or was it four?) times, and every time they had this knack of starting off in a kind of small way and then building and building and building to the ultimate climax. This show ended with 11 people up on stage (including their New York fan), most playing some variation of percussion instrument, from bongos to steel drums and beyond. It was glorious!

The Go! Team, Seattle. This was a wild night with a bunch of crazy, action-packed bands. Quite frankly, the first two acts were imminently forgettable but they did set the tone for the evening, which revolved around a dance-your-socks-off type of musical therapy, the like of which I have never experienced before or since. Lead singer Ninja had the whole place dancing in such a frenzy that this question actually crossed my mind: Could I contract AIDs from someone else's sweat? Because sweat was spraying everywhere, from everyone - it was unavoidable. This was an out-and-out boogie fest. Not surprisingly, I read an interview with Ninja this fall, and she cited this concert as being the best one they had ever done.

Matchbox 20 (or is it Twenty? - I don't know, as I'm the ultimate Matchbox 20/Twenty anti-fan out there), George, Washington (gotta love that name!). A good friend of mine was, a few years ago, a huge Rob Thomas fan. For her birthday, she invited us all to go to see the band down in Washington. And we had to camp out. But I don't like camping. And I like Matchbox 20/Twenty even less than I like camping. But I went anyway. For my friend. What happened after was a comedy of errors such that I have never experienced the likes of ever again - nor do I want to.

September 11th being the first disaster, which to many, of course, had far bigger implications but to us merely meant that we had one heck of a time getting across the border. It was 3-4 hours in line, which in turn translated to being 3-4 hours behind schedule, which in turn meant no lunch for little old me. Then we lost our friends, as we were travelling in separate cars - and we never did find them again until the next day, once the dust had all settled.

So Dave and I wandered around at the concert like a couple of lost sheep, bleating and baaahing and just generally not having a very good time. But then our fairy god-father came along, and offered us the greatest seats in the world (their friends hadn't shown up). On top of that, the setting was indescribably fantastic, perched in a nature amphitheatre on a cliff above the Columbia River. And the weather was beautiful. And the smell of the alfalfa wafting in from the fields beside us was so sweet. And, it turned out, although Matchbox Twenty/20 didn't turn my crank, the opening act was surprisingly good. So there were many, many silver linings to this otherwise disastrous day.

Sufjan Stevens,St. Andrews Wesley Cathedral, Vancouver. The current indie darling, Sufjan Stevens recently played a completely sold out (and then some!) show, the whole while wearing an enormous pair of butterfly wings. Need I say more? Just listen to a recording of him, and you will hear exactly what we heard that night - he is a master at his craft, and is probably the most skilful singer/songwriter I've ever heard. His intricate tunes sound as though they would be difficult to reproduce live, but Sufjan is the man. Amen, brother.

If life is about "being in the right place at the right time," then Diz's timing could not have been better. Born and raised in Chicago,the original epicenter of the House Music universe, his adolescence coincided with the beginnings of that city's legendary scene...

WHEN:November 10, 2006

TIME9:00PM - 3:00AM

VENUEBar None

ADDRESS1222 Hamilton Street

TICKETSClick Below

GUESTLISTNo

TYPE OF MUSICHouse

DRESS CODEDress to Impress

TYPE OF MUSIC

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GRAND OPENING NOV 15TH WILDOUT WEDNESDAYS

Check out the BRAND NEW WILDOUT Wednesdays @ AZURE LOUNGE! Ladies are always free before midnight. Featuring quality hip hop, reggae, and R&B and crazy drink specials all night long...

WHENEvery Wednesday

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A BLACK TIE AFFAIR

A Special Black Tie evening to celebrate the Birthdays of Jesse, Chris, & Tyler. This is a Private Function so you MUST be an invited guest on evening's Guestlist or have a ticket for entry....

WHENNovember 9, 2006

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MIGUEL MIGS - ANDY CALDWELL - LISA SHAW: BLUEPRINT

Miguel Migs stands at the forefront of electronic music's soulful realm. Whether tackling his original productions or remixes, he achieves an organic soulful sound by combining the best of both the electronic music world and live instrumentation...

WHENNovember 9, 2006

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THE RETURN OF THE FOAM PARTY

Ocean Beach Club and Liquor Pig Productions Presents: The RETURN OF The"BEACH FOAM PARTY'!Come and witness this Wet'n Wild Party- Ladies in Bikini's will receive free drinks! Bikini Contest in the FOAM PIT at midnight..

WHENNovember 10, 2006

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CHOPSTICK @ SIGNAL SATURDAYS PRESENTED BY INTIMATE PRODUCTIONS

Male Model Machine are 2 kids from Vancouver who are quickly making a mark on the dance music industry. With their love of music and the machines that make it, these boys have created some of the most raw sounding dance music around. Recently scouted and signed by Black Van Records (NYC)...

WHENNovember11, 2006

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LOTUS LONG WEEKEND PRESENTED BY INTIMATE PRODUCTIONS

Intimate Productions is pleased to bring you the last Lotus Long Weekend of the year, Sunday November 12th. All three rooms are stacked; DJ Ali's performances at the LLW are legendary, John Tennant and Ricardo Almeida are two of VanCity's premier live pa acts, and Wood & Soo are notoriously well known ...

WHENNovember 12, 2006

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PETE TONG @ SONAR

Pete Tong's last visit with us here in Vancouver was pure insansity at the completely sold out Caprice night club. This comes as no surprise as he hosts and is "the" personality behind one of the largest radio programs in the world - BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix. Expect never before heard and exclusive at what will no doubt be another sold out show at this 2 room venue...

WHENNovember 14, 2006

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NECRO PRESENTED BY TIGERSTONE.TV AND SPECTRUM

Necro is recognized for his work as an established recording artist, rap producer, film director and as the owner/CEO of Psycho+Logical-Records. His 2000 debut LP, I Need Drugs, set the stage for Necro's brand of irreverent and often humorous commentary on the dark side of reality...

WHENNovember 15, 2006

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STEREOTYPE :: LEE BURRIDGE / BLUEPRINT, VIVID TIGERSTONE

It’s 1985 in the idyllic backwaters of rural England and a young Lee Burridge has just embarked on what will become a very colourful DJ career. Currently, though, he’s playing appalling music at birthdays, weddings, and the odd funeral. Sadly for the deceased, but luckily for us...

WHENNovember 17, 2006

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SIMPLE 9 @ RIVERSIDE BANQUET HALL

isa Lashes is hailed throughout the world as the undisputed Queen of Hard House and is the most exciting female DJ on the clubbing circuit today!...Known for his productions as part of Airscape and Svenson & Gielen, Johan Gielen has done remixes for artists such as Tiesto, Delerium, Safri Duo, Boy George, Chicane and many more...Follow the link for the full DJ line up!...

WHENNovember 18, 2006

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THE ULTIMATE POKER SCHOOL

Johnny Chan and Phil Hellmuth teach you the secrets of poker at the River Rock Casino. Saturday, November 18 learn from the world's best at this exclusive seminar. Johnny and Phil have both won the World Series of Poker Championship 10 times each, and they will coach you at the River Rock.Then play in a tournament with the pros for a chance to win $125,000 ...

WHENNovember 18, 2006

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FOCUS PRESENTS: JIMMY VAN M

Balance celebrates its milestone tenth release with Jimmy Van M's epic three disc journey through two decades of electronic music, where legends like Brian Eno, Bill Laswell, Depeche Mode, Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada and Thievery Corporation cosy up alongside today's finest dance artists...

WHENNovember 24, 2006

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WINTER WONDER LAND" -FANTASY FRIDAYS WINTER EDITION

Get Ready for the Sexy Season Of Snow Bunnies as we transform featuring: Snow falling from the sky, Snow covered trees, Retro street lamps, and Complimentary champagne (while supplies last)! Beats by DJs Relik, Downlowe & Teppei...

WHENNovember 24, 2006

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CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE #4 DJ IN THE WORLD - TIGERSTONE/ PH1.CA /TWISTED

An ambassador of Trance for 2 decades, this year has included headline performances at Dance Valley (nl.), Love Fest (sf.), South America Conference and an exclusive 2 hour world-wide broadcast set with Paul Van Dyk on Radio1 (Sep9). Experience the progressive sound of this legend...

WHENNovember 24, 2006

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As usual, The Orpheum venue is a beautiful theatre. A perfect place to listen to the Goo Goo Dolls, however, at times one just wants to move around and have fun, whereas a seated venue doesn’t allow for that. Don’t get me wrong, this was not a staid crowd as I experienced with Bonnie Raitt’s concert. (I am still struggling with that review.) This audience was more energetic and more vocal - which I would assume is music to performers’ ears.

Opening performance was Tomi Swick who always sounds in top form. He still reminds me a lot of Tom Cochrane.

Imagine, it’s been 20 years since the band formed in New York in 1986 (then briefly known as the Sex Maggots) but soon formed The Goo Goo Dolls after reading a blurb written in a True Detective magazine. 1998 saw their breakout into mainstream with the song, ‘Iris’. The Goo Goo Dolls have just released their latest (2006) album, ‘Let Love In’, which includes Supertramp’s ‘Give a Little Bit’, along with other known songs. The Goo Goo Dolls consist of Jonny Rzeznik (vocal/guitar) Robby Takac, (Bass/Vocal) and Mike Malinin (Drums)

The band appeared happy to be in Vancouver and did their requisite Vancouver name dropping. Robby, sporting dred locks was in high energy form. I found the set to be short given the repertoire of songs they have to choose from. However they did play Slide, Black Balloon, Smash, Tucked Away, Name, Iris, Let Love In, Feel the Silence, Give a Little Bit as well as an assortment of other popular GGD songs. When Better Days was played, there was a reference made to Hurricane Katrina. Fans really enjoyed the tunes Naked and Broadway, and when the opening refrain of Iris began, it was game over for hearing Rzeznik. The crowd enthusiastically (and quite well I might add) sang every line of the song. It was a song that obviously touched many people on different levels. You could see some crying, some laughing, some hugging and so on. Ahh, the power of music.

As keyboards are integral to the music, it was nice to see some extra bodies on stage with a keyboard and guitar. It helped fill out the sound somewhat. The only downside of the evening was when I remembered that ‘Dred’ Robby sings. He sang lead on Black Balloon, Smash and Tucked Away. Robby sometimes growls through a song as if he has a mouthful of marbles, and he’s not too happy about it either. Ah well, it was only for a couple of tunes.

Jonny joked about the amount of hate mail they got for the song ‘Name’ which guaranteed it airplay. Surprising, as the song ‘Name’ is an instantly popular song for the fans.

I didn’t get a chance to interview The Goo Goo Dolls, but the one question I’ve always wanted to ask is why their song titles do not generally ‘set up’ the song for the listener. Perhaps next time through.

Than I thought, would others on the t-blog site mind if I passed on their t-blog urls in praise of a specific article/post? Let me know, would you be pleased or offended?

Christine http://www.swanktrendz.com/ph...

http://www.swanktrendz.com/ph...