D.E.A.D.R.A.M.O.N.E.

i'm not dead

2011-03-15T08:11:00.001-04:00

but you're losing me.

i've moved here

Constantines

2011-03-09T19:32:00.002-05:00

Constantines - Hamilton, On - 2002

I gave an original print of this photo to Brian Fallon from The Gaslight Anthem after having a discussion about the Cons & his "young lions" hand tattoos.

i need to pick up the slack

2011-03-09T00:53:00.003-05:00

i promise i will start posting more here.
starting with this photo from one of the most memorable southern ontario shows i've played or attended.

Moneen - Oakville, On - 2001

CLOTHES FOR SALE PT 1

2010-12-26T21:27:00.004-05:00

CLOTHES!
i got 'em!
who wants 'em?

(left to right)
OBEY HOODED JACKET - black w/ small skeleton hands - size S - thin cotton
OBEY HOODED JACKET - light grey w/dark grey cassette tape print - size M - thin cotton
OBEY WIND BREAKER - black w/ yellow/black hood - size M
ATTICUS WIND BREAKER - black w/ white stripes - size M

PRELOVED HOODIE - hand sewn hoodie made of recycled vintage sweaters - mel tillis face/print on sleeve - size L (fits small)
AMERICAN APPAREL ZIP HOODIE - tan w/ red stripes - size M
DIESEL ZIP HOODIE - red / tan - size L (fits like a medium) - worn in Silverstein "Discovering The Waterfront" video
OBEY ZIP HOODIE - black w/ silver print - size S
GLAMOUR KILLS ZIP HOODIE - printed on grey american apparel flex fleece - size m

THE HUNDREDS SWEATSHIRT - grey w/ monster print - size S
OBEY FLANNEL - navy w/ grey/brown - size M
FRED PERRY POLO - red - size S
FRED PERRY SWEATSHIRT - grey w/ black stripes - size M
FRED PERRY TRACK JACKET - off white w/ red/blue stripes - size S

(NOT PICTURED!)
DIESEL ZIP HOODIE - black w/ lime green inside - size M
CHEAP MONDAY JEANS - black (faded) - size 30 - tight leg
CHEAP MONDAY JEANS - blue w/ dirty wash - size 31 - tight leg
OBEY JEANS - black - size 32 - tight leg
DIESEL JEANS - light blue w/ wash - size 30 - straight skinny fit - back style pockets on front
DIESEL JEANS - dark blue w/ dirty wash - size 30

all of this stuff is in really good shape.
email me to make an offer - bill (at) silversteinmusic.com
will accept paypal and ship at buyers expense.

BEST OF 2010

2010-12-25T15:45:00.013-05:00

apparently i can't post mixtape links on my blog anymore :(

TOP 10 ALBUMS

THE HOLD STEADY heaven is whenever
THE NATIONAL high violet
MIDLAKE the courage of others
CRIME IN STEREO i was trying to describe you to someone
COMEBACK KID symptoms & cures
THE BESNARD LAKES are the roaring night
BEST COAST crazy for you
DELTA SPIRIT history from bellow
THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH the wild hunt
FOUR YEAR STRONG enemy of the world

TOP 5 EP's / 7"s

BALANCE & COMPOSURE - split w/ tigersjaw
TOUCHE AMORE - make do & mend / la dispute split 7"s
OWEN - abandoned bridges 7"
HOT WATER MUSIC - live in chicago 7"s
ARMS - s/t ep

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

FORGETTERS - s/t 7" (blake from jawbreaker/jets to brazil's new band. i got this last week otherwise i would have included it in my list & mix)
JIM BRYSON & THE WEAKERTHANS: the falcon lake incident.
BEACH HOUSE: teen dream.
DAN MANGAN: nice, nice, very nice.
SURFER BLOOD: astrocoast.
CIRCA SURVIVE: blue sky noise.

MIXTAPE

listen close at 45rpm

OWEN: abandoned bridges.
DAN MANGAN: road regrets.
THE HOLD STEADY: hurricane j.
BEST COAST: crazy for you.
SURFER BLOOD: twin peaks.
TOUCHE AMORE: hideaways.
BALANCE & COMPOSURE: rope.
COMEBACK KID: g.m. vincent & i.
FOUR YEAR STRONG: on a saturday.
NONE MORE BLACK: cupcake wednesday.
ARMS: heat & hot water.
THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH: troubles will be gone.
BEACH HOUSE: better times.
THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM: bring it on.
THE BESNARD LAKES: albatross.
CIRCA SURVIVE: dyed in the wool.
SHE & HIM: if you can't sleep.
MIDLAKE: the courage of others.
DELTA SPIRIT: scarecrow.
JIM BRYSON & THE WEAKERTHANS: anything & all.
THE NATIONAL: england.
CRIME IN STEREO: i cannot answer you tonight.

shout out to nada for turning me onto some of these bands (arms, delta spirit, best coast, surfer blood, dan mangan, beach house, she & him) via our neverending mixtape trades. also kudos to bobby for throwing an awesome best of 2010 mixtape swap party which led to me making physical copies of this mix with photocopied cut and paste covers inside a ziplock sandwich bag. (i still have a few of these covers if anyone wants one).

FUCK YOU ALL

2010-12-15T19:08:00.000-05:00

Glen E. Friedman "Fuck You All" show @ 941 Geary Gallery with Shepard Fairey & Justin Giarla - A Colin Day Feature - Warholian from Warholian on Vimeo.

NEW MIX

2010-11-16T17:24:00.003-05:00

It's November & I'm going on tour soon & I plan to be forgotten when I'm gone...
These are the thoughts I've been thinking & songs I've been spinning most lately.

"See You All This Coming Fall"

ATTACK IN BLACK: constellations.
THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH: the wild hunt.
THE NATIONAL: lemonworld.
THE PIXIES: here comes your man.
THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS: no tears.
THE HOLD STEADY: the weekenders.
BEACH HOUSE: zebra.
MOUNT EERIE: where?
JOHN K SAMSON: petition.
JOY DIVISION: love will tear us apart.
THE CURE: catch.
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND: pale blue eyes.
THE CRYSTALS: then he kissed me.
THE REPLACEMENTS: left of the dial.
CAMERA OBSCURA: swans.
MARIACHI EL BRONX: slave labor.
BELLE & SEBASTIAN: piazza, new york catcher.
HARRY MCCLINTOCK: big rock candy mountain.
ATTACK IN BLACK: cave in.
CONSTANTINES: lizavetta.
BLACKLISTED: our apartment is always empty.
TOUCHE AMORE: and now it's happening in mine.
BALANCE & COMPOSURE: twenty four.
THE PROMISE RING: all of my everything's.

grab it here >> www.sendspace.com/file/d9uiom

for a personalized, handwritten lyric sheet, please send $1 & a S.A.S.E. to brand new (ha)

Alt Press | Gallery | Front Row Center: Fun Fun Fun Fest (photographed by Silverstein’s Billy Hamilton [<<< that's me!])

2010-11-15T23:16:00.000-05:00

Alt Press | Gallery | Front Row Center: Fun Fun Fun Fest (photographed by Silverstein’s Billy Hamilton)

perfecting loneliness.

2010-10-12T19:32:00.000-04:00

lookbook is the coolest

2010-10-01T22:20:00.002-04:00

photo by jess for pointlessly shooting.

this is the first band photo i ever took

2010-09-26T16:31:00.004-04:00

gob at the el mocambo, december 1999.

new boots for the old ceremony

2010-09-25T17:15:00.004-04:00

today i found one of my favourite sad bastard records with the original cover photo of the handsome gentleman singing it.
i also found a pair of used red wings that will warm my feet and vegan conscience knowing that i am recycling the sustainability of the leather.

welcome to the city that shoves you back

2010-09-11T14:09:00.004-04:00

here are a couple photos i took in philly while attending 'this is hardcore'.

that was hardcore.

blacklisted.

grey area.

kid dynamite.

beemer.

mike ski.

i got friends...

2010-09-11T13:53:00.003-04:00

here are a few more shots i got of my brotherly pals in teenage kicks at the sneaky dee's release show for their new 7" shook our bones.

bad scene(fest), everyone's fault.

2010-08-31T19:58:00.002-04:00

i caught a ride with my bro's cancer bats to st catherines to attend the annual 'SCENE festival'

one of my highlights of the day was seeing my friend peter and his new band teenage kicks! you should check out their blog or head over to juicebox.com to download their new 7" for free!

SUMMER OF (your name here)

2010-08-31T19:10:00.005-04:00

smithstrangewaystransmissionfits.
sometime in june.
parts + labour.

2010-08-31T18:15:00.000-04:00

take to the basements, play broken instruments, die for a seven inch

2010-08-27T18:06:00.005-04:00

i've started a new blog that you can visit here: ontherecords.wordpress.com

i'm going to post about how cool my record collection is and attempt to prove that i'm a bigger music snob / better (ha!) music blogger than nada.

thanks to vanessa for the immediate inspiration, and the rest of y'all that have been trying to convince me into doing this sort of thing for years.

bookmark/follow/rss that shit!

2010-08-25T19:52:00.002-04:00

this is birthday

2010-08-19T16:19:00.003-04:00

i celebrated my twenty-sixth birthday in philadelphia at 'this is hardcore'.
if you missed it, feel free to live vicariously through this video.

some tour photos from my phone

2010-07-31T17:07:00.006-04:00

all of those were yummy.

mimmi milkshake cookies.

new ride.

www.thesearebands.com

down with the clown.

super-chexx.

"it's a big hat. it's funny."

finally got there, hard repped by beeps.

tempeh cone-jo's from watercourse in denver.

cream it, you mean?

bunch-a brew's.

pacific north west: coffee snob heaven.

vegan donuts!

there's my pep pep!

"it's sad to fall asleep. it separates people. even when you're sleeping together, you're all alone."

everyday is like a vegan sundae.

houston.

toby the game-show host.

i'm the worst

2010-07-31T16:18:00.001-04:00

i should probably update this thing.

i'm only hoping someday you'll turn around

2010-06-14T00:56:00.001-04:00

we expected something, something better than before

2010-06-12T13:18:00.000-04:00

toursick on film

2010-05-25T23:13:00.003-04:00

jess leant me his olympus stylus epic to bring on tour.
i took four rolls of cvs brand 400iso film which yielded these results:

summer '88 was all heat & intensity.

pay no mind to us.

joe, paul, pizza.

paul, kevin, shane, joe.

rootbeer, and pizza, is the perfect, combination.

MPLS.

walkabout.

same club, next ~~summer~~ hour.

they've been a band longer than he's been alive. isn't that weird?

tyler ~~static~~ shikari.

enter shikatie.

looks like a clown threw up on the wall.

camp couple.

quinn.

briowa.

william woods.

dan lipski ~~rules~~ sucks.

amato low life.

rich got the new iphone.

havin' a vac'.

danny.

extreme brunching.

awkward.

havin' a time!

i think this was an arcade.

portland chinatown.

guitar world.

jade dylan roser.

san francisco.

whatever happened to predicability?

sam & neel.

the castro.

four barrel coffee co.

katie.

kip.

burns.

sammy.

record nerd heaven.

mj's fresh style.

bronners & nat.

pomona.

fox theater.

ADTR.

kip.

kip & danny.

lucian.

burns.

richard.

danny.

danny & panda.

danny with quinn & his lady.

katie.

huntington beach.

hi mimmi.

beachin'

katie.

here it comes, a visible horizon.

nice wheels.

kevin kennaley & the setting sun.

i'm sure i could steer.

...the great salt lake.

doug.

JDR.

cain's tulsa.

you have never met anyone, bearbot.

william evans.

film roll

2010-05-25T19:32:00.005-04:00

i went to take some film that i took on tour in to be developed today and realized that there was still a roll in the olympus stylus that scott leant me for a trip to montreal. here's a few random photos i liked from that roll.

queen street.

yonge station.

robyn.

4x5.

union station.

king of pop dies.

load in.

yes it is.

time to laugh.

the claw machine always wins.

MJEALT.

living room.

THIS IS RICH, LEAVE A MESSAGE

2010-05-07T20:11:00.000-04:00

hey nelson algren!

2010-04-22T19:04:00.001-04:00

yankee hotel foxtrot

2010-04-22T18:56:00.002-04:00

STACY

2010-04-22T18:00:00.002-04:00

stoked that i got to hang and catch up with this first-class gal in pittsburgh!

times square can't shine as bright as you

2010-04-22T17:57:00.001-04:00

METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

2010-04-22T17:35:00.005-04:00

back through the park

2010-04-22T17:17:00.004-04:00

RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL

2010-04-22T17:09:00.003-04:00

PLEASE WATCH THIS VIDEO!

2010-04-11T21:07:00.000-04:00

you musn't give your heart to a wild thing

2010-04-05T14:33:00.002-04:00

Farewell 352 1/2

2010-03-02T19:44:00.002-05:00

I Am Photographing A Sin

2010-02-14T17:59:00.013-05:00

Montreal / Toronto Weekday Tour
1-10 shot with Canon Canonet 28
11-52 shot with Olympus Stylus
drastically out of order

some of them are just like us, and some of them are dicks

2010-02-11T19:42:00.003-05:00

Frank Turner came to Toronto a few weeks ago to play a handful of solo gigs around the city. I managed to catch him twice; at his free appearance at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern, and again the next night at the Dakota Tavern (pictured above). Both shows ruled, and it was rad to see Frank play again, and hear a few different songs from the last time I saw him.

I also snagged this video of Frank playing "The Ballad of Me and My Friends" and uploaded it to vimeo today.
You can hear me singing along and I don't sing well, oops!

Here's another photo I grabbed of the stage at the Dakota before Frank went on. I thought it was pretty!

...to show you feel, that your love for me is real

2010-02-11T19:31:00.004-05:00

The power duo responsible for such musical endeavors as Arietta & "What's Poppin" (better known as Tyler & Shehzaad) basically rule at karaoke. If the photo wasn't a giveaway, check out their song choice below.

Colly X Chinatown Mall

2010-02-11T19:22:00.004-05:00

"Come on, this is the dirt mall. Cops don't come here."
"Neither does any self-respecting consumer."

Colleen (Halifax native / sweet new pal) and I took a stroll through the chinatown mall the other day.
Here's some photos to prove it.

Tonka Likes Books

2010-02-11T19:14:00.004-05:00

I went to Montreal for the past couple of days with my pals I Am Committing A Sin, and managed to join the rest of the band in calling Kevin Tonka Kevin. Tonka and his (and my new) pal Kurt just moved into a basement apartment on Bathurst. Tonka can only stand up in half of the apartment, and I can barely stand in any of it.

Here's a photo I took of Tonka in front of some books at his new place.

I took a bunch of film and a few weird cameras to MTL, so hopefully a few photos of the 6 rolls I shot turned out.

you make my dreams come true (oo-oo ooo-oo)

2010-02-02T02:48:00.004-05:00

i just got really into this show called "live from daryl's house" where daryl hall from hall & oats invites artists into his home to perform their songs with him and his band. this clip comes from the episode with patrick from fall out boy, where they perform a song that sounds like the stereo. patrick is super talented, and nails it singing and playing drums for this one.

in other patrick stump news, this is pretty funny.
in even more patrick stump shinfo, his (hopefully old) cellphone number was my go-to pocket dial for years.
dude probably hates me, if he even remembers/cares who i am anymore.
in semi-unrelated shinfo, justin pierre from motion city soundtrack directed that stereo video.
weeeeeeird.

WE HAVE TO GO BACK!

2010-01-31T22:44:00.001-05:00

BEST OF 2009 MIXTAPE!

2010-01-31T21:58:00.004-05:00

I'm sure some of you read that last post and said "wow, i wish i could listen to this album right now"!
now before you go rushing to myspace, check out this mixtape i made, featuring songs from my favourite albums of 2009!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE MIX

tracklisting:

CAMERA OBSCURA: french navy.
POLAR BEAR CLUB: see the wind.
PAINT IT BLACK: salem.
MEW: introducing palace players.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS: shudder, st. kilda.
STRIKE ANYWHERE: failed state.
PROPAGANDHI: night letters.
CURSIVE: from the hips.
DAVID BAZAN: bless this mess.
ATTACK IN BLACK: i'm a rock.
FRANK TURNER: the road.
WILCO: one wing.
SILVERSUN PICKUPS: substitution.
THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART: stay alive.
WEATHERBOX: they're ready for us to come home.
NORTHCOTE: i'm on your side.
BON IVER: beach baby.
THE WOODEN SKY: something hiding for us in the night.
OWEN: brown hair in a bird's nest.
PHOENIX: countdown (sick for the big sun).
CAMERA OBSCURA: other towns and cities.
DEFEATER: a wound and scar.
LUCERO: mom.

BEST OF 2009!

2010-01-31T20:52:00.007-05:00

in the spirit of the grammy's, i'm finally ready to unveil my best of 2009 list!

TOP 10 ALBUMS.

01. CAMERA OBSCURA: my maudlin career.

it was really hard for me to pick my favourite albums of year, and even harder to pick a number one. i bought a lot of records this year, and a lot of quality stuff came out. i decided to pick my maudlin career as my top album because it was something new and fresh for me, and really captured me, sucked me in, and kept me playing it over and over. i had never listened to the bands previous albums, and for the longest time exclusively associated the name with the grind band from san diego that my friend toby really got into in high school. alas, i heard a lot of buzz about this scottish group while touring the uk earlier this year, and through ahead-of-the-curve indie music mastermind paul koehler. like i said before, the record immediately sucked me in, and i couldn't stop listening to it. right away i was reminded of the famous phil spector sound, and the sugary sweet vocal arrangements of spector's female pop groups of the sixties (see: the ronettes) mixed with some well known scottish indie flavouring (see: belle & sebastian). the album kicks off with a few upbeat, undeniable pop hits in a row, yet develops a nice ebb and flow with some subdued ballads. it seems as though regardless of the tempo, the lyrical themes all seemed to deal with failing, and perhaps even tragically doomed relationship scenarios. i think this is where the record really got me. i'm the king of doomed relationships, and seem to set myself up most of the time for failure in these types of situations. i'm not sure if this record revealed an inevitably inauspicious outcome of a certain relationship i was attempting to work towards at the time, but it definitely embraced my situation, and had to be shelved for a bit the more i was able to relate to the lyrics. i'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing, but that relation is a main reason why i felt so attached to the record, solidifying the top position here. i really don't see much flaw in this album. the production is wonderful, and every track has it's place and is enjoyable. there's this one really great song about toronto, too!

KEY TRACKS: french navy, james, forest and sands, other towns and cities.

02. PROPAGANDHI: supporting caste.

putting this record at number two was really hard. i want to say it's my favourite record of the year, and i want to say that it's my favourite propagandhi record, and i think it is, although that seems like such a tall order against such classics as 'less talk, more rock'and 'today's empires, tomorrow's ashes'. needless to say, this record really rips, and i think it encapsulates everything that i've loved about their previous material, while diving into a whole new level of progression, riffing, and both clever and intelligent lyrics. the recording is definitely the best of their discography. making the choice to go with bill stevenson and jason livermoore at the blasting room (who previously handled only the mixing duties for 2005's 'protemkin city limits') was hitting the nail on the head for these guys. kicking off with the fast, hard hitting aggression and anger of empires with 'night letters' (sung by bassist todd kowalski), and shortly followed by a refined and on point progression to the steps taken on potemkin with a riffy, mid tempo prog-banger 'tertium non datur' and several tracks throughout the album seem like modern versions of songs that would've fit alongside the catchy, poppy and often goofy 'less talk'. the lyrical themes are all still there, animal and human rights, militaristic protest, social and cultural injustices, love and death...oh, and of course hockey! if you think "jesus saves, gretzky scores" was a lyrical milestone for you, then you really need to hear 'dear coaches corner'. all in all, i want to call this my favourite propagandhi album, and i think as the years go on it will truly stick with that title, even though it's really hard to shake loyalty with the ever-so-important moments shared with a record for the first time at age 13. oh, and being vegan, this record is amazing. with his tongue firmly implanted in his cheek, chris hannah suggests that man kind would be better off eating eachother than suggesting that eating animals is anything short of inhumane. another track that really hits close to home is 'without love' (as previously documented right here on this very blog) after losing my grandfather, and several close friends in previous years. it's really easy to slump into a rut of sadness, frustration and anger in the loss of a loved one, and this track really inspires hope and motivation to move on with positive and loving attitudes towards each and every day you're alive. i also hate metal, yet i really love some of the riffs and bangers on this record.

KEY TRACKS: night letters, dear coaches corner, human(e) meat (the flensing of sandor katz), without love.

03. MEW: no more stories are told today, i'm sorry, they washed away. no more stories, the world is grey, i'm tired, let's wash away.

mew keeps raising the bar with each record they release. 'no more stories' continues with the obscurely timed and proggier moments of their previous release 'and the glass handed kites' it also seems to bring back some of the initial pop sensibilities of my first introduction to the band, 2003's 'frengers'. at this point, i don't think this band can disappoint me. they're an easy pick as my all favourite live band (they play in front of a syncopated and interactive digital animation) who flawlessly seem to balance the line between both complicated and experimental, yet extremely catchy and memorable. the rhythms are so unique and precise, coupled with often brash and abrasive tones, and shimmering and enchanting melodies of keys, strings, and certainly the upper register of vocalist jonas bjerre. there has always been such an obvious euro quality to this scandinavian quintet, most obviously from the simplistic, and often charming, second nature of the english lyrics. something this record seems to want to achieve is somewhat of a conceptual between the tracks, using seamless transitions coupled with obvious breaks and interludes every so often. mew presents a vast sonic dynamic landscape with 'no more stories', introducing the listener to the peaks of aggression and complexity and the valleys of soothing balladry and compelling beauty of their softer moments. they also seem to introduce a number of new instruments never before used on their previous records, including what sounds to me like many forms of african percussion and some sort of xylophone. definitely an album to check out if you enjoy challenging and involved compositions. oh yeah, and i know the title is a little absurd, but it's a lyric faintly chanted throughout the middle of the record (see the track: 'a dream') and probably holds some sort of conceptual significance, or just goes back to my point about their weirdo euro tendencies.

KEY TRACKS: introducing palace players, beach, repeater beater, cartoons and macramé wounds.

04. DAVID BAZAN: curse your branches.

let me start off by saying, i'm a huge pedro the lion fan, and it was a bit sad to hear that david had dissolved the band to take the solo project approach in which he first took on the pedro name. with that said, i've loved everything he's released, including his first solo ep 'fewer moving parts' and his synth based project headphones. with all of that said, it was great to see david go back to a full (mostly live) band setting for his debut "solo" full length effort on barsuk records. i'd also like to note that i had been anticipating the release of a new bazan record for over two years ('david bazan's back cloud' was a previous working title) and 'branches' did not disappoint. while david has often approached conceptual album topics of divorce, addiction, and christianity, this album is the amalgamation of all those topics with a precise autobiographical narrative. past pedro records have used these topics as a fictional story line, including the struggle to keep together an unfaithful relationship, the temptation of drugs, alcohol and other moral infidelities, along side a constant search for a typical christian spiritual connection and redemption. this record is all these things, and it is most definitely a "break up" record, yet this time it's not a fictional story; in a state of struggling spirituality and alcoholism, bazan has broken up with god. this fantastic chicago reader article i read preceding the release of this album tackled this observation perfectly, and is worth checking out. it seems david has become discouraged in his search for a higher spiritual redemption, and is now bordering atheism, and is here to wallow away with a tall glass of beer as he continues to sing his sorrows. many bold statements are made, most of which take a look at obvious problems of modern society as a result of the dated and inconsistent teachings and traditions of the church (see: 'harmless sparks') as well as the absurd strategic fear of impending eternal damnation. bazan displays a collection of recognizable influences (see: the beatles, radiohead, leonard cohen, wilco) while still maintaining and existing within his own definitive sound. everything you could want from a bazan record (and more) is here, and the sounds and melodies are fresh and inovative, yet still hold an endearing level of familiarity for long time fans.

KEY TRACKS: hard to be, bless this mess, curse your branches, harmless sparks, heavy breath.

05. PHOENIX: wolfgang amadeus phoenix.

this is a pretty generic pick, and seemed to show up on most mainstream rock critics best-of- (albeit numerous urban outfitters play-) lists this year. it's crazy how fast this record seemed to catch on. i heard about it back at the start of summer, on recommendation from paul, and really dug it at first. the next thing i know, the songs were all over the radio and car commercials. the fact of the matter is, this record is extremely catchy, it's undeniable! the first two tracks are instant hits, and have been received as so. the third track fences is really the only thing that bothers me on this record. i find the track so annoying, and make it even more annoying when i try to impersonate how it sounds in my head. i've recently clicked the check mark beside the song in my itunes off so that it doesn't play it. i would much rather listen to extremely boring first half of the fourth track love like a sunset then be put through a full three minutes and fifty seconds of fences. but i digress; back to that fourth track, like i said, suuuuper boring build up part for about 6 minutes, and then a beautiful, and simple ending, with a picking guitar part that totally sounds straight off of moneen's theory of harmonial value. track five bangs into a dueling drum solo, and five or six "where wouldjya go"s later, you've got yourself another instantly catchy hit song. from there the record really opens up for me. i find with these instantly catchy records, i get stuck on the primarily side-a hit singles for the first few listens, but often end up having the b-side of the record really grow on me. this record is totally like that, i've often just listened the vinyl on the b-side for more of a mellow vibe, the songs are really great. the vocal break / high hat solo in rome is a really beautiful part.

KEY TRACKS: countdown (sick for the big sun), lasso, lisztomania, 1901.

06. WILCO: (the album).

i've really embraced wilco as one of my favourite bands since their 2007 release sky blue sky, but mostly due to the regular rotation of their earlier masterpiece yankee hotel foxtrot and the corresponding documentary i'm trying to break your heart. wilco has grown exponentially since the release of foxtrot but have taken on a definite elite status of credibility in the mainstream, large theater/arena concert, grammy nominated world that they now exist in. i really enjoyed this record at first listen, and didn't need much enticement for repeat listening. at first i really felt that they went back to some more experimental studio sounds (see: deeper down) but keeping a good level of consistency with sky blue sky. shortly after, i was calling the record "safe", and even compared it to what i felt death cab for cutie did with their major label debut plans, which is to set themselves some parameters where they know they are successful and really just try to make the best sounding, and most accessible record they can inside that box. it wasn't until i saw wilco live for the 3rd time at massy hall (easily my favourite live performance of the year!) this fall that i really gained a full perspective on the record. i think the fact that it sounds so good masks what is really going on, which instruments are being played, how and when. seeing all six members individually and cooperatively perform their, more often then not, multiple instruments in such a beautifully set venue was absolutely necessary for me to see the wilco machine operate with flawless preciseness. i feel like the record has a really diverse vibe and flow, and don't feel like there are any songs that sound the same or that i would want to skip. the dueling riffing between guitarist/front man jeff tweedy and lead axe slinger nels cline is more intricate and exciting than ever! some songs (see: bull black nova) seem like a real life guitar hero show down for a couple of veteran players like tweedy and cline. the duet with feist is super endearing too! swoooooooon.

KEY TRACKS: one wing, you and i, deeper down, wilco (the song), solitaire.

07. THE WOODEN SKY: if i don't come home you'll know i'm gone.

now for my favourite local release! the boys in the wooden sky have made a huge impression on me since i was introduced to their music after meeting wyatt several times though mutual friends. something about lead singer gavin gardeners voice that really sucks me into these beautiful songs and stories. i find when attempting to review albums, i always feel that i could never do as good of a job as nada could. she loves this album too, and wrote this story in attempt to cover the bases of the landscape that this record beautifully paints. i found it really easy to sentimentally relate to nada's story, which is probably why i had such an instant connection with this record. read her version, it's better than anything i could say. nada wins. as for the sonic element of this record, i think these guys really nailed it with choosing to record at montreal's hotel2tango, well known for producing the studio owners godspeed you black emperor's eclectic albums. another noticeable addition to the production of this record was the performance of (former moneen) drummer peter krpan. peter is such a talented drummer, and brings so much to this record. i believe the band asked peter to join them on the road for a few months, and to assist in the writing and recording of this album while their current drummer andrew kekewich was finishing up school. i don't want to discredit andrew by any means, because he also contributed to the drumming and vast percussion duties on this album as well (and we also recently had a hard bro down over pet sounds). another thing that absolutely must be included in the praise of this wonderful album is the documentary in pieces film project. the band embarked on the "bedrooms & backstreets" tour, featuring performances in unique and unconventional spaces across canada this past summer. the tour was captured and compiled into this dark, strange and beautiful sectioned pieces by director scott cudmore. it's really cool to see how the band adapted these intricate and multi-instrumented songs to be played in unconventional settings such as basements, libraries, sunflower crops, and even a boat, without the format of a traditional live stage or backline. i really hope they move forward with this documentary series and release it as a full length summary of this fascinating album.

KEY TRACKS: (bit part), call if you need me, an evening hymn, something hiding for us in the night, oslo.

08. STRIKE ANYWHERE: iron front.

let me start by saying strike are one of my favourite punk bands, and dear friends (sweet brag), i also have their antifascist circle logo tattooed on my leg. now that we have all that out of the way, lets talk about how i came to love this band. i kind of slept on their early material, and listened to their breakthrough change is a sound only a handful of times before really getting into their 2003 effort exit english just in time to support them on their tour shortly after that albums release. it seemed like change was extremely rushed, and sounded kind of sloppy to me before really knowing the songs, and exit seemed to be producer brian mcternan's attempt to correct that. i loved how exit sounded, thick guitar tones, polished vocal lines, hooks and harmonies, and tight and crisp rhythms. after seeing them live a handful of times, it became apparent that the recording seemed formulated, and the use of a click track came across as slow compared to their aggressive and rapid live tendencies. when i first heard exit's follow up dead fm it felt like the band was trying to rebel against those thick and lush production techniques, and produced a thin, loose, and somewhat bland and boring album (aside from the obvious banger, lead off track sedition, which might stand as my favourite strike song). i was a little disappointed to lose the things i loved about exit and wished they would find a way to harness the intensity and aggression of change and make it sound as good as exit. it seems as though they have finally done that here with their debut for, predominantly hardcore, bridge 9 records. iron front takes everything that i like about the band, and hammers it home with a refined, and extremely well executed fearless statement. strike anywhere is a fast, aggressive, passionate, melodic, pissed off, thoughtful and educated hardcore band. i know these descriptions don't all seem to fit with one another, but they are all important elements that make up the band and this exceptional thirteen song effort. get ready to pump your fist, sing and yell along at the top of your lungs, rebel, relate, circle pit and stage dive! GO!

KEY TRACKS: invisible colony, i'm your opposite number, failed state, first will and testament.

09. WEATHERBOX: the cosmic drama.

this record is really cool, obscure and all over the place, but has some shining moments and sincere qualities. i got the idea that the band sort of broke up, or at least left singer brian warren alone to make this record on his own, with the help of musicians of his choice (some of which were in the band to begin with...i don't quite get it). i kind of had the impression that this would be one of those weird, lead singer goes crazy, kicks out the band, and makes an obscure solo record, and i guess in many ways it is. it's definitely different than their doghouse debut american art and took me a few listens to get past the weirdness of some of the tracks (especially the first one, it reminds me of something jeremy enigk would be behind, and i'm not sure if i like it or not). there are a few really cool, simple, yet intricate, lofi acoustic songs, and tons of quirky riffs and enigmatic lyrics. i think as a whole, i can really appreciate every song for what it is, and really commend the band for taking a risk into a world of obscurity, while maintaining somewhat of a consistent sound to their previous material. i kind of relate this record to the new attack in black (see bellow) album years (...) which i think completely alienates their old material, and in turn their entire fanbase, and i don't think this album does that, it just challenges old fans to enjoy some weird and new ideas and song structures. the recording quality is also rough, lofi and seemingly diy at times, without losing any sort of impact in the mean time. i dig it. oh, and the cover art salute to famed late author kurt vonnegut is a very nice touch! the long song titles aren't too tiring either, it really does sound like he's saying "youtube the clouds". if my band had the sense to name the songs the dumb things we think we hear being said in songs we'd definitely have named some "stop fucking my mom", "apple tooth, ba-do-do-doot-doot", and "just when you think you're done banging dudes" (a tribute to social distortion).

KEY TRACKS: they're ready for us to come home, mindthings to waste, youtube the clouds (anything that flies), and you will know me by the trail of dead.

10. LUCERO: 1372 overton park.

this new lucero record is a huge step in the polished, pop structured, mainstream and sugary sounding direction from their rootsy, organic, live, loose, sad drunk sounds of their considerable discography. they really honed in on their sound, tightened and brightened everything up, added more keys and plenty of horns, and seemingly took a dive head first into an accessible sound. i can see how fans of the old sound would dismiss, and even hate this record, but i think the more i listened, i see this record for what it is, which is a logic musical progression and not a form of "selling out" by any means. lucero have made something like 6 or 7 records, and can keep making the same shitty sounding record, but have decided to do better than that, and make a good sounding record for a change. if you don't like it because the songs sound too happy, well listen and look a little deeper into the songs. the same themes and stories are still there beneath the glistening tones and sonic value. i really like where they have gone with this, and have a hard time finding myself not enjoying and singing along to these songs. the first obvious comparison you can make is that of the hold steady, which is a great thing in my opinion. i must admit though, i almost always skip 'sixes and sevens', just a bit too hoaky for me. the final track 'mom' is easily as good as any lucero album closer to date (see: the war, she wakes when she dreams, it gets the worst at night).

KEY TRACKS: smoke, what are you willing to lose, sound of the city, goodbye again, mom.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS.

these albums didn't quite make the cut, but are still pretty good and worthy of talking about and checking out.

FRANK TURNER: poetry of the deed.

frank turner was easily my favourite artist and greatest musical discovery of 2009 (thanks stephanie!) but that was entirely based on 2008's masterpiece love ire and song. poetry is franks technical epitaph debut (they gave ire a proper north american release this year i suppose) which grows on me more and more every listen, but just doesn't seem to make the impression and mark set by it's predecessor. while ire is so beautifully honest, on point, and composed, poetry seems to lack some sort of spark, in my opinion, mostly due to the intended live band approach and vibe in both the song writing and recording. like i said, this record keeps growing on me, and some of the songs are total sing along bangers (especially after seeing him live three times now since the release) but it always boils down to there being something missing that ire is just soaking with. for every great song on this record, there is at least one mediocre filler track. i really enjoy the continual message of this record though, which to me screams "BE WHAT YOU BELIEVE...burst at the seems, be what you dream, and then take to the road". if you've yet to hear frank, go pick up love ire & song and catch him live if you can!

KEY TRACKS: try this at home, poetry of the deed, the road, journey of the magi.

SILVERSUN PICKUPS: swoon.

this record is cool, and definitely better and more thought out and put together than their debut carnavas. i really like a bunch of the songs, and the album as a whole, but for some reason it's just not there. i really hope 'the royal we' is a big lebowski reference (you know, the editorial...)

KEY TRACKS: the royal we, it's nice to know you work alone, panic switch, substitution.

SIGHTS & SOUNDS: monolith.

a great debut effort for this comeback kid side project band. i really liked this record when i first heard it, and have listened to it a lot. the songs are very powerful, and the production is very heavy at the hands of predominantly metal producer devin townsend. i think the reason that this record doesn't quite cut it is that there isn't a ton of dynamic, and seems to follow along the same sort of sonic tone, mood and vibe. in some ways, i see that as a good thing, and perhaps what the band was aiming for, but i also got tired of it after a while. i think some of the songs drag on a bit too long as well. still, really great album, can't wait to see what these dudes do next!

KEY TRACKS: sorrows, shudder st. kilda, storm and the sun, the furthest truth, pillars.

POLAR BEAR CLUB: chasing hamburg.

much like frank turner's poetry of the deed, the polar bears' new record doesn't quite shine through the shadow of their previous achievements. i think i was actually the last guy to get into this band, but finally i'm here, and really digging this new disc, but not quite as much as their 2008 full length debut sometimes things just disappear. a product of influence of a majority of my favourite bands (see: hot water music, small brown bike, the get up kids, piebald) polar bear club really made an impression on the gainesville fest attending punknews.org-ers in the past couple of years. chasing hamburg marks their debut with aforementioned, and apparently eager to branch out, hardcore staple bridge 9 records. produced by matt bayles (minus the bear, mastodon, isis, blood brothers) who may or may not have convinced the bears to shorten, and focus their song writing structures, resulting in a very to the point, while still aggressive, predominantly pop focused album. it sounds great, has well written lyrics, and is extremely catchy, but doesn't quite meet the mark set by disappear, and i guess that's why it doesn't make the cut for me. hamburg really is a perfect musical journal of the typical punk ethos band dude, struggling to find their place, remain honest, sincere and credible in a ruthless industry of faceless message board attacks and put-on rockstar egos. i think anyone who has ever truly loved touring and playing music can agree that "there are lots like us, with no grave but the stage".

KEY TRACKS: see the wind, living saints, light of local eyes, chasing hamburg.

OWEN: new leaves.

i don't think i could ever hate an owen album. mike kinsella is so extremely talented, and endearing in his song writing and performing. there really isn't a whole lot "new" going on with leaves, his fifth full length effort, which i think is my only real problem. the songs are all really beautiful, well and cleverly written (especially lyrically), produced and performed, yet i wasn't really as excited about this record as i was with past owen material, and found myself reluctant to listen and re-listen, and when i did, it was a lot of the same old for kinsella. mind you, that same old is pretty brilliant, and extremely talented, it's just, not really any better than previous albums. the best part is, mike doesn't seem to really care what i think, or anyone for that matter, and will continue to share the music he essentially makes for himself, as long as he's not serious about that one final curtain call.

KEY TRACKS: good friends bad habits, a trenchant critique, brown hair in a birds nest, curtain call.

CURSIVE: mama, i'm swollen.

most of my friends who love cursive didn't really like this record, often complaining that it was too similar to frontman tim kashers side project the good life. i really like the good life, and while i still feel mama fits as a cursive album, i don't really mind either way. it's definitely less abrasive compared to their last two records happy hollow and the ugly organ which i feel is something i enjoy about it. it definitely took a while to get into, but i made sure to listen to it a lot before attending the bands first ever canadian headline show this summer at toronto's legendary horseshoe tavern. after seeing the songs performed live, along side older classics and favourites of mine from earlier albums domestica and burst & bloom, i found myself enjoying the new songs as much, if not more so. i think it's really worth checking out this record and giving it a chance, but i suppose it's not quite top ten calibre.

KEY TRACKS: from the hips, i couldn't love you, cavemen, what have i done.

THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART: self titled.

alright, so i really like the smiths, and it's cool for a band in 2009 to make a record that sounds like them. i really enjoyed this record, but probably not as much as the long list of critics giving them top ten honours this past year. they were kind of boring live, too.

KEY TRACKS: come saturday, young adult friction, stay alive, gentle sons.

ATTACK IN BLACK: years (by one thousand fingertips).

after two exceptional, yet drastically different releases in 2007, it was hard for me to really know which direction attack in black was going to go with their music. it's quite obvious that along with the recording equipment they found buried in their parents basement, used to record the curve of the earth, they must've stumbled upon their parents record collections too. after a taste of radio success, and countless tours with friends, canadian screaming heavy hitters alexisonfire, it's obvious that these four guys wanted to throw a wrench into the machine that was operating their career. they set out to alienate the fans they made on the radio or any of those convention center sized alexis shows, by making a lofi, diy home recording of sixteen songs in the vain of those dusty records they must've found in their basement (see: neil young, bob dylan, the band, etc). i definitely had planned on covering this album in my hopefully upcoming "biggest disappointments of 2009" post, but i think i like it too much to really call it a disappointment. i gotta say though, i would appreciate this album much more as ten or eleven songs than sixteen. there are some real sinkers on here, and i think a lot of it comes from the experiment in letting all 4 band members sing on curve. while it was charming to hear the less experienced, mostly off pitch vocal performances on curve, it's just flat out bad and boring in some cases here. while i really enjoy bassist "big ian"s distorted vocals on track two leaving your death in a flowerbed, it gets extremely cringeworthy mid record with leather jacket. the middle of the record actually has a lot of skippers for me, especially track nine, the extremely boring, insta-wincer messenger bird. same goes for slender loris and brownness of her curls, both secondary singer songs. all of that criticism aside, there are some really great songs on this album, which brings back my suggestion about it being a stronger album at shorter length. luckily with all these new influences they still have a strong affection for the weakerthans, as shown on a personal stand out track moon of day. another thing i have really began to hate about this band is that, musical styles aside, this band seems reluctant to alienate their fans with their setlist selection. i've liked these guys for a few years now, and i always feel like i'm a year behind their setlist. when i first got into their widows ep they were already playing songs off their yet-to-be recorded marriage. i saw them a few times on the australian soundwave tour, which they were doing to support the aussie release of marriage, yet insisted on playing a set list made up of mostly then unreleased songs from years. i had a lot of friends from australia who were really excited to see the guys on soundwave after i hyped up marriage to them, and they were all instantly disappointed with the set of unknown, slower folk songs. even since, i went to see them play a few weeks ago for the constantines ten year anniversary shows, and was looking forward to seeing them play some of my favourite songs from this record (see below) and was completely let down with mostly songs i didn't like (see above) and new songs that no one in the crowd could've possibly known. i admire the ethos and mindset as an artist to play what you want to play, but c'mon guys, there needs to be a line. it may just be a coincidence, but kudos to the how it feels to be something on album cover homage.

KEY TRACKS: leaving your death in a flowerbed, i could turn, i'm a rock, moon of day, the surface i would travel.

TOP 5 EP's.

PAINT IT BLACK: amnesia.

paint it black decided to make two 7" ep's this year instead of a full length. amnesia is the first one, which they released on bridge 9. i personally think it's the better of the two, and contains five really great songs. it starts off with the pissed off salem, which addresses the separation of church and state, and the issue of teaching creationism in public school systems in america. track two homesick is probably the most kid dynamite-esque paint it black song to date. the title song tackles the sensitive subject of the holocaust, and ends with the plea "NEVER AGAIN". the fifth and final track bliss is paint it black's longest, and definitely most lifetime-esque, and is about riding bikes, so i'm down. i was lucky enough to attend 3 of the 4 record release weekend shows for this, and you can read about that and see my photos here.

KEY TRACKS: (basically all of them...it's only like 10 minutes of music).

BON IVER: blood bank.

i'm ready to admit that bon iver's debut for emma, forever ago should've received a higher position on last years list. this quick follow up ep is pretty good, and features two really good songs followed by two mediocre songs. apparently there won't be any new material for a while now, but i've really enjoyed the full length and this ep this past year.

KEY TRACKS: blood bank, beach baby.

DEFEATER: lost ground.

another band who released a full length record last year that i didn't get into in time to give proper honours. lost ground follows up their bridge 9 debut travels by continuing on with a story line from my favourite track on travels, prophet in plain clothes. this double 7" concept ep follows a character through the experience of being a soldier in world war two with six very powerful, hard hitting tracks. some real heavy songs on here, both musically and emotionally. defeater are an awesome new band for fans of modern life is war, have heart and verse, easily as much as one of underoath (minus the whole christianity thing i suppose).

KEY TRACKS: the red white & blues, the bite & sting, a wound & scar.

NORTHCOTE: borrowed chords, tired eyes.

northcote is my pal matt goud who used to play guitar and sing in the band means. he's been working on this solo stuff for a few years now ever since means split up, and has been sending me demos and rough mixes along the way. this debut under the new moniker is a nice collection of eight solo songs with the accompaniment of a female vocalist/trumpeter, and much more in-studio instrumentation including harmonica, slide guitar and a few different forms of percussion. matt is a really kind soul, and has become a really dear long distance friend. these songs are mostly simple, but extremely honest and endearing. i'm looking forward to see what else he does as a solo musician and have my fingers crossed for him making a stop over in toronto this spring and summer. matt really pours his heart out in these songs, and i feel like he's at his most honest and heartfelt in the album closer good night, which reflects on his touring days with means, and deals with the struggles of moving on from all the joys and struggles of being in a band.

KEY TRACKS: wheels, all i have is time, i'm on your side, stark major, good night.

PAINT IT BLACK: surrender.

surrender was the second paint it black 7" this year, released on fat wreck chords. the only real downfall of this ep is that it's shorter (clocks in under seven minutes), and slightly less memorable (probably because i haven't listened to it as much). i definitely like the cover art better than amnesia, though.

KEY TRACKS: (again, all of them, not skipping a song takes longer than listening to it in this case).

i take a lot of pride that, with the music industry in a dying physical climate, i'm still buying records and supporting these bands. here's a photo of all* of these records listed above on vinyl.

*frank turner, sights & sounds**, and northcote currently not available on vinyl.

** (in north america)

RIP JD SALINGER

2010-01-28T19:33:00.003-05:00

What really knocks me out is a book, when you're all done reading it, you wished the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.

-----------------------------

What I was really hanging around for, I was trying to feel some kind of a good-by. I mean I've left schools and places I didn't even know I was leaving them. I hate that. I don't care if it's a sad good-by or a bad good-by, but when I leave a place I like to know I'm leaving it. If you don't, you feel even worse.

who would fuck you?

2010-01-26T18:14:00.001-05:00

PALS WITH BOTH GALS

2010-01-23T17:18:00.004-05:00

I snagged this photo of Andrea & Nada in a brief moment that they were in the same city/country/time zone, shortly after ringing in the New Year. It seems it's impossible to keep them both away from California, the second we get one back, the other scurries off. Well, I can't complain, someone needs to keep Organizations Non-Profiting (yet winning millions) and geographical proximity seems to hold no bearing on running a fantastic music blog (<< seriously, go read their blog).

I also really wanted to post this photo for the following, seemingly obvious, reasons:
a) Ross' facial expression.
b) Andrea's reaction to subject a.
c) Brooks pointin'-n-shootin'.

I AIN'T GOT NO HOME

2010-01-23T17:14:00.002-05:00

Andrew & Tonka Kevin performing "Ain't Got No Home" at Very Noodle Family Christmas.

MUGMUGMUG

2010-01-23T17:07:00.004-05:00

Happy 200th Post!

++ playlist
MIDLAKE: the courage of others.
MICAH SCHNABEL: when the stage lights go dim.
THE CURE: disintegration.
DEFEATER: trvaels.
SMOKING POPES: destination failure.
BRENDAN RIVERA: body of land.

++ watching
MADMEN: season three.
GREYS ANATOMY: season six.
30 ROCK: season four.
THE DARJEELING LIMITED w/ HOTEL CHEVALIER.

MILAN

2010-01-22T18:49:00.003-05:00

Milan, Italy!
We had two days here too, and we took the necessary trains to get to the city center to explore.
I think these photos are my favourite from the tour, and I had a great time in Milan.
My camera battery died immediately after taking the last photo, so I wish I could've taken more.
We went to see The Last Supper and I think PK snagged an illegal photo of it on his cell phone.

BERLIN

2010-01-22T18:42:00.003-05:00

Berlin, Germany is the next stop. Here Dougie, Paul and I sussed out a train that took us downtown on a gloomy, overcast afternoon. Berlin is one of the newer architectural cities in Germany after the Second World War, but the mix of old and new is quite pretty.

PRAGUE

2010-01-22T18:07:00.005-05:00

Prague, Czech Republic is one of my favourite European cities so far!
I love the uniqueness and preservation of the aging architecture.
We had two days here, and I wondered down to the city center with the band and crew, and later ventured off on my own to find delicious vegan food. Later on I bumped into the Cancer Bats and continued along with them for the remainder of the evening. We had tacos for dinner, too.

Check out the hundreds of photos from the other end of that camera HERE

DRESDEN

2010-01-22T17:53:00.003-05:00

Here's the first set of photos from Europe that I'm about to post, from Dresden Germany.
Dresden is a really cool city with a lot of texture, culture and architecture.
Slaughterhouse Five is based in Dresden, and I attempted to take some sort of walking Kurt Vonnegut tour, but the guides were sick that week. Here's what I saw on my own exploring.

the streetcars look the same

2010-01-12T00:11:00.003-05:00

i was hoping to have more photos from europe ready to post tonight, but all i have is this one from prague.

"let's go make fun of the vegans and their crazy lifestyle"

2010-01-11T23:51:00.003-05:00

i just came across these photos from our stop in ottawa this fall. i was lucky enough to reconnect with my acting-childhood-punk-rock-big-sister mandi lunan. mandi has been living in ottawa for a few years, and has recently launched her very own vegan bakery under the moniker auntie loo's treats. my friend and fellow vegan / adored photographer / show promoter / jaded record store owner / avid tweeter / zine interview rejecter (i'm holding you to that) shawn scallen picked me up and took me by mandi's bakery, where we mealed hard on some chinese take out and these delicious chocolate brownies with peanut butter icing. fresh and hot out of the oven!

and while i'm reppin' my vegan pals new endeavors, i may as well take this opportunity to direct you to my pal ross' new blog WWW.VEGANEATSBLOG.COM! we made a bitchin' brunch on new years day.

and if you don't know the quote referenced in the title, please watch this:

apathetic apologies (aka "sorry for slacking")

2010-01-11T23:20:00.008-05:00

happy new year!
i've really fallen behind on this whole "end of year" blogging business.
i really promise that i will have a few year and decade end lists to post before the end of the month.

for now, here are a couple random photos from when shane and i drove down to detroit to see frank turner open for the gaslight anthem at saint andrews hall.
definitely one of the top ten shows i attended in 2009 (complete list coming soon).

i'll walk up to her when she's caught the bouquet

2009-12-01T15:31:00.005-05:00

So my pal Kyle Sloan got married!
Holy crap!

I went to Nashville for the weekend back in September to be there. We built a shed, had a time, Ben and Aileen were there, I explained why I'm vegan about 15 different times, and Kyle and Mandy are now married!

CLICK HERE FOR THE PHOTOS!

Mates!

2009-11-30T11:25:00.007-05:00

found these pics of my mates alex lee and kyle t from the patio at fresh on a warm september weekend!

alex has a sweet blog that mostly showcases her recent trip to europe that you can read here
and kyle has a sweet band that you can listen to here

I LOVE MY FRIENDS!

spencer's house show

2009-11-30T11:05:00.003-05:00

spencer had a little end of summer house show/party and titan, lost cities, arietta and i am committing a sin played.

arietta kept the lights on when they played, and i couldn't really get any good photos of them, but i took some super punk looking photos of the rest of the bands.

this one of paul marc is my favourite, but if you click on it you can see the rest

'Laska

2009-11-30T11:01:00.005-05:00

back in september we went to alaska to play a show. it was pretty unreal, and i took a bunch of photos.

click on this one to open about 70 more.

how i spent my summer vacation

2009-11-11T19:33:00.005-05:00

here's the rest of the photos i took while out on warped tour. i didn't take my camera out at all while actually at warped tour, it seems, which is a bummer.

this is benson. he's a bro, vegan, loves bikes, tattoos, mustaches, coffee and being awesome.

ate at this rad spot called the foundation or something.

some sort of unreal pasta with peanut sauce deal. too good!

mike ski. this is what you look like at the end of 2 months of doing warped tour in a van, trying to juggle being in a band, working as a tattoo artist, and having your girlfriend out on the road at the same time. this guy probably works harder and cares more than any other dude out there. much respect!

drove past the exit for gilman street in berkeley. wish i could've got off and gone to a show at 924.

went to an oakland a's game instead.

get stoked!

batting helmet full of popcorn!

popped into vinyl collective in denver to surprise my old pal brandon!

finally met virgil! check me out on the visitors to vinyl collective blog!

hahaha loved the sign on the door, and the reflection looked cool.

casa de la dylan!

watercourse in denver!

we meal hard!

breakfast with beeps round 2

2009-11-10T19:05:00.006-05:00

i have been fortunate enough to spend quite a bit of time this summer in winnipeg with a few of my best vegan and nonvegan foodie bro's beeps, nasty nate and fat mat.

i'm way behind on this shit, check out what the internet's favourite site said about this hang

here are some photos.

xVEGAN BROSx

epic southwest scramble on roasted potatoes.

homemade strawberry *lime vanilla jam!

vegan tofulati rootbeer floats!

fried banana tempura!

Hangin' with Hoibak

2009-11-09T21:46:00.003-05:00

so back in august, en route to meet up with the west cost run of warped tour shows, we made a stop along the way in sudbury! luckily for me, sudbury is the recent temporary home of the vegan straightedge juggernaut, erik hoibak. i've known hoibak for something like 12 years, been asked numerous times if i'm still edge and/or if i know any girls at the show, and even signed a waiver for him to get a gun license one time.

on this gorgeous summer day we road our bikes out on a provincial highway to see the big nickel and copper cliff.

hoibak is a great dude, you should follow him on twitter.

NOTHING FEELS GOOD

2009-10-10T11:10:00.002-04:00

wednesday marks the start of a hopefully monthly 90's pop punk / emo club night that my friend adam and i are putting together. you should be there.

MORE INFO HERE

so many shows!

2009-10-09T12:56:00.004-04:00

So hey, I'm home until the end of the month, and fortunately for me, a bunch of my favourite bands are coming to town!

also not pictured:
EVERY TIME I DIE / BRING ME THE HORIZON (jona hangs) - TONIGHT! @ Kool Haus
THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM - Tuesday October 13th @ Kool Haus
LUCERO - Tuesday October 20th @ Lees Palace
MASTODON / DETHKLOK w/ CONVERGE - Friday October 23rd @ Sound Academy (i might not go to this)

I still need to find a date for Wilco.
Who's it gonna be?

it's been a summer

2009-10-02T22:33:00.003-04:00

i still have photos from warped tour and alaska to go through, but i finally went through the last of my summer photos otherwise, and found a handful of them i really enjoyed.

i liked this one of brooks a whole lot.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST

total fucking bummer

2009-10-02T01:44:00.003-04:00

right now i'm in winsloe, prince edward island, or some shit. this town basically makes charlottetown look like manhattan.

we've been in eastern canada for almost a week now, and it seems like it's been raining since we left montreal. the shows have been really fun and small and mostly on the floor, but the weather and miserable vibes of these small towns have definitely been bumming everyones scene. we were in moncton the other day, and it was so apparent while it was pouring rain and a few of us stumbled into this little ghost town of a mall that showcased not much more than the bay, tim hortons, and lisa's home cooking. anyways, at some point between rounds of nudie "photo hunt" at the bar with some of the fellas, i recalled a conversation i had with brooks about some of the saddest songs we know and love. i then recalled the wonderful mix that i downloaded from colohan's blog showcasing his morose favourites, and knew what i had to do.

i decided to make a mixtape of some of my all time favourite, really really sad songs. it's just under 80 minutes long, so if you want to burn it to a cd, you're welcome to. i promise i will follow this up with a pick-me-up of sorts when adam finishes the mix for our upcoming pop-punk dj night Nothing Feels Good.

but with no further adieu, i present to you: 'Moncton New Brunswick and the Infinite Sadness'

SMASHING PUMPKINS: mellon collie and the infinite sadness.
OWEN: top shelf.
ATTACK IN BLACK: now that i'm dying.
NADA SURF: blizzard of '77.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL: the summer ends.
THE GOOD LIFE: two years this month.
CHAMBERLAIN: racing cincinnati.
CAT POWER: in this hole.
BRAND NEW: you won't know.
MINERAL: love-letter typewriter.
PARK: conversations with emily.
THE PROMISE RING: letter to the far reaches.
WILCO: radio cure.
PEDRO THE LION: the poison.
FRANK TURNER: jet lag.
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE: brothers on a hotel bed.
KNAPSACK: cold enough to break.
CAMERA OBSCURA: forest and sands.
MEW: comforting sounds.
JETS TO BRAZIL: sea anemone.
AGAINST ME!: searching for a former clarity.

DOWNLOAD THE SONGS HERE
READ THE LYRICS HERE

hide the knives.

Northcote

2009-09-23T17:04:00.002-04:00

This is my friend Matthew Goude. We met last summer when he was touring with his former band Means. Since then, Matt has become one of my dearest long distance friends, as our spirits seemed to be connected from the start. Lately he has been making incredibly beautiful music, and sending me little updates and samples along the way. Today I finally heard the final version of his album that he will hopefully be releasing soon under the moniker 'Northcote'.

On our way out to meet up with the Warped Tour in Calgary, we stopped into Matt's hometown of Regina Saskatchewan for a show, and were lucky enough to have Northcote join us on the bill. Below is a shot i snagged while sitting in the parking lot taking turns playing some songs.

they say "i'll see you at the top, boy"

2009-09-19T22:27:00.002-04:00

Earlier this summer I took a spontaneous last minute bus trip to New York City. I decided at about 7pm one Friday evening, on my way to see the Blue Jays lose, that I'd take the red eye bus over night to the big apple. My only real plans or intentions were to see Paint It Black play a couple shows, but I hadn't really given myself time to plan anything. I took a ton of photos, and have been neglecting to post them on account of the fact I started writing an up to the minute diary of how the weekend went. This was first spoiled when I got to the first show and forgot to write about things as they happened, so I did my best to recount them the next day on the train. The whole thing got blown when I got to providence and hung out with my friend Karl and some of the dudes from Soul Control. Jim talked me into getting this great program called "Quick Pull", and when I tried it out, I forgot to save the notes I had typed on the bus that day, sooooo I lost everything since I had saved last. Anyways, here's the most of it. oh, and don't forget to look at the photos >>>HERE<<<

11:48pm
- Driving out of toronto past the skydome. The jays blew it tonight the second that I left the game to get home and pack.
- just ate an urb herb sweet potato muffin
- working away at my 2L tropicana orange juice (lots of pulp). Already starting to get warm and sick of OJ
- listening to silversun pickups new record "swoon"
- texting and bbming away
- stoked on the power outlet, my phone was dying when I got on the bus

12:35am
- in oakville I think
- using my flannel and jacket as a pillow against the window
- listening to camera obscura - my maudlin career

2:35am
- slept a bit so far, already feeling cramped
- arriving at the border
- threw out the OJ

3:00 am
- leaving border
- listening to attack in black - years
- when I got back on the bus, a woman was in my seat. (I assumed that everyone would sit back in their same seats) and now my new seat seems to wobble a bit and sitting behind a dude with an overwhelming aftershave smell- hate that

3:13 am
- buffalo terminal
- switched over to my US sim card
- smelly dude moved forward one seat, and so did I. no more wobbles, and this seat has an outlet

8:27 am
- just woke up, the bus is stopped at some sort of highway side services for a courtesy stop
- I see a sign for burger king and contemplate 'waking up with the king' but refrain

11:06 am
- still driving, somewhere in the new jersey outskirts of NYC
- listening to Frank Turner
- really could use a bathroom right about now

3:51 pm
- sitting in the subway station at houston and 2nd ave with claire
- went to curly's for brunch on the recomendation of andy pib
- had tofu scram, pancakes, curly fries and fried marinated tofu
- walked through street market towards houston
- stopped at joe strummer mural
- went to supreme and bought pat a hat
- watched a basketball game in the park

4:40 pm
- just leaving penn station on the LIRR to lindenhurst
- claire parted ways and headed home to the bronx
- eating red bamboo crispy soul chicken nuggets
- listening to polar bear club

6:56 pm
- standing in line out front of the moose lodge hall in lindenhurst (long island) new york
- got off the train and found a super market to use the atm and bathroom
- bought a bottle of water, naked smoothie, and 2 bags of peanut chews
- took a cab to the venue and chatted with the eclectic female driver who really liked talking about her 71 bonneville

Notable events from the show and the rest of saturday night
- the show was being run by over precautious suburban long island mom & pop security, who gave me a hard time about my bag and couldn't understand my canadian license or passport
- spent most of the show hanging with andy and some of his friends at the merch table
- sold merch for paint it black for a while after andy almost punched a security dad who told him he couldn't eat pizza in the venue, which he ordered on account of the fact the food provided by the venue was all meat oriented.
Quote:
"You gotta get that out of here, no outside food or drink!" - SD
"Our whole band is vegetarian and we can't eat any of the food here so ordering pizza was our only option" - andy
"I don't care what you are, get that outta here!" - SD
*me holding andy back from hitting the dude*
Many speeches, insults, jokes and song dedications followed both on and off stage
- talked to dan while he wrote setlists and tried not to fan out on him too hard
- met fellow canadians ally and claire (from st catherines) who know my pal andrea, who told me they'd be at the show as well. I tried to talk them into coming to providence and driving me home and they seemed to be somewhat down
- saw this girl named heather, friend of my dear friend stacy smallwood, who's couch I slept on when I flew to nyc for the first hwm reunion show weekend, but didn't know if it was her with drastically blonde hair. Luckily it was her, I said hi, she's a babe.
- ceremony played and kids lost their shit, which led to security turning the lights on and emerging into the pit. The singer encouraged kids to get up front and sing along and the show went on
- paint it black ripped, great crowd reaction
- I caught a falling PA speaker at one point
- crime in stereo were awesome too, glad I got to see them on long island. Kids went nuts and security got pissed a few times
- chatted with a photographer after the show, hoping she's got some good photos from this show that I can post here after
- saw LIHC vet, PMA enthusiast anthony race and chatted a bit
- randomly saw my old friend cameron, who has been living in england since quitting the sleeping, just happened to be home visiting family in long island
- chatted with the crime in stereo bassist after the show about numerous failed attempts to tour together and hopeful future opportunities
- got a ride to brooklyn with canadian girls for secret late night paint it black show in a punk loft
- arrived in brooklyn before the bands did, so decided to head over to foodswing for bbq drumsticks and "punk fries" (fries with vegan cheese and bacon bits, ranch dressing to dip)
- randomly ran into canetti at foodswings, who was working some brand new radio session recording around the corner

1am
- got back to the punk loft just as PIB started. Most punk show I've probably ever experienced. Took pics and video.
- andy introduced me to this dude ian, who seems to be the nyc "punk boss" who runs all the diy shows and this loft living community
2:30 am
- took a shuttle bus to the L train subway back to manhatan to meet up with katiebrown and sleep on her couch

Sunday morning notable events
- woke up around 1030
- decided to book a train from boston to nyc monday morning, and a porter airlines flight from newark to toronto island tuesday morning, which meant an extra day in nyc, seeing aileen, and 4 hours on a plush train and an hour and a half flight instead of 16 hours on a bus, at only about $50 more cost.
- walked over to kate's cafe for brunch with katie/perry
- had french toast with caramelized apples, coffee and oj
- walked over to the subway and headed uptown to port authority to take a bus to providence
- decided to pay $10 more for the direct bus trip that left later and arrived earlier
- walked over to times square to take photos
- got a jamba juice back at port authority before getting on my bus

3:54 pm
- on the bus to providence
- listening to jets to brazil - perfecting loneliness
- just read "pretty mouth and green my eyes" from salinger's 'nine stories'
- loving peanut chews

5:02 pm
- just got a call from stacy
- listening to wilco (the album)
- reading "little things" by jeffrey brown

From this point, I met up with Karl at the bar that sells strawberry beer, and then met up with Andy a couple other dudes for dinner. The show in Providence ruled, and I ran into Joe Sauce. After the show we went to Nice Slice and ate the shit out of a vegan pizza, then I headed to boston with Karl to stay for the night. The next morning I took a train from Boston back to New York, had a sweet nap, got not-dating dumped, hung out with Katie/Perry some more, and went to see Aileen and the T's at Irving Plaza. I flew home to Toronto Island the next morning on my new favourite airline, Porter.

Embarrassing Nada

2009-09-16T13:28:00.004-04:00

I took this photo of Nada earlier this summer at Brooks' BBQ. It's not that easy to get Nada to pose for a photo (I have no clue how pat got so many good ones) but I really liked how this one looked.

I met Nada a couple years ago when she interviewed me about my involvement with skate4cancer for some school project she was doing. I was later told by a bunch of friends that she had a crush on me, which she seemed to awkwardly show by putting her hand down on the turntable STOP button while I was Djing at 751. I think I kind of slept on asking her out, but we eventually had a pretty great bike ride while I still lived in Oakville, a few long phone calls from tour, and eventually a real date where I took her to see Ryan Adams. Needless to say, after getting to know Nada and realizing that she had even more inner beauty to go along with her obvious outer beauty (it's hard to believe, right? she's a babe), I too developed quite the little crush on her. After probably telling her too much about my tortured childhood and relationship track record, and having her show me how good you can make a guy can feel by giving his beard a little scruff during a kiss; Nada was reluctant to let down her walls, and gave me the old "I don't want a relationship" song and dance.

Nada fled to the south, where she braved the world of non-profit humanitarian touring. We remained pals, and she seemed to learn a lot about the world and herself in the mean time. I think she eventually tried her hand at relationships, but was quickly burnt, and it certainly bummed me out to hear that the scarce ticket through the gates of the emerald city of her heart was spoiled by such a jerk. (I haven't listened to his band ever since, either).

The good news is, Nada is back in Canada, and has this fantastic new blog that her and Andrea Dyer have started.
Please do yourself a favour and make some time to check out www.friendswithbotharms.com, and Nada, please find some time to make me a mixtape, and I'm...uh....terribly sorry about this post.

montreal warped tour

2009-09-15T17:22:00.006-04:00

montreal warped tour usually means one of two things (and sometimes both); it's my birthday, and it's raining. seeing as this years stop in montreal fell in july and not august, you can only guess how the weather was. our van and trailer weren't doing too hot after that two week van tour, so we borrowed protest the hero's van and rented a box truck. that's right, it poured.

seeing double at the triple rock

2009-09-15T17:13:00.004-04:00

after winnipeg we headed to minneapolis. something that everyone who ever visits MPLS should do is hang out at the triple rock social club, and that we did. i have to admit that i was a little peeved upon arriving right around midnight expecting to be served a mock duck poboy, only to have them tell me (contradicting the information on their website) that the kitchen closes at midnight.

the guys really got into 2 for 1 beer night, and we enjoyed some laughs and jukebox spins.

breakfast with beeps

2009-09-15T16:57:00.005-04:00

the van tour brought us into winnipeg late the night before the festival, which meant plenty of time the morning of to make some breakfast with vegan edge champion beeps!. he made vegan french toast, crusted with corn flakes, and topped with caramelized peaches and fresh raspberry cream cheese.
nom nom nom!

the edge is strong in the peg!

later on we rolled down to the royal albert for lunch with nasty nate and fat mat.

view the other side of that camera over at the internet's favourite site!

we ended up having more van troubles, stranding us in winnipeg for a few more days. i wasn't quite on top of taking photos of each meal, but you can trust me that many meals were had.

no one's listening to the sound of breaking down

2009-09-15T14:37:00.005-04:00

i've finally found some time to get around to go through a bunch more photos from the summer, so expect a few updates to roll in real soon.

earlier this summer we piled back into the van for a short run of shows in southern ontario and through the states, taking us out to winnipeg for a festival, and back through the states. one thing that is an absolute must when touring in a van, aside from sleeping on the floor and waking up with cramps, is breaking down. we got a stones throw from the "welcome to windsor" sign (windsor being where the show was that day) to realize that our alternator wasn't charging our battery while driving. we ended up getting picked up by the sinners, making the show, and having the van fixed before the show was done so we didn't have to be stuck in windsor for the night.

here are some roadside photos, click on em to make em bigger.

A Nice Day to Staaaaaaaaart Agaaaaaaainnnnnn

2009-09-14T16:04:00.005-04:00

I had a great weekend in Nashville celebrating my good friend Kyle Sloan's wedding.
Here's a pic of Kyle and I in the photobooth.

and a great shot with Nana Sloan (my favourite new lady of the weekend, so friendly and Scottish!)

It was great to make it down for the weekend and see Kyle, Ben & Aileen Fretz, Ben Reynolds, Aaron Mason and Pete and many others! Thanks so much to Kyle, Mandy & the entire Sloan family for putting me up / putting up with me! And of course to PMR for filling in for me slappin' da bass.
More photos to come!

Hang The DJ!

2009-09-14T16:01:00.004-04:00

Thanks to Scott for this!

no surprises in the record collection

2009-09-08T19:40:00.003-04:00

today i spent the day finishing up the grueling task of completing the inventory of my record collection. over the year i have bought a bunch of new records, and let them pile up on top of my shelf, or even worse, put them away without making note of them in my spreadsheet.

i have 1630 records, and if you'd like to see the list you can just click right there, and here are a few photos.

and i thought this looked cool too.

i look forward to taking photos of my dan yemin related collection once i get the seemingly mythical package of rare paint it black records from andy.

PAT & WADE

2009-09-02T17:44:00.003-04:00

here're some shots of pat and scott from the apartment many months ago.

scott's tshirt reminds me that he's djing next thursday night at the drake with andy rourke.

won't go through it all again

2009-08-10T17:56:00.002-04:00

thanks to aileen for this.

brunch buddies.

2009-08-03T16:00:00.003-04:00

so my pal andrea decided that it would be a good idea to get together for brunch at fressen before she left for san diego or something. of course i was into this, and so was top mealer ross "the weasel" corder, as well as andrea's friend jenna. this meal got good!

afterwards i took this photo of ross in my room when he came over to borrow my camera. i like it a fair bit.

ps - andrea, stop changing your blog address so much, now i have to go catch up on your sulking. :)

eating glass.

2009-08-03T15:04:00.002-04:00

here are some photos of eating glass, from what seems to have possibly been their last show before jason & jose decided to quit the band. tension was peaked through this set, and it was actually pretty imminent that the end was near for these guys, which actually made for a good set. i guess when a band that's supposed to sound pissed off are actually pissed off at eachother, that anger transmits and the music benefits. this show was at siesta nouveaux, opening up for the endless blockade.

blue jays game with vik & mimmi

2009-08-03T14:40:00.003-04:00

when the toronto blue jays were actually playing well, and had a decent chance of making the playoffs, i went to a few games with vik & mimmi.

now might be a perfect time to give a shout out to my favourite sports blog; drunk jay's fans