Friday, March 20, 2015

Book Review (Neil Strauss)


Just finished reading the book by journalist Neil Strauss called Everyone Loves You When Your Dead. For those who don't know who Neil Strauss is, he is a very well known journalist and author who has worked for such publications as New York Times, Rolling Stone magazine, has done writing for Esquire magazine.

He as also wrote or helped write many a book such as "The Dirt" the Motley Crue bio, "The Long Hard Road Out Of Hell" the Marilyn Manson bio as well as "How To Make Love Like A Porn Star: A Cautionary Tale" the porn star Jenna Jameson's bio.

The book is a compilation of over 200 interviews he has done over the years. All the interviews are excerpts from interviews he has done for publications, and a lot of excerpts have never been published before. He interviews people like Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Marilyn Manson, Lady Gaga, Snoop Dog, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis among many others. Neil finds himself in some weird positions while interviewing his subjects. Being hit on by buddy from The Strokes, going to church with Tom Cruise, drinking with Springsteen, shopping for diapers with Snoop Dog, those are just a few of the adventures Neil Strauss finds himself in.

I found the book to be an easy and fun read.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Throwback Thursday...Mosh Fest

Today's posters are from an Edmonton music festival that was held for a couple of years. Some great bands played this festival.

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Seven Inch Saturday (Blitzen Trapper)


Today's seven inch single is from the Portland, Oregon alt-country folk freaks Blitzen Trapper. The single is called Cool Love #1 that came out in 2008 on the LidKerCow label. On this single there are four songs, Side A features the songs Cool Love #1 and Boss King, and Side B has Jericho (from the Daytrotter Sessions) and Jesus On The Mainline. To hear all four songs click here. And...what's with the fucked up album art? Lol!!!

Friday, March 13, 2015

Pal Joey at The Artery March 7th 2015


Last Saturday my Cuz and I made our way to the soon to be closed venue downtown called The Artery to see local pop punk/country band Pal Joey with opener Amy van Keeken.

This show was the CD release show for Pal Joey, their first new music since 1999. Their new album is called Lucky Pennies, which is really good by the way.

This was my third time seeing the band live, and first since 1993's Moshfest. So it had been a long time. The band lead by Trent Buhler sounded pretty damn good on this evening. Pal Joey did two sets on this night. This time around, the band has a horn section consisting of three guys. While I really enjoyed their set, I have to admit that I found the horn section, whom are called the Brassholes, started to get to me after a while. I do like horns in songs, I found that the horns were too loud and drowned out the guitars and bass at times. The horns just started to be over powering and took away from the rock n' roll that Pal Joey play so well. When there were no horns is when I really liked the show. These guys can rock, they remind me of another old Canadian band called Lowest Of The Low at times. The band covered music from all three of their albums. All and all a great show by Pal Joey, looking forward to seeing them perform again soon. Good times!!!

Pal Joey at The Artery.

Opener was a lady by the name of Amy van Keeken doing a solo show for the most part. I didn't realize that she also plays in the local band The Awesome Hots. She sounded good during her set, but it really wasn't my thing. Just my opinion of course.

Amy van Keeken at The Artery.

In other news... as I mentioned earlier, The Artery will be shutting down at the end of March, which is sad as this is a great room to see an intimate show. I have only been two shows at this venue, but both times were great shows with good turn outs and great staff. Always sucks to lose a live music venue in a city, especially when it is because of city bureaucracy.

The Artery will be putting on a two day closing party on Saturday March 28th and Sunday March 29th with music from bands all day starting at noon both days. The club has started a fund raiser program, as they are looking for a new place to set up. Checkout their website to see how to donate.

T-shirt.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Throwback Thursday...Neil Young

A couple of posters from times I have seen Neil Young in concert.

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Seven Inch Saturday (Various Artists)


Today's seven inch is a double seven inch single called "Get To Know" that was released last year and was available for free at independent record stores in Calgary. Thanks to my Brother, he was able to pick up a copy for me.

This single put out by Scion Sessions features four bands that played the Scion Sessions last year at Calgary's Sled Island Festival at the excellent venue The Palomino Smokehouse. A great venue with great food.

The four artists featured on this release are Fist City, Lab Coast, Dominic Pierce and Mark Mills. All four songs, one by each artist were recorded at the show at the Palomino, in which my Brother and I were at.


Side A of disc 1 is a song by Fist City called "Losers Never Die". Fist City is band based in Lethbridge, Alberta that play a punk pop style of music. Fist City consists of Ryan Grieve on drums, Brittany Griffiths on bass and vocals, Kier Griffiths on guitar and vocals and Evan Van Reekum on guitar. Their show that day at Palomino was the first time I had seen them and I have to say, I was impressed. Checkout their music here.

Side B of disc 1 is a song by the Calgary band Lab Coast. The song performed on this release is called "Remember The Moon". Lab Coast's music kind of has a poppy folk lo-fi feel to them. Their set at this show was good. To hear their music click here.


Side A of disc 2 is a song called "Vertical Feel" by Calgarian Dominic Pierce who is a DJ and spins a soul/deep house theme kind of music, according what I have read anyways. Not really my type of thing.

Side B of disc 2 is a song called "Run Like The Wind" by Mark Mills who I believe now is based out of Vancouver. Mark Mills was my favorite artist of these sessions. He is a quirky guy who plays a weird but so much fun style of pop electro dance beat kind of music. His enthusiasm and energy during his live performances are contagious, you can't help but have fun at one of his shows.

I believe all four of these songs on this release are previously unreleased songs. To hear these songs on this seven inch click here.

In concert news... Mark Mills will be playing in Edmonton at the Buckingham on Saturday April 25th with opener Windmills.

A big kudos to Scion for putting on and releasing these kind of discs and shows. Nice to see a big organization like Scion helping support Canadian bands and artists. Here's hoping this do this kind of thing again at this years Sled Island Festival in Calgary June 24th-28th.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Throwback Thursday...Iron Maiden

A couple of posters and a concert ad from a few times I have seen Iron Maiden in concert.