news feeds jan 3

Welcome back. Haven't updated a whole lot the last while because of work, holidays and such not to mention the news has been fairly depressing lately so, hey, hey, what can you do? Thought I would throw out a few things… that are semi-news worthy at best, but you can be done with it in no time and go back to getting your news from The Guardian and USA Today.

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First off, congrats on being alive! We survived yet another doomsday prediction and as it turns out all those Mayan and Dick Clark memes didn't generate enough sarcastic karma to wipe us out. Compared to the last major prophetic apocalyptic threat in the year 2000 (Y2K anyone) every one seemed pretty calm this time around, seeing it as a win-win situation. If it doesn't end, you're alive and if it does you can probably defer your credit card and car payments. Many scientists have predicted that the world will end due to intolerable levels of carbon dioxide, that the universe will rip apart because of its continual expansion or the Sun grows so hot it  eventually swallows Earth. You don't have to rush out an buy water purification tablets just yet, those events aren't expected to take place for billions of years, but as luck would have it, there's a couple more doomsday predictions that will come (and go) during our lifetime. Jeane Dixon, a well known American psychic who passed away in 1997, predicted that Armageddon would occur with Jesus returning to Earth to defeat the Antichrist, Satan and the False Prophet between 2020 and 2037. Jeane also predicted that the world would end on February 4, 1962 due to that particular day's planetary alignment. Swing and a miss. Mariners Church head pastor is rolling with 2021 because it is one biblical generation (80 years) since the founding of Israel in 1948. Sooo.. that is it for the next hundred or so years. Live easy, friends.

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A Washington woman has grounded her 59 year old son for conveniently 'losing' the girl's bike she gave him when he was 8 years old. Helen Puz, now 99, was gifted the bicycle by a neighbour after her husband died forcing her to raise her young son Don alone. Don put up with the girls bike for a while before ditching about 50 feet off the Vashon Highway near Vashon Island, Washington. Helen saw a story in a local paper about a bike that was swallowed up by a tree and thought it looked familiar. Helen and Don went out to the tree where the bike was encased and confirmed it was in fact the bike that had be ditched some 50 years ago. Also, it has been confirmed that the front wheel still turns. I just like the picture. 

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We all know how much of a pain in the ass air travel can be sometimes. The infinite queues, the overpriced stale food, and passengers that require assistance board first? What the hell is that? Not to mention when you actually get on the plane… their stupid small bags of chips and thimbles of juice. Cramped seats. Large dude beside you taking the whole armrest. What a habitually terrible experience. Well, imagine an airport that played nothing but the first six Black Sabbath albums (and maybe some Heaven & Hell and Born Again at regular intervals), the lights were dim, the security was lax (not LAX… airport humour!), and the Ian Gillen led incarnation of Sabbath was the house band. That may be a ways off, but the airport in Birmingham, UK has considered a proposal that would rename the airport after Ozzy Osboune, the resident Prince of Darkness. "It's an interesting idea and I've got an open mind. We need to be making the most of the talent we have got and did have in this city," said Birmingham city councillor Phillip Parkin. Rock & roll, mate!

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This isn't even news, and I feel kind of like a moron posting it but this is photographic gold. And a rarity! A picture of Madonna's legs open WITH clothes on. But for real… she fell while skiing in Switzerland.

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Remember when Mel Gibson didn't scare people just by mentioning his name? He started off bad ass enough, playing in the first two Mad Max films, then Peter Weir's Aussie WWI epic Gallipoli. My favourite of Mr. Mel is definitely Lethal Weapon. The first one. The sequels provided some fun with Riggs and Murtaugh but they didn't come close to the first one. In the original film, the mismatched cops (Mel's counterpart being Danny Glover) take on a seedy drug and prostitution ring, and their main muscle, resident crazy man Gary Busey. Gary and Mel's hair are the best things in a movie and make the best gritty, dirty cop movie since Magnum Force. Why am I mentioning any of this? It just Mel's birthday, that's all. And since Lethal Weapon and, to a lesser extent "Braveheart," are pretty bad ass flicks and hopefully he has a pleasant evening, but Mel, don't drink and get behind the wheel.. Just saying'

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Let's not talk World Junior hockey. Canada's version of March Madness saw the boys lose to a very well prepared American team in the semis, setting up a USA-Sweden gold medal game with Canada and Russia playing for bronze.

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Check out Hot Water Music's new video for "Drag My Body" and check out their current tour dates HERE.

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albums 2007-2012

2007: BETWEEN THE BURIED & ME - COLORS. Esstential release. Between the Buried & Me rose from the ashes of From Here On, and quickly gained notoriety for their vicious live shows and pummelling breakdowns. After releasing their debut on Lifeforce Records, the North Carolina outfit signed stateside with Victory Records. Their Victory debut, "The Silent Circus" was so much more complex with their debut followed by the more straight forward "Alaska." All of the aforementioned releases were thoroughly enjoyable, and I was looking forward to hearing "Colors." It is a 65 minute piece, broken up into eight tracks. The complex rhythms and chaos still exists throughout the release, but the band has quite the bag of musical tricks, incorporating blue grass, jazz, acoustic folk. Tommy Rogers clean singing voice has improved considerably, one full display in the opening track or at about the 8 minute mark of "Sun Of Nothing." It literally sounds like Radiohead. "Sun Of Nothing" starts off three tracks that comprise the meat of the album (33 or so minutes on three tracks). "Sun…" leads into the sprawling "Ants Of the Sky," my favourite 'track' on the album, followed by the epic "Prequel To a Sequel." After catching your breath during the sombre bass lines in "Viridian," talk about epic… "White Walls" closes the album with a fourteen minute whirlwind that seems significantly shorter in length due to a) there isn't a dull second and b) it really really awesome. 

Honourable Mention: Chuck Ragan - Feast Or Famine. Hot Water Music frontman's debut solo effort. Gruff vocals intact, Chuck is armed with a guitar and little else. 

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2008: FUCKED UP - THE CHEMISTRY OF COMMON LIFE. Arty street punk. Who knew? And in my own back yard. Toronto's Fucked Up have been putting out more 7"s than almost any band ever, mostly on Vancouver via Toronto based Deranged Records. The band finally recorded a proper full length in 2006 for Jade Tree Records called "Hidden World." It wasn't what I was expecting from the band. They had been known for their short fast songs so the last thing I expected to hear was the just-shy-of-seven minute long opener "Crusades." They slowed down the tempo and let the songs stretch out for a bit and was of the most surprisingly amazing releases of the year. Two years passed and then band put out their second album "The Chemistry Of Common Life" which doesn't stray too far from the bands formula while continuing to explore new areas. And to describe the band to anyone who hasn't listen to them is tough.. because it doesn't sound like anything special, but my God listen to "Magic Word" or "Black Albino Bones" (Dallas Green provides some guest vocals). Great band who don't appear to be slowing down anytime soon!

Honourable Mention: Young Widows - Old Wounds. Sophomore jinx is not evident anywhere on the Widows' second album. 

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2009: GALLOWS - GREY BRITAIN. UK's Gallows first major label album is significantly heavier than their debut 2006's "Orchestra Of Wolves." The took the money and ran in the great rock & roll swindle part 2. Warner weren't too pleased with the heaviosity (stole that word from Annie Hall) and couldn't hear a single on the album, and despite releasing the record, they dropped the band shortly after. Fools! "London Is the Reason" and "I Dread the Night" are two excellent singles/videos, while "Death Voices" has a great sing along chorus and "Leeches" is a great piece of fury that even makes the British accent sound tough. This is last release to feature vocalist and spark plug Frank Carter, who left the group due to creative differences and made way for former Alexisonfire guitarist/sometime vocalist Wade McNeil taking over the mic for their two subsequent releases.  This album "as daunting as blow drying your face in the evil ghost-gas that Indiana Jones unleashes from the Lost Ark." Excellent review of the album, and that quote is awesome. The new Gallows is heavier and angrier now with McNeil at the helm but it lacks the sense of social injustice and youthful energy that Frank Carter brought to the table.

Honourable Mention: Big Business - Mind the Drift. The duo became a trio on this record and sound more atmospheric than ever while toning down the noise factor.

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2010: DAUGHTERS - DAUGHTERS. The final Daughters release. They actually didn't even tour for this record, their third (if you count their debut 'full length' "Canada Songs" that lasts all of 11 minutes). Their second album "Hell Songs" was quite the change for the band, who all but abandoned the grindcore elements from their debut and Alexis Marshall who describes his vocals on the record as "the sound of Elvis Presley being tortured." The third record by Daughters is easily their most accessible, with the release actually coming close to the half hour mark. Considering ever song is over two minutes and all but one over three you know that the band has changed. Change wasn't fun for Alexis apparently though. Guitarist Nick Sadler has been playing more groove based songs, growing tired of the high pitched swirling guitars from the bands previous work. Alexis noted "It's so easy to steer it and try to be accepted, and do this because this is what's good, and this is what's going to make our band popular. That's no good. That's not art. That's shit. It's not even shit. It's less than shit. What's less than shit? I don't even know. Trying to be other bands… that's less than shit." The band did not tour in support of the release and the band other than Alexis and drummer Jon Syverson, who are currently working on new material. It's too band, because these songs would have been great to see live and Daughters never sounded better. 

Honourable Mention: Bad Religion - Dissent Of Man. Maybe the best of their 2000s Epitaph releases… Pros at work.

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2011: FRANK TURNER - ENGLAND KEEP MY BONES. UK songwriter Frank Turner's fourth album is all about England. Everything about this release feels English. Frank Turner tours excessively and must have grown tired of being away from home. The lead single "Peggy Sang the Blues" is a great choice as a single with its catchy chorus and great lyrics. "I Still Believe" was featured in the London 2012 CD as the lead track and gave the song and Frank quite a bit of exposure, despite being fairly well known, at least in an indie capacity in the UK. "Rivers," "Wessex Boy" and "English Curse" are blatant tributes to his homeland, all of which come off as honest as Dylan in his early years. Speaking of Dylan, one of the albums best tracks "I Am Disappeared," chronicles Frank getting pickup up by Bob Dylan while driving. Equally good is "Redemption" which starts off very quiet and builds and builds, the lyrics dealing with a pretty brutal sounding relationship. And to close out the album, a good old fashioned atheist song, a real toe tapper actually called "Glory Hallelujah." Great release by a great artist!

Honourable Mention: Dropkick Murphys - Going Out In Style. Boston's favourite Irish punks kill it on their seventh record. One of the funnest live bands ever capture the energy of their live show.

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2012: HOT WATER MUSIC - EXISTER. They're back! Hot Water Music are back with their first album since 2004's "The New What Next." This is the bands eighth full length and it ranks up there with classics "Fuel For the Hate Game," "No Division" and "The New What Next." Taking time off from the band and working on his solo project would have you thing Chuck Ragan would have toned it down it bit but as soon as the opening scorcher "Mainline" kicks in you know that isn't that case. Other than the albums second track "Boy, You're Gonna Hurt Someone," every track ranks up there with their best work. And that song isn't even that band. Chuck sounds masterful on the single and standout "State Of Grace," as well as the pre-release track "Drag My Body." And I'm not sure if he sounded any more angry than on the disc's closer "Paid In Full." Jason Black lays down a great bass line on "Pledge Wore Thin" and is probably my favourite song on the record. The hypnotic "No End In Sight" is another highpoint on the album despite being the slowest track on the album. The title track rages as does "Drown In It." A welcome return of a much loved band.

Honourable Mention: Propagandhi - Failed States. Sixth album by Canadian punks is realllll good. Tight, fast and intelligent. 

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Alright, so that is that. As it turns out I seem to be pretty biased to hard rock, punk rock and metal. Who knew? I guess I do now. I'll put something newsworthy up soon... I promise.

halloween news feeds oct 30

Halloween is tomorrow. Different origin stories are floating around online but our version of Halloween is more than likely based on the Celtic festival Samhain. Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the darker half of that year. It was brought to North America in the 19th century by Irish and Scottish immigrants where it was confined to their communities and by the first decade of the 20th century it was celebrated by people of all types from coast to coast. We also didn't adopt the turnip as our jack-o-lantern of choice, but the pumpkin which was much easier to crave, you can make amazing pies with them and the seeds are delicious when baked for 10 minutes with some salt. And like any other holiday (is that what it is) there is boatloads of Halloween themed TV shows. I only mention this since the new South Park finds Randy Marsh buying the closed down Blockbuster Video store in hopes of reviving the rental business in South Park, while Stan, working at the store on Halloween, still goes trick or treating as Captain America via Facetime on his iPad with the rest of the gang. They need Captain America to complete their group of Avengers thus a sure win at the schools costume contest. Great parody of 'The Shining' and my favourite episode of the show in some time. Randy Marsh episodes are always key. You can stream the episode HERE from The Comedy Network.

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Hurricane Sandy didn't stop to NYC funnymen from performing their late night duties without an audience, even pausing for laughs, despite (and similar to other nights) there are none. Jimmy Fallon and David both braved Sandy to deliver their monologues to an empty studio. Denzel Washington even showed up to Letteraman's set in a yellow rain coat quipping that he had swam there. "Only for you, Dave." Millions were without power, but the show must go on, and Fallon felt that maybe people needed some laughs after a long, wet day. "I'm assuming that people at home will be watching either on their laptops get their generators out… and they're going to want to leave room to laugh," Fallon said. Good job Jimmy, and David for still putting on a great show even though no one was there to watch it. True pros! Here's some footage:

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Mickey Skywalker and Princess Minnie. That sounds horrible. George Lucas has potentially bastardized the Star Wars legacy even more after selling his company, Lucasfilm for a cash and stock deal valued at $4 billion. Disney now has control of the entire Star Wars franchise as well as the even bigger merchandising operation. Disney also scored a legendary special effects studio Industrial Light and Magic, and the Skywalker Sound audio production studio. "It's now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers. I've always believe that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime." He will act as creative consultant on the already planned Star Wars: Episode 7, the first of a planned new trilogy, with the first one coming out in 2015 if all goes well. "The film is in what I'll call early-stage development right now" said Disney CEO Bob Iger, but Lucas has mentioned for years the he has treatments for the seventh, eighth, and ninth instalments. And it'll be nice to get Mark Hamill some work. Here a staged 'candid' interview with George Lucas and the sale put up on the Star Wars website today:

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In an upcoming TV interview with David Frost, ex-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney claims that Yoko Ono did not break up the Fab Four, eliminating the second biggest reason for people to dislike her. Her "music" is still the biggest reason. "She certainly didn't break the group up. I don't think you can blame her for anything," adding that Lennon was definitely going to leave. "When Yoko came along, part of her attraction was her avant garde side, her view of things. She showed him another way to be, which was very attractive to him. So it was time for John to leave." The interview will air in November. Here's there song "God" from the Plastic Ono Band (Lennon and Ono's group) first album, released in 1970. "I just believe…. in me… Yoko & me.." Great song, classic album. The only John & Yoko record that is pretty solid front to back. 

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Swedish darlings, the Refused are f*cking dead. Again. After pleasing punk and metal heads alike by announcing their reunion at Cochella then a full tour they have decided to call it quits again. This news break the same day Pennywise announces that former frontman Jim Lindberg is rejoining the band after they released an album mere months ago (that was better than anyone could have expected) with Ignite frontman Zoli Teglas. All is not lost though, since Hot Water Music has announced their first headlining tour in eight years over the winter, with a stop off at Toronto's Danforth Music Hall on January 29th. 

Some upcoming Toronto shows:

Nov 01: Napalm Death, Municipal Waste @ Opera House

Nov 07: Dethklok, Machinehead, All That Remains, Black Dahlia Murder @ Sound Academy

Nov 08: Gallows @ Lee's Palace

Nov 13: Motion City Soundtrack @ Mod Club

Nov 14: Bob Dylan @ ACC

Nov 15: Trash Talk @ Annex Wreck Room

Nov 17: Dropkick Murphys, Teenage Bottle Rocket @ Hamilton Convention Centre

Nov 17: K.E.N. Mode @ Garrison Room

Nov 21: Henry Rollins @ Glenn Gould Studio

Nov 25: Motionless In White, Stick To Your Guns @ Mod Club

Dec 08: Conor Oberst @ Massey Hall

Dec 09: Job For a Cowboy @ Annex Wreck Room

Dec 12: Killswitch Engage @ Opera House

Dec 14: The Flatliners @ Opera House

Dec 15: Madball, Figure Four @ Annex Wreck Room

Dec 26-29: Alexisonfire @ Sound Academy

Dec 28: Rusty @ Horseshoe Tavern

Jan 29: Hot Water Music @ Danforth Music Hall

Rock & Roll!

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Congrats to the San Francisco Giants on winning their second World Series title in three years. The Giants completed the sweep in the tenth inning of game four in Detroit to clinch the series. No one really expected this, but it has been a post season of unexpected moments, from the Athletics stunning run to the Tigers demolition of the hated Yankees. But the Giants really were the most remarkable team of the 2012 post-season. After having to real off three straight wins against the Cincinnati Reds in the divisional series, they were facing a 3-1 deficit against the Cardinals in the NLCS only to storm back and take the series in seven games. They truly showed that you need shut down pitching to win championships and they did just that with all four starters pitching terrific, and Barry Zito, left off the 2010 championship teams playoffs roster, was lights out all playoffs long. Who would have though they would have won the Series when their two time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum was pitching out of the bullpen because of struggles with dropping too much weight in the offseason, came to camp much to small and proved ineffective finishing the campaign with a 10-15 record. He pitched well in the playoffs giving up 5 runs in 17+ innings of work and pitched 4.2 innings in relief against the Tigers in the World Series and surrendered just a walk. In fact, the Giants pitching held Detroit's potent offence to a horrible .159 batting average. Pablo "Panda" Sandoval was crowned World Series MVP on the heels of this 3 home run, 4 hit performance in game one. The Giants have a young team and could be on the verge of legacy status if the win one more series in the next season or two. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS 2010 & 2012 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS

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And for those of you who like the nostalgia sorta thing (and if you were growing up in the 80-90s) here's a couple Saturday morning Halloween specials for you to check out, thanks to YouTube!:

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tunes

Well, it's summertime so you'd expect a decent concert or two to come through. And there is.. here's what's coming up in Toronto:

The show that's going to be about the best is up first, Swedish legends the Refused playing in Canada for the first time since probably 1997? Anyways, two shows in Toronto with Keith Morris from Circle Jerks' new band OFF! playing the opening slot on July 22 and 23. 

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So-Cal punk vets Strung Out will be stopping off in Toronto on July 27 for a show with Such Gold and Handguns on a tour dubbed "Twisted In a Suburban Wasteland" where each show on the tour the band will play two of their classic releases, "Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues" and "Twisted By Design" in their entirety. Opening track from "Suburban.." called "Firecracker" and it is. It is.

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Cattle Decapitation

Metal fans will be stoked for the two festivals with decent acts popping up this summer. First up, July 15 at Downsview fans will be entertained by the likes of Fear Factory (they're still alive?), San Diego's craziest vegetarians Cattle Decapitation and the always heavy Misery Index. If a one day festival doesn't give you all you can handle then you may be looking forward to Heavy TO who brings some serious heavy weights to the table. If you listen to anything heavy these days then I'm sure Lamb Of God, Suicidal Tendencies, Slipknot, Killswitch Engage, Kataklysm, Job For a Cowboy, and a personal favourite, Between the Buried & Me, is nothing new. But do yourself a favour and check out Between the Buried & Me's set, even just that, and you won't be disappointed. BTBAM's "Sun of Nothing":

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Sebadoh

August is a pretty mellow month.. lot of shows at the ACC and such, but as for decent shows you'll have to wait until August 20 when seminal indie band Sebadoh play a show at the Horseshoe Tavern with a new album freshly recorded. Check it. The next night at Lee's Palace, Chicago's three-piece instrumental metal heads Russian Circles will be kicking out the jams. Local favourites Silverstein will be bring their post-hardcore/hardcore-ish swagger to the Annex Wreckroom on August 26 and legendary California punkers Guttermouth will be blowing the roof off the aforementioned Horseshoe Tavern on August 30. Hopefully they get across the border. Oh, Mark Adkins, you crazy man. Here's Guttermouth losing it live:

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NOFX

Talk about a great punk show except for the venue. Don't know if Fort York is the best call for Riot Fest.. since the bands are all so stellar, especially live, stuff might get real! So look out for NOFX, Descendents, Hot Water Music, Fucked Up, Less Than Jake, Lawrence Arms plus other on September 9. Descendents' "Good, Good Things" :

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City & Colour's Dallas Green

Two days in a row the Molson Amphitheater will be hosting a couple decent jams. City & Colour play a lawn show on September 12, didn't say if it was just Dallas or the full band, lawn show makes me wonder, but half the songs he does by himself anyways. The next day's gig, this summers winner of hairiest show (both chest and head), features KISS and Motley Crue. There's sure to be more than a few guys vomiting wearing jean jackets with Ratt patches. Here's KISS' Strutter (classic!)

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Rock and/or Roll!