bouche

Shit, this looks like a great festival. Anyone going to it? http://www.pembertonfestival.com/lineup/index.aspx

Cream of mushroom soup is really amazing. right out of the julia child's book, it is a true french classic.

that is weird. does she put the telephone in the sink and wash it and then try and make soup out of it too?

who wants to do halloween on Nov.1 in Ottawa? It's been a while since we had a halloween party.

is phish back or something?

anyone wanna play mario kart DS at bluesfest in between shows?

Imagine seeing this in Ottawa!

Ottawa Bluesfest Blueslog Stardate 070408 Live Music Review Happy 'Merica Day ! Review By: Velvet Allen Toussaint I was fortunate enough to catch Corb Lund tonight as he kicked off the Bluesfest weekend. I believe this was my first time seeing him, and I'm thankful for all the recommendations. He has a style that can just barely be pigeonholed somewhere beside Steve Earle and yet you can tell he doesn't think about that when he's writing songs. It seems his muse carries him far while something else, let's call it his roots, draws him back to what is ultimately his sound. I stuck around for most of his set and enjoyed every bit of it, but I was anxious to see how the Bluesfest site was shaping up this year, so I cut out a bit early. I was happy to see that last night's beer lines were an isolated incident, and was overjoyed with the prospect of traversing the stage areas without having to constantly resubmit to a search. That will make the snoot sneaking a one-shot affair, and that bodes well for my wallet. I was also happy to see that the Blacksheep Stage was unchanged (though they should have at least one food vendor), happy enough to park there for the next few hours. The Dave Bidini Band was another first timer for me, though I've caught my share of Rheostatics shows. Happily, Dave and his band stood out as their own entity, and they laid down a killer set. Each song was a musical experiment disguised as a pop tune, and each and every experiment was a success. I highly recommend these guys to anyone who likes good original rock, and I liked 'em so much I'm gonna try and catch Bidini's book reading in the Barney Danson Theatre tomorrow afternoon. At the start of the set my girlfriend and I sat down on my blanket and soon we had accumulated about twenty friends around us to enjoy the show with, while the sun set behind us revealing a Disneyesque sliver of moon. That's why I truly love Bluesfest. My recent re-obsession with Malian music urged me to stick around and check out Senegal's Orchestra Baobab, forsaking Wintersleep on the River Stage. They were fun but underwhelming, laying out a smiley groove but really going no farther, so I booked it to the new Roots Stage for some Allen Toussaint. The man is a legendary performer and songwriter, and he was great. If I ever get the chance to see him in a smaller intimate venue I'll be first in line. It was a treat when he mentioned his most covered song was made famous through Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead, and then the band launched into Get Out Of My Life. Toussaint also reminded me of my childhood Devo stage when he played Working In The Coal Mine. I must say the sound bleed from the River Stage reaches the point of unacceptable at the Roots Stage, but hopefully it isn't so noticable if you get closer to the stage. My curiosity got the best of me and I packed up and went over to the Main Stage to check out Feist. And she was really good. When she was up she was up, and when she was moody you caught the mood, even six miles from the stage. She played some solo stuff that showed how seasoned a performer she is, and with her band she proved that pop need not be pap. A good performance from someone I knew previously only through television commercials, and a lady obviously worthy of her headlining slot. I cut out one song early to beat the rush at the bike lockup (the first time I've used it). The line seemed long but before I knew what was happening somebody handed me my bike. Excellent service that, but judging by all the bikes locked everywhere else, perhaps they need to triple it. Alrighty, time to sleep up in preparation for a busy weekend.

sounds like Die Hard 3

I cry ... but with pleasure. try red onion and strawberries.

Jaimoe's taking me out on a date for dinner around there in september. I can't wait!

I'd love to do my Michael smith impression for Michael smith. I'd also love to see Ms.Hux give him hell for the facade he displays on his show in that FAKE HOUSE!

As I sit here eating onion after onion I wonder if this is strange. My wife doesn't like to eat raw onion even on a salad. I can eat them plain and whole with delight. Nevermind cooked and seasoned... onions are one of my favorites! What are your thoughts on onions? I love green, red, spanish, and even cooking onions. If I'm making tacos (or anything with diced onion as a topping) I continually pick at them. They're great with cheese!

http://jambands.ca/sanctuary/showtopic.php?tid/246722/

slowly crazy going i am

(as Ricky would say) is this now a president?

oh christ! hahah. That was from the template I was using.

couldn't you have done that privately? yeesh! *hanging head in shame*

read it here I had this a week ago, but I was only able to get at it and post it late this week. Right in time for bluesfest.

Right on! Velvet is our Bluesfest ambassador!

Ottawa Bluesfest Blueslog Stardate 070308 Live Music Review Review By: Velvet Gord Downie - The Tragically Hip photo courtesy of - jessica @ flickr Alrighty boys and girls, it’s time again for the bestest time of the year in the nations capital, the Ottawa Bluesfest! The lineup is stellar again this year, a warm and fuzzy constant we have come to rely on in these parts, and the endurance test began tonight with The Tragically Hip. It’s not like me to forsake acts I haven’t seen before, especially acts like The Blind Boys Of Alabama, Taj Mahal, or even Cassandra Wilson. But they were all playing against the Hip tonight, and boy, I likes me my Tragically Hip. I booted down to the site straight from work and was happy to see they learned from the massive mistake that was last year’s first night. A year ago it was a chaotic mayhem that had thirteen-year-old volunteers on the street dragging hundreds of wristbands behind them all the while being descended upon on all sides by decorum-allergenic lawnchair wielding maniacs scrambling to get settled in before they missed Brown Eyed Girl. This year it was a simple walk-up ticket scan, and a short onsite lineup for those requiring festival-long wristbands. I was sadly in this group, being demoted from semi-access lanyard to plebian wristband. Don’t worry folks, I’ll still get just as drunk. I saw out of the corner of my eye as I bee-lined it to the beer line that the River Stage and the Rogers Stage are both set up differently this year. We’ll have to wait for another night to see if it’s any improvement. TV On The Radio finished up their set while I lined up for beer, but I was too busy maneuvering the line to pay much mind. I am wholly unfamiliar with their music, and had I the time to catch their set I would of, but alas. I did score a remarkably fast beer line, one that had me start twenty feet behind Stapes in another line, and had beer in my hands before he seemed to move. Off to The Hip. For those that have given up on The Hip, well, they’re back. World Container is the most recent album, their first produced by rock-god producer Bob Rock, and I think it’s one of their best, second perhaps to Day For Night. Seriously. Bob Rock made these guys step up to bat, and step up they did. And man, does it show when you see them live. They have regained the confidence they seemed to lack for the last lot of years in their live shows and are back at the top of their game. The sound tonight was excellent, and you could hear every word Gordie screamed, which was both rare and ironic. Where I find Gord Downie’s stream-of-consciousness ramblings is what constitutes the ‘jam’ aspect of The Hip, I usually have to struggle to hear it. Tonight he came through loud and clear, but he handed off the ‘jam’ to Bobby Baker, who uncharacteristically (I’m a huge fan, but let’s be honest here) stepped up and laid down the best guitar playing I think I’ve heard from him. Downie instead satisfied himself with theatrical antics that got the better of at least a couple of microphone stands and thoroughly captured the attention of the approximately 35,000 in attendance. Baker even pulled out a Dobro for Wheat Kings and played it lap-style while we all soaked in the quintessential Canadian moment in the shadow of the Peace Tower. ‘Twas lovely. The band played a smattering from World Container and dipped heavily into their iconic discography. The crowd sang along for every tune, but thankfully the sound was good enough that it was only a hushed background reverb, though one that showed that this band is, and will always be, very well known and loved. For the encore we were treated to a couple of songs featuring the man that kicked these complacent bastards in the ass and got them rocking again, Bob Rock. They played the leadoff track from the last album, Yer Not The Ocean, and right there I can’t believe you’re not buying the cd. Great fuÇking song, and I just know it was Bob Rock who got Downie to go up high for the second chorus. Love it. They closed out with the only song of the night I didn’t recognize. I may well get chastised for that, ‘cuz it sounded like a Dylan tune or somethin’. Anyways, they gave Rock a solo and he burned it up. You can see how he might have got in their faces a bit in the studio and reminded them of a thing or two. All in all a kicking start to what should prove to be a great pile of music to come. I’ll hit as much of it as I can and report back accordingly. Stamina is my only concern. And maybe lawnchairs.

I can't wait for the snoop dog and his ho's stories.

any of the food i had last year was gross.

i thought you had a house dude!

thanks! looks like I know what to order.