Palms

I'm not the world's greatest writer and because VIEW is weekly with strict deadlines mistakes often make it into print, but I must say that this Nero review is both badly written and (more importantly) badly edited. One thing writers should always do is read back what they've written. It is obvious this person has not. I won't say if I agree with what they say or not, wait for my review, but I will say that they should spend some more time on their craft.

I've ended up with an extra copy of the new Neil Young Greendale DVD by accident, so I'd like to offer it up for trade for some GD or Neil shows on CDR. If you are interested, please drop me a private message.

So, it should have sold in the area of 5500 in Canada last week to be as successful as it was in the US. But the soundscan numbers for the new Phish album in Canada 1st week are - 829 copies sold, making it the 112th best selling record of the week. Where are those Canadian Phish fans?

Best selling Phish album in Canada? Billy Breathes with just over 15,000 copies.

Wow, the soundscan numbers for the new Phish album in Canada 1st week are embarrassing next to the US - 829 copies sold, making it the 112th best selling record of the week. Woo hoo.

Thanks, those made my wife's day today

The DVD is not that great. I have a couple of copies of it for some reason and it is okay, but really you can only watch it once or twice.

I haven't really heard anyone talk about this yet, but the excellent band THE UNINTENDED are playing shows this weekend, starting tonight, that y'all should attend.

This is a pretty special band, with Rick White of Elevator/Eric's Trip, all of The Sadies and Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo all playing together in a very psychedelic way. While the record is very dreamy, live it is more like the Allman Brothers or early seventies Dead, with Keelor playing drums on a number of songs ALONG with Mike Belitsky. They also have some great covers they're doing in their set by Love and Donavan (no Sadies, Elevator or Blue Rodeo songs though). Check the articles on them in today's Toronto Sun Toronto's NOW, Hamilton Spectator and Hamilton's VIEW.

Here are the dates again. Don't miss this, they are gonna smoke!

May 6 Peterborough, ON @ Blue Room

May 7 Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern

May 8 Hamilton, ON @ The Underground

Big Star are a fantastic band. Totally anachronistic for their times - playing British-style sixties pop in Memphis in the early 70s. Their first two albums sold less than 4,000 copies each when they were originally released but were critically acclaimed. They never really toured anywhere, a nine date tour of the East Coast was their biggest.

Chris Bell was the prime force behind the band, as far as I am concerned. I feel pretty lucky to have been able to purchase a copy of his one and only 7" single, I Am The Cosmos, released on Car Records just before his death. It's cracked, but it's still worth the $10 it cost me.

For everything you ever wanted to know on Big Star, check out this newly published article from Austin, TX's Pop Culture Press:

http://www.popculturepress.com/big-star.html

Also, check out the Rock City album, which predates Big Star! Cheapies in Hamilton has it in stock, or did last week.

Kraftwerk are vomit inducing? News to me. I don't love them, but I can appreciate some of their music.

One band that tours with two people on keyboards is Marillion. Their singer Steve Hogarth plays keys on some songs along with their full time keyboardist, Mark Kelly.

Brian Wilson tours with at least three people playing keyboards.

This show would happen early 1973, in my perfect world.

I

Eyes Of The World

Jack Straw

Row Jimmy

Black-Throated Wind

Sugaree

China Cat>

I Know You Rider

Cold Rain & Snow

Let it Grow

II

Dark Star >

St Stephen >

Cryptical >

Drumz>

Other One >

St Stephen (reprise) >

Wheel >

Wharf Rat >

Lovelight

E: Playin' In The Band

First concert of any kind was Mr. Dressup live at the high school in Simcoe when I was about 4.

First music concert (with relatives) was Bruce Cockburn at the Ontario Place Forum, summer 1984.

First music concert with friends was Marillion at the Concert Hall in 1986, unless you count Coney Hatch at Simcoe's high school in Oct '85 (they played one of our dances).

My son's first concert was The Dead, Robert Hunter and Bob Dylan at Darien Lake last summer, 4 months to the day after he was born.

Great Bela Fleck show tonight in Hamilton. Quality performance, good times. Nice cops. Word to briguy for a quality show in the Hammer!

Alright, what to do...

This Thursday there are two great shows in Toronto.

First off, Tortoise is playing at the Phoenix as part of the Exclaim! party. I love their records but I've seen them live a few times.

Second, Andre Ethier, singer of Toronto's Deadly Snakes is playing a show at the Silver Dollar. His solo record sounds like early Tom Waits, mid-60s Dylan, early Randy Newman, etc. Amazing songwriter and a great voice too.

I hate when two good shows are going on at the same time.

I had a pretty amazing 30 minute phone call with Bela Fleck this afternoon about their upcoming show in Hamilton on the 20th. During our conversation, I asked if this was their first visit to Hamilton and Bela said he is pretty sure they played here in the early 90s. I was just wondering if anyone can confirm this for me, if they did play here sometime between 91 and 94...