Mr. Musicface

My day just got a little brighter - thanks Basher!

Now on to the Dave Ball Avatar Project...

Peace,

Mr. M.

Oh, what if we could get as many people as possible with different Dave Ball avatars... how priceless would that be?

MMF, let me see what I have on my hard drive at home. We can tie this score up, and even put you ahead.

This is going to be priceless. He is on vacation right now, and would have nooooooooo idea. Wow, I am as giddy as MarcO at the Beer Store!

Oh yeh baby, bring it! I'm warming up my Photoshop fingers as we speak...

Post anything promising and send me the URL, or forward directly to musicface@musicface.com

Peace,

- M.

No, actually I've been frantically hunting the Internet for months to find avatar-sized pictures of Jaimoe on obscure pages at his old work, but to no avail. Jaimoe 1, Musicface 0.

- M.

Yeh, that's the main reason I haven't been posting lately... BASH IT UP, BABY!

- M.

...Springsteen will tour acoustically in support of the new album, but no details have been announced as to who, if anyone, will back him or what size venues he will play...

Actually to expand on that, here's something that I got from a rumour-mill email about the tour (no original source, sorry.)

It is anticipated the tour will begin by April 2005. Initially, this tour will be Bruce solo with maybe one or two other members of the ESB. After an initial first leg of the tour lasting approximately four months, additional members of the ESB will continue to join the tour until it culminates in an entire ESB world-wide tour. The tour will be in support of the new album to which the entire band will contribute to each song as the tour progresses. The tour will be a world wide tour with the solo shows being concentrated in the U.S. At this time, a few of the solo shows may be in Europe, but that has not been concluded. However, once the entire ESB is on tour, the tour will also include a number of dates throughout Europe.

Overall, the tour is expected to last at least 18 months.

The focus the tour will be to emphasize Bruce as a solo performer and how his music and message are enhanced by the ESB. The solo shows will obviously be in smaller venues to start with the venues increasing in size through the summer and fall.

It will be interesting to see the progression of the tour and the performance of these songs. Although none of the songs are expected to receive heavy radio airplay, Bruce is extremely happy with his writing and message contained in these songs.

Springsteen is one of the greatest performers and songwriters in rock history. He may not be for everyone's taste, but if you love live rock and you see him live, I'll bet he makes you a believer.

Peace,

Mr. M.

"Seasons In The Sun" by Terry Jacks. No question.

- M.

Hey CH, good call! Carlos is an INSANE player. I actually took some lessons with him, made me feel like a beginner. And of course Kevin is a god. I'd recommend this show highly!

Peace,

Mr. M.

fu©k ya! Here's to MarcO!

Cheers bro,

- M.

Yeh, along with the Somethings I'm putting in one more pitch for Erin Smith is well 'cus this could be the last time you'll ever see her with a band in Toronto. I suspect she'll be back and play here at some point, but perhaps not with a full band, and anyone who has seen her can back me up that she's worth seeing. Erin is one of the great under-rated talents of the Ontario indie scene.

- M.

I love 'em but interestingly they are one of my wife's most hated bands. She can't stand Knopfler's voice.

- M.

"Hipocracy everywhere"

You mean irony.

Boys, boys, you're both right.

Argh, that song drives me crazy! It's such a goofy song (not indicative of Erin's writing usually) but I can't get it out of my head either!

Yeh, I'd bet Healey's will be sold out or pretty damn close by the Somethings come on. The Ladybirds probably won't play again for a long time (ever?) at least in these parts, and they are awesome. Picked up Erin & Janine's EP (they are half of Ladybird Sideshow FYI) last week at C'est What, it's amazing, particularly for something they did in one day on the porch!

- M.

Edit - Damn you MusicFace for beating me to it ::

Once again the wheel has turned and dame fortune has hugged Mr. Musicface to her perfumed bosom... somebody up there likes me Smithers.

Hah, it's cool that Not By Choice are playing in both London and Toronto! I'm gonna be at Healey's but this does sound like fun.

- M.

Interestingly bradm, when Larry was on an industry panel a while back, bald guy in a blanket asked a question sort of along this line, so I'll try to paraphrase. I don't remember the exact question, but it was something to the effect of whether the panel thought the evolution of industry toward the show being more the product and releases being more the support to bring people out to the shows (I believe he used the examples of The Dead, Phish, DMB, etc.) rather than the other way around was something they saw as a valid way for indie acts to operate... or something like that. There were various answers from the assembled (mostly record company A&R guys incidently) who hemmed and hawed a bit, but Larry had I think the best answer. He talked about the fact that there are lots of folks who are certainly not rock stars in a traditional sense, but are making a great living out of playing live and selling CDs independently in regional and niche markets all over the place. He talked about releasing things like live recordings on websites as a way to promote things to your fanbase and grow your audience for your live shows, merch, etc. and that becomes your major income stream. I don't think he talked about tapers specifically, but based on his other comments I think he'd see that as an extension of growing your audience and that sort of thing.

As I said I'm paraphrasing quite a bit here 'cus this was like two years ago and I certainly don't remember his verbatim response, but I think the gist is right. He's a very smart guy who's seen a lot of evolution in the music business.

- M.

Hey folks, of possible interest to the musicians on the board. I've talked to Larry a couple of times, he's very insightful and generous with his advice and insights.

Where: Third Floor Reilly's 340 Yonge Toronto, ON

When: 8:00 pm Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2004

Price: $8, (416) 593-4252 for details

Canadian editor/music critic for Billboard Magazine, Larry Leblanc, wants to help those basement rock acts emerge into the garage. If you are an artist, band or songwriter needing the inside scoop on where the Music Industry is heading, don't miss this event. You'll discover:

-The role of artists as Indie acts and with major/small labels

-Why so few acts are being signed to major labels

-The best way to get your music distributed

-Digital subscription services vs. downloading/file sharing

-The future of Radio and emergence of Satellite & Internet

-Role of print media in the coverage of artists and its potential to utilize that coverage

-How to get reviewed in Billboard Magazine

Larry LeBlanc, Journalist/Broadcaster/Researcher has been a leading figure in Canadian music for three decades. Larry has been associated with the New York-based music trade Billboard since 1991. He is currently its bureau chief for Canada. He was the co-founder of the late Canadian music trade, the Record. His byline has appeared in such publications as Rolling Stone, Guitar Player, and MacLean's. He has been extensively quoted on music issues in hundreds of publications including Time, and the New York Times.

from http://www.toronto.com/profile/877083/

Peace,

Mr. M.

I'm sure there's a joke in the fact that "The Meat" are playing between two "Dogs", but I'm clearly not smart enough to think of it...

I'm gonna try to make this one jon, haven't seen you guys or DD for ages!

Peace,

Mr. M.

I'll be at Healeys for sure - for those who don't know, it will be one of the last chances to see Erin Smith play (she is singing with Ladybirds and Somethings as well as doing her own set) before she moves to Maui!

- M.

I adore "Traveler's Suite" - it's kinda a throwback to longform tunes like Jethro Tull, Yes, Genesis, Zeppelin and others used to do, with different movements and feels over the 20 minutes of the tune. I'd highly recommend that, or "The Path" as a more straightforward funky-rock tune. (FYI there's also a great version of that on the live album What You and I Have Been Through with Radio Active from Spearhead).

Peace,

Mr. M.

Two guys I work with got handed 6th row platinum seats to the Raptors on Friday (unfortunately I was already on my way home). This is made all the more special by the fact that it may be the one of the last game ever with a potential Vince Carter slam.

- M.

Doh, missed it! Sorry Trevor, hope you had a great one!!!

- M.