SaggyBalls

trying to get a raquet going on er play some tennis...uh make some noise in the University town? Check out the Nihilst Spasm Band at Aeolian Hall...

The show I saw in London Ontario was weak. Great records, fantastic pop songs. At times too clever, but I'm being picky. Some of the best lines.

Disc Golf in vancouver this weekend? I finally replaced my lost disc. Went out last weekend. this one should be way better for the shoes. hit me up.

Second only to James Brown. If you think it's dime a dozen you're getting your shit from a REAL pusherman. Feel lucky you're no custy.

I've been to the railway club but lately can't be bothered with much more than a petty attempt at not going fucking crazy. I can be non-committal at times but jesus christ i hate flakes. I have the feeling I'm turning into one. I'm 2 inches away from dropping the band I'm in and we're not even really off the ground yet but as so many things make a pattern in my life I'm also seconds away from hopping in front of a bus. I probably won't cause it'd break my dear old ma's heart but it'd be great to start fresh in a new body. Anyhow, ranting aside I think it's very hard for any vancouver act to do much of anything around here. Check out Fond of Tigers. I think you'd love em and they're looking for people to work them on some Ontario dates. They've got a huge sound. think Progressive wall of sound...they played the jazz fest this year and sounded amazing on a sunny day outside with a super lame vancouver crowd...sorry...they played to a crowd at the jazz fest. I hate being annoyed by such a fantastic place to live. You would probably get a kick out of Parlour Steps while we're at it Luke. they're pretty frickin great.

BLIND boys and world VISION?? good for both of em. BBoA are fantastic.

that is definitely an intense lineup. Glad to see that there's an indie rock focus at broo as well as coachella. As much as there's a lot of kitsch/camp it's the most groundbreaking scene as far as instrumentation and arrangement are concerned. Indie now is purely the hip scene of any era. scales and rhythms aside jazz nerds, along the years the bands that have had the most musical impact on the world and popular (not mass) culture share the same line of critics.

if it's not a social detachment it's a physical isolation issue. city versus country...? I would have to say that if you're unhappy in your current situation enough to move out or into the city then you shouldn't weigh out your options and hmm&haw about the change, just set yourself up to change your situation. Have an escape plan though just in case you in your planning and movement have a deep connection to your situation in the end. feel free to skip this bloat unless you want to read what i write. I have had a similar inner dialogue often over the years and feel that I'm in a great situation in the city. All I can genuinely add are personal and if you're curious about ME and want a snapshot of my life, where I've come from, and how it relates to this question presently then take awhile and read it. ++ As much as I don't feel like as much of a city expert as some of you, I have a fairly unique perspective, moving across the country from country to big cities and smaller communities. youth: tiny town ON. When I was growing up, my life as a child was amazing. I was safe, people were interesting, and the community was very left coast as I'm starting to understand since I live in Vancouver BC... Teenage years set on and in a rural community, My friends were all nice people - highschool drama aside - but there were few people that challenged my sensibilities and ideas aside from teachers and friends' parents that would have a coffee with me and actually engage us in conversation. city 1, country 0 I found a few friends from time to time to go into the city for shows with - Bug, then later Giggles after he came back from the west, among about 5 other people - and really found that the urban landscape was filled with certain treasures that a rural landscape could never bring me. Music, Art, intellectual growth, style, social change. city 2, country 0 The country has its merits but unless you run a home based business that does not require much driving, it is an environmentally unfriendly way of life. It takes a focused effort to live in the country and save resources and accept the loss of time to driving for errands and work. city 3, country 0 If you have the means to live somewhere small and contribute to your surroundings, family, and home then you are truly royalty in the grand scheme of life. What a beautiful opportunity you have to make the most of your own space and time. city 3, country 1 (it can be done) If the bustle of the city is too much to handle and you have not found a way to juggle energies then no tree hugger guilt trip will work, nor should it be laid on you. city 3, country 2 It's close, I must admit. That's why the question's been posed - however - I find myself in a peculiar place. Vancouver. I have a car but walk to work and to do my errands. $65 for a yearly parking pass - I still take the bus when I don't feel the need to drive. I use my car to go places that transit makes awkward and if I have to take more than just a bag. Band practices, carpooling to shows and to see friends, out of the city to go hiking.W When StoneMtn and Lassie were in Whistler, I trekked up there to get together. I have the advantages of the big city - arts, interesting people, disc golf, transit, sculpture in public spaces, parks, and events happening to bring people together and encourage involvement. So that being said, it is a city and the expenses I have are relatively low. If I were paying what my neighbours pay for rent I couldn't live here and have any money left over for anything but rent and food such as car insurance, my bass gear, computer, phone, or beer. People say all the time that it costs a lot more to live here but outside of rent I don't see it. I don't drink a lot or eat much prepackaged food. For instance, a can of campbell's mushroom soup is about $1.25 and tuna is the same or a bit more. A 12 pack of beer is about $20...more if you want it cold. We have deposit on almost all cans and bottles and it is a hassle to get it back, as grocery stores only take what they sell. It's far cheaper to buy ingredients and actually cook, which is pretty much common sense...but if you take into account that Ontario is a tertiary produce market, then we have an advantage with better food than you easterners. I miss my local beef but I don't eat a lot of meat. It is also a cheap city to eat out when you look at the quality of the restaurants here. $1 pizza is just as good as $3 pizza in Toronto, It's difficult to not get stuffed with sushi for $10, and the city abounds with Indo, Asian, Vegetarian, and high quality North American/European restaurants that routinely cater to single people...which is why i presume great restaurant fare is still attainable for under $10, beverage included. I can go out to see a movie for under $10, grab a beer for $5 or less, there's live entertainment in every corner of the city (albeit not always as fulfilling as I'd hope for but that's unrelated to this conversation) and I can walk a few blocks to my local pusherman for a hit, so understanding that the nickels and dimes add up then that's how city life can be really quite taxing. If I were planning on owning property I would want to live in the country. city 3, country 3 - tie, considering that I'm in a unique situation and the variables around me. I am a renter and will be for a long time. When I get to the point of saving the money I'd spend on upkeep, taxes, insurance, appliances, and utilities on owning I'm sure there'll be a 'rent or own' thread but until then, My choice is the city, I have everything that I need and a little place to come and chill out close to the beach, giant park (which is closed now but still there). and a beautiful view of mountains. I don't have children on the way (as far as I know). Perhaps if I needed to take care of a family or own property I would change my tune. I can put up with social dysfunction (homelessness, drug addiction, isolation, uneasiness, classism, and general city wierdness) and having to go to a laundromat for now. I know there are times that I go bonkers, but it can still happen in the country but for different and equally valid concerns.

Who, me mom and morgantaler?

another reason to stay away from crazy, silly twits. she had really sexy hair. maybe she already drinks too much champagne...get her another.

Let me know what happened with that. My friend is having the same problem with his mp3 player. he's on a mac and it's a non apple product. I like itunes. what else do you really need?? flac support? (i use xAct to rip flacs) I think that the only hype is coming from the consuming public.

I find it interesting that the CBC are narrowing their sphere again. How many great shows have they cancelled already? BNW played so much music that even camplus radio shies away from. Patti Schmidt (sp?) is the best voice in Canadian radio and makes each night on the radio interesting and informative. So no more late night jazz followed by super late night art? Are we going to get a fantastic contemporary underground show to replace it that's more 'hip'? Why would CBC not have a poll to ask their listeners? I have a feeling their new shows will flop perfectly. I know I'd have given MY feedback and I'm sure a lot of YOU would have as well, to let them know what the CBC demographic wants. REPRESENTATIVE OF CANADIANS??? I have met A LOT of Canadians with really poor taste. We're goping to get programming that is more chart-driven. I hope they at least look at the CMJ charts and Earshot charts to get a feel of what Canadians want. I know that I often say things in bad taste, but I at least know that I often come online and see articles and internet posts about bands I'd already forgotten about and entertainment news that isn't really cutting edge and I've unplugged from a lot of media. I know that I found out quite a bit from BNW and After Hours. How do we save this change from happening? make some noise about it?? Anyone have some ideas??

Stupid and irresponsible? is that in reference to the radio station or the listeners for not having discerning taste and common sense?? if i say 'the last person to stop hitting themselves in the face with a brick gets my shoes' and someone breaks their nose then I'M the one legally responsible? Explain how that really makes sense. really. Use all the logic or law you want but when it comes right down to it it's pretty rare that anybody ever gets anything for nothing. At worst, those children will learn to stop and think a bit more before blindly trying to win some stupid radio prize.

that'd be quite the sight, dirtybird.

There are very few useful facts about me.

I find it funny that Ollie finds it necessary to bring in the advertising. the advertising is really meant to show that apple isn't trying to destroy their competition, they're just doing what they do best - understand their strangths and not get too bogged down with extra features... ...like licencing every company to make products for macs like people make products for PCs. I like how I'm stuck with what I get from apple. there's more of a guarantee of it actually working. I have to get a second hard drive and was thinking about getting the mac mini sized shell and installing an internal drive inside. i'll have room on my hard drive for programs and system files and then room on the external drive for media.

a band member's younger brother goes to canterbury... ...forget which member but an old small town friend is friends with said sibling.

For some reason Macs don't crash on me, I prefer the stylish design and the streamlined interface. It keeps track of where its file fragments are and organizes itself. I really like mine. Grew up with a PC and wound up with a mac. I guess it's just what I wanted to get. I chose the simpler product that was actually designed rather than purely engineered.

That Besnard Lakes night will be huge! (they are very loud)

Any of you Ottawa folk ever check em out? What a great new wave sound. Anybody?

Wish I were there last night but I'm glad to hear it today. After a 2 year break and they sound hotter in the first 10 minutes than most of the last Dekcuf run that last bit before the break. I'd say 'start it up again' but that's just my selfish ears and eager heart trying to get a word in. I hope Giggles made it out to whoop it up. Last night I was at my friend Kevin's going away party. We drummed, there was traditional African dancing, met another group of wholly engaging people and forgot what I was missing back home. I checked my email at about 1:30 when I arrived home and an old friend from High School had emailed me out of the blue. All this after a really great sunny day - the sun rose over Mt. Baker at about 8:10 yesterday and it stayed bright all day. My girl woke me up slowly coaxing me out of bed to have a day out (which I am now waiting for her...) ALL this after a really bizarre and trying Holiday season, and a slow start to a new year. Stone sober, I can't mistake anything for a little bit of divinity this weekend. I may just give all of my other nero shows away if tonight's half as good as last night. Can't wait for tomorrow so I'll get on with today.

Why don't you blame it on a breakdown of the will and morality of the people that make up society? You'd be far closer.

I have a feeling that the island is not lacking musicians that have jamspaces and party places. What more incentive for making friends could there be? Meet one cool musician and you'll meet em all so i hear.

Who's Erykah Badu's Bass player in Dave Chappelle's Block Party? really...the phattest basslines I've heard in months came out of the television and not headphones or my computer. I've been waiting and hoping to hear a bass player like that for months. I even went to see Garaj Mahal hoping to be as floored as I was. wow!

well... I've been really enjoying not going out, but a few names that come to mind are... gomez...ratdog...camera obscura...the roots (south of the border)...STS9(again...south)...TransAm...JSB...Emily Haines...Stephen malkmus...OK Go/Snow Patrol (if I'm in seattle that night)...DoMakeSayThink(whoa!)and railroad Earth in Seattle Buffy Sainte-Marie, Final Fantasy, Jim Byrnes, Kinnie Starr @ The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts Coastal Jazz & Blues Society presents: Zubot & Dawson @ Performance Works (All Ages) Sonny Rollins @ The Orpheum Theatre (All Ages) this saturday at CafeDeuxSoleils there's a bit of a freakshow circus that I'm looking forward to. As far as hitting those shows? I doubt I'll make it out but at least I'm interested in em all. I'm also looking forward to Bonfire putting on more awesome events this year. All in all, I've been the most impressed with those good times. Haven't been so hot on live music in Vancouver the year and a half I've been here. It's really quite distressing.