Jaimoe

Here's an out of order setlist, plus a venue specific limited edition poster (I got #104/250): Goodway The Right Place Say Please Whole Lotta Losin' Man Named Truth One Hundred Million Years (M. Ward) One Life Away (M. and Jim) Chinese Translation (M.) Baby Boomer Ahead of the Curve Golden (full band) I Will Be There When You Die (Jim and Conor) Bermuda Highway (Jim) Look At You (Jim) Wonderful (The Way I Feel) (Jim and Will Johnson) We Are Nowhere And It's Now (Conor and Mike) Leaders In The Temple (Conor and Mike) At The Bottom of Everything (full band) Kathy With a K's Song (Conor, M. Ward, Will Johnson) Map of the World Slow Down Jo Dear God Vincent O'Brien (full band) Soul Singer In The Session Band (full band) The Sandman, Brakeman and Me Smokin' From Shootin' (full band) Hit The Switch (full band) Losin' Yo Head ---------------- His Master's Voice

Don't set your VCR to the NMA Beautiful Noise episode. It's shockingly terrible.

She was on The Berkeley Sessions. It's an ongoing live series on Bravo, shot in the same church as Beautiful Noise.

I've already caught a few episodes of Beautiful Noise on SunTV HD. My friend even watched some of the MMJ gig. I watched a dreadfully dull and pathetically edited North Mississippi Allstars episode last year. I'll keep my eyes peeled for MMJ's performance since it was the far better of their two shows I caught last year... and I hope the editors didn't ruin this one. I'll let the Jacket folks know about this on the MMJ forum.

Ah, I see. [color:purple]Looking closely this time: Do you have tickets Jaydawg (since you seem not to know if your seats are good)?

It's not too hard: the Once movie was one thing, then came the post-film tour. Then they came through Toronto early last year and played Massey Hall. Now they are back touring in support of a new album, which is great. Anyway, it's not my topic thread, but I don't mind pimping one of my favourite singer-songwriters. I wish The Frames would go on a club tour.

The show will be special and emotional. Enjoy Jay and congrats. Please tell me you've seen Once. The soundtrack songs are done beautifully in concert.

I think the Swell Season is sold out.

I'd love to go, but MOF took up my concert funds for the month.

Great great show last night. I didn't hear one bad or subpar song during the concert's 2 1/2 hours, which is something I can't recall experiencing before; heck even The Who and Stones have some dogs in their live catalogue. Highlights for me include Conor and Jim doing a duet version of "I Will Be There When You Die", several M. Ward-led Monsters of Folk tunes and Bright Eyes solo stuff; Conor acted more as a sideman to Ward and James on the night and I think being in this allstar band keeps his eccentricities in-check to some extent. The encore was a let-down though; just one song, "His Master's Voice", followed by waves of feedback a la Evil Urges.

Upstairs at the Imperial (it's called the Library Pub). Downstairs is more "colourful". There's also PJ O'Brien's, the Irish Embassy and Pat Quinn's. I'm heading over right after work to the venue; I'll be drinking a few downstairs at Massey's cool bar.

Actually, M. Ward has been playing some of his solo "hits". I'm really hoping Jim plays a solo version of the greatest song he's ever written: "I Will Be There When You Die". I'm in Row F or something like that. I left my tickets on my fridge, so I can't verify my seats, but I'm up close, just off centre.

You are assuming that ratings are lower when networks meet or barely exceed their Cancon requirements. This is simply not the case. Just open the Star weekend edition and check out the weekly program Top 10 rankings.

Any crazy Bloomfield stories?

How about a post-suicide Leafs fan?

Well, getting networks to improve their content is a complex issue and a potentially costly one. CTV and Global often take the easy (i.e. cheap) way out, such as Canadianizing US shows such as Idol and So You Think You Can Dance. However, I do think local news offers a fairly good product given that budgets are tight. Another problem is the proliferation of sub-par digital channels, which is doing more damage to the core channels than good. Also, stations without a vision or the balls to produce unique and/or quality programs will eventually fail, IMO. The CBC and TVO are different breeds, of course. The CBC doesn't have to worry as much about ratings, which enables it to produce and/or co-produce some really unique programs of quality such as The Tudors, Doctor Who, Rick Mercer and even Being Erica, not to mention some very good TV films and/or mini-series. But there's also crap: The Ron James Show and This Hour Has 22 Minutes (which is a shadow of its former self). Actually, Booche and I have discussed in the past that we are currently in another golden age of televison (and music for that matter). The only difference this time out is that, you as a viewer, has to really seek out good shows on your own. It was easy in the old days with 3-6 channels to choose from.

Television broadcasters are monitored 24-7 by the CRTC police. I assume radio must monitor itself to some extent; TV monitors itself too, but I know for a fact we are under constant surveillance. Cancon indeed includes promos, but I don't think it includes commercials because most if not all commercials are for the Canadian market. It makes sense if you think about it. When a Canadian network airs a US show at the same time as the American channel but subs in Canadian commericals - such as Global airing Bones at the same time as Fox - its called a simulcast. This is a common way to generate regional and/or nationally based TV revenue. This procedure is common everywhere in North America; it's not just a Canada/US thing. Broadcasters live and die by ratings. They sell advertising when ratings are up or steady, however, when times are tough, ratings don't always work. For example, when the auto industry crashed, stations were hard hit since car manufacturers invest tens if not hundreds of millions on TV advertising.

The only bassist I think that fits the Mule/Woody mold is David Schools; I wish he'd quit his other band.

They did a fine job with the reno of the Danforth, not including the lobby (I love the old refreshments booth). The Danforth acoustics are still a little spotty when you sit up front - Iron and Wine sounded muddy while the Swell Season sounded pretty clear and clean - but the seating and overall look of the venue is very good to excellent. I still prefer the Queen Elizabeth, which resembles a small Sony Centre, but with better acoustics, sightlines and intimacy.

Sure the Queen Elizabeth has theatre seating, but it's an excellent venue for concerts. The acoustics are perfect and their isn't a bad seat in the house, if you choose to sit of not.

Enjoy your day Sharon.

It's shocking to write this, but the Raptors defense won them the game. They made some nice stops and their rebounding was very good, especially considering that they had to cover Shaq inside and Lebron inside and outside.

From what I can gather working 17 years in the television broadcasting industry (not including 3 years at Ryerson studying Radio & Television Arts), all Canadian TV companies (and radio stations) must provide at least 35 per cent Cancon. I work for CTV/MuchMusic and even with music videos, we have to air at least 35 per cent Canadian-centric programming, or risk being fined by the CRTC (and the fines are pretty steep). CRTC even keeps tabs on the promos we air. When I have to, I normally drop promos every day that promote American shows, just to be safe. Anyway, CHCH in Hamilton recently went up for sale for $1. It would be tragedy if the Hammer and surrounding area lost its local station. Don't think for a second that all A channels are under threat of closure along with all CBC affiliates, although they are better off due to government funding.

The thing is, the big TV companies started this mess in the first place, but I'll happily pay more money per month if the extra charge indeed goes to save local television stations. Without local news/programming, communities will lose even more of their cultural identity.

Raptors home opener tonight against the Cavs. Any bets on how many wins they get this season? I think they'll be lucky to go .500.