Jaimoe

My wife picked up the new Von Bondies yesterday on vinyl (it had a CD inside too):

The last half of Season IV generally kicked. The finale didn't sit well with some, but I liked it.

Strange, they play that song pretty regularly live. oops, my bad. the song was "the bear" ... will fix above. thanks for correcting. black swan. Indeed, that place is a dive - at least the main floor is. Great blues on the second floor though.

[blurb]Danforth Music Hall, Toronto - April 24/09 by phishtaper Friday came quickly. Doors at 6:00, show at 8:00, so we pulled up just after 7:00. We fully expected to see a line-up outside because of the ticket mess and the rigid “ID at will-call, here's your tickets, go straight in please†deal tonight but there was no line-up so we snuck into a local dive bar and grabbed a beer. Wandered back over and went inside. Casual. Good start.[/blurb] A nice merch booth met us inside with what appeared to be a different t-shirt from each of their albums. You could also get the new cd or the new lp as well as some buttons or a $125 hockey jersey. Tempting. The crowd gathered in the lobby was relaxed but obviously looking forward to the show. Bottled beer had to be poured into plastic cups to enter the hall, which certainly pissed off noone. The venue was being cool tonight, this was going to be a party. The hall started filling by 8:00 and the boys took the stage around 8:15 or so. Bam! Lights fill the room. The Tragically Hip. We all stand up, not to sit down again. Bam! Guitars and drums kick in. The Depression Suite. Huh? This must be a new one, oh ok, that's right this is a pre-tour, even rehearsal, show but some people seem to really be liking this new song and they are singing along. I havent had a chance to get the new cd, We Are The Same, which only came out three weeks ago so I figured tonite would be my introduction to it. Over the course of the evening they'd play another half dozen tracks off this new disc, (and a lot of people, including us, made sure to buy a copy on the way out). This is a good album. On stage tonite the speaker stacks, set-up and lighting rigs were all perhaps a bit too big for the small venue, but certainly gave us a look at what we should expect on the upcoming tour. We had great seats. Embarrassingly great. Front row right in front of Rob Baker. Close enough, in fact that it was possible to see him play – really see him play. He's a great guitarist. Intense, seldom smiling, and completely focussed on his instrument. It's really impressive how his guitar licks are so integral to the songs but not up front. Seeing his sound was pretty cool. Seeing his elaborate gold painted, psychedelic finger nails was neat too. Gord Sinclair and Paul Langlois were on the other side of the stage. Both looked great and seemed to be having a great time too, although Paul looked a bit tired. Drummer Johnny Fay was fun to watch as was some new guy on keys who looked like former Barenaked Ladies Steven Page (but he wasnt). Then there's this other guy in the band named Gord. Mr. Gord Downie. He's a character. The Gord Downie showed up to perform tonight. Intense, sweat-soaked, comical, quirky, lean and fit, and fully completely into the show. He was fuÇking amazing. Whether picking lint off his tailored black pants, twitching his head to the left holding a note, or casually bending down to polish his shoe mid-lyric, he's mezmoring. It's close to impossible not to be glued on him. Halfway into the first set we saw our vintage Gord Downie when he said “you know, this song was banned in the United States when Katrina hitâ€. New Orleans is Sinking. THE song. The crowd roared. Not the most emphatic, rant-filled version, but it sure lit fires under any asses that might not yet have been fully into the show. After a fantastic Lonely End of the Rink, Gord then began to tell us a story about how when he was in Grade 6, his favourite – very cool – teacher used to arrive at school each day with a canoe strapped to the top of his car. Each day they would ask him what the name painted on it meant and each day he would spin them another new story. (Perhaps this is where Gord learned to ramble?) The canoe was named Grace II (Too) and the namesake song that followed was incredible. The set ended as it had begun 70 minutes earlier with another new song, Country Day. Set two began with four acoustic songs perfomed at an intimate center stage. Three guitars, one set of hand drums and one seated lead singer, neurotically clutching his mike stand, wanting to, but never bursting off his chair. The first song was introduced as one they had never played, “well, we've played it before of course, just not in front of other peopleâ€. Gus: The Polar Bear from Central Park. Fun song. The short acoustic set also included a very soothing, acoustic version of Ahead By A Century. When they went electric, they exploded with the strongest song of the night, Poets. The 80 minute set ended with the title track from, as Gord lamented, a “very misunderstood albumâ€, Music at Work followed by two encore songs. The band seemed happy with the show and with us, the crowd was friendly, and the event was really well organized. It's been a couple of years since most of us had seen The Hip and it was clear there's a reason why a lot of people consider these guys the best band this country has produced. Everyone left happy. I did see a few audience video tapers so I know it was recorded but Im not sure when or how to get a copy. Would definately be worth the effort, though. Guitarist Rob Baker's original Friday set lists:

Which one? There's only two in that stretch: The Black Swan and Terry O's.

It's never boring in Raider land.

What did they just do? I don't have the draft on here at work. And you are surprised with the Raiders on draft day?

I'm working, but I'm all over tomorrow's heated Canada-Hungary rivalry.

Or was he ever healthy? His fastball was getting into Wakefield territory.

Have a great day Chris!

That is the most assinine and ill-conceived thing I've heard in years. SNL and Fey's Palin impression singlehandedly influenced perceptions significantly and played into the popular consciousness. If SNL was so irrelevant how come all politicians vie for coverage on this influential program? Also Fred Armisen is fucking hilarious beyond words. From his first appearances as Fericito the latin nightclub comic to his so-on-point Obama ('I keep it cool'), to NY Governor David Paterson, to American Apparel's Dov Charney to so many other bits. The guy oozes funny. Will Forte is no fugging slouch either. Although I can't stand the new chick what's her name Kristen Wig. shudder The "most assinine and ill-conceived thing" you've heard in years? On Jambands? Really? Have you read the Phish/Sens threads? Aren't you the same guy that loves Jimmy Fallon? As for the Palin parodies, I found none of them overly funny. Though I had people tell me over and over that they were funny. Timely? Yes, but the skits were very obvious. And SNL basically forced Fey to do the Palin parody. She did a good job, but Fey didn't have to work too hard to skewer Palin - an easy target. And the real Palin said things that were far more funny - and troubling - than anything from the Fey/Palin parodies. SNL is hilarious only in that people still think it's hilarious. Loyalty laughs aren't real laughs.

It can be. She's dead. I've seen people walk across busy intersections, ignoring the angry big red hand non-walk signal. Actually, isn't listening to iPods and using cellphones while crossing streets banned in NYC?

Aaron Hill will be getting a big salary upgrade if he can stay healthy.

He's great on Heroes too.

Talking on cell-phones while walking on a busy street is just as dangerous. A young woman was killed last month in downtown Toronto, near Union Station. She was on the phone with a friend and didn't see the light.

I'm not sure we'll ever see or hear the original KISS again, at least not a "good sounding" original KISS.

If you are one of the many that hasn't been following Styx over the past 20 years, the current line-up has three core members: singer-guitarists Tommy Shaw and James Young and part-time bassist (due to ill-health) Chuck Panozzo. Dennis DeYoung is long gone as is drummer John Panozzo. I'd skip this gig, unless you like rocking to Larry Gowan singing DeYoung's songs.

i don't think the language in that would be considered PG now. i guess you could get a censored version though. I totally forgot about the airport scene. I'd hate to see an edited version.

The Iron Giant Finding Nemo Planes, Trains and Automobiles Princess Mononoke

At least Weller isn't revisiting his Style Council years... at least I hope he isn't.

The Jam without Weller ain't The Jam. And that ain't no Yardbirds, unless Beck and Page rejoined the current lineup. The undercard looks good so far.

I heard that Sulu has booked a room in bradm's basement.

I'm heading out with Quinlan after work to a dive sports bar near where I live. Tomorrow's shift will be rough.

I believe Marcum was called-up in 2005, but he was a full-time starter in 2007 and 08. McGowan was a call-up in 2007, but I know where you are going with this: If these unproven players can do it, then why can't one or more of the young current starters do the same thing? I think at least one will be a legit good starter.