M

...folding chairs for sitting on

(with beer cup holders)

One of my clients (Amazon.ca) had a launch party on Tuesday at a bar/club in Downtown T.O. They were looking for a band to play and my V.P. and I suggested The New Deal.

It was a good show, but kind of surreal at the same time. I was wondering how the show would come across as there was only background music on before they started playing; not too sure whether the sound of a live band would assimilate well with the schmoozing conversation rampant throughout the room.

It was a treat to see the band in a small venue. Last time I saw them in a small room was the surprise show at Ted's Wrecking Yard last summer. Since then, I've seen them at the Palais Royale and the Opera House, but have left early both times due to my waning attention span. Seeing the New Deal in a vast room defeats the purpose for me. I get the most out of them in a small venue... being able to see the expressions on their faces as they interact with each other; noting how the slightest change in expression (a smirk, a nod of the head, a raised eyebrow) can lead to crazy changes, breaks, accelerated tempos.

And, as always, there's the struggle I continually face when seeing this band... if I'm not watching them close up, I find the novelty of the music they produce decreases. I forget that these are actual musicians with live instruments sweating, straining, improvising, creating this sound rather than a DJ spinning vinyl.

It felt as though The New Deal were holding back at the start of their show on Tuesday. Not surprising, given the suits milling about the room. However, by the end of the show, the band was hot. Those left in the room were listening with interest, but it obviously wasn't the gung-ho crowd they've become used to. I think they found the subdued interest a sharp contrast to their regular touring crowd and rather humourous. I'm guessing it must also have been a bit of an ego check.

Question: what do people here think about bands playing corporate functions? Do you think its selling out or do you think its increasing a band's exposure to people who might not usually hear them? Do you think it is more acceptable for a band to play a corporate function if they are somehow affiliated with the corporation? (ie: Amazon.ca does distribute The New Deal's music).

NEW YORK, June 12 (Reuters) - Rolling Stone gathered only a little moss before naming a new managing editor, as the flagship magazine of privately-held Wenner Media tapped FHM editor-in-chief Ed Needham for the job on Wednesday.

Needham, 38, takes the place of Robert Love, a 20-year veteran of the magazine who was asked to step down in April by Rolling Stone editor-in-chief and publisher Jann Wenner.

The managing editor job was also offered to Time magazine senior nation editor Eric Pooley, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Rolling Stone, the erstwhile bible of the counter culture and for years the dominant U.S. music magazine, has faced stiff competition from the upstart Blender, the sister magazine of Maxim.

Wenner recently revamped his flagging Us magazine, naming Bonnie Fuller to the celebrity and fashion title in an attempt to take on AOL Time Warner's AOL.N People magazine.

Rolling Stone, published every two weeks, has about 11 million readers, according to Wenner Media. Needham will begin his new job on July 8.

FHM is owned by the British media firm Emap. Needham was the editor-in-chief of the magazine's British edition before founding the U.S. edition in 1999.

.....looks like Mitch dabbled in some pharmaceuticals....

Click here for one of the strangest things I've ever seen

Are you sure they are playing tonight? Hamilton club listings have playing at the Casbah tonight: "Tues. - Luke Doucet, Jim Bryson, Ruby Drake, Jason Collett" as the performers.... Maplemusic.com also has this line-up listed as playing there as part of "The Flood Family Songwriter Review".

I would love to see the Fat Cats tonight but don't want to get to the hammer and find out they're not playing. Also, not sure if Joel is even back yet from NYC... maybe the acousticats are playing? opening for the people above?

I was at the show and I'm pretty sure there weren't any tapers there...

Crosby Stills Nash and Young...

we all know the term "young" can hardly be used in reference to these guys. However last night at the ACC, Neil Young helped bring the energy and vigour characteristic of youth to the band's performance and elevated what could have been a truly mediocre concert.

Wednesday night's show at the ACC in Toronto, upon dissection, was rather touch and go. It was apparent throughout the eve that both the crowd and performers experienced highs and lows. The first set seemed to jolt many in attendance. There were definitely many there expecting an "unplugged"-esque concert. Those that were ready to sit back and listen to sweet harmonies and warm acoustics. The poor sound at the start of the electric first set was eventually remedied; however, poor sound was only one of the many barriers between the band and the audience. Other low moments that come to mind were Steven Stills' voice faltering on several occasions, Nash's determination to turn his performance into an aerobic workout (clap, clap, stomp, stomp) and a certain element of cheese that seemed to sneak past nostalgia and overpower some songs on more than one occasion.

The hilarious crowd moments were abundant though: one being watching all the old folks navigate the stairs at the ACC; another being the fact that they had a "seventh inning stretch" during the show for all the arthritic adults in attendance. Not to harp on the old folks too much though - I was there with my parents and it was quite nice to look around and see parents and kids bonding over the same music. The tune "Teach your children" took on a whole new and rather touching meaning.

The high moments were generally attributed to Neil Young. I felt almost bad for CSN at points as the crowd's adoration seemed disproportionately (yet rightly) swayed in Neil's favour. Nostalgia was what the crowd was there for last night and newer songs, such as Nash's tribute to the Sept 11th victims, were met with lukewarm reactions. The entire crowd was brought to a fervor led by Neil on more than one occasion: namely during Southern Man, Cinnamon Girl and "Rockin' in the Free World". The money I shelled out for the show was well worth it if only to hear this rendition of the song.

The acoustic set was definitely where CSN's strength lay. Yet, during this set I still found myself seeking out Neil's vocals in the harmonies. His voice seems, to me, to be the only one out of the four that has remained sweet and pure over the years. Don't get me wrong, there is a certain charm in the raggedness of aging rock stars. However, the charm fades when it begins to affect the quality of the music that is played. Thankfully for Neil Young and his career, it seems that age doesn't seem to affect the music he performs or creates.

Although he dabbles in nostalgia, he doesn't rely on it.

Upon dissection - touch and go, but on the whole - an enjoyable evening.