'Mummers' or Folk plays made their way from the British Isles to the new colonies and histories as far back as 1296.
I've always been captivated by Canadian Celt musician Loreena McKennitt 'The Mummer's Dance', the video has a very Fall like feel to it, despite the lyrics in places talking about the Spring.
I love these kind of historic weird traditions. The fucking catholics mashed so much of this under their feet, burnt by the millions across Europe for not cowing down to their 'god'... I spit on their christian cross.... lol, damn it, now I'm pissed off about christians and the ages of fear, death and oppression they wreaked across the planet...
It sucks because I love the 'Gothic' architecture of many a church and I'd be pissed to see them burnt to the ground, yet I can sympathize with the Nordic Black Metalers who burnt down many a church...
A 13 Minute burner of frights and sights. The band Helloween hails from Hamburg in Northern Germany.
When I fist heard this band, I thought Iron Maiden had become dope fiends and dropped some speed... These guys shred, the singer can hit notes Dickinson could only dream of... And yes, due to the band's name, they've had many a 'Halloween' themed song, but none as as great as this one!
OK, a two-fer!
What would Halloween be without 'Number of the Beast'?
Throughout the day and night I'll toss out some spooky, scary Halloween-ish videos! Nothing too heavy... Nothing too scary....
Let's kick this off with some Type O Negative. Sadly, the singer with the voice from deep in the bowels of the Earth passed away in 2010. Women swooned over this 6'5 giant.... Rest In Peace Mr. Steele.
This just came back to me. At the benefit I ran into Daniel Monteith. The Monteith Brothers are awesome guys. Brothers that grew up close in age to one-another and are super awesomely talented. I've raved about these guys a few times.
After I moved back I had met these two dudes at a local show (where else?), might have even been an All-Ages show because I think Daniel was still in high school... Anyhow, as I began talking to them and then seeing them play as a band, in other bands and busking it became quite clear how talented these two guys are and they are really just starting out.
I had not seen Daniel or Sean in a long time. I think maybe the last time might have been at Freedom 'Fest or When we played a show with them at the Boisetown arena. The guys in that time have completed another excursion into Ontario and Quebec and from Daniel says it went quite well. Coming back a second time of course they had all the people who enjoyed their first tour into those two provinces.
So at the benefit Daniel and I are standing around talking to some people and he says, "You know, Chris, my brother and I sit around and talk about you, quite frequently"... I don't remember all else what he said, but he was saying that there should be some kind of 'Chris Waddell' music award, that they both really admired my integrity with the music scene. Trying to swell an already swelled head.
I am sad that I can't give to the scene what I was and even then I felt I wasn't doing enough. But I just had too much going. I was spinning a lot of plates all at once and I had to give in. I'm very proud of what I did do in that time. The radio show, the contacts and interviews, new amazing music I got to hear and see, the friends and connections I got to make, the fun of doing a radio show. The music director job at the station and just really being part of CHSR and being able to give back to them, what they had given to me since I was around 13 years old. It was my pleasure but it was a lot of work, the music MD job and the radio show.
And the band. I'm super happy with what we accomplished and though we won't be likely playing live anymore, what we're going to do. As the plan is to record and album, have it released and then wrap it up. I don't want any loose ends at least not for me or for Glen and I think he agrees with me.
Though I did get in trouble with my own mouth and I've asked for forgiveness from those whom it was aimed at and I think they forgive me, we did really well again. I had blast every show we did, I loved every band we shared the bill with, it was great to see old fans again and make new ones/
When I started talkin to the guys about doing Wasteland Zombies reunion shows, it took some convincing. But being out and about more than the guys, when I moved back I was running into people who knew who we were, may not have been around when we were, my never had heard us but knew who we were. Then there were those who had seen us and really remembered who we were.
We we're Dreamkick? No, almost furthest thing from it. Sadly, because I'm such an idiot and hardheaded, I and the guys decided that we wouldn't play what people wanted to hear, but what we liked, what we were listening to, Ray Robinson and I are Heavy Metal music listeners, to old and the newest stuff, probably more so, but whether it was KYUSS or it was early Pantera, we were playing stuff that was ABOUT to become popular, but the bar scene still wanted to hear the 'Classics' and that's fine but we wanted to do something different and to be honest, that did handicap us a bit.
And I think in the first era of the band we accomplished that and I think coming back we did it again in this era.
Anyhow, these last 4/5 years have been a blast and I wouldn't change how I did a thing or how they turned out.
Check out this video by a friend of mine's band from London, Engerland!
The band's called 'Vatican Romp'
Oh and here's a Halloween video for ya's:
You can read up on it's history after! Jimmy Page, Marianne Faithful and even Charles Manson's Tex Watson appear in this 'silent' film.
After coming back into town and then heading back out of town with Dad, the last couple of days that I was around, Buddy would appear, but he'd completely avoid me at all cost, even just dashing off in the other direction when I called to him. I thought maybe chipmunks have very short memories and the week or so I'd been gone, I'd been erased from his memory banks.
But then today I was out back cleaning up and putting away Summer stuff and Buddy appeared.
Since this whole chipmunk experiment began I've always put some peanuts or sun flower seeds in my pocket, because who knows when I'd run into one of the critters.
I have not seen ANY other chipmunks around other than Buddy and today, he finally came back to me.
It was a good encounter with Buddy climbing onto my hand and letting me pet his back.
It's been a great visit with Dad. He's heading out of town tomorrow. Tonight we're back out to dinner. LOL it's been a while since I've eaten out this much. Last night I had the first burger I've had in probably, jeez 4/5 months, which isn't a bad thing. I eat, but I don't usually eat as much as a great restaurant serves up, but anyhow... Yeah, it's been great to see Daddyo. He got a photo of us all last night in Saint John with Linda, Bob, Joan and damn it, I always forget Joan's husband's name Gord and Crystal joined us as well... It's not a 'usual' name... So it slips me brain! But they are all old childhood friends of Dad's.
He grew up on the Kingston Peninsula and we've seen or I have at least a lot of the places Dad spent as a kid, which was really cool.
So, last night just as Dad and I get on the highway to head back home. I get a text from Gordie. It says he got a text from Scott and something is very very wrong and we must contact him urgently...
'Oh no!' I'm thinking, 'What could have happened?' Dad's partner Riet is currently on a cruise over seas, hopefully it's not that.. Then my cell rings and it's Gordie. He's saying that Scott has seen on Twitter that there's a house fire on Regent st. in Fredericton and it appears to be THE house or close to the 'Air B'n'B' That Dad's been renting for his stay..... I'm like, 'Oh shit!' So, after we get a hold of Scott and he's checking out some of the houses on Regent and of course the house number, we find out that it is NOT the place Dad is staying at. 'PHEW'!
It turned out that the place that burned is one of the 3 'crack houses' that have sprung up at the bottom of Regent st. Good riddance! And FUCK the landlord of those places for leaving them so derelict that the only people who'd rent them are scumbag meth-heads.
Anyhow, gotta get ready, Daddyo will be here soon.
Dad and I went out for supper last night at Rusti.Co with my older Brother Scott and Andrea. This is a newer restaurant in Fredericton and has wood fired ovens and make pretty decent pizza.
This morning Dad and I had breakfast at the market. On our way out two kinda rough lookin dudes were setting up some 'artwork', paintings off the sidewalk and one of the paintings caught my eye... So I as I was about to ask the guy, 'how much', I noticed this painting had some holes in the canvas. And I said, 'That one's cool, but it's got some rips in the canvas'.. The guy said, "yeah I found that canvas like that and decided to use it anyhow"... I like the skulls, oh the guy asked me if I wanted him to autograph it, so I said 'sure'.... To be honest, and especially the other paintings... This guy didn't look like the type who'd paint landscapes and then do some offshoot skull themed painting... Maybe i'm wrong, but it almost felt like these paintings might be 'hot'....
This evening Dad and I went over to Scott & Andrea's for supper. Scott made homemade beans, with fresh baked brown bread (Not by Scott) and pie for dessert.
Tomorrow we're off to Saint John to see Gord et all.
Tonight it's started freezing rain, then hail, then snow, then freezing rain.. Winds are supposed to pick up and be quite a nite. Roads should be good by tomorrow morning for our trip to SJ.
Tonight, I'm watching a 'Chris Waddell Halloween' staple horror movie.
1989's 'The Church' is not a completely a Dario Argento film, it's directed by Michele Soavi. It's one of my favorite horror movies of all time. A little side fact is that Asia Argento appears in the movie. She's maybe 14/15, if that. She's actually a year younger than I.
If you've never seen 'The Church'... find it and watch it! A little dated now, but it's still a fav...
Be careful out there local friends, it's gonna get a little crazy weather-wise this eve!
[Updated] Got my Behemoth 'I Loved You At Your Darkest' vinyl... I had not expected Dad to get into town until like 3ish, so I got up early (earlier than usual) and had just got out of the shower when Dad called and said he was in town. He couldn't check in until 3, so we had some time to kill. So we drove over to the post office and got my vinyl, went for lunch then did some grocery shopping... And once Dad stepped out the door, I pounced on the package from Poland!
ILYAD cover signed by Nergal (weird 'Black Metal' name). Inferno & Orion
Double vinyl album, so a strong gatefold with an absolutely stunning artwork of the band recreating the 'crucifixion'
I call a 'booklet' the kinda extra thick packaging that would come with a CD, this is a large art & lyric book
More amazing artwork with the band depicting biblical stories. Here Abraham about to kill Isaac and Saint Peter's inverted crucifixion so as to not offend christ , with lyrics to the tracks adjacent to the art.
The decapitation of John the baptist, These guys have people that pull off the wickedest of ideas dreamed up by the band. It's one thing to pull it off, but the way it's done is just brilliant and eye popping.
And then 4 of these bad boys. 'Shellac' colored. I had to take the photo where light could hit it. When I laid it out on the table it was just near black.
The album is amazing. It's still growing on me and I only really am getting into it over this last week and now with the lyric sheet I'll really dive in. Maybe it was fortuitous that it got to me this late.... Just in time for Halloween.
A company known as 'Grupa13' does a lot of Behemoth's visuals and their website can be found here: http://grupa13.pl/
I'd like to add that one must understand that the band hails from Poland and due to it's extreme visuals and lyrical content the band is under constant attack from the catholic church in Poland, which is HUGE.
Since the late 1980's there's been a wave of youth in the 'Norse' countries that are understanding of the hostile takeover by the catholic church, so they are rejecting christianity and returning to their routes and some, turning to a darker more chaotic belief system. Or in some cases, just rebelling against religion.
So this is why you see from Behemoth what some might consider passe or even juvenile artwork and vision. These guys or at least Nergal's (Adam Darski) vision is at an all out war with the catholics.
Given that the man was on his death bed at one point, a time where many in such a position might turn to 'god', Darski went the opposite way and perhaps made a 'pact with the devil' (as if 'he' exists) and since his recovery from cancer has taken up new and bolder arms against his antagonist.
It's cold as fuck outside and the Regent St. Mall has fucking snowbanks in the parking lot... They are not HUGE snowbanks, but they are snowbanks.. It's October 26th!! Not impressed... Not at all... Good thing I got music to keep me warm.
I'm not a big fan of TV these days. Be that Netflix or whatever... I watch movies, the oldest movies, old movies, movies I grew up on to movies recently released...
But a few years ago, one series caught my eyes, American Horror Story - Season 4 - Freak Show....
Rewind... I was maybe 12/13 when I UNB student who rented a room at our large house off Waterloo Row took me to see the 1932 film, '|Freaks'..... This movie, that used 100% special fx make up free 'freaks' at first, because i was a child, I laughed at the geeks and pinheads.. But as the film went on, I grew to understand, THESE were not made up people, these were REAL people who had lived...
The movie is a lesson on not looking down on those who may be 'different' from you, a lesson I'd learned a lot through life and carry through to this day. I treat each and every person the same, rich, poor, lame or physically fit... In the end, we're all 'freaks'..... 'Huemahns' I call us, because I think our entire planet doesn't deserve to be called 'human'...
So, American Horror Story 'Freak Show' hails back to the days of circus sideshows and the 'freaks' they employed... Each episode is so well done, with SOME real life folk who are unfortunate... Even more unfortunate is that the character 'Meep', who is killed in the show, was actually killed in real life while crossing the street and was hit in the head by a car mirror (so it's said).
'Meep' also appeared in the fan made Mr. Bungle video for 'Retrovertigo'...
At the station I couldn't talk about the episodes because Bondo (the station manager) is terrified of clowns and American Horror Story had one of the best evil looking clowns in decades.
Jessica Lange does an amazing job as the 'leader' of this 'Freak Show'... and sings a couple of songs, David Bowie's 'Life on Mars' and Lana Del Ray's 'Gods & Monsters' (Don't worry the video isn't scary, the music isn't 'crazy METAL'.... But there's a 'Halloween-ish' atmosphere to it,.,,
AHS' 'Meep' in Mr. Bungle's 'Retrovertigo'
Until 'Hallows Eve', each night some more frightening music videos!
Ahh so nice to be home. A week or more away of course you miss your own bed, your own stuff and of course your crazy cat!
Elsa's so happy to see me and each time I come home from away she's always a bit more vocal... I think she vocalizes to see if I'll answer. She had just come up from her litter box and let out a big Meowwww... and I said to her, 'Ya don't have to yell, I'm back, it's all good'.... And then I get the 'look'... I'm sure we'll be back to the 'fight hour' before bed tonight.
Dad's on his way, will be great to see him for a few days.
Can't believe it... When I left here it was all green, there were green vines all over the back fence and in just a week or so, it's all gone (at least there's no snow here, was some along the way home and up the hill).... All the vines are stripped of their leaves, the trees are bare.... Winter is coming.... FAST..
Wow! Last night before midnight at good sized quake struck off of Vancouver Island. Not too far from the 'endeavor ridge' area of the Juan de Fuca plate.
What was interesting to me is that about an hour later, another quake struck, then an hour after that, another quake.. 3 '6.+ quakes' in 3 hours and some after-shocks.
Of course the entire West Coast is part of the 'Ring of Fire', tectonic plates that are constantly on the move as massive parts of the Earth's crust are killed and renewed. The West coast (and a lot of the Pacific) are of course used to quakes.. But 'the Big One' which is said to be almost a decade overdue is bound to happen some day.
I'm not saying that these quakes that just happened are a precursor to the 'Big One', but certain an eye opener for the residents of the West Coast of BC (or should be)... Albeit, after decades of science crying out, 'The Big One is coming, the Big One is coming'! Residents are no doubt been lulled into a false sense of security...
Families SHOULD be prepared for the inevitable... Search online for 'Emergency Disaster Kits' and get your family one. Have one for yourself and learn what you can do to protect yourself and family and neighbors during a massive quake.
I've not 'studied' per say, but have been aware of the potential for a massive quake on the West coast since I was a teen and we spent a lot of our Summer's in Victoria.
When I lived in Vancouver, I was sure I had a good sized and ample stocked earthquake kit after Nisqually earthquake in Washington state in 2001. That quake though centered far South of Vancouver, was felt by us. I was at Electronic Arts at my desk when I thought someone had snuck up behind me and was rocking my chair and as I turned I saw the huge plate glass windows in our department wobbling..
I wouldn't say I became obsessed with the potential for mass devastation for our area, but maybe hyper aware... And each time there was a sizable quake, you could be sure the local news would 'remind' people that the 'Big One' could happen ANY moment!
Never ended up having to use that 'kit' I had put together and now that I live in a much less seismically active area my earthquake kit has been turned into a basic emergency kit, for times when a blizzard or hurricane might take out utilities in our area.
So, again, I implore my friends and family on the West Coast, be prepared, educate yourself for the potential around you and stock up your kit accordingly!!
I didn't make this video, nor am I the 'dancin' pumpkin face guy'...
ok, maybe I did tinker around with something....
It's Sunday, so not quuuiiite a 'Horror Movie'.... But it's probably quite frightening to christian folk... and some film lovers.... And it's become one of my favorites.
Ken Russels 'The Devils'
From Wiki: The Devils is a 1971 British historical drama horror film directed by Ken Russell and starring Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave. Russell's screenplay is based partly on the 1952 book The Devils of Loudun by Aldous Huxley, and partly on the 1960 play The Devils by John Whiting, also based on Huxley's book.
The film is a dramatised historical account of the rise and fall of Urbain Grandier, a 17th-century Roman Catholic priest executed for witchcraft following the supposed possessions in Loudun, France. Reed plays Grandier in the film and Vanessa Redgrave plays a hunchbacked sexually repressed nun who finds herself inadvertently responsible for the accusations.
The film faced harsh reaction from national film rating systems due to its disturbingly violent, sexual, and religious content, and originally received an X rating in both the United Kingdom and the United States. It was banned in several countries, and eventually heavily edited for release in others. The film has never received a release in its original, uncut form in various countries, and is largely unavailable in the home video market.
I just love the sets, the insanity and the sacrilege (To be clear here, I love other aspects of this film too).... I've not seen a better marriage of the 3, made a year before my birth.
That Vanessa Redgrave rolls around as a humpbacked nun is worth watching itself! From such humble beginnings....
yah yeah, Flurries, they called for them and it's happening. Strong gusts of wind and yep definitely flurries.... Is this going to be an 'early and severe' Winter?.... One can hope not but brace yourself anyhow!
We got a long 5 months ahead of us (I'm counting November in 'Winter')... Git yer Winter tires on, grab bags of salt and sand and some great shovels... Get that snowblower primed up! Jeez, I'm starting to sound like 'Frankie the weather dude'!
Short chipmunk video. I was in the kitchen and happened to look out the window and see a chipmunk out sitting on the fence, just by the garage.... I always find it odd they'll sit on the fence, there's not much coverage from any high flying predators just lookin for a chipmunk sandwich... So I wanted to get a good picture of it sitting up there so I grabbed my DSLR and headed out.... Sorry, I had the 'optical zoom' on as I wanted to get a really nice clear shot of the chipmunk... When I got there....
I'm suspecting soon the little ones will be heading to sleep for the Winter... Albeit, they don't completely hibernate, but they do 'wake' up every so often to eat, go to the can, watch some TV...
Will be interesting to see who's alive and around come Spring.
Alright, back to cursing the sky for dropping white shit!
Before we begin, some 'breaking news' from the music World:
Tobias Forge, the genius behind the band 'Ghost' has just had the lawsuit launched against him by former band mates or really, employees, dismissed!
Former 'Nameless Ghouls' as they are called, each band member, up until this lawsuit nastiness came down, were completely unknown to the outside World. So in the court case, several of the 'Nameless Ghouls' sued Mr. Forge AKA Papa Emeritus aka Father Copia, saying that they are owed royalties and other payments by Mr. Forge. Mr. Forge has maintained that these 'Nameless Ghouls' were nothing more than 'hired guns', hired musicians for studio and touring work. Albeit that some of the Ghouls did contribute to song writing (and according to legal documents I've read) were paid accordingly.
It's great that 'Ghosts' whirlwind climb of success won't be delayed or tarnished by some guys who just thought because the band blew up really well, that they deserved more.
We'll start off with Ghosts 'See The Light' a song on the new album 'Prequelle' that I believe was aimed at these former band employees and about the upcoming case against Tobias... That's what I get from the lyrics....
Man, I was hoping to turn on the news this morning and see the news anchors completely fucking high out of their trees laughing until they soiled themselves! (Don't worry, no one actually soils themselves in this video.... That I know of....)
I don't see this as a big change. Sure I guess you don't have to worry about transporting a bit of pot around with you. Does it have to be locked in the trunk? Are joints considered open ...drugs? (Like open liquor)...
I don't drive so it doesn't matter to me, any of the "impaired driving" rules. And in my opinion the current "law" and device will be thrown into court and it will be defeated and they will have to find a better way to 'test for high and driving'.
Currently, if a person who let's say just now smokes on the weekend, like having a couple beers... So this person smokes 1 joint Friday night. By Saturday morning, that person is no longer under the 'influence' of the marijuana BUT in a blood test THC will more than likely show up in the blood, everyone is completely different on how they absorb and expunge foreign bodys from our bodies. So you'd probably get a $1000 fine and be 'sober as a judge'. So I believe this will be one of the first 'laws' to be quashed in the courts.
So I get my medicinal marijuana for free from a compassionate source. The government cannot offer that. So that it's legal to me is like, 'well, maybe a small percentage of people who didn't smoke before now will'... But I think for the rest will be the status quo.... I don't believe that ALL growers are related to organized crime and there are lots of growers out there growing for their own needs but more importantly, usually helping out someone who can't afford the now legal marijuana.
It would be sane to think that right now behind the doors there are insurance companies and lawyers figuring out what this means for them. Because marijuana, unlike booze, can be 'consumed' in a variety of ways, everything from smoking, to eating to sprays, salves... But it's ALSO, medicinal... So this 'product' that's now legal, how do you cross over between what's medicinal and should be covered by government or insurance companies?
May You Live In Interesting Times.
Cheers and be responsible with your pot!
Oh! A spooky N|EW video from GHOST!
And a recent release from Behemoth's 'I Love You At Your Darkest'
from my former 'hometown' of Burnaby British Columbia hails my good friend Geoff and his solo project 'I'm Not Sorry'... Geoff' was the bassist and chief anarchist for the 1990's band 'Beverley Soul Crusher' a band that did pretty awesome in their own time.
Now an 'old Metal bastard' like many of us, Geoff isn't content to just sit back and have music blasted at him, he's recording his own album, video's being shot and his latest track 'Menace' is fuckin killer!
I'd say like a mix of Ministry/Fear Factory and maybe some Nine Inch Nails.
Geoff did everything on the track except the mixing.!
Turn this up!
If ya have any head left, read on!
So as I was going through Chris Galbraith's pix from the benefit, I was thinking about this... What's 'this' you might ask... About photo's of musicians and videos.... You don't get into a band not to be heard or seen... Ok, sure, there's some genres and some bands, TOOL comes to mind, that don't 'show themselves'... They hide from the limelight, but for the most part MOST musicians have a bit of ego that needs to be stroked... We all need to be told our songs are awesome or that our set sounded awesome, though I don't know of any who ask, 'How'd I look on stage?' I mean that's a bit much, but I know others are wondering.. We need our ego's stroked.. Sure, sure there's a few band's out there that claim they don't "give a fuck"... But they do.
And I find that seeing pix or video from a performance is really great. I mean, I don't know about other musicians, but when I'm on stage after the set I'll barely remember anything that happened.
In the Dreamkick days, we'd get done a show and the guys would be like, "Holy shit! Did you see that girl flashing us during *whatever song*?" And I'd be like, 'What??? I didn't see no bewbies!'... I never saw shit going on lol.. So, not that the video would show you the boobs (because it was shooting the band, not from the band's perspective).... But watching the vids can help a lot, pinpoint songs which need more 'umph' or tightening up, maybe something you wanted to try during a song and see how it played out, do you need to change stuff? Are the rest of the guys standing there like bags of potato's... And audio of course you can hear how the set went... So, 'ego' aside, there is a lot of value to the pix and vids.
Don't let any singer fool you. We're out there for a reason. We WANT to be seen, we WANT to be heard... We wouldn't be 'lead singers' if we didn't.
For some of us it's a height thing, 'little man syndrome' for other's, you can't miss them, I'm talking lanky fuckers like, Joey Ramone, Josh Homme, Blackie Lawless, Peter Steele of Type 'O' Negative was over 6.5!
And we're all a bit to REALLY egotistical, I know, I know, my 'lead singer' Metal brother's are saying, 'No, not I!'.. But they lie!
We WANT the spotlight, the attention (maybe not offstage)... We got a message, we're eccentric, we're crazy but we all want to be seen.
We all looked at Metal & Rock mags when we were kids and our favorite bands music videos, capturing those 'super cool' photo's or segments of video... This is where Galbraith caters to my ego lol, he knows I'm gonna wanna see how stupid I looked after the show.. But I'm just searching for that shot, the one like my idol in some magazine, where the 16 yr old kid in me goes, 'Damn, that's a wicked cool photo!'...
One of my favorite photos taken by Chris Galbraith, from the Social Club at UNB during the 1994 National College Radio Conference (I'm aware it says '1993), wish I could still pull those off today.
But also, video and photos can help you refine your image, how you want to come off. Video is great to hear and see how it all looked from the audience perspective; did this work? did that song go over well? What did I do in that solo? 'Man it was all so cool when the crowd was singing along'...
It can be very helpful in that sense, which songs need to be tighter, 'so and so said I was "off key" here, was I?'
We're the show-offs, the show ...erm... persons...
Raised on the breast milk of Iron Maiden, Jesus Christ Superstar, Meatloaf, Alice Cooper, having a 'stage persona' helps you to escape the confines of your mind and to portray a truer version of yourself that is rebelling or being an activist or just a showman an entertainer...
Mark Kilfoil always would say after he saw us play that he just can't get over the 'off-stage Chris' vs the 'on-stage Chris'... And that's just it, I can't control that 'on-stage Chris' - No matter how bad I feel, the music moves me, the adrenaline is harnessed and spent in any spastic motion my body will allow.
As I say, I'm always in pain no matter what, well unless I'm sleeping floating in water is nice... But other than that, when I'm on stage, what happens happens and after I pay the price.
Back in the day, Corey Walton (rest in peace brother) dubbed me as 'Zippy' because of how I would "zip" around the stage (Or when working in the theater, up and down ladders and scaffolding), Terry Daly and Dave Campbell adopted that nickname for when I worked with them and ACE productions, their lighting and sound production company.
I used to be able jump like straight up in the air (as seen in photo above), Terry had a great photo that I never managed to get a copy, but I was levitating, like in the photo Chris Galbraith took.
But now, I'm trying to channel energy into singing, but i've not kept going with my instrument like my musician friends and I'm severely lacking in strength, I can't 'scream' like I used to as it's an art unto itself, a process of ripping your throat raw and almost like building a callous, like guitarists and bassists go through playing... I don't rehearse in a loud setting to really bust that hump and get to the point where i could 'scream' again without irritating my throat and going into a coughing fit... But I try. And I thank people for saying nice things.
I can't wait to record our new songs, especially 'Anubis Rising' as it's my current favorite of our songs.
So, someday, someday I'll 'disappear' and after a while, my neighbors or maybe some friends will break down my door and find this:!
Check Elsa's claws for blood under the nails....
Had this song in my head the last few days.... Never much liked too much 'Seal', but this was an amazing song.
Wanted to add, the shirt I'm wearing, all but concealed by my hair, is an old 'Awake By Sunday' shirt that Donnie sent me when I lived in Vancouver. He had got a hold of me after years of not being in touch, as I hadn't probably seen him since we had played some shows together, with his band back then and Dreamkick. But he was in this "wicked new band called 'Awake By Sunday'" and he was telling them all about them and then asked for my address and sent me out a shirt. I've always been wearing it through the years and got to see them play when I was back for a visit. Galbraith and I saw them at Mama's Pub on the city's North side. But yeah, it's been one of my favorite shirts, mostly because I really love the band name.
Chris Galbraith, he's the man. I'm telling ya, since Dreamkick into the Wasteland Zombies, Chris was always like a 5th or 6th member (depending on how many were in the band) has always been there as support, as help, as roadie, as 'tour' manager, babysitter, Photographer, videographer, director and most of all a valued friend.
Chris and I, we've seen some things... Chris, Peter and I, we've seen some more things!
So it was actually really special that Chris was at the benefit because he introduced for the first time, his son to the World of live Rock music! It was pretty cool that he got to see us, sounded like he liked it, but from what Chris says, it seems he's more into DJing club mixes than Rock right now. And ain't nothing wrong with that, I feel if children are exposed to all kinds of music and books, it can't possibly harm them (Just please, don't let your kids watch music videos... Some of them are really nasty).
Anyhow! Chris got some great shots of all the bands (though I only have ours), but we'll start out here..
Jaime Rockin' out with the Marshall's
Jake as always, shattering ribcages!
Hate those instrument mics...
Standard look on my face on stage
Ray probably waiting for me to shut my mouth
Good thing I can become a human tripod
Otherwise I wouildn't be doing this..
And then a violent wind came up upon the stage!
Was like walking in a hurricane!
Jake hammering his bass whilst Jamie shreds
Said it before, but it was great to have Ray join us...
Ray soloin'
After show interview...
LOL, we're all kinda lookin at Glen like, "What's he talking about??"
I'll probably be adding onto this entry as I begin to recall things I wanted to say about last night.
I have to say that nearly everyone you talked to spoke of some story, time, moment they had with Donnie. I know people say it of just everyone of their friends, but Donnie really was a great guy.
Oh and they had multiple camera's there last night and captured the audio on the board and by the sounds of it they are going to be editing it into a DVD and I'm not sure, maybe the bands can choose their 'best' tracks and put them out as single to send more money to Donnie's son's trust accounts.
Well what a day and night. I don't even know where to start.
We had a great set, was awesome to have Ray join us on stage. The event was amazing, every single band was tight and sounded perfect. Seriously, I was there for just about every band, I think I only missed two bands..... I always, always feel bad for having to bow out early, but I had been there from the start of the show and although I told myself not to let loose in our set because I'd pay for it... I can't help it. I can't... It's impossible to be on stage and not let it take possession of your soul... Maybe for others, but not for me. Music moves me.... Even genres I dislike....
A couple of years ago I remember driving with Ciaron and Grant from Neighbourhood Watch and Ciaron's a big Reggae fan and that's one genre of music I thoroughly dislike, Ska and Reggae I have no use for, but as we're driving along I couldn't help but be moving to the beat, either by taping my feet or keeping time with my hands, I cursed Ciaron for it lol... Music movies me, it always has and always will.
Again our set was really really good, I even sounded better than I thought I would... The stage sound was excellent. The guys did amazing, Ray had a great time. Here's some photo's courtesy of our bassist's wife, Kate Taylor:
We didn't have the biggest of crowds, but that was kinda part of my strategy. I wanted to play early because I didn't know how long I'd last through the day and I had wanted to be there for my cousin Todd Obe's band and also to see my good friend Scott Wild's band 'Brass Knuckle Heads play. We had a great little crowd and Donnie's ex wife Melissa and the boys were in the audience. So that was an honor to play for them.
Now, the rest of the day and evening.... Unbelievable the people who showed up. People I had not seen in over 25 years. Everyone was blown away by who came out of the woodwork to come and be part of a celebration of Donnie's life in music.
It did occur to me and I'm so glad it did, all the members of Dreamkick, except Mike Dunn were there.
Pat who's usually always playing actually wasn't playing in a band last night, but Peter Gillies did a two song set and Doug Gibbon's band 'The South Bound Sinners' played.... So I said to Nancy, 'We've GOT to get a picture of the Dreamkick guys together, it's rare we're actually all in the same place... So I managed to round everyone up and we went out back of the club for a couple of shots, which turned into a photo shoot with around 5-6 capturing the moment. I have to admit there was a couple of moments where I almost broke down, to see all of my friends together like this was absolutely moving. As it was mentioned several times that evening, it's sad that it takes something like this tragedy to bring us all out together and we should do it more often than when someone passes on.
Here's a couple of photo's courtesy of Nancy Brown, I'm sure some more will surface.
Even freakin Bradley Palmer showed up! And again, every band was absolutely giving it. The stage gear was top notch and everyone played it like they owned it.
Talking to Larry Hall, one of the benefits organizers, they just about made their goal of ten grand. There were no incidents, no egos, no primadonnas, but excellent musicianship abound.
Once I get some more photo's I'll post 'em up.
There were some interesting moments. While outside talking with Peter Gillies (bassist for Dreamkick), a guy was talking to us about the Dreamkick years... It's flattering, it's humbling when someone is telling you that Dreamkick was the best Rock'n'Roll/Metal band the area had scene. But this guy had a question for us and he kinda said it like it was a secret, like not many people knew and he asked Peter and I, "Were you guys signed?", at first I wasn't too sure what he had asked and said, 'What's that?' and he said again, "Were you guys signed... to a label?" and Peter and I looked at each other, 'Nope we both said,'... Never heard that rumor about us before, heard all kinds of other's lol...
There were a lot of the old Dreamkick crowd there and a lot of Wasteland Zombies fans too, a lot of them sad they missed us play, but not everyone of course could get there for our set at 5PM.
Both Dreamkick and WZ friend Chris Galbraith was there with his son and it was his son's first live 'Rock show. I'm not sure how old he is... 10ish? But he had a blast, Chris is almost always around for these kinds of events and is a great photographer. So he'll have some pictures coming sooner or later as well.
Another interesting conversation was with Daniel Monteith. I love the Monteith guys. truly great musicians, they have a refreshing and voracious drive for music. I've tried any chance I could to help them and to spread word about their band.
Daniel was saying, "Chris, you know, sometimes my Brother and I sit and talk, debate stuff and you actually come up quite a lot, I guess it's the integrity you have, you know, we feel like there should be the 'Chris Waddell award'" lol... Daniel's awesome and it was great to see him. I had not seen so many of the the local musicians because I'd not been part of the scene for a good year.
I wish I had had that integrity back in the day, I'm sure I had the drive, I'm sure I had the ego, but integrity is something that comes with experience and we had some great experiences, but it takes time. I feel bad these days because I can't do more for the scene... But in some ways it seems that this scene peaked maybe a year or so ago and is now heading into or in a lull and it'll come back, it just goes in cycles. I think this last cycle made great strides in lashing out as far as it could. Showing people that there's real fucking talent in this province and city. Tim Rayne's 'The Capital Project', Jay Chetwyns 'Maritime Metal 'fest' has allowed local bands to reach out into scenes they may never have thought of or thought they could get to.
But anyhow, back to the Rock For Donnie benefit. I'm so glad we were able to be part of it. It was a moment, a moment in time and one of history for our scene that I think people will be talking about for a long time.
Again, we're truly thankful to have been part of it.
Not 'Heebeejeebees', because I'm not nervous, I'm excited. Although I do end up taking what I call 'The nervous shit'..also know by me as, 'The pre-show shit'... Too much info? If yer a musician, you know what I'm talking about! Or maybe you've had to speak in front of a ton of people. Stomach goes to knots, maybe a day, maybe an hour or two before you have to be onstage.
And I love this, this is what I always have wanted to do is be on stage, maybe wish I had my pre-arthritis body, to really be able to put on a show but I'll work with what I got. It's all painful, standing still, banging my head, moving to the music, but this is totally worth it and this show in particular. It's sad we have to do this for our friend, but more than ever he needs our help and we're going to give it to him, in spades. 12 hours of it. I really hope you, the reader, obviously if you're in the Fredericton area, should come help, Rock out and be among the best of friends.
And we got, what I think is a great surprise for long time friends and 'fans' of the band. I'm really, looking forward to this. Can you tell?
No pix, but just spent some time with 'Buddy', seeing as we were so rudely interrupted by that damn tree rat! Fucking tree rats!
It's amazing when you pet them, they feel so delicate, like they are made of nothing, but that's probably why the can move so quickly and when you watch them, they sometimes move in spurts, like abrupt starts and stops, almost looks like they are teleporting (Oh come on! The 'spell checker' isn't recognizing 'teleporting' as a word...)
Anyhow, it's good to see my most tame (and I think appreciative) 'munk is back.
He looks like a cross between a baby chick and a chipmunk....
This is a great love story and it's not often I talk about maternity photo's!...
This guy wanted to get a beautiful Fall live, pumpkin patch shoot with his beloved and his soon to be born child....
Ahhhh that's just truly truly awesome.
This Nanaimo couple, well the gentleman Todd wanted to pay homage to Ridely Scott's 'Alien', obviously the most famous scene in the movie. That's a great sense of humor there.
Next blog will be post show! (Oh rumor has it they may be making a 'DVD' of this show).
Have a great Friday night peeps.
And just the reminder, benefit starts at 2 with Mad Mary (my cousin Todd Aube plays bass and they are fantastic!). We play at 6 and LOADS of great bands before and after us, some one time and first reunions there!
Oh jkeez, this happened last night... Again with burrying the face... Just go some place dark in the house!
Look at this cat! Why the heck wouldn't she just get under my blankets away from the light, instead of cramming her face into the corner of the chair to keep it out??.... Cats are such strange ones
As I say, 'I thought I was ugly until I stepped outside'!
Rained from last night and has barely stopped. Temperatures been no higher than +10.
But compared to what happened down south where the hurricane hit... Man, talk about decimation, that hurricane tore that coast up! Places flattened...
And this, this is the most ridiculous thing, I was watching coverage of the hurricane and one of the anchors commented that most of the areas along the coast had been wiped out by a major hurricane back in the '30's and I think maybe it was the 50's. And since that time the places population and housing had swelled like 70%..... So....
This place, along the coasts had been "wiped out"... Yet people still chose to inhabit those coastal areas... Should there be some laws to stop this from happening? I mean, either way hurricanes are gonna happen. What did these people think, "Well, those hurricanes happened decades ago, there haven't been any real major ones, so I guess it's safe to be here!"..... But I guess it's somewhat the same as earthquakes and coastlines. Since the dawn of civilization people have lived along coasts and waterways because it has food and water, but, these areas flood, tsunami's happen.... What can ya do eh?
Saturdays the big day! Pretty excited about it. Kinda wish we coulda got in a practice this week but Jake works nights so it was out of the question... We'll do fine, I just don't mind getting in a rehearsal a couple days before a show. I don't know about the guys, but a week before we play, I kinda live and breath our music. When I get up and get ready, shower, I'm listening to our songs, using a playlist that's in order of our setlist. At night when I'm getting ready for bed, same thing, listening to the songs... When I go for a walk, listening to our stuff... Glen, our drummer says, "If we don't know the songs by now...".... But for me it's not about knowing them, it's about being confident, KNOWING with every fibre that you know the songs inside and out, forward and backwards. In Dreamkick we practiced the songs until we were blue in the face. No matter how well we knew them, we'd practice them faster than we play live and slower, we'd try anything to get the music into our souls.
It's gonna be cold Saturday, but at least it's supposed to be nice out. Hoping a lot of people make it out for the show. I know Donnie's gonna be proud and I hope his kid's will too.
So, yeah, much to my dismay, Buddy the chipmunk has been MIA for many days now. The 'other' chipmunks ain't no 'Buddy'.... Monday I was sitting at the picnic table and was waiting for the chipmunks to come and get sunflower seeds and one came at me so quick, all I saw was this thing dart up my leg, which startled me, it zipped across my lap, onto the table and took off, because it gave me such a start!
None of them would really let me pet them like Buddy and even Buddy's 'brother', would sometimes be quite skittish around me.
Today I did not see one chipmunk, not a sign of them. Around 5 pm I went out to my 'Shack Out Back' for a puff and shelter from the rain. I was standing there and looked out and saw a chipmunk sitting on the back of one of the chairs for the sun table. I wondered, 'Is this Buddy?'... I called to it and put down some sunflower seeds at my feet in the shack... After a few moments the chipmunk came over and seemed quite comfortable with me... I wondered again... Then this chipmunk, having filled it's cheeks with seeds, took off.... Now, all the 'other' chipmunks went either under the garage or they quickly went under the fence and have homes on the bank behind the house... This one actually went straight out to where Buddy had his dens in my backyard... Except, it went down a different... new hole I had not seen or known of.... Could this be Buddy???
I waited... then up came the chipmunk from the hole and it went back up onto the back of the lawn chairs.... What this chipmunk did next, I knew without a doubt that it was Buddy!
So happy to see Buddy's alive and well! Hopefully see him again soon before they settle down for Winter sleepies.
My apologies about the profanities.... Hate those damn tree rats!
It's not too often that I run across a song by one of my favorite bands that I've never heard before...
Well such an instance happened not too very long ago when I was filling my Faith No More collection and found this song, 'Sweet Emotion'.... I thought to myself, 'What the?? FNM did a cover of Aerosmith's 'Sweet Emotion'... but as the song began to play I noted two things: 1. It was certainly not, Aerosmoth's version 2. I knew this song... But the lyrics were totally different than what I knew them as.. How could this be???
This song, 'Sweet Emotion' had been recorded around the time that the 'Real Thing' (the bands 'bust out' album) was being recorded, it would later have it's lyrics totally overhauled and renamed as 'The Perfect Crime', which appeared on the Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey soundtrack....
I love the 'Sweet Emotion' version as much as I love the 'Perfect Crime'... Patton is just sheer genius.
'Sweet Emotion'
'The Perfect Crime'
Another favorite 'B-Side' track from FNM, one I found years ago is 'The Cowboy Song'
Man, the Gulf is getting bitch slapped... I have a friend who lives in Lakeland Florida with her family and at least they are safe and sound (they got hit bad last season).... Crazy hurricane! AND, rumor has it, we may get bits and pieces of this hurricane this coming Saturday or Sunday.. Hopefully Sunday, as Saturday is the benefit....
Body's going through the ringer, but I got out to get some provisions so I can rest as much as I can this week... I'm going to try and give it my all on Saturday, after that, who cares what happens to my body....
Been watching horror flick after horror flick.. Fearless Vampire Killers, Halloween, 1 & 2, Friday the 13th 1 & 2, Blood for Dracula, Jess Frano's 'Dracula'.... Still got tons of movies left to watch.... This hurricanes been sidetracking me though.. Hard to watch horror flicks when there's real life horror happening...
Last practice tonight went great! We're ready as we'll ever be, this is for Donnie so we'll do our very best to rock it as hard as we possibly can!
NEXT Saturday, Oct 13th, 12 bands, 12 hours.
It's gonna be a fantastic day. So many of the area's best musicians coming together. I know we'll make Donnie & Bobbie proud and we'll hopefully raise some greats funds for Donnie's kids.
You can get one of these kick ass 'Rock For Donnie' T's at Long & McQuade on Prospect St.
They are going super fast! So get 'em while ya can! Rumor has it there MAY be more available at the show... But don't wait until then!
We've got a special surprise when we play... I MIGHT be able to keep the secret for the week... We'll see...
Here's the line up and times bands are playing. - ALL AGES from 2-6PM!
2pm Mad Mary
3pm Vinyl Tap
4pm Brass Knucklehead
5pm Wasteland Zombies
6pm Southbound Sinnerz - All Ages Ends at 6PM!
7pm Brother
7:30 Pete Gillies/Ryan Munn
8pm Appetite 4 Destruct
9pm Run for your lives
10pmSheltered
11pm Awake By Sunday
12am Hero’s Last Rite
Here's some pix from tonight's rehearsal.... Yes, even a horrible photo of me...
In other news....
Still no sign of buddy today.. Think he's gone... And his 'brother' freakin bit me today. It wasn't out of defence... I just figure that to chipmunks sometimes our fingers look like big juicy morsels of food... And Buddy had 'bit' me before, but this little fucker CHOMPED onto my finger... Just about broke the skin... So I've dubbed Buddy's brother 'Chompy'... I think they are just a little wound up because they are in full on food hunt mode. They gotta supply up! Winter is coming....
