Filed under: Music, Toronto | Tags: beirut, gulag orkestar, july 9, love, nuns, phoenix, toronto, zach condon
EXCELLENT.
Some highlights included:
- The band-wide towel-down in the middle of the show — after which Zach sang the next song (was it Elephant Gun?), ukelele in hand and towel draped over his head. Nun-style.
- A heightened appreciation of The Gulag Orkestar and and The Akara. Live. Whoa.
- So much love. I was in the third row, but a pretty big guy was in front of me. My Zach Condon view was not optimal. A couple of songs in, he realized I couldn’t see, so he stepped back, and let me stand in front of him. Second Row. Yes.
- More love. Beirut shows have the power to solve racial conflict. A bunch of drunk latino girls got into a fight with a black guy because he was imitating their (admittedly annoying) screeching while the Dodos opened up the show. But in the end they all made up. (Yay Dodos!)
- Even more love. AND SO MUCH ELBOW ROOM. Second row, and no one pressed up against you in a quasi-frottage manoeuvre? Priceless.
(I didn’t bring my camera so this photo from the National Post concert review will have to suffice — they were the first ones to post. I was way closer.)
Filed under: Art, Thoughts | Tags: Art, futurism, futurist manifesto, marinetti, movements, nowism, poetry, violence
We all know that Nowism is the new movement in town. But sometimes, it’s a good idea to look back at what’s been said and done in the past. The Futurist Manifesto, written in 1909 by Marinetti, contains some admittedly eloquent passages that accurately portray the tone and character of the movement:
Beauty exists only in struggle. There is no masterpiece that has not an aggressive character. Poetry must be a violent assault on the forces of the unknown, to force them to bow before man.
To read the entire Futurist Manifesto, click here.
A few weeks ago, I had my first taste of Boris beer. It tasted good enough — but nothing to write home about. What I liked was the design on the cans. After all, there’s nothing better than a well crafted beer with a well crafted logo, is there?
Filed under: Music | Tags: 1967, bobby gimby, canada, canada day, centennial, national anthem, pied piper
With a name like Gimby, you generally wouldn’t expect much. But when you’re talking about Bobby Gimby, the Canadian Pied Piper and writer of the Ca-na-da song, it’s a whole other story. In other words: absolute genius.
Plus, it’s a great song. I kind of wish it was the national anthem.
I love this video. I love this song. I also love M’s flock-of-seagulls hair.
(make sure to watch until the very end — believe me, it’s worth it!)
Filed under: Art, Thoughts | Tags: animals, baby seals, lessons, life, seals
Lesson # 3 : Never sleep on the job. Because if you do, someone might eat your face.
Lesson # 2 : There’s nothing better than good old family values.
[OMG. So. Cute.]
Filed under: Music, Thoughts | Tags: future bakery, michael jackson, thriller
Yesterday evening I was sipping tea at Future’s when I heard my phone ringing; it was Blerta calling. As soon as I picked up:
“Ειρηνη, Michael Jackson died!”
I can’t help but wonder whether I’ll remember, when I’m older, where I was and what I was doing when I first heard the news. But for now, let’s remember what made Michael a legacy in the first place.
