Guitar Licks and Tips

This song, Battle Scar, is a melding of Canada’s greatest rock bands from this or any other era. Through a musical alchemy, two totally different rock styles, together blend this into a classic, colossal Canadian Rock anthem.

This song was on Max Webster’s Universal Juveniles album. This album was the one that made the US take notice of this iconic Canadian band. The British critics even anointed this album a Heavy Metal Classic! I wonder if Ozzie ever heard this one?

Battle Scar was written by Pye Dubois and Kim Mitchell with the sole intention for both bands to use, to play live. Both bands used to play on tour together in their early careers so it only seemed a natural progression for them to play a song that was created specifically for both bands to perform while on tour. It was recorded at the prestigious Phase One Studios in Toronto.

As a young guitarist, I use to listen to this song for hours on end on my turntable at my parents home. I let my imagination run wild on what it would be like to see these two goliaths of Canadian Rock play this tune together, live at a huge historic venue like the old Maple Leafs Garden during the song’s hey days! Oh the glory, oh the electricity in the air … oh another concert missed and lost forever except in my mind.

Max Webster, RIP

Keep on Jammin’

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East York in Toronto where we live, has another claim to musical fame by means of a guitarist named Kevin Laliberte. A Flamenco style guitarist is set to release his 3rd CD entitled Sundance. The most famous guitarist was Dominic Triano who lived at 356 Sammon Ave.

I came across this gem of a story from our local newsletter called The Mirror. The story was about this 40 something musician that lives quite close to us, but is originally from the Stratford Ontario area near Kitchen Waterloo. He also happens to live in the general area right behind my favorite music store The 12th Fret, lucky bugger;)

He has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno with Jesse Cook, backing up Charlotte Church as well as toured Japan and Canada with Jesse Cook and The Chieftains. Not a bad musician for the neighbourhood now is it!

While listening to some of his own creations that are on his site, he seems to have nailed his Nouveau Flamenco style. I love how this style makes you want to get up and dance (if you see me getting up then, hide the kidz and close your eyes!)

I’ve played some flamenco style guitar for a short period of time. Mainly it was just a introduction to this unique approach to guitar playing that my guru Chris P thought that would make me a better all round guitarist.

I found this style just fascinating to listen to, and when playing it correctly, it would allow you to let your mind wonder off to a different world. Playing classical guitar was like that for me. I love how you were forced to perfect all the fine subtle nuances, thus making your mind focus completely on the piece. After perfecting it, that is when the music will take you away.

You had to play this genre of music, in my mind, at a fast pace to get the utmost out of it. It was something that I was not familiar with at that point in my playing career. My respect for these type of players are genuine. The dedication that it takes to play it and the finger dexterity that comes with it boggled my mind. I was and still am, not a speed freak. My true love of playing guitar is in the form of chord progressions. I find that this is what will really move a person.

Here is a video of him with the Sultans of String. It’s called Luna and it’s a tribute to the First Nation Indian tribe and a famous killer whale in Nootka Sound near Vancouver B.C., enjoy! I love the violinist, it reminds me of the band FM.

Sultans of String - Luna

Keep on Jammin’ neighbour!

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Surf music/rock is fun to listen to, and that’s putting it very lightly, but I haven’t been really exposed to it properly until now!

Our new neighbour’s husband is in the band called the von Drats. They are a surf/garage band that, and I’ve only seen them through their site/youtube, make you want to get up and dance (except me because I am VERY BAD at it, just ask my wife or any family member). The only other exposure to surf/garage band music of course is from the legendary surg/garage band Big Kahuna! They were my college buddies who were just way too entertaining to watch live, that’s why I video taped them for all to see them in their glorious live rituals! They just had FUN, that was their secret!

A fine example of surf/garage band music by the von Drats!

This type of music is truly fun for the whole family! My mom, dad and even aunt Helen can listen to it and dance. Hell even I, the rhythmically challenged, can dance to it. You know the more I listen to this music I can’t help but feel myself getting pulling into it’s unique trance!

I just thought that some of you may not have heard of this style so I wanted to expose this life altering experience! I know that there are some new converts to this newer form of religion, as we can recently see!

Surf music, Keep on Jammin’

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Entertainment

There was a huge explosion early this morning in north/west Toronto. It originated from a company called Sunrise Propane. The person who first called 911 was an employee of the company, unfortunately he has not been seen since that call.

This pic was taken from the CP24 web site.

The blast was so massive that it was seen from as far away as Niagara on the lake, around 1 1/2 hour drive from the scene. CNN, CBC and CityPulse 24 has been working overtime on this story and it now seems to be under control. There has been only on fatality to date. The casualty was a fire fighter.

My wife’s site has a little more detail for you.

Please check out Flickr here for more pics.

Let’s pray for those who have been injured and lost their lives in this horrific event.

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OPA, well it’s that time of the year again everyone! Get out anything with the colours of Blue and White and let’s head on down to the Danforth.

This is a Toronto neighbourhood festival that show cases the Greek community. It is in it’s 15th year and there is definitely no signs of this unique Greek event slowing down any time soon!

Basically for the Taste of the Danforth, they shut down the Danforth Ave. for 3 days to car traffic. They close the Danforth down from Jones to Broadview during this time. Local Greek and non-Greek merchants show off the wares to around 1.2 million people this weekend. They help celebrate the Greek way of life, which is relaxing while dining on their tasty and very nutritious delicacy’s! And let’s not forget the light refreshing beverage of REAL GREEK Ouzo. My favorite hands down is spanakopita! God I could eat this stuff all day.

Even though the weather is not all that favorable right now, I’m sure the kidz are eating, drinking, dancing and having a blast right now.

So here’s to all my Greek and non Greek neighbours down the street having a ball.
P.S. Yes I will keep it down for all of you, real early in the morning when I take my doggie Midnight out for her morning constitution. You know, in case you just got into bed at that point of the festivities.

Keep on Jammin’ Opa!

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