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Archives for February 2009

Do you Wanta see a great band

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If you happen to be living in or around the Etobicoke area, which is west of downtown Toronto, and want to see one of the best prog. rock bands out there, then check out Counterpoint at Timothy’s Pub.

The band is absolutely amazing! As I’ve told you countless times in the past, these guys are the real thing. They have everything going for them live and their past studio work was nothing less then breathtaking.

I wish that I could attend but I feel that I should stay home and rest before heading back to work this coming Tuesday. So go out there and support the band and the economy!

I wish them all the best in the future!

Keep on Jammin’





Who watches the Grammy Awards

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The Grammy Awards are coming up this Sunday Feb. 8th. Are you going to be watching? Do any of the nominations float your boat? Do you like this kind of thing? Me … not really.

If we do it would be because of some of the acts that will play there on stage. The likes of U2, Radiohead, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (well maybe?), Coldplay and Paul McCartney will team with Foo Fighters singer Dave Grohl. Other then a few other things, nothing really makes me want to check it out.

Over the past couple of years, I have found events like this to be way too self serving. This type of phenomenon is all about fluffy stuff. I feel that it’s for people who love being in the limelight, plus as far as I’m concerned, it shows their true strips! Another thing came to mind about this topic, it appears to be something that the cool kids in school would do to promote themselves while the REST OF US are thinking what the hell was that all about?!

Ok, I can accept that we need some type of celebration of music but, this event goes beyond mind numbingly boring!!!

In some parts of the show, there are too way many diva’s up there kissing each other on the checks for the cameras. The fake oh I missed you so hugs drive one to think, why/what are they doing this for, if clearly they don’t want to be there? I love when they get a close up or an off camera shot of some of the celebrities there and you can tell that in their eyes they’d would rather have another hole in their head, then being up in front of the audience with some phony musician for a that promo photo opt!

On the other hand, there are some musicians who show up and they just roll with everything. They stand out in the crowd like a sore thumb. You just gotta feel sorry for them. They are the ones that you’d like to have a pint with and just chat.

The only one in recent memory that I enjoyed, from a musician point of view was Corinne Bailey Rae, John Legend & John Mayer in the 2007 Grammys. I felt that the song, while a little wimpy, held itself in the category that I hold in high esteem, real love for the music!

I understand, to some degree, of why my wife says that this type of music is sappy but, to honestly pull something like this off live, you have to be pretty good honey! We get into heated debates about music once in a while. My wife leans towards the Punk/classic R & R/Metal scene and I am all that, with a few more styles sprinkled in!

So what is your thoughts about shows like this? Should we love watching them, hoping to find the true musician in the mix OR just not watch them and go with the flow? You be the Judge!

Keep on Jammin’

Well it’s not quite 40 below

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Ok, I fully realize what season we’re in but, holy shit it’s cold out there! Especially past my warmth of our living room door. Even the dog is not interested in staying outside any longer then she has to, and she’s a Labrador Retriever.

During these early days of February one can expect long, cold and cloudy days. You completely understand what the temperature actually feels like, even though your a bit fuzzy on how they actually achieve it, that little confusing thing they call the Wind Chill Factor.

Just a days ago I was taking the dog outside in front of the house for one of her many bathroom breaks and I came across one of our neighbours walking by the house. The conversation was very quick BTW consisting of Wow, it’s not all that bad out now is it and his response was Not all that bad really. When I came back in I looked at the temp on the weather network and it said that it was -14 (C) and -24 with the wind chill!

I wouldn’t even think about taking any of my guitars outside. Not even if I wrapped the guitar up BEFORE I put it in it’s case, wrap a towel around that and have the car all toasty warm inside eagerly waiting our arrival!

So all we have to do is sit back and look at the calender, it’s almost summer now isn’t it? If that fails to warm up your hearts, you can always go out and get yourself some ruby slippers, out them and start clicking your heels together saying “There’s now place like summer … ”

Keep on Jammin’

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