You’re Either In Or You’re Out

Watched Ocean’s Eleven this evening. Good flick – it is possible to create entertaining popcorn movies without being utterly brainless (are you paying attention Michael Bay?).

It is only Thursday, but it feels like Friday. Not much feeling like going to work tomorrow. Blech.

Ron MacLean has returned to the CBC. Not that they had any choice in the matter, this was the only way.

np – The Go-Betweens / Bellavista Terrace : The Best Of…

How Soon Is NOW?

Spent the afternoon having lunch with my friends from my time at NOW magazine. Went to the Red Tea Box, home to some truly funky Asian fusion cuisine in an excellent setting (and a really cute waitress!). It’s nice to have some unconventional food once in a while, exercise some taste buds that may otherwise be getting stagnant. That was the thing about working at NOW – Jen and Nicci have excellent taste in food, not to mention expensive. I ate well but that $10 per diem didn’t quite do the trick. I was intending to treat them to lunch but they’re expensing it back to NOW as a business expense (ha!). Which is just as well, as our tab came to over $150 for four people! Yikes.

On the way into work today, Mark got sick and threw up. On a crowded subway car. I don’t think he made any friends.

Finally I have gotten the two issues of TapeOp I ordered two months ago. Worth the wait, though. The one issue has – get this – Dave Fridmann, the Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev and Olivia Tremor Control. In one issue. Does it get better than that? I just need those last two issues from Paul and I’ve got an (almost) full set.

np – J Mascis & The Fog / More Light

Stump The Chump

The high point of my day has been reached – I defeated the might CDDatabase with the Elf Power covers compilation! My reward was getting to enter the album and track info for the disc into their database.

I am such a geek.

np – Elf Power / Nothing’s Going To Happen

A Dream In Sound

Watching Elf Power at the ‘Shoe tonight, I was struck by a single recurring thought – that could be us. They had the same lineup as us, a similar sound, even a similar stage presence (in other words, not an enormous one). Granted, Brad doesn’t draw songwriting inspiration from a D&D Monster Manual, but the similarities are there. It wasn’t a large crowd (less than 100, I wager) but it was an enthusiastic one. And that’s really all that matters, isn’t it? To be able to connect with people on a real level with music. Food for thought.

The show was a lot of fun – everyone was loose and having a good time. The band was reasonably tight and kept the tempo up and running. The bassist even knew the name of our Prime Minister, so he’s one up on the president. Goodly amount of material from Creatures, some from A Dream In Sound. Not familiar enough with the stuff off Winter Is Coming to say how many came off that, but I think I recognized at least one. They only offered up one of the covers from the new covers disc Nothing’s Going To Happen (of which I picked up a copy – yay).

Guitar lineup – Adrian Finch : Gibson Melody Maker thru an original Rat into a Silvertone amp. Backed up by a current American Telecaster. Andrew played a Tele Custom through a Music Man RP50. Various pedals I didn’t get a good look at, but pretty sure there was a Rat there as well. Laura Carter with a Danelectro through a Rat into a Traynor Guitar Mate. Keyboard was a Korg X3.

Finally acquired the paperback of The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen this afternoon. Well, finally may not be quite accurate since it’s only been available in paperback for a week or so – but I’ve been waiting for it for a long time, so ‘finally’ seems appropriate.

For the uninitiated, it’s a graphic novel (or comic, I’m not precious) by the legendary Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill detailing what’s basically a super-hero team comprised of Allan Quartermain, Mina Murray (nee Harker), Captain Nemo, Hawley Griffin (a man of questionable visibility), Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr Edward Hyde. Brilliant concept and Alan Moore is just the man to execute. They’re making a movie version with Sean Connery.

Am going to see Elf Power in a couple hours. Dang weeknight concerts, almost seem more obligation than event particularly when attended solo. Oh well, hopefully it’ll be a good show. Can pick up a couple CDs either way.

np – Elf Power / Creatures (natch)