So, we’re down in Hollywood for the next little while playing some shows and meeting some people and taking the necessary steps to conquer America… as you do.

We’ll be blogging our adventures here, so check in every now and then to see what’s happening.

We loaded up the car (I should really get an honorary degree in engineering for the way I packed all our stuff into our little Toyota Corolla) threw the dog in the back (gently placed him, is really what I mean) and headed south. Took a few days stopping in Eugene OR and San Francisco. Ate as much Rice-a-Roni as we could and continued south on the I5. Beautiful countryside. For miles and miles south of San Fran it’s just these beautiful rolling green hills. It looks exactly like Super Mario World. I just wanted to pull over and run around in them. Arrived in Hollywood to sunshine. Hell Yeah!

We’re apparently staying right in the heart of paparazzi-ville. This poses two opportunities. One is to get dressed up, head out and get in the background of as many paparazzi photos as possible, leading to monstrous fame by sheer osmosis. Two is to give our digital camera a bit of a workout and maybe sell some shots to TMZ for enough money to finance our next record. This really is the land of opportunity.

We’ll keep you posted on the goings on. Hope everyone is well.

Keep it real,
m@

Okay, it’s time for my annual recount of my favorite albums of the last year. 2008 was a good year overall, I think. There was a few months there where I felt like there was no music I liked at all, but luckily, that slump broke wide open. These are my favourites, the albums I enjoyed most. I’m not looking at this from a music critics eye, but rather, just the music that moved me the most. I usually need to feel it in my gut to really enjoy it… most of the time… every now and then I get blown away by some weird time signature or something.
I would love to hear your favorites as well. I always enjoy hearing why I’m an idiot for choosing one thing or not choosing something else. Here we go, my faves of 08.

1. Kings of Leon – “Only by the Night”
These guys snag the top spot in my faves for the second straight year. I love, love, love this album. It is awesome. It made me excited about music again, at a moment when I wasn’t. The musicianship is so great and everything about it just moves me. It’s got so much space, the sound isn’t over crowded. And what is being played is so cool. And the lead singer’s voice is part rock n roll and part soul singer. I love it. Every song on this record is great, and they all compliment each other perfectly. I’ve listened to this record hundreds of times and am still not sick of it. Okay, I’m gushing. I sound like I’ve got a crush on these guys… maybe I do a little.

2. Daniel Lanois – “Here Is What Is”
This is the soundtrack to a documentary that Daniel Lanois made about how he approaches making music. It is a great film, and I highly recommend watching it. This album is best summed up in one word – Beautiful. It is just beautiful. The songs are filled with so much soul. There’s a few dialogue clips from the film inter-spliced throughout the album (great quotes from Brian Eno and Brian Blade), and they only serve to deepen the sentiments of the music. My favourite thing about this album is that it has a very strong sense of contentment. I could just sit in it for hours. The music is beautiful, and that’s enough. That’s the whole point. It doesn’t feel ambitious in any sense other that just trying to make great music. A lot of albums claim to be like that, but this one is.

3. The Killers – “Day and Age”
There is something very strange about Killer’s record and me. The first several times I listen to it, I don’t really like it, but for some reason, I keep listening. And then, suddenly, after listening a bunch of times, something clicks, and I love it. This is the same thing that happened with their last record, “Sam’s Town.” At first… Yawn. Now, one of my favourite albums ever. The first time I heard this new record, I felt totally let down. And then, all of a sudden, I got it. Now I get it. I love this album. I love every song, and they all add up to make a complete, spectacular product. They’ve trimmed the fat on this one. Day and Age is a lean, mean, pop rock machine, and I want to dance and think at the same time when I hear it.

4. Guns n’ Roses – “Chinese Democracy”
My friend Nick wrote me an email about this record: “I don’t know where to begin. I’ve just listened to it and I am convinced that there should be significant psychological study done on the effects of record creation that spans the course of over 5 years. Listening to this disk is like staring directly into the face of madness itself. I couldn’t turn it off. It was like a really well put together train wreck.” That about sums it up. When I was a teenager, GnR was my band (see previous blog). I’ve been waiting forever for this album. And if I’m being totally honest, it’s not really a GnR album. It’s pretty different from anything they did 20 years ago… but it’s awesome. Axl sounds amazing. A couple times, when he hit some of those notes, I was transported directly back to 1992. This album is so dense, it’s a bit like listening to an encyclopedia. I’m am still wrapping my brain around it. But I am sure of one thing – It’s awesome.

5. Flight of the Conchords
I’ve loved these guys for a few years now, ever since I discovered their HBO Special clips on Youtube. They are hilarious, and really great musicians and songwriters. Watch their show. It’s wicked. This is essentially the show’s soundtrack. It’s brilliant. It’s got so many styles and genres in it, but they stay completely recognizable throughout. It’s filled with serious musicianship, but is consistently hilarious. These dudes are one of my favourites and this album does not disappoint. Not in the least.

6. Coldplay – “Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends”
I think this is their best album. I like a lot of songs from their other ones, but this is a complete piece. Every song is great. Even the B-sides are killer. “Viva la Vida” is a hit. The instant I heard it, I thought, “Wow, this is going to be huge.” Everything about this record works together with everything else on it perfectly. I love how Chris Martin changes things up vocally on some tracks. The sounds are compelling. Nothing goes on too long, or gets boring. The whole thing is interesting all the way through. It rocks, it’s got heart, it’s beautiful. It’s what Coldplay is. Brian Eno did right by these guys. They are one of the biggest bands in the world, and they’re getting better.

7. Arkells – “Jackson Square”
Some newcomers from Hamilton, ON. Really like these guys. Great power pop/rock songs, executed very well. Very good album to listen to after a long week in the office. It sounds a bit like the side project of some dudes that are stuck in the mail room at some big company. White Collar angst rock at it’s finest.

8. The Last Shadow Puppets – “The Age of the Understatement”
As anyone who has read my past yearly countdowns knows, I am a bit of a fan of the Arctic Monkeys. They are battling the Kings of Leon at the moment for my favorite band. This disc is the side project of the Arctic Monkey’s lead singer, Alex Turner. It’s different from the Monkeys, but it’s very cool. It sounds a bit like an indie brit rock band playing soundtracks from 1970’s James Bond films in an old west saloon. Check it out.

9. Snow Patrol – “A Hundred Million Suns”
Solid Album. Maybe their best yet. Lyrics are great, music is great. They’ve totally got a style that is identifiably their own, and it gets really clear and strong on this record.

Okay, I’m having a very difficult time with the last spot, because there’s a few albums that I really loved, but didn’t win me over 100%. Soooo, I’m copping out, and I’m squeezing three records into the #10 spot.

10(a). Death Cab for Cutie – “Narrow Stairs”
I really like this record, but it took me a long time to really appreciate it. The songs are very cool, and the lyrics are awesome, but they’re very linear. There’s not many big choruses or hooks that made me initially fall in love with these indie pop darlings. But rather, this is an album of stories. I see it like a musical version of a book of short stories, and when I look at it that way, it’s a really great piece of work. The music really sets moods and casts sound scapes to compliment the tales. But honestly, does “I Will Posses Your Heart” really need a four and a half minute instrumental intro? It’s just the same riff over and over and over… I’m just saying…

10(b). Jem – “Down to Earth”
This record is almost too good for it’s own good. It sounds great, and there is so much cool stuff going on musically, and it is so eclectic, almost to a fault. I enjoy this record every time I listen to it, but I cannot for the life of me wrap my mind around it as a whole. It’s got like this Pop/Jazz/Funk/R&B/Electronic thing going on. It’s amazing. But I get to the end, and I can’t remember any of it. I remember it was great, and that I liked it, but that’s it. It’s like a dream or something, when you wake up and can’t remember any specifics, but you just know you had a good time. Her and her producers and musicians are so talented, but they’re almost too talented for my limited comprehension to fully comprehend. It’s not her, it’s me… I’m just not ready for this yet.

10(c).Mother Mother – “Oh My Heart”
These dudes are from Vancouver, like us, and some of you may recognize their drummer from his occasional position at the kit at our shows. Really cool band. Honestly, one of the coolest bands around, with a very cool, recognizable sound. “Oh My Heart” and “Body of Years” are two of the best songs I heard this year, no question. My only beef with this record is that it’s too long for me. They could have trimmed 3 songs and I’d be perfect. The middle to end of the record just starts to bleed together for me. But if nothing else, you should really buy those tracks. And throw “Hayloft” in there while you’re at it. You won’t be sorry.

Well, that about sums it up for me. Again, let me know if I missed any crucial albums, as I probably did.
Aren’t lists the best thing ever?
m@

Ho Ho Honey and the Money

Allow me to tell you a little story. When I was 11 years old, I went over to my friend Paul’s place. Beautiful summer day. Paul takes me up to his room, and we’re chatting away, listening to some music. He says, “Oh, I have to play you this, I got it from my brother.” His brother was older, and very cool, so I was all ears. He puts in a tape, and I look at the case. It’s a tape by a band called Guns ‘n’ Roses, and the title of the album is “Appetite for Destruction.” Are you kidding me? I’m 11, and to be honest, I’m slightly afraid.

Well… holy shit. Everyone’s got that their story of when they were hooked by music. I was obsessed with Michael Jackson when I was younger (and actually taught myself to dance like him pretty well… ask my highschool), and a bunch of other songs and artists made me dance and sing along, but at that moment, on a hot August day in Paul’s room, I fell in love with a band. I went and bought all their tapes (I had to be very industrious and sneaky, as I was 11, so had limited access to funds, and it was harder than originally anticipated to convince my parents to buy me music by a band with “Guns” in there name, and song titles like “Back off Bitch” and “Right next door to Hell”), and I’d go over to Paul’s and we’d listen to them and talk about how cool they were. He was really into Megadeath and Iron Maiden as well, but I was hooked on the Guns. They looked so awesome in all their photos; Slash always trashed, Axl a bit like a chick, Duff totally out of it. And the Izzy Stradlin trivia was always a hot topic of discussion.

Then it happened. In the fall of 1992, there was an announcement in the paper that G’n’Fn’R were touring across Canada, and making a stop in Edmonton. No Calgary show, but I was not deterred by the three hour drive north. I, having no money or means to make any, begged my parents for tickets. I had never been to a concert before, but knew I wanted to go, and that it would kick ass. Ma and Pa said they’d check it out. Too late. Sold out. No tickets. Major bummer!!

FFWD to xmas morning. I have a present under the tree. It’s a shoe box with something fairly heavy in it. Shoes? No, doesn’t feel right. I open it. Next to a hockey puck (cunningly used as a gift distraction) were two tickets to Guns n’ Roses in Edmonton. I nearly shat myself. I don’t remember what else I got for Christmas that year, or any year to be honest, but I remember that clear as day. I’m sure my parents didn’t approve of my idol worship of drug addicted, womanizing, rockstars, but they were cool enough to support my passion for it. Thank you Mom and Dad.

Amazing concert. My first. I get a T-Shirt. Axl delays the start of the show 2 hours because he can’t find his Bob Dylan tape he wants to listen to. But they do hit the stage. They play all the hits. There’s topless chicks on the stage bringing them beers. I’m sure I’ve gone deaf. I’m excited, stunned, terrified, in awe, almost wishing it would end just so I could tell everyone I knew all about it.
The only other guy I knew at the show was my friend Greg. We both wore our t-shirts to school the next day, and talked endlessly about the show. My t-shirt had the band animated as skeletons, ala Appetite, and Greg’s had their logo with the song title “Coma” on it, and all the dates on the back. Damn, I want the dates on the back of mine. Idiot. I could circle my show with a sharpy, so everyone would know I was there. Don’t panic, my shirt’s still super cool.

Let’s jump now to present day. After 3.5 eons, Chinese Democracy is set to drop in a few short days. This is a major moment. There’s not a lot of bands of such mythical proportions left that are actually releasing new, good, material. These guys redefined rock music. I find myself feeling as excited as I did 16 years ago. Sure, the original members have all been stripped away, but the voice, the attitude, and (I hate to use this word, but it’s true) the brand are still the same. I’ll miss Slash in the promo photos, but as far as the music goes, Slash inspired so many kids to copy his style exactly, there’s more than a few decent Slash knockoffs out there. I really think Axl is going to completely knock this one out of the park. He has to. My 13 year old “rock n roll loving, idol worshipping, fist in the air, wish I could rock that hard but am in reality way too much of a wuss, this is the best F’n band in the world” inner child is depending on it.

m@

p.s. Possibly the best part of the record is that democracy actually almost came to China before this record was done. That would have taken a little wind out of Axl’s sails… and possibly his sales, too.

So, we just got back from playing a show in Toronto the other night. Had a great time and met a bunch of great people. Thanks to everyone who came out to the show. We’ll see you again soon.

I’m always amazed at the size of this country. Flying from Vancouver to Toronto is almost 5 hours. I may as well just hang on for a couple more hours and be in England… on ANOTHER CONTINENT!!! That’s insane. But the change from Vancouver to Toronto is a bit like another country. It’s a very different city with a very different history, and a very different energy, and I start to understand the geographical/cultural divide of Canada. There’s more people living along one highway in Southern Ontario than the entire rest of the country combined. If I lived there, I wouldn’t give a shit about what people in Alberta think either. There’s more people there, and in turn, more political seats in parliament than are representative of the rest of the country. And we wonder why people are disenfranchised with politics in Canada and why we just recorded the lowest voter turn out ever.

It was bad enough when I was a kid and no cool bands came to Calgary, but rather, they toured the hell out of Montreal and Toronto and area. That pissed me off. And not to say that politicians are as intelligent as rock bands, but if those bands knew the “important” area of the country, and ignored the rest, then we can assume that politicians would do the same. This, I feel, leads to a bit of a disconnection, and in turn, voter apathy.

We’ve got to shake the apathy out of this country. Let’s just, for a second, take a page out of the American’s playbook. You want people to pay attention? You pay attention to what the people are paying attention to. Last night, I had a choice between watching Die Hard, or the new Obama infomercial. And I picked the infomercial!!!!! WTF??? It’s like the best action flick of all time, and I’m not talking about Die Hard (Please note, Die Hard is one kick ass movie, and I mean no disrespect to that classic, intricate film). The suspense never ends. It goes on and on. Will our hero prevail, and save the entire nation, no, scratch that… the entire planet??!!! Or will the old, bitter, evil genius and his negative tactics of the darkside prevail? Use the force! The force!!! Next thing we’re going to find out is that McCain is Obama’s father, and he’ll cut off his hand, but he’ll get a new one put back on, but he’ll learn that he’s married his sister, but that still won’t be as creepy as the thought of McCain making out with his android wife. I’m out of Popcorn!!!!!

It’s amazing. Elections happen every four years, but this one has raised the bar. For as long as I can remember, it seems the American elections are a choice between Coke and Pepsi. But this year is different. It’s a choice between Coke and Crystal Pepsi. And I thought the public had it’s referendum on Crystal Pepsi and made the verdict pretty damn clear back in the early 90’s. How clear was this verdict? Crystal. (Thank you). And yet, it’s still an (allegedly) tight race. Why? What’s the issue? If this race were happening in Canada, and I was Mr. Obama’s campaign manager, it would be a completely different story. The CBC would hold one debate that no one would watch. Fine, no worries there. We’ll just assume all of Quebec votes for the bloc. Fine, take it. In the maritimes and western Canada, you play those old Crystal Pepsi commercials and randomly insert photos of John McCain to remind people what a bad idea that was, and what a bad idea it will be again. Then you go for the clincher. Think about it – Palin killed a Moose. A moose! The moose is on our Money!!! The queen is on our money, and if you kill her, you get in really big trouble. Does no one else think the moose killing should be similar? All you need is a few dozen moose supports/Crystal Pepsi haters like myself out west, and you’re ready for the coupe de grace. We take the remainder of the $600 million Obama’s raised for his campaign and buy every household in southern Ontario a new car. No attack ads (aside from the ones on soft drinks), no campaign speeches, no platforms, just a really kick ass bribe to the area of the country that has the most people, and in turn, the most voters.

Done and done.

This is our new marketing plan. We’re going to raise $6oo Million, and then use that money to bribe the masses into buying our album. If it works we could be millionaires!!!! I’m a genius.

Well that was one fine night of debates. Those guys and gals are serious masterdebators!

I started out watching the American vice-presidential debate. It’s the blockbuster of debates after all. “In a time when the world was crumbling, one man risked everything he had…one woman joins a rebel, renegade cop…” It’s awesome. How can you not watch this stuff? Pick the horse you bet will win and watch everyone beat it to death. The Americans have completely mastered the theatre of election politics. Awesome graphics and slogans, experts weighing in at every turn, instant play by play action on every move that everyone makes. You don’t have to think for yourself one bit. There’s someone there everystep of the way to tell you who won, what resonated with you, and what alienated you. It’s like a Jerry Bruckheimer film. Then you throw in this Palin lady. She’s like Rocky. She’s totally unqualified to even be in the ring, she leads with her face, but she talks like she’s been hit in the head too many times, and people can relate to that. The people’s champ. And the Vice presidential debate pits her against Joe Biden, the unpredictable ex-Golden Gloves champion, in a huge auditorium, with a million dollar set, awesome lighting, camera’s everywhere, immediate reaction graphs from the audience. It’s big budget, baby! The Maverick vs The Loose Cannon. One night only!!Awesome, I’ll take a Large popcorn and a Coke.
Then I remembered that I’m a Canadian, and I should probably pay attention to what’s going on in my own country, so I flipped over to the Canadian Leader’s debate. Well… it was like turning on the public access channel. Are you serious? Four super lame looking dudes, and one lame looking lady sitting around a table in a tiny, boring CBC studio, talking over eachother in monotones and broken english. I can’t watch this. Where’s all the sensory stimuli? Okay, fine, I’ll listen to what they have to say about the issues… Uh hu… okay… I see… interesting… right… Okay, so what I’m gathering here is that the other dudes are idiots and you are awesome. Great… that helps me a lot… killer mustache, Jack.

Here’s my problem with Canadian politics. Preface: The fact that there are more than two parties to vote for, I think is awesome. It’s definitely a leg up on the Coke or Pepsi selection to the south. But here’s the thing, I don’t actually vote for the leader of the party. I vote for the MP in my riding, who belongs to a certain party. Great, that person is supposed to stand up for me and when Parliment meets, they are there to voice my concerns, and fight for me and the people in my area. Well, here’s the problem. They are a member of a party. And that party has a leader. And that leader has an agenda. And everyone who is in said party must vote in agreement with the leader of their party, otherwise, they get fired from the party. Well, that’s just great. Oh well, at least I have the senate to fight for me. Oh, what’s that? The senate is APPOINTED? By who? Oh, the prime minister, of course. That makes sense.

Great system.

The debates aren’t really there to tell us anything new. They’re there so you can take your shots at the other guy, and so you can tell me what I want to hear. I know it, you know it, we’re all in on it. I’m not going to wake up when it’s all done and be in some magical place. So give me some entertainment, at least. Make it like a rock show! Get me excited. I want to feel like the candidates have huge dressing rooms, filled with awesome stuff, and booze and chicks. And I want to believe that they’re going to amazing after parties. I want pyro-technics to accentuate their points. “We say NO to tax increases” (Big explosion!!). I want a Zaphod Beeblebrox. I know you’re going to be decieving me and screwing things up, and stealing, so give me a freakin’ rock show in the meantime. At least let me enjoy the distraction. If you’re going to screw me (which is inevitable), have the decency to take me out for a nice dinner and a great show.

Now that’s something I can masterdebate about.

Hey cats,

How’s everyone doing? Good? Good. We are fine. As is too often the story with this blog, it has been too long since our last entry. Well, we’re sorry. I even made a resolution that I would write more frequently. We’ll that just goes to show how little self control and will power I have. It’s a wonder I’m not a drug addict or something. Weak sauce.

In fact, it’s been so long that I imagine everyone has given up on this blog and no one will even be reading this. Let’s do a test and see: 9/11 was a conspiracy initiated by the American government, inflicted on it’s own people to set the stage for a massive manipulation of the public in order to institute a number of unconstitutional policies that would satisfy the interests of a small number of very powerful people, while sacrificing the lives and freedoms of the vast majority of citizens.

There, that should drum up some kind of response. Then we’ll know if anyone is reading. Whether that’s a true statement or not is irrelevant. A tact somewhat similar to faking your own death just to see what people really think of you, and how many people actually show up to your funeral… who hasn’t wondered about that?
We are well, thanks for asking. We played a few shows across western Canada a few weeks back, and that was awesome. We had a great time touring with the band (Dean & Kristian- amazing musicians who both intimidate me musically and at the same time make me feel very at ease and capable. That’s a great thing, I think. It’s the best way to get better. They both played on the record too, and we’ve been friends for years, so it was a pleasure to hang with them for a while) Thanks to everyone who came out to those shows, they were a blast for us, and we hope you had a good time too.

The best story from the tour was when Dean & Kristian were driving in downtown Calgary, stopped at a light. And there’s a very haggard woman in the cross walk looking around on the ground for something (maybe a quarter or something??) And there’s an old haggard dude on the corner yelling at her, “It’s right there. Right there!” The light turns green and she’s still looking. Everyone’s thinking “Oh god, this woman’s going to get killed over a quarter.” Finally she finds what she’s looking for, picks it up and takes it back to the guy. It’s a small round object. He blows on it, and then sticks it into his EMPTY EYE SOCKET. It was his FAKE EYE!!!! …….wow.

Also of note (and I guess what this whole blog was supposed to be about), our record was re-released to stores across Canada yesterday. So if you don’t already have it, head on down to HMV or CDPlus or whatever is close by, and pick it up. Awesome.

And while you are there, I recommend you pick up the new Kings of Leon album. I got it yesterday, and it is awesome. Wicked killer awesome. I, for some reason, haven’t found an album I have been really excited about for months and months, but this one, in the words of the great Bob Marley, satisfies my soul. The songs are awesome, the musicianship is incredible, and it sounds really, really good. I could go on, but I won’t. Just buy it… and ours, buy ours too.

I think that’s all for now. Let me think…… yeah, I guess. If I’ve forgotten anything, I’ll just write another blog about it. Problem solved. Okay everyone, until next time, keep your stick on the ice, and your prosthetic eyes inside your head.

Peace,
m@

Don’t know if you read about this or not, but apparently rap superstar/clothing designer/video game character/vitamin drink creator/ author/ actor/ public feud engager/ media mogul 50 Cent was made an offer by the culinary delicatessen, Taco Bell, to change his name from 50 Cent to 79 Cent for one day to promote Taco Bell’s Value Menu. They also wanted him to rap his order at a drive through. And in exchange they’d donate $10,000 to his charity of choice.

Wow, that is awesome. But apparently, 79 was not impressed and has now threatened to sue Taco Bell on grounds that they have horrible ideas. If you ask me, I think this whole situation boils down to one thing – “Street Cred.” Fitty is playing it smart and protecting his cred. He can’t be seen changing his name and shlockin’ some taco at the same time. If he was shlockin’ a new record, that might be different, but that’s not the point. The point is that the rap game is not a place where product endorsements and charitable donations abound… well, I suppose one of them abound… but anyways…

This got me thinking about my street cred. 79 cent is loaded with cred because he was a drug dealer who got shot in the face. Now, I got shot in the face once with a paintball gun. The only thing is that I was wearing a protective mask. But it still scared the shit out of me so I think that still counts. But unfortunately/fortunately, I have nothing to compare to the drug dealing.

As an independent pop singer/songwriter, I’ll admit that my street cred requirements are someone lower that that of an international gangsta-rap superstar, but I do feel that some cred is still needed to be taken seriously. So I started thinking about what kind of things one would need to hold enough street cred in the pop world. I’ve compiled a list:
1. I’ve had my heart broken
2. I’ve moved on and am stronger for it, but am sure I will feel hurt again.
3. I have sexual desires.
4. (This one’s for the indie popers out there) I own a pair of converse.

Now, from what I can gather from the pop music world, that really should be enough. But I’ve decided to up the anti. So here are some extra qualities of mine that I believe lift my street cred well above the acceptable level. You can do your own list at home.
5. I’ve been shot in the face with a paintball gun
6. I once smashed a guitar (now I would have gotten huge bonus points for this one had I smashed it over some dude in a bar fight)
7. I’ve played a show to a room with one person in it.
8. I’ve played a show to a room with the maximum number of occupants in it.
9. I’ve been in a fist fight an won.
10. I’ve never been a drug dealer but did once witness a drug deal going down from across the street.

Now, I started thinking about what I could do with all this excess cred, and to be honest, I can’t do a lot. So it occurred to me that if I were to partner with Taco Bell, my street cred might take a knock, but it’s cool, because I’ve got way more than I need anyway. So I thought, “What’s stopping us?”. Tomorrow, we will change our name to “Salsa and the Peso” and right after stopping and buying some immodium, we will go to a Taco Bell and sing our order for a chicken burrito in the form of a beautiful, heart warming ballad. Now all we need to do is decide on our charity of choice… hmmm… what’s that one Bono runs again? Working with Bono would definitely push my street cred back up to pre-Taco Bell levels!!

M@

Well hello there internet friends and loved ones,

There has been a serious lack of blogging activity in these parts and for that I am really very sorry. It’s been a real combination of laziness and self consciousness on my part. My thought processes have been something like this: “I don’t know if I have anything worth while to say… well, I guess I could say something about (insert idea here)… no, I’m tired, I’ll do it tomorrow.” And that, my friends, is how someone goes for weeks and weeks without writing a blog. I’m very good at it. Maybe I should write a book on how to not write anything…

Speaking of books, I just finished “A Long Way Down” by Nick Hornby (High Fidelity, About a Boy). Really, really loved it. I’ve read his others and I think this is his best. The characters in this one are really some of the best characters I’ve read – strongly defined personalities, and you really understand how they think, and although they’re all so different, I could relate to them all, in one way or another. He has such a gift for exploring sadness with great humour, so you find yourself really enjoying thinking about stuff that would normally bum you out. I love that. That’s kind of the best thing about pop music too; wrapping great ideas or emotions in enjoyable melodies so you enjoy them. But anyways, if you’re looking for a new read, check it out. Then we’ll reconvene here in a month for the first “Honey and the Money book club.” The first rule is of course, Don’t talk about Book Club…

On a serious note, a couple things that have made me sad as a Canadian:
First – Canadian idol. Wow, this show really sucks. At least Simon and Seacrest are enjoyable on the American version. Who are these judges? Who are these contestants? Who is watching this? I guess I am… doh! I always feel a little bad for the kids on it because it’s a TV show, not a music show, which is why you never hear about the winners 6 months after the finale. They finish the show, declare a winner, push out a sub par album as fast as they can to catch the dwindling interest in the new idol, make a few bucks, and then start a new season and start the whole cycle again. The truth is, after the winner is declared, it’s kind of boring. It’s like the US Open of golf last weekend. I was glued to the set during the Tiger Woods/ Rocco Mediate playoff, but after Tiger wins, the drama is over. I don’t really care what he’s doing today. He’s probably hanging out with his family and preparing for the next Major… BOOOORING!!! Call me when the next tournament/American idol season starts.

Second: I read this article about the Canadian government quietly “reclassifying” a handful of lakes as toxic waste dumps for mines, through some legislative loop hole. You can read the article here:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/06/16/condemned-lakes.html
This is a really sick bit of news and it makes my stomach churn. At a time when taking care of our environment is such a pressing issue on everyone’s mind, we cannot allow our government to be doing this kind of big business pandering at the expense of our health and our planet’s health. Send an email to your MP about this one.

Well, to end this blog on a happier note, we are doing well. Happy and healthy. Some shows over the summer, and then we’re going cross Canada in September, so stay tuned for more info on that. But most exciting of all, there are some serious plans for more blogs. I’ve had such a great time writing this blog that we have entered some serious negotiations to release more blogs. Fingers crossed!!! I’d like to thank you all for believing in this blog. Future blog topics will be decided on a national TV show where the viewers will call in to vote for their favourites. I have a dream of growing up to see this blog write it’s own blogs, and for it’s blogs to write their own blogs. Then I’ll be able to carry around pictures of my grandblogs to show all the people I meet. Maybe it will be you one day… maybe it will…

m@

Ahoy Hoy friends and loved ones,

We hope this message finds you well. We are in the middle of our western Canada tour, kicking it off last night in the lovely city of Saskatoon. That was our first time time playing a show in the prairie hotbed, and we had a lovely time. Our house-hosts Dean (who played guitar on our record and joined us for the set last night, melting face after face with his tasteful mastery of the instrument) and his wife Shauna were exceptionally kind and gracious and we couldn’t have asked for a better start as we head into the unchartered waters that lay ahead.

And by unchartered waters, I mean unchartered frozen waters. It’s snowing. Looks like we got out of Saskatoon and into Edmonton at the perfect time, as Sasky is expecting 50 centimeters (wtf!!!???) of the white stuff this weekend. In April??? Late April???? Yes. And Alberta is seeing the start of it right now. That’s spring in the prairies for you. Luckily our rental car got upgraded to a rental mini-van. Sure, they scoffed at us as we rolled through the neighborhood in “the complete antithesis of what it is to be a rock star, all rolled up into an automobile,” but you just can’t put a dollar amount on that traction control system when you’re cruising the highway in a blizzard. Eat your heart out Toyota Yaris!!! Until you offer us a fat tour sponsorship, we’re stickin’ with our Pontiac minivan with my guitar strapped into the rear facing car seat in the back.

Met some very cool people in Sasky last night. Most notably was a gentleman who spent a few years living as a monk in a Buddhist temple in Nepal. He eventually left and came to live his life back in Canada with his wife. Then a few years back, she died suddenly. He was living in BC and on a friends wall, he saw a beautiful picture of a city and asked his friend where the picture was taken. “That’s Saskatoon,” says his friend. “Really?” he replies, “I’m going to go there.” And with that, he packs up and heads east. He always wanted to be a musician and write songs, but never had. Being in his fifties, he thought it the perfect time to learn. So he’s learning to play the guitar because he feels it will give him a deeper connection to the harmony of the universe, and ultimately bring him closer to God. And he wasn’t high, he really means it.

Deep, hey? I guess that’s really what music is about, when you boil it right down to it’s essence: connection, being part of something, you know?. His story hit me in the gut, so I thought I’d pass it on.

So, we’re in Edmonton now, bracing for the storm. Can’t wait to see some of you peeps at the upcoming shows. We’ll try to check in here a couple more times over the next weeks. Keep it real out there, homies.

M@

So the other night, Leila and I ventured down to the arena to see Bruce Springsteen in concert for the first time in our lives. I was excited. For a singer songwriter who spent his formative years in his bedroom, jumping on the bed and playing along to the entire “Born in the USA” album on a squash racquet, this felt a little like my pilgrimage to Mecca.

We suited up, hopped a cab and found our seats beside the stage, second level, one row off the rail. Awesome. Lights go down, screams go up, and Bruce and the old E-Street gang hit the stage with “Atlantic City.” The Boss is the shit. The guy’s 50 something now and can rock as hard as anyone I’ve seen. That’s why he’s The Boss.

All is going well. A few songs go by, having a great time. Suddenly, I hear something behind me, someone calling to me. I can’t quite figure out what’s going on, so I turn around. Some meathead four rows back is screaming at us: “Sit Down!!! Sit Down!!!”
“What???? Are you serious????” I scream back.
“Sit Down!!!!” The guy is upset.
“Stand up!!” I yell.” You’re at a freaking Springsteen concert! What the hell are you thinking? Are you serious???”
And that’s when I notice that everyone else in our ENTIRE section, aside from three girls directly behind us, are sitting down! I was shocked and amazed.
“Yeah, sit down” someone else yells. “Yeah” another one.
I turn to Leila completely shaken. We were surrounded by the biggest losers on the planet. I looked down at Bruce on stage, screaming his lungs out to “Lonesome Day” and I feel awful.
Everything rushes through my mind: Should I sit down? Am I ruining the show for these people? Have I broken some kind of code for Springsteen concerts where everyone must sit down? If I turn around and tell that meathead to go F himself, do I end up getting kicked out? Is there a more zen way to deal with this? Could I take this meathead in a fight if I have to? Do I even know how to fight?
I don’t sit down. I keep dancing. But the next song is a slow one, and I think, okay, I’ll sit down for this one.
So I take my seat, and as I’m sitting there, listening to the people behind me clap at my subservience, I start getting really antsy. This is an important moment, I think to myself. I can’t live my life this way. I can’t sit down for this guy. For any of these people. These people who only want to take, and can’t find the energy to send some love back. I can’t bend to The man like that. The Man sucks! If Bruce were to look up here right now and see me sitting down, he would not approve.
So I did what any self respecting foot soldier of the revolution would do: I stood up. I stood and I watched that show from my feet. I paid for that seat, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to use it!!! Leila joined me, and we danced our asses off in joy and in protest.
And when Springsteen threw his hands in the air for everyone to Get Up, I turned around, pointed at the meathead, and I threw my hands in the air with a smile from ear to ear.
By the end of the show, everyone was on their feet. I knew they’d come around.
But that was a definitive moment in my life. You can’t sit down for the revolution. You got to stand up, even when everyone else is sitting. You got to be strong on your feet, own your space, and sometimes you gotta piss people off if you know you’re right. I think the boss would have approved. As he played his final song of the night, I’m pretty sure I saw him look up and wink at me. I winked back. It was a moment. We know what’s going on. We know.

m@

P.S. It did occur to me that the meathead or his wife had a disability and couldn’t stand up, but I checked. That wasn’t the case. They were healthy. Otherwise I would have probably felt really bad.