It Has To Be Perfect

Blue Rodeo blew me away on Friday night.  With such a rich and vibrant musical history behind them and 25 years in, they still have a long melodic road ahead.  It was a last minute decision to buy tickets despite a longing to see this show.  I’m glad we went with our whim and snagged the last two tickets to sit side by side.  It was a full house, all ages but every single person in that arena knew every single word to every single song and that is the beauty of this band.

Blue Rodeo’s music is a precise blend of country twang and Canadian roots rock.  Their songwriting, ballads in particular are both crafted and delivered in such a fashion that when they are pulling on your heart-strings, they are also pulling tears from your eyes.  Jim Cuddy has one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard.  When he sings I am often covered in goose-bumps and that is only amplified when he’s live, in front of me, filling the room with melodious gold.

Friday’s show was their Halifax stop on their 25^th Anniversary tour.  That means, when they started out I was somewhere around fifteen years old.  Hard to recall a time when Blue Rodeo wasn’t present on the soundtrack of my life.  I used to sit with my cassette player, headphones on and suspend into their songs.  Get lost in them and allow them to take me over.   I loved them from the start and they have only gotten better, more refined and lovelier. 

I mused to my best friend on the drive home from the show how their music makes me feel incredibly proud to be Canadian.  While I firmly believe their music has the ability to reach across boarders and oceans, there’s a tiny secret riddled in their music that only someone Canadian can truly translate and appreciate.  They are one of the greatest gifts our vast country has given and judging by the previews of a few new songs, their next record will only be another extension of their importance and presence in the scope of Canadian music.

As always, the most impressive moments in any life show for me is when the audience sings with or out-sings the band.  ‘Lost Together’ remains my all-time favorite Blue Rodeo song and it was absolutely earth-shattering to hear a sea of people sing the whole thing in unison (making it the most moving point of the evening for me.  Jim Cuddy’s impassioned rendition of ‘After The Rain’ could have gone on for the duration of the show and I wouldn’t have minded at all, it was poignant and soul satisfying.  Who needs a house of God when all of your prayers are answered in song?

I was thinking about this yesterday, in less than six months I will have seen so many incredible shows, all Canadian gold.  Let’s recount:  The Sheepdogs, Yukon Blonde, Big Sugar, Gloryhound, Blue Rodeo, Tragically Hip and yes kids, yours truly is FINALLY going to see the one and only Leonard Cohen.  Impressive list for a short period of time, yes?  It is widely known that both Gord Downie and Leonard Cohen are both HUGE influences for me.  Heroes.  That I will share air with both of them this year is monumental.  I couldn’t be happier.  And in part, these two shows can only aid in putting me back in my happy place.  Personally, it’s been a long rocky road getting back to it but with the assistance of the written word, music and a better attitude, I am pretty much there.  Leonard’s show is a bucket list item for me.  I can’t wait to frame my ticket stub and display it on my rock wall.  Mission thoughtfully accomplished. 

I did a tiny bit of writing this weekend but nothing of the creative variety.  Along with another challenging task, I strung a few words together to help with a band bio for my brother’s upcoming gig at the Annual Tour Tech Party (which I’ll miss as it’s the same night of the Hip).  They are closing the main-stage this year being shared by Saga, a rock quintet from Oakville, Ontario whose song ‘On The Loose’ (for me) is their most notable song.  It’s a fantastic event, the Tour Tech Party, an AIDS fundraiser.  It’s well organized and a ton of fun.  Two stages, countless bands, lots of schmoozing and beer.  I’m really disappointed to miss it this year.  They’ll blow the roof off as only they can.

It’s a Monday, cold and windy here in Halifax.  Snow is looming along with frigid temperatures to last well into next weekend.  Time for a piece of poetry, word play to warm the bones.

It Has To Be Perfect

more time is required

to omit needless words

amend the text

sit on it

sleep on it

walk it around

&

read it again

new revisions

on an old story

additions

deletions

paragraph

changes in bold

highly subjective

possibly dishonest

irreconcilable ambivalence

editing

a head start

to suffering

**

Ahh, that felt good.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I received the third and final rejection from the Year Write submissions.  Upward and onward!  There’s always next time. 

Happy Monday, folks!

In propinquity,

Nic

PS - Did I mention that I am over the MOON about seeing Leonard Cohen!?  In case you didn't pick up on it, I am!

Turn The Lights On

It was a last minute decision to take in Big Sugar’s Halifax show Friday, a whim that turned out to be one hell of a night.  Returning to the Olympic Hall, the same space where I saw the Sheepdogs felt like déjà vu.  Only two of us this time, we entered the venue, got our Sonic Concert bracelet, grabbed a beer and advanced to the front of the room.  We arrived a bit later than last time so we were just parking ourselves front row center for the opening act, The Balconies.  I think they are an Ontario band but don’t quote me, fronted by a sister/brother duo and backed by a friend.  They delivered a vigorous and earsplitting set of songs to a somewhat older crowd than I remember from the previous show.  Perhaps it has more to do with Big Sugar’s appeal and their longevity?  One can only surmise.

Suffice it to say, due to the ferocious delivery of their set, I had a difficult time deciphering one song from the other not that I’m versed at all when it comes to their discography.  As it was intended, they were loud and brash and unapologetic.  I confess I spent very little time watching the brother and friend contingent of the band because Jacquie Neville was riveting.  Mix the rock ‘n’ roll attitude of Juliette Lewis when she’s on stage with The Kicks, the sex of Peaches and a dash of Katy Perry pretty and you have a potent front woman.  Her antics scream metal, her attire of black shiny tights, a cut off tiger tee and white 80s ankle boots with blood red lips accenting her wide blue eye and jet black hair that she swung expertly as she crunched her guitar bellows girl power and later her cutesy  back-up singing swing softened her demeanor some.

I found the mix of their sound incredibly painful.  It was all high end no vocal.  The sheer volume and the close proximity to the stage may have contributed.  While I was rapt visually, sonically I was not.  It seemed more like indecipherable noise which can be good when you know what you’re listening to but musically it the set didn’t hold a lot of weight for me.  I was secretly pleased when they were finished.

During the quick stage reset I could feel the room fill up behind me without having to look.  The heat was mounting quickly.  I was grateful that I opted to wear a t-shirt despite the freezing temperature and bone numbing wind chill outside.

Tom Bedell took the stage and amped up the ripe crowd to introduce Big Sugar on the second last stop of their ‘Eliminate YA’ tour.  One by one, the band took the stage, the roar of hands pounding together and hoots and whistles brought smiles to their laid back faces.  According to Tom Bedell, Gordie Johnson visited the Q104 Hunger Strike earlier that day in Mic Mac Mall (a fundraiser for the pending holidays) and he saved his voice for the show because he was really sick and was determined to give his all.  He was indeed visibly mill but it didn’t stop him from blowing all of us away with what he does best.

I’m a really big fan of Big Sugar’s unique blend of rock, blues and reggae.   Despite the earthy sounds of dingy blues bars and Jah love, to me, they sound distinctly Canadian.   Let it be noted that Big Sugar are also the loudest band I’ve ever witnessed live.  Not uncomfortable loud like their openers, but rather a massive wall of delicious sound with deep penetrating layers of funky wallpaper.

The two hour show was deluged with popular Big Sugar standards, often bookended by blues breaks, raps and funk.  During the course of the show Gordie was able to show off a parade of loud guitars, the stuff of fan boy’s wet dreams.  They were beautiful and generated sounds that could only be conjured from his adept fingers.

 (Big Sugar rockin' it in Halifax)

I got lost in the show.  Being front row center watching Gordie’s hands play like he does, feeling the kick drum in my teeth, so close to the monitors striped with red, green and yellow duct tape that many of the details absorbed into my skin instead of into my memory.  I loved it so much I literally forgot where I was and felt like the music was an extension of me.  I know it sounds corny but that’s how I felt.

I can share with you, two highlights. 

‘All Hell For a Basement’ is my all-time favorite Big Sugar song.  I’ve heard it covered in bars all over this great city but nothing truly compared to hearing it from its source.  To add more magic to the song, it was one of the ones where the crowd out-sung the band.  Gordie raised his microphone stand and held it over the sea of singing faces, closed his eyes and smiled so contented and mouthed, ‘I love that sound.’  I was overwhelmed by emotion in that moment and felt tears spring to my eyes.  I managed to swallow them down to avoid looking like a nerd but I was awash with emotion.  To me, those are the most profound moments of a live show, when everyone is so connected by music, in unison, such a beautiful thing.

Gordie then shredded his way through a gripping rendition of ‘O Canada’ on 12 string, it doesn’t get any more patriotic than that.  In the last strains of the guitar laden execution, he raised his axe to rest behind his head revealing a proud Canadian flag on the underneath.  The crowd, primarily made up of the band’s male counterparts, thundered with approval.  It’s such an honour to be from such a grand country full of talented kinfolk.

(The Moncton show but you get the idea)

In short, in case you didn’t catch it, Big Sugar were dynamite.  They promoted love, rock ‘n’ roll and the power of positive ahem … smoking.  This all confirmed by the sheer number of weed that showered the stage from fists flinging it forward.  With the smell of incense and marijuana wafting through the air, it was one hell of a high.

The end of the show was something I hadn’t encountered before.  Gordie came down from the stage and graciously accepted accolades from everyone in the front row.  I was content with my fist bump while my concert buddy rallied for the set-list that was being peeled from the stage floor.  I am used to seeing the ladies surging forward grasping for the opportunity to get backstage but this night I was literally crushed against the barricade by a sausage fest trying desperately to catch Gordie’s attention, to be heard, to have a photo taken, to have their moment.  This was unfortunate for me because I’m only small and these guys were full of muscles, testosterone and intention.  I came away with a slight ache and a light bruise across my rib cage.  Oy vey.  Boys.

And again, up until this point, Big Sugar have been the loudest band I’ve seen live.  My ears clogged over to protect themselves and I could still feel the reverb fluttering around in my chest en route home.  Fun level and blissed out range = eleven on a scale of one to ten.

I never wanted them to turn the lights on.  I could have grooved all night.  So glad we went. 

Gordie Johnson is a Canadian treasure.  Big Sugar is da bomb.

It's Monday.  It's also a new month!  I can't believe it's December already.  Whoa.

Go easy.

In propinquity,

Nic

Beautifully Scripted

Last night’s Left Bank reading for the December launch of Open Heart Forgery was fantastical.  There was nowhere else in the world I would have wanted to be on a cold November night.  I was quite content, with a cup of hot green tea, with friends and the words of so many talented writers to warm my bones. 

It was a lovely crowd, some constants and a few new faces which for me is always exciting because it means I’m inching closer to being a constant instead of a newbie and it also means that Donal’s brilliant idea in creating OHF is reaching people, especially writers who are ready to share their work.  It’s a beautiful thing.

I always come away from those readings so richly fulfilled, as a person and a creative.  There is something so liberating and satisfying about word-play and hearing them come out of your own mouth after having them shoot out from your fingertips onto the page.  It was also nice to have my friend Colleen and her sister Laura come by.  The moral support is always welcome as when my best friend Erica attended in the past.  There is always an added element of ease when you look up from the podium and you can feel the back of your neck burning from being in the spotlight and someone you love and who loves you is there for you.  Means a lot to me, makes the writing life seem less solitary.

I am constantly grateful to Donal for this whole experience.

Tonight marks a last minute return to The Dirty O for Big Sugar’s show with my new concert buddy.  I’m pushing through this day after a long but lovely week only to end up on the receiving end of Gordie Johnson’s wall of sound.  Bring it ON.  I won’t be able to hear a thing tomorrow I’m sure but their live shows are outstanding.  Beats sitting home watching TV.

Speaking of Gords I love, I wrote the following poem for one of my favorite Canadians, Gord Downie (of Tragically Hip fame who I am SO pumped to see in February) after reading his profound volume of poetry, Coke Machine Glow.  It seems to be the appropriate verse to share with a rock show pending tonight.

Beautifully Scripted

(for Gord Downie)

When you sing I take notes.

I am awake in your movie

the subject of protest & censure

charting the erratic behavior of blackflies

against a stretched stain of summer.

I am on display

left alone before a crowd of

possessive Phantoms to explain

the rape of envy

all while maintaining a smile

through stern reprimands.

I am reading poetry aloud

in an empty bar-room

crude with artistic quality

this is bottom, friend.

Poet,

you are beautifully y scripted

I want to break in two

& become you.

You are exquisite.

**

(Sidenote:  If you aren’t aware of Big Sugar or Tragically Hip for their musical awesome-ness, please do yourself a giant favor and investigate.)

Happy Friday, friendly readers!   Don’t forget to be good to yourself and kind to others.

In propinquity,

Nic