Coming soon - Pemberton Festival review

There's still love at the end of the world~

Here are a few pics for your enjoyment, more to come after I get back from Pemberton (with review and pics)

Just to let you know, Sam Roberts has decided to take our relationship to a new level. Tonight I saw him at Edmonton's Capital Ex, (even though I'm going to see him in two days at the Pemberton Music Festival - yes, I'm obsessed).

I brought along a homemade sign with "Taj Mahal" written in big, bold letters. I had been planning this for months, if not years, hoping he would remember me. (See post below)

And it worked! Which isn't too surprising, because throughout the whole concert I was waving it around like a maniac. At one point I was on the billboard so I knew Sammy must have gotten my hint by that point...

I knew it would be after encore, just as the band waits for the crowd to get riled up so they can discuss the closing mini-set. As soon as I made eye contact with the Egyptian pianist once they returned to the stage I knew my moment had come. (Later on a girl told me how the set list had "Oh Maria" instead of "Taj Mahal"). He pointed at me and my sign and nodded, and I got my camera ready. As soon as I heard the Egyptian pounding down on the keyboard, I jumped up onto a strong set of shoulders and waved my sign around like a maniac. The camera caught me screaming "I FUCKING LOVE YOU" and everyone around was looking at me...but I wasn't embarrased. Me and Sammy were having one-on-one action. He looked at me as he sang and I was singing the lyrics right back at him trying not to tear up. I managed to shove my camera into the hands of someone in front of me, so luckily I had the whole song taped, even at the end when Sammy blew a kiss. (Our first one!!) And I returned the love.

Afterwards I sneaked backstage and managed to talk to the Egyptian (Eric Fares) I gave him a huge hug and he asked me my name, and I told him how I was going to be at Pemberton and how much I liked "Detroit '67." The drummer walked up to us and I didn't recognize him at first because I was looking around for Sammy, and he just stared at us, wasted out of his mind. Eric promised he'd bring my beloved Sammy to me for a picture, but some Nazi whore told me to leave because I didn't have a pass. (She didn't even let me get halfway through my improv speech about how I have a media pass but I left it at home...damn the [wo]man) 

Yeah so Sam and I are pretty much boyfriend, girlfriend now, even though we didn't get any real alone time. But onto the concert...

All of the songs were a lot slower, probably thanks to the intoxicated drummer. Sammy started off with "Love at the End of the World" (good choice, Sam!) and then went into "No Sleep," "With a Bullet" (yay!), and "Bridge to Nowhere."For some reason "Higher Learning" was one of my favs of the night even though it has never been one of my favourite Sammy songs, but "Brother Down" was magical, as always, and Sammy and lead guitarist Dave Nugent play a wicked "Mind Flood." It was awesome to hear some of Sammy's new tracks as well, like "Fixed to Ruin" and "Detroit '67." I was pretty shocked he didn't play "Rarefied" because that was always a crowd favourite, or "Don't Walk Away Eileen," (another good choice, Sam).

Jesse F. Keeler - a Pemberton Preview Profile

I am a day away from the Pemberton Music Festival and shaking with excitement. Just a few days ago the line-up schedule was posted, and I was disappointed that there will be a few sacrifices I will be forced to make: I will be missing Death Cab for Cutie for Wintersleep, and half of Tom Petty's act to see MSTRKRFT. Don't get me wrong, I love Petty and "You Don't Know How it Feels," but you know and I know that Petty is a dinosaur now, and I'm not expecting to be totally blown away by his set. I am willing to miss out on hearing "Last Dance with Mary Jane" live for the first time, because I have heard it 987 times.
Now before you die-hard Petty fans fall off your seat please understand my situation in 3 words: DEATH FROM ABOVE.
After the death of Death From Above 1979 Jesse F. Keeler, the band's bassist and mastermind, went off to form an electronica project. I am not a huge fan of MSTRKRFT, but I hold DFA 1979 close to my heart. PLUS he has performed and recorded with my rock hero Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age. I MUST see Jesse F. Keeler in the flesh, because he is a genius. This is his story:

GENRE: Heavy alternative - DFA 1979 and electronica - MSTRKRFT (pronounced 'Master Craft')
FROM: Toronto, Canada
STATUS: Genius
BEST KNOWN HIT: "Little Girl" (DFA 1979) or the Justice remix "D.A.N.C.E." AKA "1-2-3-4-Fight" (MSTRKRFT)

• Keeler met his future DFA 1979 band mate Sebastien Granger when they were in prison and used to live in a funeral parlour together
• The front cover of DFA 1979's only album You're a Woman I'm a Machine symbolizes how Keeler wanted their sound to be "like an elephant in your living room"
• DFA's break-up was bitter, and the two still refuse to speak to each other
• In MSTRKRFT Keeler has remixed songs by Pemberton artist Metric ("Monster Hospital"), Bloc Party ("Luno," "Two More Years," and "Flux"), Justice ("D.A.N.C.E."), Pemberton artist Wolfmother ("Woman"), actress Juliette Lewis' band Juliette and the Licks ("Got Love to Kill"), Pemberton artist Buck 65 ("Kennedy Killed the Hat"), Usher ("Love in this Club"), Jesse McCartney ("Leavin"), Kylie Minogue ("Wow"), Pemberton artist The Crystal Method "Keep Hope Alive"), Pemberton artist Chromeo ("Tenderoni"), All Saints ("Rock Steady"), Pemberton artist Brazilian Girls ("Jique"), Gossip ("Listen Up!"), the Polysics ("Ceolakanth Is Android"), The Kills ("No Wow"), and various DFA tracks

Stay tuned for my Pemberton Festival review AND pictures!!!

Sam Roberts - Pemberton Preview Profile and CD review

(yes these are my own pictures...screw you copyright laws!)

The horny Canadian girl in me cannot help but love Sam Roberts. I am more of a fan of his live shows than his CDs, and his latest album Love At the End of the World is no different. It seems that fame has certainly taken a toll on poor Sammy. His lyrics reflect a darker, aging, bitter Sam lamenting about life's hardships with a slightly harsher tone than heard on his previous albums. (Sounds like Sam needs a little Lex lovin').

Most surprisingly to me besides the change in his lyrics, is the transformation in his songwriting, which has become more mellow and bland. His first two CDs We Were Born in a Flame (2003), and Chemical City (2006), are very similar, except that the latter had a more psychedelic feel to it. But on Love at the End of the World, Sam uses blues chords and riffs in many of his songs, which I wasn't prepared for.

But before I stamp Sam down, like always, there are a few tracks that certainly prove Sammy is a credited songwriter as much as he is a performer. "End of the Empire," "Fixed to Ruin," and most of all "Detroit '67" are phenomenal and addictive tracks. "Them Kids" has also been a popular hit on mainstream radio this summer, and was remixed by his friend Canadian hippity-hopper K-OS.

Overall I recommend this album to anyone who likes Sam Roberts, but if you're not a fan don't bother listening to "Lions of Kalahari" because it's just as bad as "Bridge to Nowhere." I suggest seeing him live instead, like at the Pemberton Music Festival! He plays on Saturday, July 26th. This is his story:

GENRE: Poppy rock

FROM: Point Claire, Quebec

BEST KNOWN HIT: "Don't Walk Away Eileen"

STATUS: My lover

• Sammy's parents are South African
• He started his musical career with a violin and took lessons for 16 years
• Sammy has been rightfully compared to Bruce Springsteen and Beck
• His first band Northstar received airplay on college radio stations as well as a feature on MuchMusic
• On the original recording of "Brother Down" as heard on the Inhuman Condition (2002), Sammy plays every instrument except the drums
• He married his high school sweetheart and they had a daughter in January 2007
• He can fluently speak English, French and Spanish
• His favourite sport is hockey and the first song he ever wrote was titled "Keep Your Stick on the Ice"
• He won three Juno Awards (Album of the Year, Rock album of the Year, and Artist of the Year) in 2003 for We Were Born in a Flame
• His hits "Brother Down," "Them Kids," and "The Gate" won video awards on Much Music, as well as several nominations for a variety of different awards

Quote:

"I love touring. It's not just the playing, it is the whole mindset you get in when you are on tour. Having to get up for a show every single night of the week, reinventing yourself every day." - Sammy

Here is a copy of my column I once wrote about Sam Roberts for our Valentine issue:

I have a lover. He’s sexy and a true sweetheart, the kind of man you wrap up and bring home to meet your mama. His name is Sam Roberts.
Don’t laugh. Sammy and I have had quite the serious relationship for the past two years.
I remember the night we met like it was yesterday. It was May 2006 when I saw him live for the second time in Kamloops. Before the concert started, my friend and I squirmed our way into the front row.
It was a dream come true. I stood there looking up at Sam singing above me with tears streaming down my face. The first time I saw him live I lost my glasses and couldn’t make out his face (just his cute little bum). This time, I could see his angelic features perfectly. His soft brown hair danced around his scruffy face as he sang. Sweat poured off his square jaw-line and slowly dripped down his broad, veiny neck. When he rocked out to his music his sweat would shake off him, showering me.
At one point he looked right at me and winked. I almost fainted. It was love at first sight.
I read his eyes. They screamed, “I will divorce my wife. I want you to be my lover.”
Then he began throwing guitar picks to audience members on the other side of the stage. I lost my mind. I started jumping up and down screaming his name. Did his wink mean nothing? Didn’t I deserve a token of our love? I suppose my ape noises and erratic body movements caught his attention. He coyly smiled at me as he walked across the stage and handed me a guitar pick. I brushed my hand with his and stared up into his crystal blue eyes, my eyes saying, “I’ll see you after the show, lover.”
As we exited the venue I searched for him in the dark while digging through my purse for some much needed nicotine. All of a sudden there was a quick, blue flash. It was Sam!
I ran after him waving a pen and a paper and asked him for his autograph.
“Great show, Sam!” I screamed in excitement.
“Next time you come to town play “Taj Mahal”, I’ll be there!” He smiled and then pulled me into his muscular arms, embraced me with a passionate kiss and made hot sweaty love to me on his tour bus.
OK, so that last part isn’t true.
But if you’ll excuse me, I need a private moment with my beloved Sammy.
Dear Sam, will you be mine, Valentine?

(below: the hand that Sam Roberts touched)

Serj Tankian - A Pemberton Preview profile

The lead singer of System of a Down will be performing some of his solo music at the Pemberton Music Festival on Friday, July 25th. This is his story:

GENRE: heavy alternative
FROM: Lebanon/U.S.A.
STATUS: Known best as lead vocalist of System of a Down
BEST KNOWN HIT: "Empty Walls" (single)

• Tankian's parents and his younger brother moved from Lebanon to Los Angeles when Serj was five years old
• System of a Down's bassist (Shavo Odadjian) and drummer (John Dolmayan) all share Armenian ancestry with Tankian
• Studied marketing
• Formed the band Soil and some the members later went on to form System of a Down
• Claims to be a social activist and is involved in many political organizations
• Formed his own record company Serjical Strike to help promote underground band
• Wrote a poetry book Cool Gardens which as published by MTV Books
• Formed a non-profit political activist organization "Axis of Justice" with Tom Morello (the god-like guitarist of Audioslave and Rage Against the Machine) in order to help motivate young people to become more involved in politics
• He is currently pushing Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide of 1915

A long yet interesting quote:

"Neoliberal globalism is failing due to its underlying imperial ambitions and the discoveries of those sinister ulterior motives. So the ambitions have reawakened for "democracy promotion," in the past few years. In real terms, that means promoting democracy if and only if it serves imperial ambitions. How about we create a real democracy right here and now! Let's allow the people to vote for or against a pre-emptive war, universal health care, expansion of social security, the Kyoto Protocol, the International Criminal and World Courts, and the role of the United Nations in interventions and reconstruction of devastated lands. Let's vote for how we want our taxes to be spent, directly. Major referendums discussed and debated thoroughly representing all sides of each issue on television. All empires represent the aristocracy in their imperial ambitions, not the general populace! Also in dire need is a true democracy of nations. The UN Security Council should be dissolved and the General Assembly should rule all international affairs, allowing all nations equal access to the international forum and law. Given the truth, all human beings will collectively choose the direction of this lost, possibly last civilization." - Serj Tankian

Metric - a Pemberton Preview Profile

One of my favourite bands, Metric, is set to play at the Pemberton Music Festival on Friday, July 25th. This is their story:

GENRE: new wave/indie/rock
FROM: New York/Montreal/Toronto
BAND MEMBERS:
Vocalist/synthesizer/songwriter - Emily Haines
Guitarist - James Shaw
Bassist - Josh Winstead
Drummer - Joules Scott-Key
TOGETHER SINCE: 1998
BEST KNOWN HIT: "Combat Baby"
STATUS: Awesome

• Metric's band members are in a close-knit Canadian musical clique and continually collaborate with the likes of the Stills, Broken Social Scene, the Stars, (all signed on the popular Canadian label Arts & Crafts) and many more


• Have a side project called Bang Lime and Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton


• Emily's father was a famous poet and avant-garde jazz musician named Paul Haines. He worked with Carla Bley, Robert Wyatt and Albert Ayler and is best known for his lyrics featured in Carla Bley's 1971 jazz opera Escalator Over the Hill


• Emily Haines and James Shaw met when Haines was attending a Toronto art college and Shaw was at the Julliard School studying classical trumpet


• Metric won a Juno award in 2006 for "Best Alternative Album of the Year" Live It Out, and were nominated for a 2006 Polaris Music Prize for "Canadian Album of the Year"


• Emily Haines and James Shaw met a nightclub and decided to form a band because they both hated the music being played there


• "Monster Hospital" and "Police and the Private" were featured on Grey's Anatomy


• Haines was raised in New Delhi, India


• Shaw and Haines used to live with the future members of The Yeah Yeah Yeah's when they lived in New York


• Warner Bros. Records were going to sign Metric onto their label but decided against it at the last minute

Emily Haines quote:

"It’s strange to think a lot of new music is modeled on the past already, and
then people are modeling themselves on people who model themselves on the past.
I do think we’re in a recycling era, everything’s so retro. People should
recycle more plastic and less culture.”

If you're not familiar with Metric then I highly recommend you check out some of their music videos...while high:

1. "Empty"
2. "Poster of a Girl"
3. "Dead Disco"

The Flaming Lips - A Pemberton Preview Profile

As a proud British Columbian, I bought my Pemberton Festival ticket within days of hearing about it. It's a musical orgasm.

The Flaming Lips are set to play on Saturday, July 26th. This is their story:

GENRE: "Acid bubble gum"/alternative/eclectic
FROM: Oklahoma City, USA
BAND MEMBERS: Guitarist/singer/songwriter - Wayne Coyne
Bass/keyboards/backing vocals - Michael Ivins
Drums/percussion - Steven Drozd
Drums/percussion (live) - Kliph Scurlock
TOGETHER SINCE: 1983/1984
BEST KNOWN HIT: "Do You Realize?" or "She Don't Like Jelly (Tangerine)" but the annoying "Yeah Yeah Yeah" is on some sort of salad dressing commercial.
STATUS: Cult-like following

• The Flaming Lips' biography is as wild as their sound. They named their band after either a porn film, drug reference, or a dream in which the Virgin Mary kissed Wayne Coyne with her flaming lips.
• Frontman Wayne Coyne was in his thirties by the time the Lips made it big.
• Apparently Coyne stole a bunch of instruments to help form the band, and their debut performance was at a transvestite club.
• Like Rage Against the Machine, the Lips are insistent on performing and recording with their own music rather than digitally creating their sound. Their music is a blend of different experimental sounds that may not seem appealing to the average rock or pop listener. There is no formula. It's just plain weird.
• The Lips have very unique song names, like: "A Spoonful Weighs a Ton," "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots," "Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon," "Jesus Shootin' Heroin," "The Train Runs Over the Camel But Is Derailed by the Gnat," "The March of the Rotten Vegetables," and much much more.
• I found one interesting quote by Coyne about his music online which typifies the Lips' sound:

"My older brothers would take a lot of drugs and we'd sit around and listen to records - the Beatles' White Album, John and Yoko's experimental stuff. We never knew it was freaky or weird; we thought that was music that everyone listened to."

• One of their albums, Zaireeka, is a box set of four Cd's which are meant to be played at the same time. It's supposed to make the listener feel like they're "not just hearing the music but standing inside it."
• Apparently during one of their latest tours, Jack White of The White Stripes approached Coyne and gave him a miniature toy Jesus. Coyne later wrote the song "Thank You Jack White (For the Fiber Optic Jesus That You Gave Me) about it. (Click here for the lyrics).
• In 2002 Q Magazine included the band on their "50 Bands to See Before You Die" list
• The Lips have had more hit singles in Europe than in their native country.
• They were nominated for three different Grammys for "Best Alternative Album" (in both 2004 and 2007), "Best Surround Sound Album" (2008), and won three Grammys for "Best Rock Instrumental Performance" (2003 - "Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon"), "Best Rock Instrumental Performance" (2007 - "The Wizard Turns Me On"), and "Best Engineered Album" (2007). They were also nominated for "Best International Act" at the BRIT Awards in 2007.

If I had the legal rights to include pictures on my blog, I would. But I'm an amateur blogger with no purpose at all, so click on the links for coolio pictures.