|
/ MAY 2008
+ MAY 21st, 2008
NOW PLAYING:
Tannis Slimmon - Lucky Blue
I had a
fantastic time in Penetanguishene this past weekend playing at the
Twisted Pines Music &
Arts Festival. I got to play twice at a beautiful theatre
in my hometown, and once at a local high school. I saw (and took
part in) some unbelievable music, and met some incredible people.
When great folks and great music come together, I don't think there's
anything else like it. I feel humbled and inspired to have been
involved in something so special, and the hometown connection made it all
the more so.
I also had the insanely awesome privilege to sing with The Band legend
Garth Hudson
and a few of the other performers (Mike Yates,
Tannis Slimmon,
Karla Crawford
&
The Wye River Band)
during their classic anthems "The Weight" and end finale "I
Shall Be Released". It was pretty dang heavy duty; an experience and
feeling I won't soon forget.
UPDATE!
A sweet video of "I Shall Be Released" can be viewed
RIGHT
HERE! (I come in about the 3min mark)
A couple of videos have sprung up from one of my sets, if you want to
check 'em out, here are the Youtube links:
1.
Summer Song (w-Mike Yates on cello) - Live @ The
King's Wharf Theatre
2.
Don't Turn Around - Live @ The King's
Wharf Theatre
Enjoy! Especially the part in "Don't Turn Around" where I
almost fall over Garth's keyboards. If only I had a tiny car that 13
midgets climbed out of, my act would totally slay.
Much Love & Stuff;
COOP
+ MAY 15th, 2008
NOW PLAYING:
Loudon Wainwright III - Last Man On...
I've been
shooting a video over the past week or so for "Goodbye City".
So far, I've been doing the initial shots by myself, super low budget
guerilla style. Lots of alleyways, parking lots, sunsets,
sunrises, and urban spaces. It's more like taking photographs, I
guess. It's been good, geeky fun. Walking around the city
looking for beauty in strange places always makes me appreciate urban life
in some new and unexpected way. I've found some pretty amazing graffiti and lovely hidden
spots that I would have never otherwise discovered. (My appreciation
for graffiti has quintupled since a friend sent me this awesome book about
Banksy, an
unbelievable artist and urban terrorist. Have your mind blowed and
check him out!)
So today (and not shooting), I started walking through all these back
streets and stuff again. Partly to stay off the main streets and
limit my contact with the pedestrian mob and cars, but also because I was
enjoying the new route through the backstreets. Until this morning,
that is.
I came through one alley and upon a small group of squeegee/panhandler/punker
type dudes all squatting and hanging out. One of them shot up and
came right up to me, and intensely shadowed me for about 20 seconds with every line
in the book. I had my iPod on, but I'm not (that) retarded so I paused it
so I could hear him and keep an eye on him.
"Oh so hungry, give me some money so I can eat. Come on man, just
some change, whatever you got...."
Did I wake up in Morocco or something? This guy was intense.
I continued to ignore him, saying "sorry, man...no change" etc and kept right on walking.
He assumed that I wasn't even listening to him, probably because I had my earphones on
so he changed his tune and
started in with the "I should beat your ass, gimme some money you
asshole..." etc etc...all the while looking like he was just
asking for money.
When I heard that last bit, I have no idea why, but I stopped and faced
him directly and said (firmly, but calmly) "What did you say to me?" He
assumed that to mean I wasn't listening to him the entire time and only
now just tuned in. But I meant it in my best tough guy, Taxi Driver
way. He went right back to the nice guy routine,
"Just
need a few cents to eat, man...can't you spare just a little change,
pleeease?"
"I said I didn't have any change six times to you already, back off and
quit following me."
"Oh yeah, no money but you got an iPod. I should just take that,
eh!?"
"What, you want to eat my iPod?"
(Ha-ha, I'm pretty funny right?)
"Fuck you and your iPod, man."
"Oooohhkay, buddy."
I know I shouldn't get involved with this stuff, it's really stupid.
I was in some back alley, only his panhandler buddies were around
(although they didn't seem interested at all). The thing is, my
adrenaline didn't kick in, I wasn't scared or nervous or even riled up.
I've been finding myself getting my back up a lot more these days and I
think it has to do with having our child on the way. Instead of just
shutting my mouth and moving along, I start thinking, "what if I were here
with my kid and this guy got in our face?" and I start getting all aggressive
and stand-offish with people. I know some of that is instinctual, to
defend and protect your child...maybe it's the male equivalent of
nesting. The baby isn't here, but I'm motivated beyond my
control to prepare for his arrival. That's my theory, anyhow.
Please don't confuse my disdain for this type of person with a lack of
compassion for the truly homeless. This is a completely different
beast. Toronto and other urban cities almost always have a real homeless
crisis. It's a heartbreaking and chilling fact of life around here.
However, each of these places also has a small section of people who actively
and willingly
choose this lifestyle. Not that they want to live on the street
or benches, but because they want to live "off-the-grid". No
responsibilities, no taxes, no government. They're also the loudest
and most visible group, but somehow we lump them in with the rest.
Over time, their behaviour and day-to-day interactions harden you to the
true mental, physical, and social plight of those who are legitimately
homeless. I wrote about this contradiction in my tune "Save Me" and
am still figuring things out. I don't imagine I will ever truly
understand, yet I will be forced to deal with it every single day I live
here.
On this day, though...it really got to me. Here I was taking the
initiative to try and stay connected with a place (that's really, really
easy to fall out of love with), and it threw back something I can't stand
in my face. Hmmmm.
It was kind of like the time I put my wang in the central vacuum cleaner
port and got a 110-volt jolt instead of nice, pleasant suction.
It's not all bad, though. Without the vacuum incident, I never would
have earned my amazing nickname: Lightning Rod. Don't lie, you know what I'm talking about.
Much Love & Stuff;
COOP
+ MAY 1st, 2008
NOW PLAYING:
Sheltered In Sound - Field Recordings...
Interesting thing happened to me yesterday.
I jumped into Starbucks to grab my afternoon cuppa rocket fuel.
Pretty stock stuff. I order, the nice barista lass does her thing,
hands me my tasty beverage and we have this exchange:
NBL: Here ya go! Can I get you anything else today!?
SC: Nope, that's it...thanks.
NBL: Looks like you need to work on your game.
SC: I'm sorry?
NBL: See, when I asked you if you wanted anything else,
you're supposed to say "Yeah, how about your phone number!?"
SC: Oh, right...I see. Um.....yeah. Sorry, I'm 34
years old and married. But thank you.
So basically, I felt simultaneously embarrassed, flattered, and guilty for
rejecting another person who simply had the courage to put herself out
there. It's a strange thing to contemplate. These youngsters
are fearless. Sigh. It really is a curse, having these
competition-worthy buns and fighting off the daily advances of hot-to-trot
ladies. (Pops collar, adjusts package)
Other amazing news to report is that my friend Sean Nilsson of
Sheltered In Sound
just released his amazing new record "Field Recordings From The City"
into the world last night. He played a rockin' set to a loving and
warm audience at The Central. If you recall, this was the record I
produced and finished up around the new year mark. It's so amazing
seeing such great, honest music being put out there and people getting
excited about it. You should get excited about it, too.
GO CHECK IT OUT!
Much Love & Stuff;
COOP
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