Winning!!

Man I could use some of Charlie Sheen's drangon blood at the gym so I'm going to mash up some good ole charlie sheen quotes with some deadmau5 and listen to it at the gym. Talk about motivational bi-winning!

The National: Love At First Sound

The National: Matt Berninger, Aaron & Bryce Dessner, Scott & Bryan Devendorf

The National are an "indie" rock band you can feel good about loving and sharing. Sometimes I feel like a pretentious music snob when I talk about indie artists. I can't stand those hipsters who hate on their favourite bands once they achieve mainstream success. When I talk about The National I feel far removed from that scene. Whether music snobs like it or not The National's music is meant to move the masses.

I remember the first time I heard Ohio Bloodbuzz. The first ten seconds of drums was enough to make me instantly purchase the album.   The band was doing on interview on CBC radio the day after performing their second sold out show at Massey Hall.

How had I not heard of them before? Ohio Bloodbuzz was the first single off their fifth studio album High Violet.  It seems I'm not alone in this, because as successful as The National have become they still have a cult like indie fan base. I don't think I've ever heard them on a mainstream music station. That's not to say that the CBC isn't mainstream, but nobody listen's to CBC Radio 1 for it's music content. I even introduced my indie rock loving friends to them. A serious first.

I was hoping and preying that they would be on the bill at Bonarroo this year. They're not. I can't remember the last time I felt so desperate to see a band live. This is the problem with discovering an artist right after they've performed in your city.

My pathetic desperation led me to check out their website 
http://www.americanmary.com/ in hopes that maybe they'd be playing anywhere within driving distance. My dreams of seeing them live anytime soon are fading buy my respect for them is growing.

Near the end of an excellent and fairly long official biography, lead singer and lyricist Matt Berninge says something truly amazing."I prefer misquotes to the actual lyrics. It gives the songs more dimensions when people hear something else."

The National are about making music that matters not just to them but to their consumers, their fans - the people who really matter. As a music fan I often misquote lyrics and then become disappointed to discover I had a key word wrong. One word can change the entire meaning of a song. Matt's lack of ego and self importance as a lyricist allows everyone to find true connection to the band and their songs in there own unique way. His baritone voice can literally swallow your soul if you let it.

Random Thoughts For February 22nd 2011

Sometimes I wish I was a streetcar so I could lay on my horn whenever someone was in my way. Sometimes "excuse me" doesn't quite fit the bill when all I really want to yell is "move faster you god damn slow walkers!!!!!!"

Roll up the Rim is back...guarantee someone will find a winning cup in a garbage can or on the street and it will be all over the news. This happens every year. It's not news. Some people are dumb and forget to roll up the rim and other people are smart/creepy/desperate and roll up the rims of cups they find in the garbage. Does anyone else find it pathetic that we celebrate the accomplishments of garbage pickers every spring in Canada?

The What If Game

Sometimes life throws you unexpected curves that make you question everything you believe. I truly believe everything happens for a reason. But lately I have a lot of great opportunities and options placed in front of me and I don't know which ones to pick. I keep finding myself playing the what if game.

What if I can't find a new job? What if I pick the wrong job? What if I break a heart? What if I get my heart broken? What if I make new friends? What if I lose a good friend? What if I go broke? What if I Deadmau5 decides to hire me? What if I ditch Toronto for Dublin or Miami?

When you believe things happens for a reason you're not supposed to play the what if game. I think it's a symptom of not knowing what I want. I've gone through my entire life always knowing exactly what direction I was going in. Finding a career has always been my main goal. Now that I've accomplished that goal I feel like I'm in a holding pattern until I figure out what's next.

I need to find a goal to focus on until at least July 2012. That's when Steph's wedding is and it offers the perfect opportunity to start fresh again in Toronto or abroad. It also gives me some time to figure out what I really want from life.

I'm a big picture kind of girl. Short term goals are definitely not my speciality. So, I need some help. Any suggestions universe?

EEEEEEEEE ------>

Why is it when females see something cute they lose the ability to use words and instead resort to emitting a series of strange sounds and pointing. 

Sunday Bloody Sunday

Today @GarinKilpatrick tweeted a Paramore cover of U2's Sunday Bloody Sunday.

I don't have any stats on this but I feel like Sunday Bloody Sunday is one of u2's most popular and most covered songs.  Here are a few versions of it that I find interesting. Which one do you like the best?



 I don't hate this cover but I think it's missing a bit of umph. If this was a performance on American Idol I think she'd be voted off.



I love this version because it remains true to the original while still being authentic to Saul Williams rap/industrial/electronic style.



Hilarious. Kudos to whoever took the time to make it.


The band gave the song a break for a few years in the 90s. It remerged as an Edge solo towards the end of the Popmart Tour.  In the middle of the show Edge would sing karaoke with the audience and this version of Sunday Bloody Sunday to give Bono's ailing voice a rest. This is my favourite version.



There's nothing like the original. "and it's true we are immune when fact is fiction, tv reality." I think it's fascinating how much that applies to current society even though this song was released in 1983 long before the first reality television shows were produced (and when mtv still played music).


The best live version of this song. If you don't feel anything watching Bono's obvious disgust in the "revolution" and the "troubles" you have no soul.

Sometimes I Like To Relive This Memory

I filmed this on September 16th 2009. U2 was performing Until The End of The World (and then Stay) at the Roger's Centre when Bono decided to take a tumble and lay down on the stage right infront of Steph and I. Clearly, I couldn't contain myself as you can tell from my screaming.

Amazing day. Amazing concert. I took those pictures of the CN Tower that day.

Next show I'm dancing on stage with Bono. You can count on it.