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.

A Year of Deadmau5 - Part 2

I took this from Deadmau5's facebook.
Cool people "like" him http://www.facebook.com/deadmau5

It was reading week in February. The Olympics had just started and I was driving home with my dad. We were just around the corner from my house listening and Sirius Satellite Radio on the top 40 station. They were doing a count down and Selena Gomez was the guest announcer.  I so vividly remember looking at the green letters on the  display that read artists: Deadmau5 song: Ghosts 'n' Stuff.

As Selena introduced the song she dropped some pretty key facts about the mau5, " Here's Joel Zimmerman or Deadmau5, The 28 year old DJ sensation from Toronto is taking the world by storm with his smash hit Ghosts 'n' Stuff" 

This was my first time hearing a mau5 song that wasn't Move For Me and it was only on for 20 seconds before we got out of the car, but I knew instantly his music was for me.  

I went into the house to watch Olympic coverage well into the night.  It must have been three in the morning when CTV showed some live footage of Deadmau5 show in Van City. It took me a few minutes to even register what they had shown. Flashing lights and someone on stage wearing a blue mouse mask didn't exactly fit the whole sports theme they had going on. It was late and my mind wasn't putting a+b together until I check my computer. 

I was downloading mau5's complete discography, and as soon as it was done I immediately a) realized that brief clip was Joel in action and b) listened to Ghosts 'n' Stuff. 

I'm pretty sure I've listened to that song on average once a day since. 

It's The Most Overrated Day Of The Year

It's New Years Eve and that means some combination of  work, food, drinking, drugs,  music, dropping balls, making out, free ttc rides, and sleep.

I really can't stand the pressure people put on new years. It's going to be so amazing blah de blah blah blah bla. 

Come to think of it new years has never really been that amazing for me. One year I had plans to go to one of those classy dinner dance events and the promoter cancelled it at the last minute.

Another year I went to time square and stood in the cold for 5 hours to watch the ball, which was probably a kilometer away from me drop. 

Last year I went clubbing and was standing in line at coat check at midnight...wooooooo fun. 

So this year I'm not doing anything. I'm hanging out with my room mates, having a few drinks and seeing where the night takes us. Maybe we'll wander down to city hall, maybe we'll watch movies, maybe we'll dance around in our underwear or maybe we'll fall asleep by 10.  All of these options are fine by me because they will all be fun without the expectation of being great. 

2010: Epic Epicness

You know that saying that implies that how you spend new years will be how you spend the rest of your year... Yeah, I always thought that was bullshit but in 2010 in tuned out to be true. Indulge me as I pay tribute to 2010…the best year of my life (or just stop reading, your choice).

Highlights in chronological order according to my memory:

New Years: Circa night club with Steph and Ray – I’m pretty sure that place doesn’t exists anymore.

new years

End of January: The Diva’s (my group of amazing girl friends from high school) all get together for the first time in 5 years. I truly miss them and it’s sad that we aren’t super close anymore but I’m thankful for cellphones and facebook which let me keep in touch with them as much as possible.

Beginning of March: Muse concert with “obstructed seats” which turned out to be amazing seats and cheap. Matt Bellamy and co knocked my socks off and I bought all their albums that I did not already have (which was most of them).

Middle of March: One of my best friends and I had a big falling out. We didn’t speak for 8 months but on her birthday I sent her a message. A few days later were hitting a dance floor on St. Patrick’s day and now we’re like two peas in a pod again.

End of March: Steph and I went to see David Guetta at the Guvernment. This event marked a big shift in my life. It was the first time I was truly exposed to house music/dj/rave culture and I fell in love. The Guv plays a role in many happy memories in 2010.

April: hey look there’re leaves on the trees and Kaskade is at This is London. Tickets are $35 bucks so Steph and I are there. Took some great photos of us that night.

May: My favourite late night talk show host was prohibited from appearing on television but that didn't stop me from seeing him at Massy Hall. 

I'm With Coco

June: Finally finished classes at Humber. I decide to take an internship at a music school. This is probably one of the best decisions I have ever made. I love that school, the staff, the kids, and what it stands for. Music means the world to me and I truly believe everyone should have access to high quality music education.

July: July was going to the be the most epic month ever. It didn’t go exactly as planned but it was still amazing!

July 1^st: Steph and I see Deadmau5 for the first time ever at the Guv. The cube was there and in full force. Unfortunately we got separated so while we didn’t get to experience it together but we still had an amazing time.

Deadmau5 on June 30th

One week later Steph and I are back together at the Lady GaGa show. Girl puts on a wicked show and Elton John was there.

Lady Gaga

The week after that I was supposed to see u2 three times but Bono’s back injury pushed the entire north American leg of the tour back a year. Whatever, 2011 will be full of u2 goodness.  I was also supposed to see Simon and Garfunkel but that got cancelled all together. I’m truly disappointed about that, it would have been a great night with my father.

End of July: I must say I’m not a fan of Bon Jovi, but I have friends who are in a Bon Jovi tribute band. I went to every one of their shows for almost a year so when real Bon Jovi rolled into town I figured it should see the real thing. It sucked. Concerts should just not happen at the Roger’s Centre unless the roof is open.

Bon Jovi @ The Roger's Centre

Middle of August: Freya and Claire return from India after 8 months. We celebrate by going to see John Mayer at the Molson Amphitheatre. He’s such a douche bag and it really distracts from his talent. Maybe next time you're here you should spend more time playing music and less time on twitter and talking about how hot you are. That’s not what I paid for!

End of August: I win free tickets to a private Brandon Flowers show at the modclub. Thanks Virgin Mobile. Crossfire is one of my favourite songs from 2010.

Beginning of September: The girls and I move into our new apartment in Chinatown. I LOVE LIVING DOWNTOWN.

Middle of September: The kids at RPSM get asked to perform Another Brick in the Wall with Roger Waters for 3 sold out shows at the ACC. I was lucky enough to play a small role in making a dream come true for our kids and watching a legend at work.

Fear Builds Walls

End of September: I make a decision to get a personal trainer for a year instead of paying off my student loan. This is the best decision I have ever made. My trainer pushes me not only to be a better athlete, but a healthier and happier person. I’ve never been as consistently happy and I’m sure that  exercise  plays a big role in that.

October: Yo October, you were more amazing than July.

First week of October: Steph and I drive out to London to see Deadmau5 at Western’s Homecoming. This tent party was sweet. Getting into a minor accident with my dads car and asshole western boys were not. $500.00 later the car is fixed and I can say deadmau5’s mom likes my shirt.

Deadmau5 @ Westerns Homecoming

Second week of October: Thanksgiving turkey and Calvin Harris at the Guvernment. Got love for you if you were born in the 80s.

Third week of October: Kaskade was at the government. I was there, but I don’t remember it and that’s why I won’t drink that much ever again.

Kaskade takes over the Guvernment

November was pretty laid back. The biggest highlight was graduation.

December: Happy 23^rd birthday to me. Jodi made me an amazing Deadmau5 cake. Then on boxing day I saw the mau5 himself at the guv and the last show of 2010 was definitely the best.  

I can’t wait for a relaxing new years. 2010 you were amazing. I hope 2011 is just as great or even better. 

Winter Time Is Here

On Saturday morning for just a brief few hours snow fell on city of Toronto. Throughout the day the ground was dusted in white. It provide for some nice pictures in Grange Park. Later in the day we also took some pictures in the beautiful Distillery District.

Perez Hilton One Night In Toronto

I won tickets for Perez Hilton One Night in Toronto. 


GREAT, except I don't really like any of the acts and only really want to go because it's free.


Problem is it's Sunday night. So aside from having to leave the family fathers day get together early, I'd also have to go to work hung over in the morning.


Is it worth going? 


I can't decide.

For Your Consideration: Conan O'Brien

Once upon a time I used to love both Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien. Once upon a time I used to love NBC.  I even travelled to LA and went to two tapings of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. I stood on The Tonight Show stage with Jay Leno.

Once upon a time I tried to attend a taping of Late Night with Conan O'Brien in Toronto. 40,000 people entered the lottery for those tickets - I've never been to lucky.

I now shudder at the thought of even watching Jay Leno and would never watch NBC if it wasn't for Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.

But, I'm still with Coco.

I've never felt as bad for a celebrity as I did for Conan O'Brien. The demise of the Tonight Show with Conan was one that thousands of people around the world could relate too. While I'm sad that he's not currently on tv...in some ways Conan getting his ass booted out of NBC like a drunk out of a bar paid off for him and his fans.

The last few weeks of the Tonight Show were some of the funniest moments in his career. I personally loved when he put the tonight show up for sale on craigslist.  Plus now that he has a twitter account, twitter tracker has exploded and my day instantly gets better every-time he tweets.

I got to see Conan do his thing live when his "Legally Prohibited From Being Funny On Television" tour stopped in Toronto. It was definitely sorta worth it.

For him, well, he got to realize that his fan love him enough to rally behind him and pay to see him preform (something they've never had to do before). And now, In my opinion, for the first time in his career Conan is finally getting to be the star of the network, like he should have been at NBC.

TBS isn't going to let NBC forget the mistakes they've made. Conan maybe legally prohibited from being funny on TV, but TBS isn't prohibited from reminded everyone of just how funny he was and will be.

They have launched an aggressive advertising campaign to get Conan an Emmy. To me this would be the ultimate ironic ending to the whole Conan vs. NBC fiasco.

The Emmy's air on NBC on August 29 and Conan's TBS show starts November 8th.

I think we know how Jimmy Kimmel and David Letterman are voting!

Give this man an Emmy. He's legally prohibited from being funny on television - hasn't he earned it?!

How To Destroy Nine Inch Nails

I have nothing but love and respect for Trent Reznor. The music he's created with Nine Inch Nails changed, saved and defines some very key moments in my life.

                                                                                                            

When he announced last summer that Nine Inch Nails would be touring for the last time I was lucky enough to see them twice in three months. At their very last Canadian date at VFest on August 30th 2009 I stood from 8:30am till 11:30pm just to be in the front row. Trust me it was worth it.

As NIN drew to a close many fans wondered what would become of the band and the man that created the music that mattered so much to them. We knew he wouldn't disappear forever, and of course he didn't.

It seems that Trent has finally grown up completely. He married former West Indian Girl front woman Mariqueen Maandig and together with Atticus Ross they formed a new band How To Destroy Angels.

First thought. What a lame name, but I guess this really doesn't matter. It's all about the music right?

Then came the first sample of their music:


Right of the bat, I'm not impressed. The last thing I want to see is one of my favourite musicians dead on floor while his wife whines about how hard it is to be famous. I acknowledge fame is tough, but it's a choice to live in the lime light, don't complain.

You can get the rest of the album Here. It's free and you if you have any interest in NIN's music you will probably like like it.

As for myself, I don't exactly hate the EP but I don't really like it either. It's basically a Nine Inch Nails album with a different singer. It would have been nice to see Trent step out of his comfort zone a little and create an album that departed more from The Slip (which you can also get for free Here).

The Slip had to grow on me and I think maybe the first EP from How To Destroy Angles will too. Either way I'm happy that Trent is still creating music.