I am having one of those groovy “Staycations” that poor people are always talking about. No but seriously, I am on holidays but I am hanging out at home because I have no money.
Its kinda nice being at home and not having to do a radio show or DJ for a few nights. I think I might spoil myself and order the Montreal/Vancouver game in HD tomorrow afternoon. Baller.
DJ Murge is doing another installment of his DJ class at Long and McQuade starting next week so I think I’ll get up in that for some professional development.
I bought this fancy Numark Serato controller and have picked up enough from Boitano to make it go, match some beats and blend some tunes, but I think I need to learn some more (and I think it will be fun). Shannon Shields says Murge is the man so it might be good to learn from the master.
Last night was my final night at Sips till maybe the late Spring or Summer. While there I got the email newsletter from Serato about a product for the NS7. It is an effects controller for the rig called NSFX. Its kind of a bad ass piece of machinery that will let me bend and manipulate the music. Maybe after the DJ course I’ll have a greater understanding of the craft and can incorporate the effects.
What I’ll want to be working on soon… and this might sound weird, but I was talking to Alix last night and it made sense at the time… is crafting a DJ set that incorporates the music of the 1920s with modern beats and also a set that uses country music with a modern sophisticated sound for a few projects she is working on for Sea Cider. I got some time so that is what I’ll be thinking about for the next little while. Music of the roaring 20s.
OK well that is all I got for now, I am going to get back to my staycation and take Madelyn to the park to play soccer.
Slowly but surely I’ll get us to number one on The Zone list of the Top 91 Songs of the 00s.
We left off last time at song 60, Finger 11‘s “Paralyzer.” Today I’ll tackle 59-50.
59) Radiohead – “Bodysnatchers”
What can i say about Radiohead’s bold game changer In Rainbows that hasn’t already been said?
Most of us were or are already ripping off tons of music from the internet, Radiohead basically said, “bless you my child,” and gave it to us. SWA? I wanted to teal it! Fuck you Radiohead, I’ll show you! … and yeah, I plucked down $9.99 for the thing. Take that Thom Yorke… how do you sleep at night.
Wiki says: Yorke told the New York Times that “Bodysnatchers” was inspired by Victorian ghost stories, The Stepford Wives and his own feeling of “your physical consciousness trapped without being able to connect fully with anything else.”
58) Hot Hot Heat – “Bandages”
Sandwiches, sandwiches, sandwiches. yum.
First single form their first album for this YYJ rock band.
57) The Flaming Lips – “Do You Realize”
When I was younger I used always dream of living in Omaha. I lived in a little house/cottage thing by the airport. Strange thing to dream about. Omaha is in Nebraska, not Oklahoma, I don’t why that story makes any sense.
This song is the official state rock song of Oklahoma. the Sooner State is the 20th largest state in the Union and joined federation in 1907. When in Oklahoma, make sure you check out the National Wrestling Hall of Fame! wow, does West Jet fly direct or what?
That review in 2004 set the stage for the amount of buzz necessary to shoot Arcade Fire into the stratosphere of indie rock demi-goddom.
The song is about the Ice Storm of 1998 that took place in Montreal PQ. The city was without power for a week and the darkness of the city was the inspiration for the song.
55) Cage The Elephant – “Aint No Rest for the Wicked”
Kentucky singer Matt Schultz dreamt up this song while working as a construction worker. His coworker was a drug dealer complaining of life and Matt says, “well why do you do it?” and he goes, “ain’t no rest for the wicked.” Boom, song.
54) M.I.A. – “Paper Planes”
This was a bit of a controversial song on the Zone. It came out in 2007 and the Zone featured it a bit but no one cared. It went the way of the dodo like many singles the Zone feature son the inbox. Then the song gets picked up later int he summer for 2008 for the trailer of the movie Pineapple Express and people are calling up wondering why we don’t play the song? Doh, so into heavy rotation it goes and many months of fighting with people on the Zone Phone about why they love and/or hate this song begins. awww, memories. TV commercials are a powerful medium, i don’t care what anybody says about how they “never watch TV” or “I always skip the commercials.” No you don’t.
53) Silversun Pickups – “Lazy Eye”
I first encountered Silversun Pickups reading Pitchfork. They gave it a “meh” type review. But when reading why the author didn’t like the record, he inadvertently sold me on the record. It sounded like something I’d like. So I bought the record and I’m glad I did. Turned into one of my favourites.
When not played on a ton of different radio stations, this song is also mega popular on TV shows or video games or… wow, everywhere.
52) The Killers – “When You Were Young”
The Killers channel their innner Boss for a more “American” style of rock song. It must of worked as “When You Were Young” turned out to be the Killers best charting song to date!
51) Evanescence – “Bring Me To Life”
We’ll have to travel back to 2004 for this song. happier times in the life of Evanescence singer Amy Lee. She hadn’t had her falling out with guitar player Ben moody, no weird relationship with the Seether dude. Times were good and this song dominated the world reaching number 1 on the Modern rock charts (actually number 1 on a whole bunch of charts, the song was everywhere).
50) Our Lady Peace – “Innocent”
The second single from 2002’s Gravity. I am by far, not the biggest OLP fan in the world. But this is a song by the band I don’t hate. in fact, I’m listening to it right now.
He references Kurt Cobain. hey I like Kurt Cobain too Raine!
I am constantly trolling for some new sounds to introduce at my various weeklies around town (tonight I’ll be at The Clubhouse in the Strathcona). Looking back at Pitchfork’s best singles section I downloaded Kingston rockers PS I love You.
What is cool about this song is that it was the B-side to another single. But this song is so darn good and from a band I had never heard of before from Kingston. What has Kingston ever done for Canada? (well, aside from The Hip, Headstones and Sarah Harmer….).
The song is mighty and called “Facelove.” Its on their Myspace with a bunch of other fuzzy, grungy, poppy goodness.
When I was a kid, my brothers and I played lots of wiffle ball (like LOTS) in the backyard. We had an imaginary baseball league with teams (with full rosters) from fake cities and divisions and pennant races and the whole dealio. The best team in my division was a team called the Mudtown Seekers. Ever since then, I have always liked the word seek.
Here is a record called Seek Magic. It is from an artist called Memory Tapes and is super sexy. Pitchfork describes the sounds as “glo-fi/dreambeat/chillwave.” I download a shit load of music every week and when it comes time to lay it down in the lounge, some sticks and some floats away, .99 cents I’ll never get back… I only downloaded a couple Memory Tape tracks but seeing as I lean on them almost every week, its time for some more. I downloaded “Bicycle” and “Stop Talking.” But I’d imagine the whole album experience would be a trip. And I’ll have to flex those internet recommendation machines and find some more like it b/c I am jiving on this style.
“Buying Records in Record Stores is Cool.” aww, thank you Spoon, you’re cool too.
Spoon’s new one, Transference, is out today and I’m holding the 33 in my hot little hand right now (oh, I mean I’m typing, its beside me). Funny, I am not listening to the record, I got it going on electronically because Coral is watching TV, so I got to enjoy this music best with headphones on.
No problem, the record is spooky good. Lots of sounds. Lots of sounds? Swa? Its a record, it better have sounds. But what I mean is, its weird and mystical sounding in that jangly Spoon “ga ga ga ga ga” kinda way. Headphones works.
I was excited to get this record today. I didn’t have time before my radio show to swing by Ditch, so I had to get on my horse after the program to race down to Johnson and sneak in just before the bell.
Holy moly, how many records has this Austin, Texas band put out since the early/mid 90s? 7 LPs and a bunch of eps? I have only the most recent three, Transference, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, and Gimme Fiction. Plus the eps Got Nuffin and Don’t Cha Evah. One of the reasons I was excited for Transference was because I have so extensively enjoyed previous work. I was hard not to reckon that anything new would be great.
First listen in, and sure enough… its a good Spoon record. On the Zone, you might have heard Dave feature “Got Nuffin” and now he is trying out “Written in Reverse.” If you’re thinking of downloading a couple you might want to start there. I am also jiving on “Out Go The Lights” which is a bit more ballady for a Spoon cut. “Mystery Zone” is a good one too.
Today was a big day for all the indie rocking hipsters. It was the day that the tight panted gods wearing their godly ironic fluorescent yellow sunglasses announced the line-up for this years Coachella Music Festival. Now really, how many of will be taking off to the desert of California for a weekend in April? I wish (and fingers crossed some sort of miracle will happen). But this is a great bellwether for the festival circuit as a whole. These are the bands that want to be active this summer, in front of you, melting your face with sweet licks. And Spoon is on the list. SO! Will Spoon be at Sasquatch this year? Oh god I hope so… and I hope a lot of other things. Frightened Rabbit? SWA? They are my favourite band of the NOW and they’ll be at Coachella. Sasquatch is only a month later so I hope that means they could be there too.
Sasquatch is smaller, so all these bands won’t be there. But some will. Some is good. Frightened Rabbit and Spoon? best! Last year I died when I experienced Explosions in the Sky. It would be the cherry on my life sundae to witness a few more all-time faves.
This talk of Sasquatch reminds me that I should book the days off. Last weekend of May. The plan on paper has me trying to finagle some media passes. Coral and I walk on the ferry over to Vancouver. That is a considerable savings… which we plow into a tank of gas for my old man’s RV and south along the I5 we go… a good full day in advance of the festival. Some fine cheap US shopping in Bellingham to fill our stocks and then through Seattle. Maybe a pause to be tourists for a bit, then south-east to Ellensburg then the Gorge.
God smiles, and its sunny and hot like last year.
Coral and I are having a bit of a debate about whether we bring Madelyn of not. She’ll be over two which is good. She will be strong like ox. RV will really help. There were many kids last year at Sasquatch and when I am away from Madelyn for a few days, regardless of how drunk I am, when I see the families… I think, aw that would be fun. Coral thought we could get a little inflatable pool for the camp. Then I thought? What about bringing a pool into the venue? Could you imagine? Madelyn would make a lot of hippy friends if the temperature is in the 90s like last year.
Jury is out on Madelyn. Nana or Grandma might want to take advantage of a weekend with her, so then we’ll leave her. maybe they won’t. We bring her. I talk a mean game about getting drunk, but the truth is I might enjoy my weekend more if I keep it under control. So staying sober won’t be a big deal if my baby comes. And I think she’ll get a kick outta the carnival atmosphere, plus huge savings if I lay off the $9 US Daddy Pops. Anyways, its cool either way. We’ll see who wants to be part of the adventure and see what everyone thinks, cuz as they say… it takes a village to raise a kid and if it’ll be more buzz kill than cute attack I’ll beg Nana to have a sleepover for the weekend.
The other thought is pack down my DJ rig and some speakers and generator and fire up a dance party in the camp? That is an ambitious thought, but would be hugely popular after a day of rock & roll. The music is king but camp is like… not the king, but really good and with boobs. Queen? sure.
I better get off the computer now, Coral wants to play and she’s not supposed to use her cell phone to cruise the net! Silly Bell and their overage charges.
AKA Halo 20 from Trent and friends, one of my fave NIN songs period. Only was a song that NIN released as a multi-track that fans could download and create their own remixes… just like the previous single “Hand That Feeds.”
68) Matthew Good – “Born Losers”
Did you know the actor in that new Amy Adams film, “Leap Year” is named Matt Goode as well? huh. But he adds an ‘e’ to the end of good, like goode. Strange.
Matt had gone through a ton of personal shit when it came to lay down Hospital Music, and you’ll hear it all on the record. “Born Losers” had a few jabs at the ex-Mrs. including what I believe to be an allusion to an abortion?
“there ain’t nothin’ to this but your daughter
And the life you would not give her
Break your plans”
67) Audioslave – “Like a Stone”
This song came out in 2002, right around the time of Layne Staley’s death and many people speculated that Chris Cornell was singing about the former Alice in Chains singer. But he was not. Get back to work.
“No. I’m not one of those guys where, like, something happens and then I go run around, ‘Ooh, 9/11, and now it’s 9/12, let me write about that. I wrote the lyrics before he died. […] You can misinterpret that stuff pretty easy, but I don’t tend to sit down and plan on writing about a specific issue. They come up or they don’t.” – Chris Cornell 66) Sum 41 – “In Too Deep”
uhhh, the song is about wanting to break up with someone, but that person complains a bunch and you don’t because you uhhh, have spiky hair and you’re from Ajax.
65) Band of Skulls – “I Know What I Am”
The “press” whoever that is, give this record mixed reviews. Some people liked Baby Darling Dollface Honey (including most jocks at the Zone), some publications did not. Those publications are mouth pieces for communist China and hate Tibet. When the British band came to Victoria, they completely dominated our world. Gracious, talented and quality humans.
64) Matisyahu – “King Without a Crown”
An American Hasidic Jewish reggae singer, wow, Matisyahu dropped this unique style down on the planet in 2004. I still to this day get requests for the song. if you know where to look, you might find a version of this song remixed by Mike D of the Beastie Boys.
63) Matthew Good Band – “Anti-Pop”
At the end of the Matthew Good Band’s life as a group but at the beginning of the decade, they released The Audio of Being. Matt Good was in tantrum mode back then and unhappy, so he initially slammed the record. But sober second thought, he found some things to like. Time heals all wounds…
According to Matt, he wrote the worst song possible to fuck the record label, but we’re all really dumb and he’s so super smart:
“There an interesting story behind that song actually. The record company, I had already delivered that entire record to the record company. They use this whole back-channeling system cause the Matthew Good Band was a very political band. We actually weren’t all friends to begin with. It was a super political situation, everyone was always trying to basically fuck everyone else over at the exact same time, and I would just puke all day. And my record company called my management who called Dave Genn who said “oh you have to write a hit for the record”. So I tried to write the worst song I could possibly come up with. And then you know, in true fucking major record company fashion, they put it on the record. That’s how stupid record companies are.” Facebook quote lifted from Wikipedia
62) Weezer – “Hash Pipe”
The honest truth is, I don’t get Weezer. Well I get Weezer I suppose, but I don’t understand their popularity.
Kids, don’t do drugs.
61) Foo Fighters – “Let It Die”
The 00s are all about the Foo Fighters. “Let It Die” was the forth single off Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace and the third of that record to reach number 1 on the modern rock charts. the ninth record to ever do that. They also had multiple songs floating the chart at the same time making them the 5th band to pull that stunt in history (the others eing REM, U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Kings of Leon).
60) Finger 11 – “Paralyzer”
Its kinda funny looking back. In the fall of 2006 or winter 2007, Finger 11 flew out to Victoria and came on the Zone afternoon show to play “Paralyzer.” Their first song in years and a bit of a departure from previous sounds. We talked on the radio, played it. Shook hands and it was all well and good.
Then the song exploded and it was one of those moments when I should have paid more attention. I remember Scott Anderson from the band being a bit unsure and humble when they brought it to the radio station. Hoping to recapture some of their earlier success and working really hard to try and generate some excitement. well the work paid off and “Paralyzer” is now Finger 11’s biggest single.
That’s all for for now. Next time we’ll count down 59-50.
They call this the “breakout” single for the Scottish band back in 2004. The accolades for the song are long including being voted the Best Single of 2004 on The Village Voice.
I do recall Finger 11 covering this song when they played the arena a few years back in support of Sum 41. It was part of medley that included some Punk Floyd, Zeppelin, and their hit “Paralyzer.”
78) Cake – “Short Skirt/Long Jacket”
This is my personal fave Cake song. Its like Cake reached deep into my mind and wrote a song about my dream woman! Finger nails that shine like justice? Could there be better poetry?
This 2001 hit was used on the soundtrack for the film Waitress. man, Keri Russell needs to do more movies. She is so adorable.
77) Yeah Yeah Yeah’s – “Heads Will Roll”
a summer 2009 song, you might recognize this cut from a MTV “The Hills” promo. or was it The City? or Jersey Shore? Damn, they are all the same. Except The City has less Snooki.
76) Death From Above 1979 – “Romantic Rights”
A mid decade barn burner from the Toronto duo. First heard on their EP by the same name, and later found on You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine. I bet you are DFA 1979, I bet you are.
75) Nine Inch Nails – “Hand That Feeds”
Some people call the 00s, The Worst Decade Ever! (I’m looking at you Time). Hard for me to do that when all my 20s with in this decade, and I liked being in my 20s.
The 00s were also good to Mr. Trent Reznor. He was beginning to looks and sound like a relic of the 90s.
Not much was going on for NIN till 2005 and the album With Teeth. the lead single was a track called “Hand That Feeds” and well, the rest as they say is recent history. NIN goes on to dominate the modern rock landscape for the rest of the decade.
“Hand That Feeds” is Trent Reznors biggest chart song ever. “Only” is the only song that comes close… and personally, I like “Only” better, but hey, who asked right?
74) Three Days Grace – “Animal I Have Become”
The first single off 3DG’s 2006 One-X. hmm, nothing really interesting to say about this single. Decent rock song, kinda unremarkable. Its uhhh, 74 on my list? sure.
Christian parody band (there is such a thing, google it) ApologetiX (no seriously google them, they are terrible looking) have a spoof of this song called “Animals I Have Begun.” Cute.
73) Treble Charger – “Brand New Low”
There was a time when I would have considered myself a Treble Charger fan. Not so much anymore, but when this song came on the countdown over the holidays, I did kinda like it. We’re going back to 2000’s Wide Awake Bored for this song and you might have heard it on the soundtrack to EA’s NHL 2002.
72) The Killers – “All These Things That I Have Done”
“I’ve Got soul, but I’m not a soldier.” Heck yes Vegas rockers Killers.
The third single from The Killers monster 2004 record Hot Fuss, this song remains the most requested from that record today (in my opinion, not a scientific poll by any stretch).
Ben Stein (gotta love his gumption!) has a film called Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed about Intelligent Design and used the song in the film without the band’s approval. They tried to get it taken out, but it was too late, and so, The Killers are used in Ben’s politically charged film. 71) Rise Against – “Prayer of the Refugee”
Chicago rockers, Rise Against are singing out for the plight of foreign workers.
Victoria rockers and former Zone Band of the Month, Armchair Cynics made their first and boldest step into rock stardom with this fire cracker. The Cynics signed to Vancouver label 604 and pulled out all the stops in the recording of this song. It received airplay on the radio all over Western Canada and remains a fave for Zoners today. During the “Bang bang bang” of the chorus, if you listen real careful, you might hear Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger taking a wrench to a ride on lawnmower… I think that is what he’s hitting. He thought it would help the sound of the recording. God bless.
Coral’s sister came by last night to deliver her Christmas present that finally arrived in the mail. She ordered Jimmy Eat World’sClarity album on vinyl for her.
I’ve blogged before about how special this album is. Growing up, I wasn’t too into JEW. I knew their hits on the radio and lumped them (wrongly) in the bin with the other pop punkers of the late 90s/early 00s. It wasn’t till Coral and I started firing up that I got a chance to listen to Jimmy Eat World. She had told me she was a fan. not a word of lie, I judged her…. congratulations, you like radio friendly pop songs. But she quickly corrected that notion and fired up Clarity and even Static Prevails is a solid record. After grounding in those discs, I was able to re-explore the more popular albums Bleed American and Futures with a new appreciation.
Jimmy Eat World is now one of my favourite bands. Last night, Coral and I warmed up the LP player and listened to the record again.
Aside from my temperamental amp, it sounded good. As much as I love collecting records and all the production and ceremony that comes with playing them, it is a little much always having to get up flip the record. And Clarity is a double disc!
Coral stayed on the computer where she was hard at work crafting her new twitter profile (add her up! http://twitter.com/jesuiscoral ), but I put Mads to bed, fired up a pot of coffee, turned off the TV and most the lights and just sat on the couch listening. Good times.
I came to the conclusion that if/when we get around to building or acquiring the new living room shelving Coral has planned, I’ll need a record cubby (oh and that new amp!).
If you’re new to the whole Jimmy Eat World thing… go download that entire Clarity record. Then you can dive into Bleed American and Futures, then go back for the older stuff and Chase This Light.
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Now that Coral is back home, she might get her blog turned back on and she made a twitter account. I absolutely adore the graphic she used on her page.
Its from an artist named Audrey Kawasaki. So pretty. We flipped through some of her art last night while listening to our LPs (after Jimmy Eat World we launched into The Rural Alberta Advantage).
Maybe when we get our finances squared away in the next couple months we can get a print for our home.
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The other night I stayed up late to watch Vancouver’s Japandroids on Jimmy Fallon Show.
I love Japandroids, then i saw the show and was like… wow. Sounded amazing, and the all the buzz, their t-shirts. The guitar player guy was jamming out a plain-yet-bold shirt with Vancouver street names and the drummer had a CJSF t-shirt.
We had some talk on the twitter about trying to replicate a Victoria edition. I’ll be sure to let you know if anything comes from the brainstorming online.
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Lastly, I was reading Huckdoll the other day where she was talking (amongst other things) about the movie (500) Days of Summer.
She said how much she enjoyed the soundtrack, which both Coral and I also adore. The big stand out song for us is by an Aussie band called The Temper Trap, “Sweet Disposition.” You might recognize the song also from The Modern Rock Inbox on The Zone or on the TV for the Mercy TV show trailer.
But then it was December 23rd and I was off on holidays. But I still think it would be a good effort for me to dive into these songs, as many of them are played on my radio show still very often… so at the very least, it’ll be good practice for me.
91) Tool – “Schism”
I told the story on the radio for the first time I heard this song. My first “adult” job was working for a Telus call center in New Westminster at 6th and 6th. Anyone who knows anything about New West, knows that traffic in that area is brutal, and so, everyday I grinded to work in the hot sun before the invention of AC (or maybe it was invented? I dunno, I just know my little Blue Dodge Colt did not have it) listening to the radio. One day, Tool’s “Schism” was played, and that commute was better than the rest. Odd, I still remember that day. Kinda spooky. There are so many days, and most are fairly unremarkable… and a song getting played on the radio, even less remarkable.
The song was Tool’s lead single off 2001’s Lateralus and won the band their second Grammy.
90) MGMT – “Kids”
Kids was the third single off MGMT’s most excellant Oracular Spectacular. Arguably their most popular single as well. I am not sure which one got more love on the Zone, this one of “Electric Feel?” I think Electric Feel is latter in the countdown, so I guess that was the “better” song… whatever, I like “Time to Pretend” the best.
“Kids” is an older MGMT song that you super fans can find on the EPs “Time to Pretend” and “We (Don’t) Care.” British rag NME called it the best single of 2008! We call it #90 ’round these parts.
89) The Dudes – “Pretty Lies”
Calgary, Alberta rockers The Dudes make the list because I love them.
Wow, The Dudes will be Zone Show 200! February 26th, 2010 at Sugar Nightclub.
88) Foo Fighters – “The Pretender”
One of the Foo Fighters more successful songs in regards to Billboard chart position (only “Learn to Fly” and “Best of You” did better), personally… I find this one a bit boring. The song did earn the FF a Grammy in 2008 for Best Hard Rock Performance.
87) Sam Roberts “The Gate”
Sammy is popular around the Zone with the DJs and worker bees. And he should be, he is a quality human being that continues to jam out great music. Music Director Dave Sawchuk listed Sam’s Chemical City as his #10 fave record of the decade! High praise indeed. Could the record be named after Sarnia, Ontario? The Chemical City?
86) Weezer – “Troublemaker”
Back in… what was it? 2008? When Rivers began his epic hype odyssey for Weezer’s 6th album and the forth to be named after the band, he had a puzzle. he said the first single off the new record would be a 12 letter word that began with ‘T’ and ended with ‘R.’ Then he released “Pork and Beans” as the first single… oh you clever Harvard educated huckster you….
85) Tragically Hip “My Music At Work”
At the beginning of the decade the Tragically Hip released one of my favourite records, Music @ Work. The title was inspired by one of those lame Adult Contemporary radio station positioning “Your Music at work station” for some drivel.
84) Coldplay – “Viva la Vida”
For better or worse, you’ll be hearing a few CP songs on this list. I happen to enjoy Coldplay and don’t find their brand of rock and roll offensive. Couple that with the huge popularity and great live show, and you have a recipe for a major star on commercial radio.
If you have the XBOX 360 game Halo 3 and you dominated it, when you win you hear this song playing. I had to read that on Wiki as I don’t play console games… I am more a Total War fan cuz I’m cool like dat.
83) Rage Against the Machine – “Renegades of Funk”
I was DJing at The Clubhouse just before Christmas a few weeks ago and a fine Zoner was there drinking and generally enjoying his Thursday night when it dawned on him to hop up the flight of stairs to the DJ booth and request a song. The song? #83 on our countdown, Rage’s cover of “Renegades.” I forgot how much I still love this 2000 cover from their album Renegades.
hmm, I like the Rage version, but the original is pretty special. I’ll need ot add it to the new funk playlist I am working on.
82) Tegan and Sara – “I Hear Noises”
We’re going way back in the Quin sister’s discography for this gem from their second record “If It Was You” and the first record form the duo that I got into. This record was recorded near us, on Galiano Island.
81) Spinnerette – “Ghetto Love”
“Ghetto Love” is an album from rapper Jaheim and an EP/single from Ms. Brody Dahl’s latest incarnation, Spinnerette.
The Zone @ 91-3 signed on the radio June of 2001. And since that time, The Zone has sponsored a large number of Zone Shows. I didn’t come to the Zone till the spring of 2003, but I have done my best to reflect on some of the best concerts I can reckon from our extensive list of Zone Shows.
Were there better shows? maybe… in fact I can think of a bunch of great shows that aren’t on this list. I didn’t include anything that wasn’t a numbered Zone Show or anything that wasn’t in Victoria.
I wanted to include Rifflandia, it was Zone sponsored, but not a Zone Show… but it deserves a mention because it was so darn fun and the few shows I caught this year completely ripped! About half these shows I was at,m the other half I am relying on eye witness reports of their greatness and my jealousy of not being there. Here we go.
10) Sum 41 #1 Legends August 15th, 2001
The first Zone Show. I was not there but after talking with Sara, she felt that it would be important to mark the historic first in the franchise of “Zone Show” that featured a band that would continue to grow. When Sum 41 returns to Victoria now, they take up residence at the Arena, so if you were there back in the summer of ’01, you saw something special.
I originally wanted to include Sloan #60 Legends October 19th 2003. Sara asked, “what makes that show so special?”
I remember it as being one of the first big rock shows I got to MC as a young buck rocking the evening show on the Zone, but more importantly, there is this Zoner that phones my show from time-to-time that told me the story of his life and that show.
He brought a girl out on a first date to that rock show and they would end up getting married and are still married to this day. He always tells me how special Sloan and the Zone are to them because of that first date. awww, cute.
Our first big arena show was aptly, Zone Show #91, Our Lady Peace Save On Food Memorial Center, April 26 2006.
09) Sam Roberts w/ The Killers #74 Centennial Square September 4th 2004
One of my great modern rock shames. Being the junior announcer on the Zone still, I had to work while everyone else went down to Centennial Square to see this hot new band with a hit single called “Somebody Told Me” open up for Sam Roberts!
08) Beck w/ Band of Horses #159 Royal Theatre August 27th 2008
I included this show for a couple reasons. One: Coral and her friend Alix got to meet the lead singer of Band of Horses outside the Theatre. Two: Beck totally slays. Three, Band of Horses just keep getting better. To see them in the theatre is a treat.
07) Billy Talent w/ Rise Against, Moneen and Anti-Flag #115 Save On Foods Memorial Center January 18th 2007
Fuck it rained that day. I was outside huddled under a tent in the down pour for an epic live-to-air pre-show that included performances and interviews from all the bands involved. It was Rise Against’s first time in Vic and marked Billy Talent’s rise to the top of the Canadian Arena Rocking pyramid.
06) The Killers #169 Save On Foods Memorial Center April 23rd 2009
They came in ’04, they conquered in ’09. The Killers jammed out a bevvy of radio friendly hits, were gracious to allow an interview on the Zone, fired up an impressive stage show and just generally exceeded expectation.
05) Metric #101 Legends March 29th 2006
Metric’s first time in Victoria was a handful of years earlier opening for Hot Hot Heat at Sugar, then again headlining with Death From Above 1979. Those shows were good, but this show, headlining in the basement of the Strathcona Hotel was great! Metric was starting to firmly establish themselves and you knew then that these guys were gunna be huge! Just read the The Zone DJs top records of the year and almost everyone has Fantasies on their list.
04) Tragically Hip #174 Save On Food Memorial Center June 20th 2009
The Hip have had more than a few amazing shows in Victoria. I personally preferred their visit in January of 2007 for Zone Show #116. Then I saw them at the Commodore with my brother CJ. That show was spectacular. But talking with Dylan Willows, he said that #174 was the BEST Hip show he had ever seen. The special shout out that Gord had for the Times Colonist’s music writer Mike Devlin was go down in infamy ’round these parts.
03) Queens of the Stone Age #153 Save On Food Memorial Center May 1st 2008
There is a trend on this list for the best shows being later int he decade. I think that is happening for two reasons. The first being that I remember them better and second, the Zone is growing as a radio station and bigger rock acts are choosing our fair city. I’ll take it.
Queens is arguably the biggest band we play on the radio. Not only are these guy important to our playlist on the radio, Josh Homme delivers the goods on stage. Was a joyful man to interview and just generally owned the evening.
02) Tool #143 Save On Food Memorial Center December 1st 2007
It was my mother’s 50th birthday party on December 1st… and so I had a date in Coquitlam for the shin-dig. And I missed one my all-time fave bands. I am not too broke up about it however, I’ve seen Tool live more than once and every show they do is special. I can only imagine that a concert that sold out instantly was as insane as I imagine. this will be a show that Zoners will celebrate forever, along with,
01) Nine Inch Nails #161 Save On Food Memorial Center December 5th, 2008
Could there have been a more perfect live experience in Victoria of the arena variety?
The lights alone were worth the price of admission. Trent had an exceptional set list, great energy and excitement for the entire evening. I didn’t want it to end.
There were a lot of great shows in Victoria, a lot club gigs, little festivals, Meatloaf. I could write all day about some of the adventures I’ve had watching Bob make out with some random goer in the beer line of the Def Leppard concert, falling down a flight of stair and cutting my leg at Pirate Party (that was after puking and sharing the hot tub with the twins… male twins… awkward), Plants and Animals, Lucky Bar in general, open Air at Centennial Square (RIP) all those crazy SUB parties up at UVic, Band of the Month shows… oh the list.
The Morning After 