Coral and I got to spend a quick 24 hours up in Whistler this weekend.
I was up there to DJ a wedding for a couple from San Francisco. They have a passion for skiing and mountain adventure so that’s why they chose Whistler. They also love indie and alternative music, so that is why they chose me to DJ!
The groom, Sanjay, had curated a pretty choice selection of songs for the ceremony, cocktails, dinner, and dancing. The song he picked while he came up to the alter was a cool song by Rayland Baxter. The song is called “The MTN Song.” It was so perfect for this hot evening in May.
The song is about mountain nature, love, and standing up their in front of everyone and proclaiming it.
It was a weekend of ADVENTURE for me and Mads. I had the opportunity to DJ a wedding for Vancouverites Robin and Jon at a beautiful lake called Upper Campbell Lake. They got married at the stunning Strathcona Park Lodge… “off the grid” as the literature states. No cell, limited internet, intermittent power. We battled the comforts of civilization to play in one of Vancouver Island’s most spectacular settings. The dining room had a whale skeleton hanging on the wall to stare at (if you get tired of the pristine scenery). You sit on wooden chairs in a room that reminds you of camp as a kid but with better art. And the food is basic, and wholesome and healthy. Then down to the lake for a float. Amazing. I need to go back for a proper holiday because the place is laced and criss-crossed in hiking trails, zip lines, mountaineering… then the boating, campfires, lake…
Meanwhile…my brother CJ, his lady Caitlin, my sister Andrea and their friend Anders took Maddy camping with my folks. First at Englishmen River then to Rathtrevor… where I joined them.
The beach stretches forever and the water was warm. We played on the beach for a couple hours then hit Parksville. Great vibe…like a surf/beach town for people that grew up directly knowing the Beach Boys. Not their music, but actually lived in the 60s and KNEW them. Now they are retired but still living the Surf City dream.
Hitting the highways of Vancouver Island demands a soundtrack… and the Purple Tour-van only lets me do FM radio and CDs. The thing about CDs is that I’ve stopped buying them, so my collection of records that I LOVE kinda ends in the mid-ish 2000s (save for a small selection of bands that still send the odd CD to the radio station). No problem.
The Hold Steady – Boys and Girls in America MGMT – Oracular Spectacular Hot Wat Music – Caution Coheed and Cambria – In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth Coheed and Cambria – Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star 4 (part 1) Blink 182 – Enema of the State Tool – Aenema Band of Horses – Everything All The Time
The Hold Steady record in particular I was feeling. Sounded so good cranked in the lake country. Many of the songs take me back to the first yet I met Coral and there is a special place in my heart for the whole record. No bad songs… one I have for you today is this jam which I send out to all people enjoying summer hard on Vancouver Island, the best Island.
On Saturday I DJ’d a wedding in Victoria at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. Ryan and Emily are a couple from Vancouver that made the voyage to our Island village to celebrate. Ryan happens to be a composer and so during the reception he had a couple performers jam out a song he made for his new bride. Have a listen…
An Ode to Emily: Frustrated Landscapes
by Ryan Trew
Flute: Crystal Yang
Piano: Matty Poon
The song and little concert was such a fun and unique moment in the wedding. I asked Emily if I could share it on my blog and I am happy she said yes. Some classical music MP3s on the old MAS Blog. Good times.
Here is a picture of Madelyn helping me. On Saturday, I hooked the bike trailer up to the bike and took Maddy along as I ran errands for the wedding DJing. We stopped by a venue to scope out how to set up for a future wedding and had to rent lights. She was a great assistant loading the lights into the back of the bike trailer.
Its a bit of a retro hazy throwback style, but I dig Portland’s Blitzen Trapper.
I think it was either Cait Fraser or her old boyfriend that got me into the song “Furr.” Such a groovy song. I downloaded a couple other songs from the band. The other day SubPop sent their album to the Zone and it caught my eye so I punched it up.
Its a cool, cool record. If you enjoy the folky 70s summer-esque psychedelic rock & roll, you might like this record.
I have a few favourites and I’ll share a couple with you here.
This song has all sorts of imagery going on. I like to believe its a romantic ode to a “girl in a coat.” Singing about seasons and adventuring… its a pretty song indeed.
The other song I like talks about space! Maybe a great theme song for DW’s SpaceBook.
OK… so its not really about space… its about a girl, of course, like ALL songs. But like… I hope her brother’s don’t come after him! Nice. Spacesuits, grand “illusions,” then some good all southern style groove.
Righteous. I was third and inches from buying the vinyl on the weekend… found an ounce of discipline and kept from spending my meager pay-cheque on music for a change.
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It was my last wedding of the season yesterday under the tent at Sea Cider. I’ll have a handful of events till the end of the year, but most the hustle and bustle is winding down.
It was a very nice, contemporary wedding in a light rain. I think I like October weddings. Wait… I got married in October! (so did my folks). No wonder. Neat.
I had posted the other day about Wedding First Dance Songs. Coral and I got married in Vegas and had our reception at Dos Caminos… mighty TIME! But no dancing, no first dance… there were kinda some drunken speeches yelled over the din of the restaurant, but definitely not a traditional wedding style.
BUT what would Coral and I have chosen as a wedding song? Back when we planned such things, Coral saw on Ellen that she used this Joshua Radin song, “Today.” I imagine that in 2008/09 that was a very popular song to use for a first dance.
I would choose Grand Archives, “Swan Matches” or even The National’s “Slow Show.” I dunno if its like “romantic” in the traditional sense, but an important song to me personally.
Corjamorj texted me while I was at the wedding last night. I guess she read this blog or thought about it or whatever… but she would pick Ray LaMontagne’s “Shelter.”
Then talking with Sea Cider’s Alix… I went, “wait a minute, I have emails from all the brides and grooms and all the songs they chose as first dances… maybe I should make a playlist with the songs.”
Last night, after the wedding… I changed into my pajama pants and bro-shirt, got comfy on the couch and sifted through old emails to find all the first dance requests. Then made:
I had a great weekend with Mads. Saturday we all mostly did chores and cleaned our apartment. Then I took Maddy swimming which she loves. The public pool is just $6, which I think is good value for the amount of time it keeps us entertained and active. A movie date would cost many times that, be a strong pull towards junk food, be sedentary and keep her occupied for less time.
So I’m bullish on investing in public pools!
Sunday I woke up oddly early. I watched a movie then thought, I better use my day before I lounge it away… as I got ready to skip outta the house, Mads woke up too and asked if we could go downtown. Sure, so I got her ready (well Corj did her hair like always) and we went record shopping (where I did NOT buy Blitzen Trapper) then to Shine for breakfast. It was lined up down the block with a whose-who of hipsters, UVic kids and people-about-town. But I was on Island time so Mads and I used the 30-40 minutes to explore the city (she really like going “downtown”) and playing train.
Then crushed back the most mighty of omelets, toast, fruit and bacon! Being only 3-and-a-half.. Madelyn is a pretty cheap date as we share just one breakfast.
That’s all I got… I kinda want to go back to Las Vegas now after recalling our reception!
Pol was talking on his show about the home stereo the other day. Great discussion about how he still has a home stereo and he called it a “shrine” to music. Neat.
I love my home stereo… and its still a goal to improve it dramatically. I want/NEED a Rega turntable because I love them. A new amp (though I love my old one, its just a piece of temperamental shit sometimes) and maybe new speakers one day.
Right now, it all serves purpose and works (kinda) so its hard to take money to fix it up.
I do love just having it in my home. Like a historic or religious artifact.
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Yesterday on facebook. I asked friends to send me their wedding “first dance” song or the song they would use… if they ever decided to get married. Lots of wonderful selections were sent in, so I made a podcast with some selections.
I raced down during a little lull in my crazy hectic day to snap up a copy for Coral before they went sold out again. (also got me out of the studio/office for 20 minutes and into the city).
Foster the People – “I Would Do Anything For You”
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Yesterday I talked about buying a Ukulele and got lots of messages from friends with ukulele’s too! Neat.
And the reason I was at L&M was to check on today’s capital purchase for my Wedding DJ business… I bought a two PA speakers, a sub, a wireless mic and all the cables/stands I need to make them go.
It will save me money making the payments vs. renting each wedding. And by next summer… I’ll get to keep a little more profit!
There two types of music we all listen to: The music we like, and the music we think we’re supposed to like.
Being paid to think about and present music, I hear a lot of different stuff and I am also exposed to other peoples’ tastes. One of my favourite places to play music is at weddings.
I was DJing a wedding in Victoria on the weekend for some fine people. They were beautiful twenty-somethings with their group of beautiful friends. All good folks.
And like all weddings, the playlist has to be a very mainstream, fun and upbeat mix. I have no problem with this as… I do enjoy me some Top 40 music and have a soft spot for Motown and classic hits.
At a wedding, later after speeches, and cake, pictures and small talk… it generally becomes time to turn it on and hit the dance floor. Some drinks, some “Save a Horse and Ride a Cowboy,” and some cleavage revealing dresses later; the party will start to operate at an 11.
Then the requests comes and I get a chance to hear what people really like.
Sometimes the party-goers know who I am before and it will taint our meeting, but luckily alcohol is the great forgetter. Almost always, the request begins with either, “you probably don’t have this but….” or “I don’t normally even like this song but….”
I always find it funny when people apologize for their taste in music. Maybe its because I have confidence in what I like that I don’t care… and I take that for granted. I like Taylor Swift fine. There is never anything wrong with wanting to have silly fun.
I will say this, dropping Taylor Swift “Love Story” at a wedding will create mass-ovulation. It really is in the best interests of humanity’s continuation on the Planet to come to terms with music that makes people happy. Folks smile, babies will be made.
When I listen to music I ask myself… Do I like this, or should I like this?
Should doesn’t bother me too much. If everyone tells you something is good… and you’re not feeling it… groovy, but I still listen very critically to try and figure out what makes it special to other people. Sometimes the hype is pretend, too many people thinking they should like something because: their peer group does, or it fits a mold or lifestyle attribution. Sometimes its just challenging and smarter people than me get it and get off on the weirdness. Sometimes its very commercial and easy sounding, so lots of people like it.
Should makes sense for me. A new modern rock song, might not be my cup of tea at home, but learning and appreciating it is useful for my job. Same for a new popular dance track that I can play at a wedding or an obscure R&B number from the 60s to burn down the lounge with.
The flip… if I hear Taylor Swift on the radio, I don’t change the station. Then I want to make-out.
But if you don’t like the Japandroids, you’re an idiot. (jk)
I grew up n Mundy Street in Coquitlam. If I were 27% cooler than I was (does that sentence make sense?) I would have vandalized every street sign to be “Mundi” Street. Much more glorious in Latin. I think ‘mundi’ translates to “of the world.” Kinda sexual.
I went through a Latin phase as a young buck. That is Latin for, “I never put my hand on a boobie.”
I used to take books out of the library that tried to explain all the ‘um’ in stadium and jive talk like that. Like I said, my life path at the time pointed straight to virginitytown.
I was standing in line Fairways on Tuesday. Buying the parts of a lunch as I have done hundreds of times before. Standing in front of me was a beautiful woman and in front of her was a Dad and his daughter about the age Madelyn. She wanted to help Dad… just like Mads. Super adorable. “I can do it.”
The woman in front of me was fawning over the little girl. She was gorgeous. Kind of an alt rocker Suicide Girl type meets nerd. Normally the tattoo’d look is not my style…and I never really saw the front of her… but I could just tell she was an attractive person by looking at her vegetarian food on the conveyor belt and the way she played with the stranger’s kid in front of her. Now that I am an old pervy Dad… women that are cool with kids are cool with me.
I spotted on her arm one of the tattoos, it said ‘Mundi.” “Hey, I lived on Mundi Street,” I thought to myself. I tried to glance the rest… ‘sic’ ‘transit’ ‘gloria’ ‘mundi.’
A Brand New fan? huh. I like that band too… but tattooed on her arm? and ‘mundi’ isn’t part of the title.
What I mighty fine tattoo… but it turns out “something in Latin” is a popular style of tattoo. Not saying I ever want to get one… but sometimes I do.
Coral was thinking I should get a Pisces fish on my arm… to represent Madelyn. She is a Pisces, neat.
I like the idea of lyrics or words, more my style… but that is less bad-ass than some sleeve tattoo. Maybe I should work on doing those 100 push-ups then I’ll have some arms worth tattooing.
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In other news…
Your favourite Victoria Wedding DJ (I hope) is in action with a pub gig tonight.
Coral and I will be doing our husband/wife all vinyl DJ set at Smiths Pub starting at 9PM. Smiths $12 Burger and Beer special pairs exceptionally with quality music selected with care. I hope you can come.
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Lastly…
Pinkerton from Weezer might not be the greatest record ever made… but it has to be one of Weezer’s best.
The record didn’t see much love when it was released back in 1996. But because it is weird and different… it lives on as a bit of a cult favourite.
Seeing as I personally can’t handle Weezer’s “good” music…. their weirder, older stuff is my fave.
Weezer is going to re-issue the record in October. If there is a vinyl run with this re-issue, I’d consider adding a Weezer record to my collection. Maybe.
I am trying to set some goals and grow as a DJ performer and sometimes it can be hard because… well being a DJ is a singular enterprise.
I only really know what I do.
Now I have been blessed to know some generous DJs who have helped and shared with me. Jess Taylor and DJ Anger being two early ones that helped me and later J Reign, Marshall, DJ Trekk, DJ Clinton, Rauri Lazers, DJ Fatso and of course DJ Murge. But at the end of the day… it is a self education.
What I constantly think about is creating my own beats and sounds… but I really have no idea how to start. My buddy Tyson gave me a midi controller keyboard thing and I have Garageband? I guess I can start.
And now I have a destination… I want to get on the bill Camp Bisco in rural New York.
What an adventure that could be… if I can talk them into letting me have a slot.
It’ll be a money losing proposition. That is certain. Traveling to New York to DJ can’t be cheap. I’d for sure be bringing Coral and even Madelyn… so its more a professional holiday? sure, I like that word; professional holiday.
in other news: when you type ‘Victoria Wedding DJ‘ into google, my website comes up! Spin The Black Disc.
Thank you everyone for the support. I am sure being a wedding DJ isn’t helping my goal of club DJ too much, but the baby has got to eat (and it’s actually really fun… so far).
The Morning After 