Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Thank you Linda for the picture.

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.

Go with yourself.

Dion Phaneuf was traded to The Zone @ 91-3

Victoria: Veteran Zone presenter Jeremy Baker was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs early this morning in a blockbuster three way trade that also involved the Calgary Flames.  Listen for Dion Phanuef on The Zone Afternoon Show Monday.

“It was definitely a shock, but I’m very excited about going to Victoria and being a Zoner,” said Phaneuf.

“It’s a cliche. If Wayne Gretzky can get traded anyone can get traded. I was very surprised, but on the other hand I’m very excited to be going to the 14th largest radio market in the Canada.”

The shakeup comes following a loss to the Vancouver Canucks Saturday night to extend the team’s winless streak to six games, but Leafs GM Brian Burke said that “these pieces were in place prior to yesterday.”

“[Baker] is a warrior. He talks a lot,” explained Burke. “He presents music on the radio and I want players who play the game hard, but also some radio DJs to kinda shake things up in the East.”

A 6′, 180 pound Coquitlam native, Baker was drafted by the Zone in 2003.  He says he was surprised by the trade but is hoping that he can do his part to turn around the struggling Leafs.

“I haven’t laced up since my days playing Midget “C” hockey in Coquitlam, but coach (Ron Wilson) said he expects me to play on the second defensive pairing Tuesday against the Devils.”

“I have a lot of respect for JB, but this is part of the business,” Zone Program Director Sara P said. ”It happens at times, and it’s happened here.’

”Jeremy is certainly a good talker, but we’re getting a big, hard shooting defenseman in return.  He will really lock down the competitive afternoon drive time in Victoria for the Zone.”

The Victoria radio division is one of Canada’s most competitive with the Zone trailing Kool FM in the ratings and the final playoff spot and many share points behind perennial ratings dominator The Q!

Q! Afternoon show host Ryan Awram was reported as saying, “Dion might be a good hockey player, but if he presents modern rock like he played defense on The Flames, I don’t think Kirk (Mason) and I are too worried.”

Media reports say that program director Sara Parker is not done yet with the Zone’s onair line up.

She is expected to deal half of the Zone’s morning line to make cap space for Phaneuf’s 6.5 million dollar contract over 4 years.  Rumours have Jason Lamb shipping off to Edmonton for Sheldon Souray or a block buster proposal that sees Dylan BigD Willows and Rozie Amos plus half the promotions department to Atlanta for Ilya Kovalchuk.  Expect more of this story to develop as the March 3rd trade deadline approaches.

with files from TSN dot ca.

Who would have guessed that?  not this guy.  Check out his blog.

Pirate Pick

I had talked about wanting to start a financial blog on here awhile back, but I think the reality of that happening right now is low.  It is a challenge enough  to stay on top of this blog and keeping on the news and music for my radio show.  Plus I am DJing more and more these days and I really enjoy that and want to keep growing my performance, so right now, no new blog.

That said, Coral and I are really starting to get into the hang of the “Jar Budget” or basically, living off a set value of cash every week.  Granted, we set a fairly generous amount of cash to live off each week, but its working.  We now generally have a little of last week’s cash in the jar by the time its time to put more in!  Just in time for Coral’s birthday.

The other benefit… and this is one I shared with my buddy Dave, you end up collecting lots of change.  Loonies and Twonies and quartres and all that good stuff.

Its getting to the point where for some goofy things like a coffee or even a lunch or simple groceries, I just take a fistful of change and not even open the cash jar.

We’re not perfect at not using the debit, but its much better than before.

***

Which brings me to my next project.  A new laptop!  huzzah.  But I’m not there yet.  I am still dreaming and pricing and see what I need and/or want.

I need a more powerful laptop to run my DJ software and eventually I want to play around with creating my own lounge beats.  The Toshiba, god bless it, freezes during my sets sometimes (well actually about once a night).

I want a Mac Book Pro.

The conflict I have is cost.  I am still putting a jihad on bills and debt so no computer right now, but my projection is to be in a position to buy a computer by April.  Knock on wood, no issue with the Toshiba and it serves till then.

From my wandering on the Serato message boards, the consensus is a Mac.  It might be true that 90% is on PC, but in the creative DJ world, the opposite is true.  It feels like 90% of professional DJs and producers use a Mac.

But when you ask why?  the answer isn’t always clear.  “Its better” is common.  That’s cool, but is it $1000 better?  Coral and I bought our Toshiba two years ago for about $750.  Is a MacBook Pro 17″ monster worth $2,599.99?

My studies have concluded that even if I went Mac, I could get away with a MacBook ($1,000 ish) or the more powerful Pro 13″ 2.53 GHz.  cost: $1,599.00.  wow, for a computer.

That screen is actually smaller than our 14″ Toshiba… and my second major issue after the freezing is the small screen.

Bump up to the 15″ MacBook Pro and now we’re talking $1,799.99.

Scary.

I want it, but do I NEED that?

Coral was watching Olsen on Your Side on CTV the other day, and they said the best PC Laptop for value was the Dell Studio XPS which start on the Dell website for around $1,000.

Get a Dell, save $800?  hmmm.

Is a MacBook Pro worth $800 MORE than a PC?  If you think so, I’d like to hear it.  The biggest thing I’ve heard of the value of the Mac is stability.  At the end of the day, that might be my most important attribute.  One DJ said that “the cheapest used Macbook on Craigslist is better than any PC for operating Serato.”

I figure, if the Toshiba, god forbids, shuffles off the mortal coil before April, I can always find a used Macbook and just get back out there.

*** future project, I want a MIDI controller ($200 ish) and to learn Ableton (Thanks Rozie)!  And start building a stage show for when I DJ.  Maybe my saved up change jar money can buy some lights or what I really want is a screen and a projector.***

Go with yourself.

The Times Colonist asked, “should we invite him to Victoria?”  Heck yes we should.

Phoenix rocked Vancouver the other night, and it turns out I missed quite the party!

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?

Guy (Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) recommends Leo’s BBQ in Oklahoma City!

56) Arcade Fire – “Neighbourhood #3”

Arcade Fire’s Funeral got one of the highest marks that my fave indie rocker website hands out.

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!

Go with yourself.

Forestry have recorded a new self-titled long players so they came by the CRC studio for a chit chat and to share some new music.  They also play one from one of their favourite Vancouver bands Ladyhawk and reflect on an old Zone Band of the Month called Greatest Explorers in the World.  Then we talk about who might have been the greatest explorer in the world?  Henry Hudson?  SWA?

Thank you for downloading.

Download: Capital Rock City #88

If you are new to the CRC experience and enjoy the program please take the time to find my show on iTunes, just search for ‘Capital Rock City’ and it should pop.  Subscribe/comment/rate.  It really helps.

You can also subscribe using this RSS feed.  Thank you.

***

DJ Notes

01) Forestry – “Love/War”
02) Forestry – “Edmonton, AB”
03) Forestry – “The Flood”
04) Greatest Explorers in the World – “Hide and Seek”
05) Ladyhawk – “I Don’t Always Know”

Peter and Blake of Forestry came by the studio on Monday night to share with me their new music.  I like these guys because not only do they make sweet sounding indie pop, they are also radio guys!  Peter jams out on Village 900am and Blake you’ll hear on CFUV.

We talk about things they have to do with trees, wood and wood related professions, some of their fave BC indie rockers, Blake’s sad panda tale about Edmonton, Peter’s love/hate relationship with Victoria, their take on who might have been the world’s greatest explorer and their upcoming shows at Lucky Bar.

Forestry w/ Ladyhawk and Treelines
January 30th, 2010
Lucky Bar :: Doors @ 8PM

Forestry w/ Wooden Sky
February 23rd, 2010
Lucky Bar :: Doors @ 9PM

***

My wife Coral has been very hard at work rearranging our apartment and in her organizing, she inadvertently dug up an old CD.  In Medias Res’ first ever concert.  recorded and put to CD and I got it!  So next week I’ll pop it in the CD player here at The Zone and press play and we’ll hear what comes out.

*** HEY BANDS ***

I always need new music to feature on Capital Rock City so if you’re a Victoria, Island, Vancouver or Hinterland BC band, I’d love to have some music to feature.  Heck, I’ll even take a Washington State band if you crush.

Go with yourself.

Whatever, she is still pretty hot.

aside from the fact the commercial is a bit of rip from the ” California – Find Yourself Here” ad, its pretty slick.

I typed the word “swim” into my iTunes and this is what I got, a swimming playlist.

01) Brand New – “Jaws Theme Swimming
02) Broken Social Scene – “Swimmers
03) Bush – “Swim
04) Frightened Rabbit – “Swim Until You Can’t See Land
05) Great Lake Swimmers – “Moving Pictures, Silent Films
06) Iron & Wine – “Swans and Swimming
07) Jack’s Mannequin – “Swim
08) R.E.M. – “Nightswimming
09) Surfer Blood – “Swim

Well didn’t this playlist turn out sorta neat?  I was thinking about the Jack’s Mannequin song oddly tonight.  Uplifting track.  Too me it has a similar vibe of theme to Frightened Rabbit or the new Surfer Blood.  Kinda interesting to think about the “swimming” metaphor.

The “swim” search brought up a bunch of songs but 9 different bands.  I just included one Great Lake Swimmers cut.  My favourite oldie.

I left the list in alphabetical order too… seems to fit.  spooky.  Starts with the Brand New song “Jaws Theme Swimming.”  I like that the playlist has an intro or theme song to start. and sharks man, sharks.  Deje Entendu does not get enough love.  Very cool record.

I think the BSS song “Swimmers” is the one that includes Miss Emily Hains of Metric?  yes/no?  Sounds like her and i’m too lazy to look it up.  But when I searched on wiki it had some tid-bit about how the original art was going to use a cartoon of Pangaea?  SWA?  My next playlist should be about Pangaea!  Reminds me of the songs from Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, “Pangea.”  They spell it different.  hey nerds, if you’re gunna be super nerdy, figure it out already.

“Pangea, we used to be together/why did we have to drift apart?”  lovely.

Alyx requested Bush tonight at the Clubhouse.  weirdo.

I guess Sixteen Stone was a big deal in like 1900 and something.

Frightened Rabbit is my favourite band and they have a song for all occasions!

Great Lake Swimmers are a band that you might know, you might love, but you might not be aware that this cut was recorded in a barn grain silo in Ontario one summer.  Listen, really really listen and you’ll hear all the nature buzzing around the mics.  OK, you don’t have to listen to hard, I’m half deaf from all my years in radio and being a hipster and I can hear it pretty easy like.

Iron & Wine is really just one dude, Sam Beam.  He was a University professor before deciding to becomes a folk star.

Turns out I’m super cool and got the limited press of Endless Summer Nights as ‘Swans and Swimming” was on the bonus CD.  If I were less cool, I might get Iron & Wines odds and sods comp, Around the Well.

OK, its the honest segment of today’s playlist… I heard Jack’s Mannequin’s “Swim” during a promo for Grey’s Anatomy or something just as sickening.  I heard it one time, it burrowed into my brain and I downloaded it that night.  The chick that brought us Twilight likes these guys and directed a music video?… so hmmm, I’m a 12 year girl for this song.  I’m not proud but  I like it.

R.E.M. might give me some redemption, but “Nightswimming” is from Automatic for the People… so you can make the call of its redeemness.  “Nightswimming” is one of the better songs from the record, does that help?  no? oh.

The final cut is a new one and that how I like it.  Fugly dudes from Florida called Surfer Blood.  Pitchfork creamed themselves over their debut album Astro Coast the other day.  I bought into the hype partially and downloaded one song, “Swim.”  Its good.

The end.

Go swimming and go with yourself.

Take the Ticket

Check out the Victoria Film Festival.