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Coral’s sister came by last night to deliver her Christmas present that finally arrived in the mail.  She ordered Jimmy Eat World’s Clarity 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.

Wiki: Jimmy Eat World Discography

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.

***

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.

***

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.

***

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.

Go with yourself.

This week I sit down with my man Aidan Knight (Maurice, Counting Heartbeats, Black Tie Social) to talk about his solo career and his upcoming CD release party at Lucky Bar (01/08). He brought some of his fave music including the first new song from Vancouver band In Medias Res is over 4 years! I hope you like the show and thank you for taking the time to download.

Download: Capital Rock City #86

and as always friends, I love and respect (and kinda need) you love, ratings and comments on iTunes.  Please search for, find and subscribe to Capital Rock City for free from the iTunes store.  For you fans of the RSS, here is the feed.

Other friends of Capital Rock City and include: Mixcloud and DoubleDance.  Thank you!

***

DJ Notes

01) Yukon Blonde – “Wind Blows”
02) We Are The City – “Time, Wasted”
03) Aidan Knight – “Jasper”
04) In Medias Res – “Tonight, I am New”
05) Black Tie Social – “Silver Screens”

Aidan came by to talk about his show coming up on Friday AND I am turning 30 this weekend… so I thought, that would be a good place to celebrate.

I haven’t had the chance to see In Medias Res in many years and was wonderfully surprised to hear they were back, active, recording AND coming back to Victoria around my birthday time.  fun.  They made a music video for the song I featured on the podcast.

Working on having The Forestry stop by the studio and Vince Vaccaro and I might go hike into the woods to record the next CRC LIVE from a Forest.

Hey, you’re alright.

Go with yourself.

When I volunteered for the task of counting down The Zone @ 91-3’s Top 91 of the Decade, I had planned on sharing some DJ notes on this here blog.

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.

Liam Lynch directed the music video.

Well that is all I got for today.

Go with yourself.

Holy moly, Happy New Year.  I had to send in some invoices yesterday and dated them 2010, that was a real trip.

Time to get back to the grind and pace of life.  The holidays were a real blast, and despite the fact that Coral and I were tragically broke, we some how managed to wrangle up always just enough cash and/or gift cards to keep food in the belly, diapers on the Monster and gas in the Jeep.  And so we sailed to Coquitlam on Christmas and then journeyed overland into the mountains and down to the lake for a visit in Kelowna.  Then back to the capital in time to ring in the new year.

The New Years Party on Thursday night was bittersweet.  Sadly, Coral had to wrangle a baby and so I had no one to kiss when the clock struck midnight, but a kind lovely on the dance floor handed me a glass of champagne and I punched up that New Years song that always gets played.

The party was a fine event, attended by upstanding gentry and ladies.  The food at the Hotel Rialto was outstanding.  Aside from being lonely at a party, the vibe was positive.  At one of the food stations scattered throughout the venue, the chef was carving up steaks on a mushroom risotto and then covered in a lobster sauce.  I have heard so much about risotto from Gordon Ramsay TV shows, but had actually never eaten the stuff.  Now I get it, pretty good.  The sauce was the true star, I just wanted the chef to forget about streak and pour the sauce in my mouth then make love to it in my belly.

My DJ booth was set up next to the seafood station which had many benefits.  First, I was near an endless supply of scallops and second, it ensured that there was a steady stream of patrons to the dance floor (the dance floor was set up away from the main party).

I had come to the party prepared to play a mix of contemporary top 40 with hits of the past decade.  I had spent much of the past week researching and listening to old music, and what was left of our little fortune was committed to downloading songs… but when I arrived and began playing music, the crowd wanted to hear oldies.

At one point, a more distinguished lady saddled up next to me to lament, “will you be playing any music for my generation?”

Oh nose! I thought… I asked, “what, uh… sort of music?”

“Like Frank Sinatra!” she beamed.

Oh nose! “yes, the chairman of the board, I love him,” OK, I don’t LOVE him, but I got a couple songs buried on the hard drive.  I was a little sceptical.  The dance party had just begun to fire up, and her this old lovely wanted me to crush everything by dropping Old Blue Eyes…. then my boss rolls over… “oh hey Jeremy, I see you met the owner of the hotel.”

Oh nose!  Frank Sinatra it is.

I punch up the song and hear the inevitable groan and people jump ship for the safer sounds in the lounge.

But then something miraculous happened.  A flood of people began to move into the vacated space on the floor and dance.  When Frank finished I moved on to Elton John, the Beach Boys, Elvis, The Beattles and the times were good.

It turns out I have a pretty good collection of oldies and had to flex the brain to remember them all and play it.  The people really responded and it was a lot more fun to dive into these old cuts rather then play David Guetta’s “Sexy Bitch” again.

New Years behind us, time to focus on some books!

I am hammering through my story of John Jewitt, the English trader that survived a massacre of of his ship and was captured by Nootka chief Maquinna.  He wrote of his ordeal and this book is the story.  I think it will make a good subject for my first attempt at making a radio documentary.  Then while riding the ferry, I saw in the gift shop a book about Quadra.  I didn’t have the means to buy the book last week, but yesterday I did so I purchased ‘At The Far Reaches of Empire: The life of Juan Francisco do la Bodega y Quadra.’ (I may have also bought ‘Master and Commander‘ on Blu-Ray).

Quadra’s exploits predate Jewitt by a few years but he lived and knew Maquinna as well, so it might be interesting to read about his adventures to the Pacific North-West.

Looks like I have some reading to do.  Back to the radio show this week and an all new Capital Rock City for you on Tuesday.

Go with yourself.

This picture makes me laugh.  My brother Matt stepped into the year 2009 days before with ring in the big 10 with a smart-phone.  He snapped this last night after Christmas dinner while we were all huddled around the TV watching “The Hangover” for the third time.

My old man got us all Team Canada Hockey shirts for Christmas.  Like everyone.  Coral got a jersey, Caitlin, my sister.  He kept one for himself.

I don’t care what your personal views on the Olympic are, Olympic hockey to me is the best tournament and I’ll be watching.  I still hope to some how finagle tickets to a game, but at the very least, I might burn some holiday time I have saved up and be in the city if Team Canada makes the final.

The laws of positive attraction right?  If I am in the right place at the right time, who knows? Maybe I’ll get in the building?

Christmas was fun as usual.  Madelyn was rightly spoiled and getting to an age where she loves toys.  She might not get “Christmas” but she sure gets Upsy Daisy dolls and play Kitchens.  She has been going a little overboard with the chocolates.

I am back in Victoria today because I had to work a radio show, but then I’ll be off to Kelowna for a couple days before coming back to DJ on New Years Eve.  If you’re looking for something fun still, maybe consider NYE at the Hotel Rialto.

Coming back to Victoria was fun. I got to ride the ferry by myself!  Riding the ferry by myself is a rare treat since having Madelyn.  I forgot how easy and pleasant the boat is when I walk on just before sailing, read a National Geographic and walk off the other side.  Gave me a great opportunity to decompress and daydream about escaping to the South Georgia Island.

If you ask me what I want to be when I grow up, on the list between Medieval Knight and Ensign Baker on the USS Enterprise; would be explorer.

There are not too many places left on the map to explore anymore.  Its has a future job prospect level that is low, right around steam engine operator and radio broadcaster.  Still the idea is romantic.

National Geographic  was talking about these remote islands in the South Oceans near Antarctica that teem with arctic critters like penguins and seals and whales and any number of birds.  There are old rusted out whaling stations, some old cannons from World War Two, a restored church, a museum and not much else.  Some scientists a reckon.

I think it would be pretty neat to go there.  I could just hire on to some sort of Adventure Tourist outfit I suppose, but their rates start at $11,000 US!

Maybe after I win the lotto but before I launch my AM radio station?  maybe…

rusted out sealing boats in Grytviken, South Georgia Island.

Go with yourself.

Doh!  I didn’t save the audio from my most recent interview with the Quin twins, Tegan & Sara.  But Two took pictures so I have photographic proof!

Interviewing Tegan :: 20091221

Interviewing Tegan :: 20091221

Sara and Tegan Quin :: 20091221

***

Ok, I wanna run and get a couple last minute presents and need to be back for noon to get the bird ready for the oven, the presents wrapped and the first rum and eggnog down the hatch (might even have a couple Winter Ales hiding somewhere).

So punch up Its a Capital Rock City Christmas! look at Eric Porchers’ inspirational Christmas message, try to find Vancityrockgirl’s Breakfast Muffins and I’ll see you maybe tonight at the Clubhouse or rapping at cha on The Zone on Boxing Day.

Oh that film 500 Days of Summer was cute… Mika Friday Night Lights chick is barely in it; but Zooey The chick from Elf is super adorable so its all good.  That’s all I got.

Merry Christmas …. with yourself?  sure.

Its a Capital Rock City Christmas!  ho ho ho, merry Christmas, enjoy.

Download: Capital Rock City #85

***

DJ Notes:

01) Said the Whale – “The Weight of the Season”
02) Said the Whale – “Wanting like Veruca”
03) Colin McTaggart – “O Holy Night/Silent Night”
04) Vince Vaccaro – “Little Drummer Boy”
05) theset – “Christmas Song”
06) Vegan Holocaust – “Black Christmas”
07) The Blue Violets – “Blue Christmas”

Go with yourself.

2 + 1 = broke

Just putting the finishing touches on some projects here at the Zone then I can start really getting into the festive spirit.  I think I might come in tonight after Madelyn is off to dreamland and push through the night so I can enjoy my Wednesday broadcast without the Top 91 weighing on me.

I have some spots of work over the holidays, you can find me DJing at The Clubhouse in the Strathcona Hotel on December 24th!  I have some great remixed Christmas songs, maybe I’ll read the Night Before Christmas, we can share some pints if you need to get out of the house.

I will be in the lower mainland over a good chunk of the holiday season and even off to Kelowna (I hope… weather and money will dictate if we make the journey).

I’ll be on the radio on Boxing Day.

And if you’re looking for a New Years Party, I’ll be DJing at the Veneto Lounge in the Rialto Hotel.  I’ll have lots of fun songs on the playlist from the past decade.

***

Coral is now home from work, so that means I’ll really need a new laptop as I am not used to Coral staying awake so late.  Puts a crimp in my writing/music listening time.  That will take some adjustments.  Or I’ll have to kick her off the computer so I can use it! (ha, like that will work).

As per the usual, Coral and I will likely escape Christmas financially by the skin of our teeth.

I keep vowing, NEVER AGAIN, but this year it has been so hard generating any cash flow after our wedding.  In the new year Coral will have her severance and be able to cash out her savings, so we can eliminate our debt.

Then we’ll be transitioning to a one income family (well two, I just gots to earn the two).

But that’s AFTER Christmas.

I think I’ll want to start a financial blog like Krystal’s.

I love this chick.  She is so disciplined with her money.  I read her blog everyday.  I like how she sets financial goals and then makes a plan to achieve them.  She posts her monthly budget, then all month tracks her spending and at the end of the month posts a wrap up and how she did with her budget.  Very inspiring.  I want to do the same for our family and for my slowly growing music business.

The idea of having long term, emergency, vacation and slush fund savings accounts full of money would be such a luxury that it seems silly not to do it.

I want to go to the Sasquatch Festival again this year and live it up like a rock star and not have to pinch pennies like last year, so that is a good short term goal.  I also would like to to take a holiday to somewhere sunny with the family (or we talked about going to the canyons in Utah and along the California coast)… AND take a little trip all to myself.  So that vacation account will get a work out.

Now I just need a cute name for my financial blog, I was thinking “2 + 1 = broke.”  Then when we add a new little one, 2+2 = broke.”

***

Might be adding a new night to my weekly DJing in 2010 and hopefully The Veneto will re-up and expand my time there.

Lots to look forward to in 2010!

Go with yourself.

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.

Actually, Meatloaf was pretty good.

Go with yourself.