Mike Devlin sent me a follow up to yesterday’s post regarding the classic Alice in Chains/Pearl Jam show in Victoria back during the first ice age.
Holy shit! That show was on my birthday!
Posted in history 101, music | Tagged 1990, Alice in Chains, Harpo's, Mookie Blaylock, Mother Love Bone, Pearl Jam, Victoria | 1 Comment »
Its been awhile since I shared some emails and today I got a couple nice ones.
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The first email is from Jessica talking about the Matt Good/Mother Mother concert last week.
It was a first seeing Matt Good but, he was awesome!! Apparently, people were upset that he was only on for an 1hr and 15. I thought it was a good length though!
Thanks a bundle!
***
I was trolling Mike Devlin’s Facebook the other day, and the founder of the The Zone, a gentleman named Al Ford, posted a picture of Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains) on his site. The concert was from 1990 I think, at Harpos (where Upstairs is now). AiC played with the beginnings of Pearl Jam (some band named after a basketball player), and a group from Victoria (name I can’t recall).
What a rad picture. Al has all sorts of great Victoria rock and roll memorabilia. Makes me wish I had done a better job collecting over my years as a broadcaster and indie rock hipster.
I talked about this picture on my radio show the other day and got some of it wrong. More fun facts emerge from Troy.
Jeremy,
I have to help you out a little on your comment on Jerry Cantrell earlier.
Yes the club was Harpo’s in Bastion Square where the club something or other “… Upstairs” is located now.
The band name you tried to recal was Mookie Blaylock. Another pre-Pearl jam played there as well during that same era under the name Green River featuring Mark Arm later of Mudhoney fame plus Jeff Ament and other Pearl Jam members. I didn’t live here at the time but might I suggest that perhaps you confused the two groups?
At any rate you’re the best DJ on the zone and a decent bloke. We met when my old band was band of the month back a few years ago and you were a very genuine guy. So with that in mind please play some Visqueen sometime, like Hand Me Down from Message To Garcia, the kids will dig it.
TN
***
awwww. Suzanne jammed out CRC 80.
I listened to your podcast from today! I loved it and felt all nice
and fuzzy afterwards:)
just to let you know:)
Suzanne:)
I feel fuzzy now too.
Go with yourself.
Posted in history 101, music | Tagged Alice in Chains, Capital Rock City, Harpo's, Mathew Good, Mother Mother, Sunday Buckets, Visqueen | 4 Comments »
Thank you for finding Capital Rock City #80. I hope you like my weekly indie rocker podcast so much you’ll consider sharing it with a friend, subscribing and rating/commenting on iTunes and of course, coming back next week for CRC 81 LIVE from the Black Stilt Coffee House.
Download: Capital Rock City #80
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DJ Notes
01) Acres of Lions – “Dance Sequence”
02) Said the Whale – “Goodnight Moon”
03) Hannah Georgas – “The national”
04) Missing Starla – “Girlfriend in a Coma (III)”
05) Porchlife – “Who Are You”
The show starts with AOL’s new music video song “Dance Sequence.” What a groovy video, if you haven’t seen it click here.
Acres of Lions are in action locally on Saturday the 14th when they support the Armchair Cynics.
I tell the story on the podcast about my daughter Madelyn’s current obsession with book the “Goodnight Moon.” She is not the only one, Said the Whale wrote a song inspired by the book (and its not the only literarialy inspired song on the podcast this week… how smart).
Hannah Georgas wrote a song about The National! I *heart* The National so I had to hear this song. So pretty. what a gem.
Twitter: Said the Whale
Twitter: Hannah Georgas
Missing Starla finally heard an old podcast I did where I told the story about their name. Victor sent me an email:
(…) The first is a slow mellow song called Girlfriend in a Coma Part III. It’s a song inspired by Douglas Coupland’s Book called, Girlfriend in Coma, which was inspired by the Smiths song: Girlfriend in a Coma(hence the part III). What’s also interesting about this song is that it is in a contest on ourstage.com and is riding in 15th out of 593 entries. So, if people want to go and vote for it or other independent artists they can do so at http://www.ourstage.com (…) Awhile back on your show you talked about the band Missing Starla and how they got their name. It seems we share a link: Irene and Derrick have come to some of our earlier shows ha!. We wanted to thank you for mentioning us on your show. Sorry, it took so long we recently got word that there was a blurb about us at the Zone through Franco.
If you are interested we would love to do a feature with you or be involved somehow with your show. Here is a link to our webpage: http://www.missingstarla.com
Presently, we are playing a show in Langley on the 12th, back in Vancouver for the 28th at the Yale and real soon going to start working on a new record.
Once again, thank you so much for that blurb, we appreciated it and I hope we can work together one day soon.
All the best,
Missing Starla
***
and show ends with a classic Vic indie rocker, Porchlife. Wow, my email from Nick the Viking sums this up best:
the sound on the demos is ok, i’m sure you’ll cringe at the live stuff though.
the band was made up of Steve Baker, vocals (still doing music, just not publicly much unfortunately – has a killer voice!) – Ted Gowans, guitar (now Tegan and Sara)- Dono Rush, bass (now hitting the charts on Kool FM with Santa Clara) – Cory Monteith, drums (some actor or something I think…haha)
it was recorded in 2001 and I think the demo tracks were done by Adam Sutherland back when he was in Limestone! crazy.
enjoy man.
-nick
***
Good times. Thank you for downloading my show and I hope you’ll take the time to share the link with a friend. Talk to you next week.
Go with yourself.
Posted in Capital Rock City | Tagged Acres of Lions, Cory Monteith, Franco, Goodnight Moon, Hannah Georgas, Missing Starla, Podcast, Porchlife, Said The Whale, Tegan and Sara, The National, Twitter | 9 Comments »
Christmas 2002, my folks got me a book about Canadian history from the CBC. The People’s History I think its called. Its a fairly complete history of Canadian told with a series of first person accounts of important events in Canadian History. At the time, I worked at the Westin Bayshore in Vancouver and jocked the overnight shift in their communications hub in the bowels of the hotel. I read a lot and I read these books.
I have always been intrigued by the story of John Jewitt.
John Jewitt was an armourer who sailed to Vancouver Island in the early 1800s. While in Nootka Sound, the natives there mascaraed his ship and Jewitt was one of the only survivors. He was taken captive by the chief Maquinna and forced to be his personal armourer. He lived among the nation for some time before finally escaping back to Boston.
I always thought it would make for a mighty movie but I have no skills at making a movie. But I could make it a podcast? hmmm.
A couple things have conspired to re ignite the idea to make a history podcast.
1) Radiolabs – This podcast I discovered a few years ago when Pitchfork did a story about its subtle (yet awesome) soundtrack. It might be the best audio broadcast I have ever heard. It has been hugely influential on what I want to do with audio productions. My skills aren’t there yet, but practice makes perfect and it might be time to try and put together an epic, entertaining narrative.
2) History podcasts – They suck. The top rated History Podcast I could find on iTunes was 12 Byzantine Rulers. I am sure the dude knows his stuff, but dry dry dry. And there wasn’t much better.
I think I can make a hot sounding history podcast. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.
Step One… find and read Jewitt’s book. Step Two, find the experts on British Columbian history to tell the tale. Step Three, produce show. Step Four, market and distribute the greatest Canadian history podcast.
the only problem… I don’t know if those are the proper steps? ahhhhh.
Go with yourself.
Posted in history 101 | Tagged Canadian History, Podcast | 5 Comments »
I ran into Michael Burke at the Maurice/We Are the City show last week. Michael Burke operates the Victoria record label Cordova Bay and one of his bands is Acres of Lions. He was telling me the new video would be on Youtube shortly and huzzah! Shortly means today. Check it out and share it with friends.
Posted in music | Tagged Acres of Lions, Cordova Bay | 1 Comment »
The Wayback Guy has an idea to jump the queue for his H1N1 shot so topical and “in the news” that it just has to work!
Download: The Wayback Guy Jumps The Queue
Listen to the Wayback Guy every weekend on The Modern Rock Countdown.
Thank you to Sheldon for producing the Wayback Guy, Megan for having MS and Tindy, Angus, Ian and Cassie for being in line for their shot in the rain.
Go with yourself.
Posted in radio | Tagged Calgary Flames, H1N1, modern rock countdown, radio, Swine Flu, Vaccine, Wayback Guy | Leave a Comment »
Growing up in the wilds of Coquitlam, there were two records I remember playing exceptionally heavy. R.E.M.’s Green and Alice in Chains’ Unplugged.
Every night before bed, I’d throw the AiC record in my discman, tuck into a book about war and go away.
Many nights, I would go through the record two times before falling asleep.
The habit was so entrenched, that even to this day, I still love listening to music before bed and if I am ever feeling the weights of life pulling down on me, a little music before bed or laying on the couch in the dark with the headphones on will make me feel infinity better.
A great modern rock shame in those days was that I never did go see Alice in Chains in concert. I do think a bunch of my friend did see them once at some arena show in Vancouver, but I missed that one.
Later, after the band was on the hiatus, I had the chance to see Jerry Cantrell twice. Once at Richards and another time opening for Metallica at Thunderbird Stadium. Both times were special but the Richards show was the better.
Jerry had this band on tour with him called Comes With the Fall (circa 2002 I think… Wagner, were you at this show with me?).
I didn’t know what to expect at the Jerry Cantrell solo tour other than I was sure to hear some Boggy Depot and Degradation Trip. My life erupted with joy when Jerry launched into many classic AiC songs… and filling in the part of Layne Staley was William DuVall, lead singer of Comes With The Fall.
Sounded mighty and was at the time, as close as I was going to come to an Alice in Chains show. I’d have to relieve the live days on the DVDs I had (and my brother CJ had a great old VHS with lots of early footage too).
I guess William did a good job and the band felt it was time, after 14 years, to put out another record, revive the Alice in Chains handle, and get out there!
Today I had the chance to talk to bass player Mike Inez. I made a little podcast of the interview and included far more than what you’ll hear on the radio or countdown this weekend. if you are an AiC fan like me, please take a second to have a listen (well many seconds total running time is 15 minutes).
Download: Interview: Mike Inez of Alice in Chains
Mike gives the cole’s notes version of joining Alice In Chains. He was on tour with Ozzy and working in Reno recording when he got a call from Sean Kinney inviting him to join the band.
He goes on to talk about the natural progression he felt as the band got back together including the original genesis… the Tsunami of 2005.
The band toured a bit and the shows got bigger and bigger and it showed them it was time to do it right. AiC financed the record independently before even thinking about sending to a label for distribution.
Then I find out, Mike Inez is a hockey fan? SWA? LA Kings? I’ll TRY not to let that ruin his musical legacy.
Mike talks about the meaning behind the title of the album Black Gives Way to Blue. He tells the story of floating in Jerry’s pool as they debated album title names and why song is special for the band. the title track was especially hard to record because of its meaning and Jerry battling an illness at the time.
Then he reflects on Layne Staley and what he was like living and tells the story of the Grammy Awards snubbing Layne after his death despite the fact AiC has been nominated for Grammy Awards… what 5 times, 6 times?
Mike Inez is a great guy and I loved interviewing him and having the chance to hear his stories. I hope you do too.
Go with yourself.
Posted in music, radio | Tagged Alice in Chains, Black Gives Way To Blue, Hockey, Interview, Jerry Cantrell, LA Kings, Layne Staley, Mike Inez, NHL, radio, Sean Kinney | 1 Comment »
I don’t know what to tell you other than, I don’t know what to tell you.
I really want some pumpkin pie AND there *might* be some in the fridge, and if there is…. then I also know the whereabouts of some whip cream in one of those futuristic aerosol cans. BUT! but, what if there is no pumpkin pie left? A true and frightening possibility. The last time Coral and I went grocery shopping, we bought just a half pie as a treat. That was the weekend and here I sit late on a Tuesday. Gone? it must be. Should I check? no, because if it is there, I’ll eat it, and if its not, I will eat the consolation prize, whip cream straight out of the can. bad.
I went to a personal trainer on Monday and did some fitness testing. I scored poor (or worse) on every test she did. Then she asked about my diet (which I thought was one area I excelled at) and she laughed at me.
I need to eat more, AND eat less. SWA? More good and more meals in general. Less processed food and WAY less pop. Sadness, pumpkin pie and pop are my favourites.
I am going to try and make a go of this. I will cut my pop back to treat status (kinda like beer, which I have kept in pretty good control since meeting Coral). If pop becomes beer, then it will be a weekend/holiday/event type dealio and not a daily, or multiple times a day thing.
The trainer said that one step alone will shrink my paunch.
Then she said, my general leanness (see: skinny) should make the perception of noticeable muscle growth a reality that will in turn, re-enforce my working-out-ness. Good times.
That all said, I woke up sore but good today… tomorrow I might get some time in the meat of the day between appointments to go again. Alright, twice in a week. That’s a start.
Go with yourself.
Posted in life or something like it | 5 Comments »
The Morning After 