Feeds:
Posts
Comments

hot hot heat

Hot Hot Heat have a fifth and final record to put a bow on a career that began in Victoria back in 1999. The first single is “Kid Who Stayed In The Picture.” Steve Bays says the song is about “parting ways with a best friend.”

In the years since the heights of Hot Hot Heat fame, Steve Bays has been in Vancouver. He produces other bands, and works with so many of Vancouver’s alt-rock groups. He also took part in Mounties (fellow Mountie Ryan Dahle helped produce this new HHH s/t record). Mounties had a minor hit ’round these parts called “Headphones.”

I can’t help but think that all the writing and song creation with other bands hasn’t filtered into this new song. It is a tight and bright altrerna-pop song.

Singer Steve Bays said in a press release: “To be able to tour from 1999 to 2014 and play hundreds of shows a year was amazing. It changed all of our lives. It was the greatest experience I could ever imagine. I can relate to our fans and I respect our fans. They are the kind of people I’d hang out with. I’m proud of every single record, and of finding the ground between making it challenging and fresh, but also not being afraid to be entertaining and put on a crazy show. Every show we ever did was just a total high energy spectacle and that’s a great legacy to have.”

Go with yourself.

me and Coral in Vegas

Coral and I are going to back to Las Vegas in June and I am amped! It’ll be our first time there together since we got married in 2009.

I’ve looking up some fun places ( I hope) to check out. I’ve been to Vegas a few times, Coral has been twice, so we’ve done *most* of the more affordable tourist stuff. Coral wants to see a show (we’re not sure what) and I’ll see if any touring bands are in town to check out.

A big part of our trip will be rest and sun. We’ve been going pretty hard for the past year and Coral has been hustling as a stay-at-home Mom…so pool, sun, palm trees and cocktails are priority one. Sweating on the gulag march down the strip in June is low on the list.

I do like to seek out some fun and interesting places to enjoy a pint. I find the best places in Vegas tend to be downtown. Away from the Strip, Las Vegas is like any other city. There are some hip joints serving up good food and drink for a reasonable price when you get away from the tourists.

Here are three places I am excited to check out this go around.

01) The Griffin (511 Fremont Street, Downtown)

I’ve been to this place before and it was pretty groovy. You get a decent cocktail and a normal American price. It was the first time I had drank anywhere in Vegas that had a good beer list. Good energy, good vibe, and not a far wander away from the tourist part of the Fremont Strip. (man, I sound like Jim Benning, The Griffin is real good. Real good.)

Happy Hour (Su-Th 10-11PM) is a good idea:  Well drinks are $3. Hamm’s beer is $1. Either one will keep you warm by the fireplace.

02) Beer Garden (1 S. Main Street, Downtown)

Never been here…so I am going to check this place based on the hype. Drink beer, outside on a real grass lawn. I like that idea.

03) Park on Fremont (506 Fremont, Downtown)

Looks like Coral and I will start a little bar crawl at Main then work our way down Fremont to the other end of the strip (and likely duck into at least one tourist place for a sugary cocktail or an ABC for a tall can).

Park shows up on a bunch of lists for having a chief patio (and good beer selection). I love the desert heat and I love patio beers. Can’t wait to check this place out.

Happy Hour (M-F 4P-7P) doesn’t suck: The Fremont East watering hole is big on bar-food snacks. The Mac & Cheese Balls, Chicken Bar Bites, Garbage Fries, fried pickles, and chicken wings are all each $5. Drinks include $3 well cocktails, $4 domestic draft beers, and $5 draft beers.

This one is kinda cheating because it is Fremont AT Las Vegas Boulavard….but you know we ARE TOURISTS….so it’s OK if every moment isn’t some authentic life experience trouncing around back streets of Vegas.

We’ll also hit the Outlets I’m sure. And Blondie’s legendary all you can drink Happy Hour. Coral wants to wander down to Mandalay Bay at some point to go to Border Grill.

Coral also likes her Caesars which in Amurika are called Bloody Marys. I’m sure we’ll find something interesting (or silly).

Oh right! Neon Graveyard! Coral wanted to go here. I think this will be part of the Downtown day.

https://www.instagram.com/p/_XuTFluOc7/?tagged=neongraveyard

and maybe a ghost town tour?

When I think of a Vegas song… I hear the beginning (about a minute in) part of this Chainsmokers song as the soundtrack to one of those “Vegas Party” video montages.

Go with yourself.

PembyFest16_LineupPoster.png

Here’s the 2016 Pemberton Festival lineup….not an Earth shattering list, but also a lot to like!

I still love hearing Miguel’s “Simple Things.”

If I’m fortunate enough to score some tickets, there are a bunch of bands I want to see. Pearl Jam for sure (I’ve never seen them live…huh). The classic hip hoppsters and Billy Idol will be fun. I am amped on Kaleo, Jesse Roper, Mastodon, Savages, Chainsmokers.  Borns…sure.

I a mean if someone puts a gun to my head, I guess I can have fun up in Pemberton.

Go with yourself.

Girls

Last Sunday’s episode of Girls was good (this season in general has brought the show back for me and I think my wife too).

Hannah is gutted at the end of the episode seeing something confirmed that has been gnawing at her…while Fran is chirping at her. The scene rolls into credits with Vicktor Taiwo‘s “Curse” playing.

Go with yourself.

aquilo

I always enjoy the soft light sounds of Aquilo. The UK duo’s debut record is due later this year and will feature this cut.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDkutO8NESQ/?taken-by=aquilomusic

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDWEALnNEZW/?taken-by=aquilomusic

https://www.instagram.com/p/BC6N-QrNESY/?taken-by=aquilomusic

Go with yourself.

skizzy

photo: Skizzy’s Facebook

The weather changed in Vancouver. Today feels like summer…and I’ve been jamming a bright mix on my Skytrain ride into the city everyday.

I dunno what it is about Skizzy Mars, but the young NYC rapper writes songs that make me think about summer and good times.

His latest share track is “Hit Me Harder.” Has that bouncy cloud house/tropical beat that is popular. New record, Alone Together, comes out next Friday. I’ll download that for sure.

I’ve been blasting “I’m Ready” and “Crash” heavy for the pastr few days.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDY_d8IHuHx/?taken-by=skizzymars

https://www.instagram.com/p/BC_V4J8HuKY/?taken-by=skizzymars

https://www.instagram.com/p/BC1hOOrnuKV/?taken-by=skizzymars

Go with yourself.

yung lean

photo: Fredrik Andersson (Yung Lean’s Facebook)

This song isn’t new…but I heard a remix of it on Hype Machine and downloaded the original.

The artist is Yung Lean. 19-year-old Swede who the Chicago Tribune says is “famous in a way that is possible only in the mid ’10s: He’s Internet famous, huge on Tumblr, YouTube and SoundCloud. This enables him to regularly sell out shows in American big cities without the benefit of tools that used to be considered vital, like radio play, or the backing of a major label.

19-year-old white Stockholm parody rap?  I dunno….I do love “Yoshi City.” Colour me new.

Go with yourself.

 

thrice

Because everything old is new again…we have some Thrice coming out. Thrice’s 9th, To Be Everywhere is To Be Nowhere, is out on May 27th. First share song is called “Blood On The Sand” and you know what? To my ears it sounds real good. Real good.

“After watching a year of fear make people do terrible things, and now on the precipice of more of the same, this song is an anthem for anyone that’s had enough of it,” says frontman Dustin Kensrue.

I wish rock & roll was popular. The band is on tour, nothing in our neighbourhood.

***

isotopes

We had a big Good Friday. Started with a movie…Zootopia. I only got to see about half before Jack had had enough. But Coral and Maddy said it was good. Ikea, some greek food, frozen yogurt, then back home.

But it was a sunny holiday Friday and the party needed to continue so Coral and I packed up the kids and headed to What’s Up Hot Dog on Hastings near Nanaimo. We like that place…because the food is good, we can bring the kids…but just a little bit it feels like a pub. Plus bitching soundtrack, pinball and cheap(ish) beer.

The dude that owns it, or works there, or both? Is in a band.

The Isotopes Punk Rock Baseball Club.

Influences include the ’94 Expos? Alright!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDZjaMmtIgSJTNYodBfpkijucU1ojuli3bf3p00/?taken-by=jesuiscoral

Like I said, the music in What’s Up is always good. How about this one? late 70s, early 80s (into the 90s) UK garage punk. The Revillos “Yeah Yeah.” I mean honestly, how many different words do you need in a song?

Go with yourself.

Black Mountain

OK I get it…Black Mountain‘s “Florian Saucer Attack” has been out for awhile. I remember reading that it was coming out…then flaked. Finally got around to tracking it down.

Their record IV is out on April 1st!

Pacific Northwest shows?

April 21: The Shakedown – Bellingham, WA
April 22: Tractor Tavern – Seattle, WA
April 23: Doug Fir Lounge – Portland, OR
May 21: The Commodore – Vancouver, BC
June 9: The Bartlett – Spokane, WA
June 10: Neurolux – Boise, ID  (does Boise count as PNW? Does Spokane?)

Go with yourself.

unnamed (3)

Anna of The North from Norway is a rising chill vocalist.

“Baby” is a slow, synthy, sparkly song, capturing the energy of what it’s like to be awake at 3 AM thinking of that other person.”  – NOISEY

She’s touring Europe in April with Kygo. That should be pretty big for her. I love her style. Remember that Chainsmokers remix of “Sway?” Fuffff…..so good.

Go with yourself.