If God loves me, I’ll be able to wrap I wedding I have to DJ Saturday night and rush to the Copper Owl to see Bear Mountain‘s 12:30 AM set as part of Rifflandia.
Vancouver artist Ian Bevis blends acoustic arrangements with electronic beats. His song “Two Set” I have featured a bunch at the Veneto Lounge when I DJ Friday nights. I love it!
Melbournian Vance Joy will be bringing his positive ukulele driven good-time vibes to Rifflandia! (I think I hear the mighty uke in there) Look for the Australian featured in a Go Pro commercial at the Rifftop Rent on Sunday, September 15th at 12:30.
I had a chance to see Toronto’s Dinosaur Bones a couple summer’s back as part of Rifflandia. they played fairly early on the Main-stage one morning…. I remember that day being exceptionally humid and my t-shirt was soaked! So off to the merch tent I went to get a new shirt and I settled on Dinosaur Bones (and couple 7-inch singles they were selling).
Dinosaur Bones have a new record out in August called Shaky Dream (August 6th, Dine Alone). Have a listen to the first feature song.
What did Jon Williams say, “we made a lot of memories.” Rifflandia was something special. Team Zone was in full battle mode with our friends at Wolf/Sheep and Tectoria.(how is that for partners? an art collective and TECHNOLOGY!) Tindy and Allie worked with Wolf/Sheep to create the world of Zonelandia in the Royal Athletic Park… and I’ll tell ya, I have never seen a radio set up at an event anything like it, ever. It almost looked like an American theme park… we even had a RIDE! (or you know, a scissor lift). Thank you to Tindy and Allie for building the whole world of Zonelandia. The best country on the planet. And thank you to all the volunteers for helping to run Zonelandia and Rifflandia.
Laid a lot of high fives. Thank you to all the Zoners that made it down.
hmmmm…there must be more shout outs, perogy truck!, and…. right its time to get the music.
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My MP3 today comes from a Rifflandia discovery. I loved listening to Jinja Safari on Sunday. This Aussie band reminded me a whole lot like Vampire Weekend.
One of my favourite, favourite bands, The Dudes, stopped by my radio show to talk and play a few songs. They jammed out a hockey song called “Saturday Night” then laid down an unrecorded song called “Red River Rebel” that has a maximum Victoria reference.
I feel like an idiot for missing the show on Thursday…but I was down to my last few $20 spots and I was of the mindset that if I could not rage to at least a minor Nova, let alone super…I’d just stay home and hoard my meagre treasure. Lame. BUT, the news is they are returning to Victoria for Rifflandia and if the kind and good rock & roll Jesus smiles kind waves of rainbow sunshine on me, they will play on a day in-and-around the weddings and MC gigs that I have booked.
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Talking of hoarding my treasure…. I need to try to rally enough cash to make sure I can rent a car in Las Vegas in June. The more I think about it, the more a desert trek sounds like it needs to happen.
This week I interview Michelle of Versa, the boys in Current Swell and Nick Blasko, the organizational force behind the Rifflandia Music Festival.
Listen for music from: Versa – See them November 22 @ Lucky Bar Current Swell – New record Long Time Ago is out today! (and already #1 on the iTunes singer/songwriter chart) Celebrity Traffic – see them THIS FRIDAY @ Lucky Bar. Watch a neat-O music video hosted by my best English mate Jon Williams! Monolithium – download the song “I Want UR Love” from Soundcloud.
Local hidalgo Dave Wallace captured some pretty great moments of 2011’s Rifflandia. Check out his video (may or may not contain me and Mads… super briefly).
I can’t believe Rifflandia IV is all done. I woke up this morning with PRD (post Rifflandia disorder). What a spectacular four days in our sleepy colonial outpost city.
I believe that after this year… and looking forward to Rifflandia V, this festival is poised to be Canada’s premier new music/alternative/hipster fest. I can’t really think off too much in the country like it. Actually… is there really anything like it?
The fact that it is able to succeed in British Columbia at all is a triumph against the forces of no-fun-ism. This Province generally has to be dragged kicking and screaming towards anything remotely rage-tastic… and then when we get there, we fuck it up by lighting cop cars on fire and the “rules” get slapped back on.
It seemed like I was everywhere this weekend, and still there was so much I missed! I need a party assistant next year I think. Still… it was an army of many that helped me get through this.
Nick Blasko and Team Rifflandia get a big Thank you! Nick set me up with some wristbands for my lovely wife Coral, sister-in-law Alyx and friend Alix. That allowed me to have some help sorting out Madelyn while I had to work, but be able to have her with me at the festival.
Nick then gave me and Boitano the chance to DJ!
Thank you to everyone that stormed in the Phillips Brewery Stage to see us DJ and for all the kind words after. Christi Wizard and Bud snapping pics and filming. DW for rocking the mic. Pol with the confetti poppers. It all made a difference. Thank you.
Nana and CJ & Caitlin all took a turn having a “sleepover” with Mads which was clutch so I could DJ Friday night with Boitano. Then party on Saturday night and eat the most excellent pita pit wrap. I’ll always remember you chicken/bacon wrap devoured on the steps of Bastion Square with Coral… always.
It was a mighty time with Team Zone at the Zone tent! Bossman John, Tindy, Allie and Boitano had the plan executed to the finest detail. Zone Ranger Shawn, his girl Jessica and an army of Zoners both staffers and volunteers kept the party hopping.
Then there were the Rifflandia volunteers and workers that kept the show moving forward (and beer in my belly… Cara!). Thank you!
Finally… I laid a lot of high-fives, took some pictures, and generally was made to feel like a rock star by so many people over the weekend. It truly was fun. Like the best. seriously, “real life” hit hard this morning.
…
and in the mix, there was music.
I have a lot of highlights and favourites. To stay kinda focused, I want to talk about Dinosaur Bones right now.
Dinosaur Bones were one of the first bands to hit the Zone’s Main Stage on Friday. I had heard of… but never actually enjoyed their sounds. I really dug their style and purchased the 45s they had for sale at the merch booth. the singles are “N.Y.E.” and “Royalty.”
“Royalty” is a little meh, to me… but “N.Y.E.” is mighty. I want to share this single with you.
I don’t know much about anything… I wish I knew more about Dinosaur Bones… but I do LOVE this song. I’ve been repeating it all night on first the record player, but when managing the 45 became old, I fired up the MP3 and filled my ears some more.
The 45 is backed with a remix by Los Campesinos which sounds great too.
So now I am a Dinosaur Bones fan. Good times.
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There were some other standouts that I witnessed, and I have a sea of pictures I am trying to collect from the billion “official” photogs and the not-so-official assorted paparazzi… perhaps some more pics and stories will leak out on my blog over the week.
The Morning After 