Tonight: Withrod Lake (off Northwest Arm drive, where the Cowie Hill conector connects). A nice small spot with a little island, and a long gradually sloping rock for easy water access. I once thought it was another part of Long Lake when I first went there, but it's close. Here's a map.

Thursday: Chocolate Lake. The default lake when time does not permit. I've noticed it's been remarkably blue.

Wednesday: Withrod Lake. Nothing like a foggy evening swim!

Tuesday: Chocolate Lake (picture to follow). The kids who canoed past me at William's the previous day recognized me. "There's that guy who was videotaping himself and jumping off the rock"

Tomorrow Rachelle and I drive to Briar Island. Hopefully we'll see lots of whales. I am also stoked about the coastal hiking trails I've been promised. Happy Canada day to you all, and I hope you all listen to your favourite Canadian music, have a barbecue, and go for a swim. I assure you all that the water is warm enough, even though the weather may not look fantastic.

William's Lake!

Chocolate Lake

Technically this photo is from yesterday, but conditions were much the same. The major difference was a lifeguard training session of some sort, I apologize on behalf of my expired battery for the lack of wetsuited men and women and surfboards.

Swam across the lake to the quiet end (no longer quiet due to construction on the motel) and back. Craving an actual sunny day, but still happy to be in the water.

Rachelle's first swim of the season, Chocolate Lake pre-rainstorm.

Good old Long Lake:

This morning was Chocolate Lake again, like old times.

This was the view Wednesday Afternoon:

Realising it was the first day of Summer, and that I am now insured and have full use of Rachelle's car, I took advantage of a warm afternoon to hit Tea Lake. It's the favourite swimming hole of many folks here. It's a little further up the road than uber-popular William's lake, and you do need good footwear as there's a 5-10 minute hike through the woods to get there, but it's so worth it! After the chilliness of Chocolate Lake Friday, I was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was. It's the smallest lake I know of, so it's usually pretty warm, but also very deep (unless you enjoy sem-arctic conditions, stay close to the surface!)

Took a dip, sat and stared at the view for a while, then another dip (a bit breezier) and headed home to pick Rachelle back up from singing lessons, hit the mall food court, then assembled my new easel at home (I'm getting back into painting after many many years).

Went swimming for the first time this year late Friday afternoon at Chocolate lake. It was pretty damn cold! Since I helped deliver The Coast the day before, I was a bit sore/exhausted and only in the mood to float around a bit. Had I been more energetic I might have warmed up a bit.

Our show on Saturday went really well. A drum fell over during the second song, but we recovered (ie: started over again after an awkward pause), and Dean and I managed to start 'Western Theme Two' in the right key this time! Unfortunately we didn't manage to record the set (it was even tighter than our first show) but I did capture a video of some strung out dancing during Yellow Jacket Avenger's set. Catholic Gaydar and The Minks were awesome. I'm really into their new songs and can't wait to hear them recorded.

Took the bus to New Glasgow on Father's day and watched my younger brother Layton finish his first (and only?) marathon - another exciting event to cross off his list (bungee jumping, skydiving, visiting 6 continents, etc.) He didn't quite make it in 4hrs 25 minutes as he'd hoped, but did okay. Had chinese food for Lunch at Grandpa's, took some photos around the house, then drove home with Mom and Dad and chatted with Layton about music, TV and movies. We might go see Nacho Libre together - it's nice to hang out with him some more!

Pictures!

That's right! My new band will be playing yet again with the Minks and more this Saturday. Tell your friends!
 
Had lots of fun putting this postmodern poster together. The originals should still be up until HRM cleans up the poster poles tomorrow.

Date:	2006-05-29 16:13
Subject:	Doing stuff again
Security:	Public
Mood:	bouncy

I'm back!
Considering I've been out of work for a while, I'm surprised I haven't updated this. But perhaps this is worth the wait:



This will be the debut of my new band (Music Inspired The Film, that is. The Minks need no introduction!) which exercises my love of instrumental pop and soundtrack music in general from the 60s and beyond. I'll be throwing together a fun CD for the intermission compiling a lot of my Dad's obscure 45s and other rock gems.

In other news, this week I've really been into The Larry Sanders Show (especially Jeffrey Tambor's Hank) and the new Gnarls Barkley album. And the damn fine weather we've been having!

Date:	2005-09-13 10:57
Subject:	Crazy compliments
Security:	Public
Mood:	optimistic

While walking Rachelle to work this morning, we passed a lady (other side of Chebucto Rd, walking the opposite direction) who was loudly arguing in the general direction of the traffic, or more accurately, with nobody in particular. I believe this is the same person I heard complaining out loud while opening at work yesterday (for a brief moment I was worried she was referring to my store, then relaxed when I realized she was maybe just a bit kooky.)

After getting Rachelle some coffee and running some other errands I headed back home. As I was halfway down Chebucto I heard more muttering and realized I was approaching the same woman, who was now carrying a raggedy looking mop. As I passed her she looked at me, smiled and said, 'He's right good looking for a boy of seventeen!'

Hey, it's nice to know I've still got it!

Date:	2005-07-28 13:03
Subject:	The most beautiful songs in the world
Security:	Public
Mood:	cheerful

So I have a blogger account now, as a result of joining the Sunday Night Bike Dinner Explosion! (more on that later), and found myself listing favourite music by a few choice songs, rather than just genre. It got me thinking, and as I was walking home this afternoon, I found myself humming a favourite Morricone tune. So I thought I'd take a nostalgic little trip and share what I think are some amazing songs:

The Ecstasy of Gold - Ennio Morricone

As cheesy as the title may suggest, this song from "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" still blows my mind. A simple piano arpeggio throughout (later ripped off by Metallica), the gradual buildup of percussion, the glorious wordless vocals. It's worth watching the 3+ hours of the movie, to see Tuco run around a sun-baked graveyard for the entire duration of this song. My dream is to cover this live, but I need to find an amazing singer.

Journey To Reedham (3am mix) - Squarepusher

It's like they took 'Popcorn' and made it amazing! I was obsessed with this track post-graduation, and requested it on a number of mix tapes until buying my own copy. The beats are ridiculous, some might go so far as to say gassy, but the melodies are gorgeous and the atari-like synth tones remind me of a childhood I never had. In the future.

Long After Tonight Is All Over - Irma Thomas

This is a new favourite of mine, from Mojo magazine's 'Southern Soul' compilation. I was excited about this whole CD, it's perfect for work, and I don't mind repeated listens, but this song in particular makes me happy. There is a Dusty Springfield version as well, which I should check out.

Sweeter and Sweeter - Julie Doiron and The Wooden Stars

Another last-on-the-album song. Julie writes beautifully confessional music, and adding the instrumentation and harmonies of The Wooden Stars is genius. In this re-working of an earler solo aucoustic song, Julien Beillard actually sings most of the song, with Julie coming in gradually, initially singing one word per line, slightly off the beat. A hypnotic and melancholy first half builds into a very triumphant and heartfelt finish.

My Girl - The Wooden Stars

One of the most beautiful things I've ever heard. I first saw this group in a small university town bar (Ducky's in Sackville, NB) and was blown away. The headlining act (Elevator To Hell) had canceled, so we were treated to two amazing sets. In addition to their quirky but emotional original songs, The Wooden Stars jazzed up their set with covers such as 'Sex Machine', and 'My Girl'. This is already a great song, but they added these amazing harmonies which seem to exist only in my dreams. I've since done this at Karaoke, attempting to emulate their spirit. The good news is they are recording again....

Matt Reid (at loss for words): "That was amazing. Um, So do you like Frank Zappa?"
Michael Feuerstack: "No, too insincere....I like music that makes me cry. But then, I also like James Brown, and he doesn't make me cry"

More later!

Here's a poster I made this weekend:



Our last such show was in February with super hot Sharp Like Knives. Prior to that we'd only played a show with The Superfriendz way back when we had another drummer, and I was totally crushing on Rachelle (She was at the show to confirm my band didn't suck and all my friends were "Are you gonna ask her out?" while she was just outside.)

I'd like Death By Nostalgia to do way more all-ages shows. (It's just difficult to book shows period, and I always wonder what kind of appeal we have with all our ten-to-thirty year old musical references) Luckily we'll be doing another one at J. L. Ilsley High School on June 21st - with The Stolen Minks! They played our CD Launch in February as well, it will be good to team up again - They are so popular, every band wants The Minks on their bill! Example.

Well, in other news I hope to talk some sense into my boss later today. I've been working for a year and a half now at usually less than part time hours, and last week (not for the first time) I ended up with less hours than a newly hired co-worker. I can understand they need training, but my boss got so freaked over hours the previous pay-week, everything got scaled back because business has been 'slow'. I've been working two days a week - I could make the same money on Unemployment!

One of my fondest memories from childhood was watching PBS with my family. Every once in a while our Saturday evening fun consisted of having a picnic in the den - we'd bring a tablecloth upstairs and drape it on the floor for the plates and the fondue, or tacos, and watch the best of British television. This was far more exciting than the Sunday evening ritual, which consisted of CBC's Disney family hour or Fraggle Rock, bath time, and the dread of having to return to school the next day.

This Saturday evening picnic ritual was how I first saw Doctor Who. The episode was from the Tom Baker years, and all I recall of the actual plot was some giant alien very poorly chroma-keyed onto mostly outdoor shots. Somehow even then I had the stangest feeling that I would never again see that particular episode. It was if I instantly knew there were hundreds of episodes and I'd somehow have to concentrate to remember or cherish that ridiculous moment. I know they're all on DVD now, but as I don't eat ground beef anymore it will never be the same.

At any rate I've been pretty excited that the Doctor's back on the air. I know there was a one-off television special a few years back, and for some reason I recall it felt like the same plot as Blackadder the 5th (another time-travel story hinging on the mystique of the year 2000, redeemable primarily for the very short skirts Stephen Fry and ( Hugh Laurie ) wore in the Roman Centurion scene, and Colin Firth's cameo as Shakespeare) I am a fan of Chris Eccleston, who I first saw in a series on PBS. He was great in Shallow Grave, and the absolutely harrowing Jude. I was surprised to hear that he's quit the Doctor Who series for fear of being typecast, because I read that he took the role initially to break out of his previously bleak and grim appearances.

So far I've been enjoying the show. Just hearing that theme song on television makes me giddy. After kind of a slow start it seems to be exactly as a remember but had somehow forgotten - corny! And fun. The first episode was a bit tedious, and since Rachelle and I had spent an exhausting week in London quite recently, all the hiply modern location shots had lost their novelty. (Now if it was swinging sixties London....) There's not much chemistry with Billi Piper, but I think Eccleston is doing a pretty good job. The direction isn't particularly great but it does have some inspired moments - particularly the jukebox bit in the second episode. I swear that "Tainted Love" is the standard gag song for every british production (Has anybody heard the original motown version?) but it was also good to hear "Toxic" again.

All this science fiction and comedy is getting me excited for the Hitchhiker's movie to come out. Rachelle scored a copy of the 4-book trilogy at a 2 pound bookstore in Greenwich, and I've been reacquainting myself with Douglas Adams as if with long lost high school buddies.

At long, long last....

The Death By Nostalgia Website.

Thanks go to Spencer for putting it all together, and Rod and Lucas for extra technical support. I will be updating the site soon with some drawings (much like I promised for this LJ!) and waiting for the T-shirt orders to start rolling in!

So, tell me what you think! Listen to songs, look at posters, and read Ron Foley McDonald's endearingly ecstatic review! (For the record, J Lapointe has only one J in his name, and while he did the bulk of the recording work, he did not invent the band as it seems to indicate in the review - My next project is a giant family tree to explain the complexities of bands vs. solo project vs. recorded guests, to clear up any confusion!)

Hope everybody's having a rocking weekend!

I was just reminiscing about The Streets concert in London. Rachelle has described in her journal how it was an overwhelming and somewhat disappointing experience. One of the wacky additions to the evening of concrete floors, watered-down orange juice and young drunk london kids text-messaging each other was a RAP BATTLE! During the Streets "10 Rounds" Tour, they would pick up local MCs from the various citied to compete on stage for money before the show, and go on to other venues. Most of what we heard was pretty terrible, as the kids just made fun of their opponents instead of boasting about themselves.

Most of the disses fell into categories of: A) You are a homosexual B) Your mother is unattractive and/or a prostitute C) I've had sexual relations with your mother. Judging by the positive response from the crowd to these high-calibre rhyme subjects, Rachelle and I were understandably a bit worried.

The funniest line, however came from an MC they picked up in Glasgow. Picture this in a thick, thick Scottish accent:

"I like women like Beyonce Knowles/
HE likes women like Camilla Parker Bowles"

We thought it by far the cleverest dis. Unfortunately, this young chap was defeated by a more homophobic and forgettable MC.

Date:	2005-03-28 19:54
Subject:	The Rock Won't Stop, The Roll Won't Stop....
Security:	Public
Mood:	ponderous

Well, another Death by Nostalgia show at the Khyber. An excellent turnout, thanks initially to fans of the opening band (a whole group of people you'd not normally find at the Khyber, some of them friends of my younger brother!) and later to the entire Just Friends crew showing up to catch B.A. and presumably our set. We even sold a couple of CDs and a T-shirt!

Date:	2005-03-21 10:28
Subject:	If you missed it on Halifaxlocals:
Security:	Public
Mood:	self-promoting

Date:	2005-03-19 20:02
Subject:	I Thought So!
Security:	Public
Mood:	amused

I took this test!

Take the quiz at dicepool.com

Date:	2005-03-19 15:28
Subject:	Let's get it started
Security:	Public
Mood:	nostalgic

Just saw Rachelle off. The Stolen Minks are heading up to good old Sackville, New Brunswick to play George's roadhouse. It will be their first out-of-town show, and the first that I will not be able to attend! Even when DBN had a gig the same night, I managed to bike downtown and back to catch their set before I hit the stage.

I'm a little sad I'll miss it, but I'm sure they will make plenty of new fans.

So, welcome to my livejournal. I promise great things for the future. Like photos and drawings and the like. I enjoy making projects for myself, particularly if it involves being outdoors or working with paper.

I like to stay active, and since I was involved in a bicycle-meets-car accident 3 years ago it means I spend a lot of time stretching and doing excercises and weights to keep my back in shape. I sadly had to give up jogging due to the repeated impact on the feet and back, but still do a lot of walking, biking, and swimming - weather permitting, of course. I miss jogging, as it was an essentially easy activity that I could do first thing in the morning, but if I kept it up it might prevent me from enjoying longer hikes or bike rides.

While I'm not off getting lost in Long Lake Provincial Park, or ( working at a candy store ) I write rock music. With my settlement I helped to pay off the Death By Nostalgia CD I'd been working on since before the accident. That's roughly 3 years in the making and it's a damn fine album if I do say so. I'm lucky to have a very dedicated band, and people seem to enjoying it so far (it made the top of the charts at CKDU) despite, or perhaps because of it being musically all over the map.

I've played piano since about age 5. I grew up on my dad's tape collection, which consisted of classical music and lots of ( british prog rock ). In high school I got heavily into Zappa, but eventually tired of only owning Zappa albums. I went to lots of shows during the Halifax-is-the-next-Seattle daze, but rarely bought local music until a few years later. (I kick myself for not getting to actually see Eric's Trip until their reunion show) Over the years I got into more indie rock, stereolab, bjork, electronic (ie Squarepusher), nerdy hip hop (Themselves, Dr. Octagon, etc.), folk (Gillian Welch, Pentangle), sixties rock (Monkees, Kinks) and whatever I could get my hands on. I was inspired locally by Plumtree, the first band I saw made up of people my own age. While studying at Mt. Allison I created a few bands to play odd covers and my own instrumental music, and eventually hooked up with my prof Rita McKeough to form Confidence Band. We put out a fun and quirky album called "Songs Of Dance And Fractured Romance" and had a good following at NSCAD and beyond. I remember when Buck 65's "Vertex" tape came out, I started writing raps and incorporating that into my own indie rock. I've done solo hip-hop shows under the name "Wallflower", rapped on and recorded keyboards for my friends Recyclone's albums. My singing voice has improved over the years, and while I enjoy dark and heavy music I still try to make beautiful sounding pop, which is roughly how DBN started off.

This may give you a rough idea of why my music sounds the way it does. (You can hear Death By Nostalgia at our website, as soon as that's finished!) I'm not an expert in any area, but am passionate about the music I like. I feel out of the loop most days, and rely on friends like Spence and Rachelle to fill me in on what's cutting edge. Otherwise I'd just be listening to Village Green Preservation Society all day.

I'd like to thank David Cieplinski (aka stalkerdave) for the over-the-phone crash course in fancy links and cutaways!

Time to stretch.