It is never a surprise to read of a large corporation having their cache of data of private customer details being compromised. Credit card companies have had customer names and card #s stolen by savvy online thieves. Retailers have had their databases cracked with large numbers of client names, account #s, billing information and sales history taken. No company is safe from those desiring to do onerous deeds through the internet. Multi billion dollar corporations that promise you that your information is safe and invest millions in security are still having their safes cracked. We live in a time where identity theft and fraud are an ever burgeoning part of crime. And while we become ever more reliant on technology we have yet to step up how to protect the public from internet crime. We keep putting more cops on the streets while crime rates continue to go down yet government seemingly ignores this growing problem. The government of Canada's own computer databases were successfully hacked last year in a number of instances.
So think twice before giving anyone your personal data. Companies don't need any more information than that which is absolutely necessary. Why am I writing about this? Well, because I received the following note from the Best Buy Reward Zone :
Dear Marcus Bassett,
We have been informed by our email service provider, Epsilon, that your name and email address have been exposed by unauthorized entry into their system. Epsilon deploys emails on our behalf to our Reward Zone members. Click here to read Epsilon's statement.
We have been assured by Epsilon that the only information that has been exposed was your name and email address. A rigorous assessment by Epsilon has determined that account details, passwords or any other personal information were not at risk.
It is possible that you may receive spam email messages as a result and we would advise you to be very cautious when opening links or attachments from unknown senders. More information on spam and protecting yourself from email fraud can be found here.
In keeping with security industry best practices, Best Buy will never ask you to provide or confirm any information, including credit card numbers, unless you are on our secure e-commerce site, www.bestbuy.ca. If you receive an email asking for personal information, delete it. It did not come from Best Buy. The next scheduled email from Reward Zone about our Trade In Event will arrive to your inbox on April 15, 2011.
Our service provider has reported this incident to the appropriate authorities.
We regret this has taken place and any inconvenience this may have caused you. We take your privacy very seriously, and we are working diligently to fully investigate this situation and continue to protect your personal information. If you have further concerns or questions please contact us: 1-866-BEST-BUY (238-7289) or customercare@bestbuycanada.ca.
Sincerely,
Angela Scardillo
Vice President of Marketing
Best Buy Canada
Sure, it was just my name and email address which were compromised but smart data thieves will use a Best Buy seeming email/logo/request to misdirect people on these lists to further divulge data to them in order to use those details. Unfortunately, this is a very lucrative practice for these thieves...otherwise they wouldn't bother doing it.
Here was my response :
Dear Best Buy,
Thank you for warning me that you and the company you are in cahoots with have compromised my email address. I appreciate the warning.
That I will likely receive an even greater # of spam emails (not including the ones you already send me on a regular basis) has caused me to review my policies in reference to trusting big corporations with my private contact details. As such, kindly remove my email address and name from your databases and that of Epsilon as well. I do not wish to receive further emails from you in any ongoing manner (save to confirm the following actions). I also desire that my email address no longer reside in ANY of your computers/databases. Please do confirm to me that you have deleted my information so that I can sleep slightly better at night.
Yours actually (and not just some computer program auto dialer),
Marcus Bassett
Addendum
I received an email from Airmiles this evening. Guess what it said? Yep, their email service provider "had an unauthorized entry into their email platform." Again, my first name, last name, and email address may have been compromised.
Great! Airmiles doesn't say who their email service provider is but i wouldn't be too surprised to hear that it is Epsilon. Makes me wonder just how secure a system Epsilon is using. I will soon be sending a similar email to Airmiles as I did Best Buy. Still haven't received a response from Best Buy.
2nd Addendum
turns out the 2 companies do use the same web marketer. The following article appears in the Globe and Mail and advises that MILLIONS of individuals email addresses and names were taken. wow.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/tech-news/canadians-among-millions-at-risk-following-us-security-breach/article1971001/
Further Hacker Damage
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/26/playstation-network-hacker-stole-user-data_n_854106.html
Playstation's network was hacked and they have, really, no idea how much information was compromised. Surely names, addresses, and passwords were stolen. And quite possibly credit card info and purchase history.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
A Recipe For Change
For your reading enjoyment the following songs hold some significant mirroring effect to this article :
Furnaceface : Just Buy It
Dead Kennedy's : Kinky Sex Makes the World Go 'Round
Bad Religion : 21st Century Digital Boy
John Lennon : Imagine
Revolutions in the middle east are a direct result of the current world economic depression in conjunction with a number of perfectly timed, appropro circumstances. With the correct combination of regional circumstances we could see the same elsewhere in the world, even in Canada.
Much as history has taught us, the common will of the people will overcome the authoritarian rule they have been subjugated to as their plight grows greater and their common consciousness suddenly awakens. The godfathers of communism long studied and theorized on the perfect settings for a worker's revolution. When the destitute had taken too much, while endlessly witnessing the grandeurs of the ruling class, they would be ripe for action. Helplessly watching as those around them, those closest to them, died in suffering whilst their leaders vacationed on luxurious islands only to return to their grande palaces and great courtyards. In the past few weeks we have been witness to a suddenly growing snowball of change as uprisings have claimed 2 governments, and new demonstrations have now occurred in Iran, Yemen, and many more suddenly threatened. Could this be but a tinder effect?
As the world population continues to skyrocket (world population will double within most of our lifetimes) the demand we put onto it is ever increasing. We are therefor ever more reliant on our Earth for our sustenance. So when a massive drought such as last year's fire producing one in the grain growing regions of Russia forced that government to suspend exports it lead to much higher food prices in many of the more impoverished portions of the world. Russia is 3rd behind China and India in world wheat productions but one of the main exporters to the middle east. Egypt, the world's greatest wheat importer, was heavily hit. While its leader lavished in every worldly luxury, his people were hit with an inflation rate that was astronomical. A timidly peaceful people under the rule of an authoritarian ruler, the Egyptians witnessed the toppling of a fellow puppet regime in Tunisia and were spurred to action. We all know of the 18 days of relatively peaceful demonstrations that ensued. Those of us who weren't hidden under rocks watched from afar as history wrote another line on a page.
Could this snowball gather greater and greater people forming into an avalanche of change? As more nations in the middle east experience ripples, the powers that be in ever further outward nations merely bat an eye. But are their situations really all that stable? What is to stop our own people from revolting themselves. Nations throughout the world, but perhaps most notably in Europe, are struggling with economic instability and worse. The french are well known for their eagerness to take to the streets. Due to already high unemployment levels, stagnant wages, and increasing food costs, many of France's neighbors have experienced demonstrations of growing unease in recent months as well . As uncertainty spreads the cost of staples continues to rise. And as instability grows in the middle east, the security of future oil exports is questioned, causing oil to grow ever costlier. In fact, oil returned back to its pre-depression price of over $100 per barrel during the height of the Egyptian power struggle. Maintaining a threshold of greater than $100/barrel of oil for a record 6 straight months in 2008 is a stressor many blame as a contributing cause of our current world financial meltdown. Since the greatest responsibility corporations face is to protect the shareholder value of their owners they will make cost cutting measures (decrease staffing, cut wages/full time positions, promotions, benefits/bonuses, and other corners) while passing on increases in prices to consumers. Throw in the massive flooding in Australia which has threatened and destroyed much of the world's 9th largest wheat producer's crops and a massive drought currently ongoing in China, which is both the world's largest producer and consumer of rice and wheat, and worldwide strife will continue to rise.
But revolution won't hit Canada right? Where voter apathy and overall interest in politics is at record lows, Canadians, and their overtly peaceful nature, would never resort to revolts. Or could we? As mass demonstrations during the WTO meetings in Ontario last year showed, there is a rather vocal pocket of resistance to world capitalistic practices. However, the majority of Canadians viewed these demonstrations as a blight to the recent world view to our financial stoutness and our history of being well respected, reasonable folk. Isn't that why the Canadian Conservative regime spent over a BILLION DOLLARS, a ridiculous amount of money, on beefing up security for the G20 talks. We are peaceful. We are reasonable. And we are accustomed to our governments (liberal, conservative, or on a provincial level otherwise) bilking us out of our hard earned cash. Not only in having much higher taxes than our neighbours to the south (for which we are actually quite proud) but also in paying lazy politicians who work less than half a year, who subsist on nepotistic practices (Liberal Adscam, Conservative Judge appointments, both parties appointments in the senate), and are wasteful in countless expenditures. There are some striking similarities between Egyptians and Canadians. The most obvious difference, of course, is that we have the so called "democratic process". We have choice. Or so we are told. How much choice do we actually, really have? Perhaps the reason that ever lower records of voters turn out for each subsequent election is because deep down our collective conscious knows that the system is broken. The free trade capitalistic marketplace is a regime of control, where the rich maintain their control while providing each of us with the allusion of choice and a sharing in the profits. And we are happy to let this subsist. So long as our psyche's are satiated by a couple of weeks in a tropical paradise, where we can play like kings. So long as we can fill our belly's with the delicacies of emperors, with ever fattening foods. So long as we can collect riches and prizes, showing off our ruffled feathers. Or, at least we have been happy to allow this current system to subsist so far.
Should the right combination of elements of change happen to come together at just the right time, we too could be subject to our own tides of revolt. Start the cauldron off with a soup base of a weakened world economy upon which Canada is reliant on due to free trade. Throw in the spices of an increase in oil prices due to a tumultuous middle east, a dash of higher priced staples due to worldwide food shortages caused by an ever burgeoning population and extreme weather conditions, a pinch of increases in goods and services. The potatoes of the soup consist of corporations cutting corners to protect shareholder value, eroding the consumer base ever more. The chicken bones consist of an ever mounting government debt, not just in Canada, but throughout the developed world. Turn up the heat a little more, should unrest spread into the western world, Canada could surely follow.
Furnaceface : Just Buy It
Dead Kennedy's : Kinky Sex Makes the World Go 'Round
Bad Religion : 21st Century Digital Boy
John Lennon : Imagine
Revolutions in the middle east are a direct result of the current world economic depression in conjunction with a number of perfectly timed, appropro circumstances. With the correct combination of regional circumstances we could see the same elsewhere in the world, even in Canada.
Much as history has taught us, the common will of the people will overcome the authoritarian rule they have been subjugated to as their plight grows greater and their common consciousness suddenly awakens. The godfathers of communism long studied and theorized on the perfect settings for a worker's revolution. When the destitute had taken too much, while endlessly witnessing the grandeurs of the ruling class, they would be ripe for action. Helplessly watching as those around them, those closest to them, died in suffering whilst their leaders vacationed on luxurious islands only to return to their grande palaces and great courtyards. In the past few weeks we have been witness to a suddenly growing snowball of change as uprisings have claimed 2 governments, and new demonstrations have now occurred in Iran, Yemen, and many more suddenly threatened. Could this be but a tinder effect?
As the world population continues to skyrocket (world population will double within most of our lifetimes) the demand we put onto it is ever increasing. We are therefor ever more reliant on our Earth for our sustenance. So when a massive drought such as last year's fire producing one in the grain growing regions of Russia forced that government to suspend exports it lead to much higher food prices in many of the more impoverished portions of the world. Russia is 3rd behind China and India in world wheat productions but one of the main exporters to the middle east. Egypt, the world's greatest wheat importer, was heavily hit. While its leader lavished in every worldly luxury, his people were hit with an inflation rate that was astronomical. A timidly peaceful people under the rule of an authoritarian ruler, the Egyptians witnessed the toppling of a fellow puppet regime in Tunisia and were spurred to action. We all know of the 18 days of relatively peaceful demonstrations that ensued. Those of us who weren't hidden under rocks watched from afar as history wrote another line on a page.
Could this snowball gather greater and greater people forming into an avalanche of change? As more nations in the middle east experience ripples, the powers that be in ever further outward nations merely bat an eye. But are their situations really all that stable? What is to stop our own people from revolting themselves. Nations throughout the world, but perhaps most notably in Europe, are struggling with economic instability and worse. The french are well known for their eagerness to take to the streets. Due to already high unemployment levels, stagnant wages, and increasing food costs, many of France's neighbors have experienced demonstrations of growing unease in recent months as well . As uncertainty spreads the cost of staples continues to rise. And as instability grows in the middle east, the security of future oil exports is questioned, causing oil to grow ever costlier. In fact, oil returned back to its pre-depression price of over $100 per barrel during the height of the Egyptian power struggle. Maintaining a threshold of greater than $100/barrel of oil for a record 6 straight months in 2008 is a stressor many blame as a contributing cause of our current world financial meltdown. Since the greatest responsibility corporations face is to protect the shareholder value of their owners they will make cost cutting measures (decrease staffing, cut wages/full time positions, promotions, benefits/bonuses, and other corners) while passing on increases in prices to consumers. Throw in the massive flooding in Australia which has threatened and destroyed much of the world's 9th largest wheat producer's crops and a massive drought currently ongoing in China, which is both the world's largest producer and consumer of rice and wheat, and worldwide strife will continue to rise.
But revolution won't hit Canada right? Where voter apathy and overall interest in politics is at record lows, Canadians, and their overtly peaceful nature, would never resort to revolts. Or could we? As mass demonstrations during the WTO meetings in Ontario last year showed, there is a rather vocal pocket of resistance to world capitalistic practices. However, the majority of Canadians viewed these demonstrations as a blight to the recent world view to our financial stoutness and our history of being well respected, reasonable folk. Isn't that why the Canadian Conservative regime spent over a BILLION DOLLARS, a ridiculous amount of money, on beefing up security for the G20 talks. We are peaceful. We are reasonable. And we are accustomed to our governments (liberal, conservative, or on a provincial level otherwise) bilking us out of our hard earned cash. Not only in having much higher taxes than our neighbours to the south (for which we are actually quite proud) but also in paying lazy politicians who work less than half a year, who subsist on nepotistic practices (Liberal Adscam, Conservative Judge appointments, both parties appointments in the senate), and are wasteful in countless expenditures. There are some striking similarities between Egyptians and Canadians. The most obvious difference, of course, is that we have the so called "democratic process". We have choice. Or so we are told. How much choice do we actually, really have? Perhaps the reason that ever lower records of voters turn out for each subsequent election is because deep down our collective conscious knows that the system is broken. The free trade capitalistic marketplace is a regime of control, where the rich maintain their control while providing each of us with the allusion of choice and a sharing in the profits. And we are happy to let this subsist. So long as our psyche's are satiated by a couple of weeks in a tropical paradise, where we can play like kings. So long as we can fill our belly's with the delicacies of emperors, with ever fattening foods. So long as we can collect riches and prizes, showing off our ruffled feathers. Or, at least we have been happy to allow this current system to subsist so far.
Should the right combination of elements of change happen to come together at just the right time, we too could be subject to our own tides of revolt. Start the cauldron off with a soup base of a weakened world economy upon which Canada is reliant on due to free trade. Throw in the spices of an increase in oil prices due to a tumultuous middle east, a dash of higher priced staples due to worldwide food shortages caused by an ever burgeoning population and extreme weather conditions, a pinch of increases in goods and services. The potatoes of the soup consist of corporations cutting corners to protect shareholder value, eroding the consumer base ever more. The chicken bones consist of an ever mounting government debt, not just in Canada, but throughout the developed world. Turn up the heat a little more, should unrest spread into the western world, Canada could surely follow.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Linkin Park on SNL
I have never seen a band look so self assured of themselves. Even as the lyrics consist of nothing more than "Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh. oh, oh-oh-oh,oh-oh-oh" for what seems like the entirety of their song, everyone in the band looks so confident of the entirety of the art they have created. The smuggest look is on the face of the keyboardist in the far back left corner ( behind the other keyboardist ) as he plays a single key, every few seconds. I can really feel their message, though I have strong doubts that they intend to purvey quite the intel I am jiving. It is while realizing their masterpiece that I deduce that these guys are just one auto-tune vocalization away from being something huge. Fortunately for all of us they are such devoted artists to their craft.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
a gig review i wrote for unratedmusic.com
Despite some recent knocks, Calgary's independent music scene is alive and well! This past Thursday music fans were fortunate to have two separate, yet well attended, events to choose from. I began my night at the Battle of the Bands event occurring on most Thursdays at Dickens Pub, 1000 9th Ave SW. The competition had originated at a previous establishment this past fall where it had completed its preliminary rounds. But those bands who successfully proceeded to the quarter-finals were put into an unknowing limbo when the management of Radiopark Music Room suddenly decided to pursue other entertainment options. It is with little regret that a visit to their website shows that their attempt to institute yet another Calgary Thursday DJ dance night has fallen apart. Fortunately for indie music fans and musicians, Dickens Pub stepped up to the plate to host the remaining rounds of the competition. This has been fortunate for Dickens as well as they have been well rewarded with ever growing crowds of beer guzzling, taco eating fans with each successive Thursday.
The most recent round was a great treat to everyone in attendance as it featured the trip-hoppy sounds of Comrade and Sargeant versus the slick emcee Transit and DJ Crosswalk. Led by the ethereal vocals of Yolanda Sargeant the duo, to which she lends her name, went first. Despite a little bit of a jittery first song Miss Sargeant warmed up quickly, using her powerful jazz inspired voice complimented by the trip hop sounds of DJ Comrade to bring about comparisons to Massive Attack and Veronika Coassolo (from Tricky fame). Heedless of her short stature she easily commanded the room with her soulful singing, transfixing many in the audience as she seemingly floated across the stage. It was with some anger though that this spiritual experience would be rudely interrupted by the untimely subtraction of DJ Comrade.
As though to illustrate the proper role of a DJ, DJ Crosswalk would be the perfect yin to Transit's yang. Seen but ultimately not (verbally) heard, while jumping up and down, and waving his hands in the air he played the right tunes for Transit to rhyme to. DJ Crosswalk was less like a school crosswalk attendant than he was a perfect cheerleader (sans skirt, pom poms, and acrobatics), inspiring the already boisterous crowd to really feel the beat. As for Transit, I doubt his vocals could compare with the raw power of Sargeant, but his sick rhymes and catchy hooks had the fists pumping and the crowd surging. The irony of the success of their spoof of a top 40 pop song not lost on the duo, Transit introduced their internet buzz song Lights, Camera, Action by saying they were turning down Gene Simmons' offer to turn it into something bigger. It is easy to see what the “demon” of KISS saw in the tune as the audience literally exploded to the auto-tuned, easy to chant along with, and repetitive beat. Personally, I just like to whip my hair back and forth to it. Perhaps I will get that chance when the duo play in the semi finals, beginning February 10th, as they won the chance to continue competing for $2500.
Just down the street is the perennial indie music supporting venue the Marquee Room at 612 8th Ave SW. And, as though they had billed the timing perfectly to coincide with the show a few blocks away, the Nix Dicksons went on just after our arrival. Despite being without Curtis, their often costumed mascot, and oddly missing a gimmick (past shows have included a petting zoo theme complete with balloon animals and Curtis dressed as a Giraffe, an underwater theme, a space theme, and a Hawaiian Volcano God theme...can you guess who dressed as the Volcano God?) the band was every bit as fun as ever. Always drawing a college crowd, even on this school night, the energy in the room was transparent. Their always affable front man, Tanner Holthe, adeptly works the room, making members of the audience feel right at home, as if the show is transpiring in their own living room. Tanner charismatically calls out members of the crowd by name and easily segues into an introduction
for the next song. Each of which is easy to enjoy, the band encouraging the crowd to join in on sing-a-long sections in such songs as 'King of Connecticut', 'Big Kids', the head bop worthy 'All Girls Want', and the stage filling 'Working on the Weekend'. Staying true to the Nix Dicksons' philosophy of “writ(ing) fun songs and breath(ing) positivity...” this is exactly what going to one of their shows is like. Their music feels like pop songs for the soul. I look forward to seeing what their “secret” stage theme will be for their next show February 25th at the Gateway as they play the Go For the Eyes cd release party!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Season of Festivals
With the recent announcement of the lineup for the Coachella Music Festival in Indio California we now have the looming barrage of other festival lineup leaks, rumours, expectations, and surprises to tantalize our wet-ed appetites for sound. From coast to coast to coast to coast there are hundreds of different music festivals for all ages, sizes, tastes, and budgets. The killer lineup of Coachella had me giving serious thought to somehow making ends meet in order to make this always well reviewed and attended fest a must for this year. Unfortunately, in the midst of my trying to see where I could squeeze enough pennies I saw an announcement on twitter : Tickets are sold out for Coachella 2011. Now, that doesn't mean it won't be possible to still get a ticket. There will definitely be some available on aftermarket sights such as Craig'slist, Ebay, and Kijiji but reliability of such sources can be called into question. The aftermarket cost can skyrocket. A confirmed seller could very well sell out last moment to a higher local offer. Or in a worst case scenario (but all too possible), you could receive your ticket in the mail, do your happy dance, gather all your gear and make your costly travels waaaaay down south all the way to the middle of the desert in the mountains of Cali only to discover as you present your ticket that it is a phony, a fake, a worthless piece of shit! This immediately got me to seeing about other large festivals to attend.
2 years ago I hit up the Sasquatch festival held at the picturesque gorge in Washington State. Well documented highlights of that festival included seeing Nine Inch Nails playing with the setting sun and gorge behind them ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNOV4sVRbQs ), followed by Jane's Addiction ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_dQvVor5qg ) and the viral video of my buddy (and then roommate) Colin the Dancing Man rocking it out to Santigold ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA8z7f7a2Pk this vid still gives me goosebumps). Other features that year included seeing Tv on the Radio, Animal Collective, Bon Iver, Of Montreal, Explosions in the Sky, Gogol Bordello, The Avett Bros, M83, Gaslight Anthem, Chromeo, Deadmou5, Sun Kil Moon, Airoborne Toxic Event, St Vincent, Passion Pit, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Ra Ra Riot, The Knux, The Submarines, and Mt St Helens Vietnam Band, to name but a few.
The official lineup will be announced on February 6th but in the meantime I am excited by the expected list of : The Foo Fighters (confirmed), Das Rascist, Fitz and the Tantrums, Foster the People, Neon Indian, Sleigh Bells, Twin Shadow, and Wolf Parade. Now if only Yeasayer can be added to that list....
Other large fests which have garnered rave reviews and have been a hit with friends include bonnaroo ( http://festival-outlook.consequenceofsound.net/fests/view/357/bonnaroo-music-and-arts-festival ) and of course the former traveling tour of Lollapalooza ( http://festival-outlook.consequenceofsound.net/fests/view/336/lollapalooza ). So far the only added tasty treats for Bonnaroo are (rumours only at this point) Man Man (who thoroughly impressed me at the Calgary Folk Fest last year : http://aneegadole.blogspot.com/2011/01/bestworst-of-2010.html ) and Mumford and Sons. Over at Lolla the rumourmill has Janes possibly playing amongst others.
So, I sit with baited breath, eagerly anticipating official announcements and reading as many rumour sites as possible to try to plan out where in North America I am going to go spend a weekend amidst a plethora of musical talents, sweaty stinky fans, and untrustworthy gut wrenching food. I can't wait to return to my nirvana!
2 years ago I hit up the Sasquatch festival held at the picturesque gorge in Washington State. Well documented highlights of that festival included seeing Nine Inch Nails playing with the setting sun and gorge behind them ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNOV4sVRbQs ), followed by Jane's Addiction ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_dQvVor5qg ) and the viral video of my buddy (and then roommate) Colin the Dancing Man rocking it out to Santigold ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA8z7f7a2Pk this vid still gives me goosebumps). Other features that year included seeing Tv on the Radio, Animal Collective, Bon Iver, Of Montreal, Explosions in the Sky, Gogol Bordello, The Avett Bros, M83, Gaslight Anthem, Chromeo, Deadmou5, Sun Kil Moon, Airoborne Toxic Event, St Vincent, Passion Pit, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Ra Ra Riot, The Knux, The Submarines, and Mt St Helens Vietnam Band, to name but a few.
The official lineup will be announced on February 6th but in the meantime I am excited by the expected list of : The Foo Fighters (confirmed), Das Rascist, Fitz and the Tantrums, Foster the People, Neon Indian, Sleigh Bells, Twin Shadow, and Wolf Parade. Now if only Yeasayer can be added to that list....
Other large fests which have garnered rave reviews and have been a hit with friends include bonnaroo ( http://festival-outlook.consequenceofsound.net/fests/view/357/bonnaroo-music-and-arts-festival ) and of course the former traveling tour of Lollapalooza ( http://festival-outlook.consequenceofsound.net/fests/view/336/lollapalooza ). So far the only added tasty treats for Bonnaroo are (rumours only at this point) Man Man (who thoroughly impressed me at the Calgary Folk Fest last year : http://aneegadole.blogspot.com/2011/01/bestworst-of-2010.html ) and Mumford and Sons. Over at Lolla the rumourmill has Janes possibly playing amongst others.
So, I sit with baited breath, eagerly anticipating official announcements and reading as many rumour sites as possible to try to plan out where in North America I am going to go spend a weekend amidst a plethora of musical talents, sweaty stinky fans, and untrustworthy gut wrenching food. I can't wait to return to my nirvana!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Best/Worst of 2010
I am bad at keeping tabs on myself. I don't set exact goals that can be measured in pounds, body fat index, dollars, hours, kilometers, or anything else that uses a form of the mathematical sciences. I realize that some people need to have concrete laws written in stone but that isn't for me. Too much structure creates limitations which inhibits true realization of the experience. If I wasn't willing to go with the flow I would never have seen sooooo many of my top live music events, ones which I have usually decided to attend at the last moment, on a whim. Those kinds of decisions have rewarded me in past years with such epic events as seeing Radiohead in Vancouver, witnessing the beauty of a world class electronic festival set in the clouds of the tree tops in the mountains for Shambhala, watching the sun set behind NIN in the picturesque gorge of the Sasquatch Festival. This year this resulted in my seeing Blackalicious play for a few hundred hippies nestled in the mountains of BC at Starbelly as well as to see the beautiful city of Seattle host sooooo many good acts at Bumbershoot. So it should come as no surprise that I am not entirely sure how many different acts I have seen this year, but a good guesstimate would have it upwards of a hundred shows. And from these comes this list :
My Best/Worst Live Shows of 2010
First with the Best (in no particular order each still brings as equal a smile to my face)
Jamie Lidell - Republik, Calgary, AB
The Bumbershoot music festival held a litany of amazing acts. It is a prime example of why my sagittarius mind takes such pleasure at a music festival. With 15 different stages and umpteen different bands to choose from within a short walking distance from each other I can literally run from stage to stage to see soooo many great acts! I was introduced to some great ones at that, one of whom and that I had never previously heard of was Jamie Lidell. His soulful, rootsy blend of electro, synth, beat boxing, jazzy, gospel and funk tunes is right up my alley. So when I got the chance to see him play a show in Calgary I jumped at it. And none who showed that night were to be disappointed. He had the audience enthralled, involving them in singing, joining them in the crowd, singing and dancing the whole time. Throw in an extremely talented band who were equally as friendly as he was and it definitely made for one of the best shows I was witness to in 2010.
Jamie Lidell beatboxing at the Crocodile after his Bumbershoot Show (unfortunately, we didn't make this set) :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_C_Yfe2iWU
with Feist, Gonzalez, and Mocky performing his song Multiply :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ60XbwhESg&feature=&p=8C04165F9D6AB59D&index=0&playnext=1
Weezer - Bumbershoot, Seattle, WA
Sometimes the most enjoyable shows are the ones you least expect. I have never been much of a My Chemical Romance fan but after seeing them live a number of years ago I have a new found respect for them. Weezer falls into this category. I have never followed them nor cared much for them but after seeing the best stadium show I have EVER seen I am now starting to listen to them a lot more! I don't know what their shows were like before the bus crash in December of 2009, but now that lead singer Rivers Cuomo's hand is injured and he can't play nearly as much guitar he is an excitable little monkey on that stage. He bounded all over it, climbed on virtually everything even ending up in the side stadium seating after climbing a portapotty, in order to climb a flatbed, and up the side of the stadium, singing the whole time. At one point the lightmen lost track of him. He could be heard singing but no one in the stadium had any idea where he was. The lights were streaming the audience frantically searching for him until he finally turned up on the opposite side, in amongst the fans. The electricity in the stadium was contagious and it was all a side affect of the ball of energy of Cuomo. The band was solid, the audience interaction was superb (the band kicked giant beach balls to the audience which went around the floor and the sides of the stadium), and the experience was 1st rate.
Cuomo singing Beverly Hills from atop the portapotties:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQjZegLBVoc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg25KlE24bo&feature=related
Weezer covers Kids and Pokerface (Cuomo was bouncing on that trampoline a lot during this show)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsJBNMzRO40&feature=related
Flying Fox and the Hunter Gatherers - Rose and Crown, Banff, AB
Speaking of unexpected! One summer night I went to see my friends in the Black Phoenix Orchestra play a show at the Palamino. I knew it would be a good show. These boys always put on a fun live performance. But I was to fall in love this night with an act I had previously never heard of. Flying Fox and the Hunter Gatherers are an extremely talented cabaret like act that hail from my hometown of Winnipeg. So talented are they that they performed their rock opera Where the Wild Things Are to rave reviews at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, even winning the prestigious Best of Fringe. Their live show does not disappoint. The band plays as one harmonious instrument, led by the haunting vocals of towering lead singer Jesse Krause (who on such tunes as "Nurse" can use his loud baritone voice to command a room). There was not time at this show for the band to play anything from their rock opera so when they mentioned they would be playing a couple of days later at the Rose and Crown in Banff, I immediately set about making plans to attend. Again, I would be enthralled! In their second act the boys would don their monster costume heads in order to play the entirety of the children's tale to the delight of anyone who was fortunate enough to be present that night. They are currently working on their new album slated to be released in the spring of 2011 and from what I hear a supporting tour will follow. I can not wait to see what musical genius these boys have dreamt up!
like daiko drummers the monsters perform in unison for "drumpus":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtvRYaCGZhA&feature=related
their facebook and myspace pages :
http://www.facebook.com/flyingfoxandthehuntergatherers
http://www.myspace.com/flyingfoxandthehuntergatherers
Arcade Fire - Stampede Corral, Calgary, AB
I have long heard that Arcade Fire are one of THE best bands to see live. So when I got my chance this past fall I jumped at the chance to see for myself. With various members of the band rotating the instruments they would play and the absolute electric energy of the arena these artists had the ENTIRE audience jumping and singing and dancing to their heart's content. It was a chilly night but covered in sweat every one of us who left that Stampede Corral that evening would be warm with the bliss of having just witnessed a truly joyful event.
With so many members playing at once it would be so easy to fall out of rhythm with each other. Arcade Fire show how its done on No Cars Go, Rebellion (Lies), We Used to Wait, and the Suburbs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS6Te9mHa3M&feature=fvst
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOzHG63qCEE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9JhkMYH2o8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6Q7rYXL3is&feature=related
Calgary Folk Fest Collaboration Stages - Calgary, AB
The source of sooooo many one in a lifetime experiences. Where else will you get Cat Empire from Australia, Coolooloosh (Israel), and Etran Finatwa (Niger) all on one stage? Other amazing collections at this year's fest included : Honeybear, Library Voices, Stars, with the special guest appearance of Michael Franti; Jordan Klassen, Po Girl, Timbre Timbre, and Ohbijo; Baskery, Cat Empire, and Haydamaky; Natacha Atlas, Coolooloosh, and DJ Logic; DJ Logic, Etran Finatawa, Man Man, and St Vincent to name my faves.
Forgot to mention him but Dan Mangan was also great :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ1a__t8wEM
St Vincent w/ Sun Parlour Players and Timbre Timbre
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tsh7_1qCEeY&feature=related
Library Voices perform "Step Off the Map & Float" during the "A Simple Clan" workshop with a little help from Honeybear and Stars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9ulhYz3rR4&feature=related
and the rest
Nix Dicksons, Electric Monk, and Black Phoenix Orchestra - (Lethbridge and Calgary, AB) - each band in their own right is a blast to see live but when these acts play together it is a smorgasbord of like-minded musicians jamming and having a great time that is as infectious to themselves as those in attendance
The Whigs - (Bumbershoot) - huge sound, great guitars. their sound thoroughly impressed such that i bought their album, which was a little disappointing with the overproduction. lost some of that rawness
Meat Puppets - (Bumbershoot) - holy track marks batman! these guys rocked it, after Curt Kirkwood said it was good to be in Seattle his brother scratched out "it's good to be anywhere, man" fitting
Solomone Burke - (Bumbershoot) - After he was a last minute cancellation at the Winnipeg Folk Fest a few years back I had been anxious to see one of the founding fathers of soul/funk live. I am glad I had my chance before he died a few weeks later.
Atlas Sound - (Bumbershoot) - the leadsinger/guitarist of deerhoof's solo project, lots of looping and fun...a sleeper pick that paid off
The Raveonnettes - (Bumbershoot) - damn can Sune Rose Wagner shred it on guitar, great seeing them perform kitschy Boys Who Rape Should All Be Destroyed live.
Japandroids - (Bumbershoot) - Canadian duo who also create a whole wall of sound with layers of guitar and drums
Blackalicious - (Starbelly) - Though they were visibly pissed at the ineptitude of the sound guy and played to a smaller host than I am sure many of their events have garnered it was awesome to be sooooo close to the Gift of Gab
Baronness - (Bumbershoot) - Can you say heavy metal gods?!
Stars - (Calgary FF) - Could easily have headlined but had everyone on their feet
Anvil - (Bumbershoot) - Canadian heavy metal gods
Bocephus King - (Starbelly) - Can play one hell of a great slide guitar
Chad VanGaalen - (Starbelly) - Calgary based awesome guitarist/songwriter
Michael Franti and Spearhead - (Calgary FF) - Great grooves, insightful lyrics, too bad more people don't pay heed to these words of wisdom
Cat Empire - (Calgary FF) - Always a great, danceable show
Man Man - (Calgary FF) - A cherry popping experience for me, these guys pulled out a LOT from their tickle trunk of tricks, literally including a dancing monkey playing cymbals
JD Edwards Band - (Palamino, Calgary) - boys from Winnipeg who have added even more to their sound and headed by the Finley Quaye-like crooning of frontman JD.
The Worst
Edward Sharpe and the Magnificent Zeroes - Bumbershoot - sometimes so many ppl on a stage can just lead to disjointed noise
Natacha Atlas - Calgary Folk Fest - her band was awesome but they could not hide the spoiled princess attitude of this self believed diva
Hole - Bumbershoot - Hole Sucks. Courtney has no talent. She also no longer has the talents of Melissa Auf De Maur and Eric Erlandson to perform other people's songs with. If only there was a hole she could fall into...
Helladope - Bumbershoot - Hella boring. Contrived. Systematic. "i'm so cooool cuz i am in a helladope hip hop outfit"
Lisa Dank - Bumbershoot - they call it grassroots, diy electronica. I saw it as a painful experience to both my auditory and visual sensations
AC Slater - Nelson, BC - after seeing him with an amazing sound system at Shambhalla the year before and being completely blown away I expected more of the same. But for some reason there was NO BASS! That is like a football team playing without a football. WTF?
Myths - Sled Island Festival - opened for a great lineup of Woodhands, CEX, WhoMadeWho, and, !!! but looked like they should practice in their basement for a LOT longer!
My Best/Worst Live Shows of 2010
First with the Best (in no particular order each still brings as equal a smile to my face)
Jamie Lidell - Republik, Calgary, AB
The Bumbershoot music festival held a litany of amazing acts. It is a prime example of why my sagittarius mind takes such pleasure at a music festival. With 15 different stages and umpteen different bands to choose from within a short walking distance from each other I can literally run from stage to stage to see soooo many great acts! I was introduced to some great ones at that, one of whom and that I had never previously heard of was Jamie Lidell. His soulful, rootsy blend of electro, synth, beat boxing, jazzy, gospel and funk tunes is right up my alley. So when I got the chance to see him play a show in Calgary I jumped at it. And none who showed that night were to be disappointed. He had the audience enthralled, involving them in singing, joining them in the crowd, singing and dancing the whole time. Throw in an extremely talented band who were equally as friendly as he was and it definitely made for one of the best shows I was witness to in 2010.
Jamie Lidell beatboxing at the Crocodile after his Bumbershoot Show (unfortunately, we didn't make this set) :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_C_Yfe2iWU
with Feist, Gonzalez, and Mocky performing his song Multiply :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ60XbwhESg&feature=&p=8C04165F9D6AB59D&index=0&playnext=1
Weezer - Bumbershoot, Seattle, WA
Sometimes the most enjoyable shows are the ones you least expect. I have never been much of a My Chemical Romance fan but after seeing them live a number of years ago I have a new found respect for them. Weezer falls into this category. I have never followed them nor cared much for them but after seeing the best stadium show I have EVER seen I am now starting to listen to them a lot more! I don't know what their shows were like before the bus crash in December of 2009, but now that lead singer Rivers Cuomo's hand is injured and he can't play nearly as much guitar he is an excitable little monkey on that stage. He bounded all over it, climbed on virtually everything even ending up in the side stadium seating after climbing a portapotty, in order to climb a flatbed, and up the side of the stadium, singing the whole time. At one point the lightmen lost track of him. He could be heard singing but no one in the stadium had any idea where he was. The lights were streaming the audience frantically searching for him until he finally turned up on the opposite side, in amongst the fans. The electricity in the stadium was contagious and it was all a side affect of the ball of energy of Cuomo. The band was solid, the audience interaction was superb (the band kicked giant beach balls to the audience which went around the floor and the sides of the stadium), and the experience was 1st rate.
Cuomo singing Beverly Hills from atop the portapotties:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQjZegLBVoc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg25KlE24bo&feature=related
Weezer covers Kids and Pokerface (Cuomo was bouncing on that trampoline a lot during this show)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsJBNMzRO40&feature=related
Flying Fox and the Hunter Gatherers - Rose and Crown, Banff, AB
Speaking of unexpected! One summer night I went to see my friends in the Black Phoenix Orchestra play a show at the Palamino. I knew it would be a good show. These boys always put on a fun live performance. But I was to fall in love this night with an act I had previously never heard of. Flying Fox and the Hunter Gatherers are an extremely talented cabaret like act that hail from my hometown of Winnipeg. So talented are they that they performed their rock opera Where the Wild Things Are to rave reviews at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, even winning the prestigious Best of Fringe. Their live show does not disappoint. The band plays as one harmonious instrument, led by the haunting vocals of towering lead singer Jesse Krause (who on such tunes as "Nurse" can use his loud baritone voice to command a room). There was not time at this show for the band to play anything from their rock opera so when they mentioned they would be playing a couple of days later at the Rose and Crown in Banff, I immediately set about making plans to attend. Again, I would be enthralled! In their second act the boys would don their monster costume heads in order to play the entirety of the children's tale to the delight of anyone who was fortunate enough to be present that night. They are currently working on their new album slated to be released in the spring of 2011 and from what I hear a supporting tour will follow. I can not wait to see what musical genius these boys have dreamt up!
like daiko drummers the monsters perform in unison for "drumpus":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtvRYaCGZhA&feature=related
their facebook and myspace pages :
http://www.facebook.com/flyingfoxandthehuntergatherers
http://www.myspace.com/flyingfoxandthehuntergatherers
Arcade Fire - Stampede Corral, Calgary, AB
I have long heard that Arcade Fire are one of THE best bands to see live. So when I got my chance this past fall I jumped at the chance to see for myself. With various members of the band rotating the instruments they would play and the absolute electric energy of the arena these artists had the ENTIRE audience jumping and singing and dancing to their heart's content. It was a chilly night but covered in sweat every one of us who left that Stampede Corral that evening would be warm with the bliss of having just witnessed a truly joyful event.
With so many members playing at once it would be so easy to fall out of rhythm with each other. Arcade Fire show how its done on No Cars Go, Rebellion (Lies), We Used to Wait, and the Suburbs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS6Te9mHa3M&feature=fvst
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOzHG63qCEE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9JhkMYH2o8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6Q7rYXL3is&feature=related
Calgary Folk Fest Collaboration Stages - Calgary, AB
The source of sooooo many one in a lifetime experiences. Where else will you get Cat Empire from Australia, Coolooloosh (Israel), and Etran Finatwa (Niger) all on one stage? Other amazing collections at this year's fest included : Honeybear, Library Voices, Stars, with the special guest appearance of Michael Franti; Jordan Klassen, Po Girl, Timbre Timbre, and Ohbijo; Baskery, Cat Empire, and Haydamaky; Natacha Atlas, Coolooloosh, and DJ Logic; DJ Logic, Etran Finatawa, Man Man, and St Vincent to name my faves.
Forgot to mention him but Dan Mangan was also great :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ1a__t8wEM
St Vincent w/ Sun Parlour Players and Timbre Timbre
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tsh7_1qCEeY&feature=related
Library Voices perform "Step Off the Map & Float" during the "A Simple Clan" workshop with a little help from Honeybear and Stars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9ulhYz3rR4&feature=related
and the rest
Nix Dicksons, Electric Monk, and Black Phoenix Orchestra - (Lethbridge and Calgary, AB) - each band in their own right is a blast to see live but when these acts play together it is a smorgasbord of like-minded musicians jamming and having a great time that is as infectious to themselves as those in attendance
The Whigs - (Bumbershoot) - huge sound, great guitars. their sound thoroughly impressed such that i bought their album, which was a little disappointing with the overproduction. lost some of that rawness
Meat Puppets - (Bumbershoot) - holy track marks batman! these guys rocked it, after Curt Kirkwood said it was good to be in Seattle his brother scratched out "it's good to be anywhere, man" fitting
Solomone Burke - (Bumbershoot) - After he was a last minute cancellation at the Winnipeg Folk Fest a few years back I had been anxious to see one of the founding fathers of soul/funk live. I am glad I had my chance before he died a few weeks later.
Atlas Sound - (Bumbershoot) - the leadsinger/guitarist of deerhoof's solo project, lots of looping and fun...a sleeper pick that paid off
The Raveonnettes - (Bumbershoot) - damn can Sune Rose Wagner shred it on guitar, great seeing them perform kitschy Boys Who Rape Should All Be Destroyed live.
Japandroids - (Bumbershoot) - Canadian duo who also create a whole wall of sound with layers of guitar and drums
Blackalicious - (Starbelly) - Though they were visibly pissed at the ineptitude of the sound guy and played to a smaller host than I am sure many of their events have garnered it was awesome to be sooooo close to the Gift of Gab
Baronness - (Bumbershoot) - Can you say heavy metal gods?!
Stars - (Calgary FF) - Could easily have headlined but had everyone on their feet
Anvil - (Bumbershoot) - Canadian heavy metal gods
Bocephus King - (Starbelly) - Can play one hell of a great slide guitar
Chad VanGaalen - (Starbelly) - Calgary based awesome guitarist/songwriter
Michael Franti and Spearhead - (Calgary FF) - Great grooves, insightful lyrics, too bad more people don't pay heed to these words of wisdom
Cat Empire - (Calgary FF) - Always a great, danceable show
Man Man - (Calgary FF) - A cherry popping experience for me, these guys pulled out a LOT from their tickle trunk of tricks, literally including a dancing monkey playing cymbals
JD Edwards Band - (Palamino, Calgary) - boys from Winnipeg who have added even more to their sound and headed by the Finley Quaye-like crooning of frontman JD.
The Worst
Edward Sharpe and the Magnificent Zeroes - Bumbershoot - sometimes so many ppl on a stage can just lead to disjointed noise
Natacha Atlas - Calgary Folk Fest - her band was awesome but they could not hide the spoiled princess attitude of this self believed diva
Hole - Bumbershoot - Hole Sucks. Courtney has no talent. She also no longer has the talents of Melissa Auf De Maur and Eric Erlandson to perform other people's songs with. If only there was a hole she could fall into...
Helladope - Bumbershoot - Hella boring. Contrived. Systematic. "i'm so cooool cuz i am in a helladope hip hop outfit"
Lisa Dank - Bumbershoot - they call it grassroots, diy electronica. I saw it as a painful experience to both my auditory and visual sensations
AC Slater - Nelson, BC - after seeing him with an amazing sound system at Shambhalla the year before and being completely blown away I expected more of the same. But for some reason there was NO BASS! That is like a football team playing without a football. WTF?
Myths - Sled Island Festival - opened for a great lineup of Woodhands, CEX, WhoMadeWho, and, !!! but looked like they should practice in their basement for a LOT longer!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Siriusxmu
It is past 2 am and my system, as it seems want to do lately, refuses to allow me to sleep, even though i work in less than 5 hrs. So i use this time to follow/stalk more people on twitter and fall across a number of bloggers/indie type radio hosts whom i have meant for quite some time now to subscribe to after hearing them regularly on siriusxmu. siriusxmu, in case you have not had the privilege of discovering yet, is the indie music station on both sirius and xm satellite radio. i have them to thank for having introduced me to many, many great acts and expanding my musical horizons exponentially. always a new band or website to check out, and for that i am eternally grateful. but a pessimist at heart, i have to have a few things which i despise from this station. first is hipster runoff. hipster runoff is a blog and radio segment of a severely emo-ish annoying monotone voice set on despondent despair and boredom. while i sometimes like the music he plays i will immediately turn the station as soon as i hear his annoying-fingernails-on-chalkboard pointless drabble to any of the myriad of other available stations (so long as it isn't that annoying madison, whose voice i just can't handle). nice thing about satellite radio, lots to choose from.
next on the peev list : repetition. as i have said, i am thankful for the introductions for which the station has done to show me acts you would never hear on regular radio. but it is too bad that independent radio doesn't actually mean that. instead you have the same annoying system as what you have on local radio. they play the exact same singles over and over and over again. until you simply want to puke from hearing that gawd damned whistle song even one more time. i love alexander's truth. but seriously! now, i know he has ONLY one song to play but wouldn't it be possible to play something other than sufjan steven's "i walked". last i checked there were 11 songs on his age of adz release but you would never know it from listening to siriusxmu...the "independent" station. i guess even "independent" stations have to kow tow to record labels and the "released" singles list. too bad.
and despite the myriad of available music to choose from, it always seems like the same play list is being repeated over and over again. matt and kim to be followed by vampire weekend, beach house and toro y moi. it makes me wish that they might play something..oh, i dunno, different! so, i return to some classic rock, just to hear something a lil more original, for a lil bit of change.
next on the peev list : repetition. as i have said, i am thankful for the introductions for which the station has done to show me acts you would never hear on regular radio. but it is too bad that independent radio doesn't actually mean that. instead you have the same annoying system as what you have on local radio. they play the exact same singles over and over and over again. until you simply want to puke from hearing that gawd damned whistle song even one more time. i love alexander's truth. but seriously! now, i know he has ONLY one song to play but wouldn't it be possible to play something other than sufjan steven's "i walked". last i checked there were 11 songs on his age of adz release but you would never know it from listening to siriusxmu...the "independent" station. i guess even "independent" stations have to kow tow to record labels and the "released" singles list. too bad.
and despite the myriad of available music to choose from, it always seems like the same play list is being repeated over and over again. matt and kim to be followed by vampire weekend, beach house and toro y moi. it makes me wish that they might play something..oh, i dunno, different! so, i return to some classic rock, just to hear something a lil more original, for a lil bit of change.
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