When thinking outside the box just isn't enough
Did you hear the one about the Muslims who went to Paris? No, and I don’t want to. The surviving staff of Charlie Hebdo, however, is banking that seven million people do, and unfortunately they may be right. They’re printing up more copies of their last issue, the first since the terrorist attack at their office […]
Black Star’s tour is soon to stop in Montreal after performing on the Colbert Report as well as other cities around North America, and in case you’re uninformed as to the group’s history, please allow me to illuminate you.
The duo of Black Star is composed of Mos Def and Talib Kweli, who have each individually achieved significant success subsequent to their work together. Mos Def (or Yasiin Bey, as he’s planning a name change at the end of the calendar year) has worked with countless legends throughout all genres, from Kanye West to the Black Keys to Gorillaz—but may very well be most well known…
The concert on October 20th at Club Soda represented more than just a hip-hop show, it represented the unification of two collectives and their loyal fan-bases.
The first block consisted of several members from the Smoker’s Club, including Curren$y, Smoke DZA, Fiend, Corner Boy P, and a surprise appearance by Trademark da Skydiver and Young Roddy (maybe in order to make up for the last-minute cancellation of Big K.R.I.T.). If several of those names, or God-forbid all of them, mean nothing to you, then you probably don’t…
By the end of the set, as I sat silently on their jam space’s sunken couch, I was genuinely blown away. Anyone who’s experienced a Half Moon Run performance can attest to the fact that it’s never been a question of talent and definitely never a question of whether they deserved success. All the pieces are in place but in a volatile climate like the music industry…
Begging for an autograph on the $5 demo she purchased a few seconds ago, the attractive concert attendee broke her revering gaze on the members of Half Moon Run for several precious seconds to ask me if I knew their names. I inquired which one, and in a sultry tone, she let me know that it didn’t matter… because they were all sexy.
But thirty minutes ago, she, along with the dozens of other converted groupies, had no idea Half Moon Run existed…
A deprived crowd lines the street, consisting of burn victims, penny-bag dealers (oregano, maybe catnip?), and shriveled bodies decomposing under the August sun, all with a shared affinity for heroin and an aversion to the “conformists” (e.g., myself, along with my associates). Imagine Jodie Foster walking past the criminally insane inmates in Silence of the Lambs, only without the bars and, ignoring redundancy, more heroin…
As a dog person, I couldn’t help but wonder why I was face to face with a cat which, according to the ribbons pinned on its ten foot long, state-of-the-art, clear plastic living environment, was an “International Winner” and “Supreme Grand Alter”. The prestige of its titles and glamour of its home came off as rather comical, since the award-winning competitor was attempting to escape right in front of me. It stared at me hopelessly, begging to be freed, while incessantly swiping and clawing at its plastic enclosure. I could feel its pain, and I wanted to help it in its conquest — but I couldn’t (due to the padlocks on the zipper)…
As we drove away from our loyal campsite and back onto the cross-state highway, my last glimpse of the Gorge reminded me of Sasquatch’s isolation. Surrounded by the Columbia River, amongst wine fields and thousands of untapped acres, exists an annual festival bringing together music fans of all walks of life. From the endless Canadians taking the weekend off to head south, to the Midwesterners travelling multiple states only to reach the nearest major summer festival, to the local…
Bestselling artist and Montreal-native Sam Roberts was kind enough to agree to an in-person interview before putting on a commanding performance in support of his group’s newest album, Collider, for thousands of singing-along fans at Sasquatch. Just a couple hours before his show, I made contact with his manager who then invited us to come on the tour bus. Sam arrived fresh off complimentary lunch…
I stepped outside of my tent and instantly noticed how many cars had disappeared from the campgrounds. People traveled from far and wide to attend Sasquatch, so it seemed as though everyone need a day to return to work on Tuesday, and with the exception of the select group of Wilco fans, every stage was fairly barren and open to easy front row access. Dressed in suits and tuxes, Noah and the Whale came out with a set up equally polished with their well-orchestrated mournful and occasionally inspirational pop tunes…
For the Sasquatch crowd, Sunday was all about the drugs. All throughout the day, murmurs about trips could be heard, usually along the lines of, “Are you feeling it, man?” “Ohh yeeaaahh, I’m feeling it.” The lack of sobriety and continued Canadian pride set the stage for an odd vibe, which was most clear during Montreal native Sam Roberts’ midday set. In the breaks between his hard…
Upon arrival, the first thing that caught our eyes at Sasquatch 2011 were the endless Vancouver Canucks flags. After entering the grounds, things were not much different with hundreds of jerseys worn in support of the squad representing Canada in the upcoming Stanley Cup Finals…
Continuing with my Sasquatch! Music Festival coverage, I contacted the Moondoggies, a Seattle-based hometown favourite that specialize in rootsy-Americana rock. Playing at the Bigfoot Stage at 2:00 on Sunday, they are one of the few groups I can confidently say are a must-see. The list is unusually short thanks to a house and a half worth of conflicts and scheduling mishaps. Really, almost every hour feels plagued. Most painful of all, Sunday evening is a scheduling nightmare. The Flaming Lips, Flying Lotus, and Yeasayer at the same time? This has to be a prank. So I’m aware that I promised a personal schedule in my last preview…
I’ve been in communication with several artists performing at Sasquatch and I’ll be posting the transcripts as we go along. In this article, Black Mountain responds to my questions. The bearded Vancouver-based psychedelic rockers have been converting their intense jam sessions to record for a few releases now and gaining a devoted following. Their newest album…
I’ve been granted a press pass to the Sasquatch Music Festival taking place this weekend in Washington State, and I couldn’t be more exhilarated. Why? Because Sasquatch has recently emerged as one of the premier festivals in the United States, and with its impressive 2011 lineup, maybe worldwide…
The Frenchmen’s final word provided little insight in response to my inquiries about his thoughts on Quebec. But oddly enough, his spanking desires…
I arrived slightly before midnight and skipped past the two block line to waltz through the guest list. I checked my coat and wandered into the infamous Room One. Inside, Boys Noize was playing the first of his two sets that night
