There's a lot in here

My head is filled with thoughts of Ottawa, my internship, concerts, relationships, family and occasionally food. As time flies by I am seriously beginning to realize what little time I have left in Ottawa before I leave. Right now I am at the end of a wicked festival which I will finish writing about tomorrow.
Today I have decided to isolate some of my feelings and write about them here. In going to all the concerts, movies, work, etc. I have met a tone of wonderful people and seen many wonderful things. I have come to love Ottawa and the people living in this city. I have lived here for just about a year now and I can honestly say that Ottawa has made a lasting impression on me.
Currently I am starting to face the inevitable goodbyes and heartache. I feel an emotional drain any time I leave someplace I have stayed for awhile. I think this is partly due to my innate drive to make profound connections with all those around me. And, while such connections do eventually cause temporary heart break, I welcome the risks. I want to emotionally extend myself so I can say I not only existed someplace, but I really lived someplace; I felt my surroundings and breathed its offerings.
I have learned that life is about the connections you make with those around you and what you do with those connections. In these last weeks in Ottawa I hope to solidify my connections and let so many of the beautiful people here know how important they are to me.

End of the Marathon

8 days. 30-odd bands. Uncountable memories. This sums up the end of the Capital Idea! Festival that I have been writing about so much. I have been left with sore ears, a sore head, a tired body, and a musically more enlightened soul. I think the best way for me to describe my memories is to go over each day one by one. Since my last post.

Sunday June 24, 2007

An exhilarating show to say the least as I witnessed three bands that really played their hearts out. Books on Books opened the show with extra-long songs that amazed with their diversity. Next came ???. Okay, I forget. Then was Frog Eyes. I can not believe how amazingly loud this band was even without a bass player. The drummer played with incredible speed. The guitarists loved every minute of playing. I completely zoned out in awe as I watched.

Frog Eyes

Monday June 25, 2007

Monday was one of the most anticipated shows for me. I has heard plenty of Ottawa locals
Fucked Corpse but had never seen them before. I partially regret this. Musically this band is exciting and slightly refreshing. Vocally I could only appreciate the singing of their plaid-shirted blonde-haired member. Then came Chris Garneau who I fell in love with. There is something that I can't help but adore with a piano, cello, percussion combo. With staccato notes like Owen Pallett and soft vocals I was taken to a beautiful place with this music. Finally Xiu Xiu played. This band was complex, energetic, and thrill to see, hear, and dance to. By the end of the show I was sweaty, exhausted, and extremely happy.

Chris Garneau

Xiu Xiu

Tuesday June 26, 2007

My favorite show of the festival. I am still in awe of the bands I saw that night. This was a highly anticipated show for me and each band exceeded all my expectations. First,Chinese Stars were supposed to play, but some other trio opened. (I am still trying to find out who they are). This band was new to me and I only caught the end of their set. They seemed energetic and complex. Next came Hot Springs. Right from the beginning when the lead singer changed her chants of "It's Tuesday, let's drink" to "or be sober" specifically for my "straight edge" self. This was a true rock band with panty flashes, crazing growling in the mike, and a tone of danceable, loud music. The banter between myself and the extremly sexy lead singer continued through the set and I think that just pushed my love of this band over the edge. If the lead singer reads this "I love you." Finally, The Fiery Furnaces came on stage. At the beginning of the sound check I had Matt improvise a song on the organs for me with the guitarist. At the end he said "There you go. That was made up." The lead singer smiled at me in the middle of the set because I was dancing so much to their music. They brought two drummers to add a Latin flare. The band played perfectly in-sync and the show blew my mind.

Hot Springs

Fiery Furnaces

Wednesday June 27, 2007

I knew this show would be good as two of my favorite bands were playing. Local group As the Poets Affirm opened with a slightly more mellow show but the most incredible drumming I have seen. Then Rock Plaza Central came on stage and nearly brought me to tears. The band played a crisper set than the last time I saw them and drew some of their songs out to incredible lengths of beauty. Finally Destroyer played his solo show. While he was tired from the plane ride he seemed to take complete control of the stage with an awe-inspiring performance and presence. I felt as though some of the crowd did not get the amazing music transpiring on stage as not everyone was silent. I however was breathless.

Thursday June 28, 2007

Thursday was a welcome change to the intense rock shows previous. Missing the first band my night began with Parts and Labor. This very interesting three-some played an extremely loud show that I oddly found relaxing. I later hung out with the band and spoke intimately with the bassist. He told me some amazing stories and made my night even more enjoyable. Then The Russian Futurists played a great pop show. With their first live drummer the beats and tones were flowing to create a fun, dance show.

It's a hard discovery

I am 4 days into a 10 day, cross-city/venue, music festival and I am worn out. I have realized that the process of discovering music is physically demanding, socially restrictive, and financially draining. It is also a passion of mine. Last night I was telling my tales to another concert patron at The Wrens show and was asked by a perplexed Glen Nuotio, "How many shows do you see a month?" As I coolly responded, "I average 3 shows a week," and his eyes expanded I realized that I had a serious hobby on my hands.
Concert going for me is exploring a new world. There are new people to meet, new conversations to be had, and new bands to experience. However, there are plenty of sacrifices to be made. Beyond the aforementioned demands of being a music hipster, there is the greatest and worst element to my journey of discovery - boredom. First, boredom at a concert can be great because while a band may be musically incredible, great performers, and even energetic entertainers, you still do not "get" what many of your present company do. This is great because you a) Have now learned more about what your musical preferences are, and b) Understand how someone can love this band, but not you. I am used to entertaining other people's comments of amazement and satisfaction after a band. While not whole-heartedly agreeing with them I must continue the conversation from their point-of-view or less be ousted from the discussion for lack of perception. However, this is still boredom we are talking about and therefore isn't my ideal mind-set at a concert.
I have also realized that while I may not love a band I can still be entertained by them. I may not want to buy their album, but at the moment I am more than happy to be listening and dancing to them. So far I have loved only a few of the bands I have seen, but definitely have enjoyed all of them. Here is a list of the concerts and my quick take on them.

Wednesday June 22, 2007

• The Besnard Lakes
• Jade McNelis
• Soviet States

this was one of the best concerts so far. Jade McNelis has a powerful yet soothing voice. Soviety States were extremely organized (especially for their first show ever). The Besnard lakes really blew the crowd away and played some complex and danceable music.

Thursday June 23, 2007

• Sunset Rubdown
• Montag

An incredibly dancy show. Each of these bands created amazing and unique sounds with their instruments that took the entire crowd to different places.

Friday June 24, 2007

• The Walkmen
• Relief Maps
• Acres

This was by far the most interesting show to watch, if not just for the music but the interplay within the bands and between the bands. Unfortunately the crowd was not as receptive to the Walkmen as they deserved. This band has incredible talent and take their music quite seriously. Yes, a band that is having lots of fun can be more enjoyable to watch, but the musical talent pouring off the stage should have been enough.

Saturday June 25, 2007

• The Wrens
• Poorfolk
• Darling Arms

This was a true rock concert complete with runny noses, hand clapping, and random people playing instruments on stage. Oh yeah, some killer music. Unfortunately I missed the subdued music of Darling Arms. The Wrens have melded great guitar, base, drum standard rock with quirky and compelling sounds that seem to manipulate their music into something much more unique. It was a real treat to see a band that loves playing as much as The Wrens do.

Tonight I am off to see Frog Eyes and I couldn't be happier. This is the most anticipated show of the festival so far for me.

Repitition

It has been 3 days since my last post. This is the longest time between posts for me. "Oh, don't worry about that," you say. I do though. I worry considerably. Late at night. With a night light on and a whimper in the background.
Okay, it's not that bad. However, as a man of organization, order, and schedules, this lapse in posting has me slightly concerned. The concern stems not only from that, but that neglecting this one thing in my life really is symbolic of what has been going on with the rest of my life.
The past week has been chaotic internally for me. Externally things seem relatively normal, however inside I am fuddled. It is as though I have a long list of to-dos that is continually changing order and moving in and out of focus, blurred by the fact that I have concerts to attend and am indecisive about how to tackle my monster of a list.
The concert thing is a welcome obstacle. I look at the Capital Idea! Festival as a marathon of daily concerts that will last for 10 days. I've conquered two of those days and already can tell that I will have to utilize this weekend for some much needed errand running if I am to survive. The next days of posting will also centre around this topic. So, hopefully I can bring some regimen back to my life, enjoy the concerts, and not let everything else fall apart. I will diligently keep you informed.

The Silent Letter release

Hello all. In my post "Film Preview" I posted a link to the preview for the film "The Silent Letter" directed by my friend Mark R. MacDonald. The film was released last Friday on You Tube. You can watch this excellent film here. Basically it is an homage to silent films of the past - with a little twist. Enjoy this film made for Phil Milner's 2006 film class by students of St. Francis Xavier University.

Father's Day

I just returned back to Ottawa from Whitby. I traveled home on the train yesterday evening to spend Sunday with my dad, my mom, and my older sister. I have a tradition where I will take my dad golfing for Father's day. This tradition is about 5 years old and really is only different from other experiences with dad because I pay for golf rather than him. Despite the fact that we usually golf together quite frequently (until the past two summers that I have spent in Ottawa) that little difference seems to make the whole experience quite special.
I really think that life's pleasures and happiness are found in details that we call "small". Really, however, these actions and thoughts aren't small at all. In the example of my father, something like me paying says: "I know we enjoy golfing together, and I want to show you that I enjoy it as well." Other small things may say: "I think about you even when you aren't around," or, "You're important to me."
"How might we say and do such things to make a moment more special?" you ask. Really, it is a positive and caring attitude that produces such actions. Smiling at people on the street. Noticing when someone is sad, but only catering to their feelings in an appropriate manner. In the end it comes down to empathy, understanding and love. In some situations thinking "what do they need right now?" is good. In others it is just about showing that you are there for the person.
So open your heart and don't be afraid to care. I had a great Father's Day because I made it about what my Dad wanted.

Poetry Finals

There is an organization called the Capital Poetry Collective. They are an organization that puts on a monthly slam poetry competition. Basically slam poetry is rhythmic poetry, composed solely by the author without any assistance, in a 3 minute time frame. The performances are judged and a tally is made. Last month this tally produced 12 semi-finalists who competed. Last night the 8 who made it to the finals competed once again and 4 winners were determined. These winners make up the Ottawa Slam Poetry team to compete in the 2007 Canadian Wordlympics to be held in Halifax, NS.

This all seems pretty confusing and really is just clouding the issue - Slam Poetry is truly amazing! There is an atmosphere of exhilarated passion from the audience that each poet uses to captivate and motivate with words of glory, beauty, and desire. It seems more like everyone is being taken on a journey by the poet rather than merely observing. Most poets talk about globalisation, poverty, peace, and the common person being corrupted or raped by greed and wealth. However, some seem to truly capture the beauty of something like training for a marathon in beautiful and articulate words. If you have the opportunity to witness poetry readings, especially slam sessions, I suggest you do. Many of the progressive thoughts and beautifully paraphrased prose will be found there.

Special guest John Akpata