Bootsy Collins just asked on "Live in Lousiville1978"...

"...can I drip on your lip
tonight baby?"


I know what he's talkin' bout.
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Music Mumblings: Plastic People of the Universe, Fushitsusha, Marble Sheep, Harm's Way & Arthur Lee and Love!!!

Music Mumblings from the past few days...

Plastic People of the Universe: Lazy Love (2001)
Wow and double fucking WOW!!!
I was rocking my ass off - I knew it was the Plastic People of the Universe - and thinking, hey, the sound on this one is pretty great...then I looked it up, and it's the 1st album of new material made by the 1997 reunited PPOTU...

They did not fuck around...
vital
dense
deep and rockin' avante garde jazz
going into some very
powerful dimensions...

The power of "Snake Dream" changes to the experimental spacey poetry recital of "Dear Mr. K"...these revolutionaries are incredible and are more than worthy of our respect!

--- oh yeh --- I really dug the drumming on this...

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Fu-shit-sus-ha are another Japanese "noise" band led by the mercurial Keiji Haino on guitar and vocals...that I absolutely think are - quoting Mel Torme - "the tops!"

What the fuck is a "noise" band you may ask?
A band that uses "noise" as it's driving force???
Using "noise" as an instrument????
Not really sure myself...

anyhow...

Besides Fushitsusha, I also loved the first Marble Sheep album. There's a lo-fi purity in this music. As a comparison, I'm digging Harm's Way: Oxytocin (2006) on the headphones now, and it's a pretty hard rockin' slab of retread (but the good parts!) metal. Well-played, heavy and rockin' crashing...not bad at all!

however...

it's so well played, and well produced that there's a "sterility" about it. Maybe, that means it's NOT well produced. I don't know - I would think these guys could be a driving force live, but modern recording techniques seem to remove the "earthiness" out of the recording. Is this the difference between analog & digital?????

Call Neil Young!!!!!

He seems to be up on all the technology...and he seems to think that blu-ray is the new thing. Is it? Until the next NEW technology?

Maybe...

Ya see....Harm's Way just finished and Pebbles, vol. 7 was cued up next, and immediately I appreciated the "earthy" production of these garage rock gems. It's not sterile...you can almost see the music and sweat bouncing off the concrete walls!!!
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Thoughts while listening to Love: Live at the Fillmore 1970:

"arthur lee was a true fucking punk!!"
"if only he and (maybe) sly could have kept it, just a little bit, more together...imagine..."
"this album keeps getting better as it goes along - or maybe I'm just getting more stoned?"
"now this is fucking earthy!"
"i wanna play live...right now...dammit!!"
"wow...wow...wow...signed d.c is absolutely blowing my mind right now - i mean - right now - dammit!!"
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Here's some youtubes of Arthur Lee & Love

1) This one is from 1970 Copenhagen and is really high quality...excellent! thanks tkskott!

2) This one looks like it's from the early 90s and shows that Arthur Lee was still a punk! And drunk!!...great performance...great energy...what a guy! thanks arthurlovelee!!

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Rant: BC Government, the 2010 Olympics, Corporations & the USA!!!

I left a “What’s on your mind” on facebook about
British Columbia politics
2010 Winter Olympics
22% cut to our library system
$50,000 grant to our island for a ½ day olympic torch relay party
…let me explain my thoughts in more detail…

My Perspective

I work with the mentally ill and severely addicted (usually from trauma – residential school survivors – fasd…etc…), so I see the lack of services available for my clients. We’re extremely isolated here, and unfortunately the money that does come in is taken by corrupt politicians (as is too common in politics) leaving a community inundated with sexual abuse, heavy drug use, extreme alcoholism etc…

The Athletes

yes yes…the olympic athletes are incredible, and their dedication and discipline is something to be admired…we can all learn from that determination…

BUT…

well, does that justify the government cutting back on social service programs and hobnob with the corporations to help pick up the olympic tab…do the olympics help the local economy? Ask Montreal, QC…anyway doesn't the old saying go something like this:
“A society is judged by how it treats it’s least fortunate,”

NOT

“A society is judged by how it treats it’s athletes.”

ALSO

what’s more important to our culture? Literacy? The Arts? Music? nope…
it’s fucking beer-sponsored sporting events…and hey, if these sporting events don’t have any government backing, then more power to everyone!
Go Cats Go!!
Have fun…but don’t ignore the least fortunate to satiate the middle to upper classes…

Politics and Politicians

The politicians talk a lot about the importance of education – but they don’t fucking back it up…if Coca-Cola (and I’m an addicted coke drinker) would donate more to the public education system, including libraries, maybe that would get the attention of politicians.
anyway...
politics shouldn’t be about money and profit…it should be about balance, smart finances, and allowing everybody (including the ostracized) an opportunity to better themselves…to reach their potential…whatever that may be…

it may mean going a day or two without booze

it may mean keeping an $8.00/hr job

it may mean taking your medication every day

it may mean running 20 miles a day and studying for your 3rd degree

…whatever…everybody’s potential is different…

so…

when I see a community that’s riddled with so many problems, and they cut library funds by 22% (which many clients & the community rely on) it angers me…have they cut politician expenses by 22%? have they removed bullshit tax loopholes that enable the rich to get richer?

Final Thoughts

I know there are rebuttals out there…

"oh, it’s good for the community"

"builds community spirit"

"brings tourist dollars in"

(I don’t believe that one for a minute)

"you think $50,000 really makes a difference?"

Well…it’s $53,000 – to be precise it’s $40,000 to our island communities from the province and another $13,000 from Gwaii Trust which is basically taking the money out of the same well...and it’s actually $2.86 million the province is doling out to communities for the fucking torch relay…

...yes, taken into account with 22% in library cuts I do think it makes a difference…

"libraries can’t expect the government to keep forking over money"

…well, they do get money from other sources, but it would be a shame to deny anybody the opportunity to use public computers or god forbid, to take a book out and read for enjoyment, because they can’t afford the new fees put in place…which is where I think this is heading…

I believe that there are so many more vital, important things the government could be spending money on –

in our community? let’s see???

a group home, a teen centre - the one here is in a building that should be condemned - if you want sports – how about equipment for the rec centre – a swimming pool – public transportation – a recovery house for people returning from treatment – a full-time psychiatrist (hopefully a good one - instead of coming on-island once every 3 months) – more services for sexual abuse victims...

This is my personal viewpoint, my gut feeling.
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Let's Talk About the U.S.A

and on a somewhat related note…this whole Acorn bizness in the good ol US fucking A…
alright, I’ll even grant you that it’s a crooked organization

(I don’t know and really don’t care, that’s not my point)

BUT

it’s "supposed" to be an organization that helps the least fortunate with tax advice

(I won’t pretend to know much about it, but they are “supposed” to be dealing with the people in the underbelly of it’s society),

YET

the rich corporations don’t go to an organization like Acorn for it’s tax advice on how to find tax loopholes…they hire high-priced fucking lawyers to find these loopholes and keep millions, if not billions of dollars in the hands of the mega corporations…

...and a network like FOX (Fucking Obnoxious Xenophobes) continues to perpetuate this myth of the US being a land for the working middle class…if they could show just a little bit of humanity and compassion for the fuck-ups in society,
well,
it would be a hell of a lot nicer and influential country than it currently is…

ALSO

there are fantastic big-hearted people who do try to change things for the better, but so many people are duped by the "news" they’re fed every night and the fears instilled into them that it’s hard for them to believe anything else…

Amen.
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Further Study

I didn't even talk about the homeless and the olympics!! Check out Megaphone Magazine (Vancouver's Street Paper) for more research.
http://www.megaphonemagazine.com/

Some more insight:
http://mostlywater.org/why_we_resist_2010_winter_olympics

And some scary insight:
http://oilsandstruth.org/topics/2010-olympics
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Quick Music Thoughts, Inglorious Basterds, youtube: Missing Link vs. Stan Hansen!!

Music Thoughts

My favorite Miles Davis period? The 70's dense funk jazz shit that blows my mind every time. Starting with "Jack Johnson" right through "Agharta"...awesome!!! Oh yeh...his earlier stuff is pretty good as well. Thanks for asking!

I just listened to Out of Focus: Not Too Late (recorded 1974 released 1999) and really enjoyed it's progressive jazz-rock stylings. This was their 4th album, but not released until 25 years later. Still sounds fresh!

I'm listening to Pekka Pohjola right now...1st time listen - more jazz-rock fusion stuff, & I'm in the mood for it right now...veddy interesting....

R.I.P Jim Carroll - dead at 60. Listened to "Catholic Boy" last week for the first time in years - then he's dead the next week. I also have read some of his poetry (which I liked, and originally found at Mills Library at McMaster) & "The Basketball Diaries" (which I really liked!)
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Movie: Inglorious Basterds

Saw Inglorious Basterds while in Prince George and here are a few thoughts - I ain't no movie critic!

a) Why the fuck do they crank up the volume so high for the trailers. I love loud music, but man this was ridiculous! I eventually went deaf so I could hear it a normal volume...sheeesh...

b) The acting was phenomenal.

c) I loved the first scene - very dramatic, very tense - excellent dialogue (which I guess Tarantino is noted for).

d) Then it went all comic book - I sorta wish it would have stayed in a more serious vein, cause the jumping back and forth between serious and comic diluted the power of both.

e) Yeh, Brad fucking Pitt was fine in his role.

f) If the "inglorious basterds" were supposed to be the heroes, then heroes are NOT nice people - to say the least!

g) There is no movie cinema on Haida Gwaii, so it's always fun to hit the movie show! Last year we saw Batman.

h) I would be more likely to re-watch "Pulp Fiction" or "Reservoir Dogs" again before I'd watch this baby again. In fact - I should watch "Kill Bill" next. Never seen it...I don't watch all that many movies anymore. Must be my atten...um...what was I talking about? Oh yeh, attention span. Is that a hummingbird I see outside my window?
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Good luck to my friend "Mole", "Big Bruce", or as he was named at birth: Bruce Farley Mowat...who is moving to Grande Prarie, AB. It'll be quite the change from Hamilton, but that's what the internet is for! And, I'm sure you'll get right back into the music scene there...if you want to!
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Here's something for the wrestling fans out there. From Puerto Rico in 1986: The Missing Link vs. Stan Hansen - I see that Link is with his wife at the time at ringside, Gail...whom I had the pleasure to meet [aside: many times! we trained in their backyard 1 great (and painful)summer!] and she is one super sweet lady. thanks honeybun138!!

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Prince George story: Bitchy Old Woman at the Raghu Lokanathan show...

Here's a PG story: ----

Having a great holiday...all going smoothly...

Raghu Lokanathan is playing at good old Artspace, so we decide to end off the holiday in PG listening to some great music.

We arrive at the show and it's set up in the most sterile way possible. This isn't the most friendly atmosphere for some reason. It's pretty full (what - maybe 75 people?), so we find some seats at the side near the back. I go to grab a chair for our friend who will be joining us shortly...

I put the chair down and remove a purse from my chair

setting it down

on the ground

thinking it was the Guru's...who put it there to save my seat.

A lady (stinking old bitch!) comes over and asks if her purse is there. I look down and see 2 purses - ooops...

"Oh, is this yours?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry, were you saving these seats? We'll Move."

"That's alright."

So, she moves 2 rows back, more towards the middle...I can hear her muttering, so I turn to the Guru:

"I think she's pissed at us."

Guru is oblivious to what's going on. So, I drop it...whatever....and put it out of my mind.

About 10 minutes later she comes back from the washroom and sticks her bitchy face between Guru and me and says to Guru:
"You know you shouldn't have thrown that purse on the floor, " in the most cranky bitchy way possible and departs with Guru and I sitting there in stunned silence.

WTF!!!!!

Well, needless to say, neither one of us would ever throw another person's purse on the floor (it was an honest mistake), it wasn't the Guru who had anything to do with it (I put it down thinking it was Guru's) and we also politely offered her the seats back - it was no fucking big deal to us!!

Now - 2 years ago, that would have ruined my evening and my depression would have deepened to a dark unhappy place

BUT

I'm learning, so I thought:

"Fuck it - I hardly see any live music where I live, and I ain't going to let some fucking old Prince George bitch ruin my evening!"

I focused on the music and after a couple of songs I was able to put it out of my mind (until now!) and enjoy the music of a great entertaining songwriter who will probably become quite famous one day - he has 2 cds out, and is being played on CBC Radio regularly. I would bet a Juno will come his way one day...

I also had the opportunity to talk to Jeremy after the first set and get some great advice on home recording from him. Thanks Jeremy!

We had a great time in Prince George, but this lady also reminded me of why I did not care for Prince George - there were too many more just like her in that city!

Ahhhh - fucking closure!

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Facebook, Nunavet and Home Recording!!!

Well....

after all my put-downs of facebook, I have given in and joined. I'm sooooooooooo weak!
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Going to miss my friend and co-worker Mysti, who is leaving today for the eastern side of Nunavut for a 3-month contract. She was a great, supportive co-worker, but most importantly a good friend.

Good luck Mysti!!!
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Had a great, but short, time in Prince George. I'm looking for some info on home recording - I want to start cheap and basic, and my friend Jeremy Stewart helped give me some great advice to help get me started.

I'm going to be even more lo-fi than Jandek!!!!!
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