All My Uphill Clawing

Subject:	The Way I'm Livin'
Time:	10:47 am.
Mood:	geeky.

I've been meaning to make this post for a while to inform all the world through my MSN friend's list about some upcoming concerts. But I missed doing it for Deep Dark Woods' appearance at the Broadway Theatre (it was apparently sold out regardless), and tonight is the Hold Steady, so I guess I'm doing a poor job and am a little late regardless.

Above is Deep Dark Woods; the most official video I could really find actually. But that concert is over, and having caught them before, even I didn't go. So let's make an abrupt shift; I have four sets of concert tickets on my wall, and after buying them, you better believe I'll be there. Starting tonight.

The Hold Steady! These men have eluded me for a long time, and now here they are, right on my doorstep at the Odeon. Tickets are $20 and the show is tonight. It's not often that I get to see a band and I know their entire catalog by heart. This post comes a little late, but I think I'll still be able to attend with a few people I know because they'll be coming on their own.

This is in eight days. Elliott Brood was on the short list for the Polaris this year, and I've been listening to Ambassador, his 2005 album, for a few months. After hearing he was coming to Saskatoon, I decided to scour the internet again to try to find his '08 album (I had difficulty finding it before) or buy it on iTunes trying. The album's called Mountain Meadows, and when I revise my "Favorite of..." as is traditional when '10 rolls around, it'll be on my top 5. They're at Amigo's on a Friday and there's no reason why most of the people I know shouldn't be there.

Oh, and The Wooden Sky is opening for them. On the advice of a friend, I bought their album on iTunes.

A couple weeks later, Amy Millan is gracing Amigo's with her lonely presence. Sure, it's no Stars circa-2004, but I can't pass up the opportunity to see an artist who I've spent so much time listening to when she's playing a five minute walk from my house, for a relatively inexpensive price and in an intimate venue.

I never really listened to Dinosaur Jr, I must admit, but when I heard they were coming to the Odeon I decided to buy into the hype and check out Farm. This is a band that's been around for a long time, and now when they come on Nov. 16th all I want them to do is play their new album and fuck off with all the old hits that made them megastars, because I know the new album backwards and forwards I've played it at work so much. Cat says that when I'm old I can't have hair like the lead singer, but we'll have to see about that.

So those are what I've bought concert tickets to. Here's a list of all the bands that I have an interest (mild or major) in seeing that are coming at all.

Sept 23 - Hold Steady
Sept 25 - Dragonforce
Oct 1 - Final Fantasy
Oct 2 - Elliott Brood w/The Wooden Sky
Oct 4 - Gogol Bordello
Oct 16 - Collective Soul
Oct 19 - Amy Millan
Oct 29 - Metric
Nov 1 - Corb Lund
Nov 6 - Mike Plume Band
Nov 15 - Dropkick Murphys
Nov 16 - Dinosaur Jr
Nov 19 - Matthew Good

So, if anyone's made it this far, they might be asking themselves "Well gee, I dont know which concerts on that big list I want to go to, Kenton help me decide!" Well, first of all, I would heavily suggest that despite the lack of time you have to really familiarize yourself with their music, Elliott Brood should be your #1 priority, especially if you've never been to a concert at Amigo's. Hold Steady is tonight, and if you're going to go you're already coming. Dinosaur Jr is great, but I have two months to convince you to come to that and besides, it's at the Odeon and it's going to feel more like a show and less like a gift. Well, maybe. Maybe it'll just plain be awesome.

Other than that, maybe you want to select someone I'm not going to and try to convince me to see them. Gogol Bordello is someone who I would have seen if they were playing a month ago instead of right in the middle of concert season. Matt Good is playing at TCU place, and I've never seen a concert there; I expect it would be comfy. Ultimately, if you're a fan of something, go, and maybe I'll go too.

Anyways, I have homework other than this I need to get on and I've rambled enough. I'm leaving this post public so you can link to it if you're interested, and I can give it to non-LJ parties (although I admit I keep one of these with some trepidation). See you at the show.

Comments: Add Your Own.

Subject:	Voting
Time:	12:40 am.
Mood:	uncomfortable.

As much as I am loathe to do so, I have to use my livejournal as a tool to encourage people to do the practically meaningless: vote on Tuesday.

http://www.voteforenvironment.ca/node/179

The above link will give you polling information. Thinking about voting Liberal because they have a better chance of edging out the Conservatives? That link will tell you if you're right or misinformed for your constituency. In my own personal constituency, the NDP are way up on the Liberals, but the Conservatives are far in the lead. The same looks to be true in Evan's and Jon's (which is linked above), but it wouldn't be a bad idea to check that link day-of to see if anything's changed.

This post is viewable by anyone, so feel free to link directly to it/my journal if you want to show Lindsey or something.

Need further convincing? Rick Mercer will do it Canadian style.

Here's an American approach which is far cooler though:

You don't have to register to vote in Canada; just show up with some ID and a utility/Sasktel bill at the right place and they'll let you vote. You'll be in and out in three minutes.

North of 8th St, where I live (Coral Gardens), I vote at Bishop Murray School, which is here.

If you live south of 8th street around Edmund Park, you vote at Holliston School, just south of you and so very close...

Evan, I know you're thinking: "What about me?" Well, lucky you, here you go.

Alright. Rant done.

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