Backstage at the Sidetrack
Wednesday, November 5 2003
Posted by brockp
with Cam of Agriculture Club and Shockker. We're just done - they're going on. Cam's lost his cowboy hat and has to borrow one, which is no problem because just about all nine members of White Cowbell Oklahoma also have them. Something happenned in the communication between bands and management or something because AG had the idea we were on too late causing their set to be cut to half an hour.

About eight songs in, Rick (main AG guy) walked by heading backstage and said something to Clay about it (you have to cross the side of the stage to get backstage). He seemed upset so I figured we'd better end our set soon. We were also starting to get tired too, so it was just as well. They are just beginning now at 10:35pm.

I'm figuring to get a head start on the writing of the blog now since I was up 'til 4 am this morning with the last bit.

All of the three sisters came tonight, as well as Crystal from Lacombe and a bunch of other known people. Somehow, being able to hear everything onstage resuted in us playing lots better than last night and thank God for that. Also thank Graham, house sound man of ten years at the Sidetrack.

This place takes it's name no doubt from the old dining car on a train track, around which the rest of the building has been constructed,. Inside the train car are even some old shuffleboard tables and a nice dining area of booths looking into the rest of the club through windows with panes removed.

I'm thinking I'd better go say hello to Penny & Jody & Audrey and all so I'll catch up on the radio and pre-radio events of today later on maybe. Suffice to say, Smilin' Jay Hannley not only has one of the great jobs being music director at a cool college station but is one of the most fit people to have such a position. Thanks, Jay - and thanks Les, the cab driver who got me & Clay there on time.

Mall Rock
Wednesday, November 5 2003
Posted by brockp

3 am-ish, -16°C
Back at Jeremy & Amanda's place after an extremely long day, much of which was spent at Red's in West Edmonton Mall. A good night for Mongoose in the $ department, but we played like crap.

But first, let me try to recall earlier in the day starting off with breakfast at (the highly recommended eatery) Café Mosaics once again (on Whyte Ave between 108th & 109th St.). After getting the good guy discount from Audrey and co., we visited a music store called Lillo's, where I successfully resisted pulling out my credit card and buying another Ghost bass drum pedal and a 60's era Slingerland Weather King snare drum, 13"x4" in sparkle silver. I'm pining for it now. Instead I bought the new felts and wing nuts needed for my cymbal stand. We also had to gawk at Vic's lovely collector pieces - a 1920's era Black Beauty snare drum, a 50's era Telecaster, a fine Jaguar from '66 or so and more. Like I said, I kept the credit card in my pocket, but was reminded of the old days when we used to trade stuff in places like this.

Next off we went to West Edmonton Mall, a gargantuan structure outdone by few shopping centers in the world in sheer size (and absurdity). We did the obligatory wander around gawking at the excess, but as I'd been there before it paled after about five minutes. We visited the water park complete with wave beach, and found the ice rink home to a crew taking down what was left of a big squash tournament held there earlier in the week.

Shockker and RC were handing out stickers, handbills, and fridge magnets to everyone in some sick competition for who can be most shameless. I also scored a new set of rotors for Clem's zoom 'copter from the Greek dudes demonstrating them on a lower level of the mall. We watched them for a long time hoping to be able to grab one out of mid air as they launched them up at us, but alas, they really do work like boomerangs and were always just out of reach.

"WHUp Aaahh...Always comes back..."

We loaded in and since Superbeing had not shown up yet, soundchecked and ate. Red's is this cavernous complex with a bowling alley of like 20 lanes upstairs, another 20 or so pool tables, a video arcade, restaurant, and a stage area which seats I don't know how many but is normally occupied by bands like Matthew Good, Bif Naked, Ween, or George Thorogood...

Somehow people actually showed up, and I got to finally meet Glenn of Does Everyone Stare in person. Superbeing pulled off a polished set of tight modern rock complete with fog machine and choreographed moves. I actually met Dan, the drummer, playing road hockey in the Dixie Cup league two years ago, so it was fun to see him play (and boy does he play the drums hard - I had to creep up onto the riser and spread the legs of a cymbal stand wider because it was threatening to topple with his riding on it.)

Our set started with the stage monitors off so we were unable to hear anything each other played until half way through the first song. Shockker fell over a monitor while busting a cool guy rock move and landed on his back on top of it. We had a good laugh about that later but I think he actually was hurting for a while there. The sound on stage continued to give us trouble throughout the set but our raw performance seemed to entertain the crowd nevertheless.

Mark and Darcy from SnowSpeeders came and helped out with merch and did a great job - they run a service which brings people to and from ski/snowboard hills in a big bus. Mark told me they plan to bring a bus full to our Canmore show and said something about bringing some jibbing rails they'd made.

Halfcut was like a young Replacements tonight, and I had to admire their youthful spirit and abandon. I'm sure that in 10 years one of these guys will be a well known songwriter à la Westerberg.

Oddly, once we were finally loaded out and ready to bail (and it was a cold load out, lemme tell ya), Clayton was nowhere to be found. Shockker and I covered the entire Red's complex on both floors and still could not find him. We checked in bowling, ate chips, asked various employees, considered having him paged but the paging guy had gone home already. We finally resorted to waiting in the van outside and he showed up only moments before we left without him figuring he'd gone to stay somewhere with his buddy from tree planting. Turns out they'd found some secret spot where smoking was permitted... Hey wait a minute - didn't Clay just quit ???

On the way home, Shockker took the prize for audacity with stickers by approaching two cops having dougnuts in a Tim Horton's and offering them fridge magnets.

Jeremy made us tea at home and he and Clay jammed with organ and acoustic guitar while the rest of us (other than me writing) tried to fall asleep. Their big hit, "The Poison Has Been Taken", will no doubt be forgotten tomorrow. Now all is quiet but for the sound of the furnace and it is 4am or so so I'd better sleep as another busy day awaits tomorrow.

The LCHS Experience
Tuesday, November 4 2003
Posted by brockp

1:30 am-ish. We're crashing out at Amanda & Jeremy's place on 72nd in Edmonton. Another crazy day to log up on - starting with the Lacombe Composite High School experience. Despite all reasons to the contrary, we were feeling a little nervous as we approached the school at around 10:10 am earlier today (or yesterday technically), but when we went into the front office and learned that RC's old hockey buddy was the principal, I figured it would work out OK.

I'm going to try not to go into too much detail because it was such a surreal experience, but let me put it like this - Clayton (who has just crushed his last cigarette in an act of smoking rebellion/defiance) got to sign his first autographs on CDs, shirts, and people.

We loaded into an auditorium while a drama class was going on and began setting up drums and searching for AC power and such. I noticed the absence of a PA and Peter, our host teacher at the school, said they'd take care of sound or, "There'll be sound..." It became clear by the time my drums were about done that "sound" meant a single not-so-sturdy-looking dynamic microphone on a stand. No audio gear at all in sight but some tiny speakers embedded in the ceiling operated from the lighting booth. I had Clay play drums while I listened mid-house, then asked Shockker to join him, trying to get a sense of level balance. All seemed well enough (and by now the room was pretty full of students eagerly following our every move) until RC came and I got him to check his mic level along with the guit and drums. It became painfully clear that we would have to turn way, way down. Unfortunately, even way, way down was not enough to make RC's voice audible. In fact, all that could be heard of it was those tiny speakers distorting like crazy and howling with feedback.

Nevertheless, we played about 20 minutes and RC took some questions which mostly consisted of,"Where are you from ?" and , "How old are you ?" (To which RC replied, "My mom still says I'm just a baby."

Shockk and Clay did some fine synchronised aerial manoeuvers and I managed to whap both of them with a stick at least once. We then took a break to allow a local student band called Full Release play a short set while we signed autographs and talked with Cam (The Neins) Dilworth's dad.

Full Release actually showed up with their nearly blown PA system, which allowed RC to be heard when we resumed playing a short while later.

The King (Ravi) sold our merch outside the auditorium while we played and did a fine job, moving enough to cover our costs for the day and then some. Thanks, Ravi !

We packed up and headed off for Edmonton, saying goodbye to Ryan and Ed (Kill) who had made the trip from Red Deer. The trip was pleasant and roads not too bad, although southern Alberta was at that moment getting hit with about 16cm of snow.

At one point, Clay and RC were sleeping when I rolled down the window to chuck out my used up gum and swerved suddenly . The automatic window opened all the way in a flash and let in a blast of cold air. I reached quickly to move the window back and simultaneously hit a curve while I was looking to my left and down at the controls. As a result, I had to veer quickly to avoid hitting the snowy shoulder at cruising speed 120 km/h, which woke then both up in a hurry.

Thanks to an employee at Avenue Guitars, I managed to get ahold of Duke Duke from the old Sons of Rhythm Orchestra (he's working at CKUA now), and even more surprisingly, bumped into Jody, an old old friend from back in the day (and Skippy Smooth's ex-wife) at Café Mosaics.

We ate at the High Level Diner instead tough, since Mosaics had closed early. Later on, we went to the Sidetrack to check out the venue and had Bubble Hockey Challenge while bad stand-up comedians and a couple singer-songwriters took turns onstage. Shockker is the undefeated champion and outscored me 7-1 in two games, though we did manage to have some close games teaming up against him.

We finished the night at the Black Dog (affectionately called the Black Lung for its incredible new & used cigarette smoke) where another old friend (Jody's sister Penny) was spinning tunes. I caught up with her while Shockk & Clay & Jeremy made friends with the patrons. It turns out that when I was in the audience at a Richard Buckner performance at Bumbershoot circa 1997, I was in fact watching Penny accompany him on the drums though I failed to recognise her (she was married to him until recently). How weird is that ?

A strange set of events has been unravelling over the last few days as the life I left behind and the life I left it for merge into one.

Red Deer AM
Monday, November 3 2003
Posted by brockp

I neglected to mention how beautiful the land looked as we drove north on highway #2 from Calgary to Red Deer yesterday. Frozen white plain of powder snow, pale sky tinged with a soft pink and peach sun setting to our left and stretching accross the horizon ahead. Its about 8am (Mountain Time) and I've been able to sit for an hour, stretch a little, and am now writing here. Someone is showering upstairs and I've got clean underwear on !

Last night was such a blast and I am waiting for something bad to show up because I have that same feeling I remember from years and years ago when I was out with the Doughboys (the band, not the doughnut shop). We were camping on Cape Cod in between shows and I slept on the roof of the van in a pine forest. Then, and other times on that tour, like in Columbia, Missouri, the next time I sat up on the roof of the van writing this stuff, I felt so complete in the feeling of doing what I am here to do. I've always remembered those moments through the years I've not been touring, but somehow I never thought to feel them, to experience them again.

I only wish they didn't come at the expense of separation from those dear to me, but I've got to believe that these moments enrich everything in my life. Certainly that includes the relationships with those closest to me.

The shower has ended upstairs and I am debating whether to go have coffee or not - or maybe some twig or green tea instead. Pretty soon we will have to hit it and the boys will have to get up. I think RC is already up and I can hear some voices or a TV up there as well.

Byron and Darlene have a gorgeous place here on the edge of a mixed forest of spruce, lots of birch, and a few mountain ash, orange berries covered in snow. The ground dips over into a bit of a ravine below us and then climbs up a little hill further on. Its time to get the boys up.

Red Deer - ctd.
Monday, November 3 2003
Posted by brockp

Like I said earlier, we ate at Los Palmeros mexican restaurant with the King of Red Deer Ravi- the champion who has lived in this town for twenty years (and not once eaten in that restaurant despite obviously knowing the people who work there). I asked him what people do for fun in Red Deer and he said, "Drink." According to the King, the people of Red Deer consume more alcohol per capita than any other place in Canada. After tonight I can believe it.

So first up at the Vat was the house band who covered Stevie Ray Vaughn, Tracey Chapman and Lenny Kravitz hits. They played for half an hour or so while I lost at pool to some dude named Renzo. Renzo was at a table hanging out with his buddies on one of their birthdays downing shots two at a time.

While we waited at a corner table near the stage, the waitress came over to where Clayton was sitting with his head on his chest and eyes closed and gave him a solid kick to the leg, as if to wake him up...

We took to the stage right after the local band was done and switched the gear around (lefty drummer) for a few minutes, then proceeded to rip through Last Party, Better You Than Me, Inferior Environment and Bored With the USA. Shockker was shredding so hard during the solo in Better You that we were all in awe and the audience was shouting, "Guitar solo !" between songs. We made to walk off stage but were urged to play more by the MC/soundguy and the audience, so we did Let's All Go to the Restaurant and called it good.

As it turned out, sitting in the crowd was Brad, one of the local promoters we had tried to get to do an all ages show for us. He was now saying he could sell the place out for us next time through, or possibly do a bigger show at The Far Side in the University.

We sold a few CDs, the waitress continued to hit on Clay, and we checked out the next two performers of the night - a crazy chick dressed in glitter and heels singing La Bamba and CCR - and a singer/songwriter who covered Hotel California...

We fled for The Firm to see Forty Foot Echo but missed their set. The place, however, was stilled totally hopping and full of beautiful women and drinking guys. Murray, the guitar player/singer guy, was putting back shots of Jagrmeister and his bandmate proudly showed me the phone number scrawled on his forearm with a ballpoint pen between shots and interludes with one of the gals...

After unsuccessfully trying to find Joya's lost purse, we bailed, seeing as how our load-in for tomorrow is 10 am. We got out to the van and learned that Shockker had locked the keys inside the van while looking for a CD to trade with a friend who was working for Forty Foot Echo. We waited only a few minutes in the minus twelve degrees, while RC phoned CAA, and then retreated to the entrance of the Firm, chatting with Ryan, the singer from a band called Kill. Ryan's band were the openers on the previous week's Raised Fist show at the Farside.

The CAA tow truck showed up and we were saved. We couldn't rib Shockk too much for his rookie move because he played so well tonight.

The van mess is beginning.

Now Shockk and Clay are watching a CBC special on Sarah McLaughlin in the basement of Byron and Darlene's place while I catch up on this writing. Got to get an early start tomorrow since we are playing two sets at 11 am and 12pm for the kids at Lacombe Composite High School.

Doughboyz donuts
Sunday, November 2 2003
Posted by brockp

Believe it or not I am actually blogging from a crazy internet surfing machine in Doughboyz donuts - Red Deer, AB. It is very unwieldy so I'll be brief - my loonie only buys 5 minutes.

We've just eaten at Los Palmeros mexican restaurant and are having some coffee before heading over to The Vat to play. We've discovered an open stage with a guy named "Stick" who is really named Brock. He originally told RC there were singer-songwriters on tonight as an excuse for rejecting Mongoose. Turns out to be not quite so, but it should be very fun.

Afterwards we plan to head to the Firm for the 40 ft Echo show. My time is running out...

All Dressed Up & No Place to Go
Sunday, November 2 2003
Posted by brockp

We drove about twelve hours yesterday, all the gear and four of us packed into a brand new Dodge Grand Caravan. By the time we picked up Clayton in New West, it was clear that space was at a premium. While Clay got his stuff together we unpacked the van and reloaded with his bass cab and head and packed some merch into my bass drum. I left my extra snare in his back room and we set off again.

The roads were pretty good until we hit about Revelstoke, or maybe Golden, and then the snow started blowing pretty heavily. The flakes were pretty small, so it was not too bad, but the van does brake pretty rough because of all the weight, and visibility was pretty poor, particularly when the big semis came blowing by.

Arriving about 9:30 pm last night at Brian and Stacy's place, we had a bite of lentil stew and caught the last period of the Oilers-Red Wings game before heading out to explore downtown. Calgary sems to have grown in bounds since the last time I was here, but then again, that was about 1988 or 89 so its not too surprising.

Shockk and Clay and I drove around and located the various clubs in town that we are not playing at. We stopped at the Ship, but could not discern whether or not anyone was playing since the place was so packed and we were not about paying a cover just to find out. Every day on a tour without a show loses money.

Today we are going to drop off some merch at a local skate shop and then drive to Red Deer where a band called Forty Foot Echo is playing. RC has just returned with some homeopathic medicine for his foot. The temperature is about -6 and dry as hell. My sinuses are not used to this, but we are pretty much in the lap of luxury here for now.