Dusty Trails

Take a bow, Tucker

2006-08-30T20:52:00.000-06:00

Tucker Carlson, perhaps best known for being called a dick on national television by Jon Stewart, referring to Canada as a "retarded cousin," and being the only guy under 60 who wears a bowtie, has apparently now decided he wants to be the next Gene Kelly.

The host of MSNBC’s imaginatively titled Tucker with Tucker Carlson, and former co-host of CNN’s partisan screechfest Crossfire, is set to debut on the latest season of Dancing with the Stars. Instead of dancing around George W. Bush’s failings as president, Carlson will be dancing around . . . uh . . . a dance floor.

As if that isn’t horrifying enough, MSNBC is regaling us with details of how Carlson is gearing up for his big chance to "strut his stuff."

"Tucker’s debut dance will be some combination of the waltz, the quickstep (the quickstep?), and a Michael Jackson-esque robot dance. OK. If you continue to run around and say you’re not going to watch, flaunting your 'I have a life' posture or some claim of intellectual superiority or taste, you have zero credibility. Waltz? Quickstep? Robot Dance?"

Carlson doing the robot? Yeah, I’ll go with "I have a life."

But it doesn’t stop there. Having recently shed his bowtie, Carlson’s publicity pics suggest he’s now going for that coveted ‘70s Parker Stevenson look-alike cache.

Hello Danny. Come and play with us forever . . . and ever . . . and ever.

2006-02-17T17:37:00.000-07:00

I've long thought the Olsen twins were creepy. Those big heads with their sunken eyes send shivers down my spine. Their anorexic, spider-like frames make Twiggy look like Kirstie Allie in comparison.

But I never entirely realized just how creepy they were until I saw this photo of them modelling dressing gowns from New York designer Badgley Mischka:

There's something frighteningly familiar about that photo.

(Thanks to The Superficial for that one.)

Yeah . . . sure . . .

2006-02-12T18:06:00.000-07:00

Cheney accidentally shoots man

The cult of wine

2006-01-16T18:00:00.000-07:00

Wine growers truly are full of bullshit, judging from a recent article in Macleans.

I mean that both figuratively and literally.

An increasing number of vineyards, particularly in Burgundy, are resorting to a method called biodynamism. Sure it sounds scientific, but biodynamism is rooted in the teachings of Austrian mystic Rudolf Steiner, who as a child claimed he could visualize the energies produced by plants.

The technique itself sounds something like a pagan ritual:

"Growers following one preparation are instructed to pack manure in a cow horn and bury it among the vines during the fall, dig it up in the spring and stir in rainwater vigorously for an hour, then apply it to the land after 3 p.m."
[Snip]
". . . biodynamic growers also use preparations to harness natural forces. The cow horn in the preparation described above, for instance, acts as an antenna, funnelling power into the soil."

And biodynamism proponents wonder why critics refer to them as a cult?

In all fairness, biodynamism does have some similarities to organic farming, such as eschewing chemical fertilizers in favour of manure. But a cow’s horn funnelling power into the soil?

All that’s missing is dancing naked around a fire.

Sure ya like carrots Billy . . .

2005-12-27T21:08:00.000-07:00

Normally, I find Jay Leno about as entertaining as a prostate exam. But I was flicking channels the other night and caught something so gut-busting hilarious on the Headlines segment of his show, I had to share it.

Gravity is still only a theory, too

2005-12-20T17:34:00.000-07:00

Well, sanity and reason won out over the burgeoning U.S. theocracy today when District Judge John E. Jones ruled a Pennsylvania school board can’t impose the teaching of intelligent design in its science classrooms.

Jones called it as he saw it, stating that intelligent design is creationism attempting to cloak itself as sound science. For the uninitiated, ID claims "gaps" in the theory of evolution prove the existence of some supreme designer. (Personally, I think the flying spaghetti monster, pictured above, has more credence.)

IDers, of course, are upset. Former board member William Buckingham told the Associated Press:

“I’m still waiting for a judge or anyone to show me anywhere in the Constitution where there’s a separation of church and state. We didn’t lose; we were robbed.”

Um, I’m no expert on the U.S. Constitution, but that would be the First Amendment.

Never mind the possibility that ID proponents are committing blasphemy against the very religion they purport to represent. To Buckingham I would ask: “where in the Bible does it suggest intelligent design?”

Besides, we all know allowing religion to seep into the government produces sane, stable policies, right?

Be careful not to bruise the Chardonnay Muffy

2005-12-20T12:45:00.000-07:00

It must be a sign we’re well on our way to yuppie-dom; my wife and I are really getting into wine.

I can even pinpoint how it all started; with a bottle of Chateau Cantemerle. A “barely above average” wine, according to critics, but liquid velvet to my palate. I remember exclaiming that I finally understood why some wines cost so much.

Since then I’ve become a bit of a wine geek; reading the Accidental Connoisseur, leafing through copies of the Wine Spectator and sticking my nose into every glass I meet.

My wife and I are even planning a trip to Napa next month. We hope to tour the family-owned Truchard Vineyards, having discovered their sublime 2000 Pinot Noir earlier this year.

Now to add to my wannabe oenophilism comes Grape Radio, a podcast produced out of Orange County, Calif. The shows feature interviews with vintners, collectors and other aficionados with the intent of helping people like me, who couldn’t tell their ass from their Amarone, better appreciate and understand the world of wine.

Listening to the podcasts, you get the feeling some of these people are just as characteristic as the wines they produce. The Arcadian Winery’s Joe Davis recounts this old saying about two popular varietals:

"Cabernet will rape you and pinot noir seduces you. ... Cabernet will throw you down and rip your clothes off, and pinot noir subtly convinces you to take them off yourself."

It’s the kind of pronouncement you’d expect from Miles in Sideways.

Ever the quick one, my wife had the perfect response:

“So is Merlot the one you feel shameful about the next day?”

(Thanks to Slate for this one.)

Christmas Gift Ideas for the Damned

2005-12-19T17:38:00.000-07:00

For the would-be torturer in your family: a Barbie doll.

Renovations

2005-12-19T12:27:00.000-07:00

In the interests of making this blog more functional, I have transferred my CJSR playlists to a separate blog site.

Killing is our business . . . and business is good.

2005-12-15T17:08:00.000-07:00

If there’s any doubt Graham Thompson is one of the best political writers in Alberta, just head over to his blog on the Edmonton Journal’s site. In one of his recent entries, Thompson muses about how Stanley Tookie Williams’ execution in California this week reminded him of a story he wrote after witnessing the death sentence carried out in Texas several years ago.

Thompson says of the death row inmate’s last minutes:

Callins licks his lips and says in a faltering voice amplified by the microphone: "I just want to let all of my people know and everybody who is here and supported me that I love them and wish them all the best."

The warden nods at the one-way mirror. After a few moments Callins struggles to raise his head off the gurney as if he's trying to get up. He coughs. He's straining against the straps. One last gasp. He slumps back down.

His eyes are closed. He looks like he's asleep. A little muscle in his neck twitches for a few seconds and then stops. Executioners have delivered the lethal dose of sodium thiopental. Bruce Callins is dead.

Thompson was struck by the cold efficiency of the Texas chamber – known as Ellis Unit 1. Walking away from it, he was amazed by his lack of any emotion. Apparently, meting out the death sentence is a matter of rote in the States.

You’ve got to think, though, that it takes its toll on the guards. In his song named after the Texas execution chamber, Steve Earle imagines himself as a guard working on Ellis Unit 1:

Last night I dreamed that I woke up with straps across my chest
And something cold and black pullin' through my lungs
‘N even Jesus couldn't save me though I know he did his best
But he don't live on Ellis Unit One

The lyrics still bring tears to my eyes.

iWaste

2005-12-01T00:19:00.000-07:00

Thinking of buying an iPod? Watch this first.

Photographic memory

2005-11-18T07:10:00.000-07:00

Back in our school days one of my little brothers hung out with this goofy-looking kid with curly, afro-like hair. He was pretty cool and had a wicked wit, though, so I got along with him fine.

It's always weird coming across some of my brother's friends later in life. I mean, I remember Jason Pfeifer coming over to our family's house when he was in elementary school. Now, he's studying photography in Vancouver and has a mind-blowing blog, to which he's posting one photo a day for the duration of a year.

That's one of his photos above, taken at a church in Vancouver. Damn, he's good. View the full archive here.

Oh yeah, he's not the only talented one in his family.

Head on my cat!*

2005-11-17T17:35:00.000-07:00

Do you like cats? Do you like stuff? Then you'll love stuffonmycat.com, a web site collecting photos submitted by folks putting, uhhh, stuff on their cats.

Here's one of my faves because, well, because Spider-Man rocks:

Lest you think this bizarre obsession is limited to cat owners, check out Oolong the rabbit.

* Sorry, I couldn't resist a Brain Candy reference.

Plenty to laugh at

2005-10-16T17:03:00.000-06:00

Speaking of Alberta:

"Before the Progressive Conservatives, there was Social Credit and before Social Credit, the United Farmers of Alberta and before them, the Liberals and before the Liberals, assorted Aboriginal tribes and before them, the dinosaurs . . . we've come full circle."
- Michael Kerr, What's So Funny About Alberta?

OK, it's an obvious cheapshot. But Michael Kerr's book really is full of comical satire and wit about the province-that-takes-itself-too seriously, aka Alberta.

Kerr pokes fun at such sacred (Grade A Alberta, don't forget) cows as western alienation, our claim of being a rat free province, and even those giant sculptures our small towns seem so strangely proud of. One of my favourite bits is Kerr's top 10 ways to become an Albertan. Some excerpts:

- Publicly denounce the province/nation of your birth.
- Write a letter to the editor denouncing the Liberals' National Energy Program of the 1980s.
- Visit Banff, but don't be too happy about it.
- Replace all your vehicles with pickup trucks.

And so forth.

Had Kerr written the book after Premier Klein's announcement this fall that every man, woman and child in Alberta will receive a $400 rebate cheque from this year's surplus, I think he would have amended the list. So in honour of the Alberta 2005 Resource Rebate, I would like to propose the 11th way to become an Albertan:

- Complain that newcomers and children don't deserve rebates while claiming you "built this province" and "paid taxes all your life." Suggest a residency requirement equivalent to one year less than you've been in Alberta. For instance, if you've lived here six years, the requirement is five.

An anthem worth singing

2005-10-16T13:39:00.000-06:00

I cringed when a couple of years ago the Alberta government announced a contest for musicians to write the province's official song. Aside from the paltry sum of $2,005 (oh so cleverly coinciding with the 2005 Centennial) for the winning submission, these types of contests seem to promote mediocrity.

The 13-member jury was stacked with MLAs, ensuring their selection would be politically correct and crammed with platitudes about Alberta. And indeed, the lyrics for the winning song could have come straight from a travel brochure:

"Flatlands, rollin’ plains
Clear blue skies, prairie rains
A tapestry of colours in the fall
Snow covered mountain tops
Wheat fields, canola crops
Alberta has it all"

The best Alberta songs were written before the contest was even announced. One's from a living legend. The other is from someone well on his way to becoming one. Both Ian Tyson's Alberta's Child and Corb Lund's Short Native Grasses (Prairies of Alberta) do a lot more to inspire a sense of location, pride and belonging.

Take this example from Alberta's Child:

"Dumb stuff like chores when it's twenty below
They're the things that a country boy hates
Too much damn wind and not enough whiskey
Drives them ol' northern boys flat wild"

And the chorus of Short Native Grasses:

"The prairies of Alberta, they ain't never hearda
The things that are keepin' you down
And the short native grasses don't care that the ashes
Of your dreams match their dry shade of brown"

The songs evoke emotion and experience; they aren't just checklists of Alberta's geography and culture. Lund's song, in particular, resonates with listeners because it's about failed expectations and the fact that really, they aren't that significant out on the grand prairie. During his surprise Sidetrack performance Friday, a sell-out crowd sang along during the chorus. At the end of the song, Corb held his hat to his chest.

That's inspiring.

(By the way, Corb is in the running for Entertainer of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards. Drop by the web site to vote for him.)

Pamela Anderson as a double-G?

2005-10-05T12:51:00.000-06:00

Get your mind out of the gutter! Columnist Will McMartin argues in The Tyee that the silicone-enhanced Barb Wire and Baywatch wonder should be appointed Governor General after Michaelle Jean’s term ends in five years.

Why, you might ask? Damn good question. And McMartin has answers. First of all, appointing Anderson as Canada’s head-of-state would make amends for Ottawa continually overlooking B.C. when picking occupants for Rideau Hall.

McMartin sets out his case using history and recent precedents set with Adrienne Clarkson and Michaelle Jean:

"In addition to being female entertainers, both Clarkson and Jean are married to self-aggrandizing artiste-philosophers whose work is incomprehensible to ordinary folk.
Clarkson's mate is writer John Ralston Saul, a supercilious swell whose essays reportedly find great favour in salons and faculty lounges from one end of Toronto to the other. Jean is wed to Jean-Daniel Lafond, a former philosophy professor who now produces films.
Pam's in step. She once was married to Tommy Lee, the drummer for Motley Crue, a heavy-metal musical group which sold millions of albums. And just as regular people haven't got the faintest idea what Saul and Lafond ramble on about, no rational person can fathom the popularity of Tommy Lee or Motley Crue."

Haha, I get it – McMartin is being funny. But he doesn’t answer the all-important question - Lord Stanley bestowed the Stanley Cup upon hockey’s best, Earl Grey gave Canadian football the Grey Cup, and, most recently, the Clarkson Cup will recognize achievement in women’s hockey – which sport would get the Anderson Cups?

(Thanks to Minister Faust for that one.)

With a little help from my friends

2005-10-04T12:55:00.000-06:00

Well, it’s that time of the year once again – CJSR’s FunDrive is in full swing and we need your money.

Our goal is $125,000 and, as always, the DJs have come up with a few incentives to make it easier to part you from your money. Dan Electreau, host of Flying Saucer Rock’n’Roll gave this poster away to everyone who donated during his show on Monday.

It took me some time to figure out how I could top my ill-fated pledge to enter the (pathetically chauvinistic) Itty Bitty Titty Contest two years ago. But the answer, in retrospect, was obvious. Throughout the past few months I’ve had several guest musicians play live over the radio. Under CRTC regulations, the station is required to keep recordings of our broadcasts. Thus, I was able to obtain recordings of each performance.

The artists graciously provided me with permission to use these recordings for a compilation to give away to you – my supporters. So Dusty Trails supporters who tune in this Sunday, Oct. 9 between 2 to 4 p.m. will receive a copy of Dusty Trails. . . live from the vault. . .

The songs (in order of track listings) are:

Mary Jane – Bramwell & the Leftovers
The Tiki Room – Daisy Blue Groff
Cherokee Surf – The D. Rangers
Heaven or Hell – The Crooks
A Little Something – Melissa Majeau
One By One – Trevor Tchir
Whiskey Business – Matt Masters w/The D. Rangers
P.T. Barnum – Daisy Blue Groff
Outlet Stream – Matt Masters
The Glow – The Crooks
You Won’t Show – Melissa Majeau
Knowing You’re All Right – Trevor Tchir
Sophie – Matt Masters
Three Barriers – The D. Rangers

You can only get these recordings on the compilation, which you can only receive by supporting my show. So tune in to Dusty Trails this weekend on CJSR FM88.5, or online at www.cjsr.com, dial 492-CJSR and donate!

Wedding photos - August 20, 2005

2005-09-28T21:09:00.000-06:00

The dusty bears get married.

The cake, errr, cupcakes.

Here comes the bride.

And the country band sang harmony . . .

Under the arch.

With this ring . . .

A kiss to build a dream on.

The wedding party - Candace, Joanna, Elvira, Mike, Paul and Stephan.

Thank God, it's over!

Elvira and her parents, Ernie and Judy.

Mike and his parents, Marilyn and Roman.

Bubbles galore.

Love in sepia tone.

Love in bloom.

At times, life is pure joy.

Beauty is . . .

. . . my wonderful wife . . .

. . . and the ground beneath her feet.

To all our friends . . .

Photos by Hanna Gorecka, In Essence Photography

The times they aren't a-changing

2005-09-23T17:40:00.000-06:00

An article published on Slate today points out how much of the focus on Bob Dylan’s career tends to fall on the ‘60s, to the neglect of music he’s created since then. Author David Greenberg uses Martin Scorsese’s documentary, No Direction Home, and Dylan’s own memoir, Chronicles Vol. 1, as two recent examples of historical myopia.

Greenberg argues that's because:

"Scholarship and popular commentary alike are shaped by the baby boomers who lived through the period and have never quite transcended their own youthful enthusiasms. As Rick Perlstein noted in Lingua Franca several years ago, the preponderance of boomers in the historical profession—and, he might have added, in the culture overall—has made it hard for younger voices to gain a hearing for ideas that argue with the prevailing, familiar tale of the decade: Rebellious student youth challenges the conformity of establishment liberalism."

In other words, boomers in the ‘60s were at that point in their lives where the music was everything, man. Much like bands such as Nirvana and The Black Crowes defined much of my high school and early university years, the music of the ‘60s informed the dreams, philosophy and culture of boomers at the time. The difference is boomers are now in a position of great influence in North America, not to mention they’re one huge demographic.

All the talk of Bob Dylan also reminded me of a conversation between my wife and I earlier this week. So much of the music from the ‘60s has persevered for so many years – which bands from our generation will our kids listen to?

One can only surmise, but it’s a lot of fun. Will they dig out REM’s Automatic for the People and covet it the way I did my dad’s vinyl copy of Janis Joplin’s Pearl? Could Pearl Jam’s Ten one day be the equivalent of Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde?

Or maybe they'll just break their father's heart and latch onto Spice World.

That (apparently) don't impress them much

2005-09-20T17:23:00.000-06:00

Even in times of disaster, it seems the people of New Orleans have good taste in music. In a story about business owners returning to the hurricane and flood-stricken city, a Wal-Mart security owner talks about what looters did – and didn’t – pilfer.

“They took everything – all the electronics, the food, the bikes . . . People left their old clothes on the floor when they took new ones. The only thing left are the country-and-western CDs. You can still get a Shania Twain album.”

While I’d debate whether poptart Shania Twain truly is C&W, it’s good to see looters wouldn’t even steal her CDs when given the opportunity.

(Thanks to doucheblog for that one.)

A few more Festival photos

2005-08-08T12:47:00.000-06:00

Well, the straw cowboy hat can be put away for another year. Here are a few more images from the 2005 Folk Music Festival. Oh, and check out this folk fest blog, put together by a group of dedicated festival-goers.

"Halliburton, Halliburton, Halliburton, Halliburton;
what else do you have to say?"
- Kevin Welch

Bill Bourne with Eivor Palsdottir.

Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver.

Stony Plain, Alberta's Karla Anderson.

Amos Lee keeps it loose, keeps it tight.

The soon-to-be Mrs. Dusty Bear.

Wrong gig, dude.

See you next year!

A few photos from the Festival

2005-08-06T21:31:00.000-06:00

Fats Kaplan, Kevin Welch and Kieran Kane at the CKUA tent.

Slide wizard Roy Rogers with Norton Buffalo on the harp.

The Alison Brown Quartet with Joe Craven on fiddle.

A view of the Edmonton skyline from Gallagher Park.

Trevor Tchir and Dusty Bear in the beer garden.

Carolyn Mark in the CJSR studio promoting her Folk Fest appearance.

Food, folk and television stars

2005-08-05T18:33:00.000-06:00

Saying the Edmonton Folk Fest is ideal for star spotting is pretty much stating the obvious. After all, you kinda expect to see Steve Earle, Ryan Adams or Alison Krauss hanging out on the site – they are playing there.

But the celebrity who had me starstruck wasn’t one you’d expect. Towering over his camera crew last night was Michael Smith, host of the Food Network Canada’s Chef at Large and Chef at Home.

My fiancée and I are fans of both shows and I was excited by the opportunity to meet him in person. Chef at Home provides me with inspiration to whip up new dishes from ingredients in our tiny apartment kitchen, while Chef at Large is just, well, cool. Episodes from Chef at Large have seen Michael Smith preparing cedar-baked salmon in the House of Commons cafeteria and assisting with a curry for 600 at a traditional Indian wedding.

He’s even taller in person – I’m 6’1” and he cast a shadow over me – and, I’m pleased to say, just as personable as he seems on his show. Smith took his time for fans wanting to chat about their favourite recipes and take pictures with him.

Smith is in Edmonton for the weekend, cooking up food in the Festival kitchen for volunteers. The episode will likely air in February to mid-March next year.

Man, I just wish I were one of those volunteers.

Sidetracked . . . part 2

2005-08-02T19:11:00.000-06:00

Recent articles in the Edmonton Journal and SEE Magazine seem to have put the rumours regarding the Sidetrack Café to rest. By the New Year the venerable live music club’s new home will be the former Mezza Luna Latin nightclub on 104 Street downtown.

There’s been some griping about the change – longtime Sidetrack patrons love the current location with its historic railcar. But the important thing is Edmonton will not lose a major venue for live bands.

The Sidetrack’s soundman extraordinaire, Graham J. Cadell, appeared excited about the move when I spoke to him on the weekend. He promises the sound quality will equal, if not excel, that of the current location. And he discussed a number of really cool ideas he has for the new club, though I don’t think he’d appreciate me disclosing them here.

Personally, I think the move is a good thing. The Sidetrack will be closer to the downtown hub with New City Likwid Lounge and the Starlite Room just down the way. Though it’s a shame Seedy’s, down the block from Mezza Luna, closed its doors earlier this year. Edmonton hasn’t had a thriving live music district since the gentrification of Old Strathcona.

Some days it pays to get out of bed

2005-07-15T16:40:00.000-06:00

It’s confirmed. The original Party Girl herself, Carolyn Mark, is making a live appearance on Dusty Trails for my pre-Folk Fest special.

Carolyn’s latest release, Just Married, further cements her party reputation with duets featuring other Canadians, including Corby Lund, Luke Doucet, the Silver Hearts , NQ Arbuckle and too many others to list. She has a wild sense of humour and a dramatic flair, which could make for a fun show.

I also finagled some goodies from the Folk Fest crew to give away during the show. Once again, it’s Sunday, July 31, from 2 to 4 p.m., on CJSR FM88.5

Read this or you will have five years of bad sex

2005-07-15T00:58:00.000-06:00

It never fails to bug me when I get sent some inane e-mail warning me if I don’t forward it to everyone in my address book, bad luck will befall me. Even more annoying are the ones that claim some foundation will donate money to some sick kid every time the e-mail is forwarded, as if the Make-A-Wish foundation has some sophisticated e-mail tracking system no one has ever heard of.

Here’s news for you people: the e-mails are hoaxes and could even contain computer viruses. Your well-intentioned ignorance could be harming your friends’ PCs and damaging the reputation and credibility of groups that perform excellent charity work.

Normally, I just delete those e-mails without reading them. But now anyone who sends me chain e-mails will get this in return.

On the road again . . . just can't wait to get on the road again

2005-07-05T12:49:00.000-06:00

"The life I love is makin' music with my friends."
- Willie Nelson

Urk, it’s my second day back at work after 11 days off and I’m still not readjusted. It’s always difficult settling into my job after being away, made harder this time because I was on the road gigging with Melissa Majeau and the Muse down in the Rockies.

We were joined by Ann Vriend, who also hails from E-town. She had just returned from a few months in New York and no sooner then she got back, she had to fly out to Washington, D.C. to entertain the mucky-mucks at the Canadian Embassy for Canada Day.

Ann did, however, play with us for a couple of nights in Canmore and Banff. I was completely in awe of the powerful voice coming from her small frame. On one of the nights she played an interpretation of Van Morrison’s Crazy Love that haunts me even now.

My good buddy and former roommate Todd Stewart came down to see us at the Canmore Hotel, Alberta’s second oldest operating hotel. Todd played a few of the tracks he’s reworking at Stew Kirkwood’s studio and they were absolutely heavy. I can’t wait to hear the finished version – Todd released a CD earlier this year, but the newer recordings sound much better.

The Gordie Tentrees Band opened for us at the Ho’. Those Whitehorse boys have a good thing going (and know how to party). I was still out of town when they played at the Black Dog in Edmonton, but I hope their show was well received.

Then there was Banff. I’m not a big fan of tourist traps, but there’s something spiritual about playing music in the mountains. We had small but appreciative crowds both nights we played at the Rose & Crown, and I was sorta sad to pack up and leave.

Melissa had a good time as well; the drummer and I had to carry her out the first night after a couple celebrating their second anniversary and a pack of vacationing Brits kept buying us drink after drink. Ahhh, rock’n’roll…

So now it’s back to the nine-to-five, well, 8:15 to 4:30 in my case. Fortunately, I have a number of upcoming gigs with the Silver Spurs and Melissa in the next few months, including one at WayneFest this September.

Now if only I could find a way to make music pay better.

Before you pop your top

2005-07-04T12:23:00.000-06:00

Feeling a little tense? Check out this tried-and-true stress relief method, courtesy of my friend Curly Heather.

It slices, it dices . . . it makes julienne fries

2005-06-15T17:31:00.000-06:00

Back on the subject of inner childhood, the web site HowStuffWorks has added the brilliant (and damn funny) article How Lightsabers Work, complete with these safety instructions:

"A lightsaber is not a toy! Keep it out of reach of children at all times. Lightsaber locks are required in most states. There are two ends to any lightsaber -- one end has the belt ring, while the other end houses the blade arc tip and blade emitter. NEVER point the blade emitter of a lightsaber toward your own body. NEVER look down the "barrel" of a lightsaber, even if you are "sure" it is in safe mode. If you accidentally activate the lightsaber, serious injury could result."

According to the site, benefits of owning a Jedi weapon include the ability to both cut and toast bagels in one stroke, trim hedges, light cigarettes, fend off would-be assailants and reheat coffee. And – here’s where it really gets nerdy – a diagram shows the inside of the lightsaber’s construction, with information on how the diatium power cells provide the juice while the primary and focus crystals convert that energy into a cutting blade of light.

Of course, there’s also a link to help you select the right model to defend yourself against the Sith. Prices range from $6.99 to $369.99.

Sadly, they’re only replicas.

Development plans Sidetracked?

2005-06-15T12:18:00.000-06:00

For the last several days, both music fans and musicians have wandered Edmonton with long faces. Rumours about the sale of the landmark Sidetrack Café have long floated around the city, but a story in last week’s Edmonton Journal seemed to confirm it.
According to the article, land title documents show the valuable downtown land was sold in March to make way for condominiums.

The Journal quoted the owner, who asked that his name not be used, as saying the club will stay open until at least the end of the year.

Reading the story, I felt like it was the end of an era, another blow to Edmonton’s live music scene. The Sidetrack has long supported Edmonton acts and is known as one of Canada’s top entertainment live clubs.

Over its 20-some years, everyone from members of the Rolling Stones to Ike Turner played at the venue, not to mention Blue Rodeo, k.d. lang, Junkhouse, the Skydiggers and too many others to mention. The Sidetrack was also instrumental in launching the music careers of groups like The Painting Daisies and Wide Mouth Mason.

Now comes news the Journal story might be premature.

Sidetrack promoter Brent Oliver is vague on details, but insists the ‘track is staying put and will not be elbowed out by development.

So what’s the truth? We’ll have to wait to find out more, but at least there is some indication of hope for the much-beloved club.

The Compass points to CJSR

2005-06-14T16:40:00.000-06:00

Bless those folks at Compass Records. Not only have they sent me free CDs for the last couple years, but they've arranged interviews with Kevin Welch and Alison Brown for my special pre-Folk Fest radio show on July 31. Both artists appear at Edmonton's festival the following weekend.

Banjo wizard (and label founder) Alison Brown recently released a fine album, Stolen Moments, with amazing covers of Jimi Hendrix's Angel and Simon & Garfunkel's Homeward Bound (which features vocals from the Indigo Girls).

"Banjo on a Hendrix tune?" you might be asking. Well, it's just one of those things you have to hear to understand.

I've already talked in an earlier post about the great album Kevin Welch released last year with co-Dead Reckoners Kieran Kane and Fats Kaplan. All I can add is that it's one show you won't want to miss.

Alberta's unofficial songwriter laureate

2005-06-03T12:26:00.000-06:00

Some years ago I went to see the legendary Ray Condo (RIP) in one of our local venues and was met by the sight of a tall, lanky guy on stage singing about Alberta in a Johnny Cash baritone. After his set, I struck up a conversation with the fellow and in the last few years our paths have crossed several times. Matt Masters was his name, and he had a hatful of songs about our fine province.

Most recently, he was in town with the D. Rangers when the Winnipeg five-some showed up at CJSR to play on my radio show, Dusty Trails. Matt played one of his songs, Whiskey Business, with the boys backing him up, and I just grinned in glee as the music from this special moment floated out over the airwaves.

Well, I couldn’t resist and invited him back to do a few songs of his own. He accepted and will be making an appearance on Dusty Trails this Sunday, between 2 to 4 p.m.

With Matt, I’m not sure what to expect. He usually has some surprise in store. Right now, he’s on a province-wide tour of Alberta in celebration of our Centennial year. He’s had some interesting experiences you can read all about here.
If you’re in E-town, you can listen in on the FM dial at 88.5. Or visit CJSR’s web site to hear the broadcast online.

Update: June 6, 2005

Matt’s visit to CJSR was a blast! He spent the better part of an hour playing music, talking about his experiences on the first third of his Centennial tour, and describing his latest project, a collection of 100 songs – either by Albertans, about Alberta or written in Alberta.

Matt is asking people to submit songs for the collection, which he eventually plans to publish in a songbook format for Alberta schools and libraries. He even played one of the songs already selected for the project – Rock and Roll Is My Guitar by Paul Spence, better known as Deaner from Fubar.

A melted dummy, pig carcasses in the parking lot and ducks in the bathroom . . .

2005-06-02T12:48:00.000-06:00

It can only be another episode of Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters, a mix of Monster Garage and snopes.com.

Last night’s show, Mythbusters Revealed, was a comical behind-the-scenes look at one of the best things on TV today – not only is it educational, but they also blow things up.

Two special-effects experts, Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, host the show. I think its success is in large part due to the relationship between the two. Savage’s prankster Bugs is constantly eliciting scorn from Hyneman’s stern Elmer Fudd (without the speech impediment). Mythbusters Revealed highlights the friction between the two, generating some unforgettable laugh-out-loud scenes.

Oh, and did I mention they blow things up? In their mission to debunk long-held legends and modern urban myths, they’ll push things as far as they can – even if it means packing a cement truck mixer with dynamite or strapping home-made rockets to a chair.

They have a great web site that includes some "Lost Experiments" you won’t see on television. For a guy who grew up tinkering with a chemistry set and a Tandy 150-in-One electronics kit, the show sure appeals to the boy within.

63 days and counting . . .

2005-06-01T21:04:00.000-06:00

Picked up my Edmonton Folk Fest tix today. My boss and I snuck out 20 minutes before noon to avoid the lunch hour rush. I've never bought a full weekend pass until now - this is the best lineup I can recall.

It's seems like a yearly ritual - the local music pundits handicap festival producer Terry Wickham's selections and inevitably compare our event to the seemingly more hip Calgary festival (which Wickham also runs). Heck, even this year Calgary gets Buck 65 and Jeff Tweedy. But the criticism in Edmonton was noticeably muted this summer.

I'm not sure who I'm more excited to see. Sure, I've seen Steve Earle two or three times before, but each time was pure gold. And unlike his Winspear gig earlier this year, this crowd won't be shouting for Copperhead Road.

Then there's Ruthie Foster, Alison Krauss, The Bills, Carolyn Mark, local chanteuse Wendy McNeill, Danny Michel, The Weakerthans, Martha Wainwright, Alison Brown, David Francey . . . and as Chip Taylor sings, "old John Prine will do."

I'm particularly looking forward to Kieran Kane, Kevin Welch & Fats Kaplan. I had the chance to interview them on-air when they came here last fall for a show with the Full Moon folkies. Their latest album, You Can't Save Everybody, is solid from start to finish.

But I think the clincher for me just might be Ryan Adams. Say what you want about his predilection for releasing just about everything he happens to excrete, his latest offering, Cold Roses, has him back in fine Whiskeytown form, with a reverent nod to the Grateful Dead. Not to mention, his new band, the Cardinals, features one hot pedal steel player, Cindy Cashdollar.

Oh yes, this year I can't wait.