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Trick of the tale

Fight to the Death : Rematch

Upon revisiting the compendium of Sappho’s tunes from outer space – Sappho delves into the genesis of the story – the trick of the tale of the Fight to the Death: Rematch..

The aliens have taken over the mind of a lonely scientist on Earth who hear her cry for help to the universe. They interpret the signal as a sign of weakness.

The narrative of the war of the world invasion is weaved through house and trance rhythms. And in the words of Sappho herself: I like it that way. A cadre of DJs fell valiantly as heroes just for one day whereas they pass on the story of the conflagrationary war between the aliens and the humans.

Paranoia sweeps the nation as neighbours cannot tell friend from foe as the alien disguise themselves amidst the confusion – or are the alien the source of the affliction – you’re a lizard person. Or ironically enough the one song that did not get passed along with the DJs is Lizard Person who keep their identity concealed. Or maybe Sappho is the only one left to tell that tale.

The narrative starts at the apocalyptic moment with the final countdown song sung in acapella by accompanying Young Guns Quartet and Sappho.

Can’t Stop Me (Near/Far Remix)  has a surprisingly subwoofer earth-shaking chord

Going out on a high note with rave on trance and dance beats Out With A Bang – P Tee Money Remix the alien brain parasite has captured internationally renowned @afmawardofficial winning dj/producer. @pteemoneyofficial. prior to his untimely demise, P Tee Money was the UK’s most iconic DJ, specializing in progressive house. a true renaissance man, P Tee Money was also a published author, actor, aeronautical engineer, and an actual prince. His other contribution Can’t Stop Me – P Tee Money Remix the penultimate movement of Sappho’s FIGHT TO THE DEATH: REMATCH project is the last track of his legacy.

Electronicr&bbedroom popIndieindie pop

Distress Call (Daitm Remix) a dark EDM remix by Daitm with swirly whisper vocals

ElectronicEdmdubstepdarkmoodyMoroccanCanadian

Out With A Bang is revisited with a heavy house beat Chester Sky rendition.

Take Me to the Stars (Hyper Lion Remix) is the final single and chapter of the FIGHT TO THE DEATH EP series. Insistent disco beats and topsy turvy keyboard riffs and grooves which leads to the conclusion from the last happy hoppy sounding house rendition of Fight to the Death (Misery Bird remix).

Sappho had fleeting moments of time left for this Q and A.

What is it that makes an alien tick? Why do they like dance music?

1) nobody knows! But in this case, a primal drive to conquer.

How do you programme an alien dj ? 
2) Python mostly 

*Python is a programming language devised by humans to make coding easy in an objective way.
for exampe:
python –version
>>>print(“Hello, World!”)
>>>print(“Sappho is an alien”)


Do you give them the basic track or do they bring you back into their studio to record a back track or vocal ?
3) in real life, I record everything in my home studio, send it to my collaborator Bradley Hill for additional instruments and mixing, then send it to Mariana Hutten for mastering! Metaphorically though, yes I am abducted by aliens regularly.

How do they learn language?
4) classic Babelfish

Is it a universal statement?
5) yes

FIGHT TO THE DEATH: REMATCH

1.Fight to the Death – A cappella (Yonge Guns Quartet) 04:10
2.Distress Call (Daitm Remix) 03:43
3.Can’t Stop Me (Near/Far Remix) 04:30
4.Out With A Bang (P Tee Money Remix)02:46
5.Distress Call (Cozmic Cat Remix) 03:58
6.Can’t Stop Me (P Tee Money Remix)03:20
7.Out With A Bang (Chester Sky Remix)03:20
8.Take Me to the Stars (Hyper Lion Remix) 04:32
9.Fight to the Death (Misery Bird Remix)04:42

One track not listed here contains a hereditary evolutionary remix that infuses the classic YES 90205 track in Owner of a Lonely Distress Call. I like it that way. Plus the tribute to the generations continues on in a next Sappho project to come.

What has not been stated here yet is the obvious which what makes this worthy listening is the melange of music styles and story is so damn witty and clever (we realize musicians and composers do not like to be called witty or clever because it’s what they are meant to be in their craft as opposed to dullard – that’s entertainment after all) and funny with a flare for the heightened dramatic. This rematch along with the historic original Fight to the Death is a late night science fiction double feature.

(Or is the lizard person making me say this, I like it that way.)

-30-

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Kind of Fillmore East blues

ramblings and ventures into music on SACD



The Allman Brothers At Fillmore East
Capricorn UIGY-15032 (℗2013 ©1972)
Japanese SHM-SACD

(Brief sojourn on our venture into the world of audiophile or higher resolution music formats)

Experiencing Allman Brothers Band at Fillmore East brings a smile to the face.This is sheer listening pleasure, especially as this SACD brings out all the nuances and details of the live act – the Fillmore East shows being hailed as the best concert recording. Fillmore East is also Duane Allman’s last album.

The Allman Brothers are a Southern country rock jamming band with all the blues and jazz structure as you can hear for yourself. The Japanese SHM-SACD includes the original seven tracks from the three nights of the spirited performances. The evening starts with Duane Allman on slide guitar on Statesboro’s Blues. Done Somebody Wrong is a rollicking blues with guitar lead and boogie bass. Stormy Monday is the sad blues. The long trademark jams are the band at its best, long but so good. Dickie Betts’s In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (from Idlewild South) with lead guitar trade-offs and the drum solo parts carry the album to the last and seventh track on the SACD. Whipping Post is a whopping 23 minutes and its tease on the fade out notes can only leave the fan or listener at home yearning more of what is to be delivered, Mountain Jam as heard in its entirety on Eat A Peach).

1Statesboro Blues Written-By – Will McTell*Written-By – Will McTell*4:22
2Done Somebody Wrong Written-By – Clarence Lewis, David C. Thomas*, Elmore James, Morgan RobinsonWritten-By – Clarence Lewis, David C. Thomas*, Elmore James, Morgan Robinson4:35
3Stormy Monday Written-By – T.Bone Walker *Written-By – T.Bone Walker*10:28
4You Don’t Love Me Written-By – Willie Cobbs Written-By – Willie Cobbs19:18
5Hot ‘Lanta Written-By – Oakley, B.*, Trucks, B.*, Betts, D.*, Allman, D.*, Allman, G.*, Johanson, J.J.*Written-By – Oakley, B.*, Trucks, B.*, Betts, D.*, Allman, D.*, Allman, G.*, Johanson, J.J.*5:22
6In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed Written-By – D. Betts *Written-By – D. Betts*13:05
7Whipping Post Written-By – G. Allman *Written-By – G. Allman*23:10

tracks listing from the wikipedia

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Kind of gossip girl show me to the party Taylor

a quick glimpse of sorts into music


The Pretty Reckless
Light Me Up
Interscope Records – UICS-1227, DAS Label – UICS-1227
Japanese Blu-Spec CD 2 (BS CD 2) deluxe edition format

The Pretty Reckless is a hard rock compendium of talent sprouting from the vocals of former Gossip Girl actress Taylor Momsen.

Gossip Girl Jenny Humphrey is left behind, the good girl gone bad, breaking free from the programme so she could accomplish her rock and roll dream, Taylor dispels the image and goes to the other end of the spectrum, toughing it out a la Joan Jett.
Light Me Up when I’m down is the message and title track of the band’s debut album produced by Kato Khandwala (who in the studio also does all the bass and plays guitars with Ben Philips) on Interscope Records.. The musicians behind Momsen’s which can go from whisper to a belt it out vocals definitely back her, they rock with crunchy guitars and hit the bass and drum so strikingly tight. The backup vocals on You Make Want To Die from guitarist Ben Philip are haunting. Nothing Left to Lose is a ballad paean of a couple and she losing the love of her life in the blink of an eye. But Light Me Up rocks and the album issues three hit singles: Make Me Wanna Die, Miss Nothing, and Just Tonight. Zombie, Make Me Wanna Die with the acoustic guitar and Far From Never are the three extra bonus tracks make the blu-spec cd2 collector’s edition worth getting. The production sound quality on this BS CD2 is hard and crunchy emphasizing the lead guitar with bass bottoming out very tightly with the vocals floating while the drums splash and cymbal are precise.

xo xo

(The Pretty Reckless Light Me Up on compact disc as tested through an OPPO 103D and Audio-GD DAC.)

Light Me Up album cover
1My Medicine3:14
2Since You’re Gone2:42
3Make Me Wanna Die3:56
4Light Me Up3:28
5Just Tonight2:48
6Miss Nothing3:14
7Goin’ Down3:36
8Nothing Left To Lose4:12
9Factory Girl3:31
10You3:32
Bonus Tracks
11Zombie3:10
12Make Me Wanna Die (Acoustic)3:34
13Far From Never3:37
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Kind of Sappho

impressions and musings on music

(As we were provided by the artist/s with the highest resolution 24 bit/48 khz wav masters of the songs for Fight to the Death, we are playing them through the highest version of our upstairs home stereo system). The words that follow is merely our impressionistic interpretation of events)

Fight to the Death is a narrative in multiple voices of a planet trying to save itself

Sappho’s Fight to the Death harkens the cold metallic version of the BBC version of the days of future past meets now tale as opposed to a certain Tom Cruise manic run for your life and an annoying screaming Elle Fanning,


As one knows this is La La Land territory with song and dance threatening to break out any moment. This spacey soap opera entertainingly and with amusing lyrics covers so many dancey styles of music ranging from the get-go with techno dance tracks to South American jazz guitar samba leading to the finale rave on.all encompassed under Sappho’s soaring voice. Each stage of this space opera musical has its own backstory replete with music. We did say La La Land or the false nostalgia for the day the earth stood still one day?

After an overture of the Fight to the Death theme for the night, the chanteuse with a lively stratospheric voice spells out the chain of events. In the first song of sci-fi internet musical “Fight to the Death”, in which a lonely scientist seeks a connection to something greater, the scientist looks to the skies above for a sign of life out there in the West Side Story somewhere universe. Be careful of what you wish for!

a nightmarish extraterrestrial hears radio signals emanating from Earth, and begins their journey towards the unsuspecting planet

I got your distress call
Might just be your downfall, baby

Distress Call in a musical role reversal where after the protagonist sends out the siren call signal and in counterpoint it is the receiver of message who interprets it as a distress call and relishes what is to come. The music instead of being filled with frenzy and panic is laidback, reflects the calm confidence and menace of the alien eyeing its target. Lizard Person has the hero eyeing those eyes – the truth is out there with a X-Files paranoia as they face the enemy among them taking over their world. By the countdown for the final showdown of the titular song, Fight to the Death has hero and foe as counterparts in a strummed guitar jazz samba duel duo off that would fit inside an Ennio Morricone score, one could imagine the crack of the whip.. The finale of the opera goes Out With A Bang. a fabulous techno rave ending. Yet the conclusion is nebulous, as to who wins with one left in a state of wonder or a Matrix dreamscape. We have met the enemy and all that jazz.

(The tale and more re-mixed tracks can be fully obtained via the sappho.music bandcamp site !)

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Kind of everything is fine : One Question with Skye Wallace

One Question
with
Skye Wallace



Feel free to ignore the premise. Taylor Swift speaks in common language, she will use similes and metaphors her words tend to speak in the venacular (but I come back stronger than a 90s trend) or directly. You both speak in folklore or evermore with your stories are either more couched in vivid imagery or the clever and fun. Taylor is more concise whereas Skye Wallace conjures more poetic sophistication? Upfront and simplistic, veiled and sophisticated? speak in the vernacular or in classic dreamy imagory?  Is your approach with lyricism in songwriting tailored to observational or the conjectural abstract?

This is my pre-ramble to the one question to Skye Wallace.

I have been playing Norah Jones Come Away with Me along with the likes of Getz / Gilberto (which gave the world The Girl From Ipanema and Corcovado Quiet Nights and Quiet Stars) and Frank Sinatra Songs for Swingin’ Lovers. Their lyricists which include themselves evoke more romanticism in a few phrases and Frank can pack more volume in a swinging line than Taylor Swift or Ed Sheeran. Again with Taylor Swift, she self-admittedly is her own elephant in the room. She can bring in her own army of musical support along the lines of The National or Bon Iver. I have always been drawn to the adrenaline rush either live or on record or disc of earlier Skye’s songs on the first albums with that mystique of Blood Moon or MeanSong 2 or Dead Things. And you cannot ignore the literal wallop of Skye Wallace album on Swing Batter or Death of Me or There is a Wall or Body Lights the Way. So here comes the question.

(Once again feel free to ignore the premise of the question or the question.)

SKYE WALLACE: Good question. I think there’s a lot of merit to both ways of writing. My way of more veiled poeticism has been both something that people really love and something that I’ve received criticism about, especially with desires of entering into the radio world. I’ve had people tell me that songs on the radio these days just say what they mean and that I should be more literal, but the more I tried, the more I felt that I strayed from my own spirit of writing. I’m down to try new things and I even wrote a bunch of more literal songs that I love, but I do also think there’s absolutely a place for more poetic, less-literal lyricism. I think it’s impossible to align yourself with trends and “what’s on the radio” anyway; a losing battle. As soon as you emulate a trend, it will inevitably have changed. All you can do, in my opinion, is be yourself and do your thing in a way that you care about and the rest shines through.

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Kind of mode

impressions on music

The dystonic post-or-now-apocalyptic world of Depeche Mode with the doom and attendant gloom. The breezy easy days of their debut Speak and Spell have been supplanted by the twelfth album Ultra with its Flood-NIN-Bowiesque style Tim Simenone helter skelter production (and engineered by Q) - as we all come together (or fall apart with Alan Wilder leaving the band) - staring at the end of the barrel of a gun. David Gahan at the low point.

Depeche Mode
Ultra

Sony 888837708822

With the Denon DVD-3910 now in our possession, the hunt was on for music to feed the beast. What better than the series of Depeche Mode releases on the DVD/CD format? The DVD (which is in PAL format and quite playable on the Denon player) portion is presumably on the DVD-Audio side of things with 5.1 mix in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround or DTS 5.1 and a PCM Stereo version. The PCM Stereo version is what is selected here (since the RCA audio connections are all that is present on the back of the Vector Research VR-220 receiver which has served us well since Ring Audio days). The DVD also contains three tracks recorded live in London April 1997 and bonus tracks. With the DVD comes a small quirky documentary film about Ultra (the album that almost did not get finished). Depeche Mode. 1995-1998 (Oh Well, that’s the end of the band).
Needless to say but saying it nonetheless, the music sounds just great in stereo.

these random writings are styled as part of the “running-in” period for the KEF Q350 double bass reflex speakers. What a double bass.

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Kind of pretox

random ramblings and reflections of random music

what is the good of a heart if you can’t break it

Pretox
Last Call

The CD from the Hammer City based trio moving to the bigg times is a cut above the rest – very much of a live to the floor mix with a crunchy rockstar stylings of Alex Maich on guitar and swingy Jesse Taynton groove bass that kicks the bottom end, and precision metronomic Ryan Luke drumming. Songs of heartache or broken heart and not going to stay sober reflections. Throwing kerosene on a relationship and waking up on a Sunday morning… we’ll be fine. This is not good-bye.

A solid starter from Pretox and representation of the music that kicks even more to life during their more than lively and bantered stage shows where their fueled at last call personalties shine.

52510850_784028888630638_5533524482779512832_o.jpg

This is part of a process of the “run-in” of the new KEF Q350 to warm up the double bass reflex speakers. Viewpoints of the actual music do not change. The quality of the songs remain the same.

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Kind of innercool – Kelly Lee Owens

impressions of music

Kelly Lee Owens
Inner Song
Smalltown Supersound – STS372LP

Track listing
Arpeggi
On
Melt!
Re-Wild
Jeanette
L.I.N.E.
Corner Of My Sky
Night
Flow
Wake-Up

My version of this two LP album is on the white vinyl. White records kind of look cool and still sounds great. The production on this second album from Kelly Lee Owens is superb and fascinating music for listening in the dark. With a big boost of thudding bass and the sweep of the upper end register from the keyboards the feeling is of being right there in the club house.

Haunting effusion of modern day electronics of Wales born Kelly Lee Owens with a cover of Radiohead >>>>> Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood >>>>>> Arpeggi . Experimental clubland music with an off-kilter dance orientation. Soaring high end vocals. From trip hop to bolder presentations with the added spoken lyrical contribution on the track Corner of My Sky from another Welsh musician of note John Cale (of the Velvet Underground and so on).

As the “run-in” of the Dali Oberon 7 speakers continue, records chosen at random are set on the platter to spin.

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Kind of sweet talkin’ woman

impressions on music

Electric Light Orchestra
Out of the Blue
U A JTLA-823-L2

From the October 1977 original double vinyl of the Jeff Lynne helmed Electric Light Orchestra with the iconic cover of the flying saucer space station receiving the spaceship. The crescendo and rollicking Turn to stone, slow down sweet city talkin’ woman. Classical Electric Light Orchestra replete with Beethoven grandiosity and rolling over Beethoven overtures (but that is another album).

Out of the Blue as a double album conveys the sense of the city through the progression of the day, More of a Days of Future Passed for the 1977 era.

A1 Turn To Stone 3:48
A2 It’s Over 4:08
A3 Sweet Talkin’ Woman 3:48
A4 Across The Border 3:52
B1 Night In The City 4:02
B2 Starlight 4:30
B3 Jungle 3:51
B4 Believe Me Now 1:21
B5 Steppin’ Out 4:38
C1 Standin’ In The Rain 4:20
C2 Big Wheels 5:10
C3 Summer And Lightning 4:13
C4 Mr. Blue Sky 5:05
D1 Sweet Is The Night 3:26
D2 The Whale 5:05
D3 Birmingham Blues 4:21
D4 Wild West Hero 4:40

As the “run-in” of the Dali Oberon 7 speakers continues towards the 100 hour mark, the records spin to nurture their appetite for a wide range of vinyl.

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Kind of mono – part 3

Julie London – SHM-5401

Cool and elegant. Earth(a) kitt and sensual.

By sheer happenstance as we reflect upon a case of mono recordings, Julie London turned up at the top of the stack of vinyl.
Julie London on Sunset Records SUM-5104

A1LauraWritten-By – Raksin*, Mercer*Written-By – Raksin*, Mercer*1:37
A2In The Middle Of A KissWritten-By – Coslow*Written-By – Coslow*2:40
A3I’m In The Mood For LoveWritten-By – McHugh/Fields*Written-By – McHugh/Fields*2:28
A4That Old FeelingWritten-By – Brown*, Fain*Written-By – Brown*, Fain*2:35
A5My Love, My LoveWritten-By – Haymes*, Acquaviva*Written-By – Haymes*, Acquaviva*2:38
B1Baby Come HomeWritten-By – Troup*, Rowles*Written-By – Troup*, Rowles*2:40
B2Tain’t What You Do (It’s The Way That Cha Do It)Written-By – Oliver*, Young*Written-By – Oliver*, Young*2:05
B3Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come HomeWritten-By – Cannon*Written-By – Cannon*2:05
B4Spring Is HereWritten-By – Rodgers/Hart*Written-By – Rodgers/Hart*2:05
B5Blue MoonWritten-By – Rodgers/Hart*Written-By – Rodgers/Hart*2:20

Companies, etc.

Credits

Other Versions (5 of 7)View All

A1LauraWritten-By – Raksin*, Mercer*Written-By – Raksin*, Mercer*1:37
A2In The Middle Of A KissWritten-By – Coslow*Written-By – Coslow*2:40
A3I’m In The Mood For LoveWritten-By – McHugh/Fields*Written-By – McHugh/Fields*2:28
A4That Old FeelingWritten-By – Brown*, Fain*Written-By – Brown*, Fain*2:35
A5My Love, My LoveWritten-By – Haymes*, Acquaviva*Written-By – Haymes*, Acquaviva*2:38
B1Baby Come HomeWritten-By – Troup*, Rowles*Written-By – Troup*, Rowles*2:40
B2Tain’t What You Do (It’s The Way That Cha Do It)Written-By – Oliver*, Young*Written-By – Oliver*, Young*2:05
B3Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come HomeWritten-By – Cannon*Written-By – Cannon*2:05
B4Spring Is HereWritten-By – Rodgers/Hart*Written-By – Rodgers/Hart*2:05
B5Blue MoonWritten-By – Rodgers/Hart*Written-By – Rodgers/Hart*2:20

Companies, etc.

Credits



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Kind of mono part deux



A series of reflections on music or records

This is Kind of mono Part Two

Part One is dedicated to a listening of the pressing of Kind of Blue Columbia that was released on blue vinyl Columbia – CS 8163. However, life sometimes kind of throws you a bowl of spaghetti at you, so you dodge.

Sitting here in the dark with Brothers In Arms (20th Anniversary Edition) SACD playing. Who in this current century is still purchasing a SACD player or searching for actual Super Audio CD? Although it may be deemed a dead format by someone who is in the game told me, nonetheless the thought of having the perfect rendition of a favourite record spinning in the night is enticing. With the Denon DVD-3910 universal DVD player — the Swiss army knife able to play a whole host of DVD and CD formats and surfaces — the atmospheric soundscape of ths album transports the listener into the clouds with its sharp and shiny production.

Starting with So Far Away, the SACD is an ideal format for Mark Knopfler’s guitars and gruff expressive voice all the way to the last track of Brothers In Arms and the feel of tight bass elements with the drums sitting just right into the mix. The single track Money for Nothing absolutely showcases the dynamics of the production and wha is possible on SACD. Then there is the jaunty Walk of Life. Even in this age of the re-emergence of vinyl as a desired item to possess and play, this Mobile Fidelity SACD from 2005 would fit into your collection and with its hybrid format, it would play in the normal listener’s CD player. Considering the price of the Mobile Fidelity vinyl version of Brothers In Arms, the MoFI SACD is quite affordable.

As a novel listening experience in this era. Listening to an actual SACD in your own private listening room in Future Shop on a comfortable couch. Recommended.

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A case of mono

A series of reflections on music or records

With the recent RSD 2021 release  Chet Baker Sings, the trumpeter gets to feature his singing voice. The feature of the release is it is in mono. Being in mono actually brings this recording to life.

Listening to it is a pleasure and being a stereo or audiophile nut (albeit without the budget) means the resurrection of the Connoisseur BD-1 belt drive turntable that was built by the experts at Ring Audio. The assembly kit was placed on a solid piece of wood that was anti-vibration. Drilled in place beside the platter is the original classic SME 3009 tonearm. Chosen for its characteristics to accompany the tonearm is the Nagaoka MP-10 cartridge, a Japanese cartridge that for its time was expensive. Fortunately, the MP-10 cartridge still works with the new generation of its brand of stylus options. The MP-110 replacement stylus represents an upgrade over what would have been its new MP-100 counterpart.

Together, the Nagaoka combination sounds like a dream, accurate and bringing out detail in the mid-range. The high end rings and the bass is present.

That it is from the original mono tapes acutally brings this recording to life. Keeping it in mono makes it sound less processed. With eyes closed, the image of Chet Baker Sings rings true centre.

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Life on the road 2020

This original post was written in a time before life as we knew it shut down. This was going to be a year with lots of promising bands, new records to come out of the studios and breakthrough release parties in the clubs. Well, you all know what happened next. This post was a small document on trips to the clubs to visit friends and see them on the stages, just like back in the old days when we would be hitting the road every weekend throughout Ontario or literally the rest of the world (whether it be in under down under New Zealand or the top of the world in Finland or Sweden). This was the original post with some of the last photos we took in the clubs.


Snowy weekend in Toronto. It is the middle of January and already the camera has been traveling to three different clubs. What happened to hibernation?

  1. January 4, 2020 – Heather Valley – Cameron Club – Toronto, ON
  2. January 9, 2020 – Time Machine release party – Sappho – Tomacco – Ary – Body Double – Junction City Music Hall – Toronto, ON
    20200109_195800__DSC0708
  3. January 16, 2020 – Pretox – Straight to Business – Bovine Sex Club – Toronto, ON
  4. January 22, 2020 – Sappho @ The Boat
  5. January 31, 2020 – Tomacco @ Monarch Tavern
  6. February 1, 2020 – Heather Valley @ Tranzac Club
  7. February 8, 2020 – Skye Wallace w/ Les Deuxluxes, Zinnia, Lenny Bull @ Horseshoe Tavern
  8. February 9, 2020 – Dirty Rick, Dead Levee @ Bovine Sex Club
20200131_233140__DSC3093

20200122_210629__DSC2063

More travels to come! (Crossing fingers)

Time Waits for No One – January 26, 2020

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Background: After a visit to the Turntable Doctor during Boxing Day week, the recent inspection of my Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge stylus, the verdict was 1000 hours of life left on it. So how long is 1000 hours of stylus life? Obviously, the answer is 1000 hours. The quick math translates 1000 hours to 6 weeks of 24/7. However being human, how long would it take me to explore my record collection to reach 1000 hours of play? The answer is the subject of these posts. Turn off the lights and have a listen to 1000 hours and counting down.

Dead Dogs can learn new tricks. Dead Dog Records know all the old tricks.

Enter through their doorway in the Bloordale Village and it’s the place where everyone calls you Joe. The folks there have my tastes down to a T so we start with the letter G.

Gillian Welch - Harrow
Gillian Welch The Harrow and the Harvest

GILLIAN WELCH
The Harrow and the Harvest
ACNY 1109LP

Gillian Welch fans know Gillian is pronounced with a hard G. Consider me a learned fan now. Whether this record be country or Americana, the album is plaintive songs filled with simple stories sung of harrowing tales and hard times, faith and the other side ahead.

There’s six white horses coming after me
Six white horses coming after me
Pretty as a picture, certain as the scripture
Six white horses coming after me

Steely Dan - Gaucho
Steely Dan Gaucho

STEELY DAN
Gaucho
MCA 6102
Release: 1980

It is 1:11 a.m. on a cold winter’s day. And what better time to slip on Steely Dan onto the turntable evoking the cool hipster lifestyle of sunny CaliforniL.A. Walter Becker and Donald Fagen tunes, immaculate players and playing with a horn section from Tom Scott to boot taken to the limit. Too cool for school? I have read too many reviews of snobophiles who use a myriad of Steely Dan AJA pressings and SACD as the test source for showing off their equipment, I do not fall into that camp, but I thought Steely Dan Gaucho would be a smooth experience.  The quest for perfection in the studio. Or obsession. Who is up for a listen to Toto IV or Dire Straits?

led zeppelin I
Led Zeppelin

LED ZEPPELIN
Led Zeppelin
Atlantic ‎– 8122-79664-1
Release: 2014 (initial release 1969)
“The Led Zeppelin legend began in January of 1969 with the group’s eponymous debut. From the opening salvo of “Good Times Bad Times,” on through to “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You,” “Communication Breakdown,” and “Dazed And Confused,” the album introduced the band’s unmistakable sound and left an indelible mark on the music landscape.” So said so well straight from Led Zeppelin itself.

rolling stones rnr.ROLLING STONES
It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
Label: Atlantic
Rolling Stones Records ‎– COC 79101
Release: 1974

Production at Musicland by the “Glimmer Twins” of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
Rhythm n bluesy swagger in the studio with a very forward imaging. It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll is the classic anthem of r n r. Brash, sassy, arrogant.

NINE INCH NAILSNIN - Pretty Hate Machine
PRETTY HATE MACHINE
BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY B0015099-01

The start of it all in a reissued format on 180gm. Bicycle Music Music bought out TVT and pressed this on 180gm black vinyl album.

Continue reading “Time Waits for No One – January 26, 2020” →

You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye – January 18, 2020

FeaturedHotel California

Background: After a visit to the Turntable Doctor during Boxing Day week, the recent inspection of my Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge stylus, the verdict was 1000 hours of life left on it. So how long is 1000 hours of stylus life? Obviously, the answer is 1000 hours. The quick math translates 1000 hours to 6 weeks of 24/7. However being human, how long would it take me to explore my record collection to reach 1000 hours of play? The answer is the subject of these posts. Turn off the lights and have a listen to 1000 hours and counting down.

Linda Ronstadt, the subject of The Sound of My Voice movie on CNN inspired tonight’s listening. Skye Wallace’s self titled album has been burning a hole into my ears and her photos from recent club performances on stage with band fronting for Lowest of the Low (see image below) have been blazing from my smugmug and others social media. The record itself is black vinyl with a test pressing label! The listening was quite enjoyable with little to note about any distracting noise. The album ranges from moody reflections to full on guitar and bass rockers which capture the adventures of her life.

20191214_211754__DSC5166

Luxury Liner
Emmylou Harris Luxury Liner

Emmylou Harris Luxury Liner was handy and was the natural follow-up. (Dolly Parton and Nicolette Larson provide back-up vocals amongst many. Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt comprised Trio for their two albums.) Even though this is a Warner Brothers Canadian pressing from 1977, the production was immaculate with little if any surface noise. The highlight of Luxury Liner is naturally Emmylou Harris’s voice itself and stellar talent in the band.

Hotel California
Eagles Hotel California

While sorting through albums, the Eagles Hotel California on Asylum Records 1976 turned up more than coincidentally (the members of the Eagles being early members of Linda Ronstadt’s band). Checking the 7ES 1084 catalogue number, this album copy is the 1976 Canadian pressing with the gatefold from Asylum. The record might have needed a little bit of record cleaner and a zap of the Zerostat gun. There were a few reminders that this Hotel California was not a compact disc. Otherwise, the memories of past sitting down by the stereo come back. Which is part of the vinyl experience. The familiar intro to Hotel California led all the way past New Kid in Town to the end of side one with Wasted Time. Flipping over the record brings in the reprise of Wasted Time. The second side is the opposite of Life in the Fast Lane and exits with the more sombre outro of The Last Resort. Raise the needle and turn off the stereo for the night. It is 1:11 a.m.

If you have a nice comment or stylus recommendation:

DATE ARTIST ALBUM FORMAT TRACK ALBUM TIME RUNNING TOTAL CASSETTE TIME
2019-12-28 NILS FRAHM SCREWS ALBUM SIDE A/B 00:28:00 00:28:00  
2019-12-28 CRASS Sheep Farming in The Falklands flexi SIDE A 00:05:22 00:33:22  
2019-12-28 U2 NO LINE ON THE HORIZON ALBUM SIDE A 00:17:00 00:50:22  
2019-12-30 BOB DYLAN LIVE AT BUDOKAN ALBUM SIDE B 00:26:42 01:17:04  
2019-12-30 SUPERTRAMP EVEN IN THE QUIETEST MOMENTS ALBUM SIDE A/B 00:43:25 02:00:29  
2019-12-30 APHEX TWIN SELECTED AMBIENT WORKS 1985-1992 ALBUM SIDE A/B 00:34:20 02:34:49  
2020-01-01 EMMYLOU HARRIS LUXURY LINER ALBUM SIDE A/B 00:38:35 03:13:24  
2020-01-02 BOBBY WISEMAN SINGS WRENCH TUTTLE IN HER DREAM CASSETTE SIDE A   03:13:24 00:29:07
2020-01-05 ELUVIUM COPIA VINYL SIDE A 00:18:50 03:32:14  
2020-01-05 ELUVIUM COPIA VINYL SIDE B 00:21:00 04:12:55  
2020-01-05 GLENN GOULD WELL TEMPERED CLAVIER VINYL SIDE 1/6 00:19:41 03:51:55  
2020-01-08 The Replacements Pleased To Meet Me VINYL SIDE A 00:16:16 04:08:11  
2020-01-08 The Replacements Don’t Tell A Soul VINYL SIDE A 00:19:14 04:27:25  
2020-01-18 Stevie Nicks Bella Donna VINYL SIDE A 00:19:28 04:46:53  
2020-01-18 Skye Wallace Skye Wallace VINYL SIDE A/B 00:33:21 05:20:14  
2020-01-18 EMMYLOU HARRIS LUXURY LINER VINYL SIDE A/B 00:38:35 05:58:49  
2020-01-18 The Eagles Hotel California VINYL SIDE A/B 00:36:58 06:35:47

 

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1000 Hours of Stylus and counting down – January 8, 2020

Today’s listening was a couple of classic albums from The Replacements! The records listened to were Pleased to Meet Me (1987), and Don’t Tell A Soul (1989). These are on black vinyl, the original price of Pleased to Meet Me is a whopping $6.97. These two albums are going to be re-issued soon with coloured vinyl. However, the two Replacements albums are minty black and sound fine the way they are. Talent Show from Don’t Tell A Soul and Alex Chilton from Pleased To Meet Me are alive as ever.
As well, Stevie Nicks Bella Donna from 1981 is about as perfect an album as there is and is also going to be re-issued. This one might be worth exploring as a re-issue. (Total album listening time to date is 4 hours and 48 minutes.) Also spun the compact disc of The Replacements Let It Be which sounds fine as a CD.

DATE ARTIST ALBUM FORMAT TRACK ALBUM TIME RUNNING TOTAL CASSETTE TIME
2019-12-28 NILS FRAHM SCREWS ALBUM SIDE A/B 00:28:00 00:28:00  
2019-12-28 CRASS Sheep Farming in The Falklands flexi SIDE A 00:05:22 00:33:22  
2019-12-28 U2 NO LINE ON THE HORIZON ALBUM SIDE A 00:17:00 00:50:22  
2019-12-30 BOB DYLAN LIVE AT BUDOKAN ALBUM SIDE B 00:26:42 01:17:04  
2019-12-30 SUPERTRAMP EVEN IN THE QUIETEST MOMENTS ALBUM SIDE A/B 00:43:25 02:00:29  
2019-12-30 APHEX TWIN SELECTED AMBIENT WORKS 1985-1992 ALBUM SIDE A/B 00:34:20 02:34:49  
2020-01-01 EMMYLOU HARRIS LUXURY LINER ALBUM SIDE A/B 00:38:35 03:13:24  
2020-01-02 BOBBY WISEMAN SINGS WRENCH TUTTLE IN HER DREAM CASSETTE SIDE A   03:13:24 00:29:07
2020-01-05 ELUVIUM COPIA VINYL SIDE A 00:18:50 03:32:14  
2020-01-08 ELUVIUM COPIA VINYL SIDE B 00:21:00 04:12:55  
2020-01-08 GLENN GOULD WELL TEMPERED CLAVIER VINYL SIDE 1/6 00:19:41 03:51:55  
2020-01-08 The Replacements Pleased To Meet Me VINYL SIDE A 00:16:16 04:08:11
2020-01-08 The Replacements Don’t Tell A Soul VINYL SIDE A 00:19:14 04:27:25
2020-01-08 Stevie Nicks Bella Donna VINYL SIDE A 00:19:28 04:46:53

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WELCOME TO 2020 : 1000 HOURS AND COUNTING DOWN

The news? Moving into a new apartment with a view in upper Scarborough, we decided to bring the old stereo system back to life. This system is about as analogue as it can get, with Kenwood KA 3500 40 watt amp, Technics SL-1200 MKII turntable, two former Mirage speakers with a Ring Audio internal design and two cassette decks: one Sony and one AIWA.

THE Turntable Doctor at Bay Bloor Radio examined the stylus of the Ortofon 2M Blue After an electronic cleaning and although the stylus was already shorter than an original needle, he pronounced the stylus was still good and had 1000 hours left on it.  Now how long is 1000 hours in record playing terms? That was a good question. The Turntable Doctor said that should be three years. I thought why not keep track of what is 1000 hours?
As well, the technician suggested demagnetizing or clearning the cassette heads every 30 hours. So keeping track of that well will be on the table. The titles listed will be either on vinyl or cassette unless listed otherwise. There will be compact discs played as well and those will be included as well (but will not count towards the 1000 hours).

Welcome to my listening, good taste or whatever you may term it.

DATEARTISTALBUMFORMATTRACK ALBUM TIMERUNNING TOTALCASSETTE TIME
        
2019-12-28NILS FRAHMSCREWSALBUMSIDE A/B00:28:0000:28:00 
2019-12-28CRASSSheep Farming in The FalklandsflexiSIDE A 00:05:2200:33:22 
2019-12-28U2NO LINE ON THE HORIZONALBUMSIDE A 00:17:0000:50:22 
2019-12-30BOB DYLANLIVE AT BUDOKANALBUMSIDE B00:26:4201:17:04 
2019-12-30SUPERTRAMPEVEN IN THE QUIETEST MOMENTSALBUMSIDE A/B00:43:2502:00:29 
2019-12-30APHEX TWINSELECTED AMBIENT WORKS 1985-1992ALBUMSIDE A/B00:34:2002:34:49 
2020-01-01EMMYLOU HARRISLUXURY LINERALBUMSIDE A/B00:38:3503:13:24 
2020-01-02BOBBY WISEMAN SINGS WRENCH TUTTLEIN HER DREAMCASSETTESIDE A  03:13:2400:29:07
2020-01-05ELUVIUMCOPIAVINYLSIDE A 00:18:5003:32:14 
2020-01-06ELUVIUMCOPIAVINYLSIDE B00:21:0004:12:55 
2020-01-06GLENN GOULDWELL TEMPERED CLAVIERVINYLSIDE 1/600:19:4103:51:55 

The most recent listen goes back to the classical, Glenn Gould Well-Tempered Clavier. No. 1 is in C, it always starts that way. These are pieces that many have undoubtedly played while learning piano for the Conservatory. No doubt no one will ever play them as well as Glenn Gould could.
Eluvium is a taste that goes back 10 years to 2009. The Volume 1 box set of that time is long out of print, but back then it was one hundred sixty dollars which was a lot of money then.

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Steaks!

Welcome Dear Gentle Reader.

I love Steaks Wear.

Ever since I have been in contact with them and even met up with a seller of their wares in Finland at the Kallio Invitational, they have always been friendly and professional.

Why me to even be considered for their series of 1/1000 interviews? I consider this to be a very big honour.

O I may have been more than a tad effusive about the travels around the world in pursuit of derby and travel photography, and a liking for the green and white in a til I die type of way.

The interview.

Reflecting a little further on the sojourn to New Zealand, when Papercut or Cutty as we call her cued me into the Full Contact derby bootcamp was in the month of February, a bell rang inside. February! New Zealand! Summertime! I was so going to be there.

And this comes back to this wonderful video that sums up the life experiences on the road.

If anyone wants to help redesign my wordpress site here or my joemac.smugmug.com site feel free to contact me. Merci!

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Hello Hello! Magical Mystery Tour MAL 2835

Joe Mac's World

Hello hello!

Dont know why you say goodbye I say hello.

Don’t mind me.

I have not become a snob or a collector because who could afford that?

My way of lifestyle has been piqued by the monotheistic world of The Beatles in MONO. It may be paradoxical to have updated the stereo system to listen to mono channel recordings. However, with The Beatles it is an absolute pleasure to hear the imaging straight down the centre of the room as I listen. Those who have become accustomed to the way The Beatles sound in the stereo world, you may be in Country Style Donuts and their sound system may be on and you are sitting under a right speaker where all the instruments dwell, meanwhile Paul or George’s vocals are at the other end of the room coming out of a left speaker. Somewhere in between the window seat…

View original post 150 more words

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The Road Goes On and On – December 2018

We have come to the end of the Road for the year. It has been a long long road on this derby adventure. The last journey was a return to Iceland to photograph Team Ragnarok who invited TXRG’s Honky Tonk Heartbreakers! to Reykjavik. And a lot of long bus rides to new parts of Iceland we had not seen before. Can you say we ate fermented shark, and hot dogs and drank the Appelsin?
We have not put the camera down though, just looking for new things on the world stage. And finally getting to listen to all the music we have acquired from Reykjavik’s record stores and that is a good thing.
Anyone who wants to help me out and give a new look to this wordpress page and to my joemac.smugmug.com site please contact me!
Happy Holiday everyone!

  1. January 14, 2018 – Miracle Whips Bootcamp! – Kitchener, ON
    https://www.instagram.com/p/BeT2uEHnUMn/?taken-by=joe_mac22
  2. January 31, 2018 – Team Greece vs. Team Romania – EventCity Manchester, UK
  3. February 1-4, 2018 – RDWC 2018 – Manchester, UK – EventCity Manchester, UK
    https://www.instagram.com/p/BfdgjG3HRN1/?taken-by=joe_mac22
  4. February 6, 2018 – Southern Discomfort – London, UK
    20180206_204330_20180206_204330__DSC2024
  5. March 10, 2018 – Detroit Roller Derby Star Wars Bout – Cleveland Guardians vs. Detroit Riot / Red vs. Black All-Stars – Detroit Masonic Temple – Detroit, MI
  6. March 24, 2018 – Ann Arbor Derby Dimes AllStars vs. Lake Effect Furies – Buffalo Riverworks – Buffalo, NY
  7. April 7, 2018 – Tri-City Presents 10 Years of Derby – New Hamburg Arena – New Hamburg, ON
  8. April 14, 2018 – Detroit Roller Derby Season 13 Home Team Championship – D*Funk vs. Devil’s Night Dames – Detroit Masonic Temple – Detroit, MI
  9. April 21, 2018 – Queen City Rollergirls vs. Philly Liberty Belles – Riverworks – Buffalo, NY
  10. May 4-6, 2018 – Put Up Your Toques 2018 – Waterloo Memorial Rec Centre – Waterloo, ON
  11. May 12, 2018 – Detroit Roller Derby S13 G6 – Detroit Men’s Roller Derby vs. Cincinnati / Motor City Disassembly Line vs. Border City Brawlers – Masonic Temple – Detroit, MI
  12. May 25-27, 2018 – Royal Brawl 2018 – Guelph, ON
  13. June 9, 2018 – Queen City Rollergirls vs. Windy City – Buffalo, NY
  14. August 17-19, 2018 – 2018 WFTDA Continental Cup North Amerca East – Wings Event Center – Kalamazoo, MI
  15. September 13, 2018 – Team Ragnarok practice – Reykjavik, Iceland
  16. September 15, 2018 – Team Iceland vs. Texas Rollergirls Honky Tonk Heartbreakers – Alftanes, Iceland

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The Road Goes On and On – September 2018

It has been a long long road on this derby adventure. Just in: The land of ice and  snow Iceland beckoned us again and met up with the Honky Tonk Heartbreakers of Texas Rollergirls playing Team Ragnarok in Reykjavik.

(Previously On the Road: Love will tear us apart and The Factory. Back again to where the gods of Ragnarok play. Back to Canada for the ten years of derby home opener at Tri-City.  Then Detroit Roller Derby concludes the season with the home team Championship at Detroit Roller Derby. Just when we thought we were out, Ohio dragged us back into the playoffs.)

  1. January 14, 2018 – Miracle Whips Bootcamp! – Kitchener, ON
    https://www.instagram.com/p/BeT2uEHnUMn/?taken-by=joe_mac22
  2. January 31, 2018 – Team Greece vs. Team Romania – EventCity Manchester, UK
  3. February 1-4, 2018 – RDWC 2018 – Manchester, UK – EventCity Manchester, UK
    https://www.instagram.com/p/BfdgjG3HRN1/?taken-by=joe_mac22
  4. February 6, 2018 – Southern Discomfort – London, UK
    20180206_204330_20180206_204330__DSC2024
  5. March 10, 2018 – Detroit Roller Derby Star Wars Bout – Cleveland Guardians vs. Detroit Riot / Red vs. Black All-Stars – Detroit Masonic Temple – Detroit, MI
  6. March 24, 2018 – Ann Arbor Derby Dimes AllStars vs. Lake Effect Furies – Buffalo Riverworks – Buffalo, NY
  7. April 7, 2018 – Tri-City Presents 10 Years of Derby – New Hamburg Arena – New Hamburg, ON
  8. April 14, 2018 – Detroit Roller Derby Season 13 Home Team Championship – D*Funk vs. Devil’s Night Dames – Detroit Masonic Temple – Detroit, MI
  9. April 21, 2018 – Queen City Rollergirls vs. Philly Liberty Belles – Riverworks – Buffalo, NY
  10. May 4-6, 2018 – Put Up Your Toques 2018 – Waterloo Memorial Rec Centre – Waterloo, ON
  11. May 12, 2018 – Detroit Roller Derby S13 G6 – Detroit Men’s Roller Derby vs. Cincinnati / Motor City Disassembly Line vs. Border City Brawlers – Masonic Temple – Detroit, MI
  12. May 25-27, 2018 – Royal Brawl 2018 – Guelph, ON
  13. June 9, 2018 – Queen City Rollergirls vs. Windy City – Buffalo, NY
  14. August 17-19, 2018 – 2018 WFTDA Continental Cup North Amerca East – Wings Event Center – Kalamazoo, MI
  15. September 13, 2018 – Team Ragnarok practice – Reykjavik, Iceland
  16. September 15, 2018 – Team Iceland vs. Texas Rollergirls Honky Tonk Heartbreakers – Alftanes, Iceland

Featured

The Road Goes On and On – April 2018

It has been a long long road on this derby adventure. Back from the land where love will tear us apart and The Factory. Back again to where the gods of Ragnarok play. Back to Canada for the ten years of derby home opener at Tri-City.  Then Detroit Roller Derby concludes the season with the home team Championship at Detroit Roller Derby.

  1. January 14, 2018 – Miracle Whips Bootcamp! – Kitchener, ON
    https://www.instagram.com/p/BeT2uEHnUMn/?taken-by=joe_mac22
  2. February 1-4, 2018 – RDWC 2018 – Manchester, UK – EventCity Manchester, UK
    https://www.instagram.com/p/BfdgjG3HRN1/?taken-by=joe_mac22
  3. February 6, 2018 – Southern Discomfort – London, UK
    20180206_204330_20180206_204330__DSC2024
  4. February 1-4, 2018 – RDWC – EventCity – Manchester, UK
  5. March 10, 2018 – Detroit Roller Derby Star Wars Bout – Cleveland Guardians vs. Detroit Riot / Red vs. Black All-Stars – Detroit Masonic Temple – Detroit, MI
  6. March 24, 2018 – Ann Arbor Derby Dimes AllStars vs. Lake Effect Furies – Buffalo Riverworks – Buffalo, NY
  7. April 7, 2018 – Tri-City Presents 10 Years of Derby – New Hamburg Arena – New Hamburg, ON
  8. April 14, 2018 – Detroit Roller Derby Season 13 Home Team Championship – D*Funk vs. Devil’s Night Dames – Detroit Masonic Temple – Detroit, MI

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1970539786320621&set=a.1968789189829014.1073743835.100000938563177&type=3

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RDWC with Team Iceland

View this post on Instagram

Celebrating the points #teamiceland #teamragnarok

A post shared by Joe Mac (@joe_mac22) on

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The Road Goes On and On – August 2017

It has been a long road on this derby adventure. Been to the heights and to the vales. Been to where the One Ring rules them all. Been to where the gods of Ragnarok play.
And we are back in play. Pittsburgh and Ohio, thank you again. And kudos to Boston for bringing me in, too. One last time with Tri-City Roller Derby. Next stop, stay tuned.

  1. January 28, 2017 – Flat Track Brat Pack vs. Killer Cupcakes / Los Conos vs. Ganaraska Gravediggers – Ancaster Fairgrounds – Hamilton, ON[technical details: Two AB800, one White Lightning Ultra 1200, 5 TT5]

    20170128_172609_DSC_3602

    Flat Track Brat Pack vs. Killer Cupcakes

  2. February 4, 2017 – Detroit Roller Derby doubleheader – Devil’s Night Dames vs D-Funk AllStars / Detroit Pistoffs vs Grand Prix Madonnas – Masonic Temple – Detroit, MI[technical details: Two AB800, Nikon SB910, 4 TT5]

    20170204_184454_DSC_5322

    Guess who is getting married

  3. February 10, 2017 – Tri-City Junior Roller Derby

    20170210_211818_DSC_6879

    Behind the locker

    [technical details: Three E640, 3 TT5]

  4. February 27, 2017 – Flat Track Brat Pack vs. Killer Cupcakes / [Hamilton Area Roller Derby] Los Coños vs. [Northumberland] Ganaraska Gravediggers – Hamilton Area Roller Derby – Ancaster, Ontario

    20170128_152138_DSC_3143

    Killer Cupcakes

    Los Coños

  5. March 11, 2017 – Team Ragnarok [Roller Derby Iceland] vs. Los Coños – Reykjavik, Iceland

    20170311_163930__DSC1274

    Ragnarok

  6. March 18, 2017 – Detroit Roller Derby Championships – Cleveland Guardians vs. Detroit Men’s Roller Derby Riot / Detroit Pistoffs vs. D-Funk AllStars – Masonic Temple – Detroit, Michigan
  7. 2017 – Montreal New Skids on the Block vs. [Queen City Roller Derby] Lake Effect Furies – Riverworks – Buffalo, NY

  8. Skids vs. Furies

  9. April 8,  2017 – Tri-City Home Opener – [Tri-City Junior Roller Derby] Puppies vs. Kittens / Venus Fly Tramps vs. Vicious Dishes – New Hamburg Arena – New Hamburg, Ontario
    Puppies vs. Kittens

  10. April 21, 2017 – Hammer Area Roller Derby season closer – Ancaster, ON
  11. April 22, 2017 – Detroit Roller Derby Star Wars bout – Masonic Temple – Detroit, MI

    12. 20170422_174951_DSC_2143

  12. Burlington Toy Con – Burlington, ON [ not strictly derby but started with derby]

    13. https://joemac.smugmug.com/CanadianToycon

  13. May 6, 2017 – Winter Wipeout 2017 – Mount Forest, ON
  14. May 12-13, 2017 – Royal Brawl – Guelph, ON
  15. May 27-28, 2017 – 10th Anniversary Stockholm Roller Derby Extravaganza – Stockholm, Sweden20170528_111611__DSC9699
  16. June 3-4, 2017 – Kallio FINvitational Roller Derby Tournament – Pasila Sports Hall (UH & FIX Pasila) – Helsinki, Finland

  17. July 9, 2017 – Belleville Bombshells vs. Kingston Skateful Dead – Frankford, ON

  18. July 22, 2017 – Royal City vs. Tri-City Roller Derby – Centennial Arena – Guelph, ON
  19. August 18-20, 2017 – WFTDA D2 International Playoffs – Pittsburgh, PA
  20. October 14, 2017 – Tri-City Presents Venus Fly Tramps and Vicious Dish – New Hamburg Arena – New Hamburg, ON

    21. 20171014_181939_20171014_181939__DSC2238

  21. October 21, 2017 – Planet Derby Training Camp – Kitchener, ON

    22. 20171021_122019__DSC4591

Featured

The Road Goes On and On – June 2017

It has been a long road on this derby adventure. Been to the heights and to the vales. Been to where the One Ring rules them all. Been to where the gods of Ragnarok play.

    1. January 28, 2017 – Flat Track Brat Pack vs. Killer Cupcakes / Los Conos vs. Ganaraska Gravediggers – Ancaster Fairgrounds – Hamilton, ON[technical details: Two AB800, one White Lightning Ultra 1200, 5 TT5]

      20170128_172609_DSC_3602

      Flat Track Brat Pack vs. Killer Cupcakes

    2. February 4, 2017 – Detroit Roller Derby doubleheader – Devil’s Night Dames vs D-Funk AllStars / Detroit Pistoffs vs Grand Prix Madonnas – Masonic Temple – Detroit, MI[technical details: Two AB800, Nikon SB910, 4 TT5]

      20170204_184454_DSC_5322

      Guess who is getting married

    3. February 10, 2017 – Tri-City Junior Roller Derby

      20170210_211818_DSC_6879

      Behind the locker

      [technical details: Three E640, 3 TT5]

    4. February 27, 2017 – Flat Track Brat Pack vs. Killer Cupcakes / [Hamilton Area Roller Derby] Los Coños vs. [Northumberland] Ganaraska Gravediggers – Hamilton Area Roller Derby – Ancaster, Ontario

      20170128_152138_DSC_3143

      Killer Cupcakes

      20170227_203117_DSC_7984

      Los Coños

    5. March 11, 2017 – Team Ragnarok [Roller Derby Iceland] vs. Los Coños – Reykjavik, Iceland

      20170311_163930__DSC1274

      Ragnarok

    6. March 18, 2017 – Detroit Roller Derby Championships – Cleveland Guardians vs. Detroit Men’s Roller Derby Riot / Detroit Pistoffs vs. D-Funk AllStars – Masonic Temple – Detroit, Michiganhttps://photos.smugmug.com/Detroit-Roller-Derby-Championshi/Detroit-Pistoffs-vs-D-Funk-AllSt/i-Jm7Qnj9/0/M/20170318_213335__DSC5137-M.jpg
    7. March 25, 2017 – Montreal New Skids on the Block vs. [Queen City Roller Derby] Lake Effect Furies – Riverworks – Buffalo, NY

      Skids vs. Furies

      Librawlian

    8.  April 8,  2017 – Tri-City Home Opener – [Tri-City Junior Roller Derby] Puppies vs. Kittens / Venus Fly Tramps vs. Vicious Dishes – New Hamburg Arena – New Hamburg, Ontario Puppies vs. KittensKittens vs. Puppies
    9. April 21, 2017 – Hammer Area Roller Derby season closer – Ancaster, ON
    10. April 22, 2017 – Detroit Roller Derby Star Wars bout – Masonic Temple – Detroit, MI
      https://joemac.smugmug.com/Detroit-Roller-Derby/Star-Wars-bout-April-22-2017/i-Kcs9xg7
    11. Burlington Toy Con – Burlington, ON [ not strictly derby but started with derby]
      https://joemac.smugmug.com/CanadianToycon/i-zWzFT4c/A
    12. May 6, 2017 – Winter Wipeout 2017 – Mount Forest, ON
    13. May 12-13, 2017 – Royal Brawl – Guelph, ON
    14. May 27-28, 2017 – 10th Anniversary Stockholm Roller Derby Extravaganza – Stockholm, Sweden20170528_111611__DSC9699
    15. June 3-4, 2017 – Kallio FINvitational Roller Derby Tournament – Pasila Sports Hall (UH & FIX Pasila) – Helsinki, Finlandhttps://joemac.smugmug.com/Kallio-FINvitational-2017/KFI-9/i-5ms8wJt/A

    This is a wee reminder of the video we were allowed to shoot last year with our band Paint.

    Canada Day approaches

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGcC2kn4qgU

Featured

The Road Goes On and On – May 2017

It has been a long road on this derby adventure. Been to the heights and to the vales. Been to where the One Ring rules them all. Been to where the gods of Ragnarok play.

    1. January 28, 2017 – Flat Track Brat Pack vs. Killer Cupcakes / Los Conos vs. Ganaraska Gravediggers – Ancaster Fairgrounds – Hamilton, ON[technical details: Two AB800, one White Lightning Ultra 1200, 5 TT5]

      20170128_172609_DSC_3602

      Flat Track Brat Pack vs. Killer Cupcakes

    2. February 4, 2017 – Detroit Roller Derby doubleheader – Devil’s Night Dames vs D-Funk AllStars / Detroit Pistoffs vs Grand Prix Madonnas – Masonic Temple – Detroit, MI[technical details: Two AB800, Nikon SB910, 4 TT5]

      20170204_184454_DSC_5322

      Guess who is getting married

    3. February 10, 2017 – Tri-City Junior Roller Derby

      20170210_211818_DSC_6879

      Behind the locker

      [technical details: Three E640, 3 TT5]

    4. February 27, 2017 – Flat Track Brat Pack vs. Killer Cupcakes / [Hamilton Area Roller Derby] Los Coños vs. [Northumberland] Ganaraska Gravediggers – Hamilton Area Roller Derby – Ancaster, Ontario

      20170128_152138_DSC_3143

      Killer Cupcakes

      20170227_203117_DSC_7984

      Los Coños

    5. March 11, 2017 – Team Ragnarok [Roller Derby Iceland] vs. Los Coños – Reykjavik, Iceland

      20170311_163930__DSC1274

      Ragnarok

    6. March 18, 2017 – Detroit Roller Derby Championships – Cleveland Guardians vs. Detroit Men’s Roller Derby Riot / Detroit Pistoffs vs. D-Funk AllStars – Masonic Temple – Detroit, Michiganhttps://photos.smugmug.com/Detroit-Roller-Derby-Championshi/Detroit-Pistoffs-vs-D-Funk-AllSt/i-Jm7Qnj9/0/M/20170318_213335__DSC5137-M.jpg
    7. March 25, 2017 – Montreal New Skids on the Block vs. [Queen City Roller Derby] Lake Effect Furies – Riverworks – Buffalo, NY

      Skids vs. Furies

      Librawlian

    8.  April 8,  2017 – Tri-City Home Opener – [Tri-City Junior Roller Derby] Puppies vs. Kittens / Venus Fly Tramps vs. Vicious Dishes – New Hamburg Arena – New Hamburg, Ontario Puppies vs. KittensKittens vs. Puppies
    9. April 21, 2017 – Hammer Area Roller Derby season closer – Ancaster, ON
    10. April 22, 2017 – Detroit Roller Derby Star Wars bout – Masonic Temple – Detroit, MI
    11. Burlington Toy Con – Burlington, ON [ not strictly derby but started with derby]
    12. May 6, 2017 – Winter Wipeout 2017 – Mount Forest, ON
    13. May 12-13, 2017 – Royal Brawl – Guelph, ON
    14. May 27-28, 2017 – 10th Anniversary Stockholm Roller Derby Extravaganza – Stockholm, Sweden
    15. June 3-4, 2017 – Kallio FINvitational Roller Derby Tournament – Kallio, Finland

    This is a wee reminder of the video we were allowed to shoot last year with our band Paint.

Featured

The Road Goes On and On – April 2017

It has been a long road on this derby adventure. Been to the heights and to the vales. Been to where the One Ring rules them all. Been to where the gods of Ragnarok play.

  1. January 28, 2017 – Flat Track Brat Pack vs. Killer Cupcakes / Los Conos vs. Ganaraska Gravediggers – Ancaster Fairgrounds – Hamilton, ON[technical details: Two AB800, one White Lightning Ultra 1200, 5 TT5]

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    Flat Track Brat Pack vs. Killer Cupcakes
  2. February 4, 2017 – Detroit Roller Derby doubleheader – Devil’s Night Dames vs D-Funk AllStars / Detroit Pistoffs vs Grand Prix Madonnas – Masonic Temple – Detroit, MI[technical details: Two AB800, Nikon SB910, 4 TT5]

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    Guess who is getting married
  3. February 10, 2017 – Tri-City Junior Roller Derby

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    Behind the locker

    [technical details: Three E640, 3 TT5]

  4. February 27, 2017 – Flat Track Brat Pack vs. Killer Cupcakes / [Hamilton Area Roller Derby] Los Coños vs. [Northumberland] Ganaraska Gravediggers – Hamilton Area Roller Derby – Ancaster, Ontario

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    Killer Cupcakes

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    Los Coños
  5. March 11, 2017 – Team Ragnarok [Roller Derby Iceland] vs. Los Coños – Reykjavik, Iceland

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    Ragnarok
  6. March 18, 2017 – Detroit Roller Derby Championships – Cleveland Guardians vs. Detroit Men’s Roller Derby Riot / Detroit Pistoffs vs. D-Funk AllStars – Masonic Temple – Detroit, Michigan
    https://photos.smugmug.com/Detroit-Roller-Derby-Championshi/Detroit-Pistoffs-vs-D-Funk-AllSt/i-Jm7Qnj9/0/M/20170318_213335__DSC5137-M.jpg
  7. March 25, 2017 – Montreal New Skids on the Block vs. [Queen City Roller Derby] Lake Effect Furies – Riverworks – Buffalo, NY

    Skids vs. Furies
    Librawlian
  8.  April 8,  2017 – Tri-City Home Opener – [Tri-City Junior Roller Derby] Puppies vs. Kittens / Venus Fly Tramps vs. Vicious Dishes – New Hamburg Arena – New Hamburg, Ontario

    Puppies vs. Kittens
    Kittens vs. Puppies

This is a wee reminder of the video we were allowed to shoot last year with our band Paint.

Featured

Welcome to 2016

This video embodies all that was Auckland and living out of that apartment in Otahuhu way on the outskirts and in the wrong direction from Henderson. It was a rush.

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2015 was a good year. But what lies ahead?

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CN Power at Quad City Chaos 2016 – Toronto, ON

Welcome to the New Year.

The derby road show goes on and on. After all the great food of Milwaukee at Midwest BrewHaHa, can you say mac and cheese pizza and George Webb hash brown omelet, we headed to Feasterville which is somewhere near Philadelphia for the pool party that is East Coast Derby Extravaganza 2016. Next up: Men’s Roller Derby World Cup in Calgary, Alberta! shooting for Team France! [vive la France!] and Team Canada, eh?

Update! October 11, 2016. After the ride to Lansing, Michigan to shoot the D2 Playoffs for Tri-City Thunder and Calgary Roller Derby, it’s been the month of travel in September, taking the train to Montreal. Flying to Vancouver to shoot on behalf of VRDL, then back to Toronto then heading out to Madison to shoot for the Ohio Roller Derby in Wisconsin. The 2016 WFTDA International Playoffs are concluded thankfully, and the 2016 WFTDA Championships are ahead in November!

  1. January 20, 2016 – London – Forest City Derby Girls – Western Fairgrounds, Canada Building
  2. January 23, 2016 – Toronto – Toronto Roller Derby Season Opener
    Gore Gore Rollergirls vs. Smoke City Betties/ Chicks Ahoy! vs. Death Track Dolls
    – The Bunker – Parc Downsview Park, Ontario, Canada
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  3. February 6-8, 2016 – FULL CONTACT CONVENTION 2016 – ASB Stadium – Auckland, New Zealand —
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  4. February 10, 2016 – Auckland Roller Derby vs. Pirate City Rollers B – Auckland, New Zealand
    *20160210_DSC_0259_202906
  5. February 14-15, 2016 – BATTLE ON THE BENT TRACK – Henderson Stadium – Auckland, New Zealand
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  6. February 29, 2016 – Tri-City Roller Derby / Royal City Brute-Leggers vs. Tri-City Roller Derby scrimmage – Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
    ©copyright 2016 midnight matinee
  7. March 5, 2016 – Rideau Valley Sirens vs. Capital City Dollinquents / Rideau Valley Vixens vs. Capital City Dolly Rogers – Jean Marc Lalonde Arena – Rockland, Ontario, Canada
  8. March 19-20, 2016 – QUAD CITY CHAOS – The Bunker, Parc Downsview Park, Ontario
  9. April 3, 2016 – 2016 Peach Cup – Los Conos vs. Molotov Girls – Ancaster Fairgrounds – Hamilton, Ontario
    20160403_181217_DSC_1262
  10. April 9, 2016 – Tri-City Home Opener – Killer Cupcakes vs. Tri-City Junior Roller Derby / Venus Fly Tramps vs. Vicious Dishes – New Hamburg Arena – New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada
    20160409_195813_DSC_3459
  11. April 23-24, 2016 – Beast of the East 2016 – Arena St-Louis – Montreal, PQ
  12. April 30, 2016 – Tri-City Thunder vs. Ohio Roller Derby All-Stars / Tri-City Plan B vs. Ohio Gang Green – Ohio Expo Center – Columbus, OH
  13. May 1, 2016 – Tri-City vs. Detroit Derby Girls – Masonic Temple – Detroit, MI
  14. May 13-15, 2016 – Beaver Fever 2016 – Waterloo Memorial Arena – Waterloo, ON
  15. May 28, 2016 – Tri-City Roller Derby Juniors – Kitties vs. Puppies / Royal City Killer Queen vs. Tri-City Vicious Dishes
  16. June 3-5, 2016 – MidWest Brew Ha Ha 2016 – UWM Panther Arena – Milwaukee, WI
  17. June 17-19, 2016 – East Coast Derby Extravaganza – The Sportsplex – Feasterville, PA
    Pirate City Rollers [from Auckland, New Zealand] in America at ECDX 2016
  18. July 16, 2016 -Vicious Dishes vs. Violet Uprising / Venus Fly Tramps vs. Killer Queens – Exhibition Arena – Guelph, ON
  19. July 21-24, 2016 – Men’s Roller Derby World Cup – Calgary, AB
    20160721_091018_DSC_7438
  20. August 6, 2016 – RVRG Home Team Championship – Slaughter Daughters vs. Riot Squad – Ottawa, ON
  21. August 13-14, 2016 – O-Town Throwdown – Jack Charron Arena – Ottawa, ON
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  22. August 20, 2016 – South Simcoe Rebel Rollers Sibling Rivalry 3 – Boneyard Betties vs. Ghoul Guides / Orangeville Misfit Militia vs. Toronto Outrage – Hollie Rec Centre – Barrie, ON
  23. August 26-28, 2016 – WFTDA 2016 International Playoffs D2 Lansing
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  24. September 2-4, 2016 – WFTDA 2016 International Playoffs D1 Montreal
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  25. September 14-16, 2016 – WFTDA 2016 International Playoffs D1 Vancouver
  26. September 21-23, 2016 – WFTDA 2016 International Playoffs D1 Madison
  27. November 4-6, 2016 – WFTDA 2016 International Championships Portland
  28. November 27, 2016 – Toronto Junior Roller Derby

We also got called upon to shoot a video for the Toronto based band Paint, something we have not done for a long time. The event was celebrated for the birthday of the Paint lead singer at Horseshoe Tavern on January 28, 2016. You can watch the video on YouTube on the link below.

Kind of rumours

ramblings on music and night out

To sum it up, we heard Fleetwood Mac. It was Rumours and Fleetwood Mac albums in a well presented offering – not track by track listing but a performance. We were front stage with camera and soon the floor in front of the stage was packed with the fans and fanatics – a very stylish crowd and a crazy element crowd – young and old-er.- drinking Labatt 50 and various shots – or even have the Labatt 50 bottle tip over and pour on the set list.  

    It was not a staged show or recreated musicians, it is about the music, the songs and the musicianship. Tommy Youngsteen brought the music to the forefront. Naturally the classic version of this band still requires the Christie McVie and the Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham vocalists and gutarists, and the John McVie bass with a whole range of musicians to cover the keyboards and Mick Fleetwood drum and percussion, and without spoiling things for future audiences, it is a night of Fleetwood Mac. The headline of the show is Tommy Young presents Fleetwood Mac Rumours. So would it be a track by track rendition of Rumours in the line of Classic Albums presents? A musician friend of mine tells me to play a part in the Classic Albums shows that are performed at Massey Hall or Roy Thomson Hall requires A grade musicians. With Tommy Youngsteen and friends probably not considering the rental of a Massey Hall this time around, the night turns out to be a rock concert of Fleetwood Mac Rumours.

    Can you imagine a world where there were other such groups who would perform the music of bands, maybe even the Beatles or the Rolling Stones or Pink Floyd, or even King Crimson ? at a club or a polished venue ? and people would have a good time ? and would pay $30 for a ticket to hear the music ?  Is this even possible ? 

    Can you conceive of a band that would play The Eagles ? How much would an audience pay ?  

    Kind of a rainy afternoon with Simone

    quick impressions of music

    Simone. Kopmajer. An Austrian chanteuse with a cool style. She reaches the in-crowd that extends internationally from Europe to the UK to the United States to Japan and south east Asia including Thailand. Her SACD are on a Japanese label VENUS alongside other releases on CD on various labels. In her albums such as “My Favorite Songs” (which is her version of her hand picked greatest hits album) to “Christmas” (including Christmas time songs such as “Santa Baby” alongside carols sung in English and German), Simone sings in a boppy Marilyn manner with a Dionne Warwick tinge that would not be out of place alongside the canon of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. On other albums that cover the gamut of rock and popular, she has innovative approaches that can be quiet and intimate, bluesy or very swinging with the with it band. The talent on her discs are high calibre musicians that propel or indulge her as she engages with contemporary covers, classical songs and jazz standards with even a bit of Marvin Gaye. Her catalogue is worth the hunt as many of the titles are scarce or out of print.

    Kind of au clair d’angel

    some impressions of music

    Angel Ciair
    Art Garfunkel

    There was a lot on the line when Art Garfunkel was coming out with his first solo album.

    ANGEL CLARE
    LP KC 31474 (1973) STEREO/CQ 31474 QUADRAPHONIC


    1: TRAVELING BOY (Williams; Nichols)
    2: DOWN IN THE WILLOW GARDEN (Monroe)
    3: I SHALL SING (Van Morrison)
    4: OLD MAN (Newman)
    5: FEUILLES-OH (Trad) – DO SPACE MEN PASS DEAD SOULS ON THEIR WAY TO THE MOON? (J. S. Bach; Grossman)
    6: ALL I KNOW (Webb)
    7: MARY WAS AN ONLY CHILD (Hammond; Hazlewood; Milchberg)
    8: WOYAYA (Amarfio; Osei; Tontoh; Bedeau; Richardson; Amao; Bailey)
    9: BARBARA ALLEN (Trad)
    10: ANOTHER LULLABY (Webb)

    Art Garfunkel (vocals)
    Larry Knechtel, Michael Omartian (keyboards)
    Louie Shelton, Larry Carlton, Dean Parks (guitars)
    Joe Osborn (bass)
    Hal Blaine, Jim Gordon (drums)

    Other musicians:
    J. J. Cale, Fred Carter, Jerry Garcia, Paul Simon (guitars)
    Carl Radle (bass)
    Tommy Tedesco (mandolin/bouzouki)
    Jules Broussard, Jack Schroer (saxophones)
    Jorge Milchberg (charango)
    Stuart Canin (violin)
    Milt Holland (percussion)
    Dorothy Morrison, Sally Stevens, Jackie Ward & St. Mary’s Choir (vocals)

    Remastered from the original analogue tapes by Michael J. Dutton

    The feel of the album is a voyage through time. Traveling Boy. Mary was an only child. Old Man from Randy Newman. The renaissance nature of Feuilles-on.

    The calibre of musicians involved with the creation of this album is jaw-dropping. The names from the Wrecking Crew abound.

    What drew me to acquiring this on SACD was the early foray into the SACD world and the modest price of the album. As a fan of Garfunkel with Paul Simon and owning a few of their albums along with solo recordings, I looked forward to hearing the voice of Garfunkel through SACD.

    The most familiar track All I Know starts with a slow build and then absolutely soars. The moment did not let me down and for this makes the whole experience worthwhile.