From The Start

Urban Blight - London, Ontario 2011

2012-01-12T22:37:00.003-05:00

Aug.22.2010 - Wilkes-Barre, PA

2010-12-18T11:43:00.002-05:00

Free Spirit:

The Rival Mob:

Aug.21.2010 Anchors Up - Haverhill, MA

2010-11-27T11:37:00.004-05:00

ON:

Get The Most:

Mindset:

Hands Tied:

April.12.2010 Horseshoe Tavern. Toronto

2010-11-20T09:25:00.002-05:00

March.25.2010 @ Sneaky Dee's

2010-06-16T21:57:00.003-04:00

Mad Men:

Slaughter Strike: (photos taken by MTM)

Feb.27.2010 @ Siesta Nouveaux pt.2

2010-03-31T18:09:00.004-04:00

The Rival Mob:

Feb.27.2010 @ Siesta Nouveaux pt.1

2010-03-03T17:46:00.004-05:00

GIVE:

Lion Of Judah:

My Rival Mob Photos are on a different roll. I will post them once they are developed.

Feb.26.2010 @ Opera House

2010-03-03T17:39:00.004-05:00

GIVE:

Total Trash @ the after party:

Feb.20.2010 @ 225 Sterling

2010-03-03T17:35:00.003-05:00

Mature Situations:

Feb.22.2010 @ Poor Alex Theater

2010-03-03T17:28:00.004-05:00

Trapped Under Ice:

Jan.22.2010 @ Poor Alex Theater

2010-02-06T13:16:00.005-05:00

Total Trash:

Urban Blight:

Career Suicide:

Urban Blight in NYC & Columbus, OH

2010-01-30T12:33:00.007-05:00

Updates have been few and far between but here are some pics from 2 different weekends that I got to go out on the road with Urban Blight. First was a weekend trip to Boston and NYC to play shows with Force Fed and Waste Management. Second was to Columbus and Chicago. My camera batteries died so I was not able to take any pics in Chicago.

In Burlington waiting to get picked up
Practice In Derrick's Basement the night before Boston
On the way to Boston we saw this on the road and then he was at the next rest stop
In Boston
Showed up in NYC early to go shopping parked near The Cake Shop and peaked our heads in

The Cake Shop - Urban Blight

After the gig we did some sight seeing as I have never been to NYC before first stop Time Square
Then Grand Central Station

Columbus

This blog will be getting updated more often with Live photos and just things that I see around town.

More Reality

2009-05-10T14:58:00.003-04:00

The UB record release show last night was a blast. All the bands where really good. Keep an eye open for a Live cassette tape with sets from Bad Choice, Omegas, Mad Men, Waste Management and Urban Blight on More The Merrier Records.

Here is the whole More Reality collection test press, 100 on gold, black vinyl white label and black vinyl black label.

Slaughter Strike

2009-03-22T18:01:00.005-04:00

Last night Slaughter Strike ripped Rancho Relaxo a new a-hole. I am super excited to see and hear more from them.

This sticker has been on a pole at Nassau and Augusta for years now. Ive heard when Panic or American Nightmare played Who's Emma somone threw it up on a pole around there. Ive been meaning to take a pic of it for ever.

Unseen Zero Tolerance, Shelter photos I stumbled across..

2009-03-11T23:13:00.008-04:00

The other day at work I was jamming YOT - CCME and Dave who I work with that is in a different dept as me walks thou the room and asks me if this its YOT that I am listen to. I knew he was and is still into punk and that he grew up in the 80's in Thunder Bay. he launches into a story about how he went down to Orlando, FL with his parents in 1991 to see lollapalooza and was skating around town and saw a flyer for a Shelter show w/ Green Day opening and being into YOT he went to check out the show. he said he took some photos of Shelter with a disposable camera and would look to see if he had them kicking around. Turns out there was a Zero Tolerance pic he took and forgot about.

All Photos by Dave Binette:

Zero Tolerance:

Shelter:

The Flyer from the show:

Arsenio Vs. Jason

2009-02-23T23:46:00.000-05:00

More from the first show.

2009-02-14T11:42:00.004-05:00

I have been slacking with making posts on the blog. Here is the full set from Bad Choice's first set. We also have 2 more shows coming up March 23rd w/ Have Heart, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice @ The Adrift Clubhouse and March 27th w/ Bored Stiff @ Annie's.

First Show

2009-01-11T23:17:00.003-05:00

First song from Friday night at the Adrift Clubhouse. More videos to come in the next couple weeks from a couple different sources.

Bad Choice @ Adrift Clubhouse 01/09/09 from Brandon DeMarco on Vimeo.
Video Filmed by Brandon DeMarco.

Bad Choice

2009-01-03T14:26:00.005-05:00

Next weekend Bad Choice is finally playing shows. Its been 3 years in the making. Come out and support.

Toronto:

Montreal:

Coptic Times

2008-12-08T19:12:00.003-05:00

A interview that I did with Matt Jackson of Coptic Times has been posted at : http://stuckinthecity.wordpress.com/2008/12/08/matt-jackson-of-coptic-times/ check it out!

Oct. 05 . 2008

2008-10-05T14:59:00.003-04:00

There was a record show in Toronto last weekend and picked up some ok records. I got 5 hot water music 7"s for $20 they are all second presses on black. in this pick there is:

Hot Water Music - Alachua
Hot Water Music - you can take the boy out of the bradenton
Hot Water Music - Moments Pass b/w another way
Hot Water Music - where we belong / moonpies for misfits
Also at picked up the Rammer split 7". Judge NY crew later press on rev. for some reason I sold my first press ny crew on rev and I've regreted it ever since. also got the Awake! - Belifes 7" and hot water music / rydell split 7".
To be honest Im not a huge fan of this record. For one JJ is not on vocals. Harley does a decent job but lets be honest its not the cro mags without JJ singing. The first 2 times that I saw the cro-mags it was with harley singing and I was not that impressed by the band at all. I did not really know cro mags at all thou and did not get why everyone loved them so much. I did not even know they had a different singer. About 3 years later they came back and played with No Warning I was shocked it was the same band they blew me away and I've been a fan ever since. There are some great tracks on this LP and the cover art is stunning. It was worth the $10 I spend to get it I dont think i would have spend anymore on it thou.

The Ergs!

2008-09-28T10:52:00.002-04:00

The Ergs! are finally making there way to Toronto. The Venue just good booked and a flyer was drawn up last night by Steve Moshgrave. This is going to be one of the best shows in Toronto this year. Come Out!

Sept. 12. 2008

2008-09-12T23:45:00.002-04:00

I've been reading a couple blogs in the last week or so that have inspired this post. I am going to take the blog into the same direction but also keep up some trip stories and old zine stuff. I'm just going to post pics and talk about some records that I've picked up once I get new records and post some pics of collections I'm working on and such.

In the last week I picked up a couple LP's and 7"s that I have wanted for a bit now at Rotate. First off is:
Supertouch - What Did We Learn? 7" Combined Effort #6
It honestly took me forever to get into Supertouch. The only song I really knew was Searching For the Light that was on the Way It Is comp and I knew from Mental covering it once and a while. In the last month or so It just struck me. This 7" has the best selection of songs from the band. Other then the comp song of course.
I cant find much pressing info about the record online. The back cover is printed upside down. I'm not sure if every copy of the press is like that or not? Anyone know any info about this?

I also picked up 7 Seconds - Skins Brains & Guts E.P. on Pazzafist records. This is the second Time I have owned this record I bought it in 1999 and was not that into it. I sold it shortly after and kinda regreted it. I'm glad to have come across it again. Moondog demo 7"- bootleg. This is a wally project that I belive was before GB got together. It has 4 tracks on it. I really dont know much about it. The tracks from this where on the wally sings the hits cd and I remember that they where ok so I picked up the 7". Screeching Weasel - Radioblast - Underdog Records one of the best pop punk bands of all time. This came out in early 90's I'm not that familar with the songs but it says it was limmited to 2000 copys and came out in 1993. And the last 7" for the week was the Desperate Measures - It's On Your Hands 7" on Youngblood Records - Clear vinyl. I still have not been able to listen to this band since summer 2004 but they where one of my faveorite bands at the time. I just wanted to pick it up to possibly trade away if anyone is interested.

New York Hardcore - Where The Wild Things Are... - Link Records (UK Press)
This might be the best NYHC comp ever. It is the only record that you can hear the best Outbust song writen and has every essential NYHC band from the period on it. Outburst, Raw Deal, Life's Blood, Breakdown, Sheer Terror, Maximum Penalty, Uppercut and Gorilla Biscuits. I have no idea why it took me so long to get this record. I guess I was waiting for an older press to cross my path and it just did.
Slapshot - Step On It - Taang! - Green Vinyl
This is another band that it took me a while to get into. Im still not that crazy about them yet. I mean I like them just never really gave them a fair listen. what better way then picking up there records? It also has one of the best covers I've seen on a LP in a long time.

Youngblood Records

2008-08-24T21:34:00.005-04:00

As I said in a previous post. I am going to be posting interviews that I have done for FTS issue #3 that never came up. This time I interview Sean Youngblood about life and such. This Interview was done in the summer of 2006 so it might sound a bit out dated.

Looking back and reading the interview I wish I would have done the interview over the phone or even on aim and followed up on questions that I asked and where Sean took the questions and just went deeper with topics. Maybe look for an updated Interview for Stuck In The City blog in the future.

Check out the new Coptic Times “Temptation” and Police & Thieves “Amor y Guerra 7"s that came out a couple months back! Also keep and eye open for a Coptic Times Interview that is being done by your very own for SITC in the next couple weeks (i hope). For more info about Youngblood Records click http://www.youngblood-records.com Thanks so much to Sean for doing this. I'm sorry it took so long for it to see the light of day.

Rick

Who are you and why did you start Youngblood Records?
My name is Sean. Almost 10 years ago Joe Onlife, Straight Tait and I started the label out of love for hardcore. We started right around when the whole youth crew revival was taking off. That was a great time for hardcore and luckily Rancor needed a label. Since then, I’ve taken over running the label with Joe and Tait’s blessing but friends, family and the Youngblood bands all help out.

How did you get into hardcore and punk?
I got into hardcore/punk pretty young. I think I was 11 when I got Dead Kennedys “Bedtime For Democracy” on tape. I distinctly remember sitting in class during 6th grade and me and my friend Joey Seda passing a walkman back and forth with that tape in it. I was 12 when I went to my first show in 1989 which was The Undead, Onlife & Transmission.

Skateboarding was my gateway to punk/hardcore. All it took was seeing a few Black Flag or Misfits stickers on the bottom of some decks in Thrasher and I needed to know more. The rest, as they say, is history.

I know you have been going to shows for a while now. What keeps you interested in hardcore with so many mediocre bands that are around these days?

For some reason I’ve never gotten sick of it. I’m a lot less tolerant of the bullshit and mediocrity in hardcore but there are enough positives to keep me around. I also think that there are bands around today that are just as good as any of the classics.

What is getting alot of play in your stereo lately?
Honestly, the Iron Age LP gets a ton of play on the stereo for sure. For about two months it was almost literally the only thing I listened to. Other records I’ve been listening to a lot: Spacehorse 12”, Wrangler Brutes LP, Welcome To Venice compilation, LOJ “Soul Power + 4” 12”.
Sean with Iron Age On the NYC subway.

What has been going on in YBHQ in the last 2 years? The only thing that has come out has been the Lights Out LP?
Um…what? Haha. The following records have come out since April, 2004:
YB-18 Our Turn “Catch Your Breath” 7”/MCD
YB-20 Lights Out “Overload” LP/CD
YB-22 Worn Thin “Long Road Ahead” 12”
YB-23 Iron Age “Constant Struggle” LP/CD
YB-5 Carry On “It’s All Our Blood” CD Re-issue
YB-12 Knockdown Discography CD
The following records are coming soon:
Fired Up 7”/MCD
Lion Of Judah LP/CD
Set To Explode 7”/MCD
Plus two EPs that I can’t mention yet! You can expect most of this stuff to be released in 2006. Also in the works are Rancor and Bladecrasher discographies.

I know you got married and have a child how has this changed your lifestyle and your outlook on hardcore?
Being married and having a kid definitely makes it harder to get out to shows as much as I’d like. There are plenty of times when I’ve been driving to a show in DC or somewhere and I’m thinking about something at home that I should probably be taking care of instead of traveling to a show. I love hardcore and I love going to shows so I think I’ve found a good balance in dividing my time between my family and hanging out.
Obviously family comes first and gets most of my time but I manage make it out to at least 2 shows a month. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve know plenty of dudes who dropped out of hardcore the moment they started getting responsibilities and it totally doesn’t have to be like that.

What are your top 5 hardcore albums of all time and your top 5 current hardcore bands?
Man this is always a hard question to answer. I’ll list my favorite 80’s records:

Misfits “Walk Among Us”
Negative Approach “Tied Down”
Uniform Choice “Screaming For Change”
Minor Threat “Out Of Step”
Abused “Loud And Clear”
Top five current hardcore bands:

Lights Out
Iron Age
Lion Of Judah
Fired Up
Set To Explode

Notice something in common with these bands? Other great bands: The First Step, Police & Thieves, Mind Eraser, Bitter End, Fucked Up, Betrayed, Cloak Dagger, Justice, Icepick (Europe), etc, etc.

What has been your favorite release you have done and why?
My standard answer used to be Lifes Halt “We Sold Our Souls” 7” but Carry On “The Line Is Drawn”, Desperate Measures “It’s On Your Hands” 7”, Lights Out “Overload” LP and Iron Age “Constant Struggle” LP are all up there with Lifes Halt.

Is there any record you have done or layout you where just not happy with? what one and why?
The Touch Down 7” is the only thing that I kinda am not happy with. I always loved Touch Down but while working on this 7”, I came to realize that the past is the past and I’m way more interested in releasing what’s going on today. There are far too many great bands happening right now for me to consider doing more archival releases. Luckily the Touch Down 7” came out on Youngblood Vaults and not on Youngblood proper so I can still say that I stand behind everything that’s ever come out on Youngblood. Malfunction (who we released the Touch Down 7” with) was great to work with so no complaints there.

It seems like every other kid out there is doing a label and getting bands to do records before they are even established what do you think of that? And what sets you apart?
All I can say is that not every band that has thrown together a demo deserves to be released. Our rule is that we don’t release anything unless we can totally stand behind it. I put a lot of thought into a potential release before it gets the go-ahead.

Have there any bands what you wish you got to work with and it just could not be worked out?
We worked with both bands but I really wish the Carry On/Striking Distance 7” would have happened. It was planned to be released on Youngblood and Carry On even recorded for the split but it never saw the light of day. In fact, the Carry On tracks that were recorded were literally thrown out. According to Todd Jones, the tracks weren’t up to snuff so he threw master away. Maybe he still has the masters and doesn’t want the tracks getting out? Much love to Todd and the rest of Carry On.

If you had a time machine and used it just to sign bands to YB where would you go and what bands would you want to release?
That gets back to the whole Youngblood Vaults thing and how I’ve abandoned that whole idea. It’s all about the NOW but it certainly wouldn’t suck to be able to say that Youth Of Today or The Abused were on the label.

We all know you as Sean Youngblood but what else do you do other then the label?
I guess you could say I live a pretty adult life. A house, a wife, a kid. Despite this, you’ll never find me doing the following: golfing, sitting around and watching sports, hanging out at bars. Hardcore and punk has had the biggest impact on me will affect the way I live until the day I die. I also plan on being Straight Edge and vegetarian forever.

Sean and Joe At Sean's Weeding.

I’m into running, skateboarding, hanging out with friends & movies. Although I don’t have much time to watch, I’m into 70’s and 80’s horror, euro trash & exploitation movies. Films from directors like Jean Rollin, Ruggero Deodato, Umberto Lenzi and the like. If I had the time I’d watch tons of movies.
I have a full-time job at a newspaper but somehow I’ve figured out how to steal time every day so I can run the label. By the way my son’s name is Kenavan and he is a year old.

Have you ever thought of doing Youngblood fulltime or do you think it will ever be possible?
I’d love to do the label full time but I don’t see it happening because there would be too many concessions to make. The type of bands we release and the way we present the label would have to change and that would suck so I’m not quitting my day job. If by some strange turn of events the type of music YB releases got bigger, I’d see nothing wrong with making a living off the label as long as the ethics stayed the same.

Any final thoughts for the readers?
Thanks for the interview Rick! Maybe I’ll see you at some shows or fests sometime this summer?
Shout outs to From The Start Zine, Grave Mistake, Malfunction, Mind Eraser, Carlos and Police and Thieves, Champion Ship Record Store and Venue (best venue on the east coast), my wife Theresa, Carl Cordova, Joe Onlife, Straight Tait, Quentin, Collapse Records, Stop, Look and Listen Zine, Bitter End, Minor Disturbance Productions, Fired Up, Set To Explode, Lion Of Judah, Iron Age, Lights Out, My Luck and the Straight Edge.

P.S. I wish Town Of Hardcore Zine was still around.

Home For the Weekend.

2008-07-29T23:09:00.004-04:00

This past weekend Beav and Mary Ann took a vacation up to Mackinac Island and offered me a ride up to Mackinac City cuz its only a hour from Sault Ste. Marie. We left early Friday morning around 8am we ran into a ton of traffic on the 401 a bus caught fire then about 30 mins down the highway a transport was burnt to the ground.

Once in the States we stopped in Burch Run,MI to get lunch at Culvers. In the parking Lot there was this Canon on the back of a truck. Not to sure why someone is carrying a canon on the back of there truck but whatever. Also Culvers had little "culverisms" on there cups.

We got into Mackinac City around 5pm and meet up with my dad and we split ways. Crossed the Mackinac Bridge and headed up to Sault Ste Maire.

We stopped in on the American side to get some dinner before going back home. There is a little 50's Diner I like to go to when I'm Back called Jeff's got the big burger there. and wanted to throw up i was stuffed.

These pics where taken from the bridge from America to Canada at Sault Ste Marie.

I use to play here alot near the Soo Locks. when growing up it was a couple blocks from where i use to live.

After we got back to the house we just hung out I was tired and went to bed really early. In the morning we got up kinda early and went to some yard sales but did not find anything. Most the day was just going around the city and checking out things that have changed since I've been there last. Went by one of the main houses we lived in as a child. We did move around alot but we spent alot of time in this house.
Stopped by my old Highschool and took a pic of the sign.

For dinner tonight I asked my Dad if we could order in a pizza from Aurora's (some of the best pizza in the city) since I don't think I've had since I lived there last. It was just as good as I remembered it being.

After the Pizza I went up to the computer room and scanned in a ton of old pictures from my childhood. When I was doing this I found a bunch of awesome old photos of my Grandparents and of my dad when he was young. After I was done with that my Dad came upstairs and he showed me a ton of war and air force photos from when my grandpa was flying. then busted out all of this old awards / metals that he recived and showed me a display case full of patches from all the units he was a part of when in the air force. I will be posting all the photos in the coming weeks. I just need to get them together and organize them better. But this is what made the trip. Just going thou all these old photos of my grandparents. Here is just a sample of whats to come.
This is one of the flight crews my grandpa was a pilot for. It was taped into a photo album but was in a card thing and was signed by all the members of the crew. My grandpa is right in the middle of the picture. (click on the picture for more detail)

We had to meet up with Mike and Mary Ann at 930am so we got up and my Dad drove me back. Stopped and took some real photos of the bridge. I think if I remember Its 5km's long. Once a year on Labour day they hold a walk across the bridge, me and my dad would go down for the walk almost every year.
About half way thou the bridge there are grates in the left hand lane on both sides its pretty scary when walking across.

Over all it was a great trip. We made it back in good time to play in our baseball game that we won! Thanks to Mike and Mary Ann for the offer and the Ride up North.

Atom

2008-06-18T20:34:00.005-04:00

It was 1999 hardcore and punk was alot different then what it is these days. Atom and His Package was loved and Hated in both hardcore and punk scenes when he was around. I don't really know what it was about him. He just had a quirky voice and stupid yet funny lyrics with synthesizers and the guitar.

I had a chance to put on a show for Atom w/ Mid Carson July and Dragbody at the masonic lodge in Mississauga the Jazz June where also on the Bill but could not get across the boarder. The show was poorly attended as where most shows back then it seems unless it was mostly local bands playing together. Anyway... I was going thou some old boxes of just random stuff I've accumulated over the years and found these pictures that I took at the show and thought I would share the picutres. Enjoy.

after uploading these pictures I decided to dust of a atom and his package - A Society Of People Called Elihu and listen to it.. Just as I remember it. I thought I would upload it for the very few people who actually read this thing. It was record in 1997 and came out on The Mountain Cooperative.

Click the album cover to download.

Leslie Spit

2008-06-08T11:37:00.002-04:00

Friday after work Me, Steve, Michelle, Sandy and Patrick took a ride out to the Leslie spit. The ride out was about 30k round trip. We made it out to the Lighthouse just before sunset. We where joking about half way down the trail to the lighthouse that it would suck if someone got a flat tire we took a little walk around the area and found a little bunny. we came back to our bikes to watch the sunset and Michelle noticed that she got a flat. But we lucked out and someone coming up had a tube repair kit, so we did not have to walk all the way back into town. The ride was awesome. I gotta get out and explore more this summer. Sandy took some pics. here they are:

The bugs around the light house where insane.

Michelle and I.
Michelle with the tire of her bike while it was being fixed.
The Bunny!

Get The Most

2008-03-21T13:14:00.007-04:00

I use to do a zine called From The Start. I put out 2 issues and started working on a third. I did all the interviews with all the bands I wanted in the issue but lost all motivation when it came to doing the layout and photocopying it. I have been sitting on these interviews for 2-3 years now. So when reading these keep it in mind. I just don't want them to go to waste. I have a couple that I'm going to be doing some follow ups on. But keep checking back. In the coming weeks I should have interviews with Lion Of Judah, Blacklisted and Sean from Youngblood Records.

Here is the Get The Most (one of the 2 that I actually did the layout for) interview this was done when they just had the demo out. Since then they have released 2 7"s with Crucial Response Records out of Germany. They have recently have done a east coast tour with The First Step and have made there way down to California. Thanks to Kyle for doing the interview. Enjoy - Rick

Click on the photo to make it bigger and so you are able to read it.

I just noticed after posting this that 2 of the questions on the top of page 2 on the right hands side are in the interview twice. sorry to anyone reading that was confused.

Springsteen in Hamliton

2008-03-08T18:54:00.001-05:00

On Monday Night I had the chance to experience Bruce Sprinsteen live. I got a ticket the day of the show from my friend Alissa for free and was beyond excited for the rest of the day at work. We showed up 2 hours before the show to make sure we got in ok and we did not miss any of the set. For a while it seemed like we where the youngest people in all of Copps. On the way out to Hamilton I found out my roomate Steve and my friend Michelle where also coming. We could see them sitting across the arena. Also my friend Derrick was there it was cool to experience Bruce with my good friends (even thou we where nowhere near each other).

When the show started he opened with No Surrender and was really happy then played Radio Nowhere. It sounded way better then the version on the LP. Then they where playing a ton of newish stuff that I am not that familiar with. I was siked to be there but did not know every song he has written. About half way thou the set they started playing the older songs and it turned into one of the best shows ever. Thanks to Alissa for bringing me and thanks to Michelle and Steve for giving us a ride back to Toronto.
Here is the set list I stole from Derricks Blog:

No Surrender
Radio Nowhere
Lonesome Day
Gypsy Biker
Magic
Reason To Believe
Because The Night
She's The One
Livin' In The Future
The Promised Land
Waitin' On A Sunny Day
Darkness On The Edge Of Town
The River
Devil's Arcade
The Rising
Last To Die
Long Walk Home
Badlands

(Encore)
Girls In Their Summer Clothes
Thunder Road
Kitty's Back
Born To Run
Dancing In The Dark
American Land

I snapped some pictures with my camera that I was not allowed to bring and take pictures with. Don't tell anyone you saw these here. My digital camera sucks and does not zoom that well but I managed a couple ok shots.

Platinum Records

2008-03-02T22:40:00.000-05:00

Ever see a platinum record and wonder if the actual music of the artist is on the record in the frame? I always have, and I had the chance to test it out recently. I work for a company called Pindoff Record Sales. We at one point owned all the Music World stores across Canada and where one of the biggest music chains in the 90's. In the last couple month's new owners have taken over closed down every Music World store we had left in Canada. Around 600 people lost there job's because of this. In the wearhouse (where I work) around 40 or so people where let go. Including some important people in the office.

In the last week I was helping move the desks and clean out everything they left behind, Including awards the record company's gave to Pindoff for sales. I found a platinum record for Sam Roberts in one of the offices that I was told was going to be thrown out and someone else just wanted the frame it was in. Since I have always wondered what was on the actual record i pryde the record from the display and also took the plaque that came with the record. After it was out of the display you could tell there was music on the record and that it would play on a record player.

I took it home that night and put it on. As soon as the needle hit the record I could tell it was definitely not what the award was for. The award was for 100,000 units sold for a Sam Roberts album called " We Where Born In A Flame" and the music on the record was some weird dance track. I kind of had the idea that something like this would happen. The record in question came out in 2004 and it was not widely available on vinyl then.. so I could easily see why they would use some random record for the award. Now this answers the question but also I still have to know is if for the older awards out there like an old Black Sabbath award has Black Sabbath on it or some random record that was kicking around the Warner Brothers wearhouse at the time?

Queen St West Fire

2008-02-23T22:29:00.000-05:00

If you live in Toronto you know about the fire that took out almost a whole city block between Bathurst and Portland on Queen Street West on Wednesday morning. I was at work when I first heard the news and was shocked when looking at the pictures of what was going on. My jaw dropped. This was the area I first lived in when I moved to Toronto in 2002 I was a 2 min walk from where the fire hit the hardest. I finally had a chance to go down and take a peek at the damage it left today and took a couple pictures. When I was there it looked like they where just about to take down Suspect Video.

To get an Idea of what the damage is like check out this picture
also check out these two Toronto blogs to get some amazing photos of the fire and the firefighters.

http://torontoist.com/2008/02/phototo_queen_s.php#more

http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/02/6alarm_fire_at_queen_bathurst/

Chicago

2008-02-07T20:25:00.000-05:00

Last weekend me and and a couple friends and some new ones went down to Chicago for the Hot Water Music reunion show. When we where looking into this show I found a couple other shows that peeked all our interests. The day before the HWM show Chuck Ragan and Ben Nichols where playing a solo gig in town so we went down on Thursday Morning. Just as we where getting into Chicago a huge snow storm hit and we got in during rush hour we where stuck on the highway for about a hour and a half before getting to the venue. The show was really good. Ben Nichols played all Lucero songs and chuck played some rumbleseat songs along with some cover and originals it was a great show. Picked up a sweet silk screen poster from this tour. I cant wait to hang it on my wall. After the show we went down to the Beat Kitchen to see a new band with members of Small Brown Bike and The Casket Lottery called Able Baker Fox. They have a good combination of sounds between there ex bands and are one of the newer bands I am really siked on these days. Check them out I recommend it.

Ben Nichols:

Chuck Ragan:

Poster:

After the show we stayed at my old friend Tim Smith's place I have not seen Tim in 2 years it was great to see him and get to crash at his place the next 3 nights even thou we did not hang out much due to work and us showing up late at his place everynight.

The plan was to see hot water music the next night. Then go see Dillinger Four in Milwaukee saturday night. So in the morning we got up dug out and went to eat at this place that had a cool concept for a resturant it was like a circus freakshow kinda set up in the place. and it had this weird monkey with a huge penis and of course we had to sit right underneath it. After Breakfast we went record shopping and picked up some neat records then went out to eat at The Chicago Dinner. It was a good day other then slush everywhere and all the snow that the city got the night before. So we got to The Metro on Friday night expecting to get in. I was having some problems with communication with who we where buying tickets from. He told us they where for Friday night but after a couple phone calls to ticketmaster we found out they where for Saturday Night. So we shows up looked like fools got turned away bought the merch we wanted then left. Doug who came down with us had a ticket for tonight so we left him at the show and came to pick him up after the show was over in the mean time the venue was pretty much across the street from Wrigley field I had to walk down and take some pics then we where off to see this band Vee Dee where playing at the Beat Kitchen where we saw Able Baker Fox the previous night and Steve wanted to see them.. What a waste of time and money we should have went bowling at the Rock and Bowl instead. Oh well. We picked up Doug and went back to Tims.

The snow:

The Money Penis:

The Bathroom at Earwax:

Wrigley Field:

Saturday: We got up late today, we got our showers and got ready and went out. We had breakfast at Pick Me Up Dinner pretty cool place we went here a couple times during the trip. After that we where going to go record shopping again but we could not find any parking so we went downtown and went to H&M and other shopping places. It was cool to see the downtown core like that makes it feel like your in the city more. We went back to The Metro to see if we could get in tonight, and we did! Able Baker Fox just started playing when we walked thou the door it was really cool to see this bands first 2 shows. I look forward to seeing more. Solid set. was not as long as 2 night before but still great. Lucero was on next, I only really know one Lucero LP but they played a couple off it and a Jawbreaker cover of Kiss The Bottle. Great set. I'm really into his stuff now. Hot Water Music was just amazing the whole place was going nuts they played a ton of old stuff witch was great cuz thats all I really know by them. The show was super cool. I am glad I made the trip down.

Shopping at H&M they sell S&T merch now sweet:

Able Baker Fox:

Hot Water Music:

Sunday Drive Home: we got up and took off around 1pm and hit the road. About a hour in we pulled over at a Denny's in Indiana somewhere. We where all pretty siked on it. We sat down and the waitress came over and took our orders. Seemed pretty normal. While we where waiting almost every table around us where getting there orders fucked up. So we where just like " umm I wonder whats going to happen to our food?" and well 10 mins after that she came back to us almost in tears and was like " I lost your food slip i'm so sorry I have to take your orders again." haha what an experience we had there. we ended up getting our food for free so that was cool. haha then we played the Band name game for about 6-7 hours on the way band it kept the ride interesting I think we could have played for another 3 if we had to. Great trip I look forward to going back to Chicago when there's not 2 feet of snow on the ground and maybe catching a Cubs game.

Here are some of the Records I picked up During the weekend:

And 2 Videos I took During Chuck Ragan's set in Chicago sorry for the shitty sound:
Geraldine:

Open Up And Wail:

Wintercity

2008-01-27T11:38:00.000-05:00

Picked up a couple zines and a 7" from Ewan yesterday afternoon. Then went down to Nathan Phillips Square to see Tokyo Police Club. Wintercity is going on and there where these huge fire ball things all over the place down there.

Records & Zines:

Tokyo Police Club:

The City at Night:

Great Balls of Fire:

Catching the Streetcar Home:

Go Leafs

2008-01-16T19:02:00.000-05:00

Greg sent me a message via facebook to call him when I see the message. So I gave him a call. His dad gave him tickets for the Leafs game later that night and he wanted to invite me. he told me to bring my camera cuz the seats where close to the ice. We showed up a couple minutes before the anthems. The seats where 10 rows from the ice behind the visitors net. The game was pretty good the Leafs Broke there losing streak. here are some pics I snapped.

Cam Ward:

Second Period Intermission bobble head dudes:

The View:

Hands Down

2007-12-12T21:33:00.000-05:00

On a local message board people have been talking about my old band Hands Down and it got me thinking a bit. I use to play in a Positive Youth Crew Straight Edge band a couple years ago called Hands down. If interested you can download almost everything we recorded HERE.

This has the demo w/ lyrics, live CIUT set with interview and a cover we only played on the radio and 3 unreleased songs that we recorded for a 7" that never came out (we lost the cd that had all 5 songs on it), 2 are from the sampler cd/tape and 1 me and mike found a couple weeks ago when looking for the full 7" on a cd.

We where a band for a year and a half. Looking back on this band it has pretty much changed my life. I moved to Toronto spring of 2002 and I really did not know to many people in Toronto at the time. I meet Chris thou my roommate at the the time and he was looking for a bass player for a band he was about to start. I emailed him asking if I could come out and jam with them. I played bass a bit during highschool just messing around with friends in a garage, but i did now know if I could play seriously, It worked out and the band got going.

Mike was not in the band at the time. It was just me Chris and Lenny. Our friend Tim was going to sing in the band. but after one practice with me he seemed to disappear. We had a couple practiced without him just working on the songs we had written. Chris was interested in singing for the band so we made a post on a local message board that we where looking for a guitar player Mike got in touch and Chris moved to vocals and the rest is history. The band never really went anywhere we played in and around Toronto alot and made it to a gig in Montreal and did a weekend in upstate NY with Blue Monday. We recorded for a 7" that never came out and I think this is what ended up killing the band. Mike did not like how the way the band was going so he decided to leave the band. He told us this after the Blue Monday show we did in Mississsauga, I did not really want to do the band without Mike it in. We got an offer to play with Champion, Final Word and Keep It Up at the 202. I thought this would be a perfect show to call it a day.

I meet some of my best friends though hands down. I really don't know where I would be without this band.

I seem its kinda fitting that I post this now cuz I am about to start a new project with some friends in the new year. Its going to be in the vein of the Midwest indie / emo movement in the late 90's . It will be good to get back into playing the bass again and making music I really enjoy.

Here are some pictures of the band and band relelated things that I have on my computer from the band. enjoy.

This was Our First t-shirt design:

This is Our good friend Victor Ha he designed the cover of the sampler tape and the pocket design for our second shirt: ( we took these photos for our website to show people what colors of shirts we had)

Chris and Erin:

This is a Stencil we made one night and screened it on a couple shirts and this hoodie:

Photo:Victor : from a show at Clintons:

Hands Down and Blue Monday outside a Cabin in Syracuse, NY:

Last show (Matt Signing Breakdown the walls cover):

2007-11-03T11:00:00.001-04:00

The Other Night after work the sky looked like this. It looked even better the day before but did not have my camera with me.

Trip Out West.

2007-10-21T20:22:00.000-04:00

In the last week I took a trip out west to Vancouver. It was really last minute. I had a week of vacation booked and did not have any plans for my week off. During the week before vacation time my credit card limit was raised so I had some leeway on what I wanted to do and I found a cheap last minute flight out west so I bought it. Called some friends and plans where set in motion.

I left Toronto right after work on Thursday October 11th, This was going to be my first long distance flight so I was kinda nervous. Checked in got a window seat even thou it was night so it really did not matter but it was cool to see the lights of the towns below at night. I got into Vancouver at 10pm local time. My old friend Sarah (who I meet when I attempted to live out west in 2001) and her Husband that I meet 2 years ago picked me up from the airport. I stayed at there place in Coquitlam for the next 2 nights.

It took me a while to get use to the time change. I was getting up at 9-10 am everyday that would be 12-1pm my time. For my first day I just walked around downtown Vancouver went shopping bought some records and what not. I found the Vancouver art gallery and it had some cool lions in behind it and snapped some pretty cool pics.

This is a Tag the cops put up in a parking garage downtown there was alot of posters in the garage about stealing bait cars I guess they have a problem with vehicle theft:

On Saturday Sarah, Terry and Sarah's Friend Akiko went out to the Capilano Suspension Bridge. It was really cool. Kinda sketchy walking across, it sways so much still. but it was expected here are some pictures from the suspension bridge and woods surrounding the area.

On the Bridge:

On the Trails:

Me, Sarah and Terry:

View from the bridge:

BEAR!?!?!:

After the Bridge we went back into town and meet up with some other people i knew that lived in Vancouver. A old friend Dave Mac who I also meet when I came out west in 2001 and Adam and Dave Mitchell. After Dinner we just went back to Dave's place also where Kari and Lucas live and where I stayed the next 2 nights. We ended up playing Cranium and watching some movies before getting to sleep.

In the mourning on Sunday I meet up with Erin who use to live in Windsor and just moved out west in the past 5 month's or so we caught some breakfast then me and Dave Mitchell where off to Circles band practice. This band is a new band with 4/5 members of Blue Monday. This band is a more melodic punk kinda sound kinda reminds me of early Fat Wreck Cords stuff mixed with mid 80's Dischord bands. Im really looking forward to hearing more stuff from them.

Circles Practice:

The Next day i hooked up with Erin once more and moved my stuff over to her place for the next couple days. This is when the rain started. It was pouring pretty much the rest of my trip out. We still went out and did stuff. Some plans got tossed due to the rain. We where planing on going to Fight Nights and the PNE. It just kinda like Screamers at the CNE in Toronto mixed with what Canada's wonderland sets up every year around this time of year. I was looking forward to that but the rain had other plans for me I guess.

Overall I had a good trip. It was better then sitting on my ass around the house here for a week. Thanks to Erin, Dave and Sarah for letting my crash at there places and putting up with me.

My flight back home was at 11pm western time. I got dropped off at the airport 2.5 hours before flight checked in and got a seat with ample leg room. the headphone jack was busted on my seat so I could not watch the movie on the way home. The flight was only 4 hours so it was not so bad. Got back at 645am and just came home and went to sleep. end of vacation.

At the airport waiting to take off:

First Post

2007-10-06T21:44:00.001-04:00

War Hungry:

Iron Age: