The Hives Are Law, We Are Crime

One of the best gigs EVER? Check. Interview with Nicholas Arson and Vigilante Carlstroem earlier in the day? Check. Making them laugh with talk of hockey? Check. Running into Howlin' Pelle Almqvist and Chris Dangerous outside of Urban Outfitters and having a chat? Check. Thinking "Pelle's actually really cute in a sort of dorky way"? Check. Being impressed by the fact that even during the day they still wear black and white? Check. Not getting any good gig photos even though it was my first press pass photo opp in years because the camera had no stabilization? Check (boo). Jumping around to "Tick Tick Boom" like a madwoman? Check. Catching one of Nick Arson's special Hives guitar picks? Check. Getting the set list afterwards for my review? Check. Meeting a drunk Dr. Matt Destruction after the show and him teaching me some Swedish? Check!

Brilliant night? Check please!

ps, watch the video. About 48 seconds in Pelle comes over to our side and puts on a show for us, it's way cool. Apologies for the herky-jerkyness but I had a million people dancing around me and some massive amps blowing us away.

Cuddles for 2010

It is very therapeutic to hug an Olympic mascot. Imagine, if you will, then, what it's like to get your arms around three!



Ladies and jellyspoons, may I present from top-down: Sumi, the uh, brown bear crossed with a Thunderbird with the hat inspired by whales (who grows huge like in the Native stories); Miga, the erm, cross between an Orca and Kermode (no, not the Muppet, the "Spirit Bear"); and finally, my friend and yours: Quatchi - the ice-hockey loving Sasquatch!

How did I meet these Japanime wonders you may ask?

There I was, wandering home one night recently, when this triumverate of merchandising madness jumped out from behind a homeless person's shopping cart and put the moves on me! It's TRUE!

Okay, I fess. The hugs were because of a big launch event on Feb 12 for the "Cultural Olympiad" (it's now two years and counting to 2010 baby!) at the ploosh Vancouver Orpheum. Native singer Leela Gilday, Quebecoise (AMAZING) chanteuse Jorane and...*sigh* Ron Sexmith, Feist and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra were playing, and these furballs came out to see and be seen. And be groped by some hot piece of ass like mine. ;-) Clearly, I am far too easily entertained.

Anyway, after some chick called Susie McNeil butchered an already-awful Can-Rock Olympic theme song of sorts (called "I believe", though all I believe is that it was shit), Jorane rocked the whitest audience in humankind. Ron burbled through his set (complete with my awesome best mate Tim Bovaconti on guitar) and Feist lulled me to slumber with her particularly lush brand of vocal lullabies, made all the more betterer by the full-on VSO action. Everything, it seems, sounds swankier with an orchestra and a cute conductor! After a quick squizz around the backstage, it was time for best friend Joy and I to mosey on over to the hotel for a spot of post-Olympic gig action with Tim, Ron's band, Jorane and une assortment de liggers. Jorane etait tres belle et jolie and much fun was had.

But not as much fun as hugging a mascot. That was the funnest.

Whistle while you work...

Yo, happening chums!
This week we have mostly been slacking off work and taking time out to enjoy the sick powder of British Columbia's top ski & snowboard resort: Whistler Blackcomb.

Wait a second, I'm forgetting something. Oh yes, that's it. Rewind...

Last Friday we received our latest VIP guest: El Madre Loco. AKA My mum. We met her at the airport in the evening and bundled into the massive TANK that she'd hired, especially to traverse the treacherous wasteland between trendy Vancouver and remote Whistler. Being the champion skiier that my mum is, she couldn't very well visit Winterland Canada without some serious slope action, so she very kindly booked herself, Mikala and I into a cosy little boutique hotel in Whistler Village.

After a swift exit from Castle EA-enstein on Friday evening, we bombed up to whistler in Mama's tank, checked into the hotel, collected our equipment, took a quick comedy photo...


... and popped out for a spot of dinner at Umberto's. Or "Bum-hurt-o's" as Mikala insisted on calling it. Well, OK, that was me actually. Umberto's is a rather plush Italian restaurant which not only serves a tasty reindeer steak but they even put your beer in a posh cooler:


...Lah-dee-dah!

The next day we had a quick brunch and hit the slopes.
Mikala had a ski lesson.


I busted some gnarly misty-flips (rastamouse stylee).


Mum sat on the chairlift and went "Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"


And then after lunch we were joined by our good Vancouver chums Simon & Beth.
We skied some more and, when our little legs failed us, retired to the hotel for outdoor hot tub, acid-jazz, free martinis and a designer under-pant hand-out. In that order.


One thing we did learn is that trying to find a place to eat/drink/be merry on a Satuday night in Whistler is exceptionally difficult. The Sushi restaurant we wanted to go to had a ninety minute waiting list (reservations are for chumps, apparently, although it was worth the wait). Most bars were rammed; we couldn't even resort to gay bars as it was Whistler pride weekend. See how happy Beth and Simon are when we finally find a table in a dingy corner of a chain sports bar...


After a evening of chilling we hit the sack.
After a night of sack hitting we hit the slopes.

Hard.

Props to the missus who not only did her first chairlift, but also managed to advance from the baby slopes to a bona fide hill. Not bad for only her second day skiing. If you look closely at the video below you will notice that she is practically doing parallel turns! I can only assume that this is due to my superb tutelage...

That evening Mikala, Beth and Simon had to return to The 'Couve leaving me and my mum all alone in Whistler. We were sad, but at least I managed to get some proper skiing...


...I jest: that's not really me (no really it isn't). Apparently it was exactly two years to the day until Vancouver hosts the 2010 Winter Olympics, and what better way to mark this auspicious occasion then to get a load of nutters to pull tricks through a hoop of fire?

On Monday, El Madre and I had one last day on the slopes in which we managed to find a charming log cabin atop the mountain, that served some delicious food. After lunch we nearly killed ourselves skiing down a black galcier run so we thought it best to call it a day, pile into the tank and head home.

Oh, and I learned to ride switch - sweet!

Go see! Go See!

Today's musical/live gig tip: Louis XIV and/or Editors (above).
They're both absolutely STONKING live and I had a great night rockin' out with the lads on Tuesday (and meeting Louis XIV who're a good larff - and the guitarist/vocalist guy asked me out...heh).

You know, each time I wheel about a gig venue, I feel the blood coursing again. I have to think that I probably should have been born in a bass guitar case or something. Being back and writing again about music is really quite awesome. Government operative by day, roving (aging) rock journo by night! It's win-win, really.

Read my review of the Editors/Louis XIV/Hot Hot Heat gig.

Next week: Ron Sexsmith & Feist for some official Olympic 2010 malarkey at the Vancouver Orpheum. My mate Tim is in Ron's band so put me on the list. And I'm muchly, muchly looking forward to seeing uber-cool duo Dean & Britta (Dean Wareham and his wife Britta Phillips, both formerly of Luna) and Frenchish chanteuse Keren Ann. Should be a cool way to ignore Valentine's Day! Stay tuned for more gossip from that front.

Ps, I also recommend the Wintersleep album "Welcome to the Night Sky" for anyone who fancies a bit of icy cool "landscape rock" (some bits are Prairies, others mountains, some cold lakes, you get the snow drift...) My review of that is here, too.

But enough about me...what do you think of me?

Minky - 71 lbs (5 stone) = much less less lardy.

Dan and Bourdain

Our fave American junkie-turned-Michelin Starred chef-turned writer-turned roving TV 'sleb Anthony Bourdain did a recent show on Vancouver for his Travel Channel "No Reservations" gig. It's pretty spot on - he mentions the rain and the amazing fun and food.

Within the entertaining bits was a (seemingly fully paid-up) promo for EA Vancouver. This is where Dan works, and we thought you may want to check it out. Note that all the fun stuff that they talk about on offer at EA is designed to keep its workers actually at the place. (Arbeit macht frei!) :-) Still and all, it's a pretty impressive gulag - I mean, office space.

Dan was well gutted that he missed Bourdain's visit as we've been a fan of his for yonks. But if you'd like a tour of the place, have a look-see...