Sometimes 90's indie rock videos I saw on The Wedge as a kid made life make sense...

The Next Few Days in Preview

This week will destroy my paycheque. I will be attending a few shows this week/end that I feel might be important or at least interesting to see.

Tonight

Julie Doiron @ Horseshoe 9pm

Friday Feb 4

Gang of Four @ Phoenix

IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS CHEAPER!?!?!?!

Saturday Feb 5

Hush Arbors, LOOM, others @ Placebo Space (blandsdowne)

Induced Labour @ "The Garage"

Friday January 28 was my first visit to "The Garage," an unconventional venue for bands and performers. It was freezing and beginning to snow. I was stopped by the police on my way, delaying my arrival by about 20 minutes. I walked into the alleyway where said Garage was located; a Police car followed me in. Noticing I was being followed, I walked to the end of the alley as to not bring attention to the venue. I made a "I dunno where I am" gesture then walked out. The vehicle followed me out and the officer inside asked me to stop and proceeded to prod me with questions on where I was going, and what I was doing. Fucking annoying.

The venue was absolutely bitter cold. John from Induced Labour told me after the set that after the first song he couldn't feel his fingers touching the strings. Overall, IL played a really great set. Friday night's set felt heavier than usual, musically. I think they played faster than I've ever seen them, likely because they were so cold and just wanted to warm up/get it over with. I've seen them many times in the past, and while it's difficult to perform as a group of freeze pops, they pulled it off with mass effect. I think the sort of frostbitten feeling gave things a very black metal feel. Perhaps anytime I'm really cold I feel "black metal." Or, at least black, frostbitten toes of Necromortem.

Leslie's mid-set lament, "This is not how I wanted to spend my 20's" really set the tone that night. Perhaps we all feel that way freezing out buns off with good friends, cold beer and loud music.

Sadly, I did not get the chance to see Ancestors. My feet were freezing and I needed to warm up. Invite me to your next show!

I want to take the opportunity to express my appreciation for the venue on Friday. I feel like I haven't expressed enough enthusiasm for the Garage. There's a punk rock quality to persevering the weather (if, in misery) to host shows in your backyard for whoever shows up. I can't wait for more shows to happen here in the spring. It may even be the highlight of the summer.

A Pre-cursor to Heavy Empire's Best Albums of 2010

Dear Faithful and Patient Readers of HE,

This year has been chocked full of albums. My head, at various times throughout the year has swam with delerium in a stockpile of unopened LPs and a Utorrent download list that ended up in a $135.00 internet bill for bandwidth overuse. It's fair to say, I won't be able to include every band who released an awesome album on that list. I won't even try.

Instead, I will choose 10 songs. The #1 spot will undoubtedly be my favourite album of the year. Number's two to nine will be albums I thought stood out more than others, in no particular order of preference. Maybe I will alphabetize them to not be criticized for album-nepotism.

Before I go, I want to let you in on a hope, wish and dream I have for HE in the new year. Podcast, or something like it.

Also, Coming Soon: Print Issue.

Bye, for now.

-Heavy Empire

Four Touchdowns, One Game

I can get behind the recent trend of past-their-prime bands dedicating a tour around a "classic" album they have written. In years past I have seen acts like Primus re-commit to performing Sailing the Seas of Cheese in it's entirety, which was extremely entertaining despite it being my favourite album.

Lately every band who was popular more than 10 years ago is giving an honest, yet somehow desperate shot to re-live a "timeless" moment of their career where every song was a gem. Classic rock bands like Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) rebuilding The Wall seem to have every good intention of bringing something back from the past. Hell, even Weezer have decided to throw the "Blue" album in as a grand affair. Oh, and don't forget Bad Religion and Swedish punks Millencollin (never was a fan) to kick off anniversary tours themselves. Good intentions of offering a show you are sure to love.

And then there's the business side. The money side.

I have no problem with a band sticking it out for 25+ years and telling their fans "Hey, remember when you loved our band? Well you're gonna LOVE this." Nostalgia is, and forever on will be up for sale.

Sure, Weezer just released a new album on tuesday titled "Hurley," a reference to ABC's sci-fi/fantasy/drama Lost. Hell, a song or two even made it onto a commercial. Cashing in on "The Greatest Story of our Lifetime" with a Jorge Garcia's big ol' mug on the cover is instant proof of that. The first song on the album is called "Memories." Dinosaur boned Jackass crew do gang vocals on the chorus of that song. And now they're gonna tour the "Blue" album.

What is my point? Like Lost, I only have questions. Does a victory lap tour like Weezer or Roger Waters or even the rumoured Rolling Stones "Exile on Main Street" equate to an admission of post-classic career failure?

I think of this, and am reminded of Al Bundy's four touchdowns in one game and get sad.

Look Out Honey Cause We're Losing Technology

Weekend Afterthought Mixtape #1

Hello,

Welcome back. It is great to see you all! I have taken some time off, and have returned when I felt I could devote more time to this blog and you, my forgotten readers. I am sorry.

I start new, fresh and re-energized with a lovely little collection of tracks by some of my current musical crushes. I've chosen the following recordings not only for the great songs they contain, but also for the way in which they were recorded. In a perfect world, I aspire to achieve the quality of fidelity captured in the tracks you are about to hear.

The tracklisting is as follows.

1. Place to Bury Strangers - "It is Nothing"(Exploding Head 2009)
2. Neu! - "Hero" (Neu! '75)
3. Shangri-La's - Shout (Remembered)
4. Suicide - Girl (Suicide 1978)
5. Lydia Lunch (Teenage Jesus and the Jerks) - "Closet" (1978 No New York/TJATJ reissue 2004)
6. Brigitte Bardot "Je T'aime...Moi Non Plus" (BB 1967)
7. Spacemen 3 - "Muzik Konkret/Sound of Confusion" (Revolution or Heroin Live 1988, 1995)
8. Air Miami - "I Hate Milk" (Me.Me.Me 1995)
9. Section 25 - "Friendly Fires" (Always Now 1981)

Weekend Afterthought Mixtape 01-30-10