So it's almost time to start reviewing the year that's been and getting my album of the year sorted out. I haven't really done much on it yet but thinking back it's been a year dominated by Canadian and Scottish bands. Granted, I'm biased towards both places, but there really is some incredible music coming from both right now.
To that end, my most recent find has been the Candian artist Joel Plaskett and his band the Joel Plaskett Emergency. I've sort of known about them for a while but somehow never checked them out. Recentley I decided to get hold off all the Polaris Prize nominees and their record "Ashtray Rock" was among them.
It's a concept album of sorts centred around a band who end up falling apart after the two leads both fall for the same girl. It's also a rocking good time. Lyrically Joel has a fairly straightforward approach but always with a good sense of humour "The reason I like the instrumentals is cause they ain't got no words" and musically he's never afraid to throw in the cheesy hand claps or high pitched harmonies.
I can't really decide on my favourite tune but this one is definitely in the running (and illustrates the pure fun this album is):
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Myspace
I haven't blogged in a while, mostly because I've been spending most of my free time playing guitar and trying to come up with some songs. So I've created a myspace page where I can post a few songs:
http://www.myspace.com/alanmoffat
http://www.myspace.com/alanmoffat
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Mobile Obssesion
People in the United Kingdom are obssesed with their mobile phones. I mean OBSSESED. They can't put them down. They can't go more than 2 minutes without getting them out and caressing them - it is total madness. I'm pretty sure there are five year olds with mobiles, texting each other during milk breaks at primary school.
This obssesion doesn't seem to have been developed with any rules of etiquette. It's seen as perfectly good manners to whip out the old mobile and text somebody whilst in the middle of a conversation with somebody else. People will text each other whilst sitting beside each other, or send text messages not 2 minutes before meeting the person they are texting.
You'll notice that none of what I have typed here relates to actual conversation. They are off course used for that as well but it's definitely the 2nd or possibly 4th or 5th function of the thing.
Another genius development in mobile technology is the insertion of a speaker into the phone so that people can play whatever pish music takes there fancy, in wonderful tinny sound so that everyone in reasonable proximity can hear. What this mainly means is groups of kids (and much more on the youth of Britain to come)playing crappy pop music on the back of double decker buses. So not only do they work as an invaluable communication tool but they provide a soundtrack for the teenagers as they make their way through underage drinking and teenage pregenancy on their merry way to the unemployment line.
Now it might be said I am a little biased. I hate the things at the best of times and so I'm possibly a bit more sensative to the way they are used when I'm out and about. It's really not the phones themselves that bother me though. I can see the point of having them in case your car breaks down, or if you're trying to meet up with someone and don't know exactly where they are.....but for something that seems like such a social device, they sure seem to be used in some really anti-social ways a lot of the time.
This obssesion doesn't seem to have been developed with any rules of etiquette. It's seen as perfectly good manners to whip out the old mobile and text somebody whilst in the middle of a conversation with somebody else. People will text each other whilst sitting beside each other, or send text messages not 2 minutes before meeting the person they are texting.
You'll notice that none of what I have typed here relates to actual conversation. They are off course used for that as well but it's definitely the 2nd or possibly 4th or 5th function of the thing.
Another genius development in mobile technology is the insertion of a speaker into the phone so that people can play whatever pish music takes there fancy, in wonderful tinny sound so that everyone in reasonable proximity can hear. What this mainly means is groups of kids (and much more on the youth of Britain to come)playing crappy pop music on the back of double decker buses. So not only do they work as an invaluable communication tool but they provide a soundtrack for the teenagers as they make their way through underage drinking and teenage pregenancy on their merry way to the unemployment line.
Now it might be said I am a little biased. I hate the things at the best of times and so I'm possibly a bit more sensative to the way they are used when I'm out and about. It's really not the phones themselves that bother me though. I can see the point of having them in case your car breaks down, or if you're trying to meet up with someone and don't know exactly where they are.....but for something that seems like such a social device, they sure seem to be used in some really anti-social ways a lot of the time.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Scotland
So we just got back from a really, really great 2 and half weeks in Scotland. We went to a wedding, visited some family, saw a few shows and travelled up to Aberdeen and down to the lake district in England.
I thought I'd do a few posts of my relections on being back, some of them good and some of them not so good.
So first off, I'd really forgotten just how much I missed the place. Obviously the main thing you miss when you leave somewhere is your family and friends and it's true that I've really missed them. Sure, I e-mail and msn all the time but it's just not the same as having a pint, is it now. The thing is that I've been in Canada 7 years now and in that time I have off course started my own family and made some really, really good friends. If I went back to Scotland now, there are people I would really miss from here. It's either a win-win or a no-win situation depending on which way you look at it.
Anyway back to the place itself and it really is the most beautiful country. Even Glasgow looked pretty in the summer sunshine as we drove East from the airport. The grass a luscious green colour that you just don't see in Canada in the summer months. The sky constantly changing between blazing sunshine (ok - blazing may be a slight over statement) and dark clouds with the threat of rain. The temperature going up and down by the minute, where as here in Toronto it hasn't really changed since about May. Scottish people will moan about the ever changing weather but 3 months of 30 degree heat can make you long for it.
Anyway even if Glasgow was looking pretty it will always pale in comparison to the wonder of Edinburgh, without question one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It really, really is an amazing place. During the festival it is full of people (which can be a bit annoying when you live there), and every single street in the centre of town is vibrant. The pubs are full, there are people performing on street corners, every other building has been converted into a fringe venue, the gardens are full of people picnicing. If you have never been to Edinburgh then go in August (and book early!).
There are other things to I have forgotten about. The taste of bread (it's not overly sweet like in North America), the taste of milk (it goes bad after 3 days open like it's supposed to), real bacon (it's 90% meat and 10% fat and not the other way around), the glory of deep fried food. Ahhhhh - deep fried food. People look at you funny when you suggest battering up a couple of hamburgers, deep frying them and serving them with chips but mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm so good.
I had to pause for a moment as I thought about how long it might be until my next hamburger supper.
Ok, I've composed myself again. So take my advice, go to Edinburgh in August, get yourself a delicous deep fried something with chips (but don't get sauce - it's bloody disgusting) and sit back in Princes street gardens in the shadow of the castle and enjoy - there really is nothing better.
I thought I'd do a few posts of my relections on being back, some of them good and some of them not so good.
So first off, I'd really forgotten just how much I missed the place. Obviously the main thing you miss when you leave somewhere is your family and friends and it's true that I've really missed them. Sure, I e-mail and msn all the time but it's just not the same as having a pint, is it now. The thing is that I've been in Canada 7 years now and in that time I have off course started my own family and made some really, really good friends. If I went back to Scotland now, there are people I would really miss from here. It's either a win-win or a no-win situation depending on which way you look at it.
Anyway back to the place itself and it really is the most beautiful country. Even Glasgow looked pretty in the summer sunshine as we drove East from the airport. The grass a luscious green colour that you just don't see in Canada in the summer months. The sky constantly changing between blazing sunshine (ok - blazing may be a slight over statement) and dark clouds with the threat of rain. The temperature going up and down by the minute, where as here in Toronto it hasn't really changed since about May. Scottish people will moan about the ever changing weather but 3 months of 30 degree heat can make you long for it.
Anyway even if Glasgow was looking pretty it will always pale in comparison to the wonder of Edinburgh, without question one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It really, really is an amazing place. During the festival it is full of people (which can be a bit annoying when you live there), and every single street in the centre of town is vibrant. The pubs are full, there are people performing on street corners, every other building has been converted into a fringe venue, the gardens are full of people picnicing. If you have never been to Edinburgh then go in August (and book early!).
There are other things to I have forgotten about. The taste of bread (it's not overly sweet like in North America), the taste of milk (it goes bad after 3 days open like it's supposed to), real bacon (it's 90% meat and 10% fat and not the other way around), the glory of deep fried food. Ahhhhh - deep fried food. People look at you funny when you suggest battering up a couple of hamburgers, deep frying them and serving them with chips but mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm so good.
I had to pause for a moment as I thought about how long it might be until my next hamburger supper.
Ok, I've composed myself again. So take my advice, go to Edinburgh in August, get yourself a delicous deep fried something with chips (but don't get sauce - it's bloody disgusting) and sit back in Princes street gardens in the shadow of the castle and enjoy - there really is nothing better.
Monday, August 13, 2007
A hell of a weekend
Ok - forgive me if this doesn't make any sense - I have had 9 hours sleep over the last 3 days and I am feeling decidely weird.
Still - what a weekend! (and it's not over yet).
So Tim and I boarded the TFC supporters bus at midnight on Friday and headed down to NYC to catch the game against the Red Bull (crappy sponsorship name). The bus ride was long, made more so by us non-Canadians getting taken of the bus and held at customs for 90 minutes. They actually asked me if I had been to the middle east lately?!!?@?@?
Finally we rolled into New York and through Harlem at midday on Saturday (Harlem was pretty colourful and we got the bird from a few people!) Happily we progressed through Harlem to our hostel on 103rd street in uptown Manhattan. Nice enough place and good that all the TFC fans have a base.
Plans for Saturday are unsure but Tim and I opt to head down to the Lincoln Centre (mainly because there is a bed, bath and beyond there and I had my orders!). Once there we happened to catch the last tour and managed to see the Met, the State Theatre and the Philharmonic venue. The Met and State theatre are very impressive and huge, but the philharmonic isn't that great.
Done with that we head of to get some stuff at bed, bath and beyond and then back to the hostel before heading out to the TFC party at a bar in the Village.
A football bar as it happens with 7 tv's all showing different games. TFC takes over and at $3 pints we're all soon drunk and singing although they oddly keep trying to drown us out with music. Doesn't work though!
2am and we try our best to manouvre the subway system back. We have a few incidents including getting caught trying to hop the turnstiles and ending up on a express train back Harlem. I felt whiter than I have ever felt standing on a street croner in Harlam at 2:30 in the morning but we cab it back to teh hostel and all is well.
Sunday and we find a dosgy breakfast place on Broadway where we have breakfast with an old New York guy who spits food a lot but knows a suprising amount about Canada.
After that we head down to Soho and the Village again and stroll around doing some shopping (I picked up a CBGB's hoody). I loved just walking around the place. It's an amazing place to be.
So onto the main events and a schoolbus ride to Giants stadium where we drink beer in the carpark and shout abuse at 7 year-olds "Who are you, who are you..." {New York Red Bull are very family orientated so it's hard to find fans you can shout at). Once in the massive stadium we discover just how few fans they actually have.
So onto the game. Actually lets skip the game. I belive there was a game but nobody told the TFC players from what I could make out Red Bull were playing some kind of practice match.
The fans on the other hand show up and then some. Oh Canada is sung in full voice and then the chants begin. Some classics include:
"C-o-l-o-u-r, that is how you fucking spell colour"
and
"We don't pay for health care"
as well as the usual chants and an odd "Taberncale" or some french Canadian insult? Any you Canucks tell me what the hell that was?
The fans finish the game with another rousing rendition of Oh Canada and then we jump on the bus and head to the true north, strong and free.
So here I am - awake but in a weird state of mind and now getting ready to go see Crowded House, one of my favourite bands who I thought I would never see play Massey Hall, my favourite venue.
A truly great weekend!
Still - what a weekend! (and it's not over yet).
So Tim and I boarded the TFC supporters bus at midnight on Friday and headed down to NYC to catch the game against the Red Bull (crappy sponsorship name). The bus ride was long, made more so by us non-Canadians getting taken of the bus and held at customs for 90 minutes. They actually asked me if I had been to the middle east lately?!!?@?@?
Finally we rolled into New York and through Harlem at midday on Saturday (Harlem was pretty colourful and we got the bird from a few people!) Happily we progressed through Harlem to our hostel on 103rd street in uptown Manhattan. Nice enough place and good that all the TFC fans have a base.
Plans for Saturday are unsure but Tim and I opt to head down to the Lincoln Centre (mainly because there is a bed, bath and beyond there and I had my orders!). Once there we happened to catch the last tour and managed to see the Met, the State Theatre and the Philharmonic venue. The Met and State theatre are very impressive and huge, but the philharmonic isn't that great.
Done with that we head of to get some stuff at bed, bath and beyond and then back to the hostel before heading out to the TFC party at a bar in the Village.
A football bar as it happens with 7 tv's all showing different games. TFC takes over and at $3 pints we're all soon drunk and singing although they oddly keep trying to drown us out with music. Doesn't work though!
2am and we try our best to manouvre the subway system back. We have a few incidents including getting caught trying to hop the turnstiles and ending up on a express train back Harlem. I felt whiter than I have ever felt standing on a street croner in Harlam at 2:30 in the morning but we cab it back to teh hostel and all is well.
Sunday and we find a dosgy breakfast place on Broadway where we have breakfast with an old New York guy who spits food a lot but knows a suprising amount about Canada.
After that we head down to Soho and the Village again and stroll around doing some shopping (I picked up a CBGB's hoody). I loved just walking around the place. It's an amazing place to be.
So onto the main events and a schoolbus ride to Giants stadium where we drink beer in the carpark and shout abuse at 7 year-olds "Who are you, who are you..." {New York Red Bull are very family orientated so it's hard to find fans you can shout at). Once in the massive stadium we discover just how few fans they actually have.
So onto the game. Actually lets skip the game. I belive there was a game but nobody told the TFC players from what I could make out Red Bull were playing some kind of practice match.
The fans on the other hand show up and then some. Oh Canada is sung in full voice and then the chants begin. Some classics include:
"C-o-l-o-u-r, that is how you fucking spell colour"
and
"We don't pay for health care"
as well as the usual chants and an odd "Taberncale" or some french Canadian insult? Any you Canucks tell me what the hell that was?
The fans finish the game with another rousing rendition of Oh Canada and then we jump on the bus and head to the true north, strong and free.
So here I am - awake but in a weird state of mind and now getting ready to go see Crowded House, one of my favourite bands who I thought I would never see play Massey Hall, my favourite venue.
A truly great weekend!
Friday, August 03, 2007
Songwriting
Lately I've been writing quite a few songs. It seems everytime I pick up the guitar at the moment I can muddle around with a chord and strum sequence and get something started.
The thing I'm finding strange is where the songs come from? Sometimes I'll start a song and have no idea where the topic came from or how the words found themselves strung together.
On rare occasions it's been very obvious. Sometimes the way I am feeling or what I am thinking will just flow out on to the page and the music will somehow manage to fit itself around them. I find that those are my favourite songs, I guess because they are the most personal ones.
But at other times, I have no idea where the ideas come from. I've heard people saying before that songs aren't really written, you just find them, like the words and the music always belonged together, they just needed someone to tie them to each other. Now I'm nowhere near that new age in my thoughts about it, but it is fairly wonderful sometimes when you finish something and then look back at it and think "where did that come from?"
Last night from nowhere I started writing a really, really depressing song. One of the verses was:
"Somewhere out there, there is a child with a gun
And somewhere out there he's not the only one
And somewhere out there another life is gone
But where do they go when the killing is done?
And I am not the one to bring them home
No, I am not the one to bring them home...."
From there it went on to dying stars, broken hearts, crashing planes, burning houses, hurricanes.........
So where did that come from? I just finished reading Harry Potter after a lovely day off at home on my own and hadn't watched any news.
That's what I mean - it's all a bit of a mystery sometimes.
The thing I'm finding strange is where the songs come from? Sometimes I'll start a song and have no idea where the topic came from or how the words found themselves strung together.
On rare occasions it's been very obvious. Sometimes the way I am feeling or what I am thinking will just flow out on to the page and the music will somehow manage to fit itself around them. I find that those are my favourite songs, I guess because they are the most personal ones.
But at other times, I have no idea where the ideas come from. I've heard people saying before that songs aren't really written, you just find them, like the words and the music always belonged together, they just needed someone to tie them to each other. Now I'm nowhere near that new age in my thoughts about it, but it is fairly wonderful sometimes when you finish something and then look back at it and think "where did that come from?"
Last night from nowhere I started writing a really, really depressing song. One of the verses was:
"Somewhere out there, there is a child with a gun
And somewhere out there he's not the only one
And somewhere out there another life is gone
But where do they go when the killing is done?
And I am not the one to bring them home
No, I am not the one to bring them home...."
From there it went on to dying stars, broken hearts, crashing planes, burning houses, hurricanes.........
So where did that come from? I just finished reading Harry Potter after a lovely day off at home on my own and hadn't watched any news.
That's what I mean - it's all a bit of a mystery sometimes.
Monday, July 23, 2007
A little advice
So this summer is turning into one of my best ever for live music. Here is a little advice for you.
Find the bands that you really, really love to see live and then go see them every single chance you can.
Here are a few bands that I will never miss the chance to see if I can:
Damien Rice I have seen him twice and both rank highly on my favourite all time shows. The Convocation Hall show was just incredible. His music sounds 10 times better live and you can tell he really put's thought in to the visual effect of each song. He builds his songs up from the most delicate of starts to a crescendo of noise - it can be amazingly powerful.
Josh Ritter Just a really wonderful guy who tells stories, sings great songs and looks like he is loving every single minute of his life. You can't help but like him.
The Eels The band I have seen more times than any other (6 times now I think). Every single show is something different. Last time they were in flying suits and had a guy shadow boxing at the front of the stage. The time before that it was E with a sting quartet and a musical saw. He smoked cigars the whole show. In Scotland the band played in full kilt outfits for the whole show.
Finally, Travis who I saw again this week and once again had an amazing time. How can you not like band who comes out to the Rocky theme tune wearing boxing silks and pushing their way through the audience? Another band who are full of humility and are obviously just having an amazing time. It's infectous. They do tons of cheesy stuff like big sing-alongs, jumping of their amps, going into the crowd.... but what's wrong with that? If I had a song people wanted to sing-along to I'd play it every single chance I got.
So that's my few, I hope you have some too because in the end the CD will never give you anywhere near as much as a great live show will.
Find the bands that you really, really love to see live and then go see them every single chance you can.
Here are a few bands that I will never miss the chance to see if I can:
Damien Rice I have seen him twice and both rank highly on my favourite all time shows. The Convocation Hall show was just incredible. His music sounds 10 times better live and you can tell he really put's thought in to the visual effect of each song. He builds his songs up from the most delicate of starts to a crescendo of noise - it can be amazingly powerful.
Josh Ritter Just a really wonderful guy who tells stories, sings great songs and looks like he is loving every single minute of his life. You can't help but like him.
The Eels The band I have seen more times than any other (6 times now I think). Every single show is something different. Last time they were in flying suits and had a guy shadow boxing at the front of the stage. The time before that it was E with a sting quartet and a musical saw. He smoked cigars the whole show. In Scotland the band played in full kilt outfits for the whole show.
Finally, Travis who I saw again this week and once again had an amazing time. How can you not like band who comes out to the Rocky theme tune wearing boxing silks and pushing their way through the audience? Another band who are full of humility and are obviously just having an amazing time. It's infectous. They do tons of cheesy stuff like big sing-alongs, jumping of their amps, going into the crowd.... but what's wrong with that? If I had a song people wanted to sing-along to I'd play it every single chance I got.
So that's my few, I hope you have some too because in the end the CD will never give you anywhere near as much as a great live show will.
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