Tribute Bands
January 17th, 2004
We went and saw the wickedest tribute band last night in the whole damn land. We all felt a little collectively guilty about bypassing the Harshey/Double Pumpers gig at the Dom, and the Weekend at Zaphod's... but I think we were all a little curious about this relatively recent tribute phenomenon that has been attacking Barrymore's. At first I thought it would be funny, but I was quickly educated in my stupidity when I walked and into the venue and realized that this band was doing a perfect rendition of "Primal Scream" by The Crue. WICKED.
We were doused with multiple wicked songs and then they changed into their Guns'N'Roses mode, and blew us away with mad songs from Appetite and the Illusion records....
Short but sweet...awesome.
c
Top Picks of 2003
January 8th, 2004
I figure that I should put in my 2 cents for the top CD's of 2003. I bought a ton of CD's this year. I can honestly say that I wasn't disapointed by many of them but here are the top 10 in no particular order:
The Mars Volta - De-loused in the Comatorium
Alexisonfire - Alexisonfire
Tangiers - Hot New Spirits
The Darkness - Permission to Land
Brand New - Deja Entendu
Armor for Sleep - Dream to Believe
The Used - The Used
Constantines - Shine a Light
Hopesfall - The Satalite Years
Thrice - The Artist and the Ambulance
- paul
A Year in Review... sort of
January 6th, 2004
Seeing as how Steve and Chris put up their List of 2003, I have felt pressure to do the same. This year I think I bought less cd's than I have in recent years. This is not because I haven't found a lack of good music to buy, though. There is still lots coming out. So I'm going to list my top 5 cd's of the year (some may have been released in 2002, but I just got them this year)
In no particular order:
-The Weakerthans: Reconstruction Site
-The Meligrove Band: Let It Grow
-Kathleen Edwards: Failer
-Gob: Foot in Mouth Disease
-The Joel Plaskett Emergency: Truthfully Truthfully
The best cd I still haven't got around to buying (my birthday is coming soon...):
-The Deadly Snakes: Ode to Joy
Some other, more personal news from 2003:
-I got married: what a party!
-I am expecting a baby: you can do the math, but you'll find the baby came after marriage.
-I got some jeans.
Who knows what 2004 might bring, certainly not me because I sold my Delorean.
Yours in Rock,
Trevor
2003
December 30th, 2003
as lame as top ten lists are.... here's my stab at a "best of" for 2003:
#1. frank black and the catholics - show me your tears (sonic unyon)
and the rest, in no particular order...
the sights - got what we want (sympathy for the record industry)
broken social scene - you forgot it in people (arts & crafts)
soft canyon - broken spirit, i will mend your wings (alien8)
double pumpers - do it to it (independent)
tangiers - hot new spirits (sonic unyon)
led zeppelin - how the west was won (atlantic)
brian jonestown massacre - and this is our music (committee to keep music evil)
joel plaskett - truthfully truthfully (maple music)
candidates - fame, fortune and free drinks (independent)
elevator - darkness/light (teenage usa)
andrew vincent - i love the modern way (kelp)
bionic - deliverance (sound king)
stephen malkmus - pig lib (matador)
white stripes - elephant (v2)
deadly snakes - ode to joy (in the red)
here's to more good music in 2004...
/steve
Top Ten of 2003....
December 30th, 2003
I've decided to write my kudos in the form of a short paragraph...I had some highs and lows this year. The highs were early morning movie screenings, Wilderbeat 2003, The Sights/Dirtbombs gig at the Dom, Nashville Pussy, A Perfect Circle live, talking to some kool kats who I respect musically, learning to do fluid triplets on the traps, and learning that the Deleo Brothers are producing music and refuse to let themselves fade away into the darkness that is their nineties music legacy. The lows were STP breaking up, deaths, crappy attendances at good gigs, Dave Martindale of The Double Pumpers losing the feeling in his fingers, and John Ritter and Johnny Cash dying....
Here's my top ten records as well....
1. Ryan Adams-Rock'N'Roll-Lost Highway/Universal-
2. The Decemberists-Castaways & Cutouts-EMI
3. Jim Bryson & The Occasionals-independent
4. The Recoilers-demos on Mp3.com-independent
5. The Replacements-All Shook Down-Reprise/Warner
6. SRV & Double Trouble-The Sky Is Crying-offical Texas re-issue-EMI
7. The Who-Live At Leeds-Warner Bros.
8. Johnny Cash-American Music Series-American/Warner
9. Thrice-The Artist In The Ambulance-Island
10. Rival Schools-United By Fate-Warner
-chris
A Diary Entry:
Post Christmas Wrap-up
by: Chris Saracino
December 29th, 2003
Realizing that nobody has made a diary entry in quite a little while, I discovered that I wanted to make one.
Our collective Chritmas was grand. Steve got a wide assortment of leather clothing and latex masks for his new little business, Paul got the B-44 box set on DVD that he was looking for, I got all of my "Everybody Loves Raymond" episodes on DVD as promised by my parents, and Trevor got some really good news that he decided to share with everyone....which has apparently become public knowledge, but that I am refraining from sharing just in case I get the beats from someone for not checking it out. More to come soon.
In other news, we are gearing up for our New Year's Eve gig at the 360 in Toronto currently. Steve is planning on buying some new gear, and I fiddled with the idea of getting this smoking 1972 Ludwig wideswing vintage drum kit that I've been eyeing for the last few days. We have working demos of the new stuff for our E.P. right now....which are actually unmixed tracks of what is actually going to be on the E.P. Prime on our agenda is finishing this off, but we are currently deciding on who to mix the record....and that sometimes takes a while....don't fret tho...we are on it.
Besides that, Steve and I almost got into a little fisticuff in Montreal with some rowdy Americans over the holidays. Apparently Steve said something to someone on the way to the bathroom, and then at the end of the night...we were threatened. Steve and I were going to tag team these dudes like Ric Martel and Tito Santana, but that didn't pan out because some gigantic bouncer busted up our plans and let us out of the back. The same gigantic bouncer let us know as he ushered us to safety, that he was a part time comedian, and that he was performing at Yuk Yuk's in Ottawa on January 12th, 2004.
ahem...yes.
Otherwise...I think I can speak on behalf of the band saying that we hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season.
Come and see us on New Year's Eve if you live in Toronto. I got a new headband that I'm going to wear.
Chris,
+
Trevor, Paul, and Steve.
Rock & Roll XMAS and Weekend:
Show, Shikasta, NASHVILLE PUSSY...
December 1st, 2003
We played on Friday night for the evening dubbed "Rock'N'Roll Xmas" on a bill with four otehr cool ass bands that were doing their thing for needy families.
As I was setting up my cymbals, I realized I really need some Xbox games....and wondered if I constituted as a needy individual. If anyone thinks so, please buy me KILLSWITCH for the XBOX, and we'll call it a day.
Anyways, we rocked it out, and then I stiffed Trevor for a ride home. Trevor had to walk about 40 miles in the cold. Sorry buddy.
I went and saw Shikasta, Starvin' Hungry, and Les Doubles Pumpeurs (a.k.a. The Double Pumpers) on Saturday night. Good show....cool vibe...but Shikasta didn't played hardly anything from GOLD, their Ian Blurton produced last record. Thanks a lot chaps. The guitarist is also a giant playing potentially the smallest Ernie Ball Musicman I've ever seen in my life. He looked like Emhotep from "The Mummy Returns".
LAST NIGHT!....we saw Nashville Pussy, and I've decided to say that it was the best fuckin rock and roll show I've ever seen in my whole life. Better than Marilyn Manson, better than Bionic, better than Today's Special at the Civic Center.....this show whooped ass. Ruyter Suys is one of the best guitar players I've ever seen...really fast, and she has big tats. Wicked time...every song kicked ass. The funniest part was when these little street trash kids got bounced the hell outta the club and they put up a big fight about getting put out on the street. HAHA!
chris
KFC NITES
-coupled with The Sights and The Dirtbombs
a diary entry by Chris Saracino
November 14th, 2003
Steve and I had KFC last night, while watching the leadership convention for the Liberals. While eating our slop of fried everything and gravy, we both agreed that Paul Anka is human sleaze. We began to watch the excellent Beverly Hills Cop 2, but then had to go to our rock experience. We went and saw The Sights and The Dirtbombs. 2 kick ass bands, with another show put on by the notorious John Westhaver of Ottawa's Birdman Sound. Congratulations CKCU for raising over $100,000 from this year's funding drive.....John was mentioning this before introducing The Sights.
Now I have to say that Eddie Baranek of The Sights is a kick ass guitar player. Not being much of guitarist, I have a lot of respect for guys who can do stuff on an axe like he does, especially considering he's playing old Gibsons, which had notoriously thin necks. He SMOKED the place. The whole band was kick ass.
My personal fave songs were "Waiting" and "Sorry". Really good band, and furthered my newfound interest in Detroit's underground garage scene. I caught these guys at this year's Wilderbeat, and was impressed, but the intimacy of the Dominion is always a great environment to truly appreciate.
The Dirtbombs kicked ass as well. Mick Collins has a swagger about him that is really cool. They were without Jim Diamond though..
Their rendition of the cult classic "Underdog" sounded wicked, as did the three encores that they did.
Two words....November 29th.
SHIKASTA with Starvin' Hungry and Ottawa's kick ass Double Pumpers.
this is another opportunity to have your skin removed by music.
trust
The Housewarming
Good Times. Awesome Times.
November 8th, 2003
Steve had his housewarming festivities last night with his wonderful girlfriend Maritia, and a gaggle of friends and colleagues at their new digs in Ottawa's upscale Glebe neighbourhood. Once we got there, a bowl of nachos and salsa was quickly consumed, and we began partying. We didn't make it to the store in time to purchase any alcohol, but I managed to unearth a Heineken tallboy that I had found in the back of my car from about three months ago. Score! Except that upon touching the frat style alcohol beverage, I realized the internal pressure in the can as a result of being shaken and temperature exposed in my trunk for the last 90 days, including a zig zag trip to Toronto where I tested my car's shocks by rolling through the Arby's drive thru about 30 times. I resisted opening the can in the street before we walked into Steve's house, but upon putting my thumb on the pop tab, I harkened my fond memories of when Bruce Willis verges and ponders thoughts before blowing himself and the asteroid up at the end of Armageddon.
As usual, Kealey was about 50 KING cans of Steeler into his drinking spell when we sauntered into the premises. He greeted me with a cold fish handshake, still slightly upset at me about revealing his fondness for driving around neighbourhoods at night, looking for trick or treaters in June. Tonight, Trevor was into the ghetto fist punch, so I appeased him knowing full well that after beer # 20, he begins to get physical. I planted my seed of concession, and he recognized.
As the night went on, Trevor and I began making fun of each other's clothes, as I accused him of dressing like Mr. Angelino or Mr. Roper from Three's Company, and he destroyed me for wearing Polo. Besides the fact that Trev's collar was about 30 feet high, and my shirt as great if I was at my Grade 8 grad, we both decided to hop into our respective Deloreans (if we had them), and travel back to our appropriate fashion times.
Soon, some of us were huddled around the notebook computer, and discussing the rock music, and of course, 50 beers into Trevor's drinking binge, Aylmer, Quebec. Trevor insisted that Aylmer was fantastic. He quickly dropped the subject, and began hardcore air guitaring with Steve when Freebird came on, and they very cooly knew every single note and appropriate fret placement on the air guitar for the 9 minute solo. I was impressed. Trevor decided to begin poking me repeatedly halfway into the solo, then asked me if I minded in becoming his guitar, as he tried to play the song on my leg and arms, slightly hugging me. Steve began discussing rock music, and when Highway To Hell erupted on the computer speakers, he went into a serious conversation about how "this" was real rock music. He had a point I have to admit. We ate practically all of Trevor's wife Dani's delicious marshmallow treats with chocolate chips, then began bouncing around discussing Propoghandi and John Sutton from The Weakerthans who we had seen a few nights earlier at Barrymore's with The Carnations and The Fembots. Good Times. Awesome Times.
As if time had stopped, Steve did a Liza Minelli style cabaret walk into his bedroom, sank into the mattress, and fell asleep. It took us all but 3 minutes to realize that he had simply dissapeared. We looked in the kitchen, then opened the bedroom door to find our musician comrade in arms.
Steve Palmer was wearing a Shriner's tunic, coupled with Decepticons matching pajamas, and was nestled into his personal sleep headquarters, complete with Hall & Oates bedsheets. We all jumped on him, and he didn't bat an eye initially, but was then pissed severely. I asked Trevor to do our famous Anne Ramnsay impression directly into his ear while he slept, but he instead insisted on faking an exit from the bedroom, and hiding behind his bed. Our friend Brett Tackaberry and I watched from the door, as we shut the lights on Palmer, and Trevor silently laughed while waiting to scare the shit out of him. Steve travelled back to his personal dream land of chocolate guitars and bunnies, and Trevor prepped and executed his sleep invasion. We all laughed. Good Times. Awesome Times.
We exited, Trevor began singing "New Sensation" by INXS very loudly, and poking me and slapping me whenever the vowels were piqued the way that Michael Hutchence used to do it, and we then setlled down.
Once again, The Setbacks party, and do it well.
chris
Trevor and I's Washed Up Visa Series...
Your favourite washed up characters on a VISA card!
November 5th, 2003
Trevor and I thought up this idea for a series of Visa Credit Cards that you can get with your favourite people who are pathetic.
Andy Moog Visa
Carl Winslow Visa (Dad from Family Matters)
Waldo from Family Matters Visa
Family Matters Visa
Just The Ten Of Us Visa
Growing Pains Visa
Balki Bartakamos Visa
Cousin Larry Visa
The Two Girlfriends from Perfect Strangers Visa
John Stamos Visa
Dave Coulier Visa...way too easy.
D.J. from Roseanne Visa
Murder She Wrote Visa
Matlock Visa
Doogie Howser Visa
Vinnie from Doogie Howser Visa
Wanda from Doogie Howser Visa
A.C. Slater Visa
Mr. Belding Visa
Mastercard Visa
Chevy Cavalier Visa with flames shooting out of the tailpipe
Alexis On Fire Visa
EMO Visa
Blossom Visa (NBC show, not a flower...)
Staggered Crossing Visa
Small Wonder Visa
Macauley Culkin Visa
Holy Shit I could go on for days...
chris
Contact the band at band[at]thesetbacks.com