18 12 2003
Busy last few days. Yeah, busy. That’s why I haven’t written since last week.
Anyway, Friday was the David Usher concert. Even though Simone and I went, we left before the former Moist front-man got on stage (”Moist” is the name of the band, not an adjective). We were there for the perfomance by “The Salads“. They’re a local Ska band with an on-stage gimmick. Normally I don’t like either of those elements in my music, but The Salads really make listening to music fun.
Worst thing about the show - the sound system. They must have had it configured for the following opener, Pilate, and of course, David Usher - both of which are far more mellow than the insane activity of The Salads. The sound was maxing out, flattening the loudest (best, and most common) parts of their music. Additionally, Simone and I both walked away with fucked up eardrums. I could barely hear out of my left ear throughout Saturday.
Unfortunately, most of the people in the Kool Haus were there for mellow, woe-is-me-rock. The enthusiastic fans were scattered around the floor. If there were more than five together, a mosh pit might have started, but it would have received many dirty looks from the room’s Status Quo.
Monday night was the Livewire Christmas party. Unfortunately, we had less than two week’s notice and I already had tickets to Billy Talent. I wanted to spend at least a little time with my co-workers, so Simone and I joined them for the cocktails & socializing before dinner. When everyone sat down, then we picked up and took off for the concert. We missed the opening bands, but they didn’t look too interesting anyway. There’s some group we missed named “Yellowcard” who look like they’re shaping up to be the “Next Big Canadian Rock Band”. Seems like we’re getting one of those every month since Sum 41 hit the Big Time.
Okay. No David Usher fans here. When Billy Talent hit the stage, Simone and I were about two-third’s of the way to the back of the crowd but the moshing was all the way back to us and further. By the end of the concert we were right in the thick of the pit with only a few human bodies between us and the stage.
My toes hurt. It was still worth it. Sounds like they’re going back into the studio, so we may see another CD from them as early as next Summer. More likely - as with any band as marketable as they are - it’ll be released in time for next Christmas’ rush.
Speaking of which, there’s only two more days until I’m out of here for two full weeks. Combining my remaining vacation days, and Livewire’s annual “let’em off for a week during Christmas”, I’m gonna get a lot of nothin’ done! Ahhhh…… God Bless’em.
Of course I have most of the key Christmas gifts bought, but there’s still a few I’m missing. Only one is a mystery as to what I’m going to get - so I have to figure that out. Everything else is targetted buys… in and out of the store as quick as possible, at least for this time of the year. I’ll probably hit the malls first thing Saturday or Monday morning. It’ll be busy, I know, but I’m only there for a few minutes, right?…..
… right?….
….maybe I should take a sleeping bag. Next week at the malls is going to be Hell.
