Broken Social Scene (@ Warehouse Live - 10/27/06)

Well, ever since Richard introduced Broken Social Scene to me back in 2003, I was instantly hooked. It's hard not to, in my opinion. They make really great music. They have been a favorite of mine since I first listened and since that time, they have gotten to be one of the most respected bands out of Canada, and in the music world. I was fortunate enough to catch this band in Houston back in 2004 while they were down here for that year's SXSW in Austin, actually Houston was fortunate enough. It was a great show to see. I mean, there was this great band playing at a small club (The Prolateriat), for a cheap price, on a trip in which they probably wouldn't have played Houston. That was a highlight show for me for that year. Other than it being hot as hell in the club, it was almost a flawless show. The crowd was so responsive, and the band really, genuinely seemed to appreciate it. They seemed to be humbled and had nothing but great things to say about the Houston crowd...I was as surprised as probably anyone.

Fast forward to 2006, Broken Social Scene finally releases a new studio album in Feburary and the tour dates start rolling out. After buying the new album, and listening to it over and over, I find that they are skipping Houston and hitting Austin. The thought crossed my mind to actually travel to Stubb's in Austin on a weekday to catch them. After thinking about it, and assuming that Houston will be added at a later time, I decide not to go. Surely they will hit Houston after the memorial and great show that was put on back in 2004, right? Well, it appeared that it wasn't going to happen. The year moves on, and no Houston show was in sight. After months pass, rumors start swirling that they are going to break up after the tour finishes. This sucks! I read further on various website and there is no news that denies the rumors. After a little bit longer, it surfaces that they aren't going to break up, but will go on a "hiatus", which might as well be a break up in my book. If figure, at least I got to see them once before, and I probably won't get the chance to again....

A couple of weeks past, it could have very well been months, and then I start hearing that they may be booked at The Warehouse Live....nothing official, but it's a start. It finally happens. After checking the venue's website for some time, it is finally booked and made official. I am estatic! Yes! I then proceed to let Raymond and Mike, as well as Ruby, that this is the show that we cannot miss, and that we have to get tickets just as soon as they are made available. They go on sale one weekend, we get the tickets and then the waiting really begins.

After a month or two, the show is upon us. Rook', Ruby and I do the tradional, meet up at the house and get a few beers in us before the show (with Broken Social Scene playing in the background). The night is setting up nice already. We get there and we see the opening band already performing. I can't remember their name, but they were something else. They were pretty damn good. I need to look them up. They wrap up their nice set, and Rook', Ruby, and I get to sneak up a little closer to the stage. Not a bad spot really, the night keeps getting better and better..

Broken Social Scene come on stage and the show is everything that you would expect from them and even more so. The sound was great, I still say that the Warehouse Live is now the choice place for live acts in town now, the set was great, the crowd was appreciative, and the band was having fun. After they played for an hour, Kevin Drew then says that was just the first half of the show, and that they were playing a lot longer. I thought that they were just kidding around, but no they weren't. They played from about 10:45 to until about 12:45-ish. I guess that the margarita's that they were drinking kept them going, or something. It was a marathon show, but you didn't want it to end, unless your feet were tired. Mine actually held up.

I wish that I could have finished up this review much closer to the show, but sometimes it is just hard to finish up stuff, or just find the time. Any how it was a great show, arguably one of the best shows of my life. It will honestly be hard for another show to top this one. Next up...deftones.....

I'm in love with Rock n' Roll, But that will change eventually..

Well, I have been keeping active with music lately. Got back in the studio with the fellas, and I am even trying to create tracks at home. It makes you feel as if you are accomplishing something, which I am. I have even gone as far as to record like four tracks at home in my spare time (what's that, right?!). Man, that has really made me feel great. Over the last couple of years, I have really wasted a lot of time that I now really, really have a sense of accomplishment lately. I have even done something that I have never really done with the "tracks" that I created on my own....I have actually shared them. The response was a bit surprising to me. Mike and Rook' really seem to dig the two that I shared with them. It really was a bit surprising to me for whatever reason. At the same time, I guess that I do need some positive feedback to keep it going. It seems to be working.

With all of this, it feels really good to talk about music again with Mike and Rook'. It's something that has been a little bit absent in our conversations, or should I say, emails during work. It's been refreshing the last two weeks or so. I am just feeling really positive about things right now. I would like to add that the emails during the day while working really helps me get through the day. I look forward to it, and hate it when it stops! (I just had to mention that!)

Having said that, last Tuesday was our first real session back in the studio. Although it was great to get back in there, it really was, it was difficult to not really see my Little Man that day. I mean, I did get to see him after I go home from work and before it was time to leave for the studio, only it was while he was napping. Not to mention that when I got home after rehearsal, at about 11:00, he was crashed out. A little disheartening, but I guess I will have to get used to that. It certainly was hard for me. I guess I have to make the most of that time that I am away from him. I mean, make that rehearsal session count. We were a little rusty that first day, but I suspect that they will only get a bit more smooth as the weeks go on. I am going to have to put up a picture of the little man in there to help me through get through the night.

Well, that is all that I have for now. I am going to try and transfer two pieces to the computer now before it gets too late....

and if you save yourself, you will make him happy

I finally, or should I say, got back in the rehearsal studio with Mike and Raymond last Tuesday. It was a great feeling. I didn't know exactly how it would go down, or how I would feel. It turned out to be just fine, not that I didn't expect it to be at all. Things are starting to get back on track. I mean, goals are getting set and things are really starting to come together and move. It's great to see. I almost feels like a fresh start. That is probably the best way to put it at this point. It's weird too, I mean we all haven't gotten in there since before the baby was born, but we are all on the same wave length. It's almost as if the "break" kind of made us miss what we were doing. It may be a good thing. We seem to really miss what we were doing. Because of this, we kind of refocused and realized what we want to do ulitimately. It works out really. By that I mean, nobody got discouraged, or wanted to jump ship persay....that is a good sign. I think that the guys I am working with, Mike and Rook, are in it for the long run. I know that I am. I don't care if we ever play I live show at a real venue, in front of live people, we are doing what we love. Creating music. Man, that is such a great thing to say that you do. It's not hard, and it isn't rocket science, but it is still a wonderful thing. Especiallly if it affects somebody. That is the reward of it all.

I don't know what direction we will go into. Man, if you think about it, we haven't even scatched the surface of music, but it is just great to be a part of.

Things are starting to really move, and I feel so positive about what has happened in the last two weeks, that I can't wait to see what becomes of it. It is going to be exciting to write about, and see what really happens.....I can't wait...

Excuse the mess, I'm under construction...

Ok, I am trying to keep my end of the bargin. Well, I am just doing what I feel that I should be doing. I am trying to get my hands back into "guitar shape". My fingers are pretty sore, but that's a good think. I can't believe how I have wasted time and just plain got away from playing. I am ashamed that I have let that happen, and I am not going to let that happen again.

I am thinking that I am going to get back in the studio with Rook' and Mike next week. Even if it is just one day out of next week, it doesn't really matter, just as long as I get in there. I feel that we have let some time get away from us. I think that we also need to refocus and figure out what we want to do and how we want to do it.

I think before we get back in the studio, that we are going to meet and try to figure some things out. I think that we need to. I like when we get all together and have open discussions and throw out ideas out into the open. That is always good to do every now and then.

Well, I am just going to keep on going and do what I need and want to do. Can't wait to get back in the studio and creat music and just have fun. Hopefully we can pick up and get going. Maybe something will actually come of what we want to do. I really hope so, in what form, I really don't know, but I hope that something happens. I will keep updates. It should be fun to watch, read, and chronicle. Full Steam Ahead!!!