johnnycampbell

So it's been a while since I've written anything here and I can't say I've got a good reason.....but the World Cup season is upon is here in the Plateau and Mile-End districts, and it's as good a time for me to start writing about something. So here it goes...

For the 12 years I lived on the Main just below Rachel, I managed to experience 3 World Cups and always loved that I lived in Montreal's soccer central. There's just nothing like a World Cup tournament in this part of the city. There's every nationality under the sun which means it's always fun to watch a match. This tournament marks the first time I'll be spending my time in the Mile-End instead of the lower Plateau, and things are off to a great start. The Germany v. Costa Rica match is the best opening match I've ever seen, even surpassing the Scotland v. Brazil match of 1998.

This edition's HQ will be Cafe Olympico on St. Viateur. They've got a great setup for smokers and non-smokers alike, with a completely covered terasse area and a decent T.V. Inside, they've added a projection screen to their already substantial collection of TVs. So I'm set up! I can enjoy the best coffee in town with a smoke while watching the world's greatest sporting spectacle.

I've just tagged all my entries concerning Alex and the Nils as memorable entries so that they can all be found easily for anyone who is interested. The archive I had of all the posts on the Montrealshows board has been unavailable for some time now but will be up again soon. Same with some of the photos. The server I archived them to has been down and I don't know if it's ever going to be up again.

Just after I posted I got some great news from Caroline Evans of the McGill Daily - Jack Rabid has posted Scratches and Needles (an article she originally wrote for a magazine that will remain nameless) on the The Big Takeover website.

Really nice to see this up and on the Internet. Thanks to Jack for putting it up there with his comments, and to Caroline for having the inspiration to do it.

Later.....

I just don't know what to write about this......it's been a year since Alex took his own life and I'm at a loss for words. We all miss him and all of us wish we could have done something to prevent what happened, but that's a fool's game. There's nothing any of us could have done short of being there to stop it when it was about to happen.

I guess a few of us will be at Barfly this evening.

Really, I just don't know what to write. For once, I'm at a loss.

I was settling in to a good night of telly - watching "Invasion" (which is really quite good) and then getting set for "Lost" - when I got a call from my good pal Rick. He was at the Barfly and was supposed to be going to the Bad Religion show with Carlos, but Carlos bailed so he asked me to come along. "Get down here! I'll get the cab and buy you some beers". How could I refuse? Quality time with Rick and a chance to see a band I loved when I was an 17 year old suburban kid. I hardly know what Bad Religion have been up to since, but I figured what the hell. Jack Rabid still likes them, and if they're still good enough for him they should be good enough for me.

The Metropolis was completely sold out, filled with 2200 francophone teenagers and CEGEP aged kids who were very pumped for Bad Religion. If someone had told me 20 years ago that Bad Religion would be this big in Montreal I would never have believed them. But big they are.

I didn't know any of the material, but it was a blast anyway. This crowd knew all the words to all the songs and belted out the choruses so well that singer Greg Graffin was moved enough to say "You guys have the best voices we've ever heard from an audience yet!" I wouldn't doubt it. Rick and I were blown away by this passionate crowd. I'd say when it comes to passion, it's hard to beat the young fans of Bad Religion, Social Distortion, and Megadeth. All of these bands bring young francophones out in droves, singing the songs en masse and on key. Bad Religion let it be known how much they appreciated this audience throughout the set and there's no doubt in my mind their Montreal fans will be tough to top. It was love-in between the band and the crowd.

Glad I got the call and got off my ass for this show!

I'd direct anyone who is interested in knowing what did and didn't happen on 9-11 to 9-11 Research. I found this site last year and it remains the most thorough, dispassionate analysis of 9-11 on the 'Net, covering what is known and what isn't in great detail. You can only draw one conclusion after reading through the material on this site, but that can take some time.

It might be easier to read Muslims Suspend Laws of Physics, and if you really want to get it right, Muslims Suspend Laws of Physics Part II. If you care to read these articles and still think what every good American and Canadian thinks, then, well.....I don't know.

But if you don't care to read the above article, I'd understand. I know from experience that at times, ignorance really is bliss. Sometimes it's just better to be ignorant about certain things, especially when you can't really do anything about them.

But you have to admire physics professor Steven E. Jones of that bastion of American Radicalism, Brigham Young University. He has decided to do something about it. He has presented a paper entitled Why Indeed did the WTC Buildings Collapse? that will be published in a peer reviewed scientific journal early next year. The paper is rather long, but a could good summing up can be found here..

9-11 was surreal in more ways than I realized.

I had a rather amusing incident take place about 10 minutes ago at the corner of St. Urbain and St. Viateur. When I see drivers blatantly going through red lights on busy streets, I tend to show my displeasure. Sometimes I'll swear, other times I'll give them the one-finger salute. Either way, it's just a way for me to say "You're an idiot."

It amazes me how many jock knuckleheads actually respond to this sort of infantile provocation. So today, I gave this idiot running a red light on St. Viateur the finger, and suddenly he forgot he was in a rush, stopped his car hard and fast with an awful screech, and gets out of the car. I just ignore him - I can smell these knuckleheads a mile away after living through many weekends of their ilk on my old street, and know it's better not to bother. He gets out of the car and approaches me very aggressively, and asks what has to be the number one jock knucklehead question: "You got a PROBLEM?". So I tell him he went through a red light. "Is that my PROBLEM, or you're PROBLEM?", as he actually pushes me with both his hands. Strangely, I wasn't the least bit afraid, yet I knew that pushing back or even arguing with this guy was a complete waste of time and energy and probably hazardous to my health. So I just told him that it was my problem and had done with it. "Good, next time shut your mouth." Brilliant! I told him I hadn't said a word, that he was the guy who opened his mouth.

And that was that.

I couldn't helpt but smile as I walked over to get my laundry.....how is it jocks can get so upset when someone gives them the finger and they're clearly in the wrong? If I were fishing for jock knuckleheads and wanted a bait, I'd say just stand at any corner, wait for one of them to go through a red light as they invariably do, and get them with the one-finger salut. Usually works for me. ;-)

Just saw Shattered Glass last night and loved it. That this "journalist", working for one of the most prestigious American political magazines, could have written completely fabricated stories and subverted the 'fact-checking' process is astounding. It's a huge inditement of the state of American journalism that this could happen at all and for that long.

An interesting aspect of the story is how some of Glass' colleagues, even when faced with the facts, refused to believe that he could do such a thing. Talk about denial.

It's pet theme of mine these days - how easy it is dupe people into believing things even when they are faced with the facts of a given situation. Since 9/11/2001, it's been happening on a huge scale.

I might be in Ottawa tomorrow to see Tricky Woo and Starvin' Hungry at the Dominion Tavern, depending on whether or not I can meet up with someone to kill a few hours with during the day. If I go, I'll be rolling in for about 1:30-2:00.

Still can't believe I've yet to see Tricky Woo. Ever.

Two days in a row of the Sun, after what seems like a couple of weeks of dull, cold, rainy days. It's not like I'm taking advantage of it, but it's nice to wake up and see a clear blue sky out of my windows.

Listening to the New Pornographers' Twin Cinema yet again, remembering how much I enjoyed their show a couple of weeks ago. Never wrote about it, but I loved it and would place it at #3 in my fave shows of the year, right after Brian Wilson and Wilco. In the alternate AM radio universe, the New Pornographers would have at least 5 top ten hits by now. In my unvierse, almost every song on Twin Cinema is a jem, my kind of perfect pop.

I seem to be lacking focus these days and somehow that has to change. I have ideas for things I can do, besides looking for a job, but focus has been a severe problem. I can get focussed on doing physical things, but my mind these days is everywhere. But I can at least write about Fritjof Capra's "The Tao of Physics".

Maybe later...

Last night was one of those nights when the gods and goddesses were not going to allow me to simply stay at home and watch TV or or aimlessly browse the Internet. No. I had to be out, it seems, and I was getting it from all quarters.

First, it's starts with a call from Debbie on Sunday, asking me if I was interested in seeing Ashtray Heart at Barfly on Tuesday. Well, I said, as much as I'd like to I don't see how I can. Then yesterday morning I get an email from my pal Allan reminding me that the Bellrays were playing at La Sala Rosa and he's got my ticket. Great! Can't say no to that, can I? So I figure I'll just meet up with him at La Sala and skip the usual pre-show Barfly meetup, even though the Habs are playing Boston and Habs games at Barfly are a hoot. Then Kelly calls me while I'm out in the afternoon and leaves me a message....she's back in town and will be at the Barfly around 8:00 and would like to see me there. This was a no-brainer and settled the matter. I'd have to go to Barfly after all, broke or not. As if that weren't enough, at about 7:45 I get a call from....BARFLY. Geoff calling to telling me to get my ass over there and catch the game!

I get to Barfly at the beginning of the second period and there's the usual Habs hockey night atmosphere. Every seat is practically taken and there's this constant buzz about the place. After saying my hellos to regulars I haven't seen in what seems like ages, I spot Kelly at the bar and get the mandatory hugs and pecks on each cheek and the usual warm greetings, and then inquire about the score. 2-0 Boston. No problem, I say, we're going to win this anyway. I managed to get a seat by the bar and have a good chat with Kelly while watching a pretty good hockey game. The atmosphere at Barfly while watching the Habs is second to none. The place is usually full but not packed, and there's always Barkley, a dog who barks everytime the Habs score, matching the exuberance of the patrons. It felt good to be there last night. There were friends everywhere and everyone was in a good mood.

At about 11:00 we made our way up the Main to the Sala in a taxi, thinking we might be missing part of the show. We turned out to be early, just catching the end of the opening act's set. The Bellrays came on a little after 11:30 and started rather slowly, seemingly taking a little while to warm up. Once they got going it was clear that most of us would be in for a treat. I read somewhere that the Bellrays are like Aretha Franklin singing for the MC5 or the Ramones. I'd say it's unfair to make comparisons with Aretha Franklin, but will say they are true to the slogan on their T-Shirts: "Soul is the teacher, punk is the preacher". While you can definitely hear the influences of the MC5, the Ramones, and even Black Flag, they're also pretty funky. I found the sound a little off at times, and found myself wanting everything to be a little louder, especially Lisa Kekaula's voice. It was a fantastic show, and while I think they've probably been better (judging by what others have said), I look forward to seeing them again with better sound.

A great night!

It's Sunday morning, "almost my favourite time of the week", having a coffee and smoking too much. Yet another dull day in what seems like a week of dull days. It's been a fairly quiet weekend...my roomate's on a weekend tour of Ontario with Starvin' Hungry, I've got the place to myself, and I've hardly been out. It's kind of nice. Watched the Habs lose a close one to the Leafs last night. It's never a good feeling losing to the Leafs, especially when Eric Lindros scores the winning goal. Like most Quebec hockey fans, I don't think very much of this pea-brained former hockey prodigy, though I'll admit that he's a good player who was steered in the wrong direction by his parents.

I've had high-speed Internet for the last couple of weeks and I"m loving it. I've got my internal network setup and running both Linux and Windows XP hosts. Best of all, even when the DSL is down, as it is now, I've got access to another wireless link from downstairs. Wonderful.

I've just recieved a couple of calls, one from the new tenant in my old place. She needs a copy of my previous lease because her and her roomate are taking the bastard landlords to the Regie for over charging the rent. After I left, they did two months worth of renovations and then got a couple of McGill students who aren't from Quebec. They figured they didn't know the law, but they enough to know that what they're paying is too much for what they have. When I left that place, my rent was 350$. The new tenants are paying 1150$! Apparently the Regie have stated that even if they did 50,000$ worth of renovations, the rent would only be in the 5-600$ region. So I'll gladly oblige. Go get'em, Dominica!

The other call was from my good friend Geoff, suggesting I join he and his wife and a couple of others at the World Press exhibition and then a trip to the fabulous DOLLAR CINEMA to see Mr. and Mrs. Smith. I never thought I'd being seeing that kind of movie, but I hear it's funny and at any rate the dollar cinema (used to be the Decarie Square Cinema) is simply one of the best deals anywhere. EVERYTHING is a dollar. Adminission, popcorn, drinks, candy. Now that's a deal!

Got a surprise call from Debbie this morning, considering it's a weekday and she normally works. She has the day off and was in the neighbourhood so she came by with some chocolatines. We chatted while listening to the New Pornographers, then went out to grab a delicious cafe au lait at Olympico and sat on the steps at the church and found ourselves talking a lot about Alex. We don't always do this, but for some reason this morning I found myself missing him a lot and wishing he were around more than usual. You get over the shock, you get on with your life or try to, but the fact is Alex is gone forever. Yet I'll miss him my whole life, and I'll allow myself that. In the past, Alex and I might go months without being in touch but one of us would eventually call the other. Speaking for myself, if I'd been out of touch with for more than a couple of months I could feel myself needing to touch base with him. I still get that feeling now, only I can never touch base with him, I can only imagine what he might say.

At the Divan Orange on Friday, filled with old faces from the Bad Old Days of the Montreal music scene and photos of now famous Montreal bands , I couldn't help but think Alex would have got a kick out of the currently "hot" Montreal scene. I think even he would agree that it's never been better, though he'd probably be one of the sceptics and not as enthusiastic about it as I am. He would have definitely enjoyed the bill on Friday night. Perhaps he would have been on the bill with either the Nils or Chino had things not turned out so badly. That night I found myself reminiscing with Rick Trembles, Chris Burns, Francis D, and even Mark Lepage about what it used to be like in 80s. All of us seemed to agree that there can be no talk of the good old days. Some of us could talk about feeling nervous prior to going to a show, never sure if violence would break out or something crazy happening. It's not like that now. There are more bands, more fans, and more venues than there ever was. Violence is an exception. Today, those of us who still attend shows on a somewhat regular basis see ourselves more as artifacts of a lost era. You just can't compare the way things were then and the way they are now. It's like another world. That a festival celebrating independent music can successfully put on 300 hundred shows over 5 or 6 nights in Montreal would have been laughable to most of us 10 years ago. To those responsible for making the Montreal scene as dynamic and diverse as it is today, I say hats off, congratulations, and THANK YOU. You've accomplished what many of us would not have thought possible.

A real drag to be broke now, what with a bigger than ever Pop Montreal and rent just around the corner. Yet not all is doom and gloom....just found out the Devices, Crackpot, CPC Gangbangs, and Demons Claws are playing tonight at Divan Orange around 6PM!!!!!!!! It's a suggested donation of 5 bucks, very reasonable.

It's just insane how many shows are happening at this year's festival. If I had a job, I'd say it was the ideal time to take a vacation. Wish I could have bought one of those passes. Damn!

A couple of friends came by my place on Thursday and within a couple of beers, we were off to the Playhouse to see Montreal's most criminally overlooked punk rock band, Ashtray Heart. Formerly a seedy Parc Avenue strip joint, the Playhouse now hosts punk/metal shows on an occasional basis through former Unruled guitarist Michel Cyr. I didn't know what to expect from the venue, except evidence of its former strip joint persona. Add about 50 VLTs (well, a lot anyway), and you've got a pretty good idea of the place.

As we approached the place, I could see Michel hanging outside, having a smoke. Michel and I, while never actually good friends, are old acquaintances. We met back in 1981 through Gencon's Rob Huppee when we were in Sec IV. He was one of the few punks on Rob's street in Brossard, and going to his place for a visit was a chance to hear all the bands we had heard of and wanted to hear but couldn't. After a quick chat, I went upstairs and was treated to some of the best punk I've heard in a bar in years.  The "hits" just kept coming....Buzzcocks, SLF, Clash, Damned, Ruts, DKs, Viletones.....I could go on and on.

( Ashtray Heart at Playhouse )

It's remarkable the effect  prolonged unemployment can have on one's soul. I realized this late last week, after I'd come out of a job interview feeling confident and good about myself for the first time in weeks. Still don't know if I got the job,  but for a few days anyway, all was well with the world except my bank balance. Unemployment sucks, being broke sucks, but I'll say this: I've got great friends and family.

So I haven't been up to much these past few weeks. Haven't even gone to many shows....let's see, saw Starvin' Hungry put on two great sets at Casa in late August...hell, I actually did the door and merch for them that night in exchange for beer. And how can I forget  seeing Eric Kearns and Luc Mantha (ex-Chino) with Steve Burliuk (ex-The Darned, Fidget) and Mark Goodwin (L'il Buck) playing as Loaded By Beer at Barfly on September 9, kicking off the annual Hangover Golf Tournament. This out of the ashes of Chino's lineup at the Alex tribute last March. Fronted by both Steve and Mark, they played a combination of originals and a few covers (shit! can't remember them at the moment) and thoroughly entertained over half an hour.   Barfly was good and filled with old  friends. The Sweet Vains followed with a set of Stones influenced rock/country. Thoroughly enjoyed their performance, though I admit there was a fair amount of socializing going on at this point so I wasn't paying close attention.

I did try to see C'Mon last Thursday night at L'Hemisphere Gauche but I just couldn't last the night. I caught Whitey Houston and was really impressed and will look forward to seeing them in another venue. I really don't know about L'Hemisphere Gauche....I've seen a few bands there now but don't find it a great place to see a band except when you're in the pit. Otherwise, the sound is muddy and you can't see a thing. Hopefully, I'll get to see C'Mon in a venue they should be seen in, like Sala Rosa, or, even better, Cabaret. Love their latest record, "In the Heat of the Moment".

Barfly nights are few and far between,  so I watch a lot of movies instead. Some of the more memorable include City of God, Dogville, The Machinist, American Psycho,  To Die For, Jacket and seasons 3 and 4 of Six Feet Under. 

Tonight, I've been invited to check out Ashtray Heart at the Playhouse on Parc just above St. Viateur. Might just be there.....

....is not a word I use very much, but honestly, last night's performance by Brian Wilson and 18 musicians was just that. Stupendous. Simply one of the best concerts I've ever been to.

Brian Wilson this evening! Woo Hoo! Up until a couple of hours ago, I didn't think I'd be going but I just got an offer for some free tickets that I could not possibly refuse. Thanks, Caroline!

As for the weekend's crop of shows, I'll be at Barfly for the Cockroaches and Starvin' Hungry on Friday. I've seen both bands many times and they never fail to disappoint. The Cockroaches are very old-fashioned rock'n'roll - guitar, drums, and standup bass, played in a way I'm sure Buddy Holly would have approved of. Starvin' Hungry.....well, they're one of my fave punk rock'n'roll bands playing in the city these days. An unusual bill, but no more unusual than the Cockroaches playing with Jerk Appeal last week, which was a real treat. So while the Cockroaches play a more traditional rock'n'roll, they obviously have great taste in the post-punk bands they choose to play with. This Friday should be a great night!

Saturday night I'll be at the Main Hall for Dead Messenger, Jerk Appeal, and Montreal's living legends the American Devices. I don't know a damn thing about Dead Messenger, but am obviously a fan of Jerk Appeal and the Devices so I'm really looking forward to it.

Finally!!! While I still don't have high-speed Internet, I have a decent computer at my disposal and now feel able to write and work and get things back to normal again. Slowly but surely.....

I'm just going to write a few lj-cuts for now, snippets from my last couple of months.

( The Last Two Months )

( Moving Day )

( Stuff I Lost )

Writing on this piece of !@#% shit computer is just not worth the trouble. I'll be back to writing regularly when I finally move out of this dump I used to call home not so long ago, but for now just wanted to take note of the best Wilco show I've seen in Montreal, and one of the best shows of the year for me so far.

Wilco were at their very best last night. Metropolis is the best venue for them in this city, the band is the best they've ever been, and the set was just right. If you're a fan of the older stuff and not the new, you'd probably be disappointed. But I'm a fan of all of it, and loved every second of it. Apparently Jeff Tweedy has quit smoking, and it showed in his voice. My pal's sister, who only knows some of the material, called it "dreamy". All I can say is it's rare you hear a voice in rock that's better or as good live. Jeff Tweedy is every bit as good to hear live as on record.

Just to remind myself to write more later, here's the setlist:

1. Shot in the Arm
2. Handshake Drugs
3. Sunken Treasure
4. Company in my Back
5. War on War
6. Hell is Chrome
7. Airline to Heaven
8. Break your Heart
9. Heavy Metal Drummer
10. At Least That's What you Said
11. Muzzle of Bees
12. Theologians
13. Radio Cure
14. Always in Love
15. I'm the Man who Loves You
16. Hummingbird

D2:
ENCORE 1:
1. Misunderstood
2. Forget the Flowers
3. Late Greats
4. Kingpin
5. Jesus, etc.
6. Spiders/Kidsmoke
ENCORE 2:
7. Hesitating Beauty
8. I'm a Wheel
9. Too Far Apart
10. I Shall be Released

I got this from the montrealshows stillepost.ca board. A fanatastic set!