I’m so happy that I got to see Kings at Sasquatch Festival at the Gorge in Washington this past spring... What a perfect venue for such a band and being 20 feet from the stage - pretty exciting stuff.
There are so many bands out there with amazing talent and albums, but when you see them live, well, what can I say but that it's a disappointment.
Not so with Kings... in fact, it's more the opposite - them Live, is a pleasure to watch, not just delivering on every song, but intensely being conscious of their fans the soul of the band really shines through – almost as if it’s recognizing the privilege to be performing in front of so many people, a pride in what they do, but humbly aware of both their roots and the fragileness of the career choice they’ve made, recognizing that it will probably one day be over, and they’ll again find their ‘paint cans’ & be painting houses.
Maybe because I’m an artist, it's about the simplicity, or the purity of live music that captures the audience along with an energy that must pervade every venue, every show, every person - it's about delivering every time, all the passion and energy and with intensity regardless of What is going on in your life, and that's exactly what they do. From the reviews from last night’s concert, it appears that that is again the case, which is a disappointment as I wasn’t there to see it.
Death rarely comes at a convenient time, and as life would have it, my Uncle keeled over with a massive heart attack Sunday night and as the family descended on Alberta for the funeral I found myself at a loss. Although I was glad that I got my money back for my amazing seats, I was torn - do I ditch the family (pre-funeral, who I love but haven't seen some in years) and go to the concert (which I didn't do...).
I find this somewhat strange because I see concerts all the time, and if I miss one well, whatever. For whatever reason, last night it was all I could do to stay at home and not go down to the dome (even in my sweats & half corked from drinking with my family) and buy a scalped ticket and go to the show... very strange, this!
I suppose it's sort of like Bon Iver (amazing - now if you haven't heard of them, LOOK them up, totally different genre, but tremendous stuff… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePatJIwB-sI).
Caleb somehow, cocky and arrogant yet almost meekly manages to reach out and grab you by the scruff of the neck and pulls you so close with his lyrics that he dares you to look into his eyes and into his soul, to taste the passion and anger; to smell the sweat and feel the power of being so close... It’s a raw passion which they perform show after show, album after album and every few songs, flick a much coveted pick into a crowd of adoring fans; it’s what I aspire to do with my music, and few have.
Maybe it's because in some strange way I can relate to facets of them... being raised in a religious family before 'finding music', growing up in a 'hick-town' where no one expects you to go anywhere; from being emotionally beaten up by an ex or having no outlet except music along with a brother who is far more talented than I, that gets that part of me... I don't know but its heady stuff. Whatever the case, for as much as has happened in my life this year, even 50 years from now, KOL will be the theme song for 2009, for me.
So for a first show in Calgary, people didn't really know... didn't see Kings outside of a couple of songs religiously played on the radio, but after last night, I believe you got our attention, more collectively.
Kings, are here to stay.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
So you think you're having a bad day...
If you are, read on and feel much better! I'm going to try and write this in a positive note or funny one (if I can manage to) so when i think things are going wrong in the futre it will either be an inspiration for writing or to appreciate how good of a day I'm actually having at the time.
I do want to preface today with yesterday which was a great night with friends... BBQ, hot tub, photoshoot in the afternoon for my portfolio... My photographer T. is amazing and I felt pretty pumped afterwards and went for a 9K jog - so pretty good.
This morning, in the still pumped mode, decide to get up at 5:30 and go for a run but hit snooze b/c it was still way too dark so get out the door by 6AM and jog 6K and do a pilates work-out as well. Jump in the shower, get ready for work - feeling sexy and full of energy and b/c I'm running a few minutes late, forget my day-book at home with my LIFE in it.
Stop in at Starbucks to grab my Americano and cash a $20 so I have change for the train and head on down MacLeod Trail. It's at this point that I see the flashing lights and not sure Why the officer is pulling me over, I pull over and park and a bit bewildered wait for him to approach my window.
So standard procedure; license and registration speal to which I realize that both my registration and insurance paperwork is in my day-book at home. At this point, the officer informs me that he pulled me over b/c my car registration is expired as of July 31st and I'm totally dumbfounded that I possibly could have forgotten to do this but never got the renewal form so didn't think of it. Why the address wasn't updated is beyond me, but considering my year, it's not suprising that I've forgotten to do it.
So. Driving around with No Registration & No Insurance.
The officer goes back to his truck with my license (he's actually really nice, so this is a plus) to check it, and meanwhile I call in late to work and after this, receive phone call stating that my Uncle died yesterday of a massive heart attack.
So the officer comes back to my car requesting a phone number so that he can phone my insurance company to verify I do have insurance (which truth be told was really nice b/c they usually are dinks and don't care...) and trying to keep my composure (I Hate crying especially in front of people) I've found an old temporary card with the phone number and an address that doesn't match either my license or the registration on the plate... ackward explaining my moving around to avoid my ex-husband over the past year and a half... & why I haven't switched my license over to my new address yet; goes back to truck as i sit in my car in tears...
long and short, he gives me one ticket for $230.00 out of a possible four totalling over $950, plus car tow and court date. I'm relived at this point but now have a mess of make-up as he tells me that I need to get this taken care of today and if I get pulled over today (again) that the possibility is for the whole same senario all over and more tickets.
So my uncle is dead and now my family is on their way into town. Again.
Work goes okay once I actually get there (nearly hour and half late) - don't have too much to do, so working on my MT vocabulary. Get phone call from friend cancelling going to a concert on Thursday which I've been looking forward to for months that I actually forgot to pick-up my tickets from ticket-master... So now realizing I've got extra tickets and may not be able to go i'm a bit choked, but... hey - it's a funeral right?
Work is over, so I'm off home to get my insurance and registration to renew, (you know how they say things happen in 3's???) find out i have an $80 ticket issued on June 2nd. First I hear of it - they don't take any credit cards... diving a bit deeper in to my Europe money. Okay, so car is registered again. (add in re-registration fee - ching ching)...
Get phone call from ex-husband and he's got my paperwork for registration (how wonderfully convenient...), a bill for $115 from an MRI that got sent to him instead of me back in JANUARY that's now painfully over due (really~) and to see about going to dinner to work things out with our marriage. Of course this makes Complete sense because WE'RE DIVORCED!
It's been an incredibly emotional day to which I'm happy to say i kept my composure through the majority of (with the exception of the 'death call' this morning) but about to lose it.
And I don't.
i just feel done - like life beat the crap out of me today. I am grateful that I never have to repeat today & I can chalk it up to another bit of life-lessons but it still sucks.
I figure it can only go up from here, and off to meet a bunch of girl-friends for a 'send-off' for my friend K. who's moving to Austraila next week.
Girls night otta pick me up - I hope!
Anyways, tomorrow's a new day - looking forward to it: single, beautiful and full of Hope.
I do want to preface today with yesterday which was a great night with friends... BBQ, hot tub, photoshoot in the afternoon for my portfolio... My photographer T. is amazing and I felt pretty pumped afterwards and went for a 9K jog - so pretty good.
This morning, in the still pumped mode, decide to get up at 5:30 and go for a run but hit snooze b/c it was still way too dark so get out the door by 6AM and jog 6K and do a pilates work-out as well. Jump in the shower, get ready for work - feeling sexy and full of energy and b/c I'm running a few minutes late, forget my day-book at home with my LIFE in it.
Stop in at Starbucks to grab my Americano and cash a $20 so I have change for the train and head on down MacLeod Trail. It's at this point that I see the flashing lights and not sure Why the officer is pulling me over, I pull over and park and a bit bewildered wait for him to approach my window.
So standard procedure; license and registration speal to which I realize that both my registration and insurance paperwork is in my day-book at home. At this point, the officer informs me that he pulled me over b/c my car registration is expired as of July 31st and I'm totally dumbfounded that I possibly could have forgotten to do this but never got the renewal form so didn't think of it. Why the address wasn't updated is beyond me, but considering my year, it's not suprising that I've forgotten to do it.
So. Driving around with No Registration & No Insurance.
The officer goes back to his truck with my license (he's actually really nice, so this is a plus) to check it, and meanwhile I call in late to work and after this, receive phone call stating that my Uncle died yesterday of a massive heart attack.
So the officer comes back to my car requesting a phone number so that he can phone my insurance company to verify I do have insurance (which truth be told was really nice b/c they usually are dinks and don't care...) and trying to keep my composure (I Hate crying especially in front of people) I've found an old temporary card with the phone number and an address that doesn't match either my license or the registration on the plate... ackward explaining my moving around to avoid my ex-husband over the past year and a half... & why I haven't switched my license over to my new address yet; goes back to truck as i sit in my car in tears...
long and short, he gives me one ticket for $230.00 out of a possible four totalling over $950, plus car tow and court date. I'm relived at this point but now have a mess of make-up as he tells me that I need to get this taken care of today and if I get pulled over today (again) that the possibility is for the whole same senario all over and more tickets.
So my uncle is dead and now my family is on their way into town. Again.
Work goes okay once I actually get there (nearly hour and half late) - don't have too much to do, so working on my MT vocabulary. Get phone call from friend cancelling going to a concert on Thursday which I've been looking forward to for months that I actually forgot to pick-up my tickets from ticket-master... So now realizing I've got extra tickets and may not be able to go i'm a bit choked, but... hey - it's a funeral right?
Work is over, so I'm off home to get my insurance and registration to renew, (you know how they say things happen in 3's???) find out i have an $80 ticket issued on June 2nd. First I hear of it - they don't take any credit cards... diving a bit deeper in to my Europe money. Okay, so car is registered again. (add in re-registration fee - ching ching)...
Get phone call from ex-husband and he's got my paperwork for registration (how wonderfully convenient...), a bill for $115 from an MRI that got sent to him instead of me back in JANUARY that's now painfully over due (really~) and to see about going to dinner to work things out with our marriage. Of course this makes Complete sense because WE'RE DIVORCED!
It's been an incredibly emotional day to which I'm happy to say i kept my composure through the majority of (with the exception of the 'death call' this morning) but about to lose it.
And I don't.
i just feel done - like life beat the crap out of me today. I am grateful that I never have to repeat today & I can chalk it up to another bit of life-lessons but it still sucks.
I figure it can only go up from here, and off to meet a bunch of girl-friends for a 'send-off' for my friend K. who's moving to Austraila next week.
Girls night otta pick me up - I hope!
Anyways, tomorrow's a new day - looking forward to it: single, beautiful and full of Hope.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
busy busy busy!
A few months have gone by and I'm still sitting in my 'open concept' office on the 10th floor of DT Calgary trying to figure out which route in life to take as the gloominess of August lingers on... Have had some clairification (which is always a good thing) regarding my music and recording. Turns out that my 'producer' is a middle man and although the money raising is done, the prospect of not having a well placed marketing team ready is beyond what I'm willing to risk, especially with that much (of someone elses money) on the line.
So, at the advice of a good friend, (skrewed over artist by this producer who is now touring with new band and a Wealth of information) I'm honing my skills and continuing to play and write - finding out what exactly makes my music / sound / image unique enough to go the distance once I start 'running'. Soon enough I say! It's something I'll always have.
Have moved to new house, and started school. As I'm "working" FT with no work, which is affording me plenty of time for study (nice!) which is contributing to a 98% average. Very excited b/c at this rate, I'll be finished 4 months early and hopefully working both my current job and transcribing at the same time for a bit - save up a bit of a cushion before jumping off. Ooo and talked to my brother about Mexico - both bro's and their wives are looking to move down south semi-permantly which means free place to crash! They're buying a boat. *bliss...
Off to drive through Spain in a few weeks, hang out in Dublin for the weekend and a quick jaunt to England - first time to Europe, so very excited about it.
Finishing two bridesmaids dresses (from hell I say) for a wedding next weekend which will be beautiful but wishing it was a bit more organized... last minute is NOT the way to go! Have done quite a bit of designing lately - a few costumes, a wedding dress, and a stellar rain coat. Photo-shoot on Sunday (had amazing audition with a casting director from Vancouver) and being submitted for principle role in up coming movie - (biting nails!!!)
Running 9K every other day, and feeling so amazing, strong... Ran into ex-husband at a party 1500 miles away and (well fancy that...) decides that he want's me back - "what can I do to make you trust me..." hmmmm Never saw that one coming, besides being, oh a year or two late.
Just really enjoying being me, traveling - the adventure of 'running-away' with a back pack for a month or two; having the freedom to do what I please, when I please - meeting new people and doing new things.
It's like getting a new lease on life; a second chance; insert other cliche here... it's just a blessing I never thought to posess again but all the sweeter b/c I'm mature, and have a bit of money and no real responsibilities.
Life is good!
So, at the advice of a good friend, (skrewed over artist by this producer who is now touring with new band and a Wealth of information) I'm honing my skills and continuing to play and write - finding out what exactly makes my music / sound / image unique enough to go the distance once I start 'running'. Soon enough I say! It's something I'll always have.
Have moved to new house, and started school. As I'm "working" FT with no work, which is affording me plenty of time for study (nice!) which is contributing to a 98% average. Very excited b/c at this rate, I'll be finished 4 months early and hopefully working both my current job and transcribing at the same time for a bit - save up a bit of a cushion before jumping off. Ooo and talked to my brother about Mexico - both bro's and their wives are looking to move down south semi-permantly which means free place to crash! They're buying a boat. *bliss...
Off to drive through Spain in a few weeks, hang out in Dublin for the weekend and a quick jaunt to England - first time to Europe, so very excited about it.
Finishing two bridesmaids dresses (from hell I say) for a wedding next weekend which will be beautiful but wishing it was a bit more organized... last minute is NOT the way to go! Have done quite a bit of designing lately - a few costumes, a wedding dress, and a stellar rain coat. Photo-shoot on Sunday (had amazing audition with a casting director from Vancouver) and being submitted for principle role in up coming movie - (biting nails!!!)
Running 9K every other day, and feeling so amazing, strong... Ran into ex-husband at a party 1500 miles away and (well fancy that...) decides that he want's me back - "what can I do to make you trust me..." hmmmm Never saw that one coming, besides being, oh a year or two late.
Just really enjoying being me, traveling - the adventure of 'running-away' with a back pack for a month or two; having the freedom to do what I please, when I please - meeting new people and doing new things.
It's like getting a new lease on life; a second chance; insert other cliche here... it's just a blessing I never thought to posess again but all the sweeter b/c I'm mature, and have a bit of money and no real responsibilities.
Life is good!
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