Illustration by Mike Simpson - Strong-and-Free

Update (March 29): Yesterday the band Arcade Fire completed the trifecta – winning Best Group and 3 other awards at the Canadian Juno awards – after bringing home awards at both the British and American music awards shows.

Arcade Fire won a Grammy award on Sunday [...]]]>

Illustration by Mike Simpson - Strong-and-Free

Update (March 29): Yesterday the band Arcade Fire completed the trifecta – winning Best Group and 3 other awards at the Canadian Juno awards – after bringing home awards at both the British and American music awards shows.

Arcade Fire won a Grammy award on Sunday Feb 13^th for Album of the Year for The Suburbs. On Monday morning I was at the college cafeteria, and I grabbed a copy of The Toronto Star, which had a story on the Grammy coup, for this humble everyday band from Montreal.

I assume my audience is broad and you might either be a fan of the band or forgiven if you didn’t quite know who they are. This is the Bieber-age and we live in a sound-byte era of dance pop forgettables. Black-Eyed Peas were once an alternative band, and now they’re Super Bowl headliners. It is frankly hard to find signs of life in the mainstream that indicate that rock music still has a pulse. Even at the Super Bowl the only sign of rock music was Slash, the guitarist from Guns’n’Roses, playing his signature guitar line from the 1980s as a kind of sample in the midst of a Peas medley.

I don’t write about music in this blog very often and it gives me pleasure to do so now because I’m a musician and passionate about all kinds of tunes. And most of all, I’m stoked because Arcade Fire represents something to me akin to the rise of Nirvana that culminated in the 1991 heights of the Nevermind album – when amazingly for a brief time, everyone everywhere seemed to get rock music. The pulse was strong and the “Seattle sound” was on everybody’s lips, including the industry, which birthed and nurtured a whole slew of awesome bands on the heels of Nirvana. This was the pre-Blink 182 era. Before pop infiltrated the alt rock.

Recently I have to admit, I wasn’t really in tune with the Arcade phenomenon. I suppose I live in a slight bubble. I listen to my own music, which I create under the artist name “Mikooshka,” as much as I listen to other bands. I get my music from places eMusic, where a subscription can get you all kinds of novel and interesting new music, in all kinds of genres. I also happen to get my music from the same places as everyone else, namely YouTube and MySpace.

YouTube is where my brother and I stream a combination of our greatest hits jukebox and our new and recent discoveries: New Order’s live version of “Temptation” at BBC is one of my favorites (to the semi-annoyance of my bro), while Jeff hits the replay button on artists like Gorillaz, The Strokes, Rufus Wainright, and band of the hour, Arcade Fire.

A few days ago I found myself tapping my toes to the live video for the title track from the hit album “The Suburbs.” I have heard it about a dozen times and it didn’t initially appeal to me but it’s grown on my quite a bit. I think Arcade Fire represents a kind of sophisticated sound that requires repeated listenings to fully get into and get. (By the way, the video of The Suburbs is by director Spike Jonze, one of my favorites, but I prefer the live version where clips are projected on a screen behind the band – link at end of this post).

Another Canadian won on Sunday: Neil Young. He won for Best Rock Song. It was a long time coming for the 1960s and 70s guitar-rock hero and Canadian legend. Perhaps there is a synergy at play here. There’s something subtle and yet very powerful about the music made by Young and the Arcades. I’m not holding my breath thinking there’s going to be a major renaissance in pop radio, but in the underground there lurks a rock’n’roll pulse, that refuses to give in. Hell, even my own electronic music is taking a kind of cycle back to my rock roots. And if you are curious, you might check out a half-dozen other lights on the Canadian indie scene, including, but not limited to: the Dears, Hey Rosetta, and We are The City,

Links:

The Suburbs by Arcade Fire (Live)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtbrY6QrgPw&feature=relmfu

Astronomers by We Are the City

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5GOIYj5giI

For those of you who would like my take and synopsis, please read on. (Link at end of this blog post).

The basic premise of the article [...]]]> I picked up the September 2010 issue of Wired Magazine and was struck by the amazing cover story and (design!). It boldly declares that the “Web is Dead!”

For those of you who would like my take and synopsis, please read on. (Link at end of this blog post).

The basic premise of the article is that the Internet, still essentially a relatively new technology and communications medium, is expanding, while the “web” is dying. Web in this case means the old school ‘net, the one where we often kept to the first few sections of the home page at media giant “portals”, surfed randomly and explored hyperlinks that took us far and wide, and often avoided downloading media because our bandwidth was so limited (dial-up connections etc).

Here are some of the main ideas:

• These days we don’t surf – we “get” (we know what we want)
• We do the “getting” with “apps” rather than web browsers
• “Walled Gardens” like Facebook may eclipse the free/open “Googlverse”

The “World Wide Web” has long been falling our of fashion (and use/necessity). Indeed, most web servers are configured to allow for “www” or simply “http” at the beginning of a domain name. Most recent browsers allow you to type “domain.extension” and go directly to your website of choice. The idea of the web has been dying too. This is key. In practice, many of us no longer randomly “surf” the Internet (unless we are bored, killing time etc). We spend most of our time doing very specific tasks, and we don’t always use web browsers to access “the cloud” (Our data in web servers around the Internet).

A few examples come to mind. Applications like Skype and Facebook help us connect with friends. Many spend their online time downloading media (technologies like BitTorrent clients have helped boost video to encompass more than 50% of all Internet traffic these days). People often use Facebook with a computer/browser, but the long-term trend is that in the near future more and more folks across the globe will use Smartphones and iPads and the like, and use applications that bypass web browsers (and obviously even conventional computers).

The concept of the “walled garden” is something I saw a lot when reading a recent book about Google (“Googled: The End of the World As We Know It” by Ken Auletta). Google’s mission is to get you to your desired content as quickly as possible (and yes sell a few text ads along the way). A traditional “old school” Internet powerhouse like the former AOL or the still powerful Yahoo seeks to create or aggregate content and make their websites “sticky.” Facebook may be the stickiest yet – a very powerful walled garden with built-in communication tools and tons of links and compelling user-generated content. There are suggestions that, with 500 million users, Facebook is blowing Google’s doors (outdoing them in the race for Internet supremacy).

A company like Apple is fully engaged with these trends too. Media production companies digitize their releases and figure out ways to rent or sell this content online. Apple’s portable devices (iPhone, iPod, iPad) help drive a large amount of the Internet traffic. We’re talking about growing demand for legal downloads that stream in a dedicated media player like Windows Media Player, iTunes, VLC or Divx Player.

Truthfully the web is hardly dead and web browsers as we know them will probably exist for quite a while. But long-term people will increasingly “get” rather than “surf”, and continue to use more applications on an increasingly wide array of electronic devices. Wired’s magazine feature is a little abstract at times and suffers from some mild hyperbole but offers some great insights into Internet trends that affect us all.

It’s a fascinating article that features the writing of two senior writers/editors – and the introduction provides a nice overview:

“Two decades after its birth, the World Wide Web is in decline, as simpler, sleeker services — think apps — are less about the searching and more about the getting. Chris Anderson explains how this new paradigm reflects the inevitable course of capitalism. And Michael Wolff explains why the new breed of media titan is forsaking the Web for more promising (and profitable) pastures.”

Read the Wired Article:

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/08/ff_webrip/all/1

I don’t really frequent art openings and [...]]]> Two art show / exhibitions open this Friday that explore the geography of Ontario, one focusing on the man-made spit at the foot of Leslie St. in Toronto, and the other on the remote wilds of northern Ontario, north of Thunder Bay by and reached via Highway 11.

I don’t really frequent art openings and I’m a marginal participant, but in the last year I attended Contact Photography Festival, the Gladstone on an occasion or two, and a handful of cool shows involving friends (including the amazing YYZ shopping mall at 401 Richmond that my friend Ulysses participated in). I was really stoked to get emails from two gallery spaces early this week. This weekend two shows open which document explorations of urban/wilderness spaces and concepts at the geographic extremes of Toronto and northern Ontario (easily 24 hours driving north of the megacity).

The first email came from Ranko Pavic, who operates Gallery Out / Aut on St. Clair Ave West. I first met him about two years ago. He was preparing an exhibit with punky/graffiti-inspired manipulations of found materials, and I got stoked on his originality and bright quirky works. He hosts a number of other artists at the gallery throughout the year. On Friday the photography exhibition “As Far North in Ontario as the Road Goes,” by Noah Cole, opens for a one month run.

The second email I received was from Laura and John, who operate the innovative Labspace Studio at 2a Pape Ave. in the city’s east-end. Two years ago I did a DJ-Live performance there as Mikooshka, and I really enjoyed the atmosphere and eclectic acts and art. John and Laura strive to present interesting evenings of music and performance, with a backdrop of funky edgy art, and it looks like they are going to be stretching novel concepts to the limit with their new and future projects. I think the description below should pique your interest (and be sure to keep your eye out for a future “Toronto explorations through art” event called “Rumblings from the Rouge”). Labspace’s event is just over the weekend so you have a brief window to catch it! (Performances Friday night and exhibit Saturday.)

Here are descriptions and links for the shows and artists:

As Far North in Ontario as the Road Goes

“Inspired by stories of northern travels; bears, beautiful lakes, remote hiking trails, historic canoe routes, logging roads, and the potential promise of seeing caribou, I headed on a journey along Highway 11, past Kapuskasing, and Thunder Bay, as far north as the road travels in Ontario. I drove to a remote community, and drove 300 kilometers north of it, where there are no cell phone towers, or gas stations – at the end of the road there is only wilderness, and the result of the impact people have made on the lands. I had the chance to see big rivers, blue sky, expansive lakes, pickerel, remote villages, mountains, ancient forests, and the stars in the northern sky. Along my journeys I enjoyed blueberries, fresh fish, and along the many miles of open road and wilderness, I enjoyed my own company, as well as the company of loons, a fox, and the campfire. On my journey, I hiked along many ancient trails, and I stood on the shores of lakes where voyageurs, and ancient first nations people stood, enjoying the landscape that brings peace of mind in an otherwise busy world.”

Noah Cole

A Night with Leslie
Adventure 2 – led by Laura Mendes and John Loerchner

Nine adventurers set out on a two-day expedition to explore and research the strange and beguiling landscape of the Leslie St. Spit; a 5km man-made peninsula, wildlife sanctuary and active construction dumpsite.

Join them as they present their research and “Spit”
inspired works: Performance, Dance, Sound, Installation & Found Sculpture.”

Labspace Studio

Links:

Noah Cole

greenravenphotography.com

Labspace Studio

labspacestudio.com

I just saw the singer [...]]]> The opening ceremony of the 2010 World Cup is taking place right now, and it’s reminiscent of the large-scale ceremonies I remember from the Vancouver and Beijing games. The stadium is ginormous and hundreds of Africans, primarily women, are performing synchronized dancing as performers do songs blended together in medleys.

I just saw the singer of a classic Ghanaian group called Osibisa perform “Sunshine Day.” I still remember this first time I heard that incredible positive funky rock song. It reminded me of the anthem quality in the positive rock/reggae crossover songs by Bob Marley. One of the astonishing images from the first part of the ceremony was the giant patchwork quilt that spread out on the floor of the stadium – in the shape of the African continent. And then slowly the other continents slowly formed around Africa as the participants roamed the floor. The quilt was a beautiful metaphor and a stunning visual. Watch for it in highlights on TV and video.

One of the amazing things that I just discovered is that K’Naan’s “Wavin’ Flag” is apparently NOT an official song for the World Cup. I think the Canadian media and World Cup sponsor Coca Cola have slid this in by the backdoor. In fact, if you look at the Wikipedia page and read some news stories on World Cup music, you’ll discover that the official song is called “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” and it will be performed by Colombia’s Shakira, with a South African group called Freshlyground at the closing ceremony. Even the official “anthem” is by R. Kelly.

Interesting. Seems somehow the hype machine of both Coca-Cola and the music business have blended fact and fiction, and as is very common these days —  often a commercial branding initiative with TV commercials and catchy music will blend the line between culture and commerce. Have we been duped? Or are we just dumb consumers? Many reputable publications, including Exclaim Magazine, and the NME from Britain, misreported this story.

I really like K’Naan’s “Wavin’ Flag,” and I had the pleasure of teaching it to a group of LINC ESL students a week ago. It really is an amazing song – capturing a certain momentum that K’Naan has been building for the last few years. I downloaded “Soapbox” and a half dozen other songs from eMusic about 3 years ago. The kid from the rugged Somalian capital Mogadishu whose family now calls Toronto home, has crafted a truly epic, anthemic song. the song however is Coke’s official song, and I’ve just witnessed it in the background of commercial spot on the CBC broadcast.

I have to admit I’m mildly disappointed. YouTube has a video labelled “Official World Cup theme song” and the buzz has all been building toward K’Naan = World Cup 2010. I thought it was a great fit. Apparently, Coca Cola did too but even asked K’Naan to modify his lyrics, which they found to be dark and dour (and which I celebrated as an echo of the beautiful but plain-spoken lyrics of Bob Marley, see “Buffalo Soldier” which K’Naan references in his song).

This is the latest from Exclaim‘s website (other sites including Dose are reporting this too so hopefully it’s factual):

In a recent interview with Billboard, it was revealed that before the song could be used by the soft drink giant, Coke asked K’naan to rewrite the lyrics, which called Somalia “a violent prone, poor people zone,” referring to its people “struggling, fighting to eat.” K’naan complied, and in the interview, defended his choice before anyone could cry “sellout.”

“I saw it as an opportunity to reach more people,” he said. “I don’t work for Coke or anything; what I do is my music. This was a really great opportunity for them to use my song, without compromising my integrity as a musician. This is what I write, these are the songs I make. I’m happy about it.”

What about the games and the sport you ask?

Well, as you may know this blog is about people, culture, language and arts. So, in short, I am not a huge soccer fan, but I will tune in to a few World Cup games. Like most things in my life these days, I’d rather play and participate than watch. As a spectator I hope to catch some of the magic of South Africa, from the people to the music to the other aspects of African culture which hopefully will shine and benefit from this spectacle.I with the people of South Africa well and hope this World Cup is truly on the positive side of the boon/bust ledger. I also hope the platinum selling “Wavin’ Flag” will be a boon to K’Naan and remain an inspiration and beacon of hope, and not just a mass-marketed jingle for a soft drink multinational.

Recommended Viewing:

Look up the CBC “Q” video on YouTube for an excellent acoustic “unplugged” style rendition of K’naan performing “Wavin’ Flag.”

Michael Redhill is a Toronto-based author and publisher. He has taught at the University of Toronto, where he is also presently the “Writer in Residence.” A few years ago, I was fortunate to have him as my instructor for a Creative Writing (Poetry) course. He has written a [...]]]>

Toronto author and publisher Michael Redhill

Michael Redhill is a Toronto-based author and publisher. He has taught at the University of Toronto, where he is also presently the “Writer in Residence.” A few years ago, I was fortunate to have him as my instructor for a Creative Writing (Poetry) course. He has written a number of award-winning poetry collections, plays and novels. His most recent novel is called “Consolation.” He publishes “Brick,” a literary journal.

We discussed his work and the work of other writers, artist and musicians, the CN Tower, Ottawa, culture, identity and nationality, and his time spent living in Paris. I talked to Michael at the Only Cafe over a latte in late February 2010.

Michael will be reading on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, from 4:15 PM to 6:00 PM at Massey College, U of T.

Thanks for meeting and chatting Michael!

Enjoy the interview.

Links:

University of Toronto – Biography

Brick Literary Journal

Quill and Quire article (circa 2001, when his acclaimed first novel “Martin Sloane” was published)

This is a design based on stills I’m working with from a “city – streets” themed video I’m making called “Step Forward.” The dancer in this scene is Andy Wye. I want to composite him at various sizes dancing across a primitive cave background with prehistoric art.

I often claim that I’m not much of a TV watcher – aside from a Saturday night hockey game or interesting doc on TVO or Newsworld. Truth is, that all changed when I got hooked on “Northern Exposure” about 8 years ago. I saw almost the [...]]]>

My comp art from TV series "The Wire"

I often claim that I’m not much of a TV watcher – aside from a Saturday night hockey game or interesting doc on TVO or Newsworld. Truth is, that all changed when I got hooked on “Northern Exposure” about 8 years ago. I saw almost the entire 90 or so episodes during one 3-4 month season, became a little obsessive and then forgot about it all. (I’ve since been slowly working my way through the 5 seasons courtesy of a loan from a kind collector friend – thanks Andrew!).

“Six feet Under” was a show that reminded me how cool television could be. I finished up that series not too long ago and wondered what would come along next. Well, a friend (Steve McKay) had recommended “The Wire” as a good series to check out and by coincidence I managed to get my hands on the first few seasons  – and I proceeded to get wickedly wired. I was hooked. Completely moved. Stunned.

And the music rocks! I’ve got the 5 variations of the theme song in a kind of endless shuffle in my mind (original version and season 2 edition by Tom Waits, plus renditions by Blind Boys of Alabama, Neville Brothers and a Baltimore choir called DoMaJe, plus series actor/singer Steve Earle).

If you haven’t had the chance to check it out – whatcha waiting for? Get on it! It’s a mind blower of a series. Next up is The Sopranos (so far so good – the pilot was great – thanks to Steve Simpson for the series loan!).