Rapid City 2

This was the second year for the show I organize. This year was great, so many good times.

Jamie and Jose had started Funktion Gallery in January, and when I saw Jose in London at Gettin Schooled I asked if he'd be interested in having Rapid City, in whatever form it might have taken, at their gallery. He said he'd be into it so we got to planning.

Originally the dream list was the group already participating, plus Kirpy from Australia, Rimeligbarsk from Norway, and Orticanoodles, Lucamaleonte and Zibe from Italy. They either didn't respond to my messages or couldn't participate. Regardless, the group came together pretty well. Philly808, truemarmalade, brutal, OnPatrol, Pahnl, stix, smolik, kate, jose, jamie.

On the friday, Erik and I headed to London to buy paint. Before he was crippled, Erik was going to live paint so we both needed to buy paint. Regardless, we met up with Nikki and Alex K to show Erik the town. We went downtown and bought paint at Grooves, ate at Prince Al's and went to Victoria Park and watched some satanic bartender throwing bottles. We parted ways around 5pm when Nikkie and Alex went to get Jenna in Woodstock, while Erik and I went back to Sarnia to prepare for the night. I cut stencils while Erik did the internets.

We waited for the girls to arrive, then we went downtown for First Friday. We went to the Gallery and the Lawrence House. I met the paper cut artist and lost my entourage. By this time it was around 9. The rest of them went to Harveys while I went in to start taking down the student show. I had most of it down by the time they got back. It was around 9:50 when we left for the train station to get Jamie and Jose. We all waited at the station except for Alex, who stayed in the car. "I wish this plane had wings". They arrived and we were on our way. We stopped at a variety store, before going to "rippers and beer" (the Trinity for a beer). We were sitting at the bar just relaxing, someone asked a question about the stage area, and we all wandered in. The woman behind the bar then turned the room on, with a single switch. We hung out in a deserted, old strip club for a while before heading home. Everyone hung out while I cut stencils until my face hurt.

The next morning we got up and got ready to go to the gallery. We started setting up the show, and started getting ready for live painting too. Kate arrived with her paintings right when I was panicking that I didn't have enough to fill the space properly. Erik had forgotten his paintings in Michigan, but luckily his mom brought them to Sarnia morning of the show. The show was all hung around 11, aside from Smolik; I'd given him some not so hot directions on how to get to the gallery, I still feel bad for that, but he arrived eventually, so all was well. We hung his paintings then got down to live painting.

Live painting went well, Jose, Jamie and Smolik were all awesome. My stencils had spent the better part of a week lightly folded in a box, so they were a bit wavy when I went to use them. Despite that I think they went well. I think my Pandemic Warning Level went the best.

We were wrapped up with painting around 4:30 or 5. We headed to Loblaws to get stuff for a BBQ, which was super rad. We bought so much food, and ate so much food. We played Apples to Apples (aka SHARKS TO SHARKS) after that. Amputees. We followed that up with a Death Sentence viewing. I Need Guns. After that we were all pretty tired, but Jamie wanted to do something, so we decided to go back to Trinties for a beer, but that was closed so we tried to go to Ups and Downs. Jose had forgotten his ID, however, so Jamie and Nikki went in, while Jenna, Erik and Jose stayed outside. We stood around for a while, when Erik had the idea for some light painting. We tried a few in the parking lot, but found a better spot near the train tracks. Time passed quick and Jamie and Nikki returned after two pints and a pint respectively. We did so much before we moved to the bench near the water. It was about 2am before we went home.

The next morning we awoke and got out of the house around noon. We didn't have much going on so there was no rush. Jamie did touch ups while we jockeyed the structures around and there was the bubble machine. We took a little walk around ArtWalk and went into a flea market where I lost Nikki and Erik and they geeked out about cameras, which was good because Erik found a 3D camera. I continued around ArtWalk and found Monique's booth. We generally just hung around Sunday. A bunch of us took a picture for some workshop thing. We drew a bunch of stuff on the walls of the gallery.

Jamie and Jose got on the train back to Toronto around 7. There were spur of the moment decisions among the chaos that was taking down the show where it was decided that Erik would say another day, go to London that night and come with us to Toronto. We packed up the car and got on our ways. Nikki, Jenna, Alex and Erik headed to London after we crammed the car full of stuff. I stayed in Sarnia that night, and took the train to London the next day.

I got into London around 7am or some other absurd time. I wandered around with Jamie's paint until I had the bright idea of going to the market for breakfast. I got there, got cash and wandered until I decided to get a bagel. I ate upstairs reading the paper and then got on the bus to Nikki's house. I got there sort of late compared to when I thought I would, but oh well. We packed up and got on our way to Toronto, with a stop in Woodstock to drop Jenna off before work. We got into Toronto and got to Funktion Gallery at what seemed to be noon. Jose wasn't there yet, but Clem was, so we unloaded the car. Not much longer after we unloaded, Jose arrived. We hung around a little longer before heading downtown. We got a little lost, but finally found a $10 all day parking spot. We walked around, went to Urban Outfitters for some sport theft and a shit-ton of Banksy books. At some point we went to one of the several Aldos in that big mall where Nikki had no luck with shoes and Erik bought some shoes. We had Big Slice for lunch, I had 105% of a slice with a bunch of "hot" sauce. Later we met up with Jamie at The Bomb Shelter, and went for coffee at a rad little coffee shop. It was nearing time to go home, so we headed back to the Gallery where the crew had gathered. We said our goodbyes and were on our way.

I was off to Toronto at some absurd hour on Friday morning. I crashed my bike on Thursday, a bit unfortunate to meet all these people with gross hands and knee, but not much I could do about that. I crashed on the train tracks right near the sign of the guy crashing on the train tracks, so Jamie, Jose and Erik had a good laugh at that. I was in such a rush getting ready for the train that I forgot my ticket at home. I ended up buying another one, but they said I could refund the one I forgot, so I guess it's ok. I got into Union Station around 11 I think, meeting Jamie. We discussed how to take the subway to get to the gallery, but I was too nervous about getting lost, so I just took a cab. Will was supposed to be at the gallery when I got there, but since I took a cab, I got there before him. I walked around a bit looking for disposable cameras, or lunch, but no luck. BRUTAL's paintings arrived on the Monday after the Sarnia show, so I brought them with me to Toronto. I hung them and one of Kate's paintings when I got into Toronto. I walked towards Hits and Misses and had some mediocre pizza. I got the Iron Lung//Hatred Surge Collaboration 7" and Trial - Are These Our Lives? LP. I got back to the gallery and hung out with Will and that other guy that I don't think I really met. Jose arrived at some point. We finished hanging the last bit of art and cleaned up the gallery a little bit.

I forget the timeline exactly but here are things that happened that night:
- Nikki, Alex and Alex came by

- Kate and whoever else coming by
- taxi dropping off a stripper and the driver driving away laughing
- Smolik came by
- Selling a record
- Selling Rogue Astronaut
- not a lot of people coming
- Arizona Sweet Tea
- Chito's pizza
- hanging out on the stoop
- Jamie getting there
- Chito's pizza
- watching Mega Shark VS Giant Octopus with Jamie, Will, Brendan and that other girl
- taking a cab to Jamie's house, and telling the driving to go "wherever that biker goes"

I slept on Jamie's couch, that was pretty good for sleeping, but kinda uncomfortable for sitting on. We got up somewhere around noon. We brought a bunch of stuff to the gallery on the streetcar. There weren't any good breakfast places, but there was Chito's pizza. Not much happened on Saturday, so we just hung out. They were prepping for a book/album launch that night, so I helped clean the courtyard a little, and watched this dude paint over Jamie's big piece. I left around 4, taking another cab to the train station. I got home around 10 I think.

Another good weekend. I hope the show sells well in Toronto. Can't wait to go back to Funktion Gallery, such a good place.

Current Rotation

Iron & Wine - Creek Drank The Cradle
Furnace - Doublewalker
Iron Lung - Sexless//No Sex (has been since it came out)
Grouper - Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill
$100 - Forest of Tears
Insect Warfare/Agoraphobic Nosebleed split (Only the Insect Warfare side, the ANb side sucks.)
Floorpunch - Fast Times at the Jersey Shore
Floorpunch - Twin Killing
The Smiths - Strangeways, Here We Come
Weezer - Blue Album


I need a job.

$100

Bummed I didn't get the keyboardist.

$100 played the Alex P. Keaton last night. The opening act didn't show, so $100 played two sets. That was fine by me.

I first heard the band through online word of mouth; hearing they covered a Fucked Up song (not being that into FU's music, but their actions as a band) was enough to get me to check out the band. At first I didn't know if I was all that into it, I never really listened to country. But there was just something about it, it stuck with me. I kept listening until I accepted that I liked the band. I finally heard the album, Forest Of Tears, and was hooked. It was country I could relate to, talking about things I could identify with.

Evidently I was alone, because none of my friends wanted to go, despite it being a "pay what you can." I didn't know this of course until day of – after several "the alex p keaton can eat shit" claims – I called the bar to find out if the show was even happening. Luckily no one answered, but the answering machine very politely told me the show was on. I got there around 10pm, when it was supposed to start. I didn't expect to know anyone there, but when I walked to the back of the room, I saw Jason O'Young. We talked about straight edge and hardcore. It was good having someone to talk to.

Finally around 10:30, $100 started playing. They opened with 900 Miles (I'm pretty sure that's what it was). I can't remember the set list in order, but I know they played all the songs I wanted to hear – Forest Of Tears, Hell's A Place, Fourteen Hour Day, Fourteenth Floor, No Great Leap, Someday Soon – it was a good two sets. They also covered Blaze of Glory by Fucked Up, at Jason's request. I thought about asking to hear Tirade of a Shitty Mom, but I didn't think of it until the end of the last set, and I didn't think they'd want to end the night on a sad note. They also covered Dolly Parton and Gordon Lightfoot. It was one of the best shows I've been to in a while. Seeing a good band, in a small room with people who are into it is the best.

I bought a shirt and the regional 7" for Toronto. Overall it was an awesome night. Contender for "Show of the Year" for sure.

Times I was alone on public transportation & moldy food

I was also on a highway coach bus with 13 other people. I don't have a photo of that.

Eating Glass Weekend

Yesterday and the day before were the two Eating Glass record release shows for Feed Them To The Vultures. I lucked out and got to go to both. Such a fun weekend.

Friday, I get home from school, and a short time there after I receive a call from Tim saying he's going to the Toronto show that night. I tell him I definitely want to go, but previously Mike had wanted a hair cut, so I go to his house to do that. The only hitch was that we never did that. Upon arriving home, I gather the necessary provisions needed to survive the night. We were on the road sometime around 6 I think. We got to Siesta Nouveaux around 8, and saw the ending of Molested Youth's set. Siesta Nouveaux was pretty cool; it was my first time there, and also my first Toronto show. Next was Blackbirds. I always look forward to seeing them, and apparently I'm the only one, because I tried to mosh but no one joined in. They used up too much power so the lights wouldn't work, and people used their cell phones to light up the band. When they were done, I think it was RAH. I was outside during them, which kinda sucked because I wanted to see them. Next was Crossroads. They were good for what they do. After them were Let Down (Straight Edge). The first band that people mosh'd for. Finally, Eating Glass played. A good set, the new songs are awesome. There was also a Left For Dead cover (Who D'You Know?), and Chris Colohan sang. It was fucking insane. There was also an encore cover of Hollow by Integrity. After the show was done, we hung out for a little bit, then drove home.

Saturday, I didn't really do much but wait for the show to happen. The show was at Spencer's house this time. We get there just before Double Cheeseburger play. They were a lot of fun to watch. Then I think that metal band played. Then Overpower played, some pretty straight up Oi. After them were The Endless Blockade. I think they were better than the last time I saw them. Or maybe I just enjoyed it more. Either way, it was really loud and there was noise. Finally, Eating Glass played again, and it was another fun set.


All in all it was a good weekend. Kevin, Tyler, Brendan, Tim, Woodford and a whole bunch of other people were there. Feed Them To The Vultures sounds 20 times better on vinyl than on the computer or iPod; good thing I bought six copies. If you haven't got it or ordered it, I strongly suggest you do so; I don't think it's brash to say this is one of the best Southern Ontario records to come out in a long while. I also got a Hatred Surge/Endless Blockade split. Hopefully more will come about.

LOLA FUCK in Review

So it was my birthday on the weekend, which coincidentally was also LOLA fest. 

The weekend started after I finished class on friday around 2:30; previously to this, I received my Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Haymaker/Fucked Up split in the mail, bonus. I biked back to the Sanford St HQ where Mikey G was moving into his new apartment. I was unaware that he had gotten a new phone number so needless to say, none of my texts or calls yielded any results other than frustration. I rode laps in the parking lot for a while before deciding to go home, but not before making a stop at Harveys for lunch. Just as I was riding into the parking lot, Mike pulled into the parking lot. We got Harveys and went back to the Sanford St. HQ to apartment live. After a little bit of a Skate session, I biked home while he went to get Kelly from Guelph. I had some soy milk and part of a burrito and biked to the park where the concerts were under way. 

I got there part way through Bocce, they seemed like fun. I met up with Riley and Devin, who I hadn't seen since moving back here. I can't really remember who else played. Finally around 8pm, Nikki, Jenna and Geoffrey, came while we were at Taco Del Mar. We walked back to the park to watch the bands. General fun was had. We formulated a plan where the classic gang plus Geoffrey and Kelly, would watch Death Sentence. It was party way through Do Make Say Think when Mike and Kelly arrived and were informed about this plan; needless to say, Mike was moshin. So Do Make finished and we went to Mike's party pad with stops at my house and McDonalds where we parked in a handicap parking spot. Finally we watched Death Sentence again for the first time in forever. 

Day two started with me going back over to Mike's house to get my bike. We played more Skate then went grocery shopping before catching Feuermusik (who now have 6 people playing wind instruments). Then we went to Grooves and I bought a Godspeed You! Black Emperor record. We went back to Mike's house for Skate and apartment living. On the way, Jenna called asking if we wanted to go to Under The Volcano for dinner. We accepted. We also read reviews saying how people spent four hours on the toilet after eating there. So we didn't really eat much, but everyone else did. There are now eight of us, I don't remember their names other than that Alex that wants art. So we're back at the park waiting for Holy Fuck to play. There were trips to Williams for bathroom use and food use. Plant and Animals played. They were commanded to play an encore similar to how Do Make Say Think was commanded to play one the night before. During Holy Fuck, I talked with Tim Drew about straight edge. After Holy Fuck, we went back to Mike's house again for more Skate and to recuperate before Megasoid. Getting to CTO, I went into a show for the first time being of age. Mike however did not, so we did not go in, leave, then go back in as planned. Either way, Lowfish was still playing when we got there. Finally Megasoid came on and the bass in effect. Brandie, Ben, Blake and Blake 2 were there. Then we left.

All The Arms We Need

Last night we drove 2 hours to see The Endless Blockade, Eating Glass, Empty Hands, Christ Swallower and other bands I don't really care about in Brantford. 

Got home from work at 4:30, still not knowing if we were going or not. I finally convinced Mike to drive, so we went to Kevin's to get him and directions. While there we talked Riley into going. So after getting Riley, and going to the bank, we were on the road by 6, and at the show by 8. Getting there, we got a few weird looks, but other than that Brantford seems like a cool city. Saw a bunch of people I know. I was impressed by the scene there. The band merch I spotted was next level.

Blad And Jerry opened the show, we arrived in time to see at least the ending bit of their set. Then I think Christ Swallower played, or maybe a different band. They were good; the Minor Threat cover was fun. Empty Hands, or maybe some other band, probably played next. They were fun, excited to see them again. After them was a boring local band. By that time The Endless Blockade and Eating Glass had arrived. I was mid way buying The Endless Blockade merch when Eating Glass started, so I hurried up and got in the pit. The mosh was good. My high jump during Feed Them was the most fun. The Haymaker cover was excellent. After them was that chainsaw band that I didn't watch because we went to get a "small" fry, and stand outside talking to the guys from T.E.B  and Craig from Schizophrenic Records . Then The Endless Blockade played. There was a lot of loud noise and a lot of yelling. Also a broken kick drum. 

Then we drove home and I went to work today.