Let it snow...

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Originally uploaded by fotograf.416.

Well kids, the snow has arrived. Driving now becomes an extreme sport and walking anywhere becomes hazardless to ones health. All in all, good times! We are Canadian after all. We’re tough, hearty, and only complain in a polite way when no one is really listening. So suck it up and enjoy the snow while it lasts, because unless you’ve got a plane ticket to Cuba, you don’t really have a frick’n choice in the matter. I say, let it snow!

Happy Birthday Kirk!

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Originally uploaded by fotograf.416.

Kirpatrick is eff’n awesome, and it was her bday this past weekend. There are so many amazing things I could say about this girl, one of which being that wherever Kirk goes, the party inevitable follows. Yeah, she brings IT, that’s right…

Kirk also makes an amazing photographic subject, especially when she is dragging me into the women’s washroom to document the removal of her torn stockings. Yeah, that’s right ladies, cameras in the bathroom. Look out!

The Go! Team @ The Phoenix

I have finally posted my pictures from The Go! Team show at The Phoenix a few weeks ago. It was a very entertaining show; almost more theater than music at times. The crowd was really REALLY into the show! Everyone was singing along and busting a move. Not your typical "I'm too cool to dance" Toronto hipster show.

The Go! Team is one of the most multitalented bands I've seen in recent memory. Everyone in the band played at least 2 instruments, or took a turn on the mic. The lead singer bounced around stage, never standing still for more than a few seconds. Her rap/singing style was full of energy and really riled the crowd up. We were given a breather when the very talented, shy and cute Japanese drummer sang a heart warming ballad. Then it was back to their unique blend of hip-hop dance-rock, combined with a great background video show, lots of crowd participation and round-upon-round of projectile Halloween candy.

Pillow Fight @ Dundas Square

Last Sunday I observed one of the craziest urban adventures yet. Kevin and Lori of New Mind Space organized a massive pillow fight at Dundas Square. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 adrenaline fuelled PJ wearing fighters showed up, pillow in hand.

There was some confusion and concern when people realized that an anti-gun protest was occurring in the square at the same time. Organizers of both events got together and decided to coordinate their efforts. The pillow fight was initiated by a call from the stage to use “pillows, not guns”. The pillow fight quickly overshadowed the protest for its 30 minute duration.

Generally I feel that the two events co-existed in an acceptable way. The one exception being when a mother of a gun victim was telling the story of her murders son while the pillow fight was in full swing. In the end, life must go on. Public spaces must be shared. And the pillow fight was in no way being directly insensitive to the spirit of the protest. The protest its self had speakers that were aggressive, confrontational and practically encouraging violence towards political figures for not doing enough to stop the gun violence. So let’s move on...

The pictures are a lot of fun, so check them out! I probably should have used a faster shutter speed, and a UV filter would have been really helpful, but this is a pillow fight, not a sunset, so enjoy the pics for what they are.

Photographic highlights for me were:
- pillows exploding!
- the little kids taking on the big kids! Hell, all the kids were so cute!!
- pillows being thrown in the air!
- red ninja pillow figher & sad pillow girl
- the old-skool-raver pillow fight battle!
- lovers and fighters (aka make-out couple)
- nap time…
- and capturing an amazing picture of a pillow being thrown over my head. You can actually see the feathers through the pillow case!!!

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah @ The Horseshoe

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Originally uploaded by fotograf.416.

This show was sold out and massively hyped. I've been a big fan of their album for a while, so I was naturally pumped to be seeing them, but somewhat hesitant since I'd heard their live shows still required some work...

In the end, these boyz from NYC didn't let me down. The vocals were raw and powerful (that guy is going to have no vocal cords left in 10 years, maybe 5). The overall sound was full and energetic.

I was torn between my desire to rawk out hard for every song and take the occasional photo. Luckily the Horseshoe has shit lighting, so my desire to take photos waned. In contrast, my desire to kick the shit out of the hipsters at the front who refused to dance grew with every song. Urge to kill, rising...

The New Pornographers @ The Phoenix

I'm not a huge fan of The New Pornographers, but they put on an excellent show. Their live sounds was impressive and the set was tight. I guess this is what happens when you've been rocking out since '96.

Oh yeah, and their new keyboardest is haawwt! Or maybe it was just her nerdy sweater that I like so much...

The Organ @ Revival

I love this band. They can do no wrong in my world. Although I would like to hear a few new songs. It was basically the same set I heard for the Exclaim show at the Phoenix several months ago. And they are still the hottest lesbian band on earth.

Gentleman Reg on the other hand have some work to do. Just not as entertaining as The Hidden Cameras, but a respectable side project none the less.

Extermination Music Night @ The Don Valley Brick Works

I don't even know what to say about this night. It was completely beyond words. A mind blowing warehouse party at Brick Works with incredible bands. Can you say Rock Rave?

Most people I talked to agreed that the highlight of the night was Anagram's 4am set. It's difficult to set the mood, but the music was aggressive, hard and dark. Couple this with the warehouse setting, cutting the lights before their set and an intense mosh pit, and you have the makings of legends.

Aside from the music, wondering around the Brick Works complex was quite an adventure! Long tunnels, piles of rusted metal and rickety stairways to nowhere made for some excellent exploring.

The Gardens Faithful @ Rancho Relaxo

This was The Gardens Faithful's final show. They rawked out hard and it was a fitting end to a great band. Kirk & J-Hole went all out with custom made signs and outfits.

As J-Hole so eloquently pointed out, I also learned this night that operating a digital camera becomes exceedingly difficult and frustrating with every gin and tonic consumed... "Rookie's drunk!"

J-Hole also learned an important lesson this night. Don’t get too drunk around Kirk, because Kirk takes what Kirk wants.

We wish Ennals all the best on his future rock star endeavors.

Wolf Parade @ Horseshoe

Wolf Parade were amazing live! They are definitely one of my favorite Montreal bands at the moment.

Wolf Parade has followed the growing trend among indie rock bands in having multiple lead singers. This worked surprisingly well for them. The keyboardist has an excellent voice and is able to carry the slower songs. The guitarist has an awesome raw rock star voice and somehow managed to sing while head banging. Truly a site to be seen.

The only down side to this show was the problems they had with their gear. They ended up cutting the set short and generally seemed in a bad mood after the problems started. It was unfortunate, but gives me added incentive to see them again.

I reiterate my hatred for The Horseshoe. Maybe if they didn't over sell every single show there...

The Grates @ The Phoenix

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Originally uploaded by fotograf.416.

My first flickr/blogger post, yippy!

The openners for The Go! Team show at the Phoenix were The Grates. They weren't as great as their name might imply, but they were fairly entertaining and the lead singer hopped around stage like an emphetamine fueled raggedy ann doll. Quite remonicent of that girl from Metric. The band sounded to me like a Yeah Yeah Yeahs knock off. Oh yeah, they're from Aussiland.

Death to 20six

my old blog http://www.20six.co.uk/rotenblog is essentially dead. 20six is shite.

lets give this blogger.com thing a shot... this will mostly be a photoblog.