stolendave

The ‘CLOSED’ sign has been out since 26 August, 2007.

Thursday was a road trip to the 2007 Annapolis Valley Exhibition, in Lawrencetown (not to be confused with the beach). I go ever year chiefly for three reasons: the poultry showing, the barrel racing, and any type of fried dough. After those are accomplished, the midway and any other attractions are just a bonus. Sometimes they have good concerts, but this year's line-up did not inspire.

( The Ex. )

(Videos of the barrels: 1, 2, & 3.)

Khyber Club, 14 February, 2007:

Dog Day

( Second anniversary. )

The end (back to the beginning).

Khyber Club, 14 February, 2007:

Be Bad

( . )

Khyber Club, 14 February, 2007:

Divorce Records brings you a…

( Piñata party! )

Khyber Club, 14 February, 2007:

Attack Mode

( Under attack. )

(AM video here.)

Khyber Club, 14 February, 2007:

Torso

( Doom. )

Khyber Club, 14 February, 2007:

Husband and Knife

( Husband and Husband and Husband and Knife. )

(H&K video here.)

Saturday, 10 February, 2007:

What would you have seen if you followed multi-instrumentalist Catriona Sturton around Halifax all day?

First, she gave a beginners' harmonica work-shop at the Spring Garden Branch Library.

( Teaching. )

Then, it was the Bus Stop Theatre, where she sat on Al Tuck's performance at the In the Dead of Winter Music Festival.

( Sitting in. )

Later, she played a set of her own songs (and one from Plumtree) at Gus' Pub.

( Headlining. )

For a split second between 28 February and 1 March last night, it was Nathan's birth-day. That occasion did not pass without fanfare.

( There's a new lobster in town. )

More up-dates a-comin' soon.

Posting about a real life up-date:

I have a small exhibition as part of the In the Dead of Winter Festival at the Bus Stop Theatre (2203 Gottingen Street). It's from my recent work, all different from the retrospective show I had at the Rock Garden. That's this week-end only.

Now, why don't I up-date this thing?

Last night was Jessica's birth-day*, with karaoke fun at Bearly's.


( No fun in Moncton. )

*I suppose we'll allow that it was her twin sister's birth-day, too, but all others do not count.

The final day began early at the OneWorld Café for a packed brunch and show, then a bit of a break for the zine fair and afternoon showcases, and then another break before the all-night party wrapped things up. Looks like 25 bands on this day, flipping between 10 venues 17 times, but all that was over twice as much time as Friday, with breaks in between. Still, nothing to sneeze at. The jog from the McInnis Room to the Marquee after 8 minutes of K-OS was particularly crazy (thanks to Lucas for the drive there from the OneWorld, phew!).

Saturday, 21 October, 2006.

( Day 5 )

The end (for another year). Go back to the beginning. Fare-well to Bennie P, and here's Waye Mason blowing his own horn:

Friday, 20 October, 2006.

Friday was the marathon night for me, seeing 15 bands in 8 straight hours, 8 different venues, switching 14 times. Maybe you saw me running past you on the street:

(Started at the OneWorld, but that show was late getting under-way.)

Pavilion

OneWorld (non-affiliated Special Noise re-union show)

Marquee

Stage Nine

Gus'

Hell

Marquee

Hell

Marquee

Seahorse

Stage Nine

Attic

( Day 4 )

Thursday, 19 October, 2006.

( Day 3 )

Wednesday was the slowest day of the Festival. I added in a visit to Stayner's Wharf for RyLee Madison's CD release at the beginning of the evening.

Wednesday, 18 October, 2006.

( Day 2 )

So, HPX06.

Out of about 113 performances in the final schedule, I saw 73, plus a couple extras during the week which weren't associated with the Festival. Definitely my most ambitious effort, even surpassing my own pre-Festival plan to take in about 60 bands (which I thought was likely to kill me). Quite impressive to see two-thirds of everything during this type of festival where seeing everything is physically impossible (un-like, say, Sappy Fest, which allows one to take in everything). Remembering back to what I saw, there are clear regrets over those I had to miss, but nearly every band I did see I would see again. Only maybe one band was a disappointment, and two were blah as I knew to expect before-hand, so the great far out-weighed the crap.

Here's all five days in order; let's go day by day. Each band gets two shots each, so these won't take for ever to load.

Tuesday, 17 October, 2006.

( Day 1 )

There's 36 videos I took at various shows over there.

6 August, 2006, 18h00
George's Roadhouse:
Colonial Quarrels
Robins
Peter Parkers
Just Barelys
Chinstraps
Singing Saws
Purple Knight
SS Cardiacs
Eric's Trip

To close the Festival we had ten bands in eight straight hours in one bar. One over-sold bar, as the night wore on. Being part of a contingent returning to Halifax that night, I was not able to remain for the after-parties, which I hear were great. It was an excellent show all around, and that's pretty much all I can say in this space. Sure high-lights were the exuberance of Mark Gaudet's bands, the Chinstraps' re-union, a super-tight Cardiacs set, and of course Eric's Trip.

( Going home )

If you are beginning your Sappy Fest journey here, maybe you should go back to the start, instead.

6 August, 2006, 16h00
STRUTS Gallery:
Dave Bidini
Milosh Rodic
David and the Woods
Will and Ann
Ingrid Deon
Laura Peek
Alex Currie
Christopher Braydon
Claytor kids
Lifeless Souls



A last-minute addition was singer/story-teller/Rheostatic Bidini, whose erotic hockey tales caused some consternation among the parents in attendance. Aside from that, the music had the kids dancing again, and the after-noon's open mic. got under-way with the above performers. The high-light was an un-expected duet by the Claytor kids, and it culminated in an all-star jam called the Lifeless Souls.



( All-Star )

6 August, 2006, 13h00
STRUTS Gallery:
Snailhouse
Abigail Lapell
Julie Doiron
Jeff Miller
Singing Saws

An early brunch was served, but I'm not sure anyone could get out of bed for it. The first show of the day was mostly repeat performers, but with a childish bent. Snailhouse did a fun participatory song about a camel, Abi had a lot of help on ‘Puff the Magic Dragon,’ and Julie was joined by her daughter. Then author Jeff Miller (am I right; I can't find a web-site?) read a great story about a wolf. Members of the Saws ensemble put together a performance to wrap things up before the record fair.

( Childish )