I've been swearing rather violently at my computer for the last three minutes. Hopefully no one has heard my tiradte. Why, you ask? Because the Ottawa Public Library, with the minimal funds granted to them by the feds, are forced to serve the public with computers running - get this now - Windows 95. No joke. Win 95. It's a pretty sad state of affairs, and no doubt I'm not the first or last person massively inconvenienced by it, but bottom line is that an hour's work was just tossed into the street because of it. So we'll do the update over. Heeeeere we gooooo!
Windows Ninety-Five. Wow.
And now, the news.
New York Fries(a place I wouldn't eat at as my first choice, but that's just me) have a new ad campaign themed around their New York-ness and 'authenticity'. To that end, public transit here in Ottawa has a slew of ads, and the funniest one I've seen is one that reads 'Our Fries Are Always Fresh. Like your sister.' Oh MAN, that's funny.
There are a ton, a ton, of big shows hitting Ottawa in the next month or two; I'll just list a few bands on their way here: Thursday, Poison the Well, Mad Caddies, Silverstein, Most Precious Blood, did I mention THURSDAY???, .hopesfall, and the list goes on and on and on. For all the listings, check our bruddas and sistas over at punkottawa, and keep your calendars clear. Wow. I wonder how many of these extravaganzas I'LL be able to hit.
I was at HMV earlier today seeing what was new on the listening posts, and I found the debut album from Vancouver's Crowned King(opened for Billy Talent back in November). So I'm listening to that, digging the rock-with-horns goodness, and reading through the liner notes(I'm big on details), and what do I see? The last band thanked is none other than Canadian Christian rock pioneers Hokus Pick, long since defunct and also from Vancouver. How 'BOUT that? Anyone remember The Pick? Played Ottawa like annually for a long time.
Winnipeg masters Comeback Kid, always touring machines, have lined up a ton of dates in the next couple months with bands like With Honour, Every New Day, Scars of Tomorrow and Bleeding Through. An interesting note is that March 4th's Winnipeg show at WACC(whatever that is) will be taped by MuchMusic. Comeback Kid on Much? Awesome! [hxc]
Essential listening for today is The Revolution Will Begin In The Blink Of An Eye Vol. 1, a compilation put out last year by Mono Vs. Stereo Records, featuring bands like The Evan Anthem, House of Heroes and Boywunder. Some killer emo/hardcore/punk/miscellaneous stuff on here, babies.
Indie Vision Records are putting together their first Indie Vision Tour, featuring six IVM bands tearing it up across the USA; check out the site for all the details. Itineraries are still being pieced together.
Underground DJ Dangermouse has created The Grey Album, a combination of The Beatles' White Album and - you guessed it - Jay-Z's Black Album. I've yet to hear it, but longtime contributor DJ Omnifik has his hot little hands on a copy that I'll be auditioning in the near future. I bet it's enormous, and there's already a flurry of lawsuits and controversy around this album. We'll keep you posted.
Isn't this something: ex-Sense Field vocalist Jon Bunch has been recruited by the remnants of Further Seems Forever. FSF had previously decided upon their 'certain disbanding', but have changed their mind. So much for the Strongarm resurrection we here at sweetdisaster had hoped for. Bunch will do the vocals for the upcoming new album from FSF that former vocalist Jason Gleason walked away from, so as far as we know, it's full sails for the band that released the best record of 2003, How To Start A Fire. Good on them. [buzzgrinder]
Posted by mike at February 23, 2004 04:46 PM