NXNE08: Liquid Swords Edition

It always figures that whenever I try to go somewhere it rains, literally and figuratively. My experience with the NXNE (North By Northeast) festival started when I heard about it earlier in the year from a few friends; I'm not an indie fan by any means, but I still like the chance to get out and explore some culture in the city.

I was a bit disappointed when I had checked the billing and found literally no one that I had recognized, but this was no fault of the promoters: I mean, why would they be blamed for my lack of insight into the independent music scene in this part of the country? My music tastes vary, and well, rest elsewhere.

However, NXNE is one of those events that bands seem to crawl out of the woodwork for, and really, it didn't disappoint in that respect. There was a HUGE number of people either performing or spectating, and if there's one thing I love, it's enthusiasm for a certain part of life. Getting to see fans lined up in the scattered showers that plagued the weekend to see their favourite bands was both a testament to their tenacity and frankly, a bit heartwarming. I mean, when do you see that kind of commitment anymore?

Contrasting the fans enthusiasm, I was prepared for a fairly apathetic attendance on my part, at least where the music is concerned; what I love about attending these events is the electricity you feel when you're just walking around and observing. You get to see so many different facets of this music community all in one place, meshing and conflicting with each other and producing some interesting conversation.

However, my apathy was to change when I got a certain e-mail. I would find myself suddenly hypocritically jumping with glee after constructing all these arguments in my head about why not being "THAT" into music wasn't a problem.

The Genius would be attending.

Gary Grice, GZA, The Genius; founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan. He would be interviewed in front of a roomful of eager fans, recounting legends of the Shaolin mythology and generally laying down some serious wisdom. I found it hard to contain myself.

Then I remembered that I should be professional.

GZA would be interview by Fab 5 Freddy, a well-respected figure in the hip-hop community and former graffiti artist; to be frank, I had no idea who he was before that festival. While both he and GZA sat in posh thrones upon a stage, he did what I was afraid he would do.

He asked questions that anyone could easily find the answer to.

While it's an unfair criticism to make because I'm a fan of the Wu-Tang Clan, I don't think it's that unreasonable; the purpose of asking a question is to find out information that is of use to you. I think Sean Connery said that in a movie once.

Anyways, softball questions aside, Freddy managed to get some lesser-known answers out of the Genius, like his acting experience with Bill Murray of Ghostbusters fame; this was good to hear, because not many people know about the more intelligent and methodical side of the 'Clan. GZA's a surprisingly good speaker, and he made some poignant points about the state of hip-hop and the lack of originality in today's artists - of course, you can take that with a grain of salt, depending on your tastes.

But to be realistic, I had some complaints. GZA was a full two hours late, and while I had nothing else to do that day, a guy sitting beside me by the name of Brian was on a tight schedule. He was a big fan and ended up sitting it out, but I don't think it was that fair to make people wait; Brian had met GZA at the hotel bar the night prior, so it wasn't like the rapper wasn't there already.

This tardiness was what kept me from checking out GZA's free show the following day at Yonge and Dundas Square; as a guy who needed to work on the Monday and therefore get a good night's sleep, risking waiting another two hours past GZA's starting time at 8pm wasn't something I wanted to risk.

All in all I think NXNE was a good experience, but to the uninitiated it can be a little daunting; I definitely need to plan out my route a little better next year to check out more of the films and keynote speeches; sadly this year I had to be a bit hasty. Check it out if you're in the GTA in the early summer months - nothing beats the sound of a funk guitar or a bass beat echoing off those busy streets.

Perez Hilton is a fucking dumbass

This my friends, is the face of an idiot. After giving Miss California a tongue-lashing after she gave an honest answer about her stance on gay marriage (guess which side she was on?), Perez Hilton decided that he would call Will.i.am a -and I quote- "fucking faggot" at an afterparty for the Much Music Video Awards.

Oh the sweet irony.

What did he think was going to happen? That he'd get away with a slap on the wrist?

What amuses me most about this is John Mayer's Twitter account after the event had transpired. Perez, in his limitless wisdom, decided that he would get some publicity and use his phone to ask Twitter to call the cops.

Let that sink in.

Phone.
Call.
Instead!
Twitter.

This was John's page, which has inspired my respect in the man:

@perezhilton's video statement is so long that by the end of it his cut healed.
about 1 hour ago from TwitterBerry
Last year P!nk kneed me in the nuts outside Chateau Marmont. I was pissing blood for days. Did I make a scene?
about 8 hours ago from web
Can somebody please call Amex and get me a replacement card?
about 8 hours ago from web
FollowMonday @police @fire @ambulance
about 9 hours ago from web
I love that @perezhilton uses his cellphone to log on to twitter to post a tweet to ask his followers to call the police for him.
about 9 hours ago from web

I'd like to congratulate Perez Hilton, in all his publicity-whoring self, for being, as a Superficial writer so eloquently put, "nothing more than the same brand of media-obsessed celebutard he so vehemently draws semen on, which proves he never really was a scathing observer of pop culture. Just a guy who wants to be Britney."

Well, there's this year's share of celebrity gossip.

Al Roker, Hardcore Mode, ENGAGED

Al Roker, when did you get so bad-ass? I really think more anchors should take the Jon Stewart approach and verbally bitch-slap celebrities who seem to deserve it (and boy, do Heidi and Spencer deserve the fuck out of it). I find it so much more interesting than the usual "blowjobs and shameless plug" route they seem to take.

People seeing this on Facebook should click "View Original Post" to see the video embedded. Do yourself a favour.

How Can Hip Hop Be Dead When Wu-Tang is Forever?

Good day today; got my copy of the Wu Tang Manual.

I picked it up for a couple reasons, but mainly because I have an interview with the GZA next Saturday (hopefully) and because I think the RZA is a genuinely interesting man with a lot to say; I was quickly proven right on the latter point.

It's one of those books that you can read in any order; I tend to just flip to a random page and start on a little bit of a literary quest. Lot of history, some bios, and surprisingly poignant thoughts from the producer of the 'Clan, as he delves into the technology he uses to make music and the spiritual side therein. There's chapters on chess, comics, film, religion... it truly is a manual because you get facets of all aspects of the RZA's -and by extension- Wu-Tang's philosophy.

I say "surprisingly" poignant because really, the immediate public doesn't give rappers the benefit of the doubt; part of what attracts me to Wu-Tang's music is because, in some subtle way, it's different. It samples kung-fu movies and they rap about Voltron - each of the nine (now eight) members bring something completely different to the table, and even if you don't like the complete group package, it's easy to pick a favourite rapper whose verses catch your ears.

That's why I'm kind of nervous about interviewing GZA. He and RZA are my favourites from the group, and it's almost going to be intellectually intimidating to talk to him/them; I'm hoping it's going to be a sit-down as opposed to me trying to talk to them on the run, and I'm going over mentally all the questions I want to ask versus what I need to ask for the purposes of my article. I'm going to try to throw some left-field shit out there, like working with Bill Murray for Coffee and Cigarettes, or how working with John Frusciante was for their latest album, 8 Diagrams.

It's weird, but Wu don't seem to like that album too much already. On the poster for their newest (in the works) album, Chamber Music, a major advertising point is that the style is completely different from Diagrams.

Eh, sometimes you need to admit your mistakes, I guess.

Really, I just don't want them to dismiss me as a white boy who doesn't know hip hop; that's my greatest fear - to be shunned by a band I love.

Don't hurt em'

Because everyone needs a bit more Hammer in their lives.

Beer, football, and nazis; perfect start to the summer

So I've been messing around with Joomla these last couple days while trying to get a handle on a website I'm going to be taking part in; there's nothing more frustrating/enthralling then learning a new system that will ultimately benefit you in some way. I think that last point is the reason why I didn't do too well in high school math.

Nice day in the lonely city today; played some soccer with friends and the weather was just perfect for it. Went out last night to an event that's usually an underage drinking fest, but now that I'm old enough to actually go to bars it wasn't half bad. Met up with some people I hadn't seen in awhile, and a good time was had by all. And you know... beer's always good.

Not to hockey fans out there; does this Stanley Cup series feel especially magical to you? I know it's the second time in a row that these teams have met, but I feel like everyone's been buzzing about it, and I enjoy it heartily. The spirit of competition and "X player on your team is a bitch" is alive and well.

Also, in world news:

@warrenellis: The UK has elected (in record low turnout) a neofascist Shoah-denier & an actual no-hyperbole neo-Nazi to the Euro Parliament. So disgusted.

Crap.

Anyways, good night from the land of maple syrup and moose; this feels like a largely carthartic and unnecessary blog post, but meh, it was nice to get a few things off my chest.

More rants to follow, I promise.

Uplifting

Been listening to 311 for a couple years now and they've kind of transcended to the echelon of my favourite bands. Man I love using fancy words.

They're coming out with a new album in June called Uplifter, and while I've listened to it online already, I'm definitely going to be picking it up; it's pretty much the standard 311 album in the sense that it's gloriously 90's. Their sound hasn't changed that much, and while you don't particularly listen to the band for their lyrics, the songs contain this... positive vibe that makes you nod your head and rock out. Yes, a very vague and unprofessional review, but I like what I like.

It's the type of album you put on and let it act as a background soundtrack for whatever you're doing at that current moment; it's a very ska-reggae-altrock type of sound that goes well with doing anything, and that's really what I've used it for. 311's got a lot of songs that are just plain rock-out songs, and they've got the talent in writing catchy hooks and riffs that kind of suck you in and give you a faux concert experience. What I mean by that is that you can both imagine yourself at a 311 concert, or, like I do, imagine yourself performing. It's an exhilirating experience.

Here's the video for the first single, "Hey You". I'd also recommend listening to "Daisy Cutter" and "Neverending Summer", which you can find on 311's Myspace; they've generously released the entire album for your listening please.


People reading this note on Facebook will have to click "View Original Post" to see this video.