KAE SUN
Ghost Town Prophecy
CLICK ON THE COVER TO BUY
TRACKS
1. Where Did Everybody Go
2. Kidnapped
3. Stay Up
4. Metropolis
5. Living In The City
6. Angels By Day
Friday, August 31, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
Download Kae Sun HERE
All is fine here, really. I'm going to the UK on WED to see Alice, then back to Canada for 3 weeks for some band and family stuff... Oh, and I finished a chapter of my thesis, which makes me thrilled. Makes me thrilled? Is that ever proper grammer? meh, fuck it.
I've decided today that people are completely incompetent at the supermarket. For some reason, getting milk took about 40 minutes today despite living 4 minutes from the grocer. There was one aisle open, of course, and a massive queue for it. And people always wait till they see the price to open their wallet and fish through for cash; like the can't guesstimate in advance and prepare the money for the cashier? I love how people are always surprised at the cost. Like, how do they no know what they are buying at this exact moment? Drives me insane.
I will miss this city though; minus the supermarkets, it's ace.
All is fine here, really. I'm going to the UK on WED to see Alice, then back to Canada for 3 weeks for some band and family stuff... Oh, and I finished a chapter of my thesis, which makes me thrilled. Makes me thrilled? Is that ever proper grammer? meh, fuck it.
I've decided today that people are completely incompetent at the supermarket. For some reason, getting milk took about 40 minutes today despite living 4 minutes from the grocer. There was one aisle open, of course, and a massive queue for it. And people always wait till they see the price to open their wallet and fish through for cash; like the can't guesstimate in advance and prepare the money for the cashier? I love how people are always surprised at the cost. Like, how do they no know what they are buying at this exact moment? Drives me insane.
I will miss this city though; minus the supermarkets, it's ace.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Kae Sun is available to purchase ONLINE!!!!
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Purchase Digital Tracks Here
Purchase via CD Baby in North America HERE
Purchase via Amazon in the UK and Europe HERE
CD Release Parties:
Sep 6 - Casbah, Hamilton
Sep 21 - Clintons, Toronto
Sep 25 - Isaac's Pub, St. Catharines
full tourdates HERE
http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
Purchase Digital Tracks Here
Purchase via CD Baby in North America HERE
Purchase via Amazon in the UK and Europe HERE
CD Release Parties:
Sep 6 - Casbah, Hamilton
Sep 21 - Clintons, Toronto
Sep 25 - Isaac's Pub, St. Catharines
full tourdates HERE
Sunday, August 12, 2007
It's sorta nice today...
First chapter of thesis is coming along.. well, along coming. I'm up to about 7000 words thus far and I can see pushing the 10,000 word mark before I get my point across. Crazy. And it is only one chapter. I am in for the long haul.
Absolutely nothing to report, which is why I'm hesitant to even update this. I am alive, quite well thank you very much and in Amsterdam. I have no plans to leave until Aug 28, and Alice is coming to visit in five days. That is about it. It was gorgeous this morning but it has clouded over, which is a bit shit, and we're hoping the sun comes out again. I am listening to Swan Lake; the indie-rock band, not the ballet.
Boring can be nice. I don't see when I will have time to relax for a while after August.
First chapter of thesis is coming along.. well, along coming. I'm up to about 7000 words thus far and I can see pushing the 10,000 word mark before I get my point across. Crazy. And it is only one chapter. I am in for the long haul.
Absolutely nothing to report, which is why I'm hesitant to even update this. I am alive, quite well thank you very much and in Amsterdam. I have no plans to leave until Aug 28, and Alice is coming to visit in five days. That is about it. It was gorgeous this morning but it has clouded over, which is a bit shit, and we're hoping the sun comes out again. I am listening to Swan Lake; the indie-rock band, not the ballet.
Boring can be nice. I don't see when I will have time to relax for a while after August.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
All Systems Quiet,
August is such a quiet month. Ninety percent of people are on vacation - and I don't blame them - and the days just seem to drift by slowly, as if the clock is being held back just a little bit. It's great, but it's also weird, as it is the opposite of all things usual for me. I guess I can focus on my thesis, but it is a pain in the rear. Well, off to read.
August is such a quiet month. Ninety percent of people are on vacation - and I don't blame them - and the days just seem to drift by slowly, as if the clock is being held back just a little bit. It's great, but it's also weird, as it is the opposite of all things usual for me. I guess I can focus on my thesis, but it is a pain in the rear. Well, off to read.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Post 184,
I oten hark back to yesteryear and marvel at how idealistic I was as a youth; It's not that I'm not youthful now, but when you help run two companies, adulthood strikes. It seems like said youthful and seemingly ignorant idealism has been replaced by pragmatism, as I don't feel idealistic anymore. That does not mean I don't have any ideals, not at all, but I feel to attain them, dreaming just doesn't cut it.
I feel this way because lately I've started to apply for real jobs, the first time I have ever had to do this. I am moving to London for work to make money and pay off student loans, and I need a real, somewhat organized job to do so. Dreaming about finding a job doesn't find one. And the submission process begins.
On another note, summer has finally arrived in Amsterdam, finally. It was sunny and thirty today. I went with my buddy Sander to the Kwakoe Festival in the Bijmer, which is the 'ghetto' of Amsterdam. It was great; tons of Surinamese culture, various African trinkets and food, lots of Dutch hip-hop, good fun indeed. Great way to spend a summer day, but I am procrastinating with work, as I sit here and type this blog.
Lastly, we found out today that our new album debuted at #19 on the CFMU Hamilton Charts, which is fantastic. Everyone is digging the album, and things are positive. Onward and upward with the struggle we go. till next time. I will continue to keep my head on the ground.
I oten hark back to yesteryear and marvel at how idealistic I was as a youth; It's not that I'm not youthful now, but when you help run two companies, adulthood strikes. It seems like said youthful and seemingly ignorant idealism has been replaced by pragmatism, as I don't feel idealistic anymore. That does not mean I don't have any ideals, not at all, but I feel to attain them, dreaming just doesn't cut it.
I feel this way because lately I've started to apply for real jobs, the first time I have ever had to do this. I am moving to London for work to make money and pay off student loans, and I need a real, somewhat organized job to do so. Dreaming about finding a job doesn't find one. And the submission process begins.
On another note, summer has finally arrived in Amsterdam, finally. It was sunny and thirty today. I went with my buddy Sander to the Kwakoe Festival in the Bijmer, which is the 'ghetto' of Amsterdam. It was great; tons of Surinamese culture, various African trinkets and food, lots of Dutch hip-hop, good fun indeed. Great way to spend a summer day, but I am procrastinating with work, as I sit here and type this blog.
Lastly, we found out today that our new album debuted at #19 on the CFMU Hamilton Charts, which is fantastic. Everyone is digging the album, and things are positive. Onward and upward with the struggle we go. till next time. I will continue to keep my head on the ground.
Friday, August 03, 2007
Theorizing...
Now is the time to dream, methinks. I'm finally home in my little cheap box - I live in a storage room essentially in the attic of a building in the ghetto - but comfortable and happy and quiet. Yet, things are alive all over the place. School is starting up again, as my thesis has become paramount in the to-do pile; In addition, a prospective move to good ol' London town has been proposed and is being considered heavily. It'll be easier to find what normal people call 'real' work there, and other things are driving me there, mainly family, friends, Alice, easy transport links and the knowing that I can always come back to Amsterdam, which will be frequent.
Regardless, this is all THEORY, hypothesizing.. nothing else. I prefer Amsterdam to London, but I prefer what's IN London to Amsterdam, despite my adopted hometown being nothing short of amazing, despite the language and little pain in the necks that encompass life here sometimes. Plus, I'm way cooler to others when I say 'I live in Amsterdam.' London is so pedestrian :) just kidding. I guess we'll see; only time shall tell.
Now is the time to dream, methinks. I'm finally home in my little cheap box - I live in a storage room essentially in the attic of a building in the ghetto - but comfortable and happy and quiet. Yet, things are alive all over the place. School is starting up again, as my thesis has become paramount in the to-do pile; In addition, a prospective move to good ol' London town has been proposed and is being considered heavily. It'll be easier to find what normal people call 'real' work there, and other things are driving me there, mainly family, friends, Alice, easy transport links and the knowing that I can always come back to Amsterdam, which will be frequent.
Regardless, this is all THEORY, hypothesizing.. nothing else. I prefer Amsterdam to London, but I prefer what's IN London to Amsterdam, despite my adopted hometown being nothing short of amazing, despite the language and little pain in the necks that encompass life here sometimes. Plus, I'm way cooler to others when I say 'I live in Amsterdam.' London is so pedestrian :) just kidding. I guess we'll see; only time shall tell.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Last Day in London...
Well, my domestication trip in London is nearing a close. I am so happy I decided not to go to Switzerland, even though I love Switzerland and my friends there; regardless, being about to spend a lot of time at work and with Alice has been amazing; London costs a fortune, and a bank machine ate my Dutch debit card forcing me to deplete my Canadian account, but such is life; I guess I gotta start thinking a bit about a move to London, maybe a real job one of these days, or at least more writing to survive financially in this expensive city. For example, yesterday we went to this great vegetarian curry restaurant in Angel with all sorts of propaganda on the walls telling people they would get cancer by eating meat; The all you can eat buffet was three quid; it actually cost more to get there, than to eat. Then we went to the pub and laughed, drank some Pimms and relaxed; perfect night, but expensive indeed.
Things writing wise are good. The G! Festival was amazing, and I've made some good Faeroese friends because of it, despite a lot of folks not even knowing where the place is. Iceland has been reconfirmed as well for next year, as we rented a flat and I bought my plane ticket. I'll be writing it up for DrownedinSound, which should be nice.
Other than that, nothing much to report. I feel that my life is only exciting to those outside of it, as it does seem I am living this jetsetting, whirlwind existence. I admit I travel a lot, and I am growing tired of it, but really, life ain't that entertaining. I'm just happy hanging out. Back to Amsterdam tomorrow, where I'll be there, thank god, most of August. September and October are mostly spent on the road, so I have to relish every minute of course.
x shain
Well, my domestication trip in London is nearing a close. I am so happy I decided not to go to Switzerland, even though I love Switzerland and my friends there; regardless, being about to spend a lot of time at work and with Alice has been amazing; London costs a fortune, and a bank machine ate my Dutch debit card forcing me to deplete my Canadian account, but such is life; I guess I gotta start thinking a bit about a move to London, maybe a real job one of these days, or at least more writing to survive financially in this expensive city. For example, yesterday we went to this great vegetarian curry restaurant in Angel with all sorts of propaganda on the walls telling people they would get cancer by eating meat; The all you can eat buffet was three quid; it actually cost more to get there, than to eat. Then we went to the pub and laughed, drank some Pimms and relaxed; perfect night, but expensive indeed.
Things writing wise are good. The G! Festival was amazing, and I've made some good Faeroese friends because of it, despite a lot of folks not even knowing where the place is. Iceland has been reconfirmed as well for next year, as we rented a flat and I bought my plane ticket. I'll be writing it up for DrownedinSound, which should be nice.
Other than that, nothing much to report. I feel that my life is only exciting to those outside of it, as it does seem I am living this jetsetting, whirlwind existence. I admit I travel a lot, and I am growing tired of it, but really, life ain't that entertaining. I'm just happy hanging out. Back to Amsterdam tomorrow, where I'll be there, thank god, most of August. September and October are mostly spent on the road, so I have to relish every minute of course.
x shain
Sunday, July 29, 2007
London...
I have been in London all week, and it has been lovely. I've been hanging out with Alice and her housemates, working a real job at DiS - well, some sort of semblance of a real job whereas I work from 10 ish to 5 ish, and going out and spending loads of money on my oyster card. Really, I'm domesticating here, and really fucking happy about it. I may be moving to London round x-mas time, but who knows.
I will add a huge update when I get back to Amsterdam; promise... For now, here are more Faeroe Island pics. love - shain
I have been in London all week, and it has been lovely. I've been hanging out with Alice and her housemates, working a real job at DiS - well, some sort of semblance of a real job whereas I work from 10 ish to 5 ish, and going out and spending loads of money on my oyster card. Really, I'm domesticating here, and really fucking happy about it. I may be moving to London round x-mas time, but who knows.
I will add a huge update when I get back to Amsterdam; promise... For now, here are more Faeroe Island pics. love - shain
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Big Update,
Firstly, read my G! Festival Review - HERE
I am http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifso busy at work right now so I don't gave much time to update this, but I owe the blog and whomever reads it a good solid update, especially because I have to talk about Faeroes. Well, here goes.
The Faeroes are amazing. Imagine a place where every view, every vantage point is postcard worthy. Giant green treeless hills, peering in and out of bright blue fjords and houses with turfed roofs. I thought when I got there that little green people with webbed feet would live there, but nope, normal people did. Except they were all tall and gorgeous and blond. The festival was in this town called Gota, population 980, and pretty much the main street was converted in the festival grounds. We had to take a bus from the airport for 90 minutes cause it was on a different island, and the whole experience of travelling throughout this country was truly surreal. It was empty. There are 18 islands and 47,000 people, of 19,000 live in the capital, a pretty little town called Torshavn. So we made it to the festival round 6PM. We stayed at this guy's house named Jeffrey. He has heated floors in his bathroom and a bunch of big screen TVs. We had our own cots, had free reign on his food and beer and got to chill with his family, who was wonderful.
I was a plainly odd but amazing festival experience. Firstly everyone we met was fanastic, and I made some really good friends I could see as being lifelong, including Ben, Nettie, Lucy and Will. The music was good, but there was constant, constant drinking and just gorgeous views. It also rarely got dark, only for about 45 minutes, so we were all disoriented and hungover for about three days. I do have too much work to do, so here are some pictures.
Firstly, read my G! Festival Review - HERE
I am http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifso busy at work right now so I don't gave much time to update this, but I owe the blog and whomever reads it a good solid update, especially because I have to talk about Faeroes. Well, here goes.
The Faeroes are amazing. Imagine a place where every view, every vantage point is postcard worthy. Giant green treeless hills, peering in and out of bright blue fjords and houses with turfed roofs. I thought when I got there that little green people with webbed feet would live there, but nope, normal people did. Except they were all tall and gorgeous and blond. The festival was in this town called Gota, population 980, and pretty much the main street was converted in the festival grounds. We had to take a bus from the airport for 90 minutes cause it was on a different island, and the whole experience of travelling throughout this country was truly surreal. It was empty. There are 18 islands and 47,000 people, of 19,000 live in the capital, a pretty little town called Torshavn. So we made it to the festival round 6PM. We stayed at this guy's house named Jeffrey. He has heated floors in his bathroom and a bunch of big screen TVs. We had our own cots, had free reign on his food and beer and got to chill with his family, who was wonderful.
I was a plainly odd but amazing festival experience. Firstly everyone we met was fanastic, and I made some really good friends I could see as being lifelong, including Ben, Nettie, Lucy and Will. The music was good, but there was constant, constant drinking and just gorgeous views. It also rarely got dark, only for about 45 minutes, so we were all disoriented and hungover for about three days. I do have too much work to do, so here are some pictures.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Faroe Islands...
Well, here is my blog entry before I head off and grab some dinner. The Faroe Islands are fantastic. Arguably one of the nicest and most postcardy places I have ever been. In addition, the people here are beyond wonderful. They put Rich and I up in a family home in Gota, the village that has essentially become a music festival for the weekend. They just invited us in, gave us beds, food, free Faroese beer, everything. It truly has been an amazing experience. I can't really write that much because I am so busy, but a full report will happen. Truly, these people are amazing.. everyone talks to us, everyone.. and they are absolutely wonderful. Plus this place looks like and presumably is paradise.. they have grass roofs. Plus this morning I went on a 6 hour tour of the Islands sponsored by the government, which took us on a ninety minute boat ride to the capitol, Torshavn, and then on to meet members of parliament, see a performance of Faroese music and all sorts of other shit. I am exhausted, drunk and glee. I miss Alice. But I am in paradise. The food sucks though.
Well, here is my blog entry before I head off and grab some dinner. The Faroe Islands are fantastic. Arguably one of the nicest and most postcardy places I have ever been. In addition, the people here are beyond wonderful. They put Rich and I up in a family home in Gota, the village that has essentially become a music festival for the weekend. They just invited us in, gave us beds, food, free Faroese beer, everything. It truly has been an amazing experience. I can't really write that much because I am so busy, but a full report will happen. Truly, these people are amazing.. everyone talks to us, everyone.. and they are absolutely wonderful. Plus this place looks like and presumably is paradise.. they have grass roofs. Plus this morning I went on a 6 hour tour of the Islands sponsored by the government, which took us on a ninety minute boat ride to the capitol, Torshavn, and then on to meet members of parliament, see a performance of Faroese music and all sorts of other shit. I am exhausted, drunk and glee. I miss Alice. But I am in paradise. The food sucks though.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Road...
And on it goes. I have noticed that the more exotic places I go to, the less exotic they become. I really have to STOP and take a moment to appreciate things as they pass me by, because I am a luck fuck to be traveling around so much. It is exhausting, absolutely knackering, but I am enjoying it. I love Barcelona, it is a glorious city, and I only have one more day left in it. I may go to a museum later.
I'm off to the arctic with a few friends on THR, but before then, I am heading to London. I am really excited to go back to London, as I like and miss London. It will be a whirlwind trip, but wonderful nonetheless.
x
And on it goes. I have noticed that the more exotic places I go to, the less exotic they become. I really have to STOP and take a moment to appreciate things as they pass me by, because I am a luck fuck to be traveling around so much. It is exhausting, absolutely knackering, but I am enjoying it. I love Barcelona, it is a glorious city, and I only have one more day left in it. I may go to a museum later.
I'm off to the arctic with a few friends on THR, but before then, I am heading to London. I am really excited to go back to London, as I like and miss London. It will be a whirlwind trip, but wonderful nonetheless.
x
Monday, July 16, 2007
Update...
I am still in Barcelona, loving this city as much as ever. Here is a quick synopsis of my goings' on as of late for the hoards of fans - I am guessing 4 people - that read this waste of time called my blog.
I had a rough day on FRI. THR was shit too for other reasons but FRI was rough. It took me 8 hours to get from Amsterdam -> Barcelona. My plane was delayed, then we waited on the tarmac, then it was a rough flight, then I missed my train, then the metro stopped for twenty minutes etc... I was slightly on the upset side of things by the time I arrived. Then I took a power nap and headed off to Summercase.
I've spent the last few days at Summercase, a big music festival in a concrete jungle called the Parc Del Forum right on the beach in Barcelona. Yesterday, my first day off - true day off - I just walked around Barcelona with my friend Katie... to the beach, away from the beach, around the old town, to a few bars. We went and grabbed some beers and sat in a square talking about robot chicken for a few hours last night too. wonderful.
I've been working my ass off today. Also went to H&M, as 3 of the 5 shirts I packed are stained, so I got off my ass and bought fresh shirts. My mom will be proud. And a pair of shorts. London WED.
I am still in Barcelona, loving this city as much as ever. Here is a quick synopsis of my goings' on as of late for the hoards of fans - I am guessing 4 people - that read this waste of time called my blog.
I had a rough day on FRI. THR was shit too for other reasons but FRI was rough. It took me 8 hours to get from Amsterdam -> Barcelona. My plane was delayed, then we waited on the tarmac, then it was a rough flight, then I missed my train, then the metro stopped for twenty minutes etc... I was slightly on the upset side of things by the time I arrived. Then I took a power nap and headed off to Summercase.
I've spent the last few days at Summercase, a big music festival in a concrete jungle called the Parc Del Forum right on the beach in Barcelona. Yesterday, my first day off - true day off - I just walked around Barcelona with my friend Katie... to the beach, away from the beach, around the old town, to a few bars. We went and grabbed some beers and sat in a square talking about robot chicken for a few hours last night too. wonderful.
I've been working my ass off today. Also went to H&M, as 3 of the 5 shirts I packed are stained, so I got off my ass and bought fresh shirts. My mom will be proud. And a pair of shorts. London WED.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Quickie,
I bet if 100 westerners were put in a room, 96 of them would be complete idiots. Sometimes, the sheer idiocy of humanity, like today, a women did not know how to put her seatbelt on in the airplane - at least that is how I saw it - seriously, and she wasn't developmentally challenged or had an excuse. She was just plainly stupid. Really, while Mike Judge's Idiocracy was a horrible movie, it made a good point. Stupid people are scarier than Bird Flu, a much stronger epidemic and are procreating at the rate accustomed to Guinea Pigs.
Maybe I am impatient, or not pragmatic enough to understand their side of the story, or maybe, just maybe, I am smarter then them, and sad because of it. Traveling really opens your eyes to the beauties in the world, but also its ugly side. You cannot have one without the other. I guess this blog entry is worth a good Waldorf and Statler quote; "They aren't half bad; Nope, they are ALL BAD..."
On another note, I am back from Vienna. My plane was delayed three hours, which makes me hate SkyEurope even more, but the airport in Vienna had free internet access - what a concept - and a Starbucks with available plugs, so I was content. Still, people are idiots. I guess that goes without saying, but I am still saying it.
I bet if 100 westerners were put in a room, 96 of them would be complete idiots. Sometimes, the sheer idiocy of humanity, like today, a women did not know how to put her seatbelt on in the airplane - at least that is how I saw it - seriously, and she wasn't developmentally challenged or had an excuse. She was just plainly stupid. Really, while Mike Judge's Idiocracy was a horrible movie, it made a good point. Stupid people are scarier than Bird Flu, a much stronger epidemic and are procreating at the rate accustomed to Guinea Pigs.
Maybe I am impatient, or not pragmatic enough to understand their side of the story, or maybe, just maybe, I am smarter then them, and sad because of it. Traveling really opens your eyes to the beauties in the world, but also its ugly side. You cannot have one without the other. I guess this blog entry is worth a good Waldorf and Statler quote; "They aren't half bad; Nope, they are ALL BAD..."
On another note, I am back from Vienna. My plane was delayed three hours, which makes me hate SkyEurope even more, but the airport in Vienna had free internet access - what a concept - and a Starbucks with available plugs, so I was content. Still, people are idiots. I guess that goes without saying, but I am still saying it.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Quick Update From Austria,
I am at my friend Casbi's house in Graz, Austria. This is my last day here, so I do not want to waste it updating my blog, but here's a quick synopsis of my time in this amazing country. I really do love Austria, like I love most countries. I love.
My trip did not start well. The metro in Amsterdam was broken and I was late for my flight, as per usual, so I had to take a €30 cab ride from my house to Schiphol. Then my flight sat on the tarmac for over an hour because it was a busy day of some sorts. I was in a great mood. Finally made it to Vienna after a noticeably bumpy flight and to my friend Hanna's house.
She's great and her flat is great. Right in the middle of Vienna on the top floor of an old building, so there is a big roof terrace in which you can see all of Vienna. It's really something. We watched the sunset a few times; it was like being your own Hollywood stereotype, in Vienna. The first night we went to an open air cinema in park near an old WWII bunker to see "Rock and Roll Never Dies," a brilliant Finnish film about, well, rock and roll, and pie. The problem was, it was colder than a witches' teat, and it rained, and I caught a cold, one I am still battling as I write this. Apparently they were out of blankets. Bastards.
The next day was spent walking around Veinna and sight-seeing, while thinking a lot about work. It is a beautiful city, more expensive than I thought and to be honest, very familiar. It looks like, well, pretty much any other big European city. Prague is more majestic architecturally. There are some nice buildings, like the Belvedere and government house, but all in all, nothing special. At night we went to a jazz club to see RJD2. Brilliant DJ, talkative crowd, great night.
The next day, or two days ago, we went to this tiny town on the Danube called Spitz for Hanna's brother's garden party. He lives in the middle of Austrian wine country, a truly glorious location. His house backs onto the Danube and he has a HUGE garden with shitloads of veggies and fruits. I called it a 'Vegetarian's Wet Dream' because it truly was. He has a fig tree, a kiwi tree, all sorts of squash, berries, tomatoes, tons of Apricots (they grow everywhere here) and other goodies. The party was, well, amazing.. but I was sick. Very sick. We stayed for a while before darting off to Krems, a town of 25,000 where Hanna grew up, and she showed me around. I had a mean case of the sniffles so we headed back to Vienna and I went to sleep.
Yesterday I went to Graz, which is where I am now. Graz is a college town about 3 hours south of Vienna in Steria, another province. It is truly something else, a sleepy little town that comes to life with students. My friend Casbi who owns a record label lives here, and he showed me around while we talked business (working/holiday). Nice views, nice city, picturesque, and one of the locals' favourites. Hanna loves Graz, and I can see why. Made dinner last night for everyone - salad and potato gratin with sundried tomatoes - and drank and chatted, mostly in German, while I struggled with the language. Today we're going to see a castle apparently before heading back to Vienna. I've been promised an excursion to the best veggie restaurant in Vienna and some clubbing before I hop a plane tomorrow and get down and dirty in piles and piles of work the rest of the week.
In addition, a very symbolic day in coming - this THR - and I plan to spend it not working, so I have to really get on things when I get home. Better enjoy Graz now.
I love Austria. I'm coming back in October. yeah!
much love.
I am at my friend Casbi's house in Graz, Austria. This is my last day here, so I do not want to waste it updating my blog, but here's a quick synopsis of my time in this amazing country. I really do love Austria, like I love most countries. I love.
My trip did not start well. The metro in Amsterdam was broken and I was late for my flight, as per usual, so I had to take a €30 cab ride from my house to Schiphol. Then my flight sat on the tarmac for over an hour because it was a busy day of some sorts. I was in a great mood. Finally made it to Vienna after a noticeably bumpy flight and to my friend Hanna's house.
She's great and her flat is great. Right in the middle of Vienna on the top floor of an old building, so there is a big roof terrace in which you can see all of Vienna. It's really something. We watched the sunset a few times; it was like being your own Hollywood stereotype, in Vienna. The first night we went to an open air cinema in park near an old WWII bunker to see "Rock and Roll Never Dies," a brilliant Finnish film about, well, rock and roll, and pie. The problem was, it was colder than a witches' teat, and it rained, and I caught a cold, one I am still battling as I write this. Apparently they were out of blankets. Bastards.
The next day was spent walking around Veinna and sight-seeing, while thinking a lot about work. It is a beautiful city, more expensive than I thought and to be honest, very familiar. It looks like, well, pretty much any other big European city. Prague is more majestic architecturally. There are some nice buildings, like the Belvedere and government house, but all in all, nothing special. At night we went to a jazz club to see RJD2. Brilliant DJ, talkative crowd, great night.
The next day, or two days ago, we went to this tiny town on the Danube called Spitz for Hanna's brother's garden party. He lives in the middle of Austrian wine country, a truly glorious location. His house backs onto the Danube and he has a HUGE garden with shitloads of veggies and fruits. I called it a 'Vegetarian's Wet Dream' because it truly was. He has a fig tree, a kiwi tree, all sorts of squash, berries, tomatoes, tons of Apricots (they grow everywhere here) and other goodies. The party was, well, amazing.. but I was sick. Very sick. We stayed for a while before darting off to Krems, a town of 25,000 where Hanna grew up, and she showed me around. I had a mean case of the sniffles so we headed back to Vienna and I went to sleep.
Yesterday I went to Graz, which is where I am now. Graz is a college town about 3 hours south of Vienna in Steria, another province. It is truly something else, a sleepy little town that comes to life with students. My friend Casbi who owns a record label lives here, and he showed me around while we talked business (working/holiday). Nice views, nice city, picturesque, and one of the locals' favourites. Hanna loves Graz, and I can see why. Made dinner last night for everyone - salad and potato gratin with sundried tomatoes - and drank and chatted, mostly in German, while I struggled with the language. Today we're going to see a castle apparently before heading back to Vienna. I've been promised an excursion to the best veggie restaurant in Vienna and some clubbing before I hop a plane tomorrow and get down and dirty in piles and piles of work the rest of the week.
In addition, a very symbolic day in coming - this THR - and I plan to spend it not working, so I have to really get on things when I get home. Better enjoy Graz now.
I love Austria. I'm coming back in October. yeah!
much love.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Off To Austria...
I have quite the schedule this summer... If all goes well, I will be hitting up 5 big music festivals across Europe, and then returning home for a CD Release Tour. My schedule is a bit crazy, but I will get to go back to London for a few days to see my brother, and Phil, my brother-in-law, will be there as well as our schedules will overlap. My close friend Dave is coming at the end of August, and I will be going to a close friend's wedding in Deep River, ON at the end of August as well. Gonna be busy. As its looking, I'll be in Austria, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Holland (of course), UK, Switzerland and The Faroe Islands, before returning to Canada and the US at the end of the summer. My thesis is doomed. I hope Mireille, my adviser, isn't reading this.
This is mostly because of DrownedinSound, whom I am working with as much as I can. Great bunch of cats over there. We just eclipsed 300,000 hits a week, so we are the biggest independent music website in Europe. How's say?
So, what to chat about in my non-sensical world, which isn't a word by the way, but whatever. Well, I'm glad as a poet on payday that I am leaving the weather here. It has rained EVERY SINGLE DAY since I got back home, and that was June 13. Everyday is a mized bag, bipolar, as in some moments it pours and others it is sunny. My last two baseball games and one training have been rained out. I wonder why I play when my field is below sea level, so half the time it is under water. We still in second place, and I wish my lads more than well in the month I'm away. I'm sure they will kick ass, as I do bat 9th and play right field. I'm replaceable.
Other news in the world of Shain... well, our album is being released on AUG 21 and a tour is in the works. We'll have copies before Aug 1. I am fucking excited for this. No matter what happens, K and I have made it and made a new record, and we're damn proud of it. Please buy it if you like the songs.
So I leave in a few hours, writing this as I drink black coffee because we are out of milk. I am certainly going to miss Amsterdam, as I am gone minus 10 days until Sep 23, and I'm away much of October as well. But this is life, as 2007 is the year on the road it seems, and I am growing considerably because of it.. Or at least I think so. I will be back for a few days next week in time to see Bright Eyes at the Melkweg on July 11. I love Bright Eyes.
Oh, Happy Birthday Matt, Renee and everyone else I love. till next time..
I have quite the schedule this summer... If all goes well, I will be hitting up 5 big music festivals across Europe, and then returning home for a CD Release Tour. My schedule is a bit crazy, but I will get to go back to London for a few days to see my brother, and Phil, my brother-in-law, will be there as well as our schedules will overlap. My close friend Dave is coming at the end of August, and I will be going to a close friend's wedding in Deep River, ON at the end of August as well. Gonna be busy. As its looking, I'll be in Austria, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Holland (of course), UK, Switzerland and The Faroe Islands, before returning to Canada and the US at the end of the summer. My thesis is doomed. I hope Mireille, my adviser, isn't reading this.
This is mostly because of DrownedinSound, whom I am working with as much as I can. Great bunch of cats over there. We just eclipsed 300,000 hits a week, so we are the biggest independent music website in Europe. How's say?
So, what to chat about in my non-sensical world, which isn't a word by the way, but whatever. Well, I'm glad as a poet on payday that I am leaving the weather here. It has rained EVERY SINGLE DAY since I got back home, and that was June 13. Everyday is a mized bag, bipolar, as in some moments it pours and others it is sunny. My last two baseball games and one training have been rained out. I wonder why I play when my field is below sea level, so half the time it is under water. We still in second place, and I wish my lads more than well in the month I'm away. I'm sure they will kick ass, as I do bat 9th and play right field. I'm replaceable.
Other news in the world of Shain... well, our album is being released on AUG 21 and a tour is in the works. We'll have copies before Aug 1. I am fucking excited for this. No matter what happens, K and I have made it and made a new record, and we're damn proud of it. Please buy it if you like the songs.
So I leave in a few hours, writing this as I drink black coffee because we are out of milk. I am certainly going to miss Amsterdam, as I am gone minus 10 days until Sep 23, and I'm away much of October as well. But this is life, as 2007 is the year on the road it seems, and I am growing considerably because of it.. Or at least I think so. I will be back for a few days next week in time to see Bright Eyes at the Melkweg on July 11. I love Bright Eyes.
Oh, Happy Birthday Matt, Renee and everyone else I love. till next time..
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
I've seen A LOT of live music this past week, and it's been my two weeks off. Odd. I guess I'm hooked. I saw Smokey Robinson last night. No Shit. Like Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. He played with a massive band, and it was very much a variety show and a bit depressing, but fun. He played "I Second That Emotion," "My Girl" and a bunch of others. I left early cause of a meeting.
I saw the Dilated Peoples on Monday. Both The Alchemist and Jeru The Damaga guested, the latter being kickass, as the trio with Baboo at the DJ ripped through 75 minutes of straight hip-hop. Was Amazing.
I also saw Ted Leo, You Say Party We Say Die, Joan as Police Woman and Dinosaur Jr. last week. busy busy.
I saw the Dilated Peoples on Monday. Both The Alchemist and Jeru The Damaga guested, the latter being kickass, as the trio with Baboo at the DJ ripped through 75 minutes of straight hip-hop. Was Amazing.
I also saw Ted Leo, You Say Party We Say Die, Joan as Police Woman and Dinosaur Jr. last week. busy busy.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Candle...
I lit a candle last night. It is still burning. Emotional stuff indeed.
I gave a tour this morning, part of working as a guide. I'm chugging away with this job, even though it takes up quite a bit of time. I do know EVERYTHING about Amsterdam now, so you can ask me when you visit. Road starts THR. enjoying quiet time at home now.
I lit a candle last night. It is still burning. Emotional stuff indeed.
I gave a tour this morning, part of working as a guide. I'm chugging away with this job, even though it takes up quite a bit of time. I do know EVERYTHING about Amsterdam now, so you can ask me when you visit. Road starts THR. enjoying quiet time at home now.
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