Title Maybe...


For some reason when these are uploaded into facebook, they lack a title. Well, I tried to title this one. I have a few minutes before class here; Dealing with governmental paperwork mostly right now, as not only do I need a new VISA, but also my passport is out of pages. Both are problems and are a pain to sort out. I am surely looking forward to this one. Ever try to get a Canadian passport picture in Amsterdam at a photo shop? God, at home people take so many things for granted it's insane.

I have to update my website too; I'm hoping to do that this weekend, amongst many, many other things. Living in two countries at once is an organizational struggle. Yet, it sounds cool when you tell people, 'ýup, I live in two countries.' Maybe others are enthralled in the sheer exoticism of the travelling, the adventure. Really, it's all a big pain in the ass for the most part. It does give me something to talk about, and most people are pretty easy to entertain, so there you go.

Seeing Stars on Saturday. They are a band if you don't know. a Good one.

Been a while...


I don't update this much anymore; I know. I wish I had time. Things are insane, and will continue to be until at least January. It looks like my time will be split between London and Amsterdam equally until then, as I have taken on a position that requires me to be in London two days per week. I need to solidify full-time work to afford the cost increase of moving to London, so in order to prove myself at this job, I am making an investment in myself and of my time to try and help out a company design and maintain a project. I pray it works out.

Life has, well, been a bit shit as of late. I'm not going to elaborate why. You're welcome to ask me directly. I guess I'll look back at this in a few months and laugh at my cliched hyperbolic ramblings. Things aren't that bad, just exhausting, tough and uncertain. I guess that's the way to be at 24. I'm a bit sick of traveling though. There, I said it.

An Update...


I have a moment to update, but really, it is becoming tough to find time to write on this thing. Plus, I know only three people read it, and I know who they are. I can just send them an email and cc it to all instead. Well, been in Toronto for ten days and I'm looking forward to going home at the end of this week. Been busy with Kae Sun mostly, whilst pre-planning a move to the UK, which will include real job finding, a new flat, a Visa and all the crap that moving to yet another country will yield. I hope to settle down a bit - not too much but a bit - in the UK, which shouldn't be too difficult. Finding a real job may be. Who knows. I have a few leads.

Speaking of, I have to go do some of it now. Fun.

love ya all.

Forgive me blog for I have sinned...

Well, I kinda forgot to update this thing in the last while. It's been over two weeks since I updated anything here that had nothing to do with Kae Sun, and I know I know, a few people do actually read this verbal garbage. I do have to admit though, that my life isn't all that interesting anymore, or, saying that, it is interesting in a different way, and I'm genuinely happier for the most part with the change. This summer was certainly amazing. I went to the Faroe Islands and had the time of my life. I went to Barcelona twice. Austria with my amazing friend Hanna and spent one of the best days of my life at her brother's house in Spitz, lived in London for a while, went to Germany and spent some wonderful time in Amsterdam. Now I have an amazing girlfriend, some semblance of domestication, a new album and I'm back in Canada, chilling with old friends.

But really, other than living in airports (research write-off), my life isn't all that interesting. I promise. I swear. That's why I don't update this all that much. To be honest, all I am thinking about now is breakfast, trying to email old friends I haven't said hello to in a while whilst making sure I make it outside and enjoy what looks to be a beautiful day. I'll write more later.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Barcelona...

FINALLY found an unsecure network on my friend's balcony. I'll update this at length tomorrow. All is well, warm and sunny. I have a tan/burn. Saw Flaming Lips and Arcade Fire yesterday. AMAZING.

One Year To The Day. Where Did The Time Go?



In some ways. it feels as if nothing has changed.

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.