The Automatik

In The Red Records, 2006

A metaphor is a breath of fresh air
A turn-on, an aphrodisiac
- Sparks, “Metaphor”

Of all the bands that I consider perennial favourites, Sparks hold the remarkable (and unequalled) position of The Band Who I Most Enjoy Liking. An essay I read recently, written around the time of Sparks’ last album (Lil’ Beethoven) encapsulates just what it is that is so steadfastly appealing about them: they are one of the most joyous bands ever.
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How easy things would be if we could all exist within the insular worlds of our fandoms, where everything is puppies and chocolate and we are gleefully oblivious to anything but gushing admiration for our dearly beloved.

Unfortunately, “media” outlets like Pitchfork do tend to pierce through these blissful bubbles, and I can’t help but think their name choice is more than coincidental. Yes, yes, I’m well aware that you can’t keep picking at the scab or it won’t heal, but I never said I wasn’t a masochist.
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Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of music from the 80s and, as I am wont to do, reflecting upon my formative years in that decade. I’ve also been thinking about a current trend that has reached back in time to transform those years.

It’s about access to pop culture.

I frequently marvel at the ability that people have now for accessing pop culture in a way that I never did in the 80s and even the early 90s, before the complete takeover of Internet life.
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Spitfires & Mayflowers/Old Soul/The Meligrove Band
The Mod Club Theatre
January 13, 2006

Friday night’s Meligrove Band CD release party for their new album Planets Conspire was mind-blowing. It was held at the Mod Club Theatre, a large venue that’s bigger than the Horseshoe or Lee’s Palace. The place is swank: it has several video screens, a huge bar, cordoned off areas with chairs and tables, a dance floor, and a super fancy light system.
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No I can’t hide the memory of you away
Today or any other day
It’s a time for remembrance
A time to cry
And, I’ll cry

The Cowsills, “A Time for Remembrance”

When I heard the news about Barry Cowsill’s death last night I felt completely gutted.
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Independiente, 2005

It’s hard to believe that the first Suede album was released more than a decade ago. Brilliance, bickering, band members quitting, being forced to tack on “London” to the name, and singer Brett Anderson dyeing his hair blond ensued throughout their reign, so it’s perhaps harder to believe that a band that received overwhelming amounts of UK press hype went down a few years ago with barely a whisper.
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2006, V2 Records

It’s been an exciting few years for The Meligrove Band.
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AM Glory/The Pat McGee Band/Hanson
Kool Haus
November 10, 2005

It’s been about five years since the first time I saw Hanson perform live. Since then, they’ve left their major label and started an independent one (3CG), watched their fan base enter high school (and even college), cut their hair, removed their braces, and even gotten married and started a family (well, just Taylor). They’ve obviously grown up, so it’s too bad that some of their fans haven’t.
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Starvin’ Hungry/The Leather Uppers/Tricky Woo
The Horseshoe Tavern
October 28, 2005

Going into downtown Toronto on the Friday before Halloween in full costume requires a certain amount of bravado. Yet, despite fears of being openly mocked, wearing a costume downtown on the Friday before Halloween gives you a sense of power, a sense that it is possible to do whatever you want because you’re walking around in downtown Toronto in full costume. It was with this mindset that we ventured out to hang out with friends and see Tricky Woo.
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The Joel Plaskett Emergency
Harbourfront Centre
August 20, 2005

There was a time, say before 1984, when you could see a band perform in a crowded venue and the most you had to worry about was the lingering smell of pot smoke or spilled beer. Those halcyon days are gone – and mosh pits aren’t for the floor section of a Metallica show anymore. If crowd surfers could infiltrate a Celine Dion concert they would – but I won’t be gathering empirical evidence to support that hypothesis anytime in the next century.
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