Leaving The Band

Little Brother Mike is leaving his band Our Lady Of Bloodshed, so I have removed that link from this blog as well. It is the month of link changes it seems. He is still helping the band record their next CD but will not be playing at any more of their shows. I think they already have a new drummer. Little Brother Mike is also thinking about selling his drums, I hope he doesn't. Control. Conform.

The Love Machine

The band I'm writing a profile on for The Charlatan is amazingly good. I'm not known for my good taste in music, actually I'm not known for any taste in music as I never listen to any. Seriously, I was the strangest choice to write on music for the arts section of a newspaper. Mind you, the editor didn't know I'm not a music person, which according to some makes me inhuman. I really feel that you should check this band out though. The Love Machine is from Ottawa and it is so important to support Canadian artists. I like their sound, but get back to me on it and let me know if you agree with my taste. You can find out more about them on their website and hear a couple tracks on their MySpace. Although I'm sure there are similarities between lots of Canadian bands. The experiences in this industry probably happen to everyone in it. But I think there are really cool parallels to Little Brother Mike's band (See Link on Right.) Both bands are all young guys in their early twenties, both the drummers names are Mike. Both just finished a tour out east, and have recently bought band vans. The list goes on. (Ignore the style of music, I only wish I enjoyed Our Lady Of Bloodshed as much as The Love Machine it would make me feel like a better sister.)

Breast Cancer Craze

As October is Breast Cancer Month it seems that everyone is making pink things to sell and then donating some of the proceeds to breast cancer research. Some of the stuff is tacky and some is cool. But this camera package that Future Shop is doing with Casio is by far the coolest thing. I am asking for a digital camera for Christmas as I lost mine this summer (at that huge party I hosted for Little Brother Mike and his band friends.) Despite really wanting this one, you can get others with 7MP for about $75 less. Mind you they aren't as thin or as cool as this one.

Intense Weekend

I don't know how to write about this weekend. I have not even fully recovered from the experience. Little Brother Mike was in town. He is on tour with his band and two others, along with a driver and their promoter. They had a gig downtown on Friday night, and then a couple of days off before they headed further out east. The guys (17 of them between the ages of 16-23) stayed at my place for the weekend. Since I have no idea how to describe the events of the past three days I'm going to let the quotes speak for themselves. Note "Band Member" is used when I wish to preserve anonymity, have forgotten the guys name, or have forgotten which one said it.
--"We are going to be late, we just got Bear Maced. Everyone is just a little enraged right now." -Mike to Me on the phone
--"Your sister's cute Mike" -Carl
---"Rob? Ben? Jason? There are 17 of you, I'm just not going to learn them all. Nick? Steve? Fred?" -Me to Josh when trying to remember his name
------"Fred is good. I can be Fred." -Josh
--(Silence) -Charlie while staring at sleeping Band Members
--"Last time we were here we saw only one roommate. That Librarian one. Now they are like everywhere." -Wally
--"Is there any factories in town?" -Nick
------"Not really. It is kinda a government town." -Me
------"Oh, like The Beer Store." -Nick
------"No, not governmental retail. Like Health Canada, Natural Resources, like the government government." -Me
------"Oh well, no factories, I can't live here." -Nick
--"Oh, Wally." -Emily
--"Bear Mace, where do you even get that?" -Me
------"Hunting shops." -A Band Member
--"I just got my first hate mail." -Carl
--"Is black lipstick Metal or more Goth?" -Ami
--"I am so so so sorry." -Ami, Tiffany, and Me to the bartender
--"Chris, Chris, stop. Your going to get me drunk." -Jerrica
--"Woah. You don't do that." -Nick to Me after I hit Glenn
--"No. Don't tell anyone where the pop is hidden. It will be our little secret." -A Band Member to Me
--"I think that is going to bruise" -Me to Glenn after he punched Me
------"Woah. You don't do that." -Nick to Glenn
--"YOU. GET IN THE FUCKING HOUSE!!" -Me to Many Band Members while trying to control what looked like an impending fight
--"I'm just trying to help get everyone inside." -Many Band Members to Me
------"OK THEN. GET IN THE FUCKING HOUSE!!" -Me
--"Guys, chill. He is my dealer." -Me
--"I hate being dragged and then put places" -Tiffany
--"I want to kick that guys ass" -Nick to Me
------"No! Huh? Wait? What? No! Lie to me, tell me your your trying to help and get everyone inside. Lie to me." -Me
--"Chris stay here, I'm sober." -Mike to Me about who would talk to The Cop
--"HOLY SHIT!" -Me to The Cop after seeing two more cop cars pull into the street
--"Alright then, we are going to hug this out. Get up here. Other arm. That's it." -Mark to Me
--"Next time wake me up earlier." -Mike to Me
--"The Librarian is hot." -Wally and Carl about Emily
--"Ok, my vote is in. Mark is definitely the nicest one." -Anna
--"Wow. I have not done that in a long time. My neck is killing me." -Ami about her head banging injury
--"YOU. RIDE A BICYCLE! YOU. GO PEEL OFF THE WALLPAPER! YOU. WALK IN CIRCLES IN A NORTH EAST DIRECTION! If I keep yelling in an authoritative tone, things will some how fix themselves, even if what I'm saying makes no sense." -Mike doing an impression of Me
--"Oh, I so knew that is what it was all about." -Ami to Me
--"Any one who cooks with chickpeas is amazing." -Josh about Emily
--"It is when you shit along the top of the toilet so when the next person flushes it, it just flushes shit, not clear water. You know, I have always wanted to do a Top Shelf at Top Shelf." -A Band Member to Me
--"So do you really really like Like like like him?" -Emily to Me about A Band Member
--"You didn't really enjoy your time in high school if you weren't having lots of anal sex" -Wally to Me
--"Your brown? Well I guess you look a little Mexican." -Me to Andreas after finding out he is Pakistani
--"UHH, I'm just going to pee off the roof" -Nick after waiting for the bathroom
------"No you cannot pee off the roof" -Me
------"Look she is saying you cannot, as in you don't have the ability. Now you have to do it to prove her wrong." -Mike
--"This town is so healthy, look at everyone biking. With helmets!" -A Band Member
--"Which one was it? Did they have long hair? Where they wearing black? Did they have facial hair? Did they have any tattoos?" -Me to Anna trying to figure out which guy she was talking about
--"I'm going for the triple threat. Three showers in three days." - John to Mike
--"Oh, so like the only one wearing a white shirt?" -Anna about Josh
--"Wayne's World is the best movie in the world." -Andreas
--"Did you guys sleep here? Was it loud? Did you get a shower in the morning" -Me to Wes
------"Yea it was fine. I don't shower on the weekends." -Wes
------"What? I don't even know how to respond to that." -Me
--"Are you kidding? I love Faulkner. I love stream-of-consciousness." -Josh
--"It's totally hit and miss with those guys." -Anna
--"I don't get it. I'm perfectly nice to chicks and get nowhere. Wally walks up to them and says 'Get on your knees bitch' and they all love him." -Carl
--"Mike. You know we could have had this talk anytime this weekend. Now is probably not a great time." -Me to Mike after everyone is packed and ready to go in the vans and he decides to have a nice heart to heart with his big sister
--"Alright Chris, goal for next weekend: No emergency vehicles at 900 Colonel By." -Emily to Me

Can't Wait For Metal

EVERYONE

Mark your calenders for the Ottawa Show

-July 13th-

I'm so excited!

It is Little Brother Mike's Band

(Our Lady Of Bloodshed)

The Long Roller Coaster

I'm still trying to wrap my head around yesterday. It was such a huge emotional roller coaster and mental whirlwind. It started off early as I had to have a bath. I wanted to head over to the school, so Em walked with me, I haven't even seen her the last little while, let alone hung out. I went to the gym where there was a fencing tournament. A sport I know absolutely nothing about. We saw The New Roommate fence and it was just mesmerizing, fencing is so cute, interesting, sexy and amazing all at the same time. We didn't stay long since I was really tired. My nap, once I got home, was cut short by The Band showing up. We set up the house for sleeping. They are wild and crazy as only boys in an up and coming metal group can be. My Little Brother's Girlfriend and the other girl that came with them stayed at the house with me and we all prepartied. We caught the end of their set when we finally made it to the Cafe. The entire experience there was so intense. There was a violent mosh pit and The Band had two onstage injuries. I'm so proud of my brother and the rest of the guys, I was awestruck at how good they have become. I left rather quickly, without telling anyone, and somehow found my way back home. After passing out for a bit, I got to spend some time with Ami watching "Friends" and Em treated me to pizza, which we later shared with The Band. I got an angry call from My Little Brother Mike who had thought he lost me. Soon The Band came back and things became even more chaotic. The Lead Singer took off all his clothes, much to the dismay of everyone, then there was some naked fighting in the living room that I had to breakup. All this was filmed and I hope is not posted on YouTube. Everyone who slept downstairs had to wear ear plugs since The Bassist snores so loudly. The ear plugs meant a peaceful sleep for me but I woke up cold and confused.

The Ottawa Gig

Our Lady Of Bloodshed is My Little Brother Mike's band, they are playing this Saturday, please come with me to see him. The band is really good and my brother is awesome. I'm really excited about this.

CD Release

Today, Our Lady Of Bloodshed, released their second CD, "Consume Control Conform". You can order a copy from their website/myspace (see Links to the right) they have pictures, bios, news, show info and song samples. If you live in the Southern Ontario area, go see one of their shows, Screamo music is perfect for the Halloween season and they have tons of gigs coming up. Hopefully they will do an Ottawa Area tour in the near future. Yes, My Little Brother Mike is the drummer, Yes, that is a photo of him, Yes, he does pretty much look like that, Yes, I'm really proud of him.