The Tragically Hip - December 04, 2009: Tripod, Dublin

December 04, 2009: Tripod, Dublin

Oncce again I went out of my way to see one of the best active rock and roll bands in the business and was not disappointed. Last Friday I spent an intimate evening with The Tragically Hip in Dublin, IE.

Among the roughly 600 fans in the audience were plenty of happy Canadian fans who were delighted to see a Buffalonian donning a Canadian Hip jersey.

The atmosphere was electric and the crowd was very much alive and ready for anything. We were treated with two full sets ( 2 encores) with each song as tight and as crisp as only the Hip can do, night after night! It was a real pleasure to once again have the opportunity to see the guys in a small intimate venue.

My thanks go out to The Tragically Hip, my wonderful Irish hosts, the beautiful Canadians who were as happy as ever and of course my traveling companions. I apologise about the photo quality, but it is the best one I took from the show.

SET LIST

1. New Orleans Is Sinking

2. The Depression Suite

3. Poets

4. It's A Good Life If You Don't Weaken

5. Fireworks

6. Springtime In Vienna

7. Morning Moon

8. Family Band

9. Love Is A First

10. Courage (For Hugh Maclennan)

11. Coffee Girl

12. Fiddler's Green

13. Gift Shop

14. Ahead By A Century

15. In View

16. At The Hundredth Meridian

17. Bobcaygeon

18. Fully Completely

19. My Music At Work

20. Grace, Too

21. Blow At High Dough

OH Bama?

Just a week before President Barack Obama accepts his Nobel Peace Prize he has decided to escalate the war in Afganistan by adding 30, 000 more troops. This increase will put the new total of troops at nearly 100, 000.

Not really the hope and change the world was expecting. Obama, like W, will continue to murder in our name "to prevent a threat to the US". I agree with Rachel Maddow, sounds like the Bush Doctrine is alive and well in the Homeland.

How could any of us have believed that Obama would bring the change from Bush policy he promised? Isn't the job of the American President merely to keep the corporations in power and continue the monetary system? War has always been America's fuel for progress - and will continue to be as long as puppets man the throne.

© bflo12, 2009

Free Yourself From Corporate Rule

Buy Nothing Day started in North America in the early 90's and has grown to an international day celebrated in over 50 countries.

Before you buy, ask yourself:
Do I need it?
Can I afford it?
How many do I already have?
Is it recycable or renewable? If not, how will I dispose of it?
Is it made in a sweatshop by a child slave?
How does my consumption effect poor countries around the globe?
Am I thinking for myself or am I just part of the herd?

Celebrate the holiday season(s) and BUY NOTHING!! This year make a gift, write someone a song or poem, cook them a homemade dessert or at the very least, support your local, independent retailers!

"Don't you know when you're out shopping your just fillin' up someone else's pocket book? You think you bought what you wanted man, no you probably just bit the hook." Uncomfortably Numb - Jared Burton

Le Foot Pas Les Mains

It’s hard not to be disgusted after last night’s World Cup qualifying match between France and Ireland. For the second consecutive match, the Irish team was the better on the field but came up short. Yet, in a world where cheating is rewarded, it only makes sense that Thierry Henry’s blatant handball will be justified until it is forgotten.

I have been on the winning side of cheating. In the 2002-03 Western Conference Finals my Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings in what is now being described as a big fix. The more talented and tenacious Kings were robbed blind by the league and referees to make room for the star studded Lakers in the finals. I, like the Kings, feel cheated.I find myself caring less and less about the "spectacle" of professional sports.

Let us not be too surprised by this latest event. Even when the truth is seen, simultaneously by millions of viewers and spectators, its clear that no one will come forward to rectify the situation. Did any of the big corporations and banks come forward after the collapse and say “Oops, my bad sorry, here’s your money back” or “No thanks, we don’t deserve bailout money cause we lied, cheated and stole”? Hell no! So don't expect Thierry Henry or his conspirators to come forward either. Should we blame them? If they really believe in the simple "referee error" theory, no we can't blame them. But Mr. Henry clearly and deliberately broke the rules and should at the very least, own up to it.

If a sport is a metaphor for life, then last night’s disgraceful qualifying match is an accurate description of the reality of our existence in the society we have created and perpetuate. Hard work, honesty and tenacity DON’T payoff. Especially when profit is of utmost importance for sports and its governing bodies.

Ireland’s “loss” also seems like a reminder to us in the lower echelon to remember our place. When and if we make it to the big stage and get a chance to play with the ‘big dogs’ understand that the playing field will not be even and that revenue, power and interest will also be playing against us.

If Thierry Henry and his teammates were real men and had respect for the game of Football and sport in general, they would come forward and admit to the infraction and, at the very least, accept a rematch with Ireland. But don’t expect that. Much of today’s news gives the French media and their supporters far too much credit by stating that they are ashamed. That is extremely false. They are ecstatic about qualifying and when pressed about the legitimacy of their victory – they point to Maradona’s ’86 goal in a world cup quarter final.

I’m sorry, using that incident to justify the result of last night’s match is clearly a crime against reason. To even go so far are to try and end the issue by claiming it was a "fault d'arbitrage" (referee error) still doesn't cut it. Yet, there nothing we can do or that will be done about it. France will go on to South Africa while the Irish players will be left with the "what if" idea that will most likely haunt them for some time.

© bflo12, 2009

Open Thread

For more disocurse like the above cartoon, visit www.ecohearth.com - the premier ecology site on the web.

Pearl Jam - Just Breathe

Park and Suites Lyon Part Dieu - Review

Doing my bit to punish lazy hoteliers the world over. If a place is cheap and I get what I pay for, then fair enough. But if I spy an injustice then I seek revenge like Ben Affleck in Daredevill...

A hotel review by Dean Turner

I stayed in this hotel because I needed to be close to the Part Dieu TGV station. Therein lies the first problem! It is probably 800m from the station and not the stone's throw they advertise on their website. France does not have a great athletic tradition in the javelin, but if this hotel can find the person who threw a stone from the Part Dieu to the front door of the Park and Suites Lyon Part Dieu Hotel then a gold medal beckons in London 2012!

The room was perfectly clean and comfortable , and double glazing meant that I scarcely heard the trains ( a lighter sleeper may struggle) that pass by the foot of my bed.

The real let down was the fitness room. One dangerous treadmill (a mechanical fault meant it slowed down randomly in use) does not constitute a fitness facility. It was also in the same room as the Jacuzzi/ small pool, which made the humidity perfect for Bikram yoga enthusiasts but for anyone else it was mighty uncomfortable.

All in all, this is not a bad hotel, but as I chose it based on its gym facilities and its proximity to the station it is safe to say that I won’t be returning."

After asking if I could post the review the gracious author of the review had this to say.....

By all means use that hotel review - it is up on trip advisor now. Hotel is called 'park and suites Lyon Part Dieu" - reading it again I was a little kind. It was a really lazily operated joint run by a disinterested management who know nothing about running a hotel. I'm sure they take the money, make the beds, clean the rooms etc, but all notions of service were lacking.

Manchild in the Wasteland

Manchild in the Wasteland
Saturday, December 5th, 8:00pm International House - Davis, CA

Manchild in the Wasteland is a one-man performance written and performed by Davis native and returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Barton Bryan. Come experience the roller coaster ride of Barton’s desire to join the Peace Corps, his struggle to adapt to the realities of living in West Africa and finally, coming to terms with being a part of the village.

While on the journey, Peace Corps' Head Trainer Buck Hess will open your eyes to all the fascinating and sometimes shocking details of being a West African Peace Corps Volunteer.

This engaging and enlightening production will be performed for one night only at the International House in Davis, 10 College Park, Davis, CA http://www.internationalhousedavis.org/

Tickets are $15 and $10 for students. Seating is limited. Reservations and tickets may be obtained by calling Mary Jo Bryan at 530-756-3191 or visit his website at http://www.letsgotoafrica.com/West_African_Caravans.html and link to Manchild in the Wasteland Play. If you have any questions, please feel free to email Barton at barton@letsgotoafrica.com.

Barton Bryan has spent the last 9 years focusing on two main passions: Africa and acting. After completing a BA in Vocal Performance, Barton joined the Peace Corps and spent two years in Mauritania, West Africa where he taught English and worked with his village on several development projects.

In 2005, Barton put his Africa pursuits on hold and moved to New York City to study acting at the Maggie Flanigan Studio. During that time he wrote Manchild in the Wasteland and performed it several times off-Broadway and in Austin, TX.

Barton eventually moved to Austin, TX with his wife Val. Since then they have travelled to Tanzania with a non-profit organization to help an orphanage, and in early 2009, Barton and Val started a Volun-Tourism business which offers travellers a chance to engage in local developmental projects while discovering Africa’s natural and cultural beauty.

“ There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief."— Aeschylus

Amerikana (EP) - Jared Burton

It would be too easy to simply label Amerikana an anti-war album, or an anti-government album or an anti-anything album. Not only would it be too easy, it would be an incomplete description. It would be like referring to someone who is outspoken against the doings of ill-minded governments as anti-establishment rather than democratic. It would only inform a part of the album and would fall short in describing the artifact as a whole.

What we have here on this independently released EP is an engaging, responsible, politically charged and subversive journey by way of folk, rock and blues - that takes us back to the first half of the Dark ages of recent American history (aka the Bush years). It is a reflective journey, one that demands our attention. For in it is the potential for a new horizon of understanding and a stronger image of what ought to be, rather than what we sometimes apathetically despise. It is influential in that it works on our memory by keeping the conversation going. A conversation that began well before W. and will continue well after.

The last time I saw Jared was in San Francisco 2002 for one of the largest anti-war rallies since the 1960s. I gave up a centre floor seat at Paul McCartney to take an overnight bus to be part of saying no to violence and embracing peace. The general mood that day was not of anger and resentment, but rather hope and perseverance - two of the many qualities that underscore the 6 wonderfully arranged selections of Amerikana.

As a human being Jared is kind, thoughtful, intelligent and forgiving. As a musician he is prolific and brings forth an angst that he immediately remedies with, often indirect, pleas for change through hope and cooperation. As you listen to Amerikana, you will hear for yourself a timeless commentary on the human condition, rather than a rant against political systems or specific government figures. What begins in Uncomfortably Numb and ends in Amerikana is a continuation of a conversation that is as old as the first human who sought to create a world that attends to the least fortunate and not the most fortunate. Though the names and places may have changed, the same decisions are there. Jared has graciously accepted the role of messenger, to remind us of our worth, our hopes, our potential for authenticity and certainly our responsibility.

Unlike most of the music that dominates the pop charts and local radio stations, Amerikana delivers lyrical and melodic snapshots of American life that are not unattached to past, the present or the future nor are they reduced to any specific period. They pull you in and serve as a reminder that passive observation results in an anorexic existence void of any weight or substance. And Jared does this all the while playing and singing wonderful songs that you will want to play again and again.

Jared Burton’s music is nothing if not sincere, talented and thought provoking, but most of all enjoyable. Amerikana gives us an honest introduction to a side of Jared as the musician, although not the complete picture - which is why many of us hope that Amerikana is just the beginning of things to come.

Sample and purchase Amerikana at: http://www.myspace.com/jaredburton

© bflo12, 2009

Hitting The Wall

Writing is no easy task! It requires work, and lots of it. Those of you out there who labor at this art know what I mean. We all have our own difficulties when it comes to putting something down, but we can all agree – sometimes it’s tough out there!
Today’s example is that I have hit the wall. Between my job as an editor and the work I do on the side, I feel spent for the day – nothing left to give. There’s plenty of time left in the day to produce something, but I feel fried! So, I’m going to get up, leave the computer, get some air and go listen to Joseph Arthur later this evening at an intimate venue in the city. The problem is that the stress of deadlines and the ongoing dialogue in my head are sure as hell going to follow me out tonight. They will take the place of that nagging younger sibling whose insistence on not leaving you alone with your girlfriend makes getting to first base impossible. First base for me tonight is simply, relaxation, but as any and every writer knows – even if you are not physically writing, you are still working!
The irony here is that I’m writing about my frustration about not being able to write anymore today!

As KV would say "So it goes!"

© bflo12, 2009

Recycling To-Go/Recyclage à Emporter

Recycling is easy when the right facilities are provided for you. But what if they are not? What do you do? Do you simply give in to your conditioning and use the regular trash bins? How do you feel after you have thrown away that plastic salad container, aluminium can or plastic bottle and/or the cardboard packaging? If you feel guilty and feel that you were left with no choice, I have the answer – try take-away recycling!

Sometime ago, while eating lunch in a Parisian café, I was alarmed by all the vast amounts of recyclable debris that is discarded. This scene made me more determined than ever to really embrace my 'take-away recycling' practice. Since then, I have always ensured that I have a fold-up canvas bag in my backpack.

This canvas sack is my eco-doggy bag. Wherever I go, if recycling facilities are not available, I simply take containers and packaging with me and put it in the proper receptacles later.

The Responsibility Is Ours

Mandatory recycling laws only do so much if they even exist where you live. The chances are that more often than not, you are throwing away recyclables during your average day and (hopefully) feeling guilty about it. Take-away recycling has become my way of solving this problem.

In my office and others in the US and EU, paper and cardboard recycling is compulsory, but plastics and other recyclable products frequently end up in the trash. Restaurants and bars do little or nothing to provide recycling facilities for customers, even though most of what is used to package salads, drinks and meals is non-biodegradable and recyclable. So until recycling is the law everywhere, for anything that can be reused, I’ll take my recycling to go.

Make Recycling the Norm, not the Exception

The idea to write about this occurred to me the other day when a colleague asked me why I always take my “garbage” home. I explained that when recycling facilities are not immediately available – at lunchtime, for example– I prefer to recycle this “garbage” later by using the alternative bins at my home.

I walked away and wondered if what I had said had made any impact. Others in my office and in my life have seen me carry out this practice on a number of occasions, but I have seen little or nothing to convince me I’ve made an impression.

The reward, for now, is that I am improving my efforts to help the environment by finding new and creative ways to live ‘green’. I have not given up hope that my examples will go noticed. Hopefully, as the green revolution continues to gain momentum, the thankless acts so many of us carry out on a daily basis will become the norm, rather than the exception.

As we know, every little bit counts. Sure, in the big picture, even if I achieve a zero carbon footprint, it won’t have a very noticeable impact. But as Abbey Hoffman once said, “change doesn’t come about through conformists.” By taking my “trash” home or to proper recycling facilities, I have turned the tide. I have challenged the notion that throwing away recyclables is ok.

So by carrying an extra bag in my backpack I am able to take home everything I use during a workday or a day out that can be recycled. Whether it’s a take-away lunch, a sit-down meal or a picnic in the park, nothing gets wrongfully put in the trash on my watch!

© bflo12, 2009

Clouds Over Paris

In all types of weather, at any time of day, Paris never ceases to deliver charm and awe.

Three Short Answers

Today, like most days, I had to explain to someone why I was a vegetarian who eats mostly organic foods, why I didn't sit in front of the TV and why I was taking my "garbage" home.

My answers to these questions vary, depending on my mood, but here are my answers today, as I am in a gentle mood.

1. I don't want to eat meat and I don't really have to. By combining certain foods like beans and rice or beans with potato, create a complex protein very similar to that found in meat. The one thing missing is the iron. For that I load up on green vegetables like spinach, brocoli or asparagus. If not, I take a mutli-vitamin to make up for my lack of iron. Not to mention that the means by which humans kill animals for food is...well...I find it unsettling.

2. The average American sits in front of the TV roughly 6 hours a day! To paraphrase Tim Leary, " that means that the average American sits like a vegetoid slug in front of a screen absorbing loads of information......" For me, that's not the answer for someone who desires an authentic existence. A DVD once in a while is a nice way to unwind, but I just find more intersting ways to occupy my time.

3. I take my "garbage" home because it is not yet the law to force businesses, restaurants and bars to recycle. Until it is, I will coninue to take my recycling to-go!

Timeless Knowledge

"We cannot get rid of mankind's fleetingly evil wishes. We can get rid of the machines that make them come true." - Kurt Vonnegut

Song Of The Day - Something For Nothing - Rush

Since as long as I have been listening to Rush - some 20 odd years, this tune has always been and remains of of my favorites. It rocks, yes, but what has always stood out is the final verse - on it's own is brilliant, but a screaming Geddy Lee gives it the punch it deserves!

peace and Happy Friday


Words by neil peart, music by geddy lee

Waiting for the winds of change
To sweep the clouds away
Waiting for the rainbows end
To cast its gold your way
Countless ways
You pass the days

Waiting for someone to call
And turn your world around
Looking for an answer to
The question you have found
Looking for
An open door

You dont get something for nothing
You dont get freedom for free
You wont get wise
With the sleep still in your eyes
No matter what your dreams might be

What you own is your own kingdom
What you do is your own glory
What you love is your own power
What you live is your own story
In your head is the answer
Let it guide you along
Let your heart be the anchor
And the beat of your own song

Springtime Memories

The morning began gently. The soft glow of the sun mixed with the leftover evening cool did much to lighten the mood. Spring could be smelled in the air, and felt throughout the body. People seemed lighter, less in a hurry; this was quite a welcomed change from the harshness that winter bestowed. It was a time to look forward, breathe the air of change, to float on the river’s current to destinations ever unfolding along the banks of life. The season of rebirth restores our strength, our spirit, our love – allowing us to become the blossom of our hopes, and our dreams.

It’s only human to want joy and happiness to consume our everyday.

"Those condensed moments of pure delight are truly magical. Desiring that all the time, I think, is natural. I guess what I've learned is sometimes, for sure, it's tough to see beauty in such an [often]"ugly" world. That's when I think we ought to close our eyes and peer within. Go back to those moments of joy and reflect on them and reconnect with, as Joseph Campbell would call, our bliss. It's always there; sometimes we just find it difficult to tap into it. So, as we dive inward - let us see through eyes of wisdom and strive with a soul of perseverance." - bflo

Song of the Day - Billy Bragg - Waiting for the Great Leap Forward

In September of 2008 I had the pleasure of attending a very intimate show featuring Mr. Billy Bragg. He played the tiny La Maroquinerie in Paris' 20eme arrondissement. Having been a fan for some time, I was more than excited to see him perform. What I'll say about the show is this; it was arguably the most enjoyable concert I have ever been to.

It was a perfect night. Billy played an amazing show and created a wonderful connection with the 300 or so of us in the audience. He sang our favorites and shared for us a bit of his ideology about love, war, peace and life.

After the show he came up from the basement to the outdoor courtyard and mingled with those of us who wanted to continue the evening talking about our favorite moments of the show. He proved a humble, gracious man who, to me at least, really is his music. His songs are captivating, moving and timeless.

Here is a clip of Billy doing Waiting for the Great Leap Forward for a television show in Seattle. The intro for the show is a bit long, but this version gives you an honest look at what it's like to attend a show.

Enjoy!

Visit his site for information on his Summer 2009 tour dates. He will be playing across the US from 31 July to 05 October.

http://www.billybragg.co.uk/index.php

String Theory is a bluegrass band that is well-known in and around western New York.

Check out String Theory and have a listen to the band, read their latest news and find out about upcoming shows!